bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An empiric on geopolitical risk and the tourism–economic growth nexus
Authors: Kyaw K. Sandar , Luo Yun , De Vita Glauco 
Published: December 2023

Purpose This study empirically examines the moderating role of geopolitical risk on the tourism–economic growth nexus by applying a recent geopolitical risk indicator developed by Caldara and Iacoviello (2022) in a cross-country panel data growth model context for a sample of 24 countries.Design/methodology/approach A Dummy Variable Least Squares panel data model, nonparametric covariance matrix estimator and SYS-GMM estimation techniques are employed for the analysis. The authors capture the GPR moderating effect by disaggregating the cross-country sample according to low versus high country GPR score and through a GPR interaction coefficient. Several controls are included in the models such as gross fixed capital formation and—consistent with Barro (1990)—government consumption. Trade openness is used to account for the export-led growth effect. In line with neoclassical growth theory (e.g. Barro, 1991), the authors also include the real interest rate, to account for policy makers' commitment to macroeconomic stability, financial depth, as a proxy for financial development, population growth and the level of secondary school education. The authors also control for unobserved country-specific and time-invariant effects.Findings The research finds that the interaction term of geopolitical risk significantly contributes to the predictive ability of the regression and provides empirical evidence that confirms that only in low geopolitical risk countries international tourism positively and significantly contributes to economic growth. Important theoretical and policy implications flow from these findings.Originality/value The study not only contributes to advancing academic knowledge on the tourism–growth nexus, it also has impact beyond academia. Many countries have in the past pursued and many continue to pursue, tourism specialization and/or tourism-led growth strategies based on the theoretically well-established and empirically validated positive link between inbound tourism and economic growth. The findings alert policy makers in such countries to the significant moderating role that geopolitical risk plays in affecting the above-mentioned relationship and to the importance of prioritizing geopolitical stability as a policy precursor for the successful implementation of such strategies.
Corporate social responsibility and sustainable development goals: evidence from responsible business leaders
Authors: S. Leena , K.R.A. Balaji , R. Ganesh Kumar , Bhat Prathima K. , A. Satya Nandini 
Published: December 2023

Purpose
This study aims to provide a framework aligning corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030, applying the triple bottom line (TBL) approach. The research examines and evaluates the reach of Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises’ (CPSE) CSR spending towards sustainability and maps them with SDGs focusing on economic, social and environmental aspects. In addition, state-wise spending for CSR of all eligible Indian companies has been discussed.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used secondary data related to CSR spending and disclosure from the annual reports and sustainability reports accessible on the official websites of CPSE, Global Reporting Initiative standards, CSR Guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises and Securities Exchange Board of India, Government of India’s National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) (2018) research papers, financial dailies and websites. The study includes the CPSEs awarded with the status of Maharatna companies under the Guidelines of Maharatna Scheme for CPSEs.

Findings
The top CSR initiatives focused on by Maharatna companies were related to poverty, hunger, sanitation and well-being, promotion of education and contribution to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. These initiatives aligned with the top SDGs related to life on land, education and health care, which proved responsible business leadership (RBL) through TBL. The alignment indicates that India is moving towards sustainable development achievements systematically.

Practical implications
The practical consequences can be understood through the CSR spending of Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings towards economic, social and environmental aspects. The spending demonstrates their commitment, which other public and private sector organizations can adopt.

Social implications
The Government of India’s NGRBC’s guidelines towards inclusive growth and equitable development, addressing environmental concerns, and being responsive to all its stakeholders is a thorough indication of driving the business towards being more responsible. This research has developed a framework aligning CSR and SDG through the TBL approach, which other developing countries can adopt as a model.

Originality/value
There is dearth of research among public sector company’s contribution towards attaining SDGs and demonstrating RBL. This research fulfils this gap. Mapping CSR activities to SDG’s also has not been clearly carried out in previous research, which is a contribution of this study.
Acquisition as a mode for servitisation: servitisation integration and consequences
Authors: Öberg Christina 
Published: December 2023

