bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid controller design and simulation for a small-size autonomous helicopter
Authors: Gesang Nugroho
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– During flight, a small-size autonomous helicopter will suffer external disturbance that is wind gust. Moreover, the small-size helicopter can carries limited payload or battery. Therefore control system of an autonomous helicopter should be able to eliminate external disturbance and optimize energy consumption. The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid controller structure to control a small-size autonomous helicopter capable to eliminate external disturbance and optimize energy consumption. The proposed control strategy comprise of two components, a linear component to stabilize the nominal linear system and a discontinuous component to guarantee the robustness. An integral control is included in the system to eliminate steady state error and tracking reference input.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research started with derived mathematic model of the small-size helicopter that will be controlled. Based on the obtained mathematic model, then design of a hybrid controller to control the autonomous helicopter. The hybrid controller was designed based on optimal controller and sliding mode controller. The optimal controller as main controller is used to stabilize the nominal linear system and a discontinuous component based on sliding mode controller to guarantee the robustness.

Findings

– Performance of the proposed controller was tested in simulation. The hybrid controller performance was compared with optimal controller performance. The hybrid controller has better performance compared with optimal controller. Results of the simulation shows that the proposed controller has good performance and robust against external disturbances. The proposed controller has better performance in rise time, settling time and overshoot compared with optimal controller response both for step input response and tracking capability.

Originality/value

– Hybrid controller to control small-size helicopter has not reported yet. In this research new hybrid controller structure for a small size autonomous helicopter was proposed.
Realignment of the physical distribution process in omni-channel fulfillment
Authors: Ishfaq Rafay , Defee C. Clifford , Gibson Brian J , Raja Uzma
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the realignment of the physical distribution process for store-based retailers in their efforts to integrate the online channel into their business model. Multiple attributes of the physical distribution process are evaluated to identify associations with order fulfillment methods adopted by omni-channel retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multi-method approach is used which includes qualitative evaluation of 50 interviews of supply chain executives from large retailers. Additionally, secondary data about firm size, store and distribution networks, online sales, distribution configuration, and order delivery options are used. The findings of qualitative analysis are incorporated into a quantitative classification-tree analysis to identify associations among distribution attributes, order fulfillment methods and order delivery services.

Findings

– Retailers are developing a consistent omni-channel physical distribution process in which stores undertake a bigger role in order fulfillment and delivery. Level of online sales, size of distribution network, number of sales associates at a store, and number of years engaged in the online channel are identified as having strong associations with the type of order fulfillment method used by omni-channel retailers. The study finds that retailers are focussed on integrating their store and DC inventories and have the benefit of scale with a large store network.

Practical implications

– Retailers are reconfiguring their physical distribution processes in the complex omni-channel environment can use the findings of this study to evaluate their strategy and identify the level of realignment effort that is needed. A better understanding of the requirements of physical distribution in an omni-channel setting will guide retailers in developing requisite operational capabilities.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a first in-depth look at order fulfillment choices in omni-channel retail and identifies efforts that are underway to realign key elements of the physical distribution process.
Unsaleable grocery products, their residual value and instore logistics
Authors: Holweg Christina , Teller Christoph , Kotzab Herbert
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore the complexities of regularly implemented as well as irregularly occurring – sometimes improvised – instore logistics processes related to products which are declared unsaleable; and second, to identify the challenges and opportunities in managing instore logistics processes related to unsaleable products in grocery stores.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors apply an embedded case study approach. Within each case, i.e. dominant store format, the authors investigate the instore logistics processes of 32 retail and wholesale stores and focus further on those processes related to products declared unsaleable. The case study research methodology comprises in-depth interviews with store and category managers, point of sale observations and secondary data research.

