Search Results (102)

Background/Objectives: Patient access to cannabinoid-based therapies in Brazil has expanded with the availability of regulated Cannabis-derived products (CDPs). This study explored CDP prescribing practices among Brazilian physicians. Methods: Between September 2024 and March 2025, a national online survey assessed physician characteristics, prescribing status, and reasons for non-prescription. Among prescribers, we analyzed CDP formulations, brands, indications, patient age groups, and time to therapeutic response. Bivariate and multivariable analyses identified factors associated with CDP prescribing. Results: A total of 333 physicians participated in the study, including 305 prescribers and 28 non-prescribers. Most CDP prescribers worked in private practice settings (67.9%). Specific training in CDP prescribing was the factor most strongly associated with a higher likelihood of prescribing (adjusted OR, 100.73; 95% CI, 12.77–794.72; p < 0.001), while lack of knowledge was the main reason for non-prescription. Although some physicians reported prescribing national products, imported products remained predominant (75.8% vs. 24.2%). Products provided through patient associations were also frequently mentioned. Predominant indications included mental and behavioral disorders, neurological diseases, and pain. Oil-based cannabidiol (CBD) formulations were the most frequently prescribed and were generally administered orally or sublingually. Older patients were the most frequently reported recipients of CDP prescriptions, and most physicians reported observing therapeutic effects within 30 days. Conclusions: Despite an evolving regulatory framework, clinical practice remains challenged by gaps in clinical training and disparities in patient access. Full article

Intellectual capital is the foundation of the knowledge-based economy. The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of intellectual capital on corporate sustainable growth in the Chinese baijiu industry and to investigate whether firm profitability and capitalized research and development (R&D) investment mediate this relationship. This study takes Chinese baijiu listed companies during 2010–2024 as the sample and employs fixed-effects regression models. Intellectual capital is measured through the modified value-added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) method, and corporate sustainable growth is measured through Higgins’ sustainable growth model. The results show that intellectual capital promotes corporate sustainable growth in China’s baijiu industry. This impact is more significant during and after COVID-19, in private-owned companies, in middle- and low-end-brand companies, and in companies receiving no government innovation subsidies. Regarding intellectual capital components, human capital along with physical capital contributes to corporate sustainable growth. In addition, firm profitability plays a mediating role in the relationship between intellectual capital and corporate sustainable growth, whereas capitalized R&D investment does not play a mediating role. This study can generate practical insights for corporate managers to achieve their future sustainable development. Full article

Predicting customer churn in the telecom sector is critical for retaining subscribers, maintaining brand reputation, and staying ahead of competitors. Losing customers not only reduces revenue but can also weaken long-term market position in a highly competitive industry. While machine learning has been widely used to address this challenge, most traditional approaches depend on centralizing customer data. This raises major concerns about user privacy, data ownership, and compliance with strict regulations such as GDPR. These challenges make it difficult for businesses to fully utilize customer data while safeguarding sensitive information. In this paper, we investigate a privacy-preserving approach to churn prediction that combines federated learning (FL) with differential privacy (DP). Rather than collecting all customer data in a single repository, the investigated framework enables multiple clients to collaboratively train a deep neural network while maintaining data locality during the federated training process. To further enhance privacy protection, we employ Differentially Private Stochastic Gradient Descent (DP-SGD) and add controlled noise to model updates, reducing the possibility of inferring individual data contributions. This work systematically evaluates how different privacy levels, expressed through ε and δ, influence model performance under simulated non-IID client distributions. The experiments analyze the privacy–utility trade-off using multiple evaluation metrics and compare the results with centralized and non-private federated-learning approaches. The findings show that the investigated framework maintains competitive predictive performance across a range of privacy budgets while demonstrating a clear privacy–utility trade-off. Very strict privacy budgets result in substantial performance degradation, particularly for smaller and more imbalanced datasets, whereas moderate privacy budgets maintain competitive predictive performance with limited degradation. This study highlights the potential of privacy-preserving federated learning for practical distributed analytics applications where protecting sensitive data is essential. Full article

