bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digital capabilities and market competitiveness: the two-fold mediation of internal and external drivers
Authors: Rehman Fazal Ur 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
This study evaluates the two-way relationship between digital capabilities and market competitiveness along with the twofold mediation of circular economy, business model innovation (BMI) and energy policies based on the dynamic capability and ecological modernization theories.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were compiled through questionnaire-based survey from the top management of new ventures and evaluated through partial least squares structural equation modeling to find results.

Findings
The study discovered a two-way relationship between digital capabilities and market competitiveness among new ventures along with the twofold mediation of circular economy and BMI. Surprisingly, the energy policies have no twofold mediation.

Practical implications
The findings have important implications for policy and guide the practitioners to focus on digital efficiencies to attain higher competitive advantage in the light of environmental initiatives.

Originality/value
Although past research has paid wide attention to the defined factors, but to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study in these domains.
Key competencies for identifying construction activities that produce recyclable materials: an exploratory study
Authors: Omer Mazen M. , Rahman Rahimi A. , Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Almutairi Saud 
Published: June 2024

PurposeConstruction activities generate overwhelming waste that is typically disposed of in landfills, which has significant environmental consequences and hinders national progress. However, with the appropriate competencies, there is an opportunity to identify construction activities that produce recyclable materials, offering a path to a sustainable future. This study aims to assess the competencies for identifying construction activities that produce recyclable materials. To attain that aim, the study seeks to identify the key competencies and assess the index level of the competencies.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted, and 20 competencies were identified and categorized into knowledge, skills, and abilities. A questionnaire survey was developed based on the competencies and completed by 101 individuals. The collected data were analyzed using normalized mean analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE).FindingsThe results revealed that the key competencies are problem-solving skills, communication skills, skills in providing vocational training, and knowledge of the environmental impacts of construction activities. The FSE ranks the constructs in order of skills, knowledge, and abilities. Also, the FSE illustrated that the overall index level is inclined to be important.Practical implicationsThis study leads to saving natural resources, using raw materials efficiently, protecting from environmental pollution, and mitigating resource depletion by providing the index level of the competencies.Originality/valueThe findings can guide professionals in effective waste management, policymakers in creating new policies and regulations, and researchers in compiling a list of competencies for identifying construction activities that produce recyclable materials.
Combining Lean Six Sigma and agile approach to optimize order management: action research in a Brazilian company
Authors: Senna do Amaral Caio , Varanda Cotaet Omar , Santos Bochetti Fabiana Aparecida , Tobal Berssaneti Fernando 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to assess the combined application of Lean Six Sigma and agile approach for optimizing operational processes of order management in the seed industry.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on an action research case conducted in a multinational Brazilian Seeds Business enterprise. This paper reports on the application of the Lean Six Sigma define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC), using the steps of DMAIC cycle as a sprint of agile approach. The methodology involves outlining an operational process through sequential activities, each associated with a cycle time, equivalent number of full-time employee and number of orders. Performance metrics for the order management process include continuous monitoring of these activities, using monitoring systems, management software and manual records to collect data.

Findings
The findings reveal significant improvements in critical-to-quality measures related to customer care, planning and logistics. The implementation of the DMAIC methodology and agile approach resulted in tangible enhancements in cycle time, defects per opportunities and overall process efficiency. The results allow the classification of defects, the identification of their causes and, consequently, the presentation of a control plan to mitigate these problems. Furthermore, the study identifies key causes of operational issues and proposes a prioritized action plan.

Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this research is its restriction to a single case. The external validity of the results and generalizability to other organizational contexts may be compromised due to the lack of case diversity. The fact that the research focuses on a single company, even if it is a large multinational company, may limit the applicability of the findings to different sectors, sizes and organizational structures, which may be an opportunity for future research.

Practical implications
The findings suggest that the integrated approach of DMAIC and agile methodology contributes to a culture of continuous improvement and operational efficiency. The systematic collection and analysis of data enhance evidence-based decision-making, providing a robust foundation for strategic and operational choices. Moreover, the successful integration of methodologies presents a comprehensive framework applicable to diverse organizational challenges.

