Cross-regional Study Research Articles

Is Business Sustainability Possible? The Moderating Role of Place of Work in the Relationship between Hotel Safety Culture, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Customer-Oriented Behavior: A Cross-Regional Study

Safety culture is a key feature between employees’ job performance and organizational commitment. Hotel businesses are an important component of the service sector, and a customer-oriented approach in these businesses increases organizational performance. Therefore, the increased organizational commitment of employees plays an important role in the implementation of a customer-oriented approach. In this study, hotel safety culture, which is one of the important factors for business performance sustainability, is examined. In addition, the effect of hotel safety culture on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and customer-oriented behavior is examined. In this context, the research data were collected from the employees of 5-star hotels operating in Antalya and Doha through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM 4.0. As a result of the research, some significant effects were found between the variables in the hypothetical research model. Based on the results obtained, theoretically, in support of the studies in the literature, a positive relationship was found between perceived safety culture and employees’ job performance. Accordingly, as practical suggestions, it is recommended that hotel managers take measures to increase the safety culture (staff training, increasing physical measures, making warning signs visible, etc.).

Smart retrofitting for office buildings: Comparison of decision-making criteria between developing and developed regions

Given the constantly evolving nature of modern infrastructure, retrofitting existing buildings with state-of-the-art smart technologies presents a pivotal opportunity, enabling promising advancements in sustainability, efficiency and adaptability. Focusing on Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, which are developed and developing regions respectively, this study investigates the decision-making criteria for selecting smart systems as retrofits for office buildings. Using the analytic network process (ANP), 24 expert interviews were conducted in Hong Kong and Sri Lanka to determine the importance weights of the decision-making criteria. The findings show varied importance weights for each criterion between the two regions, with Hong Kong emphasizing upfront financial considerations, specifically 'investment cost' while Sri Lanka emphasizing long-term operational sustainability, specifically 'recurring operation, maintenance and repair cost.' Despite these differences, there are similarities in the importance of core criteria such as 'reliability of retrofit option' and 'ability to increase returns.' The lack of focus on user-centric issues in Hong Kong and implementation of retrofit projects in Sri Lanka underscore the need for decision-makers to prioritize these aspects in future projects. The principal contribution of this study is in offering insights from a thorough analysis of the importance weights of the essential criteria in making decisions regarding smart retrofitting (SR). It is also beneficial to various stakeholders, including building owners and facility managers. The cross-region study approach, enabling the investigation on both developed and developing regions, further serves as a foundation for future research aiming to explore and analyze the influence of regional difference in decision-making for SR.

Biological Characteristics of the Glacier Lantern Fish Benthosema glaciale (Myctophidae) in Icelandic Waters andthe Irminger Sea During Summer.

Myctophids are one of the most diverse and abundant fish families in the mesopelagic zone, making them a key component in the marine pelagic community. In the North Atlantic, Benthosema glaciale (glacier lantern fish) is considered the most abundant myctophid north of 35° N, yet some regions within its extensive range lack information on its basic biological parameters. We investigated the growth and described the distribution of B. glaciale in Icelandic waters, including the southern continental shelf, Iceland Basin, and Irminger Sea. Length distribution, growth, relative body condition, age, and otolith-fish size relationships were analyzed from samples collected opportunistically with pelagic trawls during the International Ecosystem Summer Survey in the Nordic Seas (IESSNS) in July 2020. In total, 1374 individuals were caught, and only a subset of 225 were measured fresh at sea and 89 were frozen and dissected on land. Total lengths of fresh fish ranged from 38 to 85 mm, while dissected individuals ranged from 40 to 74 mm and were 2 to 6 years old. Located over the Reykjanes Ridge in the Iceland Basin region, individuals had a significantly higher mean standard length and mean age, and a lower mean body condition. We reported length-weight relationships for both fresh and frozen samples, indicating evidence that preserving of the specimens through freezing affected relationships. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was calculated along with significant otolith-fish size relationships where r 2 values ranged between 0.87 and 0.92. Our research highlights the importance of cross-regional studies and provides baseline biology for B. glaciale in Icelandic waters, specifically in the southern continental slope and Reykjanes Ridge.

