bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How internal integration, information sharing, and training affect supply chain risk management capabilities
Authors: Riley Jason M. , Klein Richard , Miller Janis , Sridharan V.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine if internal integration, information sharing, and training constitute direct antecedents to organizations’ warning and recovery capabilities. Assuming that organizations periodically face various supply chain risks, the authors intend to show that managers can develop these antecedent competencies in ways that bolster their supply chain risk management (SCRM) capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the relationships between the antecedents and SCRM capabilities, the authors used Q-sorts and confirmatory factor analysis to develop new warning and recovery measures. The authors then collected survey data from 231 hospital supply managers and analyzed these records using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results indicate that internal integration and training positively affect organizations’ warning and recovery capabilities, in both a direct and indirect manner. The authors also illustrate how managers can leverage their SCRM capabilities to affect operational performance.

Research limitations/implications

These results suggest that by developing antecedent competencies like internal integration and training, firms may bolster their warning and recovery capabilities, and ultimately operational performance of the organization.

Originality/value

The findings provide hospital supply organizations and other inventory management teams with a novel approach to managing an evolving array of supply chain risks. Rather than investing in costly risk management techniques, like inventory stocks, organizations can use internal integration and training to improve their SCRM capabilities.
Culture and entrepreneurial opportunity in high- and low-entrepreneurship rural communities
Authors: Fortunato Michael William-Patrick , Alter Theodore Roberts
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to underscore the role of culture in situating and embedding opportunistic action differently in high- and low-entrepreneurship communities in the USA. It challenges the idea that opportunity is either exclusively discovered or created – two themes commonly found in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach utilizes a multiple case study across one high- and one low-entrepreneurship community in rural areas in each of three states – Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Maine. Community profiling, key informant interviews and survey analysis with entrepreneurs and local institutional actors are used to develop a greater understanding of how these individuals conceptualize and utilize opportunity in ways that lead to entrepreneurship development.

Findings

Quantitative and qualitative findings are presented supporting the idea that in these rural areas, discovery and creation fail to capture the nuances of how entrepreneurs think about opportunistic action.

Practical implications

This research offers insights for both researchers and practitioners about more effective ways to think about entrepreneurial opportunity and provides a glimpse as to how different community actors may hold different, but equally-valid, views on how opportunity arises – an idea with significant policy and practice implications.

Originality/value

The research contributes empirical support challenging the current discussion on entrepreneurial opportunity and advances the conversation as it pertains to rural entrepreneurship development using original research from the field.
A study on information disclosure, trust, reducing search cost, and online group-buying intention
Authors: Tseng Shu-Mei , Lee Meng-Chieh
Published: October 2016

Purpose

More and more disputes have quickly emerged and accumulated, hence generating uncertainties and doubts among consumers regarding the online group-buying. In order to decrease such uncertainties, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among information disclosure, trust, reducing search cost, and online group-buying intention, as well as proposing concrete suggestions for enhancing online group-buying intention.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore the relationships among information disclosure, trust, reducing search cost, and online group-buying intention, the questionnaire and statistical analytical techniques were used. Moreover, as this study was an early attempt to develop a model for information disclosure, trust, reducing search cost, and online group-buying intention, partial least square therefore was appropriately to analyze data.

Findings

The results showed that the level of information disclosure and trust on a group-buying website have positive influence on reducing search costs, while reducing search costs and trust have positive influences on online group-buying intention.

Research limitations/implications

This research applied a purposive sampling method and obtained a slightly inadequate number of respondents. Therefore, it is suggested that future research should apply a random sampling method to collect more responses and increase the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

By more actively disclosing information it is possible for group-buying websites to increase consumer trust and decrease search costs, thus enhancing their group-buying intentions.

Originality/value

There are few studies on the relationships among reducing search cost, trust, and group-buying intention from the perspective of information disclosure. This study thus applies a questionnaire survey method to explore the relationships among them. This study also offers concrete suggestions to enhance group-buying intentions, and provides marketing strategies that can be used by online group-buying websites to raise their sales.
Information technology portfolio management implementation: a case study
Authors: Ajjan Haya , Kumar Ram L. , Subramaniam Chandrasekar
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of IT portfolio management (IT PoM) and develop a framework guided by adaptive structuration theory to describe the key structures, features, and appropriation steps needed to effectively manage IT investments and assets.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a longitudinal case study approach, data were collected over an eight-month period from a US Fortune 500 company during its IT PoM implementation effort.