Amid increasing upstream raw-material disruptions and battery supply uncertainty, NEV manufacturers may obtain emergency supply from vertically integrated competitors after a disruption, but must incur technology conversion costs. We develop a differentiated Cournot duopoly model with an outsourcing manufacturer and an integrated manufacturer to compare equilibrium, profit, and welfare outcomes with and without emergency procurement cooperation. The results show that cooperation has a clear feasibility boundary jointly determined by market potential, relative costs, and conversion costs, giving rise to competition-only, cooperation-only, and coopetition regimes. The cooperation option reshapes pre-disruption quantity decisions: the outsourcing manufacturer increases regular procurement, while the integrated manufacturer reduces its own-brand output by a larger amount. Within the cooperation region, higher conversion costs continuously reduce the outsourcing manufacturer’s profit, whereas the integrated manufacturer’s profit can be U-shaped. Greater product substitutability makes cooperation more fragile and widens the divergence between private profit incentives and supply-chain resilience. Consumer surplus and social welfare may also move in different directions, depending on the outsourcing manufacturer’s benchmark market share and conversion cost. A Nash-bargaining extension confirms the robustness of the activation condition and pre-disruption quantity-adjustment mechanism, while reducing emergency markups and improving consumer surplus. Full article

Background/Objectives: Methylphenidate is widely used for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and is available in immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) formulations. Long-term reported private-sector dispensing data from Costa Rica remain limited. Because methylphenidate is a controlled medication, longitudinal dispensing trends are relevant for monitoring access, formulation use, and dose-standardized exposure at the health-system level. This study described reported private-sector methylphenidate dispensing trends from 2017 to 2024 by dispensed boxes and Defined Daily Doses (DDDs). Methods: This retrospective ecological drug-utilization study analyzed reported private-sector administrative controlled-substance dispensing records from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2024. Products were standardized by brand or generic designation, strength, dosage form, and formulation class. Outcomes included annual and cumulative dispensed boxes, formulation-specific share, XR-to-IR ratio, year-over-year change, presentation-level distribution, population-standardized rates, and DDDs calculated using the WHO reference value of 30 mg/day. Results: Total dispensing increased from 988,739 boxes in 2017 to 2,774,698 boxes in 2024 (+180.63%; CAGR 15.88%). Overall, 13,807,824 boxes were dispensed; IR accounted for 9,344,944 boxes (67.68%) and XR for 4,462,880 boxes (32.32%). In DDDs, XR exceeded IR in every study year and represented 61.0% of cumulative dose-standardized exposure. Conclusions: Reported private-sector methylphenidate dispensing in Costa Rica increased substantially between 2017 and 2024. IR predominated by dispensed boxes, whereas XR predominated by DDDs, highlighting the importance of reporting both administrative volume and dose-standardized metrics. These findings provide a private-sector baseline for controlled-medication surveillance and may inform monitoring of access, formulation mix, and dose-standardized exposure to methylphenidate in Costa Rica. Full article

Sustaining high performance in private healthcare requires that internal organizational processes actively reinforce the values employees carry into their daily work. This study examines how organizational communication and internal branding shape employee commitment, positioning commitment as a foundational condition for sustainable organizational performance in health services. Drawing on quantitative data from 247 healthcare professionals, a structured questionnaire validated through reliability analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to assess the direct and indirect pathways between these constructs. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that both organizational communication and internal branding are significant positive predictors of employee commitment, with communication carrying a marginally stronger direct effect. Mediation analysis further revealed that internal branding mediates the relationship between organizational communication and employee commitment, accounting for approximately 29 percent of the total effect. These findings suggest that coherent communication structures and well-anchored internal branding practices are associated with the kind of internal alignment that prior research has linked to workforce stability and service continuity, which are themselves proximal conditions for organizational sustainability. The study concludes by proposing an integrated managerial framework that brings these two strategic levers into closer coordination, while acknowledging that distal sustainability outcomes were not directly measured and should be assessed in subsequent longitudinal research. Full article

This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashion and apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in Addis Ababa within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support to Youth and Women through Products and Services Development and Public–Private Partnerships in the Fashion Value Chain” which prompted the authors to deepen their understanding of the local fashion ecosystem. Drawing on informal conversations, observations, and ethnographically oriented field notes, the authors developed the analysis through desk research and a review of the relevant literature. The picture that emerges reveals both the creativity and strong entrepreneurial drive of Ethiopian designers, alongside the structural barriers they commonly face, including limited access to materials, investment, and institutional support. Designers are shown to negotiate ongoing tensions between cultural heritage and global aesthetics, while also contending with local consumption patterns situated between second-hand clothing markets and international brands. These dynamics highlight both the challenges and the potential of the Ethiopian fashion scene, pointing to opportunities for mutual learning and for fostering fashion practices that are sustainable, globally relevant, and firmly grounded in local contexts. Full article

