Consumer Issues Research Articles

Logistics service sharing in cross-border e-commerce

While the demand for cross-border e-commerce has grown rapidly, challenges have emerged for both retailers and consumers participating in this global market. Retailers have been struggling with high logistics costs to fulfill cross-border demand, while the lack of trust in foreign retailers is a major issue for consumers. In this paper, we study a cross-border collaboration scheme between a domestic and a foreign retailer to mitigate these challenges. This entails a co-opetition framework where the domestic retailer performs the last-mile delivery of the foreign retailer’s orders in exchange for a logistics service fee. We model demand via a Multinomial Logit (MNL) choice model where the consumers are trust- and price-sensitive. We compare the market outcomes of the two retailers in “pre-collaboration” and “post-collaboration” settings. We find that there exist win-win outcomes where both retailers benefit from collaboration under realistic settings. We also show that a cooperative mechanism can lead to higher profits for both retailers compared to the non-cooperative mechanism for setting the logistics service fee, if the contract terms are decided carefully.

Scaling the Food Mountain: Implications for Addressing the Determinants of Consumer Food Waste Practices

The growing food waste phenomenon is recognised as a global issue with significant social, economic, and environmental burdens. This is a major concern in developed nations, where consumers are the largest contributors to the total volume of food waste production. As a leading cause of food and water insecurity, economic inequality, and environmental degradation, preventing and minimising consumer food waste is a key objective for policymakers and practitioners. Due to the complex consumer behaviours and practices associated with food waste generation, current understandings of why food waste occurs remain scattered. The purpose of this review is therefore to map the history and development of consumer food waste research over time, highlighting key themes and inconsistencies within the existing literature. Adopting a narrative approach, the literature is organised into three distinct themes to explore and identify the various internal and external determinants of consumer food waste. Our analysis highlights consumer food waste as a complex and multi-faceted challenge which cannot be attributed to one single variable, but rather a combination of behaviours determined by various societal, individual, and behavioural factors. While previous research tends to frame food waste as mainly a consumer issue, this review identifies several collective actors who are central to the problem. These findings call for a holistic view across the food supply chain to help identify opportunities for multi-stakeholder actions that prevent and reduce food waste at the consumer level. Drawing upon these new insights, we provide practical recommendations to assist policymakers, retailers, and consumers in mitigating consumer-related food waste.

Pressurized liquid extraction of sulfite for quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Sulfite is an additive used in shrimp processing to prevent discoloration. However, sulfite can cause health issues for sensitive consumers, making its monitoring necessary. Determining sulfite concentrations is complex because the Monier-Williams reference method is laborious and has low analytical throughput. Additionally, new techniques are needed to stabilize sulfite during the extraction process because this analyte undergoes rapid oxidation. A new method involving extraction and derivatization of sulfite with formaldehyde through automated pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), followed by quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode-array detector in indirect mode, was developed and optimized using multivariate planning. The PLE procedure was compared to another solid-liquid extraction method. The new method successfully stabilized and extracted sulfite from shrimp in few steps with adequate precision (CV<3.8%), producing extracts that were stable for 10 days. Recovery was satisfactory (97%-99%), and the limits of detection (4.6mgkg-1) and quantitation (15.4mgkg-1) were suitable for the intended purpose.

Policy Solutions for Enhancing Drug Pricing Transparency and Reducing Health Care Costs in the United States

The excessive cost of prescription pharmaceuticals in the United States is an often-recognized issue for consumers, healthcare providers, and insurance companies alike. A major contributing factor to excess cost is the lack of transparency in drug pricing, which makes it difficult for stakeholders to understand the actual costs of medications. In this article, we look at two basic policy measures to ameliorate this issue. First, we explore providing consumers with clear information on medication costs at the point of prescription, specifically in outpatient doctors' offices. This policy seeks to empower patients and enhance informed decision-making by integrating drug cost information into electronic health records (EHRs), allowing physicians to discuss cost-effective alternatives with their patients. Second, we investigate potential federal regulations that would require pharmaceutical companies to publicly disclose reasons for price hikes, using specific benchmarks as guidelines. These regulations would mandate pharmaceutical companies to report heavy price increases and the factors contributing to these hikes, thereby holding manufacturers accountable and promoting price stability. By addressing these two policy measures, the article aims to enhance drug price transparency and reduce healthcare costs.

