bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beliefs on “avoidant cultures” in two French multinational corporations
Authors: Lee Daphnee
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the trajectory of cultural stereotypes on Uncertainty Avoidance emergent from two French multinational corporations. The exploration of respondents' comparisons of their own culture with other cultures illustrates that cultural stereotypes are derived from structural conditions that had developed over time, but came to be (mis)attributed to innate and prevalent cultural habits.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, characterized by qualitative methodologies. Primary data respondents were predominantly ethnic Chinese Singaporeans, and secondary data respondents were predominantly French. In‐depth interviews were introduced in three phases.

Findings

The stereotype of the “uncertainty avoidant” Chinese Singaporean employees was employed by the top manager in one of the case studies (ECI) to lend legitimacy to the employees' exclusion from top management positions. The converse argument was made that “uncertainty avoidance” is absent among the French, who are hence more qualified as ECI top managers. Both claims were unfounded in this inquiry. Further evidence points to structural factors mediating employee behavior.

Research limitations/implications

Structural factors were found to lend greater credibility in accounting for employee behaviors outlined in this study, more so than cultural ones. Future research surfacing complementary statistical insights will provide more concrete and representative evidence to this exploratory inquiry.

Originality/value

An alternative view of Uncertainty Avoidance through a structural account is proposed, based on evidence from qualitative inquiries.
Effectiveness of virtual models in design for additive manufacturing: a laser sintering case study
Authors: Vaughan Meagan R. , Crawford Richard H.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies have conventionally focused on producing prototypes. However, recent trends show that AM is being increasingly used for production parts. With this shift from prototypes to production parts, there is a need to determine whether established engineering design techniques can be applied to AM processes, particularly techniques characteristic of the final implementation phase such as virtual (mathematical) modeling, or whether AM process‐specific adjustments must be made.

Design/methodology/approach

The effectiveness of applying virtual models to design problems utilizing AM processes was addressed using two approaches in this research. Literature was first reviewed to determine the current focus of the AM industry on virtual modeling, both analytical and numerical, and its implementation. Second, experiments were conducted to validate virtual models applied to fastener mechanism designs manufactured using laser sintering (LS).

Findings

Limited research has been published that demonstrates the effectiveness of applying established design techniques, particularly virtual modeling techniques, to parts manufactured with AM processes. The experimental case study has demonstrated that, for the limited cases considered, design techniques capable of accommodating the complex material properties of LS materials, such as finite element analysis, are effective methods for predicting part performance in accordance with desired outcomes.

Practical implications

The research indicates that designers can focus on designing quality LS parts with existing technology and methods rather than revamping their design methods due to the introduction of a new manufacturing technology.

Originality/value

This research provides support for the application of established design methods to LS AM processes; validating what has previously been an assumed part of AM.
Shear viscosity measurements on Polyamide‐12 polymers for laser sintering
Authors: Haworth Barry , Hopkinson Neil , Hitt David , Zhong Xiaotao
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Laser sintering kinetics and part reliability are critically dependent on the melt viscosity of materials, including polyamide 12 (PA‐12). The purpose of this paper is to characterise the viscosity of PA‐12 powders using alternative scientific methods: constrained boundary flows (capillary rheometry) and rotational rheometry.

Design/methodology/approach

Various PA‐12 powders were selected and characterised by both techniques. Measurement of molecular weight was also carried out to interpret the viscosity data.

Findings

Results demonstrate conventional pseudoplastic flow in all PA‐12 materials. Zero‐shear viscosity has been quantified by rotational rheometry; a notable observation is the striking difference between virgin/used PA‐12. This is interpreted in terms of molecular weight and chain structure modifications, arising from polycondensation of PA‐12 held at the bed temperature during laser sintering.

Research limitations/implications

Accurate zero‐shear viscosity data provide scope for use in predictive computational models for laser sintering processes. Careful sample preparation and equipment operation are critical prerequisites for accurate rheological characterisation of PA‐12 powders.

Practical implications

Differences in flow behaviour and molecular structure allow prediction and deeper understanding of process‐property relationships in laser sintering, giving potential for further optimisation of material specification and in‐process machine parameter control.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first time that techniques other than melt flow rate (MFR) have been reported to measure the viscosity of PA‐12 in a laser sintering context, noting the effects of pre‐drying and molecular weight, then predicting differences between virgin/used powders in practical sintering behaviour.
Bank failures and regulation: a critical review
Authors: Petitjean Mikael
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define the key components of an effective regulatory regime.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a critical analysis.

