Volume Of Products Research Articles

The effect of various drugs on the survival of sterlet fry in bacterial contamination of water

Currently, aquaculture is a reliable source of increasing the volume of fish food products and serves as a guarantor of food security. The sterlet Acipenser ruthenus L. is one of the main objects of freshwater aquaculture. Feeding with artificial feed, high planting densities and other negative factors of industrial fish farming inevitably lead to increased stress loads. This affects the physiological state of fish. Disturbances in the functioning of the immune system leads to outbreaks of infectious diseases and epizootic disadvantage of pond fish farms. In modern aquaculture, various antibiotics, probiotics and plant preparations are used to treat and prevent bacterial diseases. In this paper, the effect of different feed additives on the survival rate of sterlet fry to infectious agents was investigated. For this purpose, 150 individuals each were seeded into separate pools with high content of myxobacteria and aeromonads in the water microflora. Studies were conducted in 5 separate pools: control group with feed and 4 experimental pools with different feed additives. The duration of the experiment was 75 days. During the experiment, the number of surviving fries was recorded, and at the end, survival rate was calculated as a percentage of the total number of fish initially planted in each pool. Differences in the effect of different feed additives on the survival rate of fry were found. The highest escapement was recorded in the control group and the least in the group with Antibac-100. In the other experimental groups, the percentage of surviving fry was higher than in the control.

Screening of cellulose-degrading bacteria and optimization of cellulase production from Bacillus cereus A49 through response surface methodology

Cellulose-degrading microorganisms hold immense significance in utilizing cellulose resources efficiently. The screening of natural cellulase bacteria and the optimization of fermentation conditions are the hot spots of research. This study meticulously screened cellulose-degrading bacteria from mixed soil samples adopting a multi-step approach, encompassing preliminary culture medium screening, Congo red medium-based re-screening, and quantification of cellulase activity across various strains. Particularly, three robust cellulase-producing strains were identified: A24 (MT740356.1 Brevibacillus borstelensis), A49 (MT740358.1 Bacillus cereus), and A61 (MT740357.1 Paenibacillus sp.). For subsequent cultivation experiments, the growth curves of the three obtained isolates were monitored diligently. Additionally, optimal CMCase production conditions were determined, keeping CMCase activity as a key metric, through a series of single-factor experiments: agitation speed, cultivation temperature, unit medium concentration, and inoculum volume. Maximum CMCase production was observed at 150 rpm/37 °C, doubling the unit medium addition, and a 5 mL inoculation volume. Further optimization was conducted using the selected isolate A49 employing response surface methodology. The software model recommended a 2.21fold unit medium addition, 36.11 °C temperature, and 4.91 mL inoculant volume for optimal CMCase production. Consequently, three parallel experiments were conducted based on predicted conditions consistently yielding an average CMCase production activity of 15.63 U/mL, closely aligning with the predicted value of 16.41 U/mL. These findings validated the reliability of the model and demonstrated the effectiveness of optimized CMCase production conditions for isolate A49.

Effect of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin on Platelet Reconstitution after Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