Impact of Halal Supply Chain Management on Halal Integrity in Malaysia's TVET Food Industry

Ensuring the integrity of halal food is among the concerned issues of many Muslim consumers around the world especially on the authenticity of halal food products status. They are keen to know all the activities involved whether the products they purchase are genuinely halal along the supply chain. Although the issue of halal integrity is widely discussed within the halal food industry, the factors attract the attention of both the academic and halal practitioners remain ambiguous. Thus, this paper intends to assess the existing halal food supply chain management (HFSCM) and its influence on halal integrity assurance (HIA). Using quantitative approach, an industry pilots were empirically experimented to test the concepts and provide practical solutions for halal industry players to optimize their HIA in food and beverages (F&amp;B) industries. The survey data was acquired from 121 halal F&amp;B industries. Multiple linear regression technique was used to analyze the data. It was found that the HFSCM of F&amp;B industries have a direct impact on HIA. The findings are set out to argue that new solutions are required to reduce the vulnerability for better optimization of HFSCM thus enhancing the HIA. Significantly, this study seen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is critical in ensuring the sustainability of HFSCMspecially to cater demands among Muslim population.

Down, and Under Pressure: The Decline of Local and Non-Anglo Best-Selling Recording Artists in Australia 2000–2023: Submitted to the International Journal of Music Business Research 14.06.24.

Abstract The global consolidation and platformitisation of recorded music have attracted attention to changes in local artist representation in national sales charts and, more broadly, to the diversity of nationalities within recorded music markets. Global platform distribution has been perceived to aid local music economies and the diversity of cultural production. This article quantitatively analyses the annual Australian top 100 single and album charts 2000–2023 to determine Australian artist representation, Indigenous artist representation and diversity of nationality over the period. The data reveals, contrary to propositions of glocalisation and internationalisation, that Australian and non-Anglo artist representation has declined significantly, while North American and British artists have increased their presence in the Australian charts. It also finds that Indigenous chart representation over the period is low, stable and in line with population ratios. The data raises issues for artists, companies, policy makers and consumers in the Australian music industries.

Similarity recognition approach to identify zero-added MSG soy sauce using stable isotopes and amino acid profiles

Seasonings such as naturally fermented soy sauce without added monosodium glutamate (MSG), are currently a growth market in China. However, fraudulent and mislabeled zero-added MSG soy sauce may cause a risk of excessive MSG intake, increasing food safety issues for consumers. This study investigates stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and 16 amino acids in typical Chinese in-market soy sauces and uses a similarity method to establish criteria to authenticate MSG addition claims. Results reveal most zero-added MSG soy sauces had lower δ13C values (−25.2 ‰ to −17.7 ‰) and glutamic acid concentrations (8.97 mg mL−1 to 34.76 mg mL−1), and higher δ15N values (−0.27 ‰ +0.95 ‰) and other amino acid concentrations than added-MSG labeled samples. A combined approach, using isotopes, amino acids, similarity coefficients and uncertainty values, was evaluated to rapidly and accurately identify zero-added MSG soy sauces from MSG containing counterparts.

Environmental Concerns of Agri-Food Product Consumers: Key Factors

Growing consumer interest in caring for the environment has motivated the development of multiple studies focused on discovering this variable’s impact on purchasing behaviour. However, a major gap still exists between attitude and pro-environmental behaviour caused by the need for greater environmental awareness, among other things. Therefore, knowing the environmental issues that worry consumers of agrifood products is important. This work digs deeper into this issue by analysing these environmental concerns and examining differences between countries with different levels of environmental sensitivity. CAWI methodology has been used to conduct an online survey in four countries (Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Denmark), with 3200 valid responses analysed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The obtained results highlight the existence of 11 major environmental dimensions or issues for consumers of agri-food products. In addition, a correspondence analysis identifies two key factors, the first focused on a range of environmental problems of a more general nature and the second with greater interest focused on concern for biodiversity conservation. This study has implications for both the agri-food sector and European agricultural policy.

Simulation and Analysis of Dynamic Voltage Restorer with PI Controller under Different Fault Condition

Abstract: This document gives formatting instructions for authors preparing papers for publication in the Proceedings of an IEEE conference. The authors must follow the instructions given in the document for the papers to be published. You can use this document as both an instruction set and as a template into which you can type your own text. The demand for quality power has become a challenging issue for industrial area and consumers. Among them voltage unbalance is considered as the major affecting problem leads to degradation in performance of electrical equipments. FACTS devices used for compensation are the best method to overcome such problem. Among them DVR considered the most efficient and cost effective. In a control system of the DVR main consideration includes: detection of the start and finish of the sag, voltage reference generation, transient and steady-state control of the injected voltage, and protection of the system. In this work, the simulation model of nonlinear load connected power distribution system with Dynamic voltage Restorer controlled by PI Controller has been developed using Matlab/Simulink. In this case we simulate three fault likewise: Three-line to ground fault, Double-line to ground fault and Single-line to ground fault with two different PI controller to study the THD.

