Michael L. Spafford, Daren F. Stanaway and Sabin Chung
To analyze the CFTC’s approach to regulating cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies in light of their cross-border nature, limitations on the CFTC’s extraterritorial…
Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the CFTC’s approach to regulating cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies in light of their cross-border nature, limitations on the CFTC’s extraterritorial authority, and the CFTC’s prerogative to work cooperatively with foreign regulators.
Design/methodology/approach
Discusses the principles set forth in CFTC Chairman Christopher Giancarlo’s White Paper regarding cross-border swap regulation; analyzes the similar nature of cross-border issues arising from regulation of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies; examines regulations and guidance implemented by foreign authorities in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space; and assesses the limitations of the CFTC’s extraterritorial authority.
Findings
The principles set forth in Chairman Giancarlo’s White Paper regarding cross-border swap regulation apply equally to blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies, and as such, the CFTC may wish to pursue an analogous approach to regulating cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies.
Practical implications
The CFTC should exercise deference to and cooperate with foreign counterparts to regulate cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies that traverse international borders, thereby avoiding overlapping and potentially conflicting regulation while fostering an innovative growth environment for emerging technologies.
Originality/value
In-depth analysis and insight from experienced professionals in the CFTC and cross-border investigations and enforcement space.
Details
Keywords
Jackson Lord and Rachel Sabin-Farrell
The transtheoretical model (TTM) has been applied to varying areas of physical health, e.g. diabetes. However, research into its applicability to psychotherapy is mixed. The TTM…
Abstract
Purpose
The transtheoretical model (TTM) has been applied to varying areas of physical health, e.g. diabetes. However, research into its applicability to psychotherapy is mixed. The TTM is applied through the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). Investigating the utility of the URICA is needed to improve patient care and outcomes. This study aims to assess whether the URICA scores relate to patient outcomes; patient attendance; practitioner ratings of patient readiness, appropriateness, insight, motivation and potential for improvement; and to explore practitioner’s perspectives on the URICA.
Design/methodology/approach
Correlational methods were used to assess the relationship between the URICA and therapeutic outcome, attendance and practitioner-rated areas. Content analysis was used to analyse practitioner qualitative data.
Findings
The URICA did not correlate with either therapeutic outcome or attendance. A significant negative correlation was found between the URICA and practitioner-rated appropriateness of the referral. This means practitioners perceived individuals with lower URICA scores to be a more appropriate referral, despite the score indicating a reduced readiness to change. Qualitative categories included positive views, negative views, ambivalence and changes to measure and process. To conclude, the URICA does not explain a patient’s outcome or attendance. The URICA may not be appropriate to use in its current format in mental health services; therefore, assessing the TTM verbally may be more helpful.
Originality/value
This study provides research into suitability of using the URICA to assess the TTM and its applicability to attendance and outcome in psychological therapies.
Details
Keywords
Shiyu Wan, Yisheng Liu, Grace Ding, Goran Runeson and Michael Er
This article aims to establish a dynamic Energy Performance Contract (EPC) risk allocation model for commercial buildings based on the theory of Incomplete Contract. The purpose…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to establish a dynamic Energy Performance Contract (EPC) risk allocation model for commercial buildings based on the theory of Incomplete Contract. The purpose is to fill the policy vacuum and allow stakeholders to manage risks in energy conservation management by EPCs to better adapt to climate change in the building sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The article chooses a qualitative research approach to depict the whole risk allocation picture of EPC projects and establish a dynamic EPC risk allocation model for commercial buildings in China. It starts with a comprehensive literature review on risks of EPCs. By modifying the theory of Incomplete Contract and adopting the so-called bow-tie model, a theoretical EPC risk allocation model is developed and verified by interview results. By discussing its application in the commercial building sector in China, an operational EPC three-stage risk allocation model is developed.
Findings
This study points out the contract incompleteness of the risk allocation for EPC projects and offered an operational method to guide practice. The reasonable risk allocation between building owners and Energy Service Companies can realize their bilateral targets on commercial building energy-saving benefits, which makes EPC more attractive for energy conservation.