To analyze the effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on platelet (PLT) reconstitution after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The clinical data of 147 MM patients who were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and received APBSCT as the first-line therapy were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether rhTPO was used during APBSCT, the patients were divided into rhTPO group (80 cases) and control group (67 cases). The time of PLT engraftment, blood product infusion requirements, the proportion of patients with PLT recovery to≥50×109/L and≥100×109/L at +14 days and +100 days after transplantation, and adverse reactions including the incidence of bleeding were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age, M protein type, PLT count at the initial diagnosis, median duration of induction therapy before APBSCT, and number of CD34+ cells reinfused (all P >0.05). The median time of PLT engraftment in the rhTPO group was 10 (6-14) days, which was shorter than 11 (8-23) days in the control group (P < 0.001). The median PLT transfusion requirement in the rhTPO group during APBSCT was 15(0-50)U, which was less than 20 (0-80)U in the control group (P =0.001). At +14 days after transplantation, the proportions of patients with PLT≥50×109/L in the rhTPO group and the control group were 66.3% and 52.2%, while the proportions of patients with PLT≥100×109/L were 23.8% and 11.9%, respectively, with no significant differences (all P >0.05). At +100 days after transplantation, the proportion of patients with PLT≥50×109/L in rhTPO group and control group was 96.3% and 89.6%, respectively (P >0.05), but the proportion of patients with PLT≥100×109/L in rhTPO group was higher than that in control group (75.0% vs 55.2%, P =0.012). There was no difference in the overall incidence of bleeding events in different locations during period of low PLT level of patients between the two groups. In rhTPO group, the rhTPO administration was well tolerated, and the incidences of abnormal liver and kidney function and infection were similar to those in the control group. When MM patients undergo first-line APBSCT, subcutaneous injection of rhTPO can shorten the time of platelet engraftment, reduce the transfusion volume of blood products, and be well tolerated, moreover, more patients have achieve a high level of PLT recovery after transplantation, which is very important for ensuring the safety of APBSCT and maintenance therapy.

The Increasing Demand for Skilled Professionals in the Field of Pharmacovigilance

ABSTRACT The pharmaceutical sector is experiencing rapid advancements in drug discovery, strict regulations, and a commitment to patient safety. This has led to an increased demand for skilled pharmacovigilance experts who can ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicinal products. Several factors contribute to this demand. The expanding pharmaceutical landscape leads to the need for thorough investigation of the safety profile of new medications and treatments. The increasing volume of pharmaceutical products also requires close monitoring for safety and efficacy. Strict regulatory requirements from global agencies further emphasize the need for a robust pharmacovigilance system. The industry’s focus on patient safety drives the demand for professionals who can effectively manage and analyze safety data. The rise of biologics and biosimilars presents additional challenges in monitoring and assessing safety profiles, creating a need for specialized expertise. Furthermore, the globalization of clinical trials and technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), require experts who can integrate these tools into pharmacovigilance methods. There are certain skill sets that are crucial for pharmacovigilance professionals. These include regulatory knowledge, data analysis and interpretation, case processing, signal detection and risk management, medical and scientific expertise, communication skills, and technological proficiency. There are various career opportunities in pharmacovigilance, including pharmacovigilance officer, pharmacovigilance scientist, medical reviewer, pharmacovigilance team lead/manager, regulatory affairs specialist, and consultant and trainer. Future trends in the field include the convergence of AI and ML, the use of real-world evidence for postmarketing surveillance and drug safety monitoring, collaboration, and outsourcing for PV projects, and the need to tailor pharmacovigilance approaches to personalized medicine. In conclusion, the pharmaceutical industry’s evolution and commitment to patient safety have created a growing need for skilled professionals in pharmacovigilance. Investments in the development and education of these professionals are essential for the advancement of drug safety and public health.

Strategi Pemasaran dalam Meningkatkan Daya Saing Usaha Keripik Usus Mardha Desa Badrain Kecamatan Narmada Kabupaten Lombok Barat

The background of this research is the existence of sharp competition between companies, both because of the increasing number of competitors, increasing product volume and rapidly increasing technological developments. This forces companies to pay attention and know what kind of marketing strategy is implemented by the company. The focus is this study was to describe the implementation of the marketing strategy of the intestine Mardha Chips Business in increasing competitiveness and the impact of the marketing strategy implementation by the intestine Mardha Chips Business. This study used qualitative descriptive type approach. Data collection methods used were observation, interview and documentation methods. The results of this study indicate that (1) Mardha Intenstinal Chips Business used a good marketing strategy, namely by conducting market segmentation, target market, market position and marketing mix which includes product strategy, price strategy, location and distribution strategy, and promotion strategy; (2) The marketing strategy implemented by Mardha intestine Chips Business has had positive impacts including increasing sales, adding value to the family economy, prodiving satisfaction to consumers with quality product and affordable prices and expanding market share.

