Demand For Information Research Articles

Demand Information Asymmetry and Supply Chain Financing: A Signaling Perspective

This study considers a simple automotive supply chain that includes an automobile manufacturer with demand information and financial advantages and a financially constrained automobile lessor. The manufacturer can decide whether to provide financing support to the lessor, as follows: when the manufacturer offers trade credit contracts, this is seller financing, and the lessor does not need to borrow from banks; if the manufacturer only provides wholesale price contracts, then the lessor must rely on bank financing. By constructing a signaling game, we delve into the interactive relationship between the manufacturer’s contract decisions and the lessor’s optimal financing strategies under both symmetric and asymmetric demand information scenarios. The findings show that, under symmetric information, the decisions of the manufacturer and the lessor are primarily driven by demand price sensitivity, with no significant financing conflicts between the two parties. However, under asymmetric information, their decisions are also closely related to the degree of demand fluctuation, leading to the emergence of financing conflicts. The innovation of this study lies in its incorporation of demand information asymmetry into the analytical framework governing manufacturers’ contract decisions and lessors’ financing strategies. This provides valuable theoretical insights and practical guidance for automotive supply chains operating under financial constraints.

Microgreens: Potential for Innovative Farming in Florida

Microgreens are the young growths of leafy greens, vegetables, and herbs that are picked when only the first pair of genuine leaves has formed. There is a definite need for more diversification alternatives in agriculture as there is increasing demand to shift away from intensive conventional food production systems. Microgreens have recently been in high demand due to their high value and reduced carbon footprint. Consumers are increasingly interested in foods (often referred to as super foods) with great nutritional and medicinal benefits. Microgreens have significant potential as a new crop for Florida’s future because of characteristics like: being easy to grow with short cultivation period (7–14 days), low startup cost, fast turnaround time, year-round growing, higher nutrition, and high-value crop. Increasing demand for microgreens information and workshops is another factor contributing to the growing popularity of microgreens. Consumers are increasingly growing microgreens in their homes in Florida. The market for microgreens is expected to reach $2.5 billion by the year 2030. As people’s interest in organic farming and healthy food options continues to rise, Florida has a great opportunity to become a market leader and generate large demand for a wide range of microgreens. The rising interest in organic foods and the growing health awareness are likely contributing factors. In order to encourage potential consumers to produce this crop, the marketing features of microgreens require extensive investigation.

Mapping the skill landscape: insights from accounting job advertisements

ABSTRACT Skill requirements in professions are not static; they evolve in response to dynamic environments. With significant changes in the business environment, the roles and tasks of professionals across various fields are evolving, which leads to updated skill demands. In this study, we map the skill landscape of the accounting profession in Finland. We base our analysis on large data encompassing job advertisements spanning a five-year period, which enables us to analyse the evolution of skill requirements in accounting occupations and requirements at different career phases and subfields. The results indicate increasing trends in the demands for information and communication technology (ICT) skills and multiple professional skills. Meanwhile, the demands for some field-specific technical skills have even decreased. Furthermore, the results suggest that the requirements depend on the career phases and accounting subfields represented by the advertisements. For instance, ICT skills are more often demanded for entry- and middle-level positions than executive-level ones, and tax positions require particularly versatile skill sets. Drawing on these findings, we discuss the future directions of skill requirements and contemplate education and training providers’ important roles in equipping individuals with skills appropriate for the evolving environment by adapting curricula and training to meet the changing demands.

LLM-RG4: Flexible and Factual Radiology Report Generation Across Diverse Input Contexts

Drafting radiology reports is a complex task requiring flexibility, where radiologists tail content to available information and particular clinical demands. However, most current radiology report generation (RRG) models are constrained to a fixed task paradigm, such as predicting the full ''finding'' section from a single image, inherently involving a mismatch between inputs and outputs. The trained models lack the flexibility for diverse inputs and could generate harmful, input-agnostic hallucinations. To bridge the gap between current RRG models and the clinical demands in practice, we first develop a data generation pipeline to create a new MIMIC-RG4 dataset, which considers four common radiology report drafting scenarios and has perfectly corresponded input and output. Secondly, we propose a novel large language model (LLM) based RRG framework, namely LLM-RG4, which utilizes LLM's flexible instruction-following capabilities and extensive general knowledge. We further develop an adaptive token fusion module that offers flexibility to handle diverse scenarios with different input combinations, while minimizing the additional computational burden associated with increased input volumes. Besides, we propose a token-level loss weighting strategy to direct the model's attention towards positive and uncertain descriptions. Experimental results demonstrate that LLM-RG4 achieves state-of-the-art performance in both clinical efficiency and natural language generation on the MIMIC-RG4 and MIMIC-CXR datasets. We quantitatively demonstrate that our model has minimal input-agnostic hallucinations, whereas current open-source models commonly suffer from this problem.

