bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The application of a benchmarking concept
Authors: Stoy Christian 
Published: February 2007

PurposeToday, the occupancy cost of owner‐operated property is the second or third largest cost factor for many companies. Benchmarking projects that focus on occupancy cost comparisons are, therefore, becoming increasingly important. Such projects must contrast comparable properties since the comparison otherwise cannot produce meaningful results. The paper aims to focus on the issues involved.Design/methodology/approachAn occupancy cost benchmarking concept is explained using the example of a Swiss portfolio of office buildings used for own operations. The chosen approach works primarily with known cost drivers that are used in the selection of suitable benchmarking properties.FindingsThe benchmarking concept enables the benchmarking of comparable properties. In addition to a pure benchmarking, it also allows the reasons for cost differences between the properties under consideration and the specific benchmarks to be identified. Recommended actions can be derived from the comparison.Practical implicationsIn support of future benchmarking projects, it will be necessary to expand the existing database and to analyse it with the aim of identifying additional cost drivers.Originality/valueThe concept discussed in the paper can be translated to other areas of application (for instance area benchmarking).
The effect of new inclusion criteria on patient selection for reduction mammaplasty
Authors: Glass G.E. , Soldin M. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo evaluate the impact of rationing guidelines on the practice of reduction mammaplasty, with particular reference to patient selection.Design/methodology/approachA retrospective audit was performed. Patients who were accepted for surgery in the first nine months following the date of publication of new and explicit inclusion criteria were compared with patients who were accepted for surgery in the 15 months preceding publication.FindingsOf 131 consecutive patients, 98 were accepted before publication of the inclusion criteria, with 33 after. A total of the 97 of 98 and 33 of 33 were symptomatic. Conformity to criteria for body mass index (BMI) increased from 65 of 98 (66 per cent) to 25 of 33 (76 per cent, p=0.143) Attendance at pre‐operative breast seminar increased from 72 of 98 (73 per cent) to 29 of 33 (88 per cent, p=0.099). Incidence of smoking increased from 18 of 98 (18 per cent) to 7 of 33 (21 per cent, p=0.799). Patients under the age of 30 accounted for this increase. The number of cases who failed on more than one criterion fell from 17 of 98 (7 per cent) to 2 of 33 (3 per cent, p=0.155).Practical implicationsDemonstrates a non‐significant reduction in the number of obese patients being accepted for surgery, and a non‐significant increase in uptake of pre‐operative nurse led seminars in the practice. Since publication of the inclusion criteria, all but one of the patients accepted for surgery with exclusion criteria failed on the basis one criterion only. Not successful in enforcing abstinence from smoking as a condition for surgery, particularly among younger patients. To help do this objective ways to assess smoking status need to be looked at. A re‐audit is required to complete the loop.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to present audit results for the new inclusion criteria for reduction mammaplasty.
Pseudoevidence‐based medicine: what it is, and what to do about it
Authors: Smith Wally R. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define, describe, and understand how to combat pseudoevidence‐based medicine (PBM).Design/methodology/approachDescriptive essay and review.FindingsPBM can be defined as the practice of medicine based on falsehoods that are disseminated as true evidence, then adopted by unwitting and well‐intentioned practitioners of evidence‐based medicine (EBM). PBM borders on being not only unethical, but also criminal. It may well result not only in inappropriate quality standards and processes of care, but also in harms to patients. Is there a motive to commit the crime of PBM? Is there an opportunity to commit the crime? And is there evidence of the crime beyond reasonable doubt? This article answers those questions.Originality/valuePBM should be opposed. This article recommends individual and corporate ways to oppose it, including heightened individual skepticism when evaluating evidence, and improved professionalism in relationships with patients and scientific endeavor.
Mistakes – how can we learn from them?
Authors: Dawes Graham 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine how mistakes can help to assist learning.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents examples where mistakes are not necessarily mistakes, but simply opportunities to improve or amend the project. Also lists questions to help in the understanding of mistakes, why it occurred, how it was dealt with and feelings regarding the situation.FindingsBlaming ourselves, or blaming others, does not encourage us. In fact, it is anti‐learning. If we, or our department, or our organization has made a mistake then we might as well get what we can out of it – the learning. Gaining learning from our mistakes takes us away from a culture of cover ups and denial.Originality/valueHumans make mistakes all the time and the key lesson is how we can be more learning‐focused after discovering a mistake.