Life Philosophy: A Study on Western Ontology and Taoism of Form and Spirit Dualism

The paper, starting from the perspective of philosophical exploration of life, combines historical literature with ontology and dualism as the focal points, integrating features from various fields such as psychology, traditional Chinese medicine, and phenomenology. It conducts a comparative study on the similarities and differences between Western ontology and Taoist dualism of form and spirit. The article elucidates how the 'outward-extending material world and inward-purifying spiritual world' are unified in the principle of the amalgamation of 'human body.' It also provides specific methods and theoretical explanations for the discovery of the spiritual world in the East and West. The external world is defined as the material realm discovered by science, while the internal world is the spiritual realm revealed after the purification of the mind. Both idealism and materialism have tended toward extremes in two directions. Both Western ontology and Eastern Taoist dualism of form and spirit have discovered the phenomenon that 'the spirit can exist independently in this time and space through specific exercises such as meditation.' Taoism, with its unique medical foundation in the study of 'form,' recognizes the interaction of form and spirit, leading to the development of their respective religious, philosophical, and theological traditions. Interdisciplinary and cross-regional studies in religion, particularly in the field of mental and physical health, are expected to become significant trends in the future."

Differential Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence during COVID-19: A Cross-Regional Study in Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a marked increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) worldwide, Mexico being no exception. Factors that exacerbated gender-based violence (GBV) in the household during the pandemic include gendered loss of income, regression in access to social and legal justice resources, reversal to more traditional gender norms and roles, and increased alcoholism. While there are studies about the prevalence and determinants of IPV in rural and urban Mexico, there appears to be a lack of information regarding how these realities differed as they interacted with the compounding pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stemming from 10 ethnographic interviews with women across rural and urban localities of Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Mexico State, who were recruited from NGOs providing psychological and legal services against GBV, we analyze some factors associated with the prevalence of IPV during confinement. We conclude that all women in our study experienced IPV both before and during the pandemic, with variations in IPV patterns influenced by their rural or urban residence, socio-economic status, ethnic-racial identity, and proximity to the abuser's network. We also found that not all impacts were negative, rather COVID-19 measures had a paradoxical effect for some women where restrictions on geographical mobility and decrease in access to alcohol became pivotal protective factors. We recommend that public policymakers and civil society organizations alike pay attention to these differential challenges and benefits in their crisis responses.

Adolescents’ attempts at influence and self-reported errors in family vacation decisions: a cross-regional study

Adolescents’ attempts at influence and self-reported errors in family vacation decisions: a cross-regional study

Is environment destiny? Spatial analysis of the relationship between geographic factors and obesity in Türkiye

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the relationship of geographical factors, including precipitation, slope, air pollution and elevation with adult obesity prevalence in Türkiye (TR) using a cross-regional study design. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were performed to evaluate the spatial variation in the relationship between all geographic factors and obesity prevalence. In the model, a positive relationship was found between obesity prevalence and slope, whereas a negative significant relationship was determined between obesity prevalence and elevation (p < 0.05). These results, revealing spatially varying associations, were very useful in refining the interpretations of the statistical results on adult obesity. This research suggests that geographical factors should be considered as one of the components of the obesogenic environment. In addition, it is recommended that national and international strategies to overcome obesity should be restructured by taking into account the geographical characteristics of the region.

Investigating non-point pollution mitigation strategies in response to changing environments: A cross-regional study in China and Germany

Climate change and urbanization have altered regional hydro-environments. Yet, the impact of future changes on the pollution risk and associated mitigation strategies requires further exploration. This study proposed a hydraulic and water-quality modeling framework, to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of pollution risk mitigation by low impact development (LID) strategies under future Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios. Results demonstrated that the LID strategies exhibited an effective performance of pollutant removal in the current hydro-environment, with the removal rates ranging from 33% to 56%. In future climate and urbanization scenarios, the LID performance declined and turned to be uncertain as the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased, with the removal rates ranging from 12% to 59%. Scenario analysis suggested that the LID performance was enhanced by a maximum of 73% through the diversified implementation of LID practices, and the performance uncertainty was reduced by a maximum of 67% through the increased LID deployment. In addition, comparative analysis revealed that the LID strategies in a well-developed region (Dresden, Germany) were more resilient in response to changing environments, while the LID strategy in a high-growth region (Chaohu, China) exhibited a better pollutant removal performance under low-GHG scenarios. The methods and findings in this study could provide additional insights into sustainable water quality management in response to climate change and urbanization.

