bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimizing agricultural downstream supply chain: addressing information asymmetry and losses
Authors: Sharma Rajkumar , Sharma Satyendra Kumar 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThis study aims to understand the significant issues in the downstream supply chain of agricultural commodities and find out the improved strategy.Design/methodology/approachA value chain analysis on a downstream supply chain is performed to understand all ground-level issues related to information asymmetry and material losses. The study maps processes, actors, activities, product flow, information flow, material volume flow, technology adoption and value share. The study is performed by doing a qualitative survey using a semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with 120 farmers, six aggregators, six traders in APMC mandis, six processors, six distributors and six retailers. A case study is performed on the mustard supply chain in Rajasthan to relate the results more comprehensively. After identifying the prominent issues, a cause-and-effect analysis is done to generate suggestions for improvement in the paper.FindingsThe study reveals that the downstream supply chain has 8–12% losses of agricultural produce, and 5–7% of that is at the farmer’s end as post-harvesting losses. Farmers cannot access all available options for marketing their produce because of poor information exchange and poor reach. It suggests farmer empowerment for the optimum benefit of the entire supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study conducted by field visits and lacks statistical evidence for some findings. The dataset can be more extensive, diversified, and analyzed for various commodities.Practical implicationsThe study’s outcome will guide the stakeholders in finding more optimum options in the downstream agriculture supply chain. Research methodology can be used as a template for studying the supply chain of any agricultural commodity in different countries.Originality/valueThe study reveals the prominent issues, causes, effects and solutions throughout the agriculture downstream supply chain. The study is a bundle of foremost observations altogether. The study has been conducted in-depth in the field with actual scenarios that unlayered the hidden issues at the root. This study addresses a relatively underexplored area and provides actionable recommendations, which significantly contribute to the existing literature on the agriculture supply chain.
Evaluating the impact of ESG on financial risk: the moderating effects of operational ability and profitability in Indonesian infrastructure firms
Authors: Ridwan Mochammad , Alghifari Erik Syawal 
Published: January 2025

Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on financial risk, with operational ability and profitability as moderating variables, within the infrastructure sector in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach
The sample consists of 14 infrastructure companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange over the period of 2020–2022, resulting in a total of 42 firm-year observations. The study employs a random-effects model for panel data regression analysis to test the hypotheses. ESG serves as the independent variable, financial risk as the dependent variable, and operational ability (measured by total asset turnover) and profitability (measured by return on assets) as moderating variables.

Findings
The results reveal that ESG practices have a significant positive impact on financial risk. Furthermore, operational ability negatively moderates the relationship between ESG and financial risk, while profitability positively moderates this relationship. These findings suggest that although higher ESG scores may elevate financial risk due to associated costs and uncertainties, firms with greater operational efficiency and profitability are better equipped to mitigate and manage these risks more effectively.

Research limitations/implications
This study focuses on infrastructure companies in Indonesia, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other sectors or geographic regions. Future research could broaden the scope by incorporating diverse industries and cross-country contexts to enhance the robustness and applicability of the results.

Practical implications
The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and corporate managers. Policymakers can develop frameworks to encourage sustainable practices without imposing excessive financial burdens on companies. Managers can leverage operational efficiency and profitability to integrate ESG practices effectively, thereby balancing sustainability goals with financial performance.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the scarce literature on the moderating effects of operational ability and profitability on the relationship between ESG practices and financial risk, particularly in the context of the infrastructure sector in Indonesia.
Understanding tourists' adoption of edible food packaging: the role of environmental awareness
Authors: Khan Salman , Mehmood Shafaqat , Khan Ikram Ullah , Khan Safeer Ullah 
Published: January 2025

PurposeEdible food packaging provides a solution to the solid waste problem caused by traditional packaging. However, tourists’ readiness to adopt this novel technology is unclear.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted to examine how motivated consumer innovativeness (CI), environmental awareness, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and attitudes influence tourists' purchase behaviors in the context of edible food packaging in the tourism industry. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS 3.2.8.FindingsThe results of the structural equation analysis indicate that each sub-factor of motivated consumer innovativeness positively influences attitudes. Additionally, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and personal norms were found to significantly impact purchase intentions. Environmental awareness was found to moderate the relationships between (1) perceived behavioral control and purchase intention, (2) subjective norms and purchase intention and (3) attitude and purchase intention. These findings expand the applicability of the diffusion of innovation, planned behavior and environmental awareness theories, offering useful insights for foodservice professionals.Research limitations/implicationsThis study emphasizes key implications for the tourism and foodservice industries, as consumers with an innovative attitude and higher environmental awareness are more likely to adopt edible food packaging. Identifying these factors will help stakeholders establish effective strategies for waste reduction through innovative packaging solutions.Originality/valueThis research uniquely investigates tourists' adoption of edible food packaging by integrating theories of innovation diffusion, planned behavior and environmental awareness. It offers novel insights into how various psychological and social factors influence purchase behaviors within the tourism industry.
The impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment in Arab economies
Authors: Saif-Alyousfi Abdulazeez Y.H. 
Published: January 2025

Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Arab economies.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the pooled ordinary least squares estimator, alongside panel static techniques, two-stage least squares estimation and the system generalized method of moments estimator, to ensure robust results. The analysis is based on a panel data set from 18 Arab countries over the period 2017–2022.

Findings
The study reveals a significant negative relationship between COVID-19 and FDI inflows and outflows. Higher infection rates lead to substantial reductions in FDI activity, highlighting the pandemic’s disruptive effect on the region’s investment landscape. Government responses, including lockdown measures and fiscal stimulus, are crucial in shaping FDI dynamics, with varying impacts across different sectors and economic contexts.

Practical implications
The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for effective pandemic preparedness, strategic economic growth initiatives, exchange rate management and labor market reforms. These measures are essential to foster FDI and ensure economic stability in Arab economies.

Originality/value
This study is the first to examine the impact of COVID-19 on FDI in Arab economies, addressing a significant research gap. It contributes to the broader discourse on the pandemic’s economic effects by offering comprehensive insights into how the crisis has affected FDI flows. By incorporating a range of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, analyzing government response impacts and exploring sectoral and economic heterogeneity, this research enriches our understanding of the multifaceted financial implications of the pandemic.
Defining bank branch trade areas for optimal distribution networks in mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Lafuente José , De-Juan-Vigaray María D. , Labajo Victoria 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThis study introduces a methodology that combines geographic information technologies and consumer behaviour principles to define, delineate and quantify the trade area (TA) of a bank branch within the context of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The goal is to design an optimal distribution network tailored to the needs of financial institutions involved in M&A activities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a procedure for TA delimitation, grounded in a theoretical model supported by marketing and consumer behaviour theories, focusing on proximity, purchase frequency and product type.FindingsAddressing a gap in the literature, this study highlights TA delineation as a key element in marketing strategy, exploring its role in establishing optimal distribution networks, particularly for financial institutions engaged in M&A.Research limitations/implicationsFor simplicity, the study focuses on a single bank branch, rather than a broader dataset.Practical implicationsThe proposed methodology enables more accurate delineation of TAs in M&A processes, mitigating the negative effects often overlooked by banks during mergers and acquisitions.Social implicationsThis approach helps reduce the risk of financial exclusion for vulnerable clients, promoting social and economic equity and fostering a fairer, more cohesive society.Originality/valueThis study is innovative in integrating geographic information science (GIS) metrics into location science, proposing fragmentation analysis to quantify the spatial structure and configuration of TAs. This approach departs from traditional practices, as these specific metrics have not been collectively applied in previous research.
Temperature compensation study of pressure sensors after leadless packaging
Authors: Wang Dong , Liu Fangting , Duan Ji’an , Li Junhui 
Published: January 2025

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reduce the problem of temperature drift causing output errors in such sensors, three hardware compensation schemes are proposed in this paper, and three compensation schemes are designed and implemented.

Design/methodology/approach
In response to the problem of temperature drift causing output errors in this type of sensor, this paper proposes three hardware compensation schemes and carries out the design and implementation of the three compensation schemes. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the three compensation schemes are discussed through the analysis of the experimental results. The three hardware compensation methods are series-parallel resistance network compensation, digital signal processor (DSP) compensation and the joint compensation of resistance network and DSP. Series parallel resistance network compensation is to connect the low-temperature drift resistance and the sensor in series and parallel; DSP compensation is based on the combination of cubic spline interpolation and linear fitting algorithm, which uses DSP to process the data. Joint compensation is a new compensation method composed of the above two compensation methods.

Findings
The experimental results show that the relative error of the output is reduced to a certain extent after the three compensation methods, and the relative error of the output after the joint compensation is reduced to about 0.2%, which proves that the three compensation methods are feasible.

