B. Beydoun, M. Zoaeter, A. Alaeddine, I. Rachidi, F. Bahsoun, J‐J. Charlot and J‐P. Charles
Modifications of physical and electrical properties of the vertical double‐diffused metal oxide semiconductor (VDMOS) transistor are observed on using the device under some…
Abstract
Modifications of physical and electrical properties of the vertical double‐diffused metal oxide semiconductor (VDMOS) transistor are observed on using the device under some conditions of “functional” stress. This paper presents the characterization and the 2D simulation for the pre‐ and post‐stressed device, to point out the degraded parameters due to the functional stress, and to analyze their effects on the degradation of the VDMOS static and dynamic characteristics.
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Trine Lise Bakken, Jane Margrete Askeland Hellerud, Svein Eirik Skaale, Monica Augustin and Arne-Henrik Elvehaug
The UKU Side Effect Rating Scale for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (UKU-SERS-ID) was developed to detect side effects in patients with intellectual disabilities who…
Abstract
Purpose
The UKU Side Effect Rating Scale for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (UKU-SERS-ID) was developed to detect side effects in patients with intellectual disabilities who receive psychotropic medication. The aim of the present study was to examine the frequency and distribution of the side effects of psychotropic medication in persons with intellectual disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
In all, 100 patients receiving in- and outpatient treatment participated in this study. The UKU-SERS-ID, encompassing 34 items, was scored for all participants at two time points. T1 was the baseline rating, and T2 was scored around two to four weeks after starting on new medication.
Findings
Mean scores on the psychological side effects scale were found to be substantially higher than on any other scale, especially the items tension/inner unrest and depressed mood. The patients most frequently received antipsychotic medication, as well as a combination of antipsychotic and antidepressants or antianxiety medication. The study sample was highly heterogeneous, and missing baseline information prevented assumptions being made about causality. The analyses revealed no increase or decrease from T1 to T2 for the side effects measured in the study group.
Research limitations/implications
Further research is necessary on the association between the side effects and specific groups of psychotropic medication.
Practical implications
The UKU-SERS-ID may be a feasible tool in clinical practice on an individual level.
Social implications
Monitoring of side effects for patients using psychotropic medication.
Originality/value
Studies of side effects from the use of psychotropic medication in people with ID is still sparse. This study may hopefully contribute to an increased interest in this topic.
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Abdoulaye Badiane, Sylvie Nadeau, Jean-Pierre Kenné and Vladimir Polotski
The optimization of production imposes a review of facility maintenance policies. Accidents during maintenance activities are frequent, sometimes fatal and often associated with…
Abstract
Purpose
The optimization of production imposes a review of facility maintenance policies. Accidents during maintenance activities are frequent, sometimes fatal and often associated with deficient or absent machinery lockout/tagout. Lockout/tagout is often circumvented in order to avoid what may be viewed as unnecessary delays and increased production costs. To reduce the dangers inherent in such practice, the purpose of this paper is to propose a production strategy that provides for machinery lockout/tagout while maximizing manufacturing system availability and minimizing costs.
Design/methodology/approach
The joint optimization problem of production planning, maintenance and safety planning is formulated and studied using a stochastic optimal control methodology. Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations are developed and studied numerically using the Kushner approach based on finite difference approximation and an iterative policy improvement technique.
Findings
The analysis leads to a solution that suggests increasing the “comfortable” inventory level in order to provide the time required for lockout/tagout activities. It is also demonstrated that the optimization of lockout/tagout procedures is particularly important when the equipment is relatively new and the inventory level is minimal.
Research limitations/implications
This paper demonstrates that it is possible to integrate production, maintenance and lockout/tagout procedures into production planning while keeping manufacturing system cost objectives attainable as well as ensuring worker safety.
Originality/value
This integrated production and maintenance policy is unique and complements existing procedures by explicitly accounting for safety measures.
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Miklesh Prasad Yadav, Silky Vigg Kushwah, Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary and Nandita Mishra
This paper aims to analyze the dynamic linkages of the energy market with the forex market. The energy market is measured by crude oil WTI, while the forex market is proxied by…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the dynamic linkages of the energy market with the forex market. The energy market is measured by crude oil WTI, while the forex market is proxied by Brazilian real (RBRL), Mexican peso (RMXN), South African rand (RZAR), Turkish lira (RTRY) and British pound sterling (RGBP) exchange rate.
