After the opening policy in 1978, China's tourism increasingly took relevance, up to become an important industry in the last two decades. Despite this, no analysis has been conducted at ...macroeconomic level to check both tourism industry interdependencies and wealth creation. To fill this gap, in this paper we elaborated an innovative conceptual model for the theory-based analysis of the tourism phenomenon in China, having the Keynesian macroeconomic theory as the background and using an SAM as the model accounting representation, and conducted an original, comprehensive methodological analysis of China's tourism industry. As the database, we used a purposively elaborated 2015 SAM for China with 19 industries, on whose basis we identified endogenous and exogenous accounts, set up an innovative impact multiplier model adjusted to them and conducted an economic analysis of tourism interdependencies never performed so far. Evidence shows that manufacturing, agriculture and trade industries provide a relevant support to tourism services production, and that tourism greatly contributes to value added/GDP and household income creation. Overall, tourism industry has direct policy management implications, representing a sector on which enterprises and government can profitably base their decisions, with exogenous tourism demand shocks positively activating China's economic system and growth.
Background: The alarming increase in childhood obesity is a global public health problem since it has significant health consequences. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the potentially ...modifiable risk factors for developing excess weight and determine the importance of developing certain habits to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Methods: The sample included 416 students between the ages of 12 and 14 (12.8 ± 0.62) first-year high school students from Murcia in Spain. Data were collected on their lifestyle habits through the ENHASA questionnaire, and the somatometry of the participants was measured. Such data were studied through structural equation modeling and importance-performance map analyses. Results: The modifiable risk factors that presented the greatest potency directly regarding when developing excess weight in adolescents were ‘use of electronic devices’ and ‘not performing physical activity’ (p < 0.001). ‘Social and school environment’ and ‘diet’ showed relationships but no significant differences with overweight or obesity. Globally, the lifestyle habit of the greatest importance for not being overweight was ‘engagement in extracurricular physical activities’. On the other hand, the habits related to using new technologies in a sedentary way showed the best capacity for improvement. Therefore, it would be very efficient to focus on them to control excess weight. Conclusion: Responsible and limited use of screens and engaging in extracurricular physical activities may be the most remarkable and cost-effective strategies for obesity prevention programs.
Cultural tourism is one of the most sustainable and fastest-growing types of tourism, and so has been widely studied. Despite countless works analyzing the possible factors that can condition the ...choice of the tourist destination, few have addressed how they may differ by sex and within cultural tourism, and they contradict. This paper analyzes this phenomenon through the dimensions of cultural offerings, services and motivations in the city of Málaga, a very tourist city in Spain, which is the fourth country out of 167 with the most world heritage sites-UNESCO. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) were performed for a database of 415 cultural tourists survey responses. The results showed differences between constructs depending on the sex of the tourists. For men, the factor that most affects the choice of destination is tourist motivation-namely, the reason for their visit-followed by services. Conversely, services are first for women, followed by cultural offerings and motivations. The results of this study can be valuable when designing more specific tourism strategies adapted to the profile of tourists.
Rural tourism is currently one of the most dynamic segments of tourism demand, and rural accommodation is one of the accommodation choices most in demand. Based on various documentary sources, the ...goal of this article was to analyse aspects related to the qualitative evolution of this activity that have led to the rapid growth of this type of accommodation. Using a purpose-built database generated from the information obtained from our own survey, which was developed following other studies on this topic, we applied a partial least squares model to analyse the impacts on the environment in terms of the offer and their relationship with environmental management. The results show that the attitude of rural establishment managers has a decisive influence on the behaviour of their clients regarding ecological respect and a positive impact on water and energy consumption.
Knowing the behaviour of consumers is essential for all types of companies, including meat companies. For this purpose, academia is an ally of industry, and analysing scientific production seems ...crucial for conducting future research. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out an exhaustive review of the literature, relying on both descriptive and bibliometric analyses, the latter being through the application of clustering techniques by simple centres. The main results and conclusions are as follows: (1) consumer perceptions, behaviours and attitudes towards food are the main focus of research in this area; (2) the ingredients and additives of meat products are the main concerns in the industry regarding such products; (3) sausages are the dominant meat product; (4) and pork, as well as other types of meat, fall under the generic umbrella term meat. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies considering age, sex and income cohorts. Such lack might have led to finding consumer behaviour and the welfare of animals not significant despite the presupposed positive correlation. The main limitations for researchers are around the availability of budgets and the existence of trade secrets.