Animal welfare has become an increasingly prominent attribute in global food markets, embedded within sustainability narratives, quality claims, and ethical branding strategies. However, the proliferation of animal welfare claims has not always been matched by equivalent improvements in on-farm welfare outcomes. This paper conceptualises animal welfare washing (AWW) as a systemic phenomenon in animal-based supply chains, whereby welfare narratives, standards, and certifications create the appearance of ethical production without delivering measurable improvements in animal welfare. Drawing on the interdisciplinary literature from animal welfare science, sustainability studies, trade governance, and food policy, this conceptual essay examines how AWW emerges from the interaction of industrial farming systems, fragmented public and private regulations, trade incentives, and information asymmetries. The analysis shows that AWW undermines ethical commitments to animals, regulatory credibility, and food quality governance. Welfare claims frequently operate as credence-based quality signals, despite weak links to verifiable welfare outcomes. Together, these conditions enable symbolic compliance and regulatory arbitrage across global value chains. As a result, genuinely higher-welfare producers face distorted competition, while consumers encounter diminishing trust in sustainability labels. It is argued that addressing AWW requires a shift toward outcome-based measurable welfare standards, stronger enforcement, improved integration with food quality regulation, and trade-compatible governance frameworks that reward performance rather than symbolic claims. By situating AWW within broader sustainability and trade dynamics, this paper advances debates on ethical food governance. Full article

Increased competition in the higher education market is a key reason for higher education institutions (HEIs) to adopt marketing strategies to remain competitive. Branding is one of the strategies frequently used in this context. This study examines changes in university brand value perception from the student perspective. It analyses internal changes, i.e., those made within the HEI, as well as changes in the external environment, and their impact on university brand value perception over a five-year period. The research used a mixed-methods approach to capture both aspects of the phenomenon. The qualitative research included interviews with four members of a private HEI management board, while the quantitative research was based on a questionnaire designed to identify and evaluate elements of Aaker’s model of brand equity. The research results show that although all dimensions display a slight decrease, the difference in perceived brand value is not statistically significant. Despite the fact that the overall grading shows no statistically significant differences and that the total grading is above average, these results indicate that the efforts made in the last five years to increase the quality of different dimensions relevant to better perception of HEI brand value were not recognized by students. Full article

This study examines retailers’ decisions of whether and when to introduce private labels considering the supplier learning effect. We construct a two-period framework including a supplier and a retailer with national brand and private label divisions and elucidate equilibrium results under the decentralized structure. Our analysis shows that the retailer’s optimal choices of private label encroachment are related to the supplier learning rate and product competition intensity. Specifically, the retailer chooses the first-period encroachment of private labels when product competition is weak; when encountering fierce product competition, the retailer’s choices transition from no encroachment to the second-period encroachment and, ultimately, to the first-period encroachment of private labels as the supplier learning effect elevates. Moreover, the retailer’s first-period encroachment of private labels benefits the supplier, consumers and society, but its second-period encroachment and even no encroachment of private labels would be harmful to those firms, especially when product competition intensity is high and the supplier learning rate is relatively low. Our study offers implications for industry participants to make choices of private label encroachment and understand how it influences the supply chain ecosystem in the presence of the supplier learning effect. Full article

