Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cost management and control of inter-organisational relationships: a case from the Greek shipping industry

Inter-organisational cost management and control (IOCM and control) is generally defined as a means whereby independent organisations protect their interests and coordinate resources to create value from their inter-organisational relationships (IORs). While research in IOCM and control has been informed by a variety of theoretical perspectives, there is little which has employed structuration theory (examples are Free, 2008; Seal et al., 2004; Sydow & Windeler, 1998). Here, it is argued that Rob Stones’ recent work is a development of the theory which shows good promise for research in this area. A field study at a Greek shipping organisation reveals the processes and dynamics of IOCM and control in practice. Despite public proclamations of long-term relationships with suppliers and buyers, the research uncovered a network of asymmetrically dependent relationships, which produced and reproduced predominantly arm’s-length practices. Distrust and paternalism within the organisation spilled over to the management of its inter-organisational domain, while the structural influences of environmental institutions reinforced organisational agents’ perspectives of IOCM and control and limited consideration of alternatives. Finally, this study argues that the notion of multiple and overlapping social systems as well as of learning and change can emphasise a role for certain theoretical constructs to implicate the skilful deployment of resources, which is central to economic phenomena. Such constructs refer to dialectics of control, path dependency, isomorphism, contradiction and praxis. It is proposed that future research in IOCM and control employing Stones’ version of structuration, would benefit from explicit use of these constructs.
The Knowledge Management Toolkit: Practical Techniques for Building a Knowledge Management System with Cdrom

From the Book: PREFACE: Preface Real knowledge is to know the extent of oneOs ignorance Confucius In the quest for sustainable competitive advantage, companies have finally come to realize that technology alone is not that. What sustains is knowledge. It is in unchaining knowledge that lies in your companyOs people, processes, and experience that the hope for survival rests. Peter Drucker warned us years ago, but itOs only now that companies have finally woken up to the value of managing their knowledge and bringing it to bear upon decisions that drive them up or out of existence. If your organization is confused by vendor buzz and consultant pitches about how they and their products can solve all your knowledge problems, be forewarned: ItOs not that easy. Knowledge management (KM) is just about 35 percent technology. While technology is the easy part, itOs the people and processes part that is hard. The Knowledge Management Toolkit will provide you with a strategic roadmap for knowledge management and teach you how to implement KM in your company, step by step. Technology should not always be mistaken for computing technology; the two are not synonymous. Chapter 1, rather than this preface, introduces you to KM and to this book. Before you begin, a notational warning would be in order. YouOll find a lot of citations because of the cumulative tradition that this book follows by choice. However, do not let this distract you; all that you need to comprehend a topic being discussed is footnoted on the same page. You can safely ignore all endnotes without losing any information (unless you wanttotrace bibliographic history). When a URL is mentioned in the text, you will likely find further information on it in Appendix D. YouOll hear about the silver bullet, a term rooted in folklore of the American Civil War. It supposedly emerged from the practice of encouraging a patient who was to undergo field surgery to bite down hard on a lead bullet Oto divert the mind from pain and screamingO (American Slang, Harper & Row, New York, 1986). YouOll soon realize that youOve found the silver bullet of business competitiveness. Think of this book as a conversation between you and me. Remember to visit the companion site at www.kmtoolkit. com. I would love to hear your comments, suggestions, questions, criticisms, and reactions. Feel free to email me at atiwana@acm.org Amrit Tiwana Atlanta
Development of a sustainability assessment methodology for UK streetworks projects

When streetworks are carried out to renew road surfaces or maintain buried pipes and cables, a number of different aspects need to be considered. An assessment tool has been developed so that highway authorities and utility companies can compare different solutions (or ‘Scenarios’) in terms of the impacts created (See Figure 4.1). These impacts were best captured by developing a new sustainability assessment methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative methods, and focuses on the needs of the ‘one customer’ who enjoys access to roads and utilities every day but pays the price through tax, utility bills, congestion and noise. The assessment tool was applied to four Case Studies and the results validated, and it proved beneficial in understanding how the value of streetworks solutions can be evaluated. However, certain input parameters (notably average vehicle delays at streetworks) now need to be investigated further to better understand the uncertainty of the result. The methodology provides an academic contribution because it incorporates working practices used in the UK, techniques used to measure or calculate certain impacts, and criteria used to consider social or environmental issues, to create a sustainability-based assessment tool that is specifically designed for small scale streetworks projects.
Transgenic mouse lines illuminate input and output processing streams in the medial vestibular and cerebellar nuclei