On the surplus prior to ruin in the perturbed classical risk process
Authors: Ren Jiandong 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to consider the classical risk model that is perturbed by a Brownian motion process. The article derives explicit formulas for the joint and marginal probability density functions of the surplus prior to ruin and the deficit at ruin.Design/methodology/approachThis article first extends the dual argument to probabilistically explain the symmetry between the two random variables related to the so‐called modified ladder height. Then the paper uses renewal arguments to derive the joint distribution of the surplus prior to ruin and the deficit at ruin.FindingsThe study derived an explicit formula for the undiscounted joint density in the perturbed risk model that is directly parallel to formula (3.2) for the classical risk model. The formula clearly shows that in a perturbed risk process, when ruin is caused by a claim, the p.d.f. of the surplus prior to ruin is continuous. In addition, shows that when the claim sizes follow a phase‐type distribution, all the relevant quantities can be conveniently computed.Originality/valueThe dual argument used in this article is novel. The formula first clearly shows that in the perturbed risk model, the p.d.f. of the surplus prior to ruin is continuous. When claim sizes are phase‐type, the formulas can be conveniently computed.
A simulated annealing approach for curve fitting in automated manufacturing systems
Authors: Tseng Hsien‐Yu , Lin Chang‐Ching 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis research aims to develop an effective and efficient algorithm for solving the curve fitting problem arising in automated manufacturing systems.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes curve fitting as an optimization problem of a set of data points. Expressing the data as a function will be very effective to the data analysis and application. This paper will develop the stochastic optimization method to apply to curve fitting. The proposed method is a combination optimization method based on pattern search (PS) and simulated annealing algorithm (SA).FindingsThe proposed method is used to solve a nonlinear optimization problem and then to implement it to solve three circular arc‐fitting problems of curve fitting. Based on the analysis performed in the experimental study, the proposed algorithm has been found to be suitable for curve fitting.Practical implicationsCurve fitting is one of the basic form errors encountered in circular features. The proposed algorithm is tested and implemented by using nonlinear problem and circular data to determine the circular parameters.Originality/valueThe developed machine vision‐based approach can be an online tool for measurement of circular components in automated manufacturing systems.
Design and development of a target‐costing system for turning operation
Authors: Gopalakrishnan B. , Kokatnur A. , Gupta D.P. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe main objective in writing this paper and conducting this research is to enhance the productivity in manufacturing operations by making them cost effective.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a target‐costing system and model developed for the turning operation and it has a user interface designed in Microsoft Visual Basic® with a database developed by using Microsoft Access®. An algorithm is developed to apply the concepts of target‐costing that selects the machining parameters and then determines the machining cost. A geometric programming model (Gopalakrishnan and Al‐Khayyal) was used in the development of this system.FindingsThe research determined that target‐costing models can be developed for the manufacturing industry and can be implemented in realistic manufacturing environment. The research also showcased the utility of the target‐costing model in terms of the underlying detailed system level parameters.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on one manufacturing process but can be extended to other manufacturing processes and business cost and profit centers for providing overall and enhanced benefits at the corporate levels.Practical implicationsThe research details the development of a model that has been validated using practical shop floor data, hence implying its application in a wide variety of situations.Originality/valueThe original value of the paper lies in identifying the critical parameters and modeling approach towards target‐costing.
Toward guiding the selection of a layout procedure
Authors: Mohsen  
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assist facility designers decide when to use the graph‐theoretic (GTH) approach to develop a block layout and when to seek another alternative that requires a lesser effort. Difficulties encountered when a GTH block layout is developed from an adjacency graph could force designers to sacrifice or change some of the adjacencies of the adjacency graph in the GTH block layout. Consequently, the value of the objective function of a GTH block layout could become less than what would be expected from the GTH approach.Design/methodology/approachA computational study is performed to assess the value of the objective function of block layouts produced by the GTH approach when adjacencies of the adjacency graph are deleted or changed in the GTH block layout and two of the procedures in the literature.FindingsThe computational study reveals that the magnitude of the decline in the value of the objective function of the GTH block layout renders it comparable to values obtained by the two procedures selected from the literature.Originality/valueThe results of the study could motivate layout designers to resort to various approaches to develop a block layout rather than sacrifice some adjacencies of the adjacency graph in the GTH block layout, which would adversely affect its objective function value.
