Alliance Members Research Articles

An Examination of the Sustainability Activities of Global Airline Collaborations within the Scope of IATA's Sustainability Goals

This study aims to evaluate the sustainability activities of the global airline alliances Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld within the framework of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) sustainability goals. Specifically, it focuses on key areas such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, promoting new aircraft technologies, enabling greener travel (in terms of noise and air quality), enhancing energy, resource, and operational efficiency, managing cabin waste and recycling, adopting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and protecting biodiversity. Using a content analysis methodology, data were gathered from publicly available sources, including airline sustainability reports, annual reports, and information from the IATA website. This systematic analysis provides an objective evaluation of how well these airline alliances are aligning their strategies with IATA’s sustainability goals. The findings reveal significant disparities in the alliances’ commitments. For instance, Star Alliance and OneWorld members exhibit deficiencies in biodiversity conservation, while SkyTeam members show slower progress towards achieving the net-zero carbon emissions target. Additionally, all three alliances demonstrate varying degrees of success in adopting SAF and implementing other sustainable practices, such as waste management and the promotion of new aircraft technologies. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses across the alliances, this research offers critical insights into how the aviation sector can more effectively contribute to global sustainability efforts.

Rapacki Plan: Policy of Small States in Central and Eastern Europe in Second Half of 1950s

This article addresses the role of small states in addressing security issues in Central Europe. Through an examination of the development of the Rapacki Plan, the authors trace the distinctive features of the national interests of small states in both Western and Eastern Europe. These interests were oriented towards the advancement of European integration, the resolution of the German question, and the mitigation of political and economic dependence on the USSR. Special attention is given to the Federal Republic of Germany’s (FRG) membership in NATO and the roles played by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other alliance members in attempts to address European security issues at the level of small states. Although the Rapacki Plan was never fully realized, its objectives were partially achieved. First, the arming of the FRG with American nuclear weapons and the deployment of American intermediate-range missiles on its territory were prevented; second, economic cooperation expanded, initiating the erosion of the “Iron Curtain”; third, a “universal idea of nuclear-free zones” emerged; and fourth, concrete steps were taken to prevent nuclear war.

Knowledge and practices of neonatal intensive care unit nurses concerning hypothermia in preterm infants: Adescriptive cross-sectional study.

To investigate the knowledge level and clinical practice of neonatal intensive care unit nurses on the whole process of hypothermia prevention in preterm infants. A polycentric descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 23 hospitals in Shandong province involving 254 neonatal intensive care unit nurses. An evidence-based knowledge and clinical practice questionnaire on hypothermia prevention in preterm infants and a general information questionnaire were used to collect data. SPSS and EXCEL 24.0 database were used for data statistics and analysis. Nearly one-third of nurses were unclear about the definition of mild hypothermia and heat preservation measures during labour management and resuscitation. Knowledge about the correct rate of amniotic fluid evaporation was low. The higher the hospital level and nurses' education level, professional title, work experience, and position, the higher the knowledge level. The clinical practice of nurses differed in terms of body temperature assessment tools, measurement sites, and measurement frequency for premature infants. Nurses in neonatal intensive care units need to apply evidence-based knowledge and carry out practice interventions to ensure preterm infants' safe transition from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit. There have been few studies evaluating neonatal nurses' knowledge and practices with regards to the preventing hypothermia of premature infants from delivery room to neonatal intensive care unit. The study identifies the deficiencies and problems in temperature management that can be attributed to the knowledge level of nurses. The findings will help improve the current curriculum, teaching strategies, and the nurses' knowledge levels, preventing premature hypothermia in infants. This study adhered to the STROBE statement for observational studies and obtained approval (KYLL-2023LW045) from the ethics committee of The Second Hospital of Shandong University. The other 22 third- and second-level hospitals, as our alliance members, recognized our chairperson status within the alliance and were willing to join our academic activities. Mutual responsibility for ethical filing between alliance units. 254 nurses were recruited from 23 tertiary and secondary public hospitals in Shandong province. No public or patient involvement. Members of the research group used the Questionnaire Star platform to prepare the electronic questionnaire, including obtaining informed consent, taking precautions for questionnaire completion, and using the aforementioned measurement tools. The project research team contacted the head nurses of 23 neonatal intensive care units in Shandong Province. After obtaining consent from the head nurses, they were asked to send the requirements and link of the electronic questionnaire to their WeChat management group. The nurses go through each question and make a choice which has two options of 'agree' or 'disagree.' Based on their answers, nurses were evaluated as having 'mastered' or 'not mastered' each item. Each 'mastered' item (correct answer) was given a score of 4; an item 'not mastered' (incorrect answer) was given a score of 0. The total score ranged from 0 to 100.