Findings

The case analysis highlights three major IT PoM features appropriated by the organization: creating the portfolio; assessing and analyzing the portfolio characteristics based on risk, benefits, alignment, criticality, and cost; and balancing decisions to start projects or terminate under-performing IT assets such as servers and applications. The spirit of IT PoM was interpreted differently by different stakeholders (data providers, business units, and IT PoM team) leading to resistance to implementation. The case data underscores the importance of establishing a governance steering committee and new internal structures to help push the balancing decisions across the organization.

Research limitations/implications

The results are useful in developing guidelines and strategies to achieve successful implementation of IT PoM and to highlight critical factors that practitioners need to pay close attention to during an IT PoM implementation.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the first attempts to describe a detailed IT PoM implementation process and how IT PoM appropriation process can lead to improved decision making within the organization.
Enterprise systems: the upgrade process model
Authors: Feldman Gerald , Shah Hanifa , Chapman Craig , Amini Ardavan
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Enterprise systems (ES) upgrade is a complex undertaking that recurs throughout the systems’ life span, therefore, organisations need to adopt strategies and methodologies that can minimise disruptions and risks associated with upgrades. The purpose of this paper is to explore the processes undertaken during upgrading ES, to identify the upgrade project stages.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is grounded in a qualitative survey approach, and utilises a web-based survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews as methods for data collection. The data were gathered from 41 respondents’ and analysed using qualitatively inductive content analysis principles to derive meaning and to identify the trends about upgrade processes.

Findings

The study findings stress the importance of adopting a methodical approach to ES upgrades. Also, it suggests that due consideration should be given to the impact of new version features and functionality, the risks and the effort required for supporting upgrade projects.

Research limitations/implications

The five-stage upgrade process model can be utilised as a strategy to minimise complexity and risks associated with upgrade projects. However, this study only proposes logical generalisations; therefore, future studies could explore these stages in-depth to offer generalisable arguments applicable to ES upgrade phenomenon.

Originality/value

The study proposes a five-stage upgrade process model that offers a systematic approach to support upgrade projects. The proposed model extends previous models by proposing alternative strategies to support ES upgrade projects.
Accountants’ role in the management of succession: empirical evidence from Italy
Authors: Cesaroni Francesca Maria , Sentuti Annalisa
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the this paper is to understand what is the approach adopted by accountants when they provide advisory services to family businesses (FBs) involved in a succession process.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire survey involving 175 Italian certified accountants. They answered questions about their experience, attitudes, behaviors and opinions toward FB succession.

Findings

Accountants are mostly concerned with technical elements and solutions (hard issues) and are less careful about relations and communication between family members (soft issues). They also underestimate the relevance of the ability to empathize with the FB owner and other family members. Despite the literature recommendations to collaborate with other advisors from a variety of backgrounds, most of the accountants work on their own or with other experts on hard issues (notaries, lawyers and bank operators). All these aspects may cause a discrepancy between FBs’ expectations and accountant’s professional practice.

Research limitations/implications

Results are mainly descriptive and are limited to the perceptions and experiences of accountants interviewed.

Practical implications

This study offers some guidance for the accountant’s professional practice. Even if accountant’s technical skills are undoubtedly essential when addressing the main hard issues posed by succession, soft issues often represent the real problem to be managed or the most complicated one. Accountants should help less aware entrepreneurs to acquire a better knowledge of succession and to adopt a holistic approach, integrating every dimension and perspective involved. This means that succession should be tackled through an interdisciplinary approach.

Originality/value

The research on the role of external subjects in family succession examines, above all, the perspective of the FB. This study offers an alternative approach, adopting the accountant’s perspective to analyze his/her role and experience in the management of succession.
Keeping it in the family: family, priorities and succession in Scottish landed estates
Authors: Belmonte Sofia di , Seaman Claire , Bent Richard
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider multigenerational landed estates in Scotland from a family business perspective. The strategic vision for the business is considered here in terms of the family definition of success, drawing upon aspects of cultural identity, legal and fiscal systems and stewardship theory.

Design/methodology/approach

A social-constructivist epistemology framed this study, which considered perceptions of family business strategy, culture and family defined visions of success. Semi-structured interview techniques were utilized to collect primarily qualitative date.