Findings

Regulatory arbitrage has been one of the major factors contributing to the severity of the crisis. Given the ever more complex set of future regulatory constraints, it may keep generating costly negative spillover effects on the whole economy. Moreover, rules‐based regulation, however carefully constructed, will unfortunately never prevent bank failures. Neither should it attempt to do so. An effective overall regulatory regime must be sufficiently comprehensive and well‐balanced. It must not put too much emphasis on lowering the probability of individual bank failure. The key components of an effective regulatory regime must be: Basel‐type rules robust to off‐balance‐sheet arbitrage; little forbearance in monitoring and supervision by regulatory agencies, with a focus on systemic risk control; automatic and quick intervention as well as resolution mechanisms. While all components are necessary, none is sufficient; and without strong international coordination, none will be effective.

Practical implications

Enhanced supervision of banks.

Social implications

Less costly bank failures.

Originality/value

The paper presents a critical review of current financial reforms in the banking sector.
Setting an institutional and regulatory framework for trading platforms
Authors: Valiante Diego
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework for the legal classification of trading venues in financial markets. Currently, there is no clear definition of when a trading platform should be classified as multilateral or bilateral. This paper builds a theoretical framework that will allow regulators to define the border (with its regulatory implications) between multilateral and bilateral trading venues.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used for this paper focuses on looking at the different trading models available in financial markets and analyzing their key features in order to bring up recurrent aspects that have helped to build the theoretical framework.

Findings

Multilateral trading facilities would not only be systems bringing together multiple interests from third parties, but those systems bringing together multiple interests with “no discretion” (ex ante rules) vis‐à‐vis membership, admission of products to trading, and matching of interests. All trading venues that do not meet these three key requirements will be falling under the bilateral trading classification, which implies the application of fiduciary duties, such as conflicts of interest rules and best execution. The paper then advances a proposal to solve the legal classification issue in the revision of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive in Europe (MiFID). In effect, despite the claim that the Organised Trading Facility (EU) and the Swap Execution Facility (USA) would be equivalent categories, EU and US regulators, respectively, have taken divergent paths on how these venues will ultimately look.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in its ability to provide a theoretical framework to something that has not been assessed in these terms previously. Today, only the SEC is trying, for the first time, to have a definition of when a RFQ model can be defined “multilateral”. This topic has been rarely discussed before in financial regulation, while it is extensively discussed in market microstructure (but on the market structure implications, rather than its regulatory and policy implications).
Effects of the organization‐public relational gap between experiential and expected relationship outcomes
Authors: Kang Minjeong
Published: January 2013

Purpose

A monopolistic relationship between utilities and their customers creates a unique relational context in which the basic assumption of one's ability to terminate a relationship with an unsatisfactory relationship partner is violated. The purpose of this paper is to examine how attitudinal and behavioral outcomes are influenced by relational gap as the discrepancy between the expected relationships under deregulation and the experienced public relationships under monopolistic completion.

Design/methodology/approach

With this purpose, an online survey was conducted with customers of a monopolistic utility provider; a sample of 1,145 adults living in the region was provided from an academic online panel database project for research participants, yielding a response rate of 32 percent.

Findings

The key findings are that, among the four relational outcomes, control mutuality and satisfaction showed the biggest and significant shift to higher levels of performance expectations under competition than under a monopoly. Further, a shift in control mutuality and satisfaction led to more negative attitudes toward the company and a stronger intention to switch.

Originality/value

This study can contribute to the practice and study of communication management by suggesting a sound empirical framework in managing public relationships.
Valuation of manual and automated process redesign from a business perspective
Authors: Krause Felix , Bewernik Marc‐Andre , Fridgen Gilbert
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The continuous redesign of processes is crucial for companies in times of tough competition and fast‐changing surrounding conditions. Since the manual redesign of processes is a time‐ and resource‐consuming task, automated redesign will increasingly become a useful alternative. Hence, future redesign projects need to be valuated based on both a manual and an automated redesign approach. The purpose of this paper is to compare the manual and automated process redesign on the basis of the Business Process Management (BPM) lifecycle.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors compare the manual and automated process redesign on the basis of the Business Process Management (BPM) lifecycle. The results form the basis for a mathematical model that outlines the general economic characteristics of process redesign as well as for the manual and automated approaches. Subsequently, the authors exemplarily apply their model to a set of empirical data with respective assumptions on particular aspects of the automated approach.