Femtosecond laser microfabrication of a fully-integrated optofluidic device for 3D imaging flow cytometry

In recent years imaging flow cytometry (IFC) is gaining increasing attention as it combines the characteristics of conventional flow cytometry with optical microscopy techniques, allowing for high-throughput, multi-parameter screening of single cell populations. In the field of biology, the always increasing demand for high content morphological and spatial information led to the development of systems for volumetric imaging. However, current 3D IFC systems are often limited by the incompatibility with available microfluidic devices or by instrumental complexity that might lead to optical misalignment or mechanical instabilities in day-by-day operation. To this end, here we demonstrate the importance of advancing the laser fabrication technique by reporting on a fully integrated optofluidic platform composed of a borosilicate glass chip encompassing reconfigurable integrated photonic circuits for patterned light generation, bonded to a fused silica glass chip incorporating cylindrical hollow lenses, for light-sheet illumination, perfectly aligned to a microchannel where the sample under investigation flows. The system is capable of high-resolution imaging flow cytometry by implementing structured light sheet microscopy in a heterogeneously integrated platform with unprecedented stability. All the components are realized by femtosecond laser irradiation followed by chemical etching. The extreme level of integration permitted by the advanced optimization of the laser fabrication technique allowed the reduction of the assembled components and the absence of moving parts, thus ensuring durable alignment as well as mechanical and thermal stability both in short and long-term operation of the device, for the automated fluorescence signal acquisition during the sample flow.

The Crowding-In Effect of Public Information on Private Information Acquisition

Abstract The dissemination of public information regarding an asset’s fundamental value can encourage the acquisition of private information by informed traders, leading to a crowding-in effect. Competing with the crowding-out effect analyzed in prior research, the crowding-in effect shapes the demand for private information in a hump-shaped curve against public information quality. I examine how a for-profit information seller strategically provides information, exploiting this hump-shaped demand curve, and offer theoretical support for the coexistence of free and paid information. The model yields distinctive insights into the equilibrium information structure and market quality when the crowding-in effect drives public information dissemination.

Study of Impact of Moment Information in Demand Forecasting on Distributionally Robust Fulfillment Rate Improvement Algorithm

Front distribution centers are extensively employed in E-commerce distribution networks to shorten the delivery time, thereby stimulating customers’ purchase intentions and enhancing customer loyalty. When a customer places an order, the designated front distribution center quickly processes it to ensure prompt delivery. If the front distribution center is out of stock, the order will be fulfilled by its corresponding regional distribution center, which will result in a longer delivery time. Once the regional distribution center is also out of stock, a lost sale occurs. This paper improves a distributionally robust allocation model aimed at enhancing the fulfillment rates of front distribution centers while also preserving the overall fulfillment rate within the region. We reformulate this distributionally robust allocation model into an equivalent mixed-integer linear programming model and develop a corresponding approximation algorithm. Through numerical experiments, we comprehensively reveal the impact of moment information in demand forecasting on the distributionally robust fulfillment rate improvement algorithm by discovering how demand forecasting influences the allocation rule and how forecasted variance influences the fulfillment rates at fixed or changing inventory levels.

IMF-ENV

IMF-ENV is a global dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model developed by the IMF's Research Department. The model features a database of 160 countries and regions, along with 76 sectors, and can be calibrated to a wide range of country-sector combinations. The model's general equilibrium structure, combined with its high level of detail, enables it to assess both direct and indirect domestic structural changes and cross-border spillover effects of policies. This makes it suitable for examining the medium- and long-term macroeconomic effects as well as structural shifts arising from national and/or global climate mitigation, energy, fiscal and trade policies. The model reports impact on macroeconomic variables, sectoral outcomes, employment and bilateral trade flows, along with detailed information for energy demand and supply, electricity generation and GHG emissions.