Findings

Results indicate that the families shared a very cohesive definition of what constituted the family business and were very aware of the importance of long-term planning in the succession process. The cultural and legal dimension of primogeniture played a defining role in the choice of successors, developed from the belief that the successor is the steward of the family property rather than the “owner” in any personal sense. Key priorities for the family included the training of the heir and the limiting of potential taxation liabilities juxtaposed with the desire to retain family discretion in decision making.

Practical implications

By extending current research to businesses that have been successfully transferred between six or more generations this study offers a unique insight into the requirements for effective succession. This research also offers an insight into the strategic management of a group of “family businesses” where the economic and legislative environment have required families to plan, where smaller family businesses are often able to defer.

Originality/value

Multigenerational estates represent some of the oldest family businesses in Scotland, offering a unique sample group of businesses which have survived through six or more generations. The clarity of strategic vision and the perceived importance of long-term planning offer an insight into the reasons for business longevity.
Innovation and family firms: ability and willingness and German SMEs
Authors: Steeger Jonas Heinrich , Hoffmann Malte
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Research disputes whether family businesses are more or less innovative than their nonfamily counterparts. So far, no consistent results have been achieved. The recently introduced willingness and ability framework suggest that idiosyncratic behavior is only to be expected if both sufficiency conditions – willingness and ability – are fulfilled. The purpose of this paper is to test this hypothesis empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

A large cross-sectional sample of German small- and medium-sized enterprises is used. The sample offers – alongside numerous moderators commonly used in innovation research – several family firm definitions. Given the censored nature of the endogenous variable chosen, a Tobit model is used.

Findings

Drawing upon agency theory and the ability and willingness paradox in family firm innovation, it finds family firms to be less innovative only if both willingness and ability conditions are fulfilled.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, the study provides the first attempt to test the willingness and ability theorem. Therefore, the commonly used family firm-specific measures (self-assessment-, ownership-, and management criterion) are operationalized to better understand what drives innovativeness in family firms. The findings thus add to the ongoing discussion on what really drives family impact on firm-level decisions.
The major issues that need to be addressed by effective corporate governance in the 21st century
Authors: Al-Tawil Tareq Na’el
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to underline and evaluate what corporations are as artificial entities, the concept of corporate governance (CG) in the twentieth century and whether a corporation owes allegiance to its key stakeholders in the twenty-first century.

Design/methodology/approach

Because it requires development in the twenty-first century, a clarification of the key areas of reform in “global corporate governance” is overdue. These include an analysis of the stakeholder role; the logic and effect of the codes of corporate practise such as in the Cadbury Code and Combined Codes. The “value chain theory” in CG and how it should be placed not only on financial value but also on natural, human and cultural values will looked at. This paper also provides a brief insight into major multi-national corporate collapse. The Enron case, for example, highlights how such mishaps can be avoided to rekindle trust and transparency, as well as disclosure to authorities, shareholders and the public.

Findings

This paper looks at how public interest and consumer interest play a role in corporate existence by analysing an inevitable change in the twenty-first century from absolute corporate control to public/consumer control and have an influence in areas like environmental, ethical and employee protection and recognition. The emotional side of a corporation is brought to life to win the hearts of consumers and the public. How this fares in the light of profits and long-term Environmental Management Scheme investment will be evaluated.

Originality/value

This paper ends with a general conclusion, summarising the necessary changes to governance and the author’s opinion on the realities of change: will it work, will it improve the living standards or will it just increase the gap between well-organised and ill-fated economies?
Department store innovation: David Jones Ltd., Australia, 1876-1915
Authors: Miller Dale , Merrilees Bill
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the historical contributions of complex innovations (both creative and tactical components) in a formative period in a major Australian department store, David Jones Ltd.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a context-specific lens to examine complex retail innovation. The study adopts a longitudinal design with the focus on a single firm, which met the inclusion criteria. Data collection was predominately from company archival materials and publicly available documents, including newspapers.

Findings

An in-depth analysis of two complex innovations demonstrates the retailer’s successful management of both marketing exploration (innovation) and marketing exploitation of that innovation. Effective marketing requires operational, tactical marketing exploitation to dovetail marketing exploration.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to one successful department store. Notwithstanding, there are expectations that the lessons extend to many other retailing organizations.