Findings

In the problem setting described in the paper, the valuation model shows that automated process redesign induces an equal or higher number of optimized processes in a company. Therefore, the authors present a decision support that outlines how much to invest in automated process redesign.

Research limitations/implications

The model considers the cost side of automated process redesign; therefore, further research should be conducted to analyze the possibility of higher returns induced by automated redesign (e.g., through a quicker adaption to real‐world changes). Moreover, for automated redesign, there is no requirement for broad empirical data that should be collected and analyzed as soon as this approach leaves the basic research and prototyping stages.

Practical implications

This paper presents an approach that can be used by companies to estimate the upper limit for investments in manual and automated process redesign. Working under certain general assumptions and independently from actual cost and return values, the paper demonstrates that automated process redesign induces an equal or higher ratio of optimized processes. Thus, companies introducing automated redesign cannot only apply the model to evaluate their investments but can also expect a higher ratio of optimized processes for this approach.

Originality/value

As existing literature primarily focuses on the technical aspects of automated process redesign, these findings contribute to the current body of literature. This paper discusses a first decision‐support for the economic aspects of automated process redesign, particularly with regard to the investments that are required for it. This information is relevant as soon as the approach leaves the stage of a prototype.
Average waiting time of customers in a new queue system with different classes
Authors: Alotaibi Youseef , Liu Fei
Published: January 2013

Purpose

It is very complicated to keep the business processes under control since the business processes change rapidly and thus flexibility is an important attribute which businesses should possess in order to respond to rapid changes in the business environment. The purpose of this paper is to divide the companies' customers into different priority groups to be served according to their payment history and feedback in order to increase the companies' performance and profit and save the time of customers within high priority class which may lead to increase their satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a requirements engineering‐based approach for business process modelling to assist businesses maintain their performance in such an environment. The paper proposes a new numerical model to improve customer satisfaction in relation to delivery or service waiting time according to their priority class, particularly customers in the high priority class. A call centre at the selected telecommunication company is used as a case study to validate the proposed numerical model.

Findings

The customers' satisfaction in the area of the time to be served according to their priority group classes can be improved using the proposed model.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has some limitations as the paper only tested the numerical model on one real business organisation and one business process service.

Originality/value

To date, no research has been conducted in the area of separating customers into different priority groups to provide services according to their required delivery time, payment history and feedback which will increase the company's performance and profit and provide prompt service to customers in the high priority class which in turn, will increase their satisfaction.
Defining the “perpetrator”: abuse, neglect and dignity in care
Authors: Dixon Josie , Biggs Simon , Stevens Martin , Manthorpe Jill , Tinker Anthea
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out and discuss findings from a developmental study, commissioned by the English Department of Health and the charity, Comic Relief, which was commissioned to clarify definitional issues and recommend ways of operationalising key concepts for a prospective survey of abuse, neglect and loss of dignity in the care of older people in residential care in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design/methodology/approach

As well as drawing upon their experience and expertise, the authors conducted a review of the literature, held consultation events with a range of stakeholders and undertook in‐depth interviews with international academics and care home residents.

Findings

Existing definitions and descriptions vary widely in form and content, are commonly subjective and imprecise and frequently make reference to abstract concepts which themselves need defining. Many of the concepts are also inherently evaluative, unspecific and open to interpretation. The study considered how, in this context, practical research definitions that are clear, unambiguous and widely acceptable to a range of stakeholders could be developed.

Research limitations/implications

The study took a UK focus and the review of literature was confined to the English language. Further research might usefully extend discussion about definitions cross‐culturally. The interview samples were small and should not be considered to be representative.

Originality/value

The paper identifies key issues in defining the perpetrator. It focuses on the concepts of trust and intentionality, the responsibilities of the care home and multiple perpetrators and makes practical proposals for operationalising the “perpetrator” in research. Recommendations from the study were positively received and have directly informed the Government‐funded research programme in England.
Effect of green labelling on residential property price: a case study in Hong Kong
Authors: Mesthrige Jayantha Wadu , Sze Man Wan
Published: January 2013

Purpose

It is known that people's expectation towards their living “green” is increasing. Green features are now regarded as one of the important considerations of buyers in purchasing a property. This research paper aims to investigate the significance of the green features of residential buildings to property buyers.