Originality/value
The paper applies action research to understand and address operational challenges, emphasizing practical solutions. The integration of DMAIC and agile enhances the depth of process analysis, enabling the identification, implementation and control of improvements. This study offers a significant contribution both to practitioners, providing practical implications, and to academics, enriching the Lean Six Sigma and agile body of knowledge.
COVID-19 in correctional facilities in Ontario, Canada: a retrospective epidemiological analysis from 15 January 2020 to 31 December 2022
Authors: Zygmunt Austin , Warsame Kahiye , Mather Richard G. , McKinnon Lori , Philipneri Anne , Li Stone , Menon Sandya 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
The physical environment of correctional facilities promote infectious disease transmission and outbreaks. The purpose of this study is to compare the COVID-19 burden between the correctional facility (incarcerated individuals and staff members) and non-correctional facility population in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach
All individuals in Ontario with a laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 between 15 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 and entered into the provincial COVID-19 data were included. Cases were classified as a correctional facility case (living or working in a correctional facility) or a non-correctional facility case. COVID-19 vaccination status was obtained from the provincial COVID-19 vaccine registry. Statistics Canada census data were used to calculate COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates for incarcerated cases and the non-correctional facility population.

Findings
Between 15 January 2020 and 31 December 2022, there were 1,550,045 COVID-19 cases in Ontario of which 8,292 (0.53%) cases were reported in correctional (63.8% amongst incarcerated individuals, 18.6% amongst staff and 17.7% amongst an unknown classification) and 1,541,753 (99.47%) were non-correctional facility cases. Most cases in correctional facilities were men (83.8%) and aged 20–59 years (93.1%). COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates were generally higher among incarcerated individuals compared to the non-correctional facility population throughout the study period. COVID-19 incidence peaked in January 2022 for both the correctional facility population (21,543.8 per 100,000 population) and the non-correctional facility population (1915.1 per 100,000 population). The rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked for the correctional facility population aged 20–59 in March 2021 (70.7 per 100,000 population) and in April 2021 for the non-correctional facility population aged 20–59 (19.8 per 100,000 population). A greater percentage of incarcerated individuals (73.0%) were unvaccinated at time of their COVID-19 diagnosis compared to the non-correctional facility population (49.3%). Deaths amongst correctional facility cases were rare (0.1%, 6 / 8,292) compared to 1.0% of non-correctional facility cases (n = 15,787 / 1,541,753).

Originality/value
During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities in Ontario had higher COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates compared to the non-correctional facility population. These results support prioritizing incarcerated individuals for public health interventions to mitigate COVID-19 impacts in correctional facilities.
Formal long-term care, individualisation and filial responsibility: a multi-level analysis of 21 European countries
Authors: Kääriäinen Juha , Tanskanen Antti O. , Danielsbacka Mirkka 
Published: June 2024

PurposeDue to the rapid ageing of the continent's population, a significant surge in long-term care expenses for the elderly is expected across Europe in the coming years. Could a potential solution to this challenge involve the increased informal care provided by adult children? In this context, we examined a general view or moral duty of European citizens regarding whether adult children should assume responsibility for providing long-term care to the elderly.Design/methodology/approachOur multilevel analysis draws on individual-level data from the 2017 European Value Study and country-level data from various European sources encompassing participants from 21 member countries of the European Union.FindingsThe findings reveal that in nations where public long-term care services are sufficiently available and of superior quality, there is a negative sentiment towards the notion that adult children should bear the responsibility for elderly care. In total, 71% of the country-level variance in our dependent variable was explained by the availability and quality of formal long-term care in a country. Furthermore, various individual-level attributes contribute to shaping attitudes towards care-giving responsibility. We observed that women, middle-aged individuals, those without religious affiliations, those with modern gender role attitudes and non-immigrants tended to hold unfavourable attitudes towards the responsibility of adult children in long-term care provision.Originality/valueThere are relatively many studies on the general attitude of the population towards filial obligation. However, so far there have been very few studies available that examine the population's attitude towards the obligation of adult children to commit to their parents' long-term care. Our research explains the variation of the phenomenon in Europe with both country-level and individual-level factors.
Probing the impact of intellectual capital on SME efficiency: the role of business model innovation
Authors: Khattak Muhammad Sualeh , Wu Qiang , Ahmad Maqsood , Anwar Muhammad 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis study explores the mechanism by which intellectual capital (IC) [i.e. human capital (HC), structural capital (SC) and relational capital (RC)] influences small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) efficiency in the presence of business model innovation (BMI) as a mediator.Design/methodology/approachData collection is conducted through a survey completed by 319 owners and top managers of SMEs operating in the manufacturing sector in three cities in Pakistan. A simple random sampling method is used. A structural equation modeling artificial neural network (SEM-ANN)-based approach is applied to evaluate the role of IC predictors. The mediation results are authenticated using PROCESS.FindingsThe results indicate that HC, SC and RC significantly influence SME efficiency and BMI. Furthermore, BMI fully mediates the relationship between human capital and SME efficiency, while partially mediating the relationship between structural capital and SME efficiency, as well as between SC and SME efficiency.Originality/valueThis study pioneers research into the link between IC and SME efficiency. It contributes to the literature by defining IC as an antecedent of SME efficiency. It further contributes to the literature by defining IC as an antecedent and BMI as an intervening variable of SME efficiency.
How does TAM affect impulsive buying on halal fashion products via shopping mobile apps?
Authors: Anwar Moh Muhlis 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
By using Technology Acceptance Model, the purpose of this study is to investigate how the perceived usefulness and ease-of-use of shopping mobile apps affects consumer’s flow experience, attitude, impulsive buying tendency (IBT) and urge to impulsive buying on halal fashion products.

Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative study was done on 357 Indonesian online shoppers to find out how perceived usefulness and ease of use of mobile shopping apps affect impulsive buying tendencies and urges on halal fashion products. Flow experience and attitude were used as mediating variables, and the research hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings
This study confirmed significant positive relationships between perceived usefulness and ease of use of mobile apps, flow experience, attitude, IBT and urge to impulsive buying. The results of this study show that perceived usefulness and ease of use influence flow experience. Ease of use also influences attitude, but perceived usefulness did not impact attitude. In addition, flow experience did not impact attitude. However, both flow experience and attitude influence IBT. Furthermore, IBT significantly mediated flow experience and attitude into urge to impulsive buying.

Research limitations/implications
This study only captured consumers in one country, so its results cannot be generalized to other nations. Random sampling may limit result generalization. In this study, three mobile shopping applications were investigated and the results would have been different if more mobile shopping applications were investigated.

Originality/value
The study gives a better understanding of how the perceived usefulness and ease of use of mobile shopping apps affect a consumer's tendency and urge to impulsive buying on halal fashion products by using flow experience as mediating variable.
Home country influence in cross-border mergers and acquisitions by emerging market firms: a systematic review
Authors: He Geer , Padrón-Hernández Ivar 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
Emerging market firms (EMFs) are increasingly expanding their global presence through cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs). While such deals are distinct from those by advanced market firms, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of how emerging home markets form this distinctiveness. This study aims to remedy this gap.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct a systematic literature review of 84 empirical papers. Through a broad search string and seven exclusion criteria, the authors carefully select studies on country-level home factors of CBMAs by EMFs.

Findings
After summarizing paper volumes, journals and context factors of home/host countries and industries, the authors highlight different strands of institutional theory as the prevailing perspective and pre-M&A issues as the foremost theme. CBMAs by EMFs are influenced by distinct home-exclusive factors, and the mechanisms linking home-country factors to CBMAs by EMFs show significant inconsistencies across studies.

Originality/value
This review focuses on home country influence and thus goes beyond general characteristics of CBMAs by EMFs. The authors highlight more diverse types of home country factors and CBMA outcomes and, more importantly, take a closer look at involved mechanisms. Doing so, the authors identify gaps and disparities that have limited the understanding of home country influence in CBMAs by EMFs. To correct this, the authors offer a comprehensive roadmap for future research, contributing to EMF studies in particular and CBMA and international business research in general.
Marketing the “faast” way: the corn dough revolution
Authors: Karikari Serwaa , Hu Haiyan 
Published: June 2024

Research methodology
The case portrays an actual organization, real people and an authentic marketing situation. Both primary and secondary data were used to develop the case. Interviews with the company’s founders were a major source of primary data. Email exchanges with the company’s leadership were used to verify and elucidate details within the case and instructor’s manual. Other primary data included direct observations of how maize was milled, sold in the marketplaces and cooked into various staple foods. Secondary data about the company were obtained from the company’s website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and articles in the press. Information on the company’s operating environment was derived from published government reports. The authors also drew on secondary data about the statistics, practices and issues involved in maize production and the agro-processing industry in Ghana.