Protection of consumer rights in the practice of the EU court

Introduction. The paper highlights the issues of implementation of consumer protection mechanisms at two hierarchically subordinate levels – international and national. It is given the generalization of separately analyzed cases illustrating the proper practical implementation of consumer protection at the level of the EU Court of Justice. It is provided a generalized view of how theoretical consolidation of the rules meets the requirements of the present. The purpose of the paper is to present the practical results of the analysis of the European consumer protection system at the supranational and national levels of the EU. To do so, the following tasks need to be accomplished: to define the legislative regulation of European consumer policy and its basic principles, to outline the procedure for legislative regulation of consumer issues by the EU supranational institutions, to analyze the case law of the EU Court of Justice and to identify further trends in legal regulation in this area. Results. It is emphasized that it is the European Union that serves as a priority for the national systems of its member states. It is found that the States clearly follow the principles enshrined in certain Directives, but often face difficulties in interpretation, since not all the rules have been implemented in accordance with the fluidity of the modernized world, and therefore there is a need to apply to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a broader explanation. Despite certain difficulties, new mechanisms are increasingly being introduced to ensure the effectiveness of consumer protection at the international level. In particular, the doctrinal positions of individual scholars play an important role, which, in turn, are implemented in practice. Conclusion. It is noted that it is important to harmonize the national legislation of the Member States and the European legislation, since only then can the consumer protection sphere be properly regulated. In general, it is noted that the issue of building and maintaining consumer confidence in the market is a key one for European consumer policy. It cannot be ensured in the presence of unfair, aggressive and openly fraudulent trade practices, so the system must have a sufficient range of effective tools, both state and non-state, to prevent them.

Conquering the Labor Shortage With Kiosks

The labor shortage within the restaurant industry has caused service quality and revenue to decline. To help combat this decline, restaurant operators have begun adopting kiosks and limiting their menu options. This case study addresses labor and consumer issues that are being experienced within a quick service seafood restaurant called Golden Eagle Fish Shack. The owner is interested in implementing kiosks into his operation to help overcome the declining consumer satisfaction from the longer wait times, alleviate time consuming tasks from his current employees, while also to increase the revenue stream of the operation.

Explorning the Role of Machine Learning in Enhancing Cloud Security

The use and acceptance of cloud computing are growing quickly. Numerous businesses are making investments in this area, either for their own needs or to offer services to others. The rise of the cloud has led to a number of security issues for both consumers and businesses. Machine learning is one method of cloud security (ML). ML approaches have been applied in a variety of ways to stop or identify online threats and security holes. We present a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of cloud security and machine learning approaches and techniques in this work. After 63 pertinent papers were examined, the SLR's findings were divided into three primary study areas: I. The many forms of cloud security

Effect of hydrogen blending on the accuracy of smart gas meters

The exploitation of green hydrogen blending with natural gas (NG) is expected to contribute in lowering greenhouse gas emissions and fostering the share of renewable energy sources (RES). The NG infrastructure, in fact, can act as a storage facility for green hydrogen produced from excess RES, also providing flexibility to the electric system. However, the unbalance of the networks and the raise of protection issues for consumers may occur as a consequence of the potential decay of the metrological performance of gas meters operating with natural gas and hydrogen blends. In this paper, the authors present the results of an experimental campaign aimed at analysing the effect of hydrogen blending on the accuracy of smart domestic gas meters. Experimental tests were performed in the laboratory using air, natural gas and gas-hydrogen blends up to 23%vol. The results show no criticalities occur for diaphragm and ultrasonic gas meters, regardless of the hydrogen content. On the other hand, thermal mass gas meters show good reliability when hydrogen blends are within 2%vol, whereas for higher hydrogen contents, reliability is demonstrated only when they are equipped with a specific new design routine capable to address the gas quality changes.