Agent-based modeling and optimization of the characteristics for research-and-production clusters

This paper presents a developed agent-based simulation model for the development of research-and-production clusters in Russia implemented with the use of high-tech enterprises located in four science cities (Troitsk, Obninsk, Pushchino and Protvino) as the case study. A new approach to modeling and optimization of gross metropolitan product (GMP) is proposed, taking into account the influence of the “gravity effect” on the redistribution of labor resources between developing science cities and appropriate enterprises united in single research and research-and-production clusters An important element of this approach is the formation of various scenarios for the strategic development of the research-and-production clusters being assessed and support for the possibility of choosing the most preferable scenario using an evolutionary optimization algorithm. An enlarged simulation model has been developed and implemented in AnyLogic describing the possible development trajectories of science cities with a corresponding change in the values of the most important characteristics: the number of economically active population, the number of research-and-production enterprises, the volume of products produced in high-tech sectors of the economy, GMP, etc. The designed framework is intended primarily for the management of research-and-production clusters implementing the strategy of innovative development. Such a framework uses methods of system dynamics and agent-based simulation modeling supported in the AnyLogic system, genetic optimization algorithms and GIS mapping for science cities, etc. to implement the required functionality. The approbation of the framework was completed with the use of real data published in the approved strategies of the relevant science cities development. As a result of the numerical experiments carried out, some recommendations were proposed for the development of the research-and-production clusters under study considering their mutual influence and the existing base of resources.

Benefits of SWOT Analysis in Marketing Strategy for Sustainable Business Management

By developing the right marketing strategy based on a thorough SWOT analysis, the company can improve its performance and achieve sustainable growth according to targets. Especially when business competition in the world is getting tighter, and geopolitical shifts significantly influence geoeconomics, which has an impact on the national economy. Company management needs to implement marketing strategies more vigilantly, so that they remain effective and efficient, on an ongoing basis. In this context, SWOT analysis is used as a tool to reveal strengths, weaknesses, internal opportunities as well as external threats and opportunities. SWOT analysis can help company management to develop increasingly precise marketing strategies, with the aim of increasing sales volume. The results of the research show that the use of SWOT analysis supports company management in developing more effective and efficient marketing strategies, so as to increase the sales volume of products and services in an increasingly competitive world market.

Комплексные решения по управлению хвостовым хозяйством на Усольском калийном комбинате

Introduction. At enterprises engaged in the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials, the volume of production waste is usually much higher than the volume of a commercial product. At the same time, there is a tendency to decrease the metal content in ores while increasing the volume of waste rock extracted when accessing ores. According to various estimates, the annual volume of waste from mining enterprises is 7 billion tons per year. The proportion of waste (tailings) in some copper-containing ores can reach 98 % or higher. Gold mining enterprises process ores in which tailings amount to 99.9 % and which contain only a few grams of gold. This trend will continue, as the enterprises of the mineral processing industry have to increase the volume of processed products. Materials and methods. Tailings processing technology solutions include equipment and services that can be used in almost any tailings farm, while tailings thickening and paste thickening can be used. Just as in the case of surface tailings management solutions, the development of solutions for underground workings begins with consideration of the available storage space underground. Post and dry storage technologies combined with closed water circuits represent the best options available for saving water in processing plants. In traditional tailings systems, the source of process water is natural sources or groundwater from mine drainage. Results. The use of sludge dewatering technology has significant advantages in handling excess brines, because it allows you to separate the mother liquor, return it to the technology and thereby prevent discharge to the sludge storage. To enhance the effect of sludge dewatering, it is necessary to limit the supply of fresh water to the technological process beyond the level of irretrievable losses (for example, evaporation into the atmosphere) by using a mother liquor or recycled brine instead of water. Discussion. liquid phase entering the sludge storage, increase the efficiency of hydraulic transport, and increase the service life of tailings facilities. Scientific works confirm the possibility of using filtered sludge from potash factories as a meliorant for agriculture and restoration of forest soils after fires. When implementing integrated tailings management, it is necessary to take into account the existing conditions and limitations of the site, the requirements of the technological process of a particular enterprise. Conclusion. The article presents the results of research on the dehydration of sludge of potassium salts. It has been established that the sludge dewatering technology significantly reduces the volume of sludge entering the sludge storage, which will increase the efficiency of hydraulic transport, increase the service life of tailings facilities. Resume. The use of sludge dewatering technology can significantly improve the efficiency of the processing plant. The development of sludge dewatering technology will require a number of research projects on transportation, storage and logistics of meliorant.

