bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric central bank's preference and inflation rate in Jordan
Authors: Sweidan Osama D. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the hypothesis that a central bank's asymmetric preferences are able to explain inflation rate in a developing country. In addition, it seeks to help comprehend movements of inflation rate in Jordan and to understand Central Bank of Jordan preferences regarding inflation rate and output.Design/methodology/approachA standard monetary model consists of a central bank's loss function and an economy structure is constructed, which acts as a constraint on the central bank's behavior. Then, a distribute‐lag version of the derived model is estimated using ordinary least squares method.FindingsThe empirical evidence from the Jordanian economy shows that inflation rate relies on the variances of inflation rate and the variances of output. This finding supports the hypothesis that a central bank's asymmetric loss function is able to justify inflation rate movements. Moreover, the Jordanian central banker prefers higher inflation rate and higher level of output.Originality/valueThe paper provides evidence from a developing country regarding the ability of the asymmetric central bank preferences to justify inflation rate movement. In addition, the paper links central banks' losses with the uncertainty level and inflation rate in the economy.
Mine maintenance time as a non‐linear optimization problem under uncertainty
Authors: Kumral Mustafa 
Published: October 2009

PurposeDuring operation, mines experience safety, reliability, environmental and financial problems. In order to avoid these problems or idle capacities, mining operations should be performed within the specified reliability level of the system. Therefore, mining sub‐systems such as drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, ventilation, hoisting and supporting should be designed and maintained carefully. In this context, maintenance time causes a critical optimization problem in mines. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe problem is formulated as a non‐linear optimization problem and solved by genetic algorithms. A case study is conducted to demonstrate to the performance of approach for an underground operation.FindingsThe results show that the approach can be used to determine the best action time.Practical implicationsThe approach can be applicable to different mining methods in more sophisticated sub‐systems.Originality/valueThe paper recommends a genetic algorithmic approach to make a decision on optimal timing of maintenance of a mine.
Efficient computer‐generated alternatives to Taguchi's crossed arrays for robust parameter design
Authors: Hijar‐Rivera Humberto , Garcia‐Castellanos Victor 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present computer‐generated combined arrays as efficient alternatives to Taguchi's crossed arrays to solve robust parameter problems.Design/methodology/approachThe alternative combined array designs were developed for the cases including six to twelve variables where CMR designs are not smaller than Taguchi's designs. The efficiency to estimate the effects of interest was calculated and compared to the efficiency of the corresponding CMR designs.FindingsFor all the cases investigated at least one computer generated combined array design was found with the same size as the CMR design and with higher efficiency.Practical implicationsRobust parameter design identifies appropriate levels of controllable variables in a process for the manufacturing of a product. The designed experiments involve the controllable variables along with the uncontrollable or noise variables to design a product or process that will be robust to changes in these noise variables. Response surface methodology estimates the actual relationship between the response and the input variables with an empirical model based on the designed experiment. Once the empirical model is fitted, the surface described by the model can be used to describe the behavior of the response over the experimental region. The higher efficiency of the computer generated combined array designs proposed in this research produces lower variances for the parameter estimates and lower variance of prediction for the model. As a result, the response will be described in a more realistic form.Originality/valueThe paper shows that using a computer‐generated design to solve a robust parameter problem will result in a better approximation to the true response of the process. Consequently, optimizing the fitted model will produce settings for the parameters closer to the real optimal settings.