Design/methodology/approach

HK‐BEAM certification and HK‐GBC Award are used as the measurement of green residential buildings. The study used a hedonic price model to determine whether there is a relationship between green features and residential property price and the influence of green features on the residential property price if there is such relationship.

Findings

The empirical results show that green features have a significant and positive relationship with residential property price. People are willing to pay more for green buildings recognized by HK‐BEAM and HK‐GBC. They are willing to pay a sale price premium ranging from 3.4 percent to 6.4 percent. Furthermore, a relatively larger premium is found in Hong Kong Island compared to the New Territories.

Research limitations/implications

The results imply that environmentally friendly green buildings both increase the value of a property and attract property buyers; and well‐recognized green building schemes add value to properties and hence increase the property price.

Originality/value

The study has contributed an indication of the amount a buyer would be willing to pay for quality green buildings as a reference for users, developers and investors. The study sheds light on the ability of the market to capitalize environmental considerations in investment decisions.
Evaluating construction contractors' efficiency in Hong Kong using Data Envelopment Analysis Assurance Region model
Authors: Hung Chiang Yat , Li Jing , Choi Tracy N.Y. , Fai Man King
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a few leading Hong Kong construction firms are also efficient contractors. Theoretically, market leaders can exploit the virtue of economy of scale, learning curve and cost leadership to consolidate their competitiveness. However, if market share is key success factor for firms to become and stay competitive, smaller contractors will be further marginalized if the construction market continues to shrink as Hong Kong's economy approaches maturity. Hence the research question is: Have a few leading contractors been taking advantage of their market size to be efficient in Hong Kong?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the Data Envelopment Analysis Assurance Region (DEA_AR) model, the efficiency scores of 17 major Hong Kong contractors are compiled over the last ten years. DEA is a non‐parametric approach to examine the relative efficiency among different firms, in terms of output/input ratios. Unlike traditional I‐O analysis which relies on a static table of coefficients, DEA does not require any priori and usually subjective weights for inputs or outputs.

Findings

The results identify efficient contractors, among which the three leading ones (China State Construction, Shui On Construction and Yau Lee Holdings) have captured the majority of housing construction contract values. Nevertheless, only China State Construction has ranked consistently as most efficient over time. The efficiency scores of Shui On Construction have decreased successively from 2002 to 2009, and it has been the least efficient contractor from 2006 to 2009. Yau Lee Holdings has a V‐curve of efficiency scores.

Originality/value

This study represents the first attempt to adopt a DEA_AR model to evaluate construction contractors' efficiency, which reduces the number of zeroes and the variation in weights for estimation and enhances the adequacy for individual contractor's efficiency scores, compared to other types of DEA models such as the CCR model and the BCC model.
Organizational grief: an emotional perspective on understanding employee reactions to job redundancy
Authors: Davey Rachel , Fearon Colm , McLaughlin Heather
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of organizational grief in understanding employee reactions to redundancy, managing change and personal development in the UK public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

In today's UK public sector, learning and managing the realities of redundancy and organizational change is explored using a case study of a civil service/ public sector agency. The authors use the lens of the Kübler‐Ross grief cycle to examine employee reactions to organizational change.

Findings

There is no easy way of managing this type of change, and many employees were at different stages of coming to terms with organizational closure and eventual redundancy. Some employees were reacting to change progressively and accepting their new organizational reality, whilst others had not yet reached acceptance. Nevertheless, an important finding has been that a number of staff did appear to be moving on, readjusting and thinking about their future career aspirations and wider life options.

Originality/value

The article uses a unique narrative style to examine common employee emotions and behaviours associated with organizational change in a redundancy and closure situation. It offers unique insight for senior managers in public sector administrations, in both the UK and elsewhere.
Misconstrued tolerance: issues for multicultural and diversity training
Authors: Von Bergen C.W.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Valuing diversity emphasizes the awareness, recognition, and appreciation of human differences and revolves around creating an inclusive environment in which everyone feels esteemed. This generally takes place through a series of training programs that attempt to improve interpersonal relationships among workers by asking participants to become more tolerant—generally understood today as an approval and acceptance of others' practices and beliefs. Because tolerance is such a highly desirable quality in many Western societies, and seemingly one of its few non‐controversial values, rarely is its significance questioned. Nevertheless, contemporary interpretations of tolerance can be problematic for multicultural programs, and tolerance understood as respect and civility toward others may be a more appropriate tool to easing hostile tensions between individuals and groups and to helping communities move past intractable conflict. The purpose of this paper is to offer a reinterpretation of tolerance.

