Blockchain Adoption in the Winery Industry

This chapter identifies the existing challenges in the winery industry and proposes to analyze their resolution by the adoption of blockchain technology. Blockchain allows the traceability of the whole process linked to wine production, from the cultivation of the grapes to the distribution of the bottles. Blockchain allows winery firms to unlock the potential value existing in some processes, especially when they create a competitive advantage. The chapter investigates these concepts within the case of Cantina Volpone, which has been the first case in Italy to adopt blockchain technology in the winery industry. This chapter studies the implementation path for blockchain technology in the winery industry and highlights the operational and financial challenges emerging from its adoption.

The Pull of Paris

Chapter 2 concentrates on the complex role Paris has played for worldwide women writers. This spot has long occupied a privileged position in the literary world and is an undeniably important place for the authors in my study, many of whom have studied, built careers, published their works, and taken up permanent residence here. The metropolis serves as an inspiration for a number of the texts they compose, and it figures in their written works in interesting ways that often reveal the authors’ conflicted relationship with it. In the end, a majority of these writers convey a connection to the French capital, indicating a sense of belonging—or a desire to belong—within the city. They have become aware that they will forever be perceived as foreigners in Paris, and have occasionally suffered from a precarious status tied to financial challenges. They nonetheless celebrate the possibilities that accompany their position at the margins of this central literary location that they have come to embrace as a promising space. It is deeply significant that, in a number of instances, they do not express the same sentiment with respect to France as a whole. It is equally meaningful that, instead of proclaiming patriotic sentiments, these writers often articulate a more profound identification with the European continent than with the nation they inhabit.

OBSERVED ISSUES IN CLOUD-BASED WEB COMMERCE ADOPTION FOR THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN HYDERABAD

In the present day scenario, maximum financial transactions are being carried out with the help of Cloud-Based Web Trade (CBWT). These Cloud Oriented Web-Based Financial Transactions provide numerous advantages to the end-users. The Commodities are available at a much cheaper rate and numerous choices are left over to the customers and they are also reducing the shopping time. Particularly the time like Pandemic Situation would provide a better way to purchase multiple goods at their fingertips. There are many numbers of reasons are leftover behind the success and the downfall of such Cloud Oriented Web-Based Financial Transactions. Some of these include financial conditions, technical feasibility, and geographical location, etc. However, nowadays there it is facing many Ethical, Service-oriented, and financial challenges in this area. There is needed to make a SWOT Analysis since it is going to be the major financial gateway for numerous people.

The Challenges Faced by Women Street Vendors in Warwick Junction, Durban

Warwick Junction in Durban is a hive of informal sector activity, mainly street vending, which sustains several families in and around Durban. There is an abundance of literature on street vending as part of the informal sector. Challenges specific to women engaged in vending at Warwick Junction have attracted little attention in the new millennium. A qualitative study using interviewing was conducted with ten purposefully sampled women participants. The aim was to describe the challenges faced by women vendors. This study reports findings and provides a set of recommendations. Several threats were identified and categorised into four broad themes, namely; financial challenges, competitive pressure, social challenges and infrastructural challenges. This paper provides short term and long-term recommendations.

Family Caregivers’ Psychosocial Well-being in the Context of the Great Recession

The economic instability of the Great Recession contributed to a rise in multigenerational households as more individuals took on unanticipated care responsibilities for older family members while navigating financial uncertainties. Guided by the life course perspective, this study compared the psychological and social well-being of family caregivers and examined the moderating influences of financial challenges experienced during the Great Recession. Filial and sandwiched caregivers ( N = 138; Mage = 52.80; SDage = 11.25) from the Refresher Cohort of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey provided information on demographics, caregiving, financial challenges, and well-being. Findings from regression analyses showed that sandwiched caregivers exhibited lower environmental mastery and positive relations with others than filial caregivers ( p = .07). Moderation analyses showed that sandwiched caregivers with fewer than average financial challenges exhibited lower social actualization than the other family caregivers ( p = .01). Study findings underscore the need to support family caregivers’ psychosocial well-being as they navigate caregiving responsibilities and financial disruptions.

Feeding Children and Maintaining Food Service Operations during COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Implementation and Financial Challenges

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs are critical for the health and food security of U.S. schoolchildren, but access to these programs was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures in spring 2020. While temporary policy changes to the programs enabled school food authorities (SFAs) to pivot towards distributing meals throughout their communities instead of within school buildings, SFAs faced complex challenges during COVID-19 with minimal external support. This mixed methods study investigates the implementation and financial challenges experienced by twelve of the largest urban SFAs in the U.S. during COVID-19. We conducted semi-structured interviews with SFA leaders and analyzed alongside quantitative financial data. We found that SFAs reconfigured their usual operations with nearly no preparation time while simultaneously trying to keep staff from contracting COVID-19, accommodate stakeholders with sometimes competing priorities, and remain financially solvent. Because student participation was much lower than during regular times, and revenue is tied to the number of meals served, SFAs saw drastic decreases in revenue even as they carried regular operating costs. For future crises, disaster preparedness plans that help SFAs better navigate the switch to financially viable community distribution methods are needed.

Living With HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts for Older Adults in Palm Springs, California

We conducted surveys in March 2020 with 100 older adults living in Palm Springs, CA, to (1) report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their day-to-day well-being and (2) describe the factors related to missing HIV medication during the pandemic. Respondent's mean age was 64.2 and the majority identified as White, men, and gay. The majority stated that the pandemic had impacted their lives “much,” “very much,” or “extremely.” One-third experienced financial challenges and 46.0% experienced disruptions to health care. Almost a quarter (24.0%) reported missing a dose of their HIV medication during the pandemic. Compared to those ages 64+, younger respondents were more likely to report some negative impacts like changes in sleep patterns, financial challenges, and missed HIV medication doses, and had higher PTSD severity scores. In adjusted logistic regression, higher PTSD severity scores and disruption to health care were associated with missed doses of medications (ps < .05).