Research on the Potential of China’s Export of Edible Fungus Products to ASEAN

With the rapid development of China’s agriculture, edible fungus products have been highlighted in the trade as it occupies an important position owing to their diverse advantages. The “Belt and Road” initiative and the construction of the “China-ASEAN Free Trade Area” promote the bilateral trade between China and ASEAN, which requires studying the potential of exporting Chinese edible fungus products to ASEAN. Therefore, the current situation and existing problems of the export of fungus products were explored in three dimensions: trade scale, product type, and country structure. The panel data from 9 countries (China and ASEAN countries) from 2003 to 2022 was analyzed using the Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model to investigate factors affecting the export volume and potential of edible fungus products. The spatial value of trade potential was estimated and suggestions were made for Chinese edible fungus products exported to ASEAN.

Current state, internal reserves and ways to increase the competitiveness of livestock farming in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Relevance - the livestock industry occupies a strategic position in the economy of all countries because it supplies the population with affordable food products, thereby ensuring food security of states and regions. Purpose –livestock products market in Kazakhstan and its impact on the state of agro-industrial production are considered; monitoring of agricultural producers by the number of farm animals; analysis of volumes and comparative advantages of livestock products for various categories of farms; identifying the main problems and prospects for diversification industries. When conducting the research, methods of analysis and synthesis, graphical, economicstatistical, and systems approaches were used. The main sources of information when conducting the study include data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2019-2023, and the works of scientists on the development of livestock segment. Results - the authors note that the greatest increase in the number of cattle is observed in personal subsidiary plots and peasant (private) farms, which are the main producers and suppliers of livestock products, providing the food market of the republic. The main problems that make it difficult to increase the volume of livestock products are identified: the predominance of small-scale farms; low level of breeding; undeveloped food supply; poor labor motivation among agricultural workers. Conclusions – the expansion of market niche of livestock products as one of the priority areas of agricultural sector of economy depends on the further expansion of the network of production cooperatives – the most acceptable and effective form of farming in rural areas; increasing productivity of farm animals; improvement of food supply; attracting domestic and foreign investments; in the future, the use of information systems for storing data on feed consumption and payment, the physiological state of animals, economic activities and development of livestock development plans.

THE CONCEPT OF FOOD MANAGEMENT USING RFID TECHNOLOGY: MINIMIZING LOSSES AND INCREASING CONSUMER AWARENESS

The study suggests the use of RFID technology to effectively manage food consumption, as well as reduce the volume of unused products. The system includes special readers for automatic receipt and transmission of information about products. Users can monitor the expiration date and receive information through the web application, which also sends notifications about the approaching expiration date, contributing to a more rational use of products.