Financial Burden of Dental Care Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) experience oral complications requiring substantial dental treatment. This treatment is commonly not reimbursed by medical insurers, presenting a potential financial burden for patients. To characterize the dental care needs and associated cost burden for patients with HNC. This survey study included Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) members who were surveyed from March 23 to October 27, 2023, using Qualtrics. The survey was promoted using the HNCA's social media and email list. Data analysis was performed between October 2023 and May 2024. Main outcomes were oral and dental complications of cancer treatment among patients with HNC, the association of cancer treatment with dental care use, and costs of associated dental treatment. Of 100 individuals administered the survey, 85 (85%) completed all required questions and were included in the analysis. Of 84 participants with age and sex data, 51 (61%) were aged 65 years or older and 45 (54%) were female. Of 85 respondents, 59 (70%) indicated that their current oral health was worse than before cancer treatment. Most respondents (73 of 85 [86%]) endorsed oral complications from cancer treatment, including xerostomia (66 of 73 [90%]), caries (35 of 73 [48%]), and oral mucositis (29 of 73 [40%]); 64 of 73 respondents (88%) required follow-up dental treatment. Overall, 4 of 28 (14%) before HNC treatment and 17 of 53 (32%) after treatment reported finances as the reason that not all recommended dental care was received. A total of 33 of the 85 respondents (39%) said that their postcancer dental care had caused them financial hardship. Individuals who were less likely to endorse financial hardship were more likely to have greater educational attainment (odds ratio [OR], 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06-0.58), higher income (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.11-0.94), increased pre-HNC dental visit frequency (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.86), same or better oral health after HNC (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.50), and lower out-of-pocket dental expenses after HNC (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.03-0.29). In this survey study, most patients undergoing treatment for HNC required extensive dental treatment throughout cancer treatment; this treatment presented a financial burden for 39% of patients that was a limiting barrier to care. Since most private medical insurers do not reimburse for dental treatment, more comprehensive coverage deserves policy attention.

A self-assessment maturity matrix to support large-scale change using collaborative networks in the New Zealand health system

BackgroundA maturity matrix can be a useful tool for organisations implementing large-system transformation (LST) initiatives in complex systems. Insights from implementation of a local LST initiative using collaborative networks, known as Alliances, highlighted a tool was needed to help health system leaders prompt discussions on how and where to focus their change efforts. In the New Zealand (NZ) health system, Alliances were introduced to integrate the planning and delivery of health care between primary and hospital care.MethodsThe aim of this research was to use insights from Alliance members to develop a learning tool that collaborative networks could use to assess and improve their readiness for change. We constructed a maturity matrix using the knowledge of senior NZ health system leaders, in a workshop setting. The maturity matrix was empirically tested and refined with three Alliances and with feedback from the NZ Ministry of Health Māori Health Strategy and Policy team.ResultsThe maturity matrix described the 10 key elements that had been found to support successful implementation of LST initiatives in the NZ health system, along with success indicators and different stages of maturity from beginning to excellence. Testing of the maturity matrix with three Alliances suggested that it functioned as a learning tool and stimulated collective thinking and reflection. The Māori Health Strategy and Policy team commented on the importance of such a tool to increase health system leaders’ responsiveness to improving Māori health outcomes. Comparisons with similar international matrices revealed common elements with ours. A strength of our maturity matrix is that it is specific to the NZ context and is the first practical tool to implement large-scale change in the health system that incorporates principles of the Government’s treaty with Māori, the indigenous people of NZ.ConclusionsThrough a regular self-assessment process, use of the maturity matrix may create feedback loops to support deliberate learning and knowledge sharing for senior health system leaders and collaborative networks. The maturity matrix fills an important gap in the NZ health system and contributes to implementation science literature internationally.OtherThis study was approved by the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee (Ethics Approval Number 27,356). The research was supported by the Victoria University of Wellington research grant (222,809) and from the University of Auckland Department of Medicine research fund (H10779).