The cerebellum controls a vast array of coordinated reflexes and learned responses. All of its output to motor and premotor centers is funneled through the deep cerebellar and vestibular nuclei. Research on the information processing and internal circuitry of these nuclei has been hampered by the lack of available strategies for identifying and targeting functionally relevant subsets of neurons. I took advantage of several transgenic mouse lines in which distinct neuronal groups were labeled with fluorescent reporters to study the input and output characteristics of these regions. Experiments revealed that projection and local neurons in the medial vestibular nucleus exhibit different intrinsic physiological properties, and that their recruitment by sensory afferents is carefully tuned for the requirements of the vestibular system. Furthermore, both the medial vestibular and cerebellar nuclei make both excitatory and inhibitory projections to their motor nuclei targets. Finally, multiple types of inhibitory input are available to sculpt information processing in the vestibular nuclei
Pelagic Methane Sink Enhanced by Benthic Methanotrophs Ejected From a Gas Seep

Cold seeps represent hot spots of seabed‐derived methane emissions to the water column, where physical and biological barriers regulate transport of methane to the atmosphere. In our study, we used a methane point source in the North Sea to investigate water‐column methane dynamics within the dispersing plumes. The study is based on methane concentration, distribution and activity of methane‐oxidizing bacteria (MOB), and oceanographic observations. Our findings suggest the ejection of benthic MOB into the water column by sediment resuspension and gas‐bubble‐mediated transport. An applied particle‐tracking model demonstrated that the ejection of 4.29 ± 1.9 × 1012 MOB cells s−1 from the seep site would produce the MOB abundance detected in the down‐current water body. The benthic MOB inoculant accelerated methane oxidation rates by a factor of five. Our study highlights the importance of the bentho‐pelagic transport of microorganisms at seep sites and their feedback on the pelagic methane sink.
Produktivitet och lönsamhet vid skogsbränsleuttag i klena gallringar

The annual demands for forest fuels increases in Sweden. At present, large unutilized biomass resources is found in young, dense forests from which about five million oven-dry tonnes (ODt) (23 TWh) could annually be extracted as forest fuel. But harvesting small trees give high logging costs and new cost-efficient harvesting techniques are therefore required. The aim was to study the productivity of Vimek 608 BioCombi in forest fuel thinning of Lodgepole pine and to calculate the economy of the harvesting and estimate the thinning quality. The time study was performed in Amarken in the county of Vasterbotten. The study area had 4724 trees/ha with an average tree volume of 26.6 dm3 (on bark). On average, 15.3 ODt/ha and 1614 trees/ha was harvested. The thinning intensity of the initial basal area was 34%, and 12% of the remaining trees had stem damages. At 100 m forwarding distance the hourly effective work time (E0-hour) consumption per ha was 17.6 giving a productivity of 0.88 ODt/E0-hour. The productivity was influenced by forwarding distance, the harvested biomass/ha, tree volume and the proportion of Lodgepole pine of harvested biomass. At machine cost of 550 SEK/E0-hour, a forest fuel prize of 210 SEK/m3solid, a forwarding distance of 100 m, a productivity of 0.88 ODt/E0-hour and harvested tree size of 19 dm3solid the profitability was -1 633 SEK/ha. The BioCombi is a relative new machine on the market and development of both technology and work methods are possible to increase efficiency, and thus reduce logging costs.
Use of an independent visual background to alleviate simulator sickness in the virtual environments that employ wide-field displays

Simulator sickness (or so-called Cybersickness) has been a significant problem since the development of virtual reality systems. Numerous studies have investigated this problem. However, there is currently no accepted solution. This dissertation addresses development of a possible approach to alleviate simulator sickness. Prior work has suggested the method of inserting an inertially-matched reference visual background grid into a visual scene as an intervention against simulator sickness, but little work has been done to evaluate or optimize such method. This dissertation describes a series of human factors studies to examine and optimize such an “independent visual background” (IVB). Four major components are included. The first part provides a background regarding simulator sickness. The second part examines the dynamics of sensory conflict theory which has been widely accepted as a model of simulator sickness. In this regard we identified and verified a motion frequency where the summed response from the visual and inertial self-motion systems was greatest. We also investigated the effects of field-of-view of the display. The third part explores the possible characteristics of the IVB including spatial, polarity, temporal and stereographic properties of the visual display. As a means of determining subjects' reactions to moving visual stimuli, postural stability, was measured. Postural stability has been proposed as an objective measurement for simulator sickness. The fourth part explores ways that the IVB may reduce subjects' simulator sickness symptoms during the virtual environment exposure. We also consider the relationship between sense of presence and simulator sickness. We conclude that the IVB could be a useful procedure to alleviate simulator sickness and recommend future experiments regarding how the IVB should be presented to enhance users' task performance and cognitive function.
Understanding the Characteristics of Secondary Crashes on Freeways