The importance of cultivating awareness of environmental matters in science classrooms: a cross-regional study

AbstractAs scientific literacy plays a contributing role in identifying, analysing, and solving environmental matters that our world is facing, there is growing consensus to mandate environmental matters in science classrooms following five decades of efforts in promoting environmental education. However, much remains unknown about the relationship between students’ awareness of environmental matters and their science literacy scores on standardised test. Using data drawn from the 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) science performance assessment, this study investigates the relationship between students’ awareness of environmental matters and their science literacy scores in the context of established predictors for science learning. In all the regions’ multilevel models ranging from medium to large effect sizes, a significant and positive relationship emerges between students’ awareness of environmental matters and science literacy scores. Among the well-known predictors for science learning, student science self-efficacy associates positively with student science literacy scores across the regions. In contrast, inquiry-based science instruction associates negatively with the scores. Except for these two well-known predictors, variations exist in the relationships between other variables among the regions. Given all the regions’ evidence showing the positive linkage between students’ awareness of environmental matters and science literacy scores, the present study signifies the importance of integrating environmental issues into traditional science classrooms, suggesting that there should be systematic supports that enable both environmental and science educators to collaborate towards the development of an interdisciplinary environmental science curriculum.

Prepandemic psychotropic drug status in Portugal: a nationwide pharmacoepidemiological profile

The prescription of psychotropic drugs has been rising in Europe over the last decade. This study provides a comprehensive profile of prepandemic consumption patterns of antidepressant, antipsychotic, and anxiolytic drugs in Portugal considering full nationwide psychotropic drug prescription and dispensing records (2016–2019) against several criteria, including active ingredient, sociodemographics, medical specialty, and incurred costs. An increase of 29.6% and 34.7% in the consumption of antipsychotics and antidepressants between 2016 and 2019 is highlighted, accompanied by an increase of 37M Eur in total expenditure (> 20M Eur in public copay) for these classes of drugs. Disparities in sociodemographic and geographical incidence are identified. Amongst other pivotal results, 64% of psychotropic drug prescriptions are undertaken by general practitioners, while only 21% undertaken by neurological and psychiatric specialties. Nationwide patterns of psychotropic drug prescription further reveal notable trends and determinants, establishing a reference point for cross-regional studies and being currently assessed at a national level to establish psychosocial initiatives and guidelines for medical practice and training.

Risk of colorectal cancer after appendectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Appendectomy is associated with various diseases, but whether it increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at investigating the suggested correlation between appendectomy and CRC. Systematic retrieval was performed using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases up to May 4, 2022, for studies reported the influence of appendectomy on CRC, colon cancer (CC) or rectal cancer (RC). Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CRC after appendectomy were pooled using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses were carried on by region, sex, and tumor location. Our search identified 1743 articles, of which 22 studies from three continents published between 1964 and 2022 were eligible for inclusion. Overall, people with appendectomy had a higher risk of CRC (OR=1.31; 95% CI [1.05, 1.62]). But the risk for Europeans was not significant (OR=0.94; 95% CI [0.87, 1.02]; I2 =0%), while for Americans and Asians, appendectomy would increase the risk of CRC (OR=1.68; 95% CI [1.15, 2.44]; I2 =65% and OR=1.46; 95% CI [1.04, 2.05]; I2 =98%), especially in females and in developing countries. It is worth noting that appendectomy might be a protective factor for CC in European women (OR=0.87; 95% CI [0.77, 0.98]; I2 =0%). Appendectomy may be a risk factor for CRC, with varying degrees in different populations. More high-quality cross-regional studies are needed for better clinical decision making.

Predictors of Upcycling in the Highly Industrialised West: A Survey across Three Continents of Australia, Europe, and North America

Upcycling, as a way to reutilise resources, offers a promising alternative to production and consumption based on virgin materials. Despite the growing academic and industrial interest in recent years, there is a lack of large-scale cross-country or cross-regional studies that systematically investigate influencing factors for consumer upcycling behaviour. By drawing on social psychological theories of interpersonal behaviour and planned behaviour, this study investigated predictors of upcycling behaviour in five highly industrialised countries of three continents: Australia, Canada, Germany, UK, and USA. Results showed that intention and perceived behavioural control (confidence in abilities) were the most important factors for upcycling. Theoretical and practical implications from this study are discussed in the context of efforts to scale up global upcycling.