Findings

– The authors identified four different specific instore logistics processes depending on the residual product value of unsaleable products. The analysis of these processes suggests that establishing more efficient return, disposal, recycling, and most importantly, redistribution processes leads to various benefits such as cost savings, more effective and efficient operations, better use of resources and waste reduction, while at the same time supporting charitable institutions and people in need.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this research are: first, to provide a better understanding of different ways of seeing and handling unsaleable products; and second, to reveal the significant importance of focusing on instore logistics beyond the point of sale with respect to the economic, ecological and social benefits to retailers, wholesalers and their stakeholder groups.
A conceptualization of the perceptions and motivators that drive luxury wine consumption
Authors: Wolf Hannah L. , Morrish Sussie C. , Fountain Joanna
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Consumer perceptions and motivation for luxury consumption are extensively investigated in the existing literature, although studies have largely focused on branded products with not much attention given to luxury wine. The wine category is distinctive, and luxury wine consumption is notably different from other luxury products. Over the past 20 years, the luxury segment of the wine industry has experienced steady growth, yet understanding of consumer perceptions and motivation for luxury wine consumption is still underdeveloped. Using self-congruency theory, the purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework of the perceptions of, and motivation for, luxury wine consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a scoping review approach, the current literature on luxury wine and luxury branded products is analyzed for existing gaps in understanding luxury wine consumption.

Findings

The conceptualization of luxury wine along with the perceptions, motivators and indicators for wine consumption are currently underdeveloped. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding what drives perceptions and motivators of luxury wine consumption.

Originality/value

Emerging from a scoping review of extant literature, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding consumers’ perceptions of luxury wine and motivations for consumption. This framework will enable a better understanding of the dynamics of luxury wine consumption.
À votre santé – conceptualizing the AO typology for luxury wine and spirits
Authors: Paschen Jeannette , Paschen Ulrich , Kietzmann Jan Henrik
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The status of icewine as a luxury item is largely undisputed in popular perception. Despite this, icewine has received very little attention in the management literature. This paper aims to close this gap by developing a theoretical framework to segment the luxury wine and spirits market with a focus on icewine.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual in nature. The authors adapt Berthon et al.’s (2009) aesthetics and ontology (AO) framework for luxury brands to provide a theoretical lens for segmenting the luxury wine and spirits market into four distinct segments.

Findings

The main contribution of this paper is a theoretical framework for segmenting the market for luxury wines and spirits into four distinct segments: cabinet collectors, cellar collectors, connoisseurs and carousers. The authors then apply their framework to the icewine category and outline considerations for the marketing mix of icewine producers.

Practical implications

The AO framework for luxury wines and spirits is beneficial for icewine producers to help differentiate their current and future market segments. In addition, this paper outlines practical implications for icewine maker’s marketing mix that could enhance their competitive position today and in the future.

Originality/value

This is the first paper examining icewine in the context of luxury marketing.
Conceptualizing a framework for customer integration during new product development of chemical companies
Authors: Elvers David , Song Chie Hoon
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain knowledge on the impact of customer integration on the new product development of chemical companies in growing markets. The literature affirms the value of customer integration in the new product development, but it is relatively silent on the integration of value-adding partners, who are located further down the value chain. Considerable research has shown that organizations are more successful, when they integrate customers and suppliers into the product development and design process. The research described herein juxtaposes two modes of current theory on customer integration and refines and expands the existing theoretical framework. Hence, the purpose is to build theories from cases to provide an answer to the question of how an organization adopts customer integration by refining the understanding of the different roles of value-adding partners in the innovation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an extended case method, including the resource-based view, literature related to the customer integration and four cases as a basis for establishing theoretical framework. Several in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information on the managerial practice to strengthen the grounding of theory.

Findings

An explorative study provides a value chain-oriented theory for chemical companies to improve the efficiency of the product development process. Therefore, it differentiates between the integration of direct and indirect customers. Each party can bring in complementary resources, which are not available internally. The findings show that integration of indirect customers contributes to more accurate anticipation of market needs. This allows companies to increase their success rate for new product development (NPD) activities.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this explorative study cannot be generalized, as theory building from case studies stands on its own analytic unit. Therefore, scholars are encouraged to test the proposed propositions using quantitative data and to apply them in other industrial sectors.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of a more efficient research and development, as well as launch, process of radical innovation of chemical companies.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies using a value chain-oriented approach for customer integration during new product development.
Using health information technology to manage a patient population in accountable care organizations
Authors: Wu Frances M , Rundall Thomas G. , Shortell Stephen M. , Bloom Joan R
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the current landscape of health information technology (HIT) in early accountable care organizations (ACOs), the different strategies ACOs are using to develop HIT-based capabilities, and how ACOs are using these capabilities within their care management processes to advance health outcomes for their patient population.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mixed methods study pairing data from a cross-sectional National Survey of ACOs with in-depth, semi-structured interviews with leaders from 11 ACOs (both completed in 2013).