Research on secondary crashes has been limited, mainly due to the poor quality of incident data and related traffic data that are necessary for secondary incident analysis. In recent years, traffic management agencies have begun the implementation and maintenance of detailed databases that can be used for detailed analysis of incidents including secondary crashes. This paper utilizes such a database in an effort to examine the relationships between the primary incident characteristics and the likelihood and severity of secondary crashes. Summary statistics and logistic regression analyses were applied to understand these relationships. The derived regression model indicates that five factors have significant effects on the likelihood of incident occurrence. These factors are: the number of vehicles involved in the primary incident, the number of lanes at the primary incident site, the primary incident duration, time-of-day of incident occurrence, and if vehicle rollover occurs during the primary incident. Secondary crash severity analysis confirms that secondary crashes are usually much less severe than other crashes, which could be an important factor when conducting benefit-cost analysis for incident management. The results show that incident visibility and the lane blockage durations of the primary incidents are significant contributing factors for determining the severity of secondary crashes.
A Jarque-Bera type test for multivariate normality based on second-power skewness and kurtosis

Desgagn´e and de Micheaux (2018) proposed an alternative univariate normality test to the Jarque-Bera test. The proposed statistic is based on the sample second power skewness and kurtosis while the Jarque-Bera statistic uses sample Pearson’s skewness and kurtosis that are the third and fourth standardized sample moments, re-spectively. In this paper, we generalize their statistic to a multivariate version based on orthogonalization or an empirical standardization of data. The proposed multivariate statistic follows chi-squared distribution approximately. A simulation study shows that the proposed statistic has good control of type I error even for a very small sample size when critical values from the approximate distribution are used. It has comparable power to the multivariate version of the Jarque-Bera test with exactly the same idea of the orthogonalization. It also shows much better power for some mixed normal alternatives.
Male and Female Sports Fans: Team Identification, Satisfaction With Team Performance, and Consumption Behavior

This research examines the relationships between sports teams and various fan basis. The path of inquiry recognizes that a sports organization that successfully implements relationship marketing programs can develop long-term relationships with its fans, thus improving the likelihood of customer retention. Two factors, fan identification with a team and fan satisfaction with a team’s performance, have been identified as critically important in retaining a sports team’s customers. Results suggest differences between male and female fans in team identification and sports event attendance, but not in satisfaction with team performance or other consumption behaviors. related to a specific team, on separate scales of one to five. For each scale, lower scores indicated greater likelihood of the specified consumption behavior. There was a significant difference in the scores for males (M=1.90, SD=1.15) and females (M=1.65, SD=0.89) reporting likelihood of future in-person attendance (t(298)=2.07, p=. 039). Results of this test supported H3. No significant differences were found in the scores for males and females in reporting likelihood of future media-based attendance (t(298)=0.20, p=. 841), word-of-mouth communication (t(298)=1.35, p=. 178), and merchandise purchase (t(298)=0.52, p=. 604). H4, H5, and H6 were not supported.
Efficacy of Hybrid Coursework on Retention Rate in Online Higher Education

Recent developments and technological advances in online education have provided the adult learner with new opportunities to obtain a college education. However, online coursework offers new challenges particularly for online student retention, as these rates are lower than traditional students on a college or university campus. The following research outlines a quantitative study for the perceived effect of social learning for adult online learners through hybrid coursework on undergraduate retention rates through two research questions using a causal-comparative design for research question one and a correlational design for research question two. This study examined retention theory in regards to social learning by comparing the participation of adult online learners who enrolled in a blended online and on-campus hybrid course to those who solely took online courses. It also studied the relationship between number of hybrid courses taken by online students and retention. It was found through a chi-square test of independence for research question one that there was a statistically significant difference between fully online and hybrid course students with retention rates, as hybrid students retained at a higher percentage. In addition, a bivariate correlation was conducted for the second research question and found there was no statistically significant relationship between the increased number of hybrid courses taken and student retention. The results of this study provided a better understanding of the effect that hybrid courses had on retention rates of adult online learners in higher education.
ANALYSIS OF CROSSING PATH CRASH COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS

This paper summarizes the results of an analysis of promising countermeasure systems for crossing path crashes, and thus provides a foundation for setting research priorities under the United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative. Crossing path crashes involve one moving vehicle cutting across the path of another, which amounted to 1.72 million police-reported crashes in the U.S. based on the 1998 General Estimates System crash database. Three basic countermeasure concepts and their functional requirements were developed to warn drivers of imminent collision caused by stop sign violation, red light violation, or insufficient gaps between vehicles at intersections or driveways. A survey was conducted to assess the technical viability of current systems and enabling technologies that could implement these concepts using infrastructure-based, vehicle-based, or cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems. This paper concludes with recommendations to pursue the development of complete performance specifications and objective test procedures for promising crossing path crash countermeasure concepts. For the covering abstract see ITRD E111577.
Heterogeneity Effect of Central Bank Independence on Asset Prices: Evidence from Selected Developing Countries