Rapid manufacture of custom‐fitting surgical guides
Authors: Bibb Richard , Eggbeer Dominic , Evans Peter , Bocca Alan , Sugar Adrian 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe computer‐aided design (CAD) and manufacture of custom‐fitting surgical guides have been shown to provide an accurate means of transferring computer‐aided planning to surgery. To date guides have been produced using fragile materials via rapid prototyping techniques such as stereolithography (SLA), which typically require metal reinforcement to prevent damage from drill bits. The purpose of this paper is to report case studies which explore the application of selective laser melting (SLM) to the direct manufacture of stainless steel surgical guides. The aim is to ascertain whether the potential benefits of enhanced rigidity, increased wear resistance (negating reinforcement) and easier sterilisation by autoclave can be realised in practice.Design/methodology/approachA series of clinical case studies are undertaken utilising medical scan data, CAD and SLM. The material used is 316L stainless steel, an alloy typically used in medical and devices and surgical instruments. All treatments are planned in parallel with existing techniques and all guides are test fitted and assessed on SLA models of the patients' anatomy prior to surgery.FindingsThis paper describes the successful application of SLM to the production of stainless steel surgical guides in four different maxillofacial surgery case studies. The cases reported address two types of procedure, the placement of osseointegrated implants for prosthetic retention and Le Fort 1 osteotomies using internal distraction osteogenesis. The cases reported here have demonstrated that SLM is a viable process for the manufacture of custom‐fitting surgical guides.Practical implicationsThe cases have identified that the effective design of osteotomy guides requires further development and refinement.Originality/valueThis paper represents the first reported applications of SLM technology to the direct manufacture of stainless steel custom‐fitting surgical guides. Four successful exemplar cases are described including guides for osteotomy as well as drilling. Practical considerations are presented along with suggestions for further development.
Perceptions of countries based on personality traits: a study in China
Authors: d'Astous Alain , Li Dong 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine country perceptions in China from the point of view of the personality concept.Design/methodology/approachA country personality scale developed in a Western country was adapted to the Chinese social context and used to position 11 different countries, including China, on six personality dimensions. This was accomplished by means of a survey of 184 adult Chinese people from the city of Beijing.FindingsThe results show that the adapted scale has good psychometric properties, that it behaves appropriately with respect to some theoretical expectations, and that it brings about results that are consistent with common sense and with previous country image research.Research limitations/implicationsThe study should be replicated with a more representative sample of Chinese people and a larger array of country stimuli.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the country personality scale can be used to better understand how Chinese consumers think of a product's country of origin and suggest appropriate product positioning strategies to help multinational corporations define their strategic actions with respect to China.
Demand management in fresh food value chains: a framework for analysis and improvement
Authors: Taylor David H. , Fearne Andrew 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the problems with demand management in fresh food value chains and to propose a framework for demand analysis and improved demand management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on empirical evidence from multiple case studies undertaken in the UK food industry.FindingsEvidence from the case studies indicates a consistent misalignment of demand and supply, due to demand amplification, poor production systems and inconsistencies with information and data handling procedures.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study evidence is limited to the UK context and is therefore unlikely to be representative of the global situation in fresh food value chains. The proposed framework is based on the case study evidence but has not been formally tested.Practical implicationsMore collaboration, information sharing and joint planning from primary production through to retailing is critical if fresh food value chains are to function efficiently and effectively in retail environments where promotional activity creates significant uncertainty.Originality/valueDemand management has received little attention to date, outside the industry framework of ECR. This paper is the first to propose a framework for improvement based on greater collaboration and joint planning that extends beyond the retailer‐manufacturer interface
Buyer‐supplier relationships in Dongdaemun fashion market: relationship quality model
Authors: Jung Choo Ho , Jung Ji‐Wook , Hee Chung Ihn 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the structure of buyer‐supplier relationship quality perceived by small‐sized fashion businesses with their major supplier.Design/methodology/approachOn the basis of the literature review and in‐depth interviews, a testable relationship quality model is proposed. Two hundred and eighty stores located in Dongdaemun fashion market in Seoul, Korea, are surveyed and 233 complete responses are used in the analysis to test hypotheses.FindingsThe major findings includes the critical role of product design, product quality, and a supplier's honesty in the building of relationship quality. As the relationship ages, geographical proximity, communication, and design factors become more important in determining relationship quality and behavioral intentions, while product quality and power balance factors became less important.Research limitations/implicationsOnly one side of the perception is analyzed. The data is collected from single informants from each buying fashion store. Instead of using longitudinal data, a cross‐sectional research design is employed.Practical implicationsAmong the proposed anteceding factors to relationship quality, product design is found to have the strongest impact on the buyer's perception of relationship quality. Thus, product suppliers in Dongdaemun market should focus on improving their capability to produce superior designs.Originality/valueDongdaemun market has been successfully positioned as a main hub for the distribution of non‐brand fashion products in Korea. This paper is the first to investigate the channel members' relationships and behaviors in Dongdaemun market.
Complaints procedures in the NHS: are they fair and valid?