Practical implications

The practical relevance is clear, with the emphasis on retail innovation (and especially complex innovation) as a basis for both surviving and thriving in an ever-changing marketing environment.

Originality/value

The use of a complex innovation approach is a novel way of examining marketing history. The study concludes that both marketing exploration and marketing exploitation are essential for retail longevity.
The ironic marketing of heritage and nostalgia: the branding of Bushells tea, 1983-c.1990
Authors: Khamis Susie
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study aims to examine and contextualize the growing salience of nostalgic motifs in the promotion of Bushells Tea from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. It aims to analyze the ironic foregrounding of a rural aesthetic as a strategic evasion of growing concerns in popular media about the globalization of the Australian economy and the concomitant “takeover” of iconic Australian brands, including Bushells, by multinational corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

This article draws on three main materials: a collection of Bushells advertisements (from newspapers, magazines and television), promotional materials, rare press clippings and company memos/briefs, which were loaned to the author for the purposes of this research by Unilever Australasia (Sydney, Australia); contemporary press reports that document popular reactions to the rapid globalization of the Australian economy in the early 1990s; and biographies of key personnel and organizations.

Findings

Despite its gradual takeover by a multinational corporation, the Bushells brand was marketed in ways that evoked an “authentic” and nostalgic nationalism through imagery that drew on the nation’s rural past, reproduced a rustic aesthetic and sentimentalized a pre-globalized era.

Originality/value

This article constitutes original interdisciplinary analysis of how one of Australia’s most iconic and historically dominant brands (Bushells Tea) was marketed during one of the most tumultuous periods in its history. Through examination of rare archival material and contemporary press reports, the analysis makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of brand marketing history in Australia.
Marketing to the Big Middle: establishing Australian discount department stores
Authors: Bailey Matthew
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study focuses on the marketing strategies of the two most successful discount department store chains in Australia between 1969 and the late 1980s when consumer acceptance of both brand and format were being determined. It examines how they approached marketing a new-format national retail chain to the Big Middle of the market and the ways in which brands were differentiated.

Design/methodology/approach

Archival sources and oral histories provide evidence about the marketing strategies of each firm. These are integrated with press coverage, advertising and promotional activity to analyze marketing programs. Consumer research from the time offers insights into the effectiveness of campaigns.

Findings

The Coles and Myer retailing firms pursued similar marketing strategies to encourage adoption of their Kmart and Target discount department store chains, educating consumers about the links between their operational efficiencies and lower prices. Both firms not only formulated national standardized marketing strategies but also differentiated their positioning to maximize their appeal to consumers.

Originality/value

This article expands understandings of the ways in which new national retail chains are developed and marketed. It explores the intersection between public relations material and media coverage and the ways in which existing brands can be leveraged to legitimize new formats and encourage adoption. More broadly, it contributes to a literature on the “Big Middle”, a space occupied by dominant, volume-oriented retailers. In doing so, it demonstrates that foreign adopters can draw on Big Middle retail formats to quickly gain access to large population segments in their home markets.
Opening for business
Authors: Crawford Robert
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an insight into the emergence of the global advertising industry by undertaking a comparison of the respective entries of the advertising agencies J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson into the Australian market in the 1930s and 1960s.

Design/methodology/approach

This study undertakes a comparison of the strategies and initiatives implemented by J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson as documented in the agencies’ respective archival collections as well as industry press reports.

Findings

The similarities between J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson reveal that globalisation of the advertising industry was both driven and restricted in even parts by profitability and pragmatism.

Originality/value

The experiences of the J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson agencies in establishing their Australian operations offer a unique, long-term view of the emergence and development of a global advertising industry.
An evaluation of a frontline led quality improvement initiative
Authors: Flynn Rachel , Hartfield Dawn
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The Edmonton Zone, one of five Zones in Alberta Health Services (the health system in the province of Alberta, Canada), established a quality management framework (QMF) as a means to improve the delivery of high quality health care in the spring of 2014. The purpose of this research study was to understand the factors that facilitated or hindered the implementation of a quality improvement (QI) initiative for hand hygiene led by a newly formed frontline unit quality council (UQC), a part of the QMF, based out of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in the Edmonton Zone. This research will provide an understanding of the newly established QMF in the Edmonton Zone and the factors needed to foster the ongoing development of frontline UQC that do improvement work as part of their daily routine.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative case study research design data were collected using semi-structured open-ended interviews with six key stakeholders (one registered nurse, one physician, one patient case manager, medical director for QI, clinical QI consultant and director of clinical QI) involved in UQC at the PICU.