Ready, Steady, No? The Contested Legitimacy of Weapon Deliveries to Ukraine in German Foreign Policy Discourse

AbstractHow were arms deliveries to Ukraine (de)legitimized in the German Bundestag? This paper is based on a discourse analysis of parliamentary debates held between December 2021 and January 2023 on the question of military support for Ukraine. It shows how the legitimization of arms deliveries and various identity narratives of German foreign policy are mutually constitutive but also reconfigured. Members of Alliance 90/The Greens, the Free Democratic Party, and the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union legitimized arms deliveries by referring to Germany’s identity as a European “shaping power” from which a “responsibility” to provide military support was derived. Ukraine had become part of the Western European community; therefore, arms deliveries were necessary to defend the European “we” against the Russian aggression. Criticism of arms deliveries was voiced by The Left, who emphasized Germany’s pacifist identity, which had been established as a lesson from National Socialism and should not be abandoned. The Alternative for Germany party also rejected any military support, pointing to the negative consequences for economic relations with Russia and openly questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian statehood, as Putin derives geopolitical claims over Ukraine that “must be respected.” The most radical change was observed within the Social Democratic Party parliamentary group. Just a few weeks after his appearance in the Bundestag, Scholz and his parliamentary group mobilized a vocabulary that was less associated with “Zeitenwende” and more with Germany’s traditional identity as a “civilian power” in order to legitimize a “balanced” approach so that “Russia does not win” but Germany is not dragged into the war either.

Courtship, Honeymoon, and Stabilisation? Military Expenditures of New NATO Member Countries Before and After the 1999–2020 Enlargements

ABSTRACT As a result of the 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017 and 2020 enlargements, the number of NATO members increased from 16 to 30, with the alliance including 14 new countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Southern and Eastern Europe. The different times at which individual countries joined the alliance allow assessing the effect of the accession process and the accession itself on the long- and short-run level of military expenditures of the countries involved. By using the difference in differences method in this article, it has been demonstrated that in a period of 1-3 years prior to the accession the military expenditures of countries applying for the alliance membership are significantly higher by approx. 0.1-0.2 percentage points of the GDP. In the years following the accession to the alliance, military expenditures level out as the increases of military expenditures are statistically insignificant. An increase in military expenditures prior to the accession is more pronounced in the Balkan states than in the countries of NATO’s Eastern Flank. Estimation results suggest that being a member of the alliance has a positive effect on the level of military expenditures, which constitutes an argument in favour of a lack of the free-riding among new NATO countries.

Evolutionary game theory in patent alliance dynamics: strategy and policy implications

ABSTRACT This study investigates the dynamics of patent alliances, underscoring their strategic relevance for firms pursuing technological innovation and market leadership. We address the issue of opportunistic behaviour stemming from the contractual gaps in these alliances, proposing strategic measures to curtail such conduct and bolster alliance robustness. Utilising Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT), we conduct numerical simulations to analyze the motives for alliance formation, the efficacy of anti-opportunism strategies, and their influence on alliance durability. The study highlights how regulatory policies increase repercussions, fostering cooperative alliances. Our simulations, predicated on defined parameters such as the likelihood of detecting and sanctioning opportunistic actions, showcase how these factors shape the strategic decisions of alliance members. This study enriches the theoretical discourse on patent alliance management by integrating the EGT approach, shedding light on effective deterrents against opportunistic behaviour and mechanisms fostering alliance solidarity. We advocate for a synchronised approach that aligns stringent regulatory practices with corporate strategies to ensure the resilience and success of patent alliances, crucial for navigating the complexities of competitive technology markets and maintaining long-term alliance efficacy. This comprehensive strategy is essential for managing the intricacies of patent alliances and securing their long-term viability and productivity.