Back‐propagation artificial neural network approach for machining centre selection
Authors: Chowdary Boppana V. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTraditional machining centre selection methods may not guarantee a cost effective solution. Properly trained back‐propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) tend to select reasonable machining centres when presented with machining parameters that they have never seen before. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to machine centre selection problems.Design/methodology/approachA three‐layer feedforward back‐propagation supervised training approach is selected to address the machining centre selection problem and demonstrated its potential through an example. This is intended to help readers understand implications on manufacturing system design and future research.FindingsVery limited studies attempted the machining centre selection problem. Feedforward ANN approach has been applied to a wide variety of manufacturing problems. Neural networks have training capability to solve problems that are difficult for conventional computers or human beings. The developed BPANN model has potential to solve the machine centre selection problem with notable consistency and reasonable accuracy.Practical implicationsThe BPANN model is an innovative approach fundamentally based on artificial intelligence, which is not directly visible to the user, but is able to solve through a simpler and supervised feedforward back‐propagation training process. The model consists of an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer. The 18 neurons fixed in the input layer are same as the set of machining centre parameters which are taken directly from the machine tool manufacturer's catalogues. Evidently the proposed three‐layer ANN model has the capability of solving the machine centre selection problem with three hidden neurons for threshold level of 0.9, noise level of 0.05 and tolerance of 0.01.Originality/valueThe work size, weight, travel range, spindle speed range, horse power, feed, accuracy, tool magazine and price are used as machining centre selection parameters. Machining centres' information in the form of 24 patterns along with the desired machining centres' were used to train and test the network.
The consequences and contradictions of child and teen consumption in contemporary practice
Authors: de La Ville Valérie‐Inés 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to conceptualize the field of child and teen consumption as a system of social practices at the cross roads of six strongly intermingled subsystems covering social, institutional, technological, narrative, economic, and political stakes. Children's and teens' consumption is shaped and transformed by a mix of managerial action, public policy, cycles of technological change, the evolution of related institutions like parenthood and schooling, changing cultural references, values, modes of socialization as well as by the actions of children and teens themselves.Design/methodology/approachWithin such a framework, child and teen consumption appears as a complex arena of competing moral and ideological perspectives. In such a volatile context, forms of resistance to ideologies of unending consumption emerge, continuously calling into question the responsibility of business for unwanted long‐term effects.FindingsThe five papers included in this special issue shed light on the complexities of marketing to children by successively exploring the contradictions within the individual, managerial, professional, corporate, and institutional levels. As a direct consequence, the notions of “corporate social responsibility” and “corporate social responsiveness” towards childhood are also constantly evolving concepts which are quite difficult to grasp.Originality/valueThe paper attempts to design a transformative research agenda to promote socially responsible marketing practices and ethically embedded theoretical frameworks. It also stands as an invitation to deepen the indispensable dialogue – albeit often demanding for both sides – between marketing practitioners and social scientists aimed at constantly redefining the moving outline of corporate social responsibility in contemporary children‐oriented markets.
The adoption of high involvement work practices in Canadian nursing homes
Authors: Rondeau Kent V. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe objective of the research is to assess the degree of adoption of high‐involvement nursing work practices in long‐term care organizations. It seeks to determine the organizational and workplace factors that are associated with the uptake/adoption of ten selected human resource high‐involvement employee work practices.Design/methodology/approachA survey questionnaire was sent to 300 long‐term care organizations (nursing homes) in western Canada. Results from 125 nursing home establishments (43 percent response rate) are reported herein.FindingsOf the ten high‐involvement nursing work practices examined, employee suggestion and recognition systems are the most widely adopted by homes in the sample, while shared governance and incentive/merit‐base pay are used by a small minority of establishments.Practical implicationsThe uptake of high‐involvement nursing work practices is not adopted in a haphazard fashion. Their uptake is variously associated with a number of establishment and workplace factors, including the presence of a supportive and enabling workplace culture.Originality/valueThe objective of this research is to examine the extent and degree of adoption of high involvement work practices in a sample of long‐term care establishments operating in the four provinces of western Canada.
Medical talent management: a model for physician deployment
Authors: Brightman Baird 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis article aims to provide a focused cost‐effective method for triaging physicians into appropriate non‐clinical roles to benefit both doctors and healthcare organizations.Design/methodology/approachReviews a validated career‐planning process and customize it for medical talent management.FindingsA structured career assessment can differentiate between different physician work styles and direct medical talent into best‐fit positions. This allows healthcare organizations to create a more finely tuned career ladder than the familiar “in or out” binary choice.Practical implicationsHealthcare organizations can invest in cost‐effective processes for the optimal utilization of their medical talent.Originality/valueProvides a new use for a well‐validated career assessment and planning system. The actual value of this approach should be studied using best‐practices in ROI research.