Originality/value
This paper presents three novel hardware compensation methods to reduce temperature drift in silicon on insulator (SOI) high-temperature pressure sensors. The joint compensation method, combining resistance network and DSP compensation, is particularly innovative and significantly improves output accuracy, reducing relative error to about 0.2%.
Stress Response of the Juvenile Tri‐Spine Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus to Hypoxia: Insights From Phenotypic, Metabolomic, and Microbial Analyses
Authors: Jiang Lingfeng , Huang Meilian , Kwan Kit Yue , Wang Youji , Ma Xiaowan , Abo‐Raya Mohamed H. , Hu Menghong 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTOver the past few decades, ocean hypoxia has been increasing due to human activities. Hypoxic stress, characterized by a reduced level of dissolved oxygen, is an escalating threat to marine ecosystems, with potentially devastating effects on the viability of endangered species such as the tri‐spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus. Even though this species is remarkably resilient to low oxygen levels, persistent hypoxia can negatively impact its population's survivability. The objective of this research was to examine the impact of short‐term hypoxia on the behavior, gut microbiota, and metabolomics of juvenile T. tridentatus. First instar juvenile horseshoe crabs were subjected to hypoxic stress (2 mg O2/L) for 14 days and then recovered for 7 days in an environment with normal dissolved oxygen. The findings demonstrated that short‐term hypoxia reduced the rates of swimming and burrowing of horseshoe crabs, and induced the change of tissue metabolites and intestinal flora malfunction. Additionally, in the hypoxia groups on day 14, 86 distinct metabolites showed a trend of downregulation, while 29 metabolites showed an upregulation trend. Arginine biosynthesis; histidine metabolism; vitamin B6 metabolism; aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis; and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism were the top five metabolic KEGG pathways (p < 0.05) enriched with 8 metabolites. In conclusion, our results provided new insights related to the behaviors, microbiota, and metabolites involved in juvenile T. tridentatus exposed to short‐term hypoxic conditions and confirmed that hypoxia impairs their behavioral and physiological status.
Plasma Proteomic Signature as a Predictor of Age Advancement in People Living With HIV
Authors: Navas Adriana , Matzaraki Vasiliki , van Eekeren Louise E. , Blaauw Marc J. T. , Groenendijk Albert L. , Vos Wilhelm A. J. W. , Jacobs‐Cleophas Maartje , dos Santos Jéssica C. , van der Ven André J. A. M. , Joosten Leo A. B. , Netea Mihai G. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTDue to the increased burden of non‐AIDS‐related comorbidities in people living with HIV (PLHIV), identifying biomarkers and mechanisms underlying premature aging and the risk of developing age‐related comorbidities is a priority. Evidence suggests that the plasma proteome is an accurate source for measuring biological age and predicting age‐related clinical outcomes. To investigate whether PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) exhibit a premature aging phenotype, we profiled the plasma proteome of two independent cohorts of virally suppressed PLHIV (200HIV and 2000HIV) and one cohort of people without HIV (200FG) using O‐link technology. Next, we built a biological age‐prediction model and correlated age advancement (the deviation of the predicted age from the chronological age) with HIV‐related factors, comorbidities, and cytokines secreted by immune cells. We identified a common signature of 77 proteins associated with chronological age across all cohorts, most of which were involved in inflammatory and senescence‐related processes. PLHIV showed increased age advancement compared to people without HIV. In addition, age advancement in the 2000HIV cohort was positively associated with prior hepatitis C and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, non‐AIDS‐related comorbidities, ART duration, cumulative exposure to the protease inhibitor Ritonavir, as well as higher production of monocyte‐derived proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and lower secretion of T‐cell derived cytokines. Our proteome‐based predictive model is a promising approach for calculating the age advancement in PLHIV. This will potentially allow for further characterization of the pathophysiological mechanisms linked to accelerated aging and enable monitoring the effectiveness of novel therapies aimed at reducing age‐related diseases in PLHIV.
Using ecological momentary assessment to quantify Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol use across different forms of cannabis: Feasibility in a sample of Canadian young adults reporting frequent cannabis use
Authors: Coelho Sophie G. , Rueda Sergio , Wardell Jeffrey D. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractAimsTo establish the feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to estimate total quantities of Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) used across different forms of cannabis, and to assess the predictive validity of THC estimates for predicting acute cannabis‐related consequences.Design14‐day EMA using a smartphone application to assess cannabis use in real time.SettingCanada.ParticipantsTargeted sample of n = 42 young adults (59.52% women, mean age 25 years) reporting frequent cannabis use.MeasurementsSurveys completed immediately prior to cannabis use assessed the quantities, THC content and CBD content of various forms of cannabis to be used in the current session; participants also uploaded photos of the cannabis product labels when available. Surveys administered at fixed times throughout the day (84.81% completion rate) assessed acute cannabis‐related consequences.FindingsParticipants completed a total of 786 pre‐cannabis surveys, of which 79.39% and 77.35% contained sufficient information to calculate total THC and CBD (in milligrams), respectively. High agreement was observed between participant‐entered THC and CBD contents and those shown in corresponding photos of cannabis product labels. Aggregating across all products used, participants reported using an average of 141.41 [standard deviation (SD) = 224.62, range = 0.00–2000.00] milligrams of THC (i.e. 28.28 standard five‐milligram units) and 7.53 (SD = 34.87, range = 0.00–484.22) milligrams of CBD per day. Multilevel models revealed that participants were more likely to report acute negative consequences following sessions when their estimated THC use was higher than their typical THC use. At the between‐person level, participants reporting more THC use on average across sessions were less likely to report negative consequences overall.ConclusionsUsing ecological momentary assessment to estimate total quantities of Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol used across different forms of cannabis appears to be feasible, with preliminary predictive validity for acute negative cannabis‐related consequences.
The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in paediatric chronic immune thrombocytopenia: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhang Yuelun , Song Hongmei , Ma Mingsheng , Li Zhuo , Zhang Lejia , Song Yuqing , Lyu Zichao , Lu Yixiu , Xiao Juan 
Published: January 2025

