bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the mechanical properties of samples fabricated by an experimental SGM device
Authors: Zañartu‐Apara Guillermo , Ramos‐Grez Jorge 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of different parameters (layer thickness, jetted binder volume per layer and type of binder and temperature) on the mechanical properties of parts made with an experimental 3D printing (3DP) process. This 3DP device built for this project is based on the spiral growth manufacturing (SGM) device previously introduced by Hauseret al.at The University of Liverpool. It differs from the common 3DP in that it generates the different parts using only one rotating piston instead of two non‐rotating ones.Design/methodology/approachSeveral parts are produced using this device according to an experimental design, repeating each run three times. The experimental machine is able to make every part needed without major issues, demonstrating that it is possible to build a functional device using common and standard components.FindingsExperimental analysis of the printed parts shows that the layer thickness has the highest effect on apparent density, hardness and fracture strength of the parts made.Originality/valueEmpirical information is provided about mechanical behavior (e.g. apparent density, hardness and fracture strength) of parts made under different processing factors (e.g. binder type, layer thickness, quantity of binder and chamber temperature) using a SGM‐based 3DP experimental device.
Financial productivity issues related to assortment diversity and supply chain merchandise replenishment strategies
Authors: Yu Ui‐Jeen , Kunz Grace I. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the ability of supply chain merchandise replenishment strategies to minimize merchandise plan errors when assortments are diverse.Design/methodology/approachSourcing Simulator 2.1, a computer simulation of the merchandising process, was used. Sourcing Simulator generated a total data set of 4,320 and determined financial outcomes of the merchandising processes based on multiple scenario inputs.FindingsThe impact of supply chain merchandise replenishment strategies on merchandising performance outcomes significantly differed, depending on assortment diversity and merchandise plan errors. The ability of supply chain merchandise replenishment strategies was limited in minimizing problems inherent in diverse assortments and over‐volume errors.Research limitations/implicationsSourcing Simulator does not necessarily simulate merchandising processes and performance in real retail stores but principles developed through simulation can be applied in retail stores. Future research based on real information is suggested for additional realistic understanding.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that apparel and retail firms should develop both up‐front assortment planning and replenishment strategies, considering the level of assortment diversity.Originality/valueBased on Behavioral Theory of the Apparel Firm, the study contributes to understanding the importance of merchandising functions in an apparel firm. In addition, the study illuminates assortment diversity as an important factor of merchandise planning, especially when apparel and retail firms plan replenishment strategies to minimize merchandise plan errors.
On the use of studies of the future for organizational change in Dutch government ministries
Authors: van der Duin Patrick , Dirven Jan , Hazeu Cornelius , van de Linde Erik , Rademaker Paul 
Published: July 2010

PurposeAn uncertain future means that Dutch government ministries need to think about not only what new policies have to be developed, but also how to organize themselves in the future. This paper aims to present an overview and analysis of various studies of the futures by and about Dutch ministries that show that these studies vary considerably, in terms of their process and cause, that the context in which they come about plays a major role and that the various ministries tend to take the same trends into account (for instance “life‐long‐learning”, sustainable development and the emergence of the demanding citizen).Design/methodology/approachThe paper case studies: 11 different reports from nine different Dutch ministries. In each ministry an in‐depth interview with one or two representatives was held. The transcripts were summarized, structured, and analyzed.FindingsThe use of studies of the future for organizational change in Dutch ministries is very diverse. More and more images and other ways of visualizing the future are becoming important. Dutch ministries should find a good balance between hiring external expertise and using inside knowledge and expertise.Research limitations/implicationsBecause this is a case study it is questionable whether the findings are also valid for non‐researched ministries, especially since the research ministries and (their) studies of the future are very diverse.Practical implicationsMore discussion is needed about these futures studies in the Government‐wide Strategic Council. Government‐wide studies of the future should be made to provide ministries with a common background in building up a future vision for (more balanced) policy making. There should be more involvement of external experts and stakeholders in the process of futures studies.Originality/valueThis is the first case study that focuses specifically on the use of studies of the future for governmental change (instead of focusing on. for instance, developing new policies or strategies).