Originality/value
Existing research focused mainly on static risk allocation. Less research was directed to the phased and dynamic risk allocation. This study developed a theoretical three-stage EPC risk allocation model, which provided the theoretical support for dynamic EPC risk allocation of EPC projects. By addressing the contract incompleteness of the risk allocation, an operational method is developed. This is a new approach to allocate risks for EPC projects in a dynamic and staged way.
Details
Keywords
Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included…
Abstract
Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on the subjects retrospectively to 1985 and approximately 1,100 references are listed.
Details
Keywords
Maile O'Hara and Adeyinka M. Akinsulure‐Smith
The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the important and unique challenges that arise when using interpreters while conducting psychotherapy with forced migrants who…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the important and unique challenges that arise when using interpreters while conducting psychotherapy with forced migrants who have experienced a range of human rights abuse.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employs a practice‐based evidence methodology that offers guidance to both clinicians and researchers.
Findings
Working with interpreters in the clinical setting is often a challenging and complex process for which mental health professionals are rarely prepared. This paper outlines key strategies to address these challenges and limitations.
Research limitations/implications
Empirically‐based research is lacking and is certainly warranted.
Practical implications
It is the responsibility of programs, training sites, supervisors, and institutions to help teach how to work with interpreters.
Originality/value
This paper addresses how to navigate the key issues that arise through the use of interpreters in a mental health setting with forced migrants, including: initiating a therapeutic relationship with an interpreter; common issues that arise around language; setting the therapeutic frame; and addressing boundaries; acknowledging the role of culture, transference, counter transference, and vicarious trauma; screening to assess competence; training to orient interpreters to clinical work with forced migrants; in vivo feedback; assessments; and an appropriate place to process their experience.
Details
Keywords
Qiaosheng Liu, Juntong Xi and Zhuoqi Wu
The purpose of this paper is to propose a universal, robust and efficient method to obtain a reliable initial guess solution for the one‐step finite element simulation.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a universal, robust and efficient method to obtain a reliable initial guess solution for the one‐step finite element simulation.
Design/methodology/approach
In one‐step simulation, getting initial guess solutions effectively is essential to ensure the success of the non‐linear resolution in the implicit static solver and to speed up the convergence of the Newton‐Raphson iterations. A newly emerging mesh parameterization approach named As‐Rigid‐As‐Possible method, which is widely used in computer graphics, is proposed as an effective initial guess estimation method in this paper. It is almost an isometric parameterization and showing excellent area‐preserving capability than other state‐of‐the‐art approaches. Several numerical examples are provided to verify the validity and efficiency of the presented method.
Findings
Compared with the geometry mapping methods, the presented ARAP method shows its universality in handling types of workpieces whether they have quasi‐vertical walls or they are long and complicated. Complex 3D workpieces with many local convex and concave features can also be well handled without large element shape distortions. In contrast to the energy based mapping algorithm, the method presented in this paper does not need to predefine the boundary nodes which will introduce less distortion to the elements near the boundary.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to utilize the As‐Rigid‐As‐Possible mesh parameterization algorithm to obtain an initial guess for the one‐step simulation. The numerical experiments show that the approach is universal, robust and efficient and can be further utilized in the optimum blank design or blank shape optimization.
Details
Keywords
Guang Jin, A.J. Englande and Chih‐Yang Hu
The purpose of this paper is to describe the investigation of distribution of metals in water and sediment samples of Poydras‐Verret wetland, an area that has received…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the investigation of distribution of metals in water and sediment samples of Poydras‐Verret wetland, an area that has received approximately 40 years input of secondarily treated municipal effluent.
Design/methodology/approach
Water and sediment samples were analyzed for metals for a period of 18 months. These metals were also monitored for the secondarily treated effluent, and at a reference/control wetland that does not receive wastewater. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student Newman‐Keuls post‐hoc ANOVA analysis were conducted to evaluate the pattern of metal distribution within the Poygras‐Verret wetland and compare results to the reference wetland. Heavy metal criteria established by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State of Louisiana were also used to assess the potential chronic and acute health impacts of heavy metals in the Poydras‐Verret wetland.