Case overview/synopsis
This case features Sahel Grains Ltd, an agro-processing company based in Ghana, West Africa, striving to grow its maiden product, Faast Mmori. This ready-to-cook corn dough provides a more hygienic and convenient way of preparing local meals, compared to the traditional method, which involves taking maize grain to the local mill facilities and paying to have it milled before cooking. Alternatively, consumers purchase corn dough from the markets to make traditional meals. Since the company launched the product in Kumasi in 2018, sales have grown with the augmented street sales promotion and expanded distribution in premium supermarkets such as Shoprite and Citydia. However, starting in November 2020, the sales seemed to plateau with dwindling new customers, and the monthly dough sales in Kumasi dropped for the first time in December 2020. Although the sales regained positive growth, they then started to lose momentum.
In this scenario, Kofi, the CEO and co-founder, is considering marketing strategies to catalyze growth. Students assume the role of Kofi and are asked to recommend growth strategies to move the company forward. In doing so, they must scan the market environment and analyze the product’s market positioning. More importantly, they are challenged to develop strategies for managing growth.

Complexity academic level
This case is intended for undergraduate students in an introductory course in marketing, management, entrepreneurship and business in general. It introduces students to key marketing concepts, such as market environment scanning, positioning, product life cycle and market growth strategy.
Field‐realistic exposure to the novel insecticide flupyradifurone reduces reproductive output in a bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)
Authors: Richardson Leeah I. , Siviter Harry , Jha Shalene , Muth Felicity 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Novel insecticides are continuously being developed for application in response to increased legal restriction of previously developed insecticides and resistance in target insects. These novel insecticides, such as flupyradifurone (FPF), remain relatively untested on non‐target organisms, including bumblebees. Further, existing tests on honeybees tend to focus on adult mortality and thus sub‐lethal effects, such as impacts on reproductive output, are neglected, despite their importance for population‐level impacts.

To address if the novel insecticide FPF has sub‐lethal effects on bumblebee reproduction and behaviour, we established microcolonies and chronically exposed them to field‐realistic concentrations over a 14‐day period.

We found that exposure to FPF reduced the bumblebees' reproductive output in terms of the number of larvae produced and the mean mass of each larval instar. FPF‐treated bees also stored less sucrose and constructed fewer honeypots. However, adult bumblebee mortality was similar between control and FPF‐exposed microcolonies.

Our results show that field‐realistic FPF exposure leads to increased larval mortality and/or delayed larval development, as well as reduced nectar storage, without affecting adult mortality.

Policy implications. Insecticides that impair bumblebee reproduction can have long‐term population‐level consequences, even if adult bees do not experience increased mortality. Despite this fact, sub‐lethal effects, such as impacts on reproduction, are not mandatorily assessed within the regulatory process. Our findings highlight the importance of determining sub‐lethal effects of pesticides across developmental stages, as well as using pollinator species other than honeybees within the regulatory process.
Comprehensive analysis of EphA2 in pan‐cancer: A prognostic biomarker associated with cancer immunity
Authors: Li Yuchun , Fei Hanxiao , Xiao Zhiwen , Lu Xiuxia , Zhang Hua , Liu Mengmeng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have reported a significant relationship between Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2) and malignant progression in numerous cancers. However, there is a lack of comprehensive pan‐cancer analysis on the prognostic value, mutation status, methylation landscape, and potential immunological function of EphA2.MethodUsing The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype Tissue Expression Database and GEO data, we analysed the differences in EphA2 expression between normal and tumour tissues and the effects of EphA2 on the prognosis of different tumours. Furthermore, using GSCALite, cBioPortal, TISDB, ULCLAN and TIMER 2.0 databases or platforms, we comprehensively analysed the potential oncogenic mechanisms or manifestations of EphA2 in 33 different tumour types, including tumour mutation status, DNA methylation status and immune cell infiltration. The correlation of EphA2 with immune checkpoints, tumour mutational burden, DNA microsatellite instability and DNA repair genes was also calculated. Finally, the effects of EphA2 inhibitors on the proliferation of human glioma and lung cancer cells were verified in cellular experiments.ResultsEphA2 is differentially expressed in different tumours, and patients with overexpression have poorer overall survival. In addition, gene mutations, gene copy number variation and DNA/RNA methylation of EphA2 have been identified in various tumours. Moreover, EphA2 is positively associated with immune infiltration involving macrophages and CD8+ T cells. Further, EphA2 mRNA expression is significantly associated with immune checkpoint in various cancers, especially programmed death‐ligand 1. Finally, the EphA2 inhibitor ALW‐II‐41‐27 shows potent anti‐tumour activity.ConclusionOur first pan‐cancer study of EphA2 provides insight into the prognostic and immunological roles of EphA2 in different tumours, suggesting that EphA2 might be a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and immune infiltration in cancer.