Findings

– Early ACOs vary widely in their electronic health record, data integration, and analytic capabilities. The most common HIT capability was drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checks, with 53.2 percent of respondents reporting that the ACO possessed the capability to a high degree. Outpatient and inpatient data integration was the least common HIT capability (8.1 percent). In the interviews, ACO leaders commented on different HIT development strategies to gain a more comprehensive picture of patient needs and service utilization. ACOs realize the necessity for robust data analytics, and are exploring a variety of approaches to achieve it.

Research limitations/implications

– Data are self-reported. The qualitative portion was based on interviews with 11 ACOs, limiting generalizability to the universe of ACOs but allowing for a range of responses.

Practical implications

– ACOs are challenged with the development of sophisticated HIT infrastructure. They may benefit from targeted assistance and incentives to implement health information exchanges with other providers to promote more coordinated care management for their patient population.

Originality/value

– Using new empirical data, this study increases understanding of the extent of ACOs’ current and developing HIT capabilities to support ongoing care management.
Development of a comprehensive model for stakeholder management in mental healthcare
Authors: Bierbooms Joyce , Van Oers Hans , Rijkers Jeroen , Bongers Inge
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Stakeholder management is not yet incorporated into the standard practice of most healthcare providers. The purpose of this paper is to assess the applicability of a comprehensive model for stakeholder management in mental healthcare organization for more evidence-based (stakeholder) management.

Design/methodology/approach

– The assessment was performed in two research parts: the steps described in the model were executed in a single case study at a mental healthcare organization in the Netherlands; and a process and effect evaluation was done to find the supporting and impeding factors with regard to the applicability of the model. Interviews were held with managers and directors to evaluate the effectiveness of the model with a view to stakeholder management.

Findings

– The stakeholder analysis resulted in the identification of eight stakeholder groups. Different expectations were identified for each of these groups. The analysis on performance gaps revealed that stakeholders generally find the collaboration with a mental healthcare provider “sufficient.” Finally a prioritization showed that five stakeholder groups were seen as “definite” stakeholders by the organization.

Practical implications

– The assessment of the model showed that it generated useful knowledge for more evidence-based (stakeholder) management. Adaptation of the model is needed to increase its feasibility in practice.

Originality/value

– Provided that the model is properly adapted for the specific field, the analysis can provide more knowledge on stakeholders and can help integrate stakeholder management as a comprehensive process in policy planning.
Interpretation time in an ethnically diverse pediatric orthopedic clinic
Authors: Lee Moon , Sobralske Mary , Raney Ellen , Carino Brian
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine whether there were differences in clinical encounter time between patients who speak English and those who require an interpretation service in an ethnically diverse pediatric clinic.

Design/methodology/approach

– Encounter time with patients requiring interpretation was compared to encounter time with patients who spoke English. The sample consisted of 310 encounters at a pediatric orthopedic clinic where patients spoke over 18 primary languages. Data were analyzed using ANOVA to compare four types of encounters.

Findings

– Approximately 12 percent (n=38) required interpretation and encounters requiring interpretation took 30 percent (nine minutes) longer than those that did not, p
<
0.01(25 vs 16 minutes). Furthermore, this difference was mainly among new patients: Approximately, 53 percent increase in time for new patient encounters requiring interpretation (36 vs 23 minutes) while only 25 percent increase in encounter time for established patients (20 vs 16 minutes) was detected.

Research limitations/implications

– Preventing problems due to language barriers requires time for interpretation which places demands on staff resources and presents clinical challenges. However, long-term benefits of quality health care outweigh the costs associated with interpretation service.

Originality/value

– To the knowledge, this is the first study to investigate actual encounter time differences in a pediatric clinical setting. The authors found that clinical encounters requiring interpretation took approximately nine minutes longer in general and four minutes longer for established patients. These findings could give much needed information for hospital administrators to allocate appropriate amounts of time and resources to care for those who need interpretation services. However, they also indicate a broader concern of the reduction of clinical encounter time for overall health care system in the country that might need further investigation.
Social interaction in management group meetings: a case study of Finnish hospital
Authors: Laapotti Tomi , Mikkola Leena
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of management group meetings (MGMs) in hospital organization by examining the social interaction in these meetings.