Findings

Individual, unit and organizational level factors were identified as influencing the function of the UQC. Leadership and work culture were the key facilitating factors to success and lack of QI training and personnel/dedicated time were perceived barriers to completing the QI initiative.

Originality/value

The findings from this research illustrate that frontline UQC are able to impact positive sustained change early in their establishment as part of a larger QMF. It is important, however, for the system to foster ongoing development of capacity and capability of these frontline UQC to ensure sustained success of the larger systems change.
Growth options, dividend payout ratios and stock returns
Authors: Li George
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of the dividend payout ratio on future stock returns and momentum strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses the portfolio sorting approach used in the momentum literature to examine this impact.

Findings

First, the author shows that the returns for the winner stocks tend to be the largest if no dividends are paid and then decrease with the dividend payout ratio; the returns for the loser stocks tend to have an inverted U-shaped relationship with the dividend payout ratio, but the zero-dividend loser stocks have the smallest return; and the returns for the stocks between the winners and the losers tend to remain similar, regardless of the dividend payout ratio. Second, the author shows that momentum profit is the largest for the stocks that do not make dividend payment but appear similar for the stocks that pay dividends. The author's empirical findings imply that stock price momentum is a function of the dividend payout ratio, growth stock momentum tends to be much stronger than value stock momentum and no-dividend stock momentum beats dividend stock momentum. In fact, when the dividend payout ratio is considered, momentum profit can be improved by up to 63 per cent.

Originality/value

This paper is the first one to examine the impact of dividend payout ratios on future stock returns and momentum profit, and it obtained many interesting empirical results. In addition, unlike most studies in the momentum literature that use behavioral theory to explain empirical findings, this paper uses the growth option idea to present a rational explanation for the empirical results in this paper.
A review of angel investing research: analysis of data and returns in the US and abroad
Authors: McDonald Michael B. , DeGennaro Ramon P.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature on angel investors. Research on angel investors is sparse because data are sparse. Most comprehensive studies of angel investors have focused on the USA and UK. In these studies, definitions of angel investors and estimates of returns on angel investments vary dramatically. What can one make of this wide range of reported returns?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the literature and find that the calculations of reported results are vague.

Findings

Most researchers do not explicitly report if their estimates are equal-weighted or value-weighted, nor do they say whether the results are weighted by the duration of the investment. The authors show that the unit of analysis – investment, project or angel – affects interpretations.

Practical implications

Limitations on the comparability between various studies of angel investing returns leave the current literature incomplete. They also offer opportunities for future study in the area.

Originality/value

The authors are the first to examine the angel investing literature in a comprehensive fashion, comparing between various returns found across all major studies of the subject done to date.
The effects of securitized asset portfolio specialization on bank holding company’s return, and risk
Authors: Tah Kenneth A. , Martinez Oscar
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of specialization of the securitized assets portfolio on banks’ performance and securitization risk. In doing so, the paper addresses two important issues. First, whether the efficient risk–return trade-off for securitized asset portfolios is consistent with the principles of diversification. Second, whether the relationship between bank-level returns and securitized assets portfolio specialization is non-linear in securitization risk.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used the fixed-effects panel regression model on US bank holding company data for the period 2001:Q2 to 2014:Q1.

Findings

The results show that securitized assets portfolio specialization increases returns and also reduces securitization default risk; banks’ return and securitized assets specialization are dependent in a non-linear manner on banks’ securitization risk. Additionally, it was also found that lower bank performance leads to higher securitization risk.

Originality/value

This paper is of value by demonstrating that diversification (specialization) of securitized assets portfolio would achieve better bank performance in low-risk (high-risk) scenarios.
How technology can fuel the diversity challenge
Authors: Hipps Charles
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the feature was to examine how technology can help the recruitment industry in overcoming some, if not all, diversity challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a byline paper written by Charles Hipps, CEO of WCN, who touches upon personal knowledge, organisational information and previous industry findings to create the most well-rounded paper possible.