Design/methodology/approach

This literature review suggests that contemporary interpretations of tolerance often used in multicultural workshops as the recognition, appreciation, acceptance, and celebration of differences may be problematic.

Findings

An understanding of tolerance involving civility and respect for others, not their beliefs or conduct, may lead to greater effectiveness of diversity training efforts. This new interpretation of tolerance may also help counter the belief among a number of leaders, particularly in Europe, that multiculturalism has failed.

Originality/value

Given the resistance and backlash that sometimes emerge in response to terms such as “diversity,” “inclusion,” and “discrimination,” it is possible that focusing on civility instead could improve the efficacy of existing multicultural training programs.
Cost‐effective workforce planning: optimising the dental team skill‐mix for England
Authors: Harper Paul , Kleinman Eleanor , Gallagher Jennifer , Knight Vincent
Published: January 2013

Purpose

As increasing numbers of older people retain their teeth for longer, the result is a dramatic change in both the volume and type of dental treatment required. In response to the ageing population issues, changing dental needs, a shortage of NHS dentists, and the creation of new roles in the dental profession, both the UK Department of Health and British Dental Association have emphasised the importance of dental workforce planning and in particular to estimating the size and skill‐mix of the dental team. The dental team includes such professions as dentists, hygienists, therapists and technicians. The purpose of this paper is to present collaborative work between operational researchers and dental public health researchers, and as such is the first academic project to utilise operational research (OR) techniques to address issues surrounding predictions on demand and supply of dental activities in England, with recommendations on the necessary skill‐mix of the dental team.

Design/methodology/approach

A three‐stage model has been constructed to predict demand for dental treatment, dental workforce supply and optimisation of the skill‐mix of the dental workforce team over the next 20 years. A cost‐benefit study is included and Monte Carlo simulation is used for sensitivity analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal a significant shortage in dental workforce supply, both currently and projected for the short‐term future.

Social implications

Demand for dental treatment is certain to rise over the next 20 or more years. An ageing population coupled with trends in increased tooth retention will have a significant impact on the need and demand for dental care amongst older people in the future. This research makes a series of recommendations in order to expand public care provision in a cost‐effective manner.

Originality/value

There is an urgent need to provide recommendations on the desirable skill‐mix of dental teams, and their cost‐effectiveness. This paper presents novel collaborative work between operational researchers and dental public health researchers, and as such is the first academic project to utilise OR techniques to address issues surrounding predictions on demand and supply of dental activities.
Defining an optimal ED fast track strategy using simulation
Authors: La Jennifer , Jewkes Elizabeth M.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The Emergency Department (ED) at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario sought insight into strategies that would reduce patient length of stay and queuing for initial assessment. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the ED's operational level and determine an optimal fast track strategy to improve performance measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the application of discrete event simulation to the ED's “fast track” system and determines an optimal fast track strategy to improve performance measures. Topics discussed include: the design and development process for the simulation model, proposed operational strategies, and the analysis of scenarios for optimizing fast track.

Findings

Length of stay and queue length were most significantly reduced when there was an increased physician presence in the fast track system, followed by an additional emergency nurse practitioner in the system. Finally, the implementation of See‐and‐treat had a negligible effect on both performance measures for fast‐tracked patients.

Originality/value

Using real data, the effectiveness of a number of fast track strategies within a hospital ED were evaluated, which have practical implications for reducing patient wait times in ERs. This would be most valuable to practitioners in areas such as health service research, simulation modeling, and health service delivery.
Using simulation to evaluate a blood supply network in the Canadian maritime provinces
Authors: Blake John , Hardy Matthew
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact on customer service of amalgamating two production/distribution facilities in a blood distribution network, located in the Maritime region of Canada, into a single production facility and a satellite distribution facility.

Design/methodology/approach

Simulation models of the existing distribution network and the future distribution network were built. Experiments were conducted, using the two models, to compare the performance of each.