The Integration of AI and Devops in the Field of Information Technology and Its Prospective Evolution in the United States

Abstract: This study investigated the collaborative role of AI and DevOps within the field of information technology and its significance for the United States. The research revealed that DevOps systems can pose significant challenges without the integration of artificial intelligence. AI and DevOps synergize to enhance efficiency in managing diverse tasks within the information technology domain. The exponential growth in data volume presents difficulties for DevOps teams in swiftly assimilating and addressing consumer issues. The automation trend has positioned DevOps as a vital component of information technology, facilitating efficient software delivery and faster market entry, resulting in more stable products. Furthermore, AIpowered technologies hold great potential for addressing critical issues such as national security. The research recommends organizations adopt AI-driven deployments within their DevOps environments. Given the limitations of computer processing capacity, artificial intelligence serves as a solution for storing, processing, and analyzing vast datasets. To grasp AI's role in DevOps, it's essential to understand their interdependency and its impact on AI. While companies recognize the potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the lack of proper knowledge impedes their full utilization. In the realm of software development, DevOps faces inherent challenges that AI systems can effectively address, playing a pivotal role in advancing digital transformation.

JOB STRESS AMONG RAILWAY EMPLOYEES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO KOLLAM RAILWAY STATION

Indian railway is the biggest public sector industry in India. The success of the industry mainly depends on the work forces. But they face a lot of problems. The employees in the Indian railway are experiencing a tremendous amount of pressure at the work place. Increased workloads, overtime, hostile work environment and shift work are just a few causes of stressful working conditions (Neethu Mohan &amp; Athira Sivaraman,2017). In this context it is essential to study the occupational stress of railway employees. This is very important to control and take measures to reduce the stress because work stress may lead to family problems, health issues (mental health and physical health), social problems etc. The stress is consuming issue in present day society (Jecintha Sathiyavathi&amp; Dr. M. Muthupandi (2021). Employee health is substantially affected by work, and work is affected by employees’ health as well (Aslihan &amp; ayfer,2021). The physical working environment also gives rise to work load including noise, uncomfortable conditions of train platforms etc. Railway employees struggles to balance the job and family responsibilities. Hence the study has focused on the work stress of railway employees, factors affecting stress, effect of stress among employees and how the stress is related to age level.

Why has animal science not led to improved farm animal health and welfare?

To sustain the economic viability of a livestock farm in a global market, characterised by a price undercutting competition, farmers are forced to adapt to what the market demands. At the same time, they have to care for the functionality of the farm system as a whole and of the subsystems, such as the farm animals, so that they for their part they can contribute to an economic success. Now, that animal health and welfare (AHW) has become an increasingly important issue for citizens and consumers, not only the decision makers but also the disciplines of animal science are challenged to improve an unsatisfying AHW level that has been neglected for long. However, to reduce AHW problems requires a quite different approach than to increase productive efficiency. A common sense can be assumed concerning the need to strive for an optimal cost-to-benefit ratio while balancing positive and negative impacts of production processes on economic and AHW target figures. However, what is often not adequately considered is the fact that economic and biological demands have to be balanced within a living system, e.g. in the individual animal and farm system. These function as the relevant reference systems in all cases where measures to reduce AHW problems are considered. Furthermore, there is a large gap of scientific knowledge, however, not in the traditional sense. While the predominant approaches, scientists generate context-invariant, and thus generalisable disposal knowledge in diversified subdisciplines, problem solving requires contextualisation, orientation and action-guiding knowledge within transdisciplinary approaches. The reason is that AHW problems are highly context-sensitive as well as multifactorial. They develop within the farm specific interconnectedness of manifold and highly varying factors, emerging a complexity that does not allow predictive statements via inductive approaches but requires an iterative procedure to approach to a farm specific AHW level, which is balanced with the overarching goal of economic viability. Recommended action guiding knowledge has to be of high external and ecological validity, before farmers might consider it to be implemented in farm practice. From the reflection about the discrepancy between the knowledge needed to reduce AHW problems and what is offered by animal science, it is concluded that not only the farm systems but also the predominant approaches of animal science have to be transformed. Otherwise, there is not a big chance to considerably reduce AHW problems in farm animals.