Design/methodology/approach
For the study, daily observations of these constituent asset classes extending from December 31, 2019, to August 16, 2022, are taken as the data. Furthermore, it is categorized into two different sub-samples in the form of the COVID-19 outbreak (December 31, 2019 to February 23, 2022) and the Russo−Ukraine invasion (February 24, 2022 to August 16, 2022). For empirical estimation, Diebold and Yilmaz model (2014) and Barunik and Krehlik test (2018) are used to examine the dynamic linkages.
Findings
The study concludes that the Mexican peso (RMXN) receives and transmits the highest spillover, while crude oil (RCOWTI) receives and transmits the least volatility to the network connection in full sample. In addition, the authors report that the dynamic linkage is not constant in the short, medium and long run. Furthermore, the spillover index in the Russo−Ukraine invasion is higher (29.92%) than full observation (22.03%) and COVID-19 outbreak (21.10%) in the short run.
Originality/value
This paper ventures to offer insight to investors, traders and policymakers based on normal trading days and crisis periods.
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Violence is still an alarming issue in Brazil, a country profoundly affected by social inequality. Since 1997, studies from UNESCO in Brazil have highlighted this worrying…
Abstract
Violence is still an alarming issue in Brazil, a country profoundly affected by social inequality. Since 1997, studies from UNESCO in Brazil have highlighted this worrying situation for youngsters from 15 to 24 years old, who are the portion of the population most exposed to violence, whether as victims, or agents. In terms of deaths that are caused by the so‐called external factors (i.e. homicides, traffic accidents and suicides), the quantitative data corresponding to the youth age groups are so high that they place Brazilian indices as the third highest in the world. In the light of the above, this paper provides a brief overview of the literature on the issue of violence in schools. In addition to that, the paper from the Director of the UNESCO Brasilia Office also analyses the series of studies and researches that UNESCO has been undertaking over the past years, an effort which would culminate into one of its most successful strategies to foster social inclusion through a community perspective, the “Making Room” program.
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Konstantinos N. Konstantakis, Panayotis G. Michaelides, Theofanis Papageorgiou and Theodoros Daglis
This research paper uses a novel methodological approach to investigate the spillover effects among the key sectors of the US economy.
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper uses a novel methodological approach to investigate the spillover effects among the key sectors of the US economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper links the US sectors via a node theoretic scheme based on a general equilibrium framework, whereas it estimates the general equilibrium equation as a Global Vector Autoregressive process, taking into consideration the potential existence of dominant units.
Findings
Based on our findings, the dominant sector in the US economy, for the period 1992–2015, is the sector of information technology, finance and communications, a fact that gives credence to the view that the US economy is a service-driven economy. In addition, the US economy seems to benefit by the increased labour mobility across knowledge-intensive sectors, thus avoiding the ‘employment trap’ which in turn enabled the US economy to overcome the financial crisis of 2007.
Originality/value
Firstly, the paper models by means of a network approach which is based on a general equilibrium framework, the linkages between the US sectors while treating the sector of information, technology, communications and finance as dominant, as dictated by its degree of centrality in the network structure. Secondly, the paper offers a robustness analysis regarding both the existence and the identification of dominant sectors (nodes) in the US economy. Thirdly, the paper studies a wide period, namely 1992–2015, fully capturing the recent global recession, while acknowledging the impact of the global crisis through the introduction of the relevant exogenous dummy variables; Lastly and most importantly, it is the first study to apply the GVAR approach in a network general equilibrium framework at the sectoral level.
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Cinthia Salinas and Brooke Blevins
In this qualitative case study, we examine pre-service teachers’ understandings’ of history as narrative. This analysis specifically explores the kinds of new historical…
Abstract
In this qualitative case study, we examine pre-service teachers’ understandings’ of history as narrative. This analysis specifically explores the kinds of new historical narratives pre-service teachers create as a result of purposeful secondary social studies methods instruction that juxtaposes traditional narratives (e.g. individual achievement and motivation) and alternative narratives (e.g. those attentive to empathy and race, class, and gender) in an effort to help future teachers understand the nature of critical historical inquiry. In examining the understandings and initial efforts of young secondary social studies teachers, the study concludes that while troubling the traditional narrative is viable and likely event, the challenges of developing critical historical inquiry are clear and persistent.