Demand information disclosure in fresh produce supply chain considering competition between geographical indication and local suppliers

Demand information disclosure in fresh produce supply chain considering competition between geographical indication and local suppliers

Characterizing age-related change in learning the value of cognitive effort.

Adults often titrate the degree of their cognitive effort in an economical manner: they "think hard" when the reward benefits of a task exceed its difficulty costs. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether and how children and adolescents adjust their cognitive effort according to multiple cues about its worthwhileness, including in novel environments where these cues must be learned through experience. Given that the processing of incentive and demand information changes with age, the present study examines participants' (primary experiment Nusable = 150, secondary experiment Nusable = 150, ages 10-20 years) performance across two task-switching paradigms that manipulated the rewards offered for, and the difficulty of, engaging cognitive effort. In the primary experiment, reward cues were instructed but difficulty cues were learnable. In the secondary experiment, the reward and difficulty cues were both instructed, eliminating learning demands and effectively making the task easier. The primary experiment revealed that although less difficult contexts promoted greater accuracy at the group level, the regulation of cognitive effort according to higher and lower incentives emerged with age. Especially early in the task, older participants achieved greater accuracy for higher incentives. Younger participants, unexpectedly, achieved greater accuracy for lower incentives and adolescents performed similarly for each reward level. Nonetheless, participants of all ages self-reported trying their hardest for higher incentives, but only adults translated this aim into action. The secondary experiment revealed that in an overall easier task environment, cognitive effort did not become increasingly economical with age. Taken together, this pattern of findings suggests that different sources and amounts of information, and the conditions they are presented in, shape learning the value of cognitive effort from late childhood to early adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

საზოგადოებრივი ურთიერთობების (PR) როლის გაძლიერება სახელისუფლებო ინსტიტუციებში

Enhancing the role of public relations (PR) within government institutions yields significant positive outcomes, particularly in meeting the demands of today's dynamic information and communication environment. Effective PR not only promotes greater transparency within agencies but also fosters increased public trust. Public relations play a critical role in governance, aiming to enhance public awareness, trust, and engagement. Effective PR within government institutions is essential for fostering constructive dialogue with the public and incorporating citizens’ interests into decision-making processes. In today’s fast-paced, information-driven society, where both speed and reliability are paramount, PR serves not only as a channel for disseminating information but also as a strategic instrument for bolstering transparency and reinforcing the legitimacy of governance. This article explores strategies for strengthening the institutional role of PR, the methods government bodies should employ, and the anticipated results of this process. Strengthening PR’s institutional role involves updating management and communication strategies, improving employee skills, and fostering public confidence—all of which contribute to more effective governance and long-term stability.

Optimising ensemble streamflow predictions with bias correction and data assimilation techniques

Abstract. This study evaluates the efficacy of bias correction (BC) and data assimilation (DA) techniques in refining hydrological model predictions. Both approaches are routinely used to enhance hydrological forecasts, yet there have been no studies that have systematically compared their utility. We focus on the application of these techniques to improve operational river flow forecasts in a diverse dataset of 316 catchments in the United Kingdom (UK), using the ensemble streamflow prediction (ESP) method applied to the (Génie Rural à 4 paramètres Journalier) (GR4J) hydrological model. This framework is used in operational seasonal forecasting, providing a suitable test bed for method application. Assessing the impacts of these two approaches on model performance and forecast skill, we find that BC yields substantial and generalised improvements by rectifying errors after simulation. Conversely, DA, adjusting model states at the start of the forecast period, provides more subtle enhancements, with the biggest effects seen at short lead times in catchments impacted by snow accumulation or melting processes in winter and spring and catchments with a high baseflow index (BFI) in summer. The choice between BC and DA involves trade-offs considering conceptual differences, computational demands, and uncertainty handling. Our findings emphasise the need for selective application based on specific scenarios and user requirements. This underscores the potential for developing a selective system (e.g. a decision tree) to refine forecasts effectively and deliver user-friendly hydrological predictions. While further work is required to enable implementation, this research contributes insights into the relative strengths and weaknesses of these forecast enhancement methods. These could find application in other forecasting systems, aiding the refinement of hydrological forecasts and meeting the demand for reliable information by end-users.