Lean as a learning system in a hospital ward
Authors: Ballé Michael , Régnier Anne 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to discuss lean as a learning system in a hospital ward.Design/methodology/approachDiscusses lean as a learning system in a hospital ward.FindingsThe Toyota veterans are fond of saying, lean is about “making people before making parts” or, in the wards' context, developing nurses before delivering care.Originality/valueThis example in using lean to carefully build a learning environment for staff and management has implications for nursing practice, certainly, but also more generally for lean implementation at large.
Taguchi's experimental design method on improvement of medical image quality
Authors: Tolga Taner Mehmet , Sezen Bulent 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe aim of this article is to show how Taguchi methods can be applied to health care to improve the quality of medical images. Quality is often integrated with the performance and parameters of the design of medical applications. Many imaging methods can be designed by setting the correct combination of parameters and estimating the contribution of individual quality influencing factors by means of incorporating parameter design and orthogonal arrays. The performance of any imaging equipment can be measured by signal‐to‐noise ratio. This inherent index can give a sense of how close the performance is to the ideal.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a database of 82 diagnostic thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans. Signal‐to‐noise ratios (S/N) were calculated.FindingsGiven the S/N's, the best CT level was found to be level 4.Originality/valueTo reduce bias resulting from the observer's readings, robust equipments should be designed incorporating Taguchi's experimental design. Further work is needed to establish imaging protocols and new hardware design.
Efficient optimization of crystallization conditions by manipulation of drop volume ratio and temperature
Authors: Luft Joseph R. , Wolfley Jennifer R. , Said Meriem I. , Nagel Raymond M. , Lauricella Angela M. , Smith Jennifer L. , Thayer Max H. , Veatch Christina K. , Snell Edward H. , Malkowski Michael G. , DeTitta George T. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAn efficient optimization method for the crystallization of biological macromolecules has been developed and tested. This builds on a successful high‐throughput technique for the determination of initial crystallization conditions. The optimization method takes an initial condition identified through screening and then varies the concentration of the macromolecule, precipitant, and the growth temperature in a systematic manner. The amount of sample and number of steps is minimized and no biochemical reformulation is required. In the current application a robotic liquid handling system enables high‐throughput use, but the technique can easily be adapted in a nonautomated setting. This method has been applied successfully for the rapid optimization of crystallization conditions in nine representative cases.
MIOR: an individual‐based model for simulating the spatial patterns of soil organic matter microbial decomposition
Authors: Masse D. , Cambier C. , Brauman A. , Sall S. , Assigbetse K. , Chotte J.‐L. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryAn individual‐based model, called MIOR, was designed to assess hypotheses on the effect of the spatial distribution of organic matter and microbial decomposers on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Two main types of object were defined to represent the decomposers and the soil organic substrates. All these objects were positioned in a 3D space. The exchange of carbon and nitrogen between these various entities was simulated. Two scenarios were tested according to the degrees of clustering of organic matter and of microorganisms. The results of simulations highlighted the effect of the ratio of accessible organic carbon to microbial carbon on the dynamics of microbial biomass and CO2 release. This ratio was determined by the number of contacts between one object representing the microbial decomposers and the surrounding objects representing the organic substrates. MIOR: modèle individu‐centré de simulation de la distribution spatiale des processus microbiens de la décomposition des matières organiques dans les sols RésuméUn modèle individu‐centré, appelé MIOR, a été conçu pour tester les hypothèses concernant les effets de la distribution spatiale des matières organiques et des microdécomposeurs dans les sols sur la dynamique du carbone et de l’azote minéral. Deux principaux types d’objets ont été définis représentant les microorganismes décomposeurs et les substrats organiques. Ces objets sont positionnés dans une espace à trois dimensions. Les échanges de carbone et d’azote entre ces deux entités sont simulés. Deux scénarios sont testés selon des niveaux d’agrégation des microorganismes et celui des matières organiques. Les résultats des simulations mettent en avant l’importance de la quantité de carbone organique accessible par unité de carbone microbien sur la dynamique de la biomasse microbienne et du CO2 dégagé. Cette quantité est déterminée par le nombre de contacts entre un objet représentant des microdécomposeurs et des objets qui l’entourent représentant les substrats organiques.