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This study aims to investigate the factors that affect the likelihood of formalizing informal sector activities in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries, using World Bank enterprise…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the factors that affect the likelihood of formalizing informal sector activities in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries, using World Bank enterprise survey data collected between the periods 2009 and 2018. Notwithstanding the great contribution of the informal economy in Africa, developing countries may stand to gain more if they make inroads in formalizing the informal sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Since the dependent variable is binary taking the value of one if the firm is willing to formalize and zero otherwise, the study will employ a discrete choice probit model.
Findings
Results inter alia show that firms that are more likely to formalize are young, owned by individuals with high levels of education and, have registered before. Governments should therefore target firms that are young and provide them with information about the benefits of registration, and if these firms are owned by experienced and educated individuals, the likelihood for them to register would be high.
Research limitations/implications
The study uses cross sectional data and therefore cannot capture time variant factors affecting the probability to register and also cannot correct effectively for endogeneity.
Practical implications
Governments should therefore target firms that are young and provide them with as much information as possible about the benefits of registration, and if these firms are owned by experienced and educated individuals, the likelihood to convince them to register would be high. They should also reduce the cost of registration so as to improve net benefits in line with the rational exit view.
Social implications
Formalizing informal activities will help improve the performance of these firms, reduce vulnerable employment as well as crime, poverty and inequality. Providing decent operating and working conditions to informal players will reduce social and political unrest.
Originality/value
The African continent is home to many informal firms accounting for roughly 55% of economic activity with 90% of workers eking out a living in a sector that does not respect worker rights, provide decent working conditions and where changes in growth have done little to reduce its size. Regulatory reforms have also been implemented resulting in the number of start-up registration procedures falling from 11 in 2003 to seven in 2019. The uniqueness of Sub Saharan Africa in terms of entrepreneurial culture, political, institutional and economic conditions as well as lack of consensus in the extant empirical literature make this study pertinent.
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Examines the exercise of market power in vertical channels. Reviews the development of food systems over the past century. Presents neoclassical models arising from the work of…
Abstract
Examines the exercise of market power in vertical channels. Reviews the development of food systems over the past century. Presents neoclassical models arising from the work of Adam Smith, George Stigler, Harold Demsetz and John Spengler that are in juxtaposition to the more commonly advanced agency theoretic explanation of vertical organization and performance. Develops a structural model of price transmission in a channel that has differentiated product oligopolies at two stages. Increasing concentration at successive stages creates a problem of double marginalization. Vertical trading partners reduce it by avoiding vertical Nash (arms length) pricing via the use of trade promotions and other coordination methods such as private label. Finally, the rise in retail‐buyer concentration (six supermarket chains now control 52.6 percent of supermarket sales in the USA) portends a possible shift to the European model in which food retailers develop and promote their own brands.
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Gerhard Fink and Maurice Yolles
A typology of basic affective and cognitive orientations is developed within a generic cultural socio-cognitive trait theory of a “plural affect agency” (the emotional…
Abstract
Purpose
A typology of basic affective and cognitive orientations is developed within a generic cultural socio-cognitive trait theory of a “plural affect agency” (the emotional organisation).
Design/methodology/approach
Affective personality is defined in terms of a set of affect traits. These are defined in terms of epistemically independent bipolar affect types, which in turn coalesce into a set of mindset types that can be related to the classical four temperaments.
Findings
Different affect types are supposed to differently regulate the three stages of emotion management. Affect types and cognitive types provide mutual contexts, and foster reciprocal affect and cognitive orientations.
Research limitations/implications
The theory provides guidance for analysis of cultural differentiation within social systems (societies/organisations), with reference to identification, elaboration and execution of “emotion knowledge” and “cognitive knowledge”.
Practical implications
Understanding interdependencies between cognition and emotion regulation is a prerequisite of managerial intelligence and strategic cultural intelligence, which is in demand for interaction and integration processes across social systems.
Originality/value
From the framework model linking emotion expression and emotion regulation with cognition analysis, a typology arises allowing ex-ante expectation of typical patterns of behaviour.