Findings

The paper concludes that for companies who view the diversity challenge as an opportunity, the use of modern technology to enable staff and the analysis of all of the data available has real potential to improve business performance. The challenge is on for organisations to scrutinise the technological software solutions available to them and pull them together to create an overall picture that looks right for itself and its candidates. After all, the war for diverse talent is on, and recruitment and processes of human resources must keep up with the challenge to win hearts and minds – and ultimately business prosperity.

Originality/value

Within the paper, there are personal findings, research conducted by others (which is added as an endnote) and general individual views from a thought-leader. Whenever statistics were used that do not belong to WCN, it was fully stated and attributed accordingly.
The evolving diversity agenda
Authors: Wilson Burns Erin , Ulrich Dave
Published: October 2016

Purpose

In this paper, the authors share answers to the following questions based on data collected from 183 global companies in the most recent round of Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders®: Does diversity and inclusion matter? What is diversity? What practices build more diverse workforces and more inclusive cultures?

Design/methodology/approach

Much of the research cited in this paper comes from the Aon-Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders® data set. In the latest round of data collection, completed in late 2014, 183 companies participated from around the world. Each completed a detailed online questionnaire of leadership practices. From those submissions, finalists were identified and hundreds of interviews were conducted with senior line and executives of human resources. A panel of expert judges determined the global and regional winners based on their responses to the survey questionnaire and interviews, as well as financial and other publicly available information.

Findings

Whether it is a causal relationship or merely a correlated finding, companies that have diverse, inclusive talent strategies appear to out-perform their peers on both talent and financial outcomes.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the differences between top companies in managing diversity compared to other companies in the research data. It also highlights some best practice methods to build diversity.

Originality/value

This paper documents the evolution of the definitions of diversity and considers diversity as a means to business ends rather than an end in itself.
A machine vision based autonomous navigation system for Lunar rover: the model and key technique
Authors: Li Hui , Zhong Cheng
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study aims to find a feasible precise navigation model for the planed Lunar rover. Autonomous navigation is one of the most important missions in the Chinese Lunar exploration project. Machine vision is expected to be a promising option for this mission because of the dramatic development of an image processing technique. However, existing attempts are often subject to low accuracy and errors accumulation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a novel autonomous navigation model was developed, based on the rigid geometric and photogrammetric theory, including stereo perception, relative positioning and absolute adjustment. The first step was planned to detect accurate three-dimensional (3D) surroundings around the rover by matching stereo-paired images; the second was used to decide the local location and orientation changes of the rover by matching adjacent images; and the third was adopted to find the rover’s location in the whole scene by matching ground image with satellite image. Among them, the SURF algorithm that had been commonly believed as the best algorithm for matching images was adopted to find matched images.

Findings

Experiments indicated that the accurate 3D scene, relative positioning and absolute adjustment were easily generated and illustrated with the matching results. More importantly, the proposed algorithm is able to match images with great differences in illumination, scale and observation angle. All experiments and findings in this study proved that the proposed method could be an alternative navigation model for the planed Lunar rover.

Originality/value

With the matching results, an accurate 3D scene, relative positioning and absolute adjustment of rover can be easily generated. The whole test proves that the proposed method could be a feasible navigation model for the planed Lunar rover.
Development of a combined magnetic encoder
Authors: Feng Tong , Hao Shuanghui , Hao Minghui , Wang Jianli
Published: October 2016

Purpose

As a type of angular displacement sensor, the Hall-effect magnetic encoder incorporates many advantages. While compared with the photoelectric encoder, the magnetic encoder nevertheless has lower precision and lower resolution. So, the purpose of this essay is to find a way to increase the precision and resolution of the magnetic encoder.

Design/methodology/approach

By combining a single-pole magnetic encoder and a multi-pole AlNiCo magnet, the precision and resolution of this combined magnetic encoder are increased without increasing its volume or complicating its structure. A special algorithm system is developed to ensure faithful encoding and decoding.

Findings

Tests show that the combined magnetic encoder, with a diameter of 67.12 mm (including shaft) and thickness of 6.9 mm, has a precision of ±6′, compared with a 15-bit photoelectric encoder and a static resolution of ±0.6′.

Originality/value

This new kind of magnetic encoder could be used in specialized fields which need high-precision servo-control systems that are small, have ultra-low-speed and high-speed ratios and are non-oil-polluting or shock-resistant.
Communities of practice: A means to support occupational therapists’ continuing professional development. A literature review
Authors: Barry Margot , Kuijer‐Siebelink Wietske , Nieuwenhuis Loek , Scherpbier‐de Haan Nynke
Published: October 2016

Background

This literature review investigates what research reports about the contribution that communities of practice (CoPs) can make in the continuing professional development (CPD) of qualified occupational therapists.