Design/methodology/approach

– This case study approaches social interaction from a structuration point of view. Social network analysis and qualitative content analysis are applied.

Findings

– The findings show that MGMs are mainly forums for information sharing. Meetings are not held for problem solving or decision making, and operational coordinating is limited. Meeting interaction is very much focused on the chair, and most of the discussion takes place between the chair and one other member, not between members. The organizational structures are maintained and reproduced in the meeting interaction, and they appear to limit discussion. Meetings appear to fulfil their goals as a part of the organization’s information structure and to some extent as an instrument for management. The significance of the relational side of MGMs was recognized.

Research limitations/implications

– The results of this study provide a basis for future research on hospital MGMs with wider datasets and other methodologies. Especially the relational role of MGMs needs more attention.

Practical implications

– The goals of MGMs should be reviewed and MG members should be made aware of meeting interaction structures.

Originality/value

– The paper provides new knowledge about interaction networks in hospital MGMs, and describes the complexity of the importance of MGMs for hospitals.
Women physicians as healthcare leaders: a qualitative study
Authors: Roth Virginia R , Theriault Anne , Clement Chris , Worthington Jim
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the under-representation of women physicians in clinical leadership by examining the issue from their perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used large group engagement methods to explore the experiences and perceptions of women physicians. In order to capture common themes across this group as a whole, participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Data were analysed using a structured thematic analysis procedure.

Findings

– This paper provides empirical insights into the influences affecting women physicians’ decision to participate in leadership. The authors found that they often exclude themselves because the costs of leadership outweigh the benefits. Potential barriers unique to healthcare include the undervaluing of leadership by physician peers and perceived lack of support by nursing.

Research limitations/implications

– This study provides an in-depth examination of why women physicians are under-represented in clinical leadership from the perspective of those directly involved. Further studies are needed to confirm the generalizability of these findings and potential differences between demographic groups of physicians.

Practical implications

– Healthcare organizations seeking to increase the participation of women physicians in leadership should focus on modifying the perceived costs of leadership and highlighting the potential benefits. Large group engagement methods can be an effective approach to engage physicians on specific issues and mobilize grass-roots support for change.

Originality/value

– This exploratory study provides insights on the barriers and enablers to leadership specific to women physicians in the clinical setting. It provides a reference for healthcare organizations seeking to develop and diversify their leadership talent.
Integrated care nursing in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Wigens Lynne
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline how nursing has contributed to the development of integrated care in an internationally recognised centre of excellence (Timmins and Ham, 2013).

Design/methodology/approach

– During a three-week travel scholarship the author undertook interviews, focus groups and observation and has reflected on this through three themes. These are: system working, nursing leadership and examples of integrated care in action.

Findings

– Elements of the Canterbury approach could have implications for other health care systems, e.g. New Care Models within England. Time was spent on developing the vision, involving many staff. Stability in the senior leadership team allowed decisions to be made in a collective, transformational way. Nurse leadership authenticity meant nursing staff saw integrated decision making being role modelled at a senior level and this appeared to empower them to operate in a similar way. Time was invested in redesign. Creating a positive culture where innovation was tried, without staff feeling the risks and challenges would not be supported by their leaders.

Originality/value

– This system worked most effectively where there was cohesion between health and social care, and strong relationships developed between leaders and staff working for different providers. The reflection includes practice examples of integrated care services in action. There is potential to inform integrated care developments within other health and social care systems, e.g. Vanguards within England.
Social care legislation as an act of integration
Authors: Davies Natalie , Livingston Wulf , Owen Emyr , Huxley Peter
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate health and social care integration in North Wales in a short window of time between the assent of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and its implementation in 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

– The findings are based on the experiences of health and social care professionals from six Local Authorities and one Regional Health Board working in a management role with strategic responsibility, gathered from an online survey (n=43), semi-structured face-to-face interviews (n=14) and supplemented with reflective interviews with regional coordinators responsible for facilitating cross-organisational working (n=2).

Findings

– Senior managers are devoting considerable energy to understanding the implications of the new legislation, ensuring that their organisations will be ready and able to successfully implement it. This work is perceived to be commensurate with wider agendas to transform and integrate working practices and services, influenced by a range of financial, environmental, organisational, social and policy factors.