Creating options while designing prototypes: value management in the automobile industry
Authors: Schäfer Henry , Sorensen Daniel Jacob 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a general valuation model for the optimal design of the product development process, exemplified by automobile development. Underpinning this model is the identification of key business processes, which are analyzed in order to explain firm‐level efficiency advantages stemming from the design of the technical system.Design/methodology/approachBased on the case studies and literature on the role of organizational capabilities in creating value for the organization, a novel real option valuation model for set‐based concurrent engineering (SBCE) was proposed.FindingsA numerical example demonstrates that it is possible for the optimal number of design alternatives to develop in parallel. Under certain circumstances, developing multiple design alternatives in parallel is shown to generate significant value, fully accounting for the increase in costs of doing so.Practical implicationsFive principles of product development are proposed as a managerial tool. These findings are aimed at both practitioners and academics and solve fundamental questions raised concerning optimal resource allocation within the development process.Originality/valueSBCE is shown to be structurally analogue to a multivariate contingent claim, thereby assigning a value to the underlying technical and organizational capabilities.
Multi‐drafting feedback process in a web‐based environment
Authors: Peled Yehuda , Sarid Miriam 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of multi‐drafting among college students according to demographic characteristics and measure its impact on students' achievements.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted in two stages. First, a preliminary research based on data from the Highlearn web‐based content learning environment, analyzing the correlations between the number of drafts submitted and the final grade per assignment. Second, a questionnaire based and designed to evaluate the influence of the demographic background of students on multi‐drafting traits. The variables influencing the utilization of multi‐drafting for a given assignment were examined using a 23‐item Likert scale questionnaire.FindingsThe results indicate that students tend to regard multi‐drafting as a positive usage of time; they appreciate it as an opportunity to improve their grades; and they value its advantage for fairness of grading. The research establishes the fact that marital status and gender influence students' attitudes toward multi‐drafting.Practical implicationsWeb‐based content learning environments are becoming part of the academic learning environment. Thus, the prospect of shifting from summative to formative evaluation in order to enhance meaningful learning can be achieved through a number of teaching techniques, of which one of them is multi‐drafting. Understanding the variables influencing the way students utilize multi‐drafting will help incorporating it with a maximum benefit.Originality/valueThe paper's findings connect multi‐drafting teaching technique to a variety of variables which may hinder its implementation. These findings are of value to practitioners and researchers.
An energy‐saving strategy based on sleep scheduling and block transmission for wireless multimedia sensor networks
Authors: Sha Chao , Wang Ruchuan , Huang Haiping , Sun Lijuan 
Published: July 2010

PurposeEnergy consumption is a fundamental concern in wireless multimedia sensor networks, even more than that in traditional wireless sensor networks. In fact, sensors are battery‐constrained devices, while multimedia applications, which require higher transmission rates and more extensive processing capacity, produce large quantities of data. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method which could save multimedia nodes' energy during their sleeping and transmitting phases and effectively bring down energy consumption.Design/methodology/approachBased on the location and direction angle of nodes, areas of the overlapping sensing region between adjacent nodes could be calculated and a sleeping strategy is carried out to reduce energy consumption of inactive nodes. Moreover, an improved image comparison and block transmission methods by utilizing the sequence similar detection arithmetic theory is brought up as well to further save the node's energy.FindingsWith the help of the mobile nodes and by dividing the network into grids, sensing direction of multimedia node as well as the area of the overlapping sensing region could be obtained which provide a basis for the sleeping strategy. Furthermore, energy consumption on transmission is also reduced by only transmitting the unmatched blocks. Simulation results show that this method obtains satisfactory performance on prolonging the networks' lifetime.Originality/valueThis paper is of value in presenting an effective energy‐saving strategy for wireless multimedia sensor networks.