Methods

Academic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE and ERIC) were searched and articles were included based on pre‐determined criteria. Five articles were included in the review.

Results

The CoPs in the reviewed articles provided opportunities for knowledge sharing, knowledge translation, reflection on action and learning through boundary crossing. The presence of professionals with diverse perspectives was an important ingredient that facilitated CPD.

Conclusion

Research into the use of CoPs in occupational therapy is sparse. CoPs could provide a CPD forum for occupational therapists whether online or face to face. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in CoPs. Further research into the use of CoPs is recommended.
Characterisation and comparison of khoa prepared from camel milk with that from cow and buffalo milk
Authors: Chaudhary Milankumar J , Mehta Bhavbhuti M , Patel Devesh H , Darji Vijaykumar B , Aparnathi Kishorkumar D
Published: October 2016

Khoa, a heat‐concentrated milk product, is used as a base material for the manufacture of many popular sweets. The comparison was made between various chemical compositions and characteristics of the khoa prepared from the camel milk with that prepared from the cow and the buffalo milk samples. The khoa prepared from the camel milk had the higher moisture, ash, acidity, soluble nitrogen, free fatty acids and peroxide value, but lower in fat, protein and lactose contents than that prepared from the cow and buffalo milk samples. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural between khoa samples prepared from the three milks.
Declining Amenable Mortality: Time Trend (2000–2013) and Geographic Area Analysis
Authors: Gianino Maria Michela , Lenzi Jacopo , Muça Aida , Fantini Maria Pia , Siliquini Roberta , Ricciardi Walter , Damiani Gianfranco
Published: October 2016

Objective

To update amenable mortality in 32 OECD countries at 2013 (or last available year), to describe the time trends during 2000–2013, and to evaluate the association of these trends with various geographic areas.

Data Sources

Secondary data from 32 countries during 2000–2013, gathered from the World Health Organization Mortality Database.

Study Design

Time trend analysis.

Data Collection

Using Nolte and McKee's list, age‐standardized amenable mortality rates (SDRs) were calculated as the annual number of deaths over the population aged 0–74 years per 100,000 inhabitants. We performed a mixed‐effects polynomial regression analysis on the annual SDRs to determine whether specific geographic areas were associated with different SDR trajectories over time.

Principal Findings

The OECD average annual decrease was 3.6/100,000 (p < .001), but slowed over time (coefficient for the quadratic term = 0.11, p < .001). Eastern and Atlantic European countries had the steepest decline (−6.1 and −4.7, respectively), while Latin American countries had the lowest slope (−1.7). The OECD average annual decline during the 14‐year period was −0.5 (p < .001) for cancers and −2.5 (p < .001) for cardiovascular diseases, with significant differences among countries.

Conclusion

Declining trend of amenable SDRs was continuing to 2013 but with steepness change compared with previous periods and with a slowdown.
Diagnostic performance of multi‐slice CT angiography combined with enterography for small bowel obstruction and intestinal ischaemia
Authors: He Bosheng , Gu Jinhua , Huang Sheng , Gao Xuesong , Fan Jinhe , Sheng Meihong , Wang Lin , Gong Shenchu
Published: October 2016

Introduction

This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of multi‐slice CT angiography combined with enterography in determining the cause and location of obstruction as well as intestinal ischaemia in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO).

Methods

This study retrospectively summarized the image data of 57 SBO patients who received both multi‐slice CT angiography and enterography examination between December 2012 and May 2013. The CT diagnoses of SBO and intestinal ischaemia were correlated with the findings at surgery or digital subtraction angiography, which were set as standard references.

Results

Multi‐slice CT angiography and enterography indicated that the cause of SBO in three patients was misjudged, suggesting a diagnostic accuracy of 94.7%. In one patient the level of obstruction was incorrect, demonstrating a diagnostic accuracy of 98.2%. Based on the results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the diagnostic criterion for ischaemic SBO was at least two of the four CT signs (circumferential bowel wall thickening, reduced enhancement of the intestinal wall, mesenteric oedema and mesenteric vascular engorgement). The criterion yielded a sensitivity of 94.4%, a specificity of 92.3%, a positive predicted value of 85.0% and a negative predicted value of 97.3%, and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.85–0.99).