Aligning policy and practice to implement CARE with FAIR through Indigenous Peoples’ protocols

ABSTRACT In 2019, members of the Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA) published the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) for Indigenous Data Governance (IDGov). CARE has since been referenced, leveraged, and adopted in various ways across disciplines and sectors worldwide. In this article, GIDA members from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States share examples of IDGov models that predate and emerged after the development of CARE. Together, we reflect upon the affordances and limitations of the broad uptake of CARE. We argue that renewed attention is needed to the original intent of CARE: to direct data actors to local communities’ protocols and frameworks for IDGov, and to transform institutional policies and practices to fortify Indigenous Peoples’ authority to control their data.

Turkey’s Trust in the USA: Causes of the Criticised Alliance Member’s Approach

The article deals with Turkey's trust in the USA as its most important ally in NATO. Semi-structured interviews with Turkish academics and international relations experts during field research identified three main areas of Turkish mistrust in the USA – the Cyprus question, USA support for the PYD/YPG in Syria, and USA intervention in Turkish politics. The research results presented in the causal network show that the main cause of Turkish mistrust towards the USA is the factors leading to the phenomenon of fear of abandonment. That causes Turkey's increased need for independence from strategic partners and the subsequent increase in the application of a balance policy. The study concludes that one of the main reasons for Turkey's current attitude towards NATO is the need to ensure its security, and this need stems from Turkey's mistrust of the USA.

In India’s Democracy a Study of Political Parties: a Comparative Study of NDA Alliance and INDIA Alliance Working and Their Behavior’s

India has a democracy with numerous political parties. However, since 2014, challenging questions have arisen regarding the future of the Indian constitution. This study examines what may come next after the current NDA and INDIA alliances, and whether they will maintain their positions or be replaced by other parties. It explores whether other parties are functioning effectively and considers India's democratic model, in which democracy is meant to be a government where everyone has a share, but this is not always evident in practice. The purpose of this study is to understand the political behaviors and workings of the INDIA and NDA alliances in making India a world-level hegemonic power, and to identify what steps each should take. It exaOrigin, Role of Parties and working, NDA, INDIA, Era of Challenge, Conflict among two, Policy Making, Tenure of NDA and INDIA, Study of Leadership, Alliance members mines the roles they have played at the grassroots level and the possibility of a new party emerging in Indian politics. The study also considers whether the Indian people will continue to accept the hegemony of these alliances. It provides a comparative analysis of their workings and behaviors.

Optimal bidding strategy for generation companies alliance in electricity‐carbon‐green certificate markets

AbstractTo promote the profit of generation companies and reduce carbon emissions from the generation sector, a two‐layer decision‐making model based on the cooperative game is proposed. Based on the analysis of a renewable‐fossil energy generation alliance to participate in electricity‐carbon‐green certificate markets, a robust optimization model considering the price uncertainty in the electricity spot market is first established based on the information gap decision‐making theory as the upper part of a two‐layer optimization model. Subsequently, the clearing models of the electricity spot, carbon emission trading, and green certificate markets are established. This two‐layer optimization model is transformed into a single‐layer model based on the well‐established KKT conditions. A profit allocation model for the members of the generation alliance is then presented based on the Shapley value and an improved nucleolus kernel method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated by the IEEE 14‐bus power system.

The WERA cancer center matrix: Strategic management of patient access to precision oncology in a large and mostly rural area of Germany