AbstractAimsResearch on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is limited. The association between antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and its efficacy remains unclear.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study compared the clinical characteristics of children with chronic ITP who received HCQ with those who did not, as well as patients who responded to HCQ at 3 months with those who did not. Mixed‐effects models were performed to assess the effect of HCQ on platelet counts and the association between ANA and its efficacy. Records of HCQ‐related side effects were reviewed.ResultsA total of 191 children with chronic ITP were included in this study, including 42 patients who received HCQ. At the last follow‐up, 69.0% of patients treated with HCQ achieved complete response or response, with a median follow‐up time of 56 months (range: 17–146 months), a higher frequency compared to 48.3% of patients who were not treated with HCQ (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–4.95). The overall response rates to HCQ were 56.8% (21/37) at 3 months and 40.5% (15/37) at 1 year. HCQ was effective for increasing platelet counts (mean difference: 23.82 × 109/L; 95% CI: 7.44–40.21), but the association between ANA positivity and its efficacy was not found. Side effects were recorded in six patients (14.3%).ConclusionsHCQ was associated with increased platelet counts in chronic ITP children. The baseline ANA level was not found to be associated with the efficacy of HCQ. Side effects of HCQ warrant consideration.
Unions, Wages and Hours
Authors: Blanchflower David G. , Bryson Alex 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTWe examine union‐non‐union differentials in wages and hours in the United States over the last 50 years using data from the Current Population Survey. The regression‐adjusted difference between union members’ and non‐members’ hourly earnings has been falling since the Great Recession. The union differential in weekly wages has been more stable. Although it fell by around 5 log points during COVID, it remains 15 log points. This weekly earnings differential arises from both a higher hourly wage of around 10 log points and longer working hours (5 log points). The working hours differential partly reflects unions’ ability to tackle under‐employment, such that union workers work closer to the hours they desire than their non‐union counterparts. The traditional focus on hourly wage differentials underplays the important role trade unions play in maintaining members’ weekly earnings by ensuring workers receive the paid hours they desire.
Data fusion by T3–PCA: A global model for the simultaneous analysis of coupled three‐way and two‐way real‐valued data
Authors: Frutos‐Bernal Elisa , Ceulemans Eva , Galindo‐Villardón Purificación , Wilderjans Tom F. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractIn various areas of science, researchers try to gain insight into important processes by jointly analysing different datasets containing information regarding common aspects of these processes. For example, to explain individual differences in personality, researchers collect, for the same set of persons, data regarding behavioural signatures (i.e., the reaction profile of a person across different situations), on the one hand, and traits or dispositions, on the other hand. To uncover the processes underlying such coupled data, to all N‐way ‐mode data blocks simultaneously a global model is fitted, in which each data block is represented by an ‐way ‐mode decomposition model (e.g., principal component analysis [PCA], Parafac, Tucker3) and the parameters underlying the common mode are required to be the same for all data blocks this mode belongs to. To estimate the parameters underlying the common mode, a simultaneous strategy is used that pools the information present in all data blocks (i.e., data fusion). In this paper, we propose the T3–PCA model, which represents three‐ and two‐way data with Tucker3 and PCA respectively. This model is less restrictive than the already proposed LMPCA model in which the three‐way data block is decomposed according to a Parafac model. To estimate the T3–PCA model parameters, an alternating least‐squares algorithm is proposed. The superior performance of the simultaneous T3–PCA strategy over a sequential strategy (i.e., estimating common parameters using information from the three‐way data block only) is demonstrated in an extensive simulation study and an application to empirical coupled anxiety data.