Conclusion

Multi‐slice CT angiography and enterography have high diagnostic value in identifying the cause and site of SBO. In addition, the suggested diagnostic criterion using CT signs is helpful for diagnosing intestinal ischaemia in SBO patients.
Case report of male breast cancer detected on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ryu Seung Wook , Ho Ken , O'Toole Sandra A , Green Alison , Kim Hae Won
Published: October 2016

Male breast cancers (MBC) are rare, accounting for <1% of all breast cancers. The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for male breast cancer is not generally indicated. We present an unusual case where conventional imaging for a suspected MBC was equivocal and MRI was required to assist in diagnosis.
‘Compromise position’ image alignment to accommodate independent motion of multiple clinical target volumes during radiotherapy: A high risk prostate cancer example
Authors: Rosewall Tara , Yan Jing , Alasti Hamideh , Cerase Carla , Bayley Andrew
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Inclusion of multiple independently moving clinical target volumes (CTVs) in the irradiated volume causes an image guidance conundrum. The purpose of this research was to use high risk prostate cancer as a clinical example to evaluate a ‘compromise’ image alignment strategy.

Methods

The daily pre‐treatment orthogonal EPI for 14 consecutive patients were included in this analysis. Image matching was performed by aligning to the prostate only, the bony pelvis only and using the ‘compromise’ strategy. Residual CTV surrogate displacements were quantified for each of the alignment strategies.

Results

Analysis of the 388 daily fractions indicated surrogate displacements were well‐correlated in all directions (r2 = 0.95 (LR), 0.67 (AP) and 0.59 (SI). Differences between the surrogates displacements (95% range) were −0.4 to 1.8 mm (LR), −1.2 to 5.2 mm (SI) and −1.2 to 5.2 mm (AP). The distribution of the residual displacements was significantly smaller using the ‘compromise’ strategy, compared to the other strategies (p 0.005). The ‘compromise’ strategy ensured the CTV was encompassed by the PTV in all fractions, compared to 47 PTV violations when aligned to prostate only.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the feasibility of a compromise position image guidance strategy to accommodate simultaneous displacements of two independently moving CTVs. Application of this strategy was facilitated by correlation between the CTV displacements and resulted in no geometric excursions of the CTVs beyond standard sized PTVs. This simple image guidance strategy may also be applicable to other disease sites that concurrently irradiate multiple CTVs, such as head and neck, lung and cervix cancer.
When Only the Second Best Will Do: Economic Reform and Intra‐Industry Trade in Australia's Automotive Industry
Authors: Gruen Nicholas
Published: October 2016

This paper explores the Industry Assistance Commission's (IAC's) 1974 and 1981 reports on Australia's automotive industry. Although it is sympathetic with the Commission's pursuit of freer trade, it illustrates how the IAC's reports exemplified important foibles of economic expertise. As bureaucratic and political enthusiasm for trade liberalisation grew from the late 1960s on, the free trade versus protection dichotomy crowded out the significance of intra‐industry trade for designing the transition to freer trade. The paper argues that in it's failure to properly consider intra‐industry trade, the IAC and the professional milieu it embodied was not the simple product of technical inadequacies of economics at the time. Rather it was driven by the uncompromising failure of the conversation it conducted. The paper concludes with a postscript on developments since the Commission's 1981 report.
Alcohol Dependence and Its Relationship With Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders
Authors: Chakravorty Subhajit , Chaudhary Ninad S. , Brower Kirk J.
Published: October 2016

Sleep‐related complaints are widely prevalent in those with alcohol dependence (AD). AD is associated not only with insomnia, but also with multiple sleep‐related disorders as a growing body of literature has demonstrated. This article will review the various aspects of insomnia associated with AD. In addition, the association of AD with other sleep‐related disorders will be briefly reviewed. The association of AD with insomnia is bidirectional in nature. The etiopathogenesis of insomnia has demonstrated multiple associations and is an active focus of research. Treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is showing promise as an optimal intervention. In addition, AD may be associated with circadian abnormalities, short sleep duration, obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep‐related movement disorder. The burgeoning knowledge on insomnia associated with moderate‐to‐severe alcohol use disorder has expanded our understanding of its underlying neurobiology, clinical features, and treatment options.