PurposeWhile existing literature extensively explores manufacturing firms expanding into services, little is known about the modes of servitisation, the means by which they carry it out. This paper concentrates on acquisitions as a mode of servitisation. Post-acquisition integration is when the potential of an acquisition is realised. The paper therefore aims to categorise types of integrations following the acquisition of servitised firms and discusses their consequences for servitisation.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical part of the paper is based on two case studies, each involving the acquisition of servitised firms. Both acquirers changed their integration approach over time.FindingsThe paper conceptualises three types of integrations: rhetorical, insulated and transformative integrations, indicating whether and how the acquirer becomes servitised following the integration. These highlight the analysis of integration based on business models and customer orientation in relation to servitisation.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to research on servitisation by emphasising acquisitions as a mode of servitisation and conceptualising three integration types related to business models and customer orientations. Furthermore, the paper highlights how an acquirer's servitisation leads to new offerings targeting new customers, as opposed to strengthening existing relationships.
A multiple-case study on the adoption of customer relationship management and big data analytics in the automotive industry
Authors: Hu Lala , Basiglio Angela 
Published: December 2023

PurposeThis paper aims at understanding how automotive firms integrate customer relationship management (CRM) tools and big data analytics (BDA) into their marketing strategies to enhance total quality management (TQM) after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology based on a multiple-case study was adopted, involving the collection of 18 interviews with eight leading automotive firms and other companies responsible for their marketing and CRM activities.FindingsResults highlight that, through the adoption of CRM technology, automotive firms have developed best practices that positively impact business performance and TQM, thereby strengthening their digital culture. The challenges in the implementation of CRM and BDA are also discussed.Research limitations/implicationsThe study suffers from limitations related to the findings' generalizability due to the restricted number of firms operating in a single industry involved in the sample.Practical implicationsFindings suggest new relational approaches and opportunities for automotive companies deriving from the use of CRM and BDA under an overall customer-oriented approach.Originality/valueThis research analyzes how CRM and BDA improve the marketing and TQM processes in the automotive industry, which is undergoing deep transformation in the current context of digital transformation.
Paving the way to successful six sigma implementation: investigating critical success factors as precursors: an empirical study
Authors: Bagherian Anthony , Gershon Mark , Kumar Sunil 
Published: December 2023

PurposeNumerous attempts at installing six sigma (SS) have faced challenges and fallen short of the desired success. Thus, it becomes vital to identify the critical factors and characteristics that play a pivotal role in achieving successful adoption. In this study the research has aimed to highlight that a considerable number of corporate SS initiatives, around 60%, fail primarily due to the improper incorporation of essential elements and flawed assumptions.Design/methodology/approachTo validate the influence of critical success factors (CSFs) on SS accomplishment, the study employed a research design combining exploratory and mixed-methods approaches. A Likert-scale questionnaire was utilized, and a simple random sampling method was employed to gather data. Out of the 2,325 potential participants approached, 573 responses were received, primarily from Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The analysis focused on 260 completed questionnaires and statistical methods including structural equation modeling (SEM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized for data analysis.FindingsThe study acknowledged four essential components of CSFs that are imperative for sustaining the success of SS: (1) Competence of belt System employees; (2) Project management skills; (3) Organizational economic capability and (4) Leadership commitment and engagement. These factors were identified as significant contributors to the maintenance of SS’s success.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of this research imply that institutions, practitioners, and researchers can utilize the four identified factors to foster the sustainable deployment of SS initiatives. By incorporating these factors, organizations can enhance the effectiveness and longevity of their SS practices.Originality/valueThe investigation's originality lies in its contribution to assessing CSFs in SS deployment within the European automobile industry, utilizing a mixed-methods research design supplemented by descriptive statistics.
Improving spare parts (MRO) inventory management policies after COVID-19 pandemic: a Lean Six Sigma 4.0 project
Authors: Vazquez Hernandez Jesus , Elizondo Rojas Monica Daniela 
Published: December 2023