Authors: George Manoj K. , Joseph Renju 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to the complaints procedure in health care in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an overview of the current complaints procedure in the UK and whether it meets the objectives of a robust health care complaints system. A literature search was conducted in March 2009 on EMBASE, HMIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, HEALTH BUSINESS ELITE (1995‐2009) using the terms “NHS complaints” and “Negligence”. The reference sections of retrieved papers were hand‐searched for further relevant references.FindingsThere are several concerns about complaints handling in the current system. Poor handling of complaints typified by delays in responding to complainants' concerns, poor communication with complainants and inadequate record keeping have been highlighted.Originality/valueThe paper draws attention to the fact that there are still several concerns about complaints handling in the NHS and that it needs further improvement before gaining the confidence of service users. Not much interest has been demonstrated in this area and an effective and transparent complaints procedure will facilitate service user confidence in the system.
EU proposes directive on alternative investment fund managers
Authors: Bibby Peter , Marshall Helen , Leonard Christopher 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the content, purpose, and likely effects of the European Commission's draft directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers published on April 30, 2009.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explains which firms will be affected by the AIFM Directive; the proposed new regime for fund promotion; organizational and capital requirements, including required background information and conditions of ongoing authorization; leverage disclosure requirements; and controlling interest disclosure requirements.FindingsThe AIFM Directive, were it to be implemented in its current form, would reshape the European investment management landscape, subjecting all entities managing or promoting pooled funds to regulation, imposing capital and disclosure requirements, and permitting a fund incorporated outside the EU to be promoted within the EU only if its country of incorporation exchanges tax information with the member state authorizing the fund.Practical implicationsThe AIFM Directive is at a very early stage, contains ambiguities and inconsistencies, and will be subject to revision and refinement.Originality/valueThe paper presents a practical explanation by experienced securities lawyers.
Development of payload housing for temperature and pressure control of bio fuel cells for space applications
Authors: Jayaram Sanjay 
Published: October 2009

PurposeAlternative energy sources and power generation techniques for long‐term space missions are gaining importance in recent years for future bases and colonies on the Moon or Mars. Current technologies used for manned or unmanned missions to the Moon or Mars use either solar panels (bulky, expensive/kilogram to space, and inefficient) or nuclear energy (extremely dangerous and unpopular). Enzyme based bio fuel cells can be used as alternative energy sources, but its survival depends on maintaining appropriate temperature and pressure in space. The purpose of this paper is to detail the concept design and development of a payload tank to house bio fuel cells for operations in space environment.Design/methodology/approachDetails about the development of the design methodology for such housing are discussed. A full‐scale payload tank is designed to house a small biological fuel cell using space grade materials. Requirements analysis, design, validation, and manufacturing process are covered.FindingsThe outcome is a dimensionally optimized housing structure for housing biological fuel cells and maintaining the temperature and pressure for survival of the fuel cell.Originality/valueThe designed payload housing satisfies all the constraints and requirements. Furthermore, its advantages include scalability and modularity by virtue of using optimized design approach. The final product provides a planned procedure for designing larger housing for other missions.
Efficient XML tree pattern query evaluation using a novel one‐phase holistic twig join scheme
Authors: Jiang Zhewei , Luo Cheng , Hou Wen‐Chi , Che Dunren , Zhu Qiang 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an efficient algorithm for Extensible Markup Language (XML) twig query evaluation.Design/methodology/approachA single‐phase holistic twig pattern matching method based on the TwigStack algorithm is proposed. The method applies a novel stack structure to preserve the holisticity of the twig matches. Twig matches rooted at elements that are currently in the root stack are output directly.FindingsWithout generating individual path matches as intermediate results, the method is able to avoid the storage and output/input of the individual path matches, and totally eliminate the potentially time‐consuming merging operation. Experimental results demonstrate the applicability and advantages of our approach.Originality/valueThe paper proposes an efficient XML twig query evaluation algorithm, which by both theoretical analyses and empirical studies demonstrates its advantages over the current state‐of‐the‐art algorithm TwigStack.