Advertising is often viewed as an effective strategy for platforms to boost the sales of their private-label (PL) products. Nevertheless, not all platforms adopt PL advertising strategies, and the drivers of these heterogeneous advertising practices across platforms, which differ in PL product quality and supply chain structures (agency (A) vs. reselling (R) modes), remain unclear. Our analysis shows that, without advertising, an increase in PL quality does not necessarily deter the manufacturer from competition under mode A. When advertising is introduced, however, increasing PL quality may sometimes amplify the negative effect of advertising on the manufacturer-branded products’ price under mode A. Moreover, contrary to common belief that advertising always benefits the platform, we identify conditions under which PL advertising leads to a lose–lose outcome for both the manufacturer and the platform, regardless of PL quality. Finally, we find that an appropriately designed advertising effort allows the platform to align the manufacturer’s channel preference with its own—toward either Mode A or Mode R structure. Overall, our findings uncover the strategic interplay between PL advertising, product quality, and supply chain structure, thereby explaining the diversity of platform advertising behaviors in practice, such as JD.com and Taobao. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors related to early implant failures in patients treated in a private implant clinic. Methods: The study was retrospectively conducted on 392 patients (mean age = 51.2 ± 15.4 years, 48.9% female and 51.1% male) who received 930 dental implants within the period from 2000 to 2020. Included patients had received at least one implant. Patients were excluded in case of incomplete dental records that did not contain the necessary information, including personal information (patient’s name, age, gender, history and current condition of systemic diseases) and treatment protocol record. No patients were excluded on the basis of systemic disease if it did not contraindicate dental implant surgery. Patient-related variables (age, gender, smoking, history of periodontitis, accompanying disease), surgical-related variables (surgical technique, bone augmentation, lateral sinus lift, internal sinus lift, immediate implant placement after tooth extraction, immediate mucosal grafting, insertion torque,) and implant-related variables (implant design, implant level, implant surface, site of implant placement, implants diameter, length and implants brand name) were recorded. Results: GEE analysis results showed that the implant-based failure rate before or at the abutment connection stage was 5.8%. Seven factors were identified associated with early implant failures: male gender, smoking, history of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, maxilla implant placement, non-submerged healing method, implant design and implant brand. Conclusions: In light of the results obtained, both patient-related variables (gender, smoking, history of radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and variables related to the type of implant, its position and the surgical technique used (maxilla implant placement, non-submerged healing method, implant design and implant brands) were found to be statistically correlated with early failures in this study. Full article

This study investigates the social processes of place-making, sense of place, and place branding within the context of private art museums in Eastern China, highlighting their role in fostering social interaction and contributing to urban sustainability. By examining the relationship between exhibition design, interactive features, and audience engagement, the research demonstrates how these museums act as cultural spaces that not only display art but also facilitate dialog, community building, and cultural reflection. Using a mixed methods approach, including surveys and case studies, this study explores how private art museums employ place-making strategies to create immersive environments that blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and visitors. These museums enhance emotional engagement, promote cultural understanding, and support sustainable cultural identities within urban spaces. The findings reveal that through thoughtful design and community-centered programming, private art museums in Eastern China contribute to the social sustainability of urban areas by creating spaces that are both culturally and emotionally resonant. Furthermore, the place branding of these museums positions them as dynamic cultural landmarks, reinforcing their significance in the urban landscape and fostering ongoing social interaction. Full article

Journalists have a long-standing presence in strategic communication, seen as a “transitory” mediating stakeholder that can influence other key audiences within organizations. However, their role is increasingly being challenged by the rise in alternative information disseminators—mainly digital influencers (DIs) who possess considerable persuasive power and command extensive reach across diverse audiences. Using a qualitative methodology, this study aims to analyze the perceptions of brand and strategic communication professionals regarding the role of journalists in the context of the emergence of influencer marketing within the field of strategic communication. To this end, the views of 24 communication professionals were gathered, including individuals from communication agencies and communication departments in both public and private sector organizations. The findings were discussed in light of the conceptual framework of media relations and digital influence. Results indicate that, although DIs are now well-established within the field of strategic communication, their rise has not diminished the importance of journalists in communication strategies. Full article

In recent years, online retailing platforms (ORPs) have increasingly introduced private brand (PB) products as a new profit source, reshaping market dynamics and affecting their commission revenues. This shift creates a strategic trade-off for the platform: maximizing PB product profits while maintaining commission income from national brand (NB) retailers. This paper examines the platform’s pricing and quality strategies for PB products, as well as its incentives to introduce them. We develop a game-theoretic model featuring a platform and a retailer, and derive results through equilibrium analysis and comparative statics. Special attention is given to the platform’s strategy when market power is asymmetric and the PB product is homogeneous. The analysis yields three key findings. Firstly, the platform is always incentivized to introduce a PB product, regardless of its brand value. Even when direct profit is limited, the platform can leverage the PB product to increase competitive pressure on the retailer and boost commission revenue. Secondly, when the PB product has low brand value, the platform adopts a cost-saving strategy with low quality for extremely low brand value, and a function-enhancing strategy with high quality for moderately low brand value. Thirdly, when the PB product has high brand value, the platform consistently prefers a function-enhancing strategy. This study contributes to the literature by systematically characterizing the platform’s strategic trade-offs in introducing PB products, highlighting its varied pricing and quality strategies across categories, and revealing the critical role of brand value in supply chain competition. Full article