The study analyzes the response to financial asset prices and economic activity concerning central bank independence (CBI) shocks in selected developing countries. Financial asset prices were divided into the exchange rate, bond yield, and stock price, while the analysis was contingent on a panel Vector Autoregressive estimation. Furthermore, this study identifies heterogeneity across the countries in its sample through poolability tests. This is achieved through a mean-group estimation to the panel Vector Autoregressive by averaging the PVAR coefficients and impulse response function for all individual countries. Additionally, the sample countries are divided into two sub-groups. The results showed that central bank independence reduces bond yield and increases stock price in the first two quarters. However, it takes a year to cause an appreciation in the exchange rate. Moreover, financial asset prices have an essential role in monetary policy transmission to the extent that a change in CBI affects the exchange rate, bond yield, stock price, thereby influencing private consumption and investment.
Evaluation of wood characteristics of tropical post-mid rotation plantation Eucalyptus cloeziana and E. pellita: Part (a) Natural durability of timber.

This project evaluated the timber quality, processing and performance characteristics of 19-year-old Eucalyptus cloeziana (Gympie messmate) and 15-year-old Eucalyptus pellita (red mahogany). Studies were undertaken to evaluate wood and mechanical properties, accelerated seasoning and veneer and plywood production. Above-ground and in-ground durability field tests were established at three locations in Queensland. Ground proixmity tests and L-joint tests were installed to gather data applicable to above-ground, weather-exposed end-use applications, and stake tests were installed to gather data applicable to in-ground, weather-exposed end-use applications.
Obstetric outcomes of ureteral catheterization during pregnancy, our clinical experience

DOI: 10.4328/ACAM.20621 Received: 2021-04-03 Accepted: 2021-07-10 Published Online: 2021-07-29 Printed: 2021-09-15 Ann Clin Anal Med 2021;12(Suppl 4): S419-422 Corresponding Author: Alev Esercan, Sanliurfa Education and Training Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Sanliurfa, Turkey. E-mail: alevesercan@gmail.com P: +90 5052634609 Corresponding Author ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6215-6532 Abstract Aim: Hydronephrosis is a common condition in pregnancy, especially on the right side. Probable causes are ureteral stones and the physiological state of pregnancy. Conservative treatments are preferred unless the flank pain persists and becomes intractable, or if additional complications, including recurrent resistant urinary tract infections, persist or deterioration of the renal function occurs. In this study, we aimed to determine obstetric outcomes of ureteral catheterization during pregnancy. Material and Methods: The data of patients who had ureteral catheterization during pregnancy due to intractable flank pain and hydronephrosis between June 2018-July 2020, were collected from the hospital data system. Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies with intractable flank pain and hydronephrosis who were treated with double J stent (DJS) were included in this study. Mean or median values were used for descriptive analysis of the characteristics of data for the normal distribution. Categorical data were given as percentages. Chi-square and Fisher Exact tests were used for categorical data. Results: Thirty-six pregnant women had ureteral catheterization (DJS) during pregnancy at various gestational ages. The mean age of women was 24.82± 3.78 (20-34) years. Eight out of 36 pregnant women were primigravid. The mean gestational age at DJS insertion time was 23.14 ± 5.68 (12-36) gestational weeks. In our study, among hydronephrosis patients, the normal rate of vaginal birth was significantly higher than the cesarean rate (p:0.03). There was no significant difference between the side of hydronephrosis according to the type of birth (p>0.05) There was no significant difference between the sides of hydronephrosis according to urinary tract infections (p>0.05). Discussion: DJS treatment can be chosen without anxiety of premature birth.
Interpretation and Use of the Balanced Scorecard in Denmark: Evidence from Suppliers and Users of the Concept

This paper examines how the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) has been interpreted and used in Denmark. Drawing on interviews with suppliers and users of the BSC, the paper shows how these different actors have interpreted and attached meaning to the BSC concept. The BSC’s 'interpretive space' and 'boundary object' characteristics lead to different interpretations and mobilizations of the concept in practice. There is a multiplicity in terms of what the concept means on both the supply side and the demand side. Two main interpretations can be identified in Danish practice: the BSC as (1) a 'performance measurement system'; and (2) as a 'strategic management system'. Interestingly, there is a mismatch between how consultants and user organizations interpret and attach meaning to the concept. While suppliers interpret and promote the BSC as a strategic management system, users appear more likely to interpret and use the concept as a performance measurement system. The paper discusses possible explanations for these differences.