Findings

Results indicate that there is no evidence to suggest a decrease in customer service resulting from the consolidation of the two facilities. Furthermore, results indicate that this conclusion is robust with respect to lower inventory levels at the satellite and up to three road closures per annum.

Research limitations/implications

The results are based on specific operational assumptions regarding the number of hospitals supplied by the satellite facility and the methods used to transport blood products between locations.

Social implications

The results of this study have important implications for how vital blood products are distributed to patients in the Maritime provinces of Canada.

Originality/value

This paper is a case study describing a unique application of simulation methods to an important area of application. It will be of interest to readers interested in the management of blood supply chains and to researchers applying simulation methods.
Economic comparison between Hospital at Home and traditional hospitalization using a simulation‐based approach
Authors: Rodríguez Verjan Carlos , Augusto Vincent , Xie Xiaolan , Buthion Valérie
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Hospital at Home (HAH) is a concept slowly expanding over time. At first this type of organization was used to accomplish low‐technical tasks. The main objective was to increase bed availability in hospitals for new patients. Nowadays, HAH structures are able to undertake more technical complex care such as (but not limited to) end‐of‐life care, chemotherapy and rehabilitation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new methodology to make an unbiased economic comparison between HAH structures and traditional hospitalization.

Design/methodology/approach

This article accomplishes two main objectives: in the first part the authors propose a comprehensive literature review dealing with the comparison between traditional hospital and home care structures from an economic standpoint, showing that results are highly dependent on initial conditions of the study (patient health state, territory settings, bio‐medical parameters); in the second part the authors propose an unbiased economic comparison approach between health care provided in traditional hospital and home care network using formal modelling with Petri nets and discrete event simulation. As an example for the comparison a multi‐session treatment is proposed. Various scenarios are tested to ensure that results will be maintained even if initial conditions change. Relevant performance indicators used for comparison are economic costs from the point of view of the insurance and economic costs related to the consumption of resources.

Findings

It is found that HAHS can be used to control and improve patients flow on hospitals. Decisions about offering a multi‐session treatments at home must be taken, not only because of economic impacts on hospitals, but also because it follows strategic goals of the organization. This decision must be issued following a strategic analysis. Some important questions are: How should newly available beds be used in the hospital? Which territories will be covered? What is the best logistic strategy for delivering the medicines?

Originality/value

Comparing HAH with traditional hospitalization can provide useful information to healthcare authorities when deciding to create, or not, new HAH structures.
Implementing a Monte‐Carlo simulation on admission decisions
Authors: Ben‐Assuli Ofir , Leshno Moshe
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Although very significant and applicable, there have been no formal justifications for the use of Monte‐Carlo models and Markov chains in evaluating hospital admission decisions or concrete data supporting their use. For these reasons, this research was designed to provide a deeper understanding of these models. The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness of a computerized Monte‐Carlo simulation of admission decisions under the constraints of emergency departments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors construct a simple decision tree using the expected utility method to represent the complex admission decision process terms of quality adjusted life years (QALY) then show the advantages of using a Monte‐Carlo simulation in evaluating admission decisions in a cohort simulation, using a decision tree and a Markov chain.

Findings

After showing that the Monte‐Carlo simulation outperforms an expected utility method without a simulation, the authors develop a decision tree with such a model. real cohort simulation data are used to demonstrate that the integration of a Monte‐Carlo simulation shows which patients should be admitted.

Research limitations/implications

This paper may encourage researchers to use Monte‐Carlo simulation in evaluating admission decision implications. The authors also propose applying the model when using a computer simulation that deals with various CVD symptoms in clinical cohorts.

Originality/value

Aside from demonstrating the value of a Monte‐Carlo simulation as a powerful analysis tool, the paper's findings may prompt researchers to conduct a decision analysis with a Monte‐Carlo simulation in the healthcare environment.
An investigation of a healthcare management system with the use of multimodal interaction and 3D simulation
Authors: AlFalah Salsabeel F.M. , Harrison David K. , Charissis Vassilis , Evans Dorothy
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Current healthcare applications produce a complex and inaccessible set of data that often needs to be investigated simultaneously. As such the conflicting software applications and mental effort being demanded from the user result in time‐consuming analysis and diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to provide a prototype, interactive system for management of multiple data sets, currently used for gait analysis capturing, reconstruction and diagnosis. In summary, this work is concerned with the development of interactive information‐visualisation software that assists medical practitioners in simplifying and enhancing the retrieval, visualisation and analysis of medical data with the intention of improving the overall system leading to an improved service for the user and patient experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the proposed system aims to combine all the related existing software currently used for gait analysis and diagnosis under one, user‐friendly package. The latter will have the capacity to offer also real‐time, three dimensional (3D) representations of all the derived data (CT, MRI, motion capture) in an interactive virtual reality (VR) environment.