Findings
Concentrations of metals of the Poydras‐Verret wetland water are not different from those found in the reference wetland water, suggesting no observed accumulation of these metals within the receiving wetland water. All metals are below the acute criteria.
Originality/value
Historical data regarding metal accumulation in wetlands in the published literature is limited. This paper provides supporting evidence that using wetlands to assimilate wastewater could be a long‐term, practical solution with the side benefits including wetland restorations and protection from wave erosion and storm surge.
Details
Keywords
Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element meshing and remeshing from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. Topics such as adaptive techniques for meshing…
Abstract
Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element meshing and remeshing from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. Topics such as adaptive techniques for meshing and remeshing, parallel processing in the finite element modelling, etc. are also included. The bibliography at the end of this paper contains 1,727 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with presented subjects that were published between 1990 and 2001.
Details
Keywords
Anshu Sharma, Jyotsna Bhatnagar, Mahadeo Jaiswal and Mohan Thite
With the increasing prevalence of social media in everyday life, scholars have argued the need of exploring enterprise social media (ESM) for workplace outcomes. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
With the increasing prevalence of social media in everyday life, scholars have argued the need of exploring enterprise social media (ESM) for workplace outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between ESM use and organizational learning capability (OLC) by focusing on the mediating role of informal learning (INFL) and the moderating role of social capital (SC).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper developed and tested a mediated moderated model explaining the impact of ESM on OLC. The study used temporally separated data of 281 respondents collected in two waves from firms in India that use organizationally facilitated ESM platforms for internal workplace communication.
Findings
An analysis of temporally separated two-wave data indicates that INFL mediates the relationship between ESM use and OLC. Also, SC is found to moderate the effect of ESM use on INFL, and INFL mediated the moderation effect of SC on relationship between ESM use and OLC such that the relationship will be stronger when employees have a higher rather than lower level of SC.
Research limitations/implications
The study theoretically contributes and extends the literature on ESM and learning in organizations. The study provides important practical implications to support and institutionalize learning at work. The results of the study provide evidence that ESM are not just networking tools but a platform for learning. Findings of the study suggest that ESM can be one such tool to promote and capture employee INFL. The results also show that SC plays a critical role in predicting the extent to which employees learn informally using ESM, thereby building OLC. This result suggests that organizations should make conscious and concerted efforts to build employee SC. The above findings also have interesting implications for learning and development (L&D) and information technology (IT) managers who wish to implement technology for collaborative purposes.
Originality/value
Addressing the underlying processes that explain how ESM positively influence OLC was highlighted as a critical research gap that needs attention. The paper is novel in its approach as it provides empirical evidence for the relationship between ESM and its impact on employee outcomes, an area pertinent in today's digital economy, however, received sparse attention by management scholars so far. It also provides empirical grounds toward a meaningful shift in the social media discourse – transition from being traditionally viewed primarily as “a networking platform” to “a learning platform.”
Details
Keywords
Bartłomiej Skowroński and Elżbieta Talik
Penal institutions affect their inmates’ mental as well as physical health. Prisoners have higher rates of physical health conditions than the public. While it is known that…
Abstract
Purpose
Penal institutions affect their inmates’ mental as well as physical health. Prisoners have higher rates of physical health conditions than the public. While it is known that psychosocial factors determine patients’ quality of life, little research has focused on factors related to prisoners’ psychophysical quality of life (PQoL). The purpose of this study is to analyze the determinants of prisoners’ PQoL.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of 390 prisoners recruited from correctional facilities administered by the Warsaw District Inspectorate of Prisons. This study hypothesized that social support, coherence and self-efficacy would be positive determinants of PQoL and that depression, anxiety and anger would be its negative determinants. The collected data were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling.
Findings
The positive determinants of PQoL in prisoners are coherence, self-efficacy and social support. The negative determinant of PQoL is trait depression.
Originality/value
This study has revealed a list of factors significant for improving prisoners’ PQoL. Factors have also indicated which of the predictors measured are the most significant. The identified set of significant factors should be taken into account in social rehabilitation programs for prisoners as contributing to the preservation of life and health.