Originality/value

– This research has direct implications for stakeholders in North Wales, having already been used to shape conversations about integration in the region, and furthermore builds upon existing knowledge in the academic and professional field of integration, with additional limited wider implications for policy and research.
An exploration of students’ knowledge and understanding of Istihalah
Authors: Ahmed Ishfaq , Nawaz Muhammad Musarrat
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of understanding of Muslim students about Istihalah. It compares the understanding of students of various departments about Istihalah and changes in their knowledge after a workshop.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a comparison is made between students of three departments: Islamic studies, business studies and food sciences. These departments were selected using purposive sampling. In the second phase, students with a lack of awareness about Istihalah were given a one-day training workshop on the concept of Istihalah. Data were collected through a personally administrated questionnaire.

Findings

The results of the first phase revealed that students from business studies and food sciences were not familiar with the concept and application of Istihalah, whereas students from Islamic studies were well-aware of it. The findings of the second phase revealed that after the provision of training (workshop), students were at par with the students of Islamic studies. All the students were further willing to know about Istihalah and its implications in their personal and professional lives.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is to highlight the area where information about Islamic concepts should be disseminated and applied.
Current CITE-ings from the popular and trade computing literature: Google Cardboard – virtual reality for everyone
Authors: Kesselman Martin
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Google Cardboard has brought virtual reality experiences to anyone with a smartphone and low-cost glasses, the first ones provided by Google made of Cardboard!

Design/methodology/approach

Due to its extremely low cost, many applications are burgeoning the field, and the technology has created new opportunities for libraries in creating virtual immersive experiences for their users.

Findings

Low-cost virtual-reality cameras are coming on the scene too that will allow libraries to develop documentaries of community information, tours and educational/information experiences.

Originality/value

The references below, run the gamut of what Google Cardboard is all about, new applications, new viewers based on Google’s offerings and opportunities on the horizon. This is definitely a technology that is taking everyone by storm!
Internal control weakness and accounting conservatism in China
Authors: Ji Xudong , Lu Wei , Qu Wen
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internal control weaknesses on accounting conservatism in Chinese listed firms. It also investigates the relationship between the demand for external audit and accounting conservatism, and whether additional assurance of internal control reports (ICRs) can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical research approach is taken through the use of ordinary least squares (OLS) models and hand-collected internal control weakness data from ICRs released by Chinese listed firms.

Findings

The results of this paper show that the existence of ICWs has a negative effect on accounting conservatism in China. Further, the results demonstrate that both accounting-related and non-accounting-related ICWs affect accounting conservatism. The authors also find that there is a complementary relationship between accounting conservatism and the demand for additional assurance of ICRs, and additional assurance of ICRs can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.

Practical Implications

This study provides timely evidence to Chinese regulators of the possible economic consequences of the official implementation of internal control standard in China from 2012. The findings of this paper can also benefit regulators around the world and, in particular, the regulators in emerging markets that are considering implement regulations similar to the US SOX.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that a wider scope of ICWs, including non-accounting-related ICWs, also has a significant impact on accounting conservatism. Therefore, this research provides a more general evidence on the relationship between internal control quality and accounting conservatism.
Accelerating supply chain management learning: identifying enablers from a university-industry collaboration
Authors: Gibson Trish , Kerr Donald , Fisher Ron
Published: June 2016

Purpose

There is an acknowledged need to advance the supply chain management (SCM) learning agenda, with an emphasis on integration. This paper discuss an Australian university–industry collaboration aimed at accelerating SCM learning and offers some insight into models for building a forward-looking SCM.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is an exploratory case study of the industry–university collaboration, using grounded theory procedures. The primary data involved 25 interviews with key participants from the university and industry partners, and from the first cohort of students in the undergraduate program developed within the collaboration.

Findings

A theoretical framework for accelerating SCM learning was developed from the case study data; it comprises six constructs that influence, at strategic and operational levels, the acceleration of SCM learning. Four cross-construct concepts from the framework that form the cornerstones of accelerated learning are discussed in some detail.

Research limitations/implications

The framework facilitates an examination of successes and shortfalls in the case study collaboration and generates a deeper understanding of critical elements for progressing the SCM learning agenda, and expanding SCM education. As with all qualitative research, the results may not be generalisable; testing the relevance and usefulness of the framework with the field will be an important next step.