Findings

It is intended that the proposed prototype solutions will enhance interactive systems for management of multiple data sets, currently used for gait analysis capturing, reconstruction and diagnosis. The derived data encapsulate a plethora of multimedia information aiming to enhance medical visualisation.

Originality/value

The proposed system offers simulation capacity and a VR visualisation experience, which enhances the gait analysis diagnostic process. The 3D data can be manipulated in real‐time through a novel human‐computer interface which uses multimodal interaction through the use of graphical user interfaces and gesture recognition. The system aims towards a cost‐effective, clearly presented and timely accessible system that follows a threefold approach; It entails managing the extensive amount of the daily produced medical data, combining the scattered information related to one patient in one interface with a filtering criteria to the required information, and visualising in 3D the data from different sources, in order to improve 3D mental mapping, increase productivity and consequently ameliorate quality of service and management.
What's special about the extensive and intensive margins in Chinese manufacturing exports?
Authors: Zhou Yan , Tong Jiadong , Sun Puyang
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of gravity variables and trade costs on China's export margins.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the structural gravity model with firm heterogeneity, the paper measures the extensive margins and intensive margins of China's export across 46 export destinations and estimates the linkage between export margins and its potential determinants.

Findings

The empirical results confirm the gravity relationship hold for bilateral trade and export margins. Furthermore, trade costs have different influence on extensive margins and intensive margins as the structural gravity model with firm heterogeneity expected. The paper also shows the rapid growth of China's export is mainly along the intensive margins which are increasing in fixed cost for export.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the measurements of China's export margins and the empirical research on effects of trade liberalization on China's foreign trade.
Exploring vocation following brain injury: a qualitative enquiry
Authors: Conneeley Anne Louise
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the transition to community life, in relation to vocational goals and aspirations, for 18 people with traumatic brain injury following the discharge from a neurological rehabilitation hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was a longitudinal qualitative study, framed within interpretivism. A phenomenological approach was employed. Participants, their significant other, and members of the rehabilitation team involved in their care were interviewed at the time of discharge from the ward, after six months and one year following discharge from the ward.

Findings

Themes which emerged from the data gave insights into the meaning and value of vocational occupations, impact of rehabilitation, insight and awareness, environmental influences, alteration to the life‐course and moving forward to a new life. Throughout, issues of identity and reconstruction were identified.

Practical implications

Use of alternative paradigms to the traditional medical viewpoint can raise awareness of issues of identity and biographical reconstruction which are less widely reported in rehabilitation literature.

Originality/value

Goals could be re‐framed and include moving forward to a life with meaning and purpose. For many, this could involve work and vocational occupations but for others it may not. The need to address concerns which are priorities of those in receipt of care is highlighted in order to support interventions and the reconstruction of identity and a life with value.
Teens' blog accounts of the role of adults in youth alcohol consumption
Authors: Pettigrew Simone , Pescud Melanie , Jarvis Wade , Webb Dave
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of parents and other adults in preventing and facilitating teen binge drinking.

Design/methodology/approach

Teens' discussions on internet websites were accessed to examine their opinions of their alcohol‐related interactions with adults.

Findings

The results show that in the context of a western society such as Australia, the role of adults in endorsing a culture of excessive alcohol consumption may be considerable.

Practical implications

Social marketing campaigns are needed to sensitise adults to this situation and outline strategies that can be used by adults to reduce negative impacts and enhance their potential to reduce alcohol consumption among young people.