Purpose To redesign the spare parts (MRO) inventory management at Company XYZ's warehouse, considering the conditions after the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approach To address this research project, the authors integrated three methodologies: action research, Lean Six Sigma (DMAIC) and Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining. These methodologies integrated the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) 4.0 framework applied in this project.Findings The spare parts inventory value was reduced by 15%, and inventory turnover increased by 120% without negatively impacting the internal service level.Practical implications Practitioners leading or participating in continuous improvement projects (CIPs) should consider data quality (data available and data trustworthiness), problem-solving approach and target area involvement to achieve CIP goals. Otherwise, the LSS 4.0 could fail or extend its duration by several weeks or months.Originality/value This project shows the importance of controlling a target area before deciding to conduct a LSS 4.0 project. To address this problem, the LSS 4.0 team implemented 5S during the measure phase of the DMAIC. Also, this project offers significant practitioner and theoretical contributions to the body of knowledge about LSS 4.0.
Core taxa underpin soil microbial community turnover during secondary succession
Authors: Sveen Tord Ranheim , Viketoft Maria , Bengtsson Jan , Bahram Mohammad 
Published: December 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the processes that underpin the community assembly of bacteria is a key challenge in microbial ecology. We studied soil bacterial communities across a large‐scale successional gradient of managed and abandoned grasslands paired with mature forest sites to disentangle drivers of community turnover and assembly. Diversity partitioning and phylogenetic null‐modelling showed that bacterial communities in grasslands remain compositionally stable following abandonment and secondary succession but they differ markedly from fully afforested sites. Zeta diversity analyses revealed the persistence of core microbial taxa that both reflected and differed from whole‐scale community turnover patterns. Differences in soil pH and C:N were the main drivers of community turnover between paired grassland and forest sites and the variability of pH within successional stages was a key factor related to the relative dominance of deterministic assembly processes. Our results indicate that grassland microbiomes could be compositionally resilient to abandonment and secondary succession and that the major changes in microbial communities between grasslands and forests occur fairly late in the succession when trees have established as the dominant vegetation. We also show that core taxa may show contrasting responses to management and abandonment in grasslands.
Bringing geography back in: Borderlands and public support for the European Union
Authors: NASR MOHAMED , RIEGER PIT 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWhat explains the variation in public support for European integration? While the existing literature has predominantly focused on economic, cultural and political factors, the influence of geography has been largely overlooked. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by examining the impact of residing in the European Union (EU) border regions on voters' perceptions and attitudes towards the EU. Contrary to previous research, our study reveals a remarkable pattern, indicating that individuals living in border regions exhibit a higher propensity to vote for Eurosceptic parties and hold negative views on the EU. Through the utilization of both behavioural and attitudinal indicators in years ranging between 1999 and 2021 and employing statistical matching, our analysis robustly supports this finding. Moreover, we delve into the underlying mechanisms driving these negative attitudes in border regions, highlighting the significance of institutional factors. A mediation analysis reveals an interesting and previously unexplored theoretical twist: We find that residing in a border region is associated with lower trust in national political institutions, which translates into distrust in the EU. These findings suggest that it might be policymakers residing in the capital of the country rather than people on the other side of the border that make borderland inhabitants' attitudes distinctly negative.
Access to preferred skilled nursing facilities: Transitional care pathways for patients withAlzheimer's disease and related dementias
Authors: Cross Dori A. , Bucy Taylor I. , Rahman Momotazur , McHugh John P. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to assess whether individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) experience restricted access to hospitals' high‐volume preferred skilled nursing facility (SNF) partners.Data SourcesThe data source includes acute care hospital to SNF transitions identified using 100% Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files, 2017–2019.Study DesignWe model and compare the estimated effect of facility “preferredness” on SNF choice for patients with and without ADRD. We use conditional logistic regression with a 1:1 patient sample otherwise matched on demographic and encounter characteristics.Data CollectionOur matched sample included 58,190 patients, selected from a total observed population of 3,019,260 Medicare hospitalizations that resulted in an SNF transfer between 2017 and 2019.Principal FindingsOverall, patients with ADRD have a lower probability of being discharged to a preferred SNF (52.0% vs. 54.4%,p < 0.001). Choice model estimation using our matched sample suggests similarly that the marginal effect of preferredness on a patient choosing a proximate SNF is 2.4 percentage points lower for patients with ADRD compared with those without (p < 0.001). The differential effect of preferredness based on ADRD status increases when considering (a) the cumulative effect of multiple SNFs in close geographic proximity, (b) the magnitude of the strength of hospital‐SNF relationship, and (c) comparing patients with more versus less advanced ADRD.ConclusionsPreferred relationships are significantly predictive of where a patient receives SNF care, but this effect is weaker for patients with ADRD. To the extent that these high‐volume relationships are indicative of more targeted transitional care improvements from hospitals, ADRD patients may not be fully benefiting from these investments. Hospital leaders can leverage integrated care relationships to reduce SNFs' perceived need to engage in selection behavior (i.e., enhanced resource sharing and transparency in placement practices). Policy intervention may be needed to address selection behavior and to support hospitals in making systemic improvements that can better benefit all SNF partners (i.e., more robust information sharing systems).