Study on Improving Electrochemical Machining Performances through Energy Conversion of Electrolyte Fluid

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is regarded as a promising and cost-effective manufacturing method for difficult-to-cut materials with complex shapes and structures. The flow-field state of machining gaps is considered a key factor affecting machining performance in ECM engineering practice and has been widely studied. However, little attention has been given to the fluid energy of electrolytes during the ECM process. This study mainly focuses on the influence of the conversion between dynamic and static pressure energy of electrolyte fluid on ECM performance. The simulation results show that by changing the degree of convergence of the electrolyte outlet, the dynamic and static pressure energy of the electrolyte can be effectively adjusted, and increased static pressure energy can be obtained by sacrificing dynamic pressure energy. The experimental results show that electrolyte energy conversion can achieve better surface quality and material removal rate (MRR). However, excessive sacrifice of fluid dynamic pressure energy will also worsen the ECM performance. By combining MRR and Ra, moderate fluid energy conversion can achieve better machining performance, with a degree of convergence of around 50%–70%. The experimental results also show that moderate energy conversion of the electrolyte fluid can improve the utilization efficiency of electrical energy in the ECM process. This may be because the static pressure of the electrolyte can effectively compress the volume of gas products and reduce the electrical resistivity of the machining gap. These conclusions can provide some useful assistance for ECM engineering practice.

ANALYSIS OF THE CONSUMPTION OF BASIC ENERGY RESOURCES IN THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC AND THERMAL ENERGY AT THE CHP

In this study, the energy efficiency indicator was studied, which provides an opportunity to track changes in the energy efficiency of the technological process. This allows you to observe how energy efficiency increases affect the energy characteristics of equipment. Such an analysis allows the CHP to optimize its energy resources and reduce the negative impact on the environment. When calculating these indicators, both the worst and the best deviation from the baseline values were taken into account. The actual data obtained during the reporting period were used for comparative analysis. These indicators of energy efficiency represent the ratio of energy costs to the volume of products produced or the output of the technological process, as well as the costs of household needs, for a certain period of time, for example, during a month.The practical significance of the analysis of the energy efficiency of the CHP operation lies in the possibility of developing measures to increase the level of efficiency at this enterprise. This will allow us to determine how energy efficiency will change after the energy-saving event and how effective these measures will be.Using methods of increasing energy efficiency, it is possible to reduce energy consumption and reduce economic costs in production, while ensuring the reliability of energy supply and maintaining the high quality of products and services.

Systemic Tranexamic Acid for Reduced Postoperative Blood Loss and Less Bleeding Complications in Fleur-de-lis Abdominoplasty and Apronectomy.

Strategies minimizing surgical bleeding, including the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid, play a crucial role in clinical practice to optimize overall surgical outcomes. Despite its proven efficacy in various clinical fields, there is a limited understanding regarding the use of tranexamic acid in plastic and aesthetic procedures. This study is the first investigating the effects of systemically administered tranexamic acid on postoperative blood loss and bleeding complications in fleur-de-lis abdominoplasties and apronectomies. Patients who received 1g tranexamic acid (n = 44) during fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty or apronectomy were retrospectively compared with those who did not (n = 44). In this context, the outcome parameters 24-h and total drain fluid production, drain time, hospital stay, absolute and relative drop in hemoglobin and hematocrit level as well as bleeding complications such as blood transfusion, hematoma puncture and evacuation were evaluated. Tranexamic acid significantly decreased both drainage volume in 24h (40.5%, p = 0.0046) and total drain fluid production (42.5%, p = 0.0017). Moreover, a shorter drainage time (19.4%, p = 0.0028) and hospital stay (21.4%, p = 0.0009) were observed. The administration of tranexamic acid was also associated with a reduced postoperative decline in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Notably, no bleeding complications were observed in patients who received tranexamic acid, while 6 events occurred in patients without (p = 0.0262). Systemic administration of tranexamic acid effectively reduced postoperative blood loss and bleeding complications in fleur-de-lis abdominoplasties and apronectomies. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Pulp and Paper Industry at the Start of the First Five-Year Plan: Plans and Practices

In Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union, formed in 1922, the pulp and paper industry was poorly developed. Following the First World War, the Civil War and the Soviet-Polish War, the loss of the western regions, where more than a third of paper products were produced, was also a negative factor. Despite the presence of large forest areas, there were not enough resources for their development, and there was no machine-building base. As a result, the Soviet state imported significant volumes of semi-finished products, paper and cardboard. The article analyzes the plans of the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR for the development of the pulp and paper industry in the second half of the 1920s, the design and progress of construction of enterprises. It was revealed that the main economic body sought to gradually reduce the import of wood pulp, pulp, paper and other necessary materials through the expansion and construction of production facilities. Trusts and regional economic bodies played a major role in the location of enterprises. For them, new construction provided an opportunity to attract capital investment and create industrial centers. It is concluded that large-scale plans for the development of the pulp and paper industry in the Soviet Union in the second half of the 1920s. were poorly developed from a financial and personnel point of view, were based on the weak level of development of the industry and reflected the optimistic ideas of economists and business executives about the potential of the new economic policy. On the contrary, the competition for projects of pulp and paper enterprises in 1928 reflected the transition from decentralized to centralized design of facilities and demonstrated the priorities of the Soviet government regarding the location of new production facilities.

THE USE OF DIGITAL TWINS TO IMPROVE THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

The article examines the impact of Digital Twins on the business processes of mining companies. Mining companies can optimise their operations, from stripping and mining to enrichment and transportation. By modelling different scenarios, identifying bottlenecks and making informed decisions, companies can improve resource efficiency, reduce downtime and increase productivity, making a positive impact on their operational efficiency. Predictive maintenance strategies implemented with the help of Digital Twins help increase efficiency by minimising unexpected equipment failures and maximising uptime.The main technological effects of the use of Digital Twins in the mining industry, which affect the operational efficiency of the company, are: (1) an increase in the volume of output of commercial products after coal enrichment; (2) an increase in the coefficient of output to the production line of mining equipment.These effects lead to an improvement in the operating efficiency of the mining company, which increases indicators such as EBITDA and cash balance at the end of the period. This impact on operating efficiency is achieved by increasing the volume of commercial products, improving the efficiency of production processes, and by reducing the fixed and operating costs of the business.In order to assess the impact of the use of Digital Twin technology on mining companies, a methodology has been developed to assess the impact of the use of Digital Twin technology on mining companies. According to the results of the survey, a number of key production processes have been identified where the introduction of a Digital Twin is expected to have an impact.As a result of the empirical study, the expected increase in EBITDA from the implementation of the Digital Twin was 28%, the actual increase in EBITDA over the study period was 21%. The expected increase in free cash at the end of the period was + 593 million rubles (+130%), the actual increase in free cash for the period under study was 441 million rubles (+96%).The introduction of Digital Twins in mining companies has shown great potential for improving operational efficiency and solving complex challenges facing the industry.

Analysing Shrinkflation in FMCG Industry with Special Reference to Food Packaging Industry

The behavior of customers and their purchasing decisions are greatly influenced by the food packaging sector. In recent years, the food sector has seen a phenomena known as "shrinkflation," wherein food manufacturers reduce the quantity or volume of products while keeping the same prices. worries regarding this practice's impact on the environment, especially in light of sustainability. This comprehensive investigation looks at the relationship between shrinkflation and sustainability in the food packaging industry. The study begins by examining the underlying factors that contribute to shrinkflation, including cost-cutting measures, changes in consumer preferences, and financial concerns. The study assesses how shrinkflation will affect a brand's reputation over time. The investigation delves into industry norms concerning packaging, sustainability, and regulatory frameworks, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages that food makers face as a result. The study examines the prevalence of shrinkflation in several food categories and the reasons behind this practice by using a thorough investigation of the body of literature currently in publication, industry reports, and market data. It also examines how shrinkflation affects sustainability, with a particular emphasis on how to lower resource consumption, waste production, and carbon emissions in the food packaging supply chain. The intricate relationships between shrinkflation and sustainability in the food packaging industry are made clearer by this in-depth analysis. The ultimate goal of the paper is to encourage informed decision-making among stakeholders and increase understanding of the ramifications of shrinkflation in order to promote a more ethically and sustainably conscious food business.