Energy-Saving Potential Comparison of Different Photovoltaic Integrated Shading Devices (PVSDs) for Single-Story and Multi-Story Buildings

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades are a promising technique for improving building energy performance. This study develops energy simulation models of different photovoltaic-integrated shading devices (PVSDs) in single-story and multi-story office buildings. A cross-region study in China is carried out to explore the energy performance of PVSDs in five climate zones. The shading effect of the upper PVSDs is taken into account. The results show that (1) PVSDs can be applicable in hot and cold climates; shading effects lead to a notable difference in the optimal PVSDs style. The average comprehensive energy saving ratios of different PVSDs ranged from 16.12% (fixed PV louvres in the vertical plane) to 51.95% (lower single panel). The most rewarding PVSDs are for single-story buildings in Kunming and the least suitable are for multi-story buildings in Guangzhou. (2) In climate zones with little air-conditioning energy consumption, avoiding considerably increased lighting consumption by PVSDs is vital. (3) To reduce shading effects, solar panels with smaller widths or vertical placements can be adopted. In addition, the distance of the PV modules from the top edge of the windows is also critical. Building performance evaluation in the early design stage enables maximum benefits for the same input (total area of PV panels). The research methodology and data analysis presented can guide parameters design and the geographical applicability of PVSDs, providing a reference for optimal building energy performance.

Socio-eco-efficiency of high-tech companies: a cross-sector and cross-regional study

Socio-eco-efficiency of high-tech companies: a cross-sector and cross-regional study

Training in psychotherapy for medical doctors - implementation in practice

Mental Health Screening of Syrian Refugees in Germany: The Refugee Health Screener Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine (1) the impact of training in psychotherapy on professional activities and personal life and (2) the frequency of psychotherapy services in primary care and specialty practices. Method: General practitioners and specialists in outpatient medical practices from Baden-Württemberg (n = 289) with completed additional training in psychotherapy were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the current state of implementation in their medical practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlative statistical methods. Results: The response rate was 53.7 % (n = 150). Physicians reported very positive effects on professional activity, job and life satisfaction, and personal growth. They provide an average of 9.1 hours (SD 6.4) of psychotherapy per week. They provide low-frequency psychotherapy for longer periods per quarter to 21.3 (SD 55.6) patients with primarily chronic physical illnesses. Conclusions: Additional training in psychotherapy for physicians seems to be proving successful in its implementation in medical practice. Most physicians regularly provide psychotherapy on a small but significant scale. Further cross-regional studies including data from health insurance companies are needed.

Is farmland financial innovation narrowing the urban-rural income gap? A cross-regional study of China.

Over the past four decades, China's economy has experienced tremendous economic growth but also a widening urban-rural income gap. Given the dilemma of the urban-rural income gap in China explained by neoclassical equilibrium theory, this paper attempts to provide a new theoretical explanation for the large-income gap between urban and rural areas in China. We select data from 30 provinces(cities) in China over the period from 2006 to 2017 as a sample to investigate whether and how the degree of farmland financial innovation narrows the urban-rural income gap. The results show that the coefficient for farmland financial innovation is significantly negative at the 1% level, signifying that financial innovation can narrow the urban-rural income gap in China. The mediation effect test provides evidence that farmland financial innovation narrows the urban-rural income gap by promoting the permanent migration of the labor force and upgrading the industrial structure. Our results indicate that the government should promote various forms of farmland financial innovation, establish rural property rights transaction system and free farmers from deep farmer-land attachment to realize permanent labor migration.

The Effect of CSR Environmental Initiatives on Purchase Decisions—A Cross-Regional Study in Poland and Ukraine

To engage in an effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) action, it is necessary to first recognise its impact on targeted buyers. This study surveyed respondents from Poland and Ukraine to analyse their perception of initiatives related to environmental protection and the effect of such initiatives on purchasing behaviour. The study demonstrated how consumers’ age, education level, or professional position influence their purchasing decisions and feedback on different kinds of CSR actions related to environmental protection. Of the five areas identified in the questionnaire (environmental protection, cooperation with the local community, corruption and bribery, labour and employment, and human rights), environmental protection was found to be the most important to consumers. These results may help in decision making regarding specific environmental CSR initiatives targeted at selected social groups living in this region of Europe.

Шеринг-экономика в России: новый источник политического участия и демократизации?