Tourism as an instrument of economic growth: Empirical exploration at the regional level in Spain
Authors: Alcalá‐Ordóñez Alejandro , Brida Juan Gabriel , Cárdenas‐García Pablo Juan , Segarra Verónica 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis work analyzes the dynamic relationship existing between tourism and economic growth through the use of different indicators to measure tourism activity, according to regional data from Spain taken from 2004 to 2021 that are linked to the NUTS‐2 level of the nomenclature of the territorial units for statistics of the European Union. This is an innovative approach as compared to the majority of existing works analyzing this relationship at a country level. However, it is widely recognized that the contribution of tourism to growth takes place in the form of regional development. By introducing the notion of distance between the dynamic trajectories of the different regions, an analysis of hierarchical clusters was performed, enabling the identification of regional groups having similar behavior in terms of tourism performance and economic growth. In this work, it has been established that the impact of a region's total (national and international) tourism, in terms of both number of tourists and tourism expenditure, is the most appropriate indicator for tourism analysis at a regional level. Furthermore, it identifies the characteristics that are found in tourist regions having a higher level of economic growth, from a tourism perspective: high tourist spending, hotel accommodation, motivation for leisure, longer average stay, the region's orientation towards the tourism industry, and, mainly, the impact of international tourism. Therefore, those responsible for tourism destination management should implement policies that favor the arrival of tourist flows with these characteristics if they intend to promote tourism as an instrument for greater economic growth.
Assessment of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions
Authors: Zapico Sara C. , Stadler Christian , Roca Gabriela 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDespite current advances in body fluid identification, there are few studies evaluating the effect of environmental conditions. The present work assessed the detection of body fluids, blood, semen, and saliva, through lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests, exposed to tropical weather conditions over time, also evaluating the possibility of obtaining STR (short tandem repeat) profiles and identifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms. Blood, semen, saliva samples, and mixtures of these fluids were deposited on polyester clothes and exposed to open‐air tropical weather conditions for 1 month. The test versions from LFI (SERATEC®, Germany) Lab and crime scene (CS) used for the detection – one per each body fluid type – demonstrated that it is possible to identify body fluids and their mixtures up to 14 days after deposition. At 30 days, blood and semen were detected but not saliva. Full STR profiles were obtained from 14‐day‐old blood samples, and partial profiles were obtained from the remaining samples. It was possible to sequence mtDNA in the samples previously analyzed for STR profiling, and haplogroups could be assigned. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time the possibility of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions for 1 month and also demonstrated the value of mtDNA analysis for compromised biological evidence.
Deciphering the role of immune cell composition in epigenetic age acceleration: Insights from cell‐type deconvolution applied to human blood epigenetic clocks
Authors: Zhang Ze , Reynolds Samuel R. , Stolrow Hannah G. , Chen Ji‐Qing , Christensen Brock C. , Salas Lucas A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAging is a significant risk factor for various human disorders, and DNA methylation clocks have emerged as powerful tools for estimating biological age and predicting health‐related outcomes. Methylation data from blood DNA has been a focus of more recently developed DNA methylation clocks. However, the impact of immune cell composition on epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) remains unclear as only some clocks incorporate partial cell type composition information when analyzing EAA. We investigated associations of 12 immune cell types measured by cell‐type deconvolution with EAA predicted by six widely‐used DNA methylation clocks in data from >10,000 blood samples. We observed significant associations of immune cell composition with EAA for all six clocks tested. Across the clocks, nine or more of the 12 cell types tested exhibited significant associations with EAA. Higher memory lymphocyte subtype proportions were associated with increased EAA, and naïve lymphocyte subtypes were associated with decreased EAA. To demonstrate the potential confounding of EAA by immune cell composition, we applied EAA in rheumatoid arthritis. Our research maps immune cell type contributions to EAA in human blood and offers opportunities to adjust for immune cell composition in EAA studies to a significantly more granular level. Understanding associations of EAA with immune profiles has implications for the interpretation of epigenetic age and its relevance in aging and disease research. Our detailed map of immune cell type contributions serves as a resource for studies utilizing epigenetic clocks across diverse research fields, including aging‐related diseases, precision medicine, and therapeutic interventions.