Practical implications

As the framework identifies conditions, characteristics and capacities of organisations and individuals that support the acceleration of SCM learning, it can provide assistance in designing future university–industry collaborations for advancing SCM learning.

Originality/value

The framework identifies critical success factors for alliances and partnerships aimed at accelerating learning in an emerging body of knowledge such as SCM.
Household micro-data, regulation and financial stability: the case of Denmark in the 1950s
Authors: Abildgren Kim
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The 1950s was characterised by pronounced stability of the banking sector in many countries, which the existing literature has attributed to tight regulation. However, other factors than regulation are important for financial stability. The purpose of this paper is to consider the case of Denmark and investigate whether the absence of banking crises was due to robustness of the banking sector’s customers rather than tight regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses the resilience of Danish wage and salary earners to adverse economic shocks in the 1950s based on household-level data on income, consumption, savings and wealth from the Danish Expenditure and Saving Survey of 1955.

Findings

The paper finds that the Danish household sector in the 1950s had a high debt payment ability and was very robust to even large income shocks. The results indicate that the stability of the Danish financial sector was not only due to tight regulation but also reflected a high credit quality of the banking sector’s loan portfolio.

Originality/value

During the past decade or so, a micro-data-based framework has become the “state of the art” approach among central banks to analyse the financial robustness of the household sector. However, such an approach has so far not been applied in studies on historical financial-stability issues. The paper adds to the literature by using granular household-level data to assess the financial resilience of the Danish household sector in the 1950s.
Industry-specific determinants of shareholder value creation
Authors: Hall John Henry
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Prior studies on determinants of shareholder value creation have reported conflicting and sometimes confusing results. In this study, to obtain more refined and industry-specific results regarding variables determining shareholder value creation, an analysis was performed focusing on different categories of firms or industries.

Design/methodology/approach

Two dependent and 11 independent variables were applied to five different industries to obtain the best set of significant value drivers of shareholder value creation for a particular industry.

Findings

Market value added (MVA) is a better indicator of shareholder value created compared to a market adjusted return. Accounting-based variables (EPS, ROA and NOPAT) are superior to economic-based variables (EVA and ROCE) in explaining shareholder value creation, but results differ, depending on the dependent variable chosen as shareholder value creation measure. For each industry, there is a unique set of variables that determine shareholder value creation; the industrial goods industry has seven significant value drivers, namely, EPS, NOPAT, ROCE, the Spread, EVA, EBEI and REVA, whilst for the food and beverages industry, there were only two significant value drivers (EPS and ROA).

Originality/value

These findings imply that management, analysts and shareholders should, depending on the specific industry in which their firm operates, take into account a more specific set of variables when making their financial decisions, including compensation or reward structuring.
Labor income risk and households’ risky asset holdings
Authors: Becker Gideon , Dimpfl Thomas
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Financial theory suggests that with increasing labor income risk, the reluctance of households to hold stocks increases. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the determinants of a household’s decision on whether to invest in risky financial assets.

Design/methodology/approach

Income risk is measured as the observed variation of household income over a five-year period. The authors use both the time and the cross-sectional dimension of the German socio-economic panel to control for unobserved heterogeneity.

Findings

The authors find that indeed higher variation, i.e. higher income risk, reduces the propensity to invest in risky assets. However, when controlling for household heterogeneity, as well as subjective measures of a household’s financial situation (income satisfaction, worries about financial situation), the impact of observed labor income variation vanishes. It is therefore concluded that in particular the perception of investment risk and of the riskiness of the environment determines the investment decision to a great extent.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a better understanding of a household’s investment decision-making process. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to fully exploit the panel structure of the data to control for unobserved heterogeneity which leads to novel conclusions with respect to the effect of labor income.
Utilization of multiple scattering: the next big step forward in seismic imaging
Authors: Berkhout A.J. (Guus)
Published: June 2016