Brand Equity Analysis of Formula Milk for Age 1-3 Years Old at Integrated Healthcare Center Mawar IX Bandung

This study aims to describe the characteristics of consumers in purchasing formula milk products aged 1-3 years and to analyze the brand equity of formula milk aged 1-3 years at Integrated Healthcare Center Mawar IX, RW 9, Cipamokolan Village, Rancasari District, Bandung City. The method used mixed research methods and sample taking used a purposive sampling technique. Based on observations, there were 51 people who suit the criteria. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Cochran test, brand switching pattern matrix, and estimation of market share. Based on research, the characteristics of its consumers are dominated by housewives aged 19-34 years with undergraduate/postgraduate graduates who have children aged 12-23 months with an income of IDR 500,000-5,000,000 and expenditures of IDR 100,000-3,000,000 per month regarding knowledge of child nutrition and obtaining information regarding formula milk from advertisements so that they buy formula milk with a frequency of 1-2 times/month and a small product volume. The results show that Dancow Batita and SGM have a fairly strong brand equity value where these two brands have a brand image with 11 brand associations and a good quality perception. SGM outperformed brand awareness and estimated market share, while Dancow Batita led in brand loyalty. While both brands are equally superior for brand association and perceived quality.

A policy approach to identifying food and beverage products that are ultra-processed and high in added salt, sugar and saturated fat in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis of packaged foods

Governments globally aim to reduce the intake of unhealthy foods. Many policies exist that aim to address foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) but the identification of ultra-processed foods (UPF) have presented a greater challenge due to the lack of an appropriate policy definition. To support policymakers, we provide approaches that can support governments to identify both HFSS foods and UPFs. Four approaches combining elements of UPF definitions (i.e., presence of additives) and HFSS definitions were compared attempting to simplify and standardize the identification of less healthy products. Nationally representative food purchase data from NielsenIQ linked with nutrition facts label data were used to examine the mean proportion of product volume purchased by US households to be targeted. Differences between approaches were examined using Student t test; Bonferroni adjusted P value<0.0001 was considered significant. In 2020, 50% of 33,054,687 products purchased by US households were considered UPFs (65% of foods and 38% of beverages) and 43% HFSS (65% of foods and 26% of beverages), however there was not 100% agreement between the two definitions (P<0.0001). By starting with HFSS criteria and adding elements of UPF (colors and flavors), we were able to provide a method with 100% agreement between the identification of UPFs and HFSS products. Results demonstrated how combining HFSS criteria with UPF criteria can be used to identify less healthy foods and ensure policymakers have both a simple and accurate method to target products for policy intervention. Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Global Food Research Program of UNC-Chapel Hill provided funds.

Game‐theoretic approaches to product introduction strategies for durable products

AbstractNew product demand continuously fluctuates throughout the life of the product. As a result, markets typically experience high volatility. Most companies operate in highly competitive industries where the product volume supplied by the competitors significantly affects production plans. These conditions necessitate companies to be flexible and rapidly adapt to such volatility. In this study, we investigate the product introduction strategies under two microeconomic theories: real‐option valuation and game theory. Specifically, we develop a real‐option valuation framework with a flexible capacity based on two game‐theoretic models, namely, Stackelberg and Cournot, in a duopoly market where competitors have either perfect or imperfect information. Furthermore, we construct a lattice to discretize the demand evolution and adopt a regime‐switching approach to characterize the stochastic product lifetime. We conduct an extensive numerical study and compare net present values (NPVs) and optimal capacities obtained from the game‐theoretic models. Our results show that under perfect information, the Stackelberg competition generates more supply with lower prices and less total than the Cournot competition. Moreover, we find that, compared to the fixed‐capacity system, the flexible capacity system increases the in the Stackelberg game (by 5.5%) more than in the Cournot game (by 3.3%). We provide further results on the performance of the companies based on detailed sensitivity analysis for various model parameters. In particular, we observe that fixed and variable production and installation costs majorly impact capacity allocation decisions and profits.