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Digitalization and marketing technologies have made it possible to overcome some barriers to pricing – a multidisciplinary field between marketing, finance and IT – and have set the stage for a paradigm shift in the pricing profession. Value creation, the pricing process, and price communication have been transformed by innovative business models and advanced algorithmic and human–machine solutions. This chapter synthesizes the literature to date and provides a comprehensive framework for an all-encompassing 360° pricing approach that broadens the understanding of pricing in the context of digital business across all steps of the price management process. Starting from product attributes and motivational beliefs in consumers' value assessment and adoption of (technological or digital) products or services, new business models and pricing models emerge in the digital economy, human–machine solutions for price implementation and repricing are increasingly applied, and price search and communication take place through a variety of digital communication channels. Each stage of this framework discusses concrete examples, highlighting the freemium strategy, the subscription model, price tracking and repricing tools, and digital price information channels such as e-commerce, marketplace, or price comparison platforms. The implications for price management in a digital, technology-driven landscape are discussed from the executive level to the analyst level.

The chapter analyses the anti-immigration political parties in the European Union (EU) as a challenge for the EU values such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights. As the main constituents of the political groups in the European Parliament, the single elected body of the EU, the parties in the member states require a special scrutiny. In this context, the study aims at understanding and exposing how anti-immigration political parties in the EU discursively construct immigration as a threat. Taking into consideration their salient rise in the 2019 European election, it focuses on the discourses of the relevant parties delivered during the debates of the first half of the ninth (2019–2024) parliamentary term by using critical discourse analysis as its theoretical and methodological framework. The main argument of the study is that these political parties securitize immigration within three main discourse topics: immigration as a security threat, as an economic threat, and as a cultural threat.

Optimization processes and movement modeling usually require a high number of simulations. The purpose of this paper is to reduce global central processing unit (CPU) time by decreasing each evaluation time.

Remeshing the geometry at each iteration is avoided in the proposed method. The idea consists in using a fixed mesh on which functions are projected to represent geometry and supply.

Results are very promising. CPU time is reduced for three dimensional problems by almost a factor two, keeping a low relative deviation from usual methods. CPU time saving is performed by avoiding meshing step and also by a better initialization of iterative resolution. Optimization, movement modeling and transient-state simulation are very efficient and give same results as usual finite element method.

The method is restricted to simple geometry owing to the difficulty of finding spatial mathematical function describing the geometry. Moreover, a compromise between imprecision, caused by the boundary evaluation, and time saving must be found.

The method can be applied to optimize rotating machines design. Moreover, movement modeling is performed by shifting functions corresponding to moving parts.

Discusses the 6th ITCRR, its breadth of textile and clothing research activity, plus the encouragement given to workers in this field and its related areas. States that, within the newer research areas under the microscope of the community involved, technical textiles focuses on new, ‘smart’ garments and the initiatives in this field in both the UK and the international community at large. Covers this subject at length.

Looks at the eighth published year of the ITCRR and the research, from far and near, involved in this. Muses on the fact that, though all the usual processes are to the fore, the downside part of the industry is garment making which is the least developed side. Posits that the manufacture of clothing needs to become more technologically advanced as does retailing. Closes by emphasising support for the community in all its efforts.

In this study, solid formaldehyde, benzoguanamine and butanol were used to synthesize butylated benzo-amino resin by one-step-two-stage method.

This research first examined the influence of solid formaldehyde content on the hydroxymethylation phase. Subsequently, the effects of butanol content, etherification time and hydrochloric acid content on the formation of benzo-amino resin during the etherification stage were studied in detail. In addition, the reaction process was further analyzed through interval sampling withdrawing during the hydroxymethylation and etherification stages. Finally, the synthesized benzo-amino resins were used in the production of high solid content polyester and acrylic coatings and the properties of that were also evaluated.

Based on the experimental findings, the authors have successfully determined the optimal process conditions for the one-step-two-stage method in this study. The hydroxymethylation stage demonstrated the most favorable outcomes at a reaction temperature of 60°C and a pH of 8.5. Similarly, for the etherification stage, the optimal conditions were achieved at a temperature of 45°C and a pH of 4.5. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a ratio of benzoguanamine to solid formaldehyde to n-butanol, specifically at 1:5.2:15, produced the best results. The performance of the resulting etherified benzo-amino resin was thoroughly evaluated in high solid content coatings, and it exhibited promising characteristics. Notably, there was a significant enhancement in the water resistance, solvent resistance and glossiness of canned iron printing varnish coatings.

Amino resin, a versatile chemical compound widely used in various industries, presents challenges in terms of sustainability and operational efficiency when synthesized using conventional methods, primarily relying on a 37% formaldehyde solution. To address these challenges, the authors propose a novel approach in this study that combines the advantages of the solid formaldehyde with a two-stage catalytic one-step synthesis process. The primary objective of this research is to minimize the environmental impact associated with amino resin synthesis, optimize resource utilization and enhance the economic feasibility for its industrial implementation. By adopting this alternative approach, the authors aim to contribute toward a more sustainable and efficient production of amino resin.

Discusses the telecommunications infrastructure of the USA and issues surrounding its restructuring. Describes the role and impact of broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in applications development and the societal implications of this change. Points out that global development of broadband technologies makes personal access to multimedia applications possible and promotes new information‐sharing partnerships. Argues for an holistic, ethical approach to future development of ISDN.

The analysis of groundwater level below the earth surface is focused on current and future scenarios. To analyze the wells under the threat of water level depletion, a study is conducted on the groundwater level using control charts. To improve watershed management, the important criteria are to increase infiltration as well as water storage capacity. There are 15 over-exploited zones in the study area (Dynamic GW Resources 2011). The purpose of this paper is to help in understanding the importance of wells for improving the water level to a certain extent for sustainable development.

The water levels in the wells are located with the help of x, y, z plotting on the ground using ArcGIS software. This water level mapping is done at a micro-watershed level to increase the clarity of information at the micro-level. In this study, the problem of depleted wells is sorted out, and the water level present in depleted wells pre-monsoon and post-monsoon is evaluated for the two years. Also, water level analysis is done using a control chart to find out the critical wells. On the basis of Poisson distribution, C-chart is used here to analyze the quality of wells and the water levels in those wells to be improved.

The outcome of the C-chart helps to track the wells that can be improved further to increase the water level. This paper presents the study of estimation of appropriate sites to be given importance and the rate of water level depletion to be controlled, which also helps to select a site suitable for artificial restoration by targeting groundwater potential zones.

This paper gives an outlook idea of wells that can be improved and the area that should be given more attention. Analyzing water level depletion helps to identify a suitable site for groundwater restoration using a remote sensing and geographical information system. These measures help the government and public sectors for proper planning and management of natural resources.