Surface removal and internal multiple removal are explained by recursively separating the primary and multiple responses at each depth level with the aid of wavefield prediction error filtering. This causal removal process is referred to as “data linearization.” The linearized output (primaries only) is suitable for linear migration algorithms. Next, a summary is given on the migration of full wavefields (primaries + multiples) by using the concept of secondary sources in each subsurface gridpoint. These secondary sources are two‐way and contain the gridpoint reflection and the gridpoint transmission properties. In full wavefield migration, a local inversion process replaces the traditional linear imaging conditions. Finally, Marchenko redatuming is explained by iteratively separating the full wavefield response from above a new datum and the full wavefield response from below a new datum. The redatuming output is available for linear migration (Marchenko imaging) or, even better, for full wavefield migration. Linear migration, full wavefield migration, and Marchenko imaging are compared with each other. The principal conclusion of this essay is that multiples should not be removed, but they should be utilized, yielding two major advantages: (i) illumination is enhanced, particularly in the situation of low signal‐to‐noise primaries; and (ii) both the upper side and the lower side of reflectors are imaged. It is also concluded that multiple scattering algorithms are more transparent if they are formulated in a recursive depth manner. In addition to transparency, a recursive depth algorithm has the flexibility to enrich the imaging process by inserting prior geological knowledge or by removing numerical artefacts at each depth level. Finally, it is concluded that nonlinear migration algorithms must have a closed‐loop architecture to allow successful imaging of incomplete seismic data volumes (reality of field data).
Prey size and scramble vs. contest competition in a social spider: implications for population dynamics
Authors: Sharpe Ruth V. , Avilés Leticia
Published: June 2016

There are many benefits of group living, but also substantial costs, one of which is competition for resources. How scarce food resources are distributed among different members of a population or social group – whether via scramble or contest competition – can influence not only the variance in individual fitness, but also the stability and therefore survival of the group or population.

Attributes of the food resources themselves, such as their size, may influence the type of intraspecific competition that occurs and therefore the intrinsic stability of a group or population.

By experimentally manipulating the size of prey fed to artificial colonies of the social spider Anelosimus eximius, we investigated whether prey size could alter the degree of scramble vs. contest competition that takes place and, thus, potentially influence colony population dynamics.

We found that large prey were shared more evenly than small prey and that individuals in poor condition were more likely to feed when prey were large than when prey were small. Additionally, we show that individuals participating in prey capture are also more likely to feed on the captured prey.

We developed a simple mathematical model to explore the prey sizes that would be energetically worth defending, i.e. prey that are ‘economically defendable’. The model shows that neither very small prey, nor prey above a certain size is worth monopolizing, with only intermediate size prey being ‘economically defendable’. We therefore suggest the small and large prey in our experiment corresponds to our model's intermediate and large prey categories, respectively.

As the size of prey captured by social spider colonies increases with colony size, our findings suggest that scramble competition may predominate in large colonies. Scramble competition, combined with the fact that prey biomass per capita declines as colonies grow beyond a certain size, would then explain why extremely large colonies of this social spider may suddenly go extinct. Our project thus illustrates the potential triple link between characteristics of the resources, individual behaviour and population dynamics, a link rarely considered in an empirical setting.
Overexpression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase in the median preoptic nucleus improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction in the rat
Authors: Collister John P , Hartnett Cristina , Mayerhofer Tim , Nahey David , Stauthammer Christopher , Krüger Maxie , Tobias Anthony , O'Sullivan M. Gerard , Parker Josh , Tian Jun , Case Adam J , Zimmerman Matthew C
Published: June 2016

Previous reports indicate that overexpression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), an intracellular superoxide (O2•−) scavenging enzyme, in the brain subfornical organ improves cardiac function in a mouse model of heart failure (HF). A downstream hypothalamic site, the MnPO, may act as a relay centre for O2•− to serve as a mediator in the pathophysiology of HF. To test the hypothesis that elevated O2•− in the MnPO contributes to the pathophysiology of HF and decreased cardiac function, we injected adenovirus encoding CuZnSOD (AdCuZnSOD, n=7) or control empty adenovirus vector (AdEmpty, n=7) into the MnPO of normal rats. Subsequently, rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation to create a myocardial infarct (MI) of the left ventricle. Cardiac function was monitored via echocardiography. Upon completion, rat brains were examined for CuZnSOD expression in MnPO via immunofluorescence and histopathological analyses of cardiac infarct size were conducted. Baseline (EF) ejection fractions (%) of AdCuZnSOD and AdEmpty rats were 73 ± 1 and 71 ± 1, respectively. Two weeks after MI, EF was significantly decreased in both groups of rats (AdCuZnSOD: 51 ± 3, AdEmpty: 46 ± 1). In contrast, by 4 weeks post MI, EF had improved to 64 ± 2 in AdCuZnSOD rats, yet was only 52 ± 1 in AdEmpty rats, and this was accompanied by lower plasma noradrenaline levels in AdCuZnSOD rats (0.49 ± 0.19 ng/mL) compared to AdEmpty rats (1.20 ± 0.32 ng/mL). In conclusion, despite decreases in EF early after MI, overexpression of CuZnSOD in the MnPO was related to an improvement in left ventricular function and concomitant decreased plasma noradrenaline levels 4 weeks post MI.
Comparing linguistic complexity and efficiency in conversations from stimulation and conversation therapy in aphasia
Authors: Savage Meghan C. , Donovan Neila J.
Published: June 2016