Analysing gender differences in key industries is one of today's priorities to achieve a more egalitarian society. In hospitality, the classic approach is through Mincerian regressions or wage ...decompositions. This paper addresses this issue through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA). The results confirm and measure the relations between Human Capital, Labour Conditions, Market, and Wages, and examine the relative importance and performance of each indicator in explaining Wages. Therefore, there are narrow gender differences, and measures are suggested. The main limitation lies in the design of the constructs. This article contributes to the literature by providing an alternative analysis.
Biogenic-silver nanoparticles emerge as new nanosilver platforms that allow us to obtain silver nanoparticles via "green chemistry". In our study, biogenic-silver nanoparticles were obtained from
...leaf extract. Nanoparticles were characterized by a UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamical light scattering technique. The transmission electron microscope revealed spheric and irregular nanoparticles with 5 to 50 nm in diameter. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated against typical microbial contaminants found in cosmetic products, showing high antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, natural moisturizing cream was formulated with biogenic-silver nanoparticles to evaluate the preservative efficiency through a challenge test, indicating its promising use as preservative in cosmetics.
The current status of controversy regarding the use of certain preservatives in cosmetic products makes it necessary to seek new ecological alternatives that are free of adverse effects on users. In ...our study, the natural terpene thymoquinone was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by DLS and TEM, showing a particle size of 20 nm. The chemical structure, thermal properties, and release profile of thymoquinone were evaluated and showed a successful stabilization and sustained release of terpenes. The antimicrobial properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated against typical microbial contaminants found in cosmetic products, showing high antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, natural moisturizing cream inoculated with the aforementioned microorganisms was formulated with thymoquinone-chitosan nanoparticles to evaluate the preservative efficiency, indicating its promising use as a preservative in cosmetics.
The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought significant challenges on both national and regional economic systems, resulting in an exacerbation of poverty and a deceleration of economic growth. These ...repercussions have led to increased social tensions and discontent.
Tuscany a key player in the Italian and European economies, warrants scrutiny concerning its economic structure post-pandemic, particularly in relation to the role played by industry districts and the ways for it to get out of the crisis and get back on track.
This paper undertakes an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Tuscan economy, with a focus on EMAS-APO industry districts. It examines the region's standing in terms of national and European ERCI competitiveness, placing it at an average level. Additionally, the region ranks in the third decile of the DESI digitalization, indicating a commendable technological dynamism. An equally satisfying spending power in R&D, in percentage of GDP higher than the national one, and ranking 6 th in the regions' rank, is flanked by a particularly vigorous innovation capacity of the production sector.
Employing a symmetric branch-by-branch SAM 2019 analysis, derived from a sector-by-product 2014 SAM constructed by IRPET, serves as the foundational step in understanding the interventions and investments necessary for resuming growth.
While affirming Tuscany's competitiveness, digitalization and technological dynamism, the analysis underscores the pivotal role of manufacturing. Notably, the textile, fashion and leather sectors hold significant weight, along with the slightly less impactful paper and pharmaceutical sectors, and the noteworthy role of tourism. The region emerges as innovative, competitive and export-oriented, albeit with certain sectors grappling with environmental challenges.
The IMM based analysis reveals a satisfactory average integration degree of the production system, suggesting that, for an effective, robust and sustainable post-Covid recovery and economic resurgence, focused investments and demand stimulus policy should be directed towards the textile, fashion and leather industries. Additionally, there is a strong indication to channel investments into pharmaceuticals and health care, and on transportation (especially freight transportation), as well as wholesale and retail trade. While weaker, there is a notable suggestion to invest in metallurgy, computer hardware, tourism and paper industries.
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