Introduction. Scientific understanding of current and future trends in the development of society, the formulation of problems of social development, and even more so its prediction is associated with the analysis of the role and place of modern and promising communication technologies in the complex architecture of social interactions. Today, such technologies determine the direction of restructuring traditional political and economic institutions contribute to the formation of fundamentally new formats of social interactions. The beginning of the 21st century was marked by a wide spread of sharing relations – old socio-economic practices of joint (shared) use of goods in a new technical and technological design. The driver of the development of joint consumption practices has also been the spread of global trends in the transition from a system of strong fundamental links between socioeconomic entities to weaker but numerous temporary links. Methods and materials. In the course of the study, the sharing economy was considered through the prism of structural-functional, neoinstitutional and network approaches. The authors used system analysis, interdisciplinary and empirical methods (questionnaire, expert survey), as well as the method of social modeling. The materials for the study were the publications of leading foreign and domestic researchers of the issue in peer-reviewed scientific publications, as well as the results of a cross-regional sociological study conducted by the authors. Analysis. Currently, an institutional formation of a new ontological reality within which self-regulating, more autonomous from the state, sharing communities built on the network principle function is taking place. Through the liberalization of access to a wide range of benefits through low-cost channels, sharing contributes to the growth of trust, social well-being, and reduction of social tension. At the same time, the uncontrolled spread of sharing practices is fraught with a drop in the level of institutional and interpersonal trust, an increase in conflict in society, and the deformation of regional and sectoral labor markets, which will naturally affect social well-being and political stability. Results. The obtained results confirmed the hypothesis of the study that the practices of joint consumption in Russia have a pronounced development potential and a growing influence on the political sphere through the growth of political activity of the population participating in these practices, through the actualization of microsocial contracts and the subsequent translation of their content to the macro level.

Cervical spine injuries requiring surgery in a Level I trauma centre in a major German city

BackgroundCervical spine injuries (CSI) are rare in trauma patients, at about 9.2–16.5/100,000 inhabitants in Scandinavia and Canada, and the annual incidence of CSI surgeries in Norway is around 3.0/100,000 inhabitants. However, despite their rarity, the incidence of CSI has increased, thereby assuming an increasing need for surgery. Outside of Scandinavia, no data about the incidence of CSI and subsequent surgeries exist. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse CSI epidemiology and surgery in a German city with a Level I trauma centre both to understand the injury and improve needs–based planning.MethodsThis retrospective, monocentre study included all patients who presented with CSI from 2012–2017 at a university hospital with a Level I trauma centre in a major German city and had permanent residency within the city. Based on the assumption that the patients represented all CSI injuries in the city, as they were treated at the only available Level I trauma centre, the annual incidence of surgeries and neurologic deficits due to CSI were calculated.ResultsA total of 465 patients with 609 CSI were identified. Of these patients, 61 both received surgery and resided in the city (mean age, 68.1 ± 18.3 years; 26 female, 35 male). The incidence of CSI surgeries was calculated as 3.24/100,000 person years (1.75/100,000 in the upper and 1.54/100,000 in the subaxial cervical spine). Neurologic deficits occurred in 0.64/100,000 person years. The incidence of both surgeries and neurologic deficits showed no significant changes over the 6-year study period.ConclusionsCompared to Scandinavia, an increasing annual incidence for CSI surgeries and neurologic deficits were found. For long-term demand planning with adaptability to demographic changes, cross-regional studies including long-term follow-up are necessary.

Examining the Critical Factors for Managing Workplace Stress in the Construction Industry: A Cross-Regional Study

Construction professionals (CPs) usually bear significant responsibilities for the achievement of project success and, thus, have long experienced numerous workplace stressors in the demanding construction industry. The perception of stressors and, in turn, the generation of stress is largely affected by an individual’s socioeconomic background and cultural values. However, previous research mainly examined the factors for CPs’ stress in a single location. Little is known about regional differences in stressor-stress patterns globally. To better manage stress and enhance the well-being of CPs worldwide, comprehensively examining the stressor-stress interaction of CPs through a cross-regional study is necessary. This research involved a questionnaire survey with more than three hundred and fifty CPs from Hong Kong (HK) and Suzhou. A series of statistical analyses on the collected data produced a number of major findings about the stressors and stress experienced by CPs in the two cities: (1) the HK CPs experienced a higher level of objective stress but a lower level of subjective stress than their Suzhou counterparts did; (2) the HK and Suzhou CPs faced different stressors at work; (3) work overload and poor environment were critical stressors for both the HK and Suzhou CPs; and (4) group cohesion significantly affected only the stress of Suzhou CPs. Practical suggestions were provided for managing CPs’ stressors and stress, including realistic job assignments and organizing of frequent social gatherings, team-building activities, stress management seminars, and training. This study reveals different patterns of stressor-stress interactions for CPs in the two typical developed regions, which might inspire a future comparative study to explore the underlying mechanisms for CPs’ stress in the context of different regions globally. This study further extends the body of knowledge on global stress management in the construction management field and is valuable to improving the effectiveness of existing stress management practices.