A semi‐automatic approach for bridging DSMLs with UML
Authors: Wimmer Manuel 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe definition of modeling languages is a key‐prerequisite for model‐driven engineering. In this respect, Domain‐Specific Modeling Languages (DSMLs) defined from scratch in terms of metamodels and the extension of Unified Modeling Language (UML) by profiles are the proposed options. For interoperability reasons, however, the need arises to bridge modeling languages originally defined as DSMLs to UML. Therefore, the paper aims to propose a semi‐automatic approach for bridging DSMLs and UML by employing model‐driven techniques.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses problems of the ad hoc integration of DSMLs and UML and from this discussion a systematic and semi‐automatic integration approach consisting of two phases is derived. In the first phase, the correspondences between the modeling concepts of the DSML and UML are defined manually. In the second phase, these correspondences are used for automatically producing UML profiles to represent the domain‐specific modeling concepts in UML and model transformations for transforming DSML models to UML models and vice versa. The paper presents the ideas within a case study for bridging ComputerAssociate's DSML of the AllFusion Gen CASE tool with IBM's Rational Software Modeler for UML.FindingsThe ad hoc definition of UML profiles and model transformations for achieving interoperability is typically a tedious and error‐prone task. By employing a semi‐automatic approach one gains several advantages. First, the integrator only has to deal with the correspondences between the DSML and UML on a conceptual level. Second, all repetitive integration tasks are automated by using model transformations. Third, well‐defined guidelines support the systematic and comprehensible integration.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper focuses on the integrating direction DSMLs to UML, but not on how to derive a DSML defined in terms of a metamodel from a UML profile.Originality/valueAlthough, DSMLs defined as metamodels and UML profiles are frequently applied in practice, only few attempts have been made to provide interoperability between these two worlds. The contribution of this paper is to integrate the so far competing worlds of DSMLs and UML by proposing a semi‐automatic approach, which allows exchanging models between these two worlds without loss of information.
Innovative research management as a tool for institutional competitiveness
Authors: Lanskoronskis Marius , Ramoniene Lineta , Barsauskas Petras 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of university research management on institutional competitiveness, international visibility and fund‐raising.Design/methodology/approachThe research findings are based on analysis of leading universities in six European countries: Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, The Netherlands and Germany. For the analysis, two criteria are chosen – institutional way of work and core partnerships. This summary is compared with theoretical background for innovative research management and the conclusion is made that these two issues are much in line.FindingsThe findings suggest that majority of leading universities in the analysed countries actively realize principles of the Triple Helix and Mode 2 Science. This is realized through innovative managerial structures and strong orientation to practical implication of research production. The findings summarise the main forms of institutional work and discuss core partnering issues.Research limitations/implicationsA limited number of universities are chosen and data are mainly collected from secondary sources such as institutional documents, web site information or corporate presentations. This is why it is difficult to evaluate how some formal declarations are realized in practice.Practical implicationsThe findings may serve as a framework for considering changes in university research management structure or seeking increase of institutional competitiveness, international visibility and effective fund‐raisingOriginality/valueThe paper compares theoretic discussions on innovative research management through cooperation and specialization with existing practices in leading universities and provides summary and examples universities are taking to increase institutional effectiveness.
Cameroon reached the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative: expectations of civil servants and their predicaments
Authors: Tanga Pius T. , Ngamdzele Dzemua Evert 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on the expectations and predicaments of Cameroonian civil servants two years after the country reached its completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth interviews were conducted with some civil servants in Yaoundé, the provincial capital of the Centre Region and the capital of Cameroon, and Bamenda, the capital town of the North West Region. Newspaper articles were also an important source of data for this paper.FindingsCameroonians were initially exhorted to understand the government's adoption of the stringent measures prescribed by the Breton Wood Institutions in order to revamp the ailing economy. The austerity measures adopted by the Cameroon government led to immense hardship for civil servants and Cameroonians in general. Cameroonians initially had high hopes for the HIPC programmes, but they were rather seeing their living and working conditions deteriorating further. This led to bribery and corruption and other social vices perpetuated by all categories of civil servants. Because of the deteriorating living conditions, the economy has been marred by continuous strikes, which have led to the massacre of many Cameroonians. Although the future seems to be bright in the long run, it is bleak within the next few years given the enormous challenges facing the country.Practical implicationsThis is a useful source of information to Cameroonian diasporas who are not abreast with the happenings in Cameroon.Originality/valueThis paper exposes the hypocrisy of the Cameroon government and the incessant strikes that have bedevilled the country. This paper will be of interest to Cameroonians, especially those in diaspora who are attempting to fight Paul Biya's corrupt regime.