PurposeProviding patient access to precision oncology (PO) is a major challenge of clinical oncologists. Here, we provide an easily transferable model from strategic management science to assess the outreach of a cancer center. MethodsAs members of the German WERA alliance, the cancer centers in Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg merged care data regarding their geographical impact. Specifically, we examined the provenance of patients from WERA´s molecular tumor boards (MTBs) between 2020 and 2022 (n = 2243). As second dimension, we added the provenance of patients receiving general cancer care by WERA. Clustering our catchment area along these two dimensions set up a four-quadrant matrix consisting of postal code areas with referrals towards WERA. These areas were re-identified on a map of the Federal State of Bavaria. ResultsThe WERA matrix overlooked an active screening area of 821 postal code areas – representing about 50 % of Bavaria´s spatial expansion and more than six million inhabitants. The WERA matrix identified regions successfully connected to our outreach structures in terms of subsidiarity – with general cancer care mainly performed locally but PO performed in collaboration with WERA. We also detected postal code areas with a potential PO backlog – characterized by high levels of cancer care performed by WERA and low levels or no MTB representation. ConclusionsThe WERA matrix provided a transparent portfolio of postal code areas, which helped assessing the geographical impact of our PO program. We believe that its intuitive principle can easily be transferred to other cancer centers.

Military Expenditures and Economic Growth: Evidence from NATO and Non-NATO Alliances

ABSTRACT Given its significant socioeconomic implications, the nexus between military expenditures and economic growth has been the subject of an extensive theoretical and empirical debate. The present study focuses on NATO vs. non-NATO member countries (i.e. 141 countries) as a case study to empirically examine the aforementioned complex relationship during the period 1992–2020. Using annual data, we employ a panel model, as well as spectral preliminary analysis that takes into account the nonlinear behaviour of our series, positive or negative causal relationships and their coherence characteristics across both time and frequency domains. Findings reported herein from an extended panel of several states suggest that military expenditure enhances economic growth under the NATO alliance case, whereas it becomes harmful for growth in the case of non-NATO alliances such as the SCO & CSTO. Our study contributes to the understanding on the crucial role of a military alliance membership in the formation of the economic growth and military spending relationship. Hence, our findings can be beneficial for policymakers to account for the existence of possible spillovers that may arise from country participation in a military alliance.

An expanded investigation of alliance security free riding

AbstractThis paper provides an expanded analysis of NATO security burden sharing by including a variety of conglomerate security terms that involve subsets of military expenditure (ME), UN and non‐UN peacekeeping contributions, global health spending, UN environmental support, and official development assistance. In so doing, we identify components of security spending that promote or inhibit free riding on allies' security spillovers. Additionally, we examine security burden sharing when the NATO alliance is conceptually augmented to include three key Asia‐Pacific allies – Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The paper's statistical tests for security burden sharing rely on spatial‐lag panel models that account for ally connectiveness based on alliance membership, contiguity and US power projection, and allies’ relative locations. Security subsets containing ME display robust free riding or reliance on other allies’ security spillovers, while security subsets not containing ME indicate allies responding positively to security spillovers.

Exploring the factors affecting the performance of shipping companies based on a panel data model: A perspective of antitrust exemption and shipping alliances

Globally, some large shipping companies have started large-scale joint ventures to seek future development and cooperation while seizing the opportunities of the times. Meanwhile, shipping alliances have become the main theme of the shipping market. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first that we use panel data models to analyze and explore the impact of the shipping alliance membership and antitrust exemption policies for the shipping industry on the performance of shipping companies. The results show that the shipping alliance membership and antitrust exemption policies have a significant positive effect on the performance improvement of shipping companies in European countries and USA, while there are no significant impacts in other countries. The antitrust exemption policies in the shipping industry have an undeniable effect on promoting the enhancement of the national shipping industry. This study offers relevant suggestions on the advancement of the China's antitrust exemption system.

Optimal operation of multi-microgrid systems considering multi-level energy-certificate-carbon coupling trading

Under the background of sustainable development, the microgrid (MG) has become an important method for energy saving, emission reduction and meeting multiple energy demand. With the continuous promotion of China's carbon emission right market and green certificate market, to further promote the low-carbon development of MG, a multi-level trading optimization strategy is proposed for multi-microgrids (MMG) that considers the coupling of energy-certificate-carbon market. First, a MMG trading framework including a two-level certification-carbon and a three-level electric-thermal coupled trading is proposed. Second, based on the game theory pricing strategy and the elastic price mechanism of the supply-demand ratio, the MMG operation optimization strategy model is constructed considering multi-level energy-certification-carbon coupled trading. Finally, based on the principle of fair benefit allocation, the Shapley value method is utilized to redistribute the comprehensive income among the alliance members. The simulation results show that compared with the MMG baseline scenario, the overall economic efficiency of the proposed trading model is improved by 3.94 % and the carbon emissions are reduced by 11.71 %. In this way, it can effectively release the potential of MMG resource sharing and mutual benefit, so as to optimise the trade-off strategy for joint participation in the energy-certificate-carbon market.