Originality/value

Previous research into teenagers' alcohol consumption behaviours has focused on self‐reports obtained via surveys or focus groups. Such data collection processes are likely to be subject to considerable social desirability bias. The present study demonstrates that the internet can constitute a valuable alternative source of data relating to young people's engagement in unhealthy behaviours and the factors impacting their decisions to enact these behaviours.
Reliability of Nonrepairable Phased-Mission Systems With Common Cause Failures
Authors: Levitin Gregory , Xing Liudong , Amari Suprasad , Dai Yuanshun
Published: January 2013

Phased-mission systems (PMSs) are systems supporting missions characterized by multiple, consecutive, and nonoverlapping phases of operation. Examples of PMSs abound in many practical applications such as aerospace, nuclear power, and airborne weapon systems. Reliability analysis of a PMS must consider statistical dependence of component states across different phases, as well as dynamics in system structure functions and component behavior. In this paper, we propose a recursive method for exact reliability evaluation of a binary-state or multistate PMS consisting of nonidentical, binary, and nonrepairable elements. The system elements can fail individually or due to common-cause failures (CCFs) caused by some external factors. The proposed method is based on the branch-and-bound principle, and can be fully automated. The method is applicable to PMSs with nonoverlapping or overlapping sets of elements that can fail as a result of CCFs. The method is illustrated using both analytical and numerical examples.
Ecological and phytohormonal aspects of plant volatile emission in response to single and dual infestations with herbivores and phytopathogens
Authors: Ponzio Camille , Gols Rieta , Pieterse Corné M. J. , Dicke Marcel
Published: January 2013

In their natural environment, plants are faced with a multitude of attackers, of which insect herbivores and plant pathogens are an important component. In response to these attacks, plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which play an important role in the communication between plants and the associated community members, such as other herbivores, phytopathogens and the natural enemies of herbivores.

While numerous studies have focused on either plant–pathogen or plant–insect interactions, less is known when these two sets of interactions co‐occur. Depending on the mode of attack of the pathogen (necrotroph vs. biotroph) or herbivore (chewing vs. piercing‐sucking) they will activate different defence pathways in the plant in which the phytohormones salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) play key roles. As these pathways can crosstalk, a pathogen infection can interfere in a plant's defence response to herbivory, and vice versa.

Infestation of a plant with organisms inducingSAsignalling prior to – or simultaneously with – attack by organisms that induce theJApathway often suppressesJAsignalling. However, the impact of this signalling pathway crosstalk onVOCinduction is not clear cut, as there is high variability in the effects on volatile emissions, ranging from suppression to enhanced emission. The effects of the modified volatile blends on the foraging success of carnivorous natural enemies of herbivorous insects have started to be investigated. Foraging success of natural enemies generally withstands this modification of the host‐inducedVOCblend, but the presence or absence of key compounds is an important determinant of the response of certain carnivores.

Further studies incorporating plant–insect and plant–pathogen interactions at different levels of biological integration will provide valuable insight in how plants integrate signals from different suites of attacking organisms into an adaptive defence response.
Predators, alternative prey and climate influence annual breeding success of a long‐lived sea duck
Authors: Iles David T. , Rockwell Robert F. , Matulonis Paul , Robertson Gregory J. , Abraham Kenneth F. , Davies J. Chris , Koons David. N.
Published: January 2013

Perturbations to ecosystems have the potential to directly and indirectly affect species interactions, with subsequent impacts on population dynamics and the vital rates that regulate them.

The few long‐term studies of common eider breeding ecology indicate that reproductive success is low in most years, interrupted by occasional boom years. However, no study has explicitly examined the drivers of long‐term variation in reproductive success.

Here, we use encounter history data collected across 41 years to examine the effects of arctic foxes (a terrestrial nest predator), local abundance and spatial distribution of lesser snow geese (an alternative prey source), and spring climate on common eider nest success.

Eider nest success declined over the course of the study, but was also highly variable across years. Our results supported the hypothesis that the long‐term decline in eider nest success was caused by apparent competition with lesser snow geese, mediated by shared predators. This effect persisted even following a large‐scale exodus of nesting geese from the eider colony. Nest success was also lowest in years of low arctic fox index, presumably driven by prey switching in years of low small mammal availability. However, increased snow goose abundance appeared to buffer this effect through prey swamping. The effect of spring climate depended on the stage of the breeding season; cold and wet and warm and dry conditions in early spring were correlated with decreased nest success, whereas warm and wet conditions in late spring increased eider nest success.

These results underscore the significance of both trophic interactions and climate in regulating highly variable vital rates, which likely have important consequences for population dynamics and the conservation of long‐lived iteroparous species.