Nursing care and quality of life among Jordanian patients with cancer
Authors: Ahmad Muayyad M. , Alasad Jafar A. , Nawafleh Hani 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life of patients with different types of cancer in Jordan and its relationship with nursing care.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory approach utilizing cross‐sectional design with a structured questionnaire, administered to patients face‐to‐face, with specific questions about demographic and health status and two standardized scales: Patients Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS), and Function of Living Index‐Cancer (FLIC) were used. The study sample comprised 156 patients with cancer who were hospitalized in two governmental hospitals in Amman and Karak and two university‐based hospitals in Amman and Irbid cities.FindingsThe sample of the study showed that the types of cancer distribution were close to the cancer distribution among the Jordanian population. The median age of the sample was 47 years with a range between 18 years and 80 years. Nearly two‐thirds of the participants perceived their current health as good. All variables in the regression equation (satisfaction with nursing care, health perception now, health in comparison with one year ago, and gender) have significantly explained a considerable amount of variance in the cancer patients' quality of life.Research limitations/implicationsUsing a quantitative approach alone to measure QoL is not sufficient to reflect all dimensions of a subjective phenomenon such as QoL. The study did not differentiate between patients according to severity of cancer and type of treatment.Practical implicationsProviding proper nursing care improves cancer patients' quality of life.Originality/valueThis study stemmed from: the assessing and identifying predictors of quality of life (QoL) as perceived by patients with cancer and not by the care‐providers; and highlighting the positive effect of nursing care on QoL for cancer patients.
The role of organizational culture on practising quality improvement in Jordanian public hospitals
Authors: Ismail Ababaneh Raed 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate empirically the impact of organizational culture (bureaucratic, innovative, and supportive) and quality improvement practices.Design/methodology/approachData used in this study were obtained through a questionnaire by random sampling, which took place in four large public hospitals, located in Irbid Governorate, Jordan, involving 271 managers, physicians, and nurses.FindingsQuality improvement practices were measured by 16 statements on a five‐point rating scale. Each of the three types of organizational culture was measured using five items on a five‐point rating scale.Practical implicationsThe three types of culture have a significantly positive influence on quality improvement practices, and account for 62 per cent of the variation of quality improvement practices. Compared with bureaucratic and supportive cultures, innovative culture appears to play a stronger role in quality improvement practices. Contrary to expectations, the analysis shows that bureaucratic actions enhance rather than hinder quality improvement practices. Respondents with a bachelor or a higher degree and participating in a training course related to quality reported higher prevalence of each culture and a higher level of quality improvement practices.Originality/valueInnovative culture has a crucial role in quality improvement practices compared with bureaucratic and supportive cultures.
The need for popular participation in Abuja: a Nigerian story of informal settlements
Authors: Amba Keteh 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe notion of public participation in planning resettlements in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, Nigeria was not taken into consideration during the forced evictions that took place between 2003 and 2007. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of advocacy in a rights‐based approach for consultation, participation and capacity‐building for the victims of forced evictions in Abuja.Design/methodology/approachThis is a case study approach that explores individual and group capacities in Abuja's informal settlements.FindingsThe demolition of informal settlements was carried out without due process, participatory approaches and group consultation in the plans for resettlement. Additionally, the office of the Federal Capital Development Authority put forth the argument that the proper implementation of the master plan justified and necessitated the systematic violation of the rights of hundreds of thousands of peoples; so that Abuja would not become a victim of urban sprawl which is evident in many other developing country city centres like Lagos, Cairo, or the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.Research limitations/implicationsThe researcher has explored a widening gap between the agenda of a master plan for a developing country's capital city and the development of an informal economy within makeshift settlements.Originality/valueThis case study sheds more light on the human rights violations which have characterized the method of dealing with informal settlements in the new capital city of Abuja.
Application of logit model and self‐organizing maps (SOMs) for the prediction of financial crisis periods in US economy
Authors: Giovanis Eleftherios 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine two different approaches in the prediction of the economic recession periods in the US economy.Design/methodology/approachA logit regression was applied and the prediction performance in two out‐of‐sample periods, 2007‐2009 and 2010 was examined. On the other hand, feed‐forwards neural networks with Levenberg‐Marquardt error backpropagation algorithm were applied and then neural networks self‐organizing map (SOM) on the training outputs was estimated.FindingsThe paper presents the cluster results from SOM training in order to find the patterns of economic recessions and expansions. It is concluded that logit model forecasts the current financial crisis period at 75 percent accuracy, but logit model is useful as it provides a warning signal three quarters before the current financial crisis started officially. Also, it is estimated that the financial crisis, even if it reached its peak in 2009, the economic recession will be continued in 2010 too. Furthermore, the patterns generated by SOM neural networks show various possible versions with one common characteristic, that financial crisis is not over in 2009 and the economic recession will be continued in the USA even up to 2011‐2012, if government does not apply direct drastic measures.Originality/valueBoth logistic regression (logit) and SOMs procedures are useful. The first one is useful to examine the significance and the magnitude of each variable, while the second one is useful for clustering and identifying patterns in economic recessions and expansions.