Investor Sentiment and Information Demand

ABSTRACTWe investigate how investor sentiment influences investor demand for financial information. Using two separate settings—earnings announcements and acquisition announcements—we find that as sentiment decreases, investor demand increases for SEC‐regulated information that is highly detailed and relatively complicated to process. This result is consistent with psychology theory suggesting that during times of negative sentiment (i.e., pessimism), individuals are more likely to make decisions based on detailed information that requires high processing costs. Furthermore, consistent with our expectations, we find that the effects of sentiment on information demand are affected by other factors conveyed in the earnings announcement setting that can signal the need for more detailed information, such as the magnitude of the earnings surprise and firm distress. We also find that as sentiment increases, investor demand increases for higher level (summary) information that is obtained from Google ticker searches. Combined with our primary results on SEC information, these results are consistent with the notion that during times of optimism, investors rely less on complex information and are more likely to use simple heuristics that require less cognitive effort to process. Our study provides new insights on how sentiment influences investor demand for information, which has significant implications for price discovery.

Enhancing Sustainable Transparency: A Content Analysis of Sustainability Reporting in Financial vs. Non-financial Sectors

Sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important for companies across various industries due to the growing awareness of sustainability issues and the stakeholders demand for sustainability performance information. However, sustainability reporting practices might differ throughout industries due to their specific characteristics. This study aims to compare sustainable reporting practices in financial and non-financial industries. A descriptive qualitative approach using secondary data is chosen in which the 2022 sustainability report was produced by the top ten financial and non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This study uses content analysis with Landrum model categories and keyword frequency to evaluate the transparency levels of financial and non-financial industries’ sustainability reporting. The findings reveal that financial industries disclose more about the environment or ecology than non-financial industries that are more business- centered. The results of this study contribute to companies improving sustainable reporting practices and helping stakeholders understand sustainability information reported by companies in different industries so that they can make better decisions.

The Sociology of Digital Inequality: The Stratification of Social Media Popularity in College Sports

ABSTRACT Many scholars view social media popularity as a resource gained through self-branding and strategic communication. The reach of a social media account held by an individual or organization rises or falls depending on how well it meets an audience’s demand for information, identity, or entertainment. This assumption stands in contrast to sociological theories of power and stratification. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of field and capital, this study considers the social structural forces that affect college sports teams’ number of followers on Instagram and X. Based on a sample of 552 teams in three different sports, we show that the popularity of teams depends greatly on their access to capital. This study models social media popularity and identifies four types of capital that are significant predictors of team follower counts on both platforms. It also provides a Bourdieusian theoretical framework intended to facilitate future research on the stratification of social media popularity in multiple fields of sociological interest.

Patient Experiences With a Mobile Self-Care Solution for Low-Complex Orthopedic Injuries: Mixed Methods Study.

The Dutch acute health care system faces challenges with limited resources and increasing patient numbers. To reduce outpatient follow-up, direct discharge (DD) has been implemented in over 30 out of 80 Dutch hospitals. With DD, no routine follow-up appointments are scheduled after the emergency department (ED) visit for low-complex, isolated, and stable musculoskeletal injuries. This policy is supported by information leaflets, a smartphone app, and a telephone helpline with human support. Growing evidence shows that DD is satisfactory, safe, and effective in reducing secondary health care use, but thorough patient experiences are lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with DD to ensure durable adoption and to improve the treatment protocol. A mixed method study was conducted parallel to the implementation of DD in 3 hospitals. Data were collected through a survey directly after the ED visit, a survey 3 months post injury, and semistructured interviews. Quantitative data were reported descriptively, and qualitative data used thematic analysis. Outcomes included the Bowen feasibility parameters: implementation, acceptance, preliminary efficacy, and demand. All patients who consented to the study face-to-face with one of the 12 low-complex musculoskeletal injuries were included in the study during the implementation period. Of the 429 patients who started the primary survey, 138 patients completed both surveys. A total of 18 semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed. Patients reported a median treatment satisfaction score of 7.8 (IQR 6.6-8.8) on a 10-point scale of DD at the ED. Information quality was experienced as good (106/138, 77%), and most preferred DD over face-to-face follow-up (79/138, 59%). Patient information demands and app use varied among patients, with a median frequency of use of 4 times (ranging from 1 to 30). This study shows that patients consider DD a feasible and safe alternative to traditional treatment, with a favorable perception of its acceptability, efficacy, applicability, and demand. Nevertheless, response rates were relatively low, and personal nuances and preferences must be considered when implementing DD. Clinicians and policy makers can use the insights to improve DD and work towards the integration of DD into clinical practice and future guidelines.