Current practices and opinions on auditory training in adult cochlear implant recipients

ObjectiveTo examine current practices and opinions of cochlear implant (CI) providers with respect to post-implantation auditory training. MethodsA survey was submitted to the American Cochlear Implant Alliance membership that reviewed current practice and opinions with respect to post-implantation auditory training for adult CI recipients. Main outcome measuresReview of respondent practice, center volume, role on CI team, and current usage and opinions surrounding auditory training, including resources used and schedule of use. ResultsMost (79 %) of the 79 CI providers surveyed reported working at academic centers, 34 % at high-volume centers (>150 CIs/year), and 38 % were surgeons. Nearly all (99 %) respondents recommend auditory training for new adult CI recipients. Just over half (52 %) provide auditory training resources to the patient in the form of a broad list of patient-directed exercises from which a patient could select. A specific training resource, generally a computer-based auditory training program (e.g., AngelSound™), is recommended to patients by 30 % of the respondents.Regarding timing of rehabilitation, median preferred start time was 0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 0–1) post-activation. Sessions were preferably performed for a median of 3 h per week (IQR 2–4) and continued for a median of 12 months (IQR 6–12).Recommendations for auditory training were fairly consistent between surgeon and non-surgeon providers and by center volume. Non-surgeons more often had specific recommendations on training resources, benefits of music, and training condition (e.g., contralateral ear plugged). ConclusionsDespite a lack of clinical guidelines for adult post-implantation auditory training, a cross-sectional survey of providers' current practices and opinions demonstrates that these services are widely recommended and regarded as valuable. Training is almost universally patient-directed and believed to be most beneficial if started soon after activation. Interestingly, specific recommendations for which training approaches to use are not common, suggesting a gap in provider knowledge of which resources are most efficacious.

Do Threats or Shaming Increase Public Support for Policy Concessions? Alliance Coercion and Burden-Sharing in NATO

Abstract Existing literature suggests that alliance members can use their partners’ abandonment fears to obtain favorable concessions for themselves. However, evidence on the effectiveness of threats of abandonment as motivation for defense burden-sharing remains limited. This article uses a survey experiment conducted in Poland and Germany to assess how American signals of support and threats of abandonment shape public support for increasing their countries’ military spending. The findings suggest that threats of abandonment increase public support for higher defense spending, whereas approaches like “naming and shaming” under-contributing partners do not. However, assurances of protection did not decrease support for defense spending, and combining threats with assurances if anything increased those threats’ effects. Threats are thus most effective when they do not fundamentally undermine targets’ confidence in US protection. The findings have implications for understanding alliance politics and the utility of public pressure, and for policy debates about encouraging defense burden-sharing.

Research Based on The Passenger’s Perspective to Airline Alliances, The Case of Turkish Airlines, A member of Star Alliance

There is a substantial degree of cooperation between two or more airlines in an alliance. Strategic alliances are formed for a variety of reasons. As a result of airline alliances (e.g., Star Alliance, Oneworld, Skyteam), airlines are able to increase profitability, reduce costs, and expand their flight networks. As part of its commitment to passengers, Turkish Airlines (hereinafter referred to as 'THY') offers flight check-in, baggage handling, a broad network, high-quality catering, in-flight comfort, and on-time departures and arrivals. An assessment of customer perceptions of THY's alliance was conducted to determine whether alliance strategies affected perceived service quality. Travelers who have flown with Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier of Turkey and a Star Alliance member, were surveyed to compare the impact of alliance strategies on service quality before and after joining the alliance. The survey was completed by 147 participants and analyzed using SPSS.