What macroeconomic shocks affect the German banking system?
Authors: Blank Sven , Dovern Jonas 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe paper is to understand how the financial system is influenced by macroeconomic shocks and how the financial stance, in turn, feeds back into the macroeconomic environment is key for policy makers. The most recent financial crisis has demonstrated the need for a deeper understanding of these interdependencies. The purpose of this paper is to analyze what macroeconomic shocks affect the soundness of the German banking system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a micro‐macro stress‐testing framework for the German banking system in which macroeconomic and bank‐specific data are used to identify the effects of various shocks in a structural vector autoregressive model, which includes main macroeconomic variables and an indicator of stress in the banking system. To this end, the sign‐restriction approach is applied.FindingsFirst, it is found that there is a close link between macroeconomic developments and the stance of the banking sector. Second, monetary policy shocks are the most influential shocks for distress in the banking sector. Third, fiscal policy shocks and real estate price shocks have a significant impact on the distress indicator, while evidence is mixed for the exchange rate. Fourth, for the identification of most shocks it is essential to work in the integrated model that combines the micro‐ and the macro‐sphere.Originality/valueThe paper analyzes various shock scenarios in an integrated micro‐macro framework that takes the mutual relationship between the financial stance and the macroeconomic environment into account.
The political, regulatory, and market failures that caused the US financial crisis
Authors: Tarr David G. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the key regulatory, market, and political failures that led to the 2008‐2009 US financial crisis and to suggest appropriate recommendations for reform.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to examine the underlying incentives that led to the crisis and to provide supporting data to support the hypotheses.FindingsWhile Congress was fixing the savings and loan crisis, it failed to give the regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac normal bank supervisory power. This was a political failure as Congress was using government sponsored enterprise (GSE) resources and the resources of narrow constituencies for their own advantage at the expense of the public interest. Second, in the mid‐1990s, to encourage home ownership, the Administration changed enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act, effectively requiring banks to use flexible and innovative methods to lower bank mortgage standards to underserved areas. Crucially, this disarmed regulators and the risky mortgage standards then spread to other sectors of the market. Market failure problems ensued as banks, mortgage brokers, securitizers, credit rating agencies, and asset managers were all plagued by problems such as moral hazard or conflicts of interest.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on the political economy reasons for why Congress and US administrations provided these perverse incentives to the GSEs and banks to lower mortgage standards. It also proposes some innovative methods of improving bank regulation that address the regulatory capture problem.
Planning and implementing the green manufacturing strategy: evidences from western China
Authors: Li Congbo , Liu Fei , Wang Qiulian 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the model for planning and implementing the green manufacturing (GM) strategy for Chinese enterprises under the background of “Energy Conservation and Pollution Emissions Reduction”.Design/methodology/approachBased on an in‐depth case study of a machine tool manufacturer in Chongqing, China, the paper tries to investigate the planning and implementing of a GM strategy from the perspective of the product life cycle.FindingsThe GM strategy in large developing countries needs to be enacted for a long‐term and with a continuous improvement paradigm. Planning and implementing the strategy requires an integrated model at the whole system level. A theoretical model of a five‐layer structure for planning and implementing the GM strategy under the developing context is proposed.Research limitations/implicationsThe planning and implementing of the GM strategy may vary among different sectors, therefore more empirical research is needed to enhance the robustness of the findings.Practical implicationsThe paper is illustrative for planning and implementing a GM strategy which shows significant benefits associated with the implementation process.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a model for planning and implementing a GM strategy under the developing context, which could provide an overview of the issues related to the GM strategy, and help enterprises maintain a balance between economic benefits and sustainable development benefits.
EFFECT OF ZIRCONIA IN ENAMELS FOR SHEET STEEL1
Authors: Wolfram H. G. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper deals with the results obtained from a study of the effect of additions of zirconium oxide to enamels for sheet iron and steel. The work includes additions of the zirconia to the raw smelter batch of both the ground and cover enamels, also the substitution of the zirconia for tin oxide in the mill batch. Several tests were used to determine its effect on some of the properties of the enamels, such as resistance to impact, thermal shock and acid.