Health literacy demand and quality of website nutrition information for multiple sclerosis

Health literacy demand and quality of website nutrition information for multiple sclerosis

Appearance-related needs and challenges among cancer patients undergoing systemic therapy: a comprehensive survey study.

Recent improvements in cancer prognosis have highlighted the need for patients to balance social interactions with their therapeutic regimens. Central to this balance is managing the physical changes induced by cancer treatments. This study aimed to examine patients' reactions to these changes and to identify their needs related to appearance care. We conducted a survey among 800 patients undergoing systemic therapy to investigate the actual impact of changes and to determine the specific care needs across 45 appearance-related items. The survey using the original questionnaire was an online self-reported. Of the surveyed patients, 202 responded. The median age was 58years (ranging from 30 to 81), comprising 144 women and 58 men. Hair loss was experienced by 157 (78%) patients, with 109 (70%) of them purchasing wigs. The demand for information and consultation was highest for alopecia, reported by over 60% of respondents, followed by needs related to skin care and wigs. In addition, 26 items had unmet needs affecting more than 50% of the participants, with 24 of these items pursued by fewer than half of the patients. In female patients who experienced hair loss, patients with breast cancer more frequently sought information and consultation and had higher levels of unmet needs compared with those with non-breast cancer. The findings underscore the substantial and diverse appearance-related needs among cancer patients, with many experiencing significant unmet needs. These results suggest that comprehensive support systems are essential to address the varied and individualized needs of patients undergoing contemporary cancer treatments.

Upgrading the statistical system of Cuba: The role of the other entities producing official statistics

Official statistics constitute an essential public good, ensuring that the different actors in the government and society have the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions, implement policy actions, and measure their results. In this context, all components of the national statistical system should have sufficient capacities to address the increasing demands of statistical information and to implement new methods for its production and dissemination. Cuba is currently undertaking a modernisation process of its National Statistical System, under the leadership of the National Statistics and Information Office, which aims to tackle the critical aspects affecting the Other Entities Producing Official Statistics, as a result of the quality limitations of the statistical processes they implement. The objective of this work is to elaborate a statistical process management model for the Other Entities Producing Official Statistics, which should take into account the organisational and methodological principles that derive from national and international standards. The implementation of this statistical process management model can contribute to the fulfilment of the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

Problems of implementing the right of the suspect (accused) to represent evidence

In the article the author emphasizes that the current Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine grants the suspect and the accused the right to represent evidence, but does not regulate in detail the procedural order of its implementation. The criminal procedural doctrine also does not develop a unified approach to the procedure that could ensure the effective exercise by the specified subjects of the right to present evidence during the pre-trial investigation and in the judicial stages of criminal proceedings. It is stated that the active participation of the suspect (accused) in proving has a great importance for the protection of their rights and legitimate interests, which in turn contributes to ensuring a comprehensive, complete and impartial investigation of the circumstances of the criminal proceedings. At the same time, during the implementation of the suspect’s (accused’s) right to represent evidence, a number of different problems arise that are of a normative, law enforcement, and tactical nature. The author concludes that the right of the suspect to demand things, documents or information does not correspond to the obligation of the relevant state authorities or local governments, enterprises, institutions, organizations, officials and individuals to provide them. If the suspect conducts his defence independently, it is practically impossible to obtain the evidentiary materials he needs in this way. The opinion is supported that things, documents, other materials represented by the suspect (accused) are evidence from the moment they are provided. The expediency of representation of evidence by the suspect during the pre-trial investigation is emphasized in cases where they can be used to substantiate the presence of circumstances that exclude the criminal illegality of the act or are grounds for closing the criminal proceedings. To solve the identified problems, first of all, it is necessary to make amendments to the current Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, within which to regulate the procedure for submitting things and documents by participants in criminal proceedings that may later acquire the status of evidence, and their acceptance by the investigator, inquiry officer or prosecutor and their attachment to the materials of the proceedings, as well as to provide guarantees for the implementation of the right to collect evidence by requesting it.