GOOD FAITH AS A BASIS FOR CONSUMER LIABILITY IN CASH ON DELIVERY (COD) TRANSACTIONS

Cash on Delivery (COD) is a popular type of transaction in online buying and selling. However, the implementation of the COD feature creates the issue of consumers being reluctant to make payments after the goods have come as agreed. This unilateral cancellation may result in losses for the seller, the application, and the courier. The aim of this research is to examine the legal liabilities of consumers who make unilateral cancellations to prevent losses. This is normative research that employs secondary data from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. The gathered data is then qualitatively analyzed and related with the core problem. According to the findings, the agreement must be made in good faith, which can be defined as subjective good faith (honesty) and objective good faith (propriety and justice) under Article 1338 paragraph 3 of the Civil Code. Judges have the right to evaluate an agreement and terminate it if it contains improper or unfair details. Before the transaction, where the seller and buyer must be honest, good faith plays a significant part in online transactions using the COD method. Buyers are expected to carefully study the description of the items to be purchased because placing an order indicates that the buyer has agreed to the specifications of the goods and will pay when the goods are received. The COD payment method does not allow customers to cancel unilaterally without providing clear reasons and is therefore considered a default

Understanding Studies on Consumers’ Food Choices Using Food Choice Questionnaire: A Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis (ScoRBA)

Since the development of the food choice questionnaire (FCQ) to assess consumers’ food choice motives in 1995, studies using the FCQ have been highly diverse. Despite the abundance of research on the topic, FCQ nevertheless manages to provide deep insights into consumers’ food choices—a crucial aspect for the agrifood industry and the formulation of food policies. This study aimed to analyze science mapping and synthesize research implications on the studies of consumers’ food choice motives using FCQ. In total, 169 FCQ-related journal articles were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases for this study. The data were analyzed using a scoping review and bibliometric analysis (ScoRBA). The findings disclosed a positive trend in research on consumers’ food choice motives using FCQ. Notably, two seminal papers significantly influenced this field. Furthermore, specific research topics emerged and diversified over time, with recent themes encompassing consumer issues, consumer segments, research methods, and contextual factors. Recommendations for future research included: (1) conducting longitudinal studies to bridge the gap between food choice motives and dietary behaviors, with the incorporation of additional new recent factors; (2) longitudinal studies to explore nutrition, psychology, and health study groups in diverse cultural settings and more reliable research; (3) exploring FCQ research through a gender lens within varied cultural contexts, with an expansion of longitudinal research and more parameters; and (4) delving into FCQ research on adolescents, considering various potential influencing factors and utilizing data capable of elucidating causal relationships between variables.

Blockchain Adoption and Organic Subsidy in an Agricultural Supply Chain Considering Market Segmentation

The quality authenticity of organic agricultural products has always been a hot issue for consumers. Blockchain’s advantages in information traceability and preventing data from being tampered with can reduce fake and counterfeit products, increasing the consumers’ trust in the quality of organic agricultural products. Considering market segmentation of consumer types in organic agricultural products (OPs) and conventional agricultural products (CPs), this study builds a game-theoretical model to explore how participants decide between blockchain traceability platforms and organic subsidy strategies. Results show that the producer should introduce the blockchain when the fraction of blockchain technology’s total cost shared by the producer is smaller and the fixed cost of implementing blockchain is higher or when the fraction of blockchain technology’s total cost shared by the producer is higher and the fixed cost of implementing blockchain is lower. The retailer is inclined to an organic subsidy, and the smaller the market proportion of undifferentiated-conscious consumers (UCCs), the more inclined the retailer is to the organic subsidy strategy. In addition, the market share of UCCs positively promotes the sales quantities and supply chain profits of CPs but is not conducive to the sales quantities of OPs.

Applications of Plant Bioactive Compounds as Replacers of Synthetic Additives in the Food Industry.

According to the Codex Alimentarius, a food additive is any substance that is incorporated into a food solely for technological or organoleptic purposes during the production of that food. Food additives can be of synthetic or natural origin. Several scientific evidence (in vitro studies and epidemiological studies like the controversial Southampton study published in 2007) have pointed out that several synthetic additives may lead to health issues for consumers. In that sense, the actual consumer searches for "Clean Label" foods with ingredient lists clean of coded additives, which are rejected by the actual consumer, highlighting the need to distinguish synthetic and natural codded additives from the ingredient lists. However, this natural approach must focus on an integrated vision of the replacement of chemical substances from the food ingredients, food contact materials (packaging), and their application on the final product. Hence, natural plant alternatives are hereby presented, analyzing their potential success in replacing common synthetic emulsifiers, colorants, flavorings, inhibitors of quality-degrading enzymes, antimicrobials, and antioxidants. In addition, the need for a complete absence of chemical additive migration to the food is approached through the use of plant-origin bioactive compounds (e.g., plant essential oils) incorporated in active packaging.