Background

Efficacy studies have demonstrated the benefit of group conversation therapy for a person with aphasia (PWA). However, a PWA typically participates in individual therapy prior to group therapy. Stimulation therapy (ST) is the most common type of individual aphasia therapy. Ultimately, the outcome of therapy is to enable the PWA to communicate effectively with others, which suggests the need for conversation therapy (CT). Little efficacy data exist to demonstrate the benefit of CT between a PWA and a clinician, in part because no clear treatment outcome measures have been established. More information is needed to identify optimal ways to measure CT outcomes.

Aim

To identify ways to measure CT outcomes and to determine if there is a change in linguistic complexity and total talk time during conversation, samples were taken during CT and ST in two PWAs.

Methods & Procedures

Seventeen 6‐min conversational samples per PWA were analyzed from a prior single‐subject AB1AB2A alternating treatment study with randomized ordering of interventions across participants. Data were analyzed for seven measures of linguistic complexity using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT). Efficiency was measured using correct information units (CIUs) per minute and total talk time.

Outcomes & Results

Per cent of complex utterances and propositional density were higher following CT. Four out of seven linguistic measures increased following ST. Total talk time was significantly greater for one PWA during CT compared with ST. No differences were found in CIUs/min across treatment types.

Conclusion & Implications

Linguistic complexity and efficiency appear to be conversational treatment outcome measures that are sensitive to change, which researchers might consider using.
Promoting linguistic complexity, greater message length and ease of engagement in email writing in people with aphasia: initial evidence from a study utilizing assistive writing software
Authors: Thiel Lindsey , Sage Karen , Conroy Paul
Published: June 2016

Background

Improving email writing in people with aphasia could enhance their ability to communicate, promote interaction and reduce isolation. Spelling therapies have been effective in improving single‐word writing. However, there has been limited evidence on how to achieve changes to everyday writing tasks such as email writing in people with aphasia. One potential area that has been largely unexplored in the literature is the potential use of assistive writing technologies, despite some initial evidence that assistive writing software use can lead to qualitative and quantitative improvements to spontaneous writing.

Aims

This within‐participants case series design study aimed to investigate the effects of using assistive writing software to improve email writing in participants with dysgraphia related to aphasia.

Methods & Procedures

Eight participants worked through a hierarchy of writing tasks of increasing complexity within broad topic areas that incorporate the spheres of writing need of the participants: writing for domestic needs, writing for social needs and writing for business/administrative needs. Through completing these tasks, participants had the opportunity to use the various functions of the software, such as predictive writing, word banks and text to speech. Therapy also included training and practice in basic computer and email skills to encourage increased independence. Outcome measures included email skills, keyboard skills, email writing and written picture description tasks, and a perception of disability assessment.

Outcomes & Results

Four of the eight participants showed statistically significant improvements to spelling accuracy within emails when using the software. At a group level there was a significant increase in word length with the software; while four participants showed noteworthy changes to the range of word classes used. Enhanced independence in email use and improvements in participants’ perceptions of their writing skills were also noted.

Conclusions & Implications

This study provided some initial evidence that assistive writing technologies can support people with aphasia in email writing across a range of important performance parameters. However, more research is needed to measure the effects of these technologies on the writing of people with aphasia, and to determine the optimal compensatory mechanisms for specific people given the linguistic–strategic resources they bring to the task of email writing.