Bayesian discrete latent spatial modeling of crack initiation in orthopaedic hip replacement bone cement

In this paper, we propose a spatial model for the initiation of cracks in the bone cement of hip replacement specimens. The failure of hip replacements can be attributed mainly to damage accumulation, consisting of crack initiation and growth, occurring in the cement mantle that interlocks the hip prosthesis and the femur bone. Since crack initiation is an important factor in determining the lifetime of a replacement, the understanding of the reasons for crack initiation is vital in attempting to prolong the life of the hip replacement. The data consist of crack location coordinates from five laboratory experimental models, together with stress measurements. It is known that stress plays a major role in the initiation of cracks, and it is also known that other unmeasurable factors such as air bubbles (pores) in the cement mantle are also influential. We propose an identity-link spatial Poisson regression model for the counts of cracks in discrete regions of the cement, incorporating both the measured (stress), and through a latent process, any unmeasured factors (possibly pores) that may be influential. All analysis is carried out in a Bayesian framework, allowing for the inclusion of prior information obtained from engineers, and parameter estimation for the model is done via Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques.     

基于思维法则学的群决策方法及其应用

针对群决策中如何科学地收集、集成、分析决策者真实看法的问题,基于西方的思维法则学理论,提出了指示优先级的程式化方法。该方法蕴涵了东方管理中的均衡思想,广泛用于爱尔兰政府及企业的各种项目中。作为该方法的原创者和翻译者合作团队,我们在5年多的合作研究中,探索了有关的理论发展及其中文表述。本文介绍指示优先级的程式化方法的适用情景和应用步骤,与其他方法论进行了比较,给出了应用案例。在应用案例中,对陕西省的5个市县财政局进行了访谈和问卷调查,对西安市财政局的调查数据进行了识别、集成和分析,得到了决策方案及优先级次序。应用结果表明:指示优先级的程式化方法适用于中国情境下的多属性/多准则群决策,能够提供决策依据。     

Environmental and social supply chain management sustainability practices: construct development and measurement

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise and operationalise the concept of supply chain management sustainability practices. Based on a multi-stage procedure involving a literature review, expert Q-sort and pre-test process, pilot test and survey of 156 supply chain directors and managers in Ireland, we develop a multidimensional conceptualisation and measure of social and environmental supply chain management sustainability practices. The research findings show theoretically sound constructs based on four underlying sustainable supply chain management practices: monitoring, implementing systems, new product and process development and strategy redefinition. A two-factor model is then identified as the most reliable: comprising process-based and market-based practices.     

A hybrid approach to the study of CPFR implementation enablers

Collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) is one of the most important but also one of the most difficult collaborative strategies in supply chain management. CPFR has been well documented in past research as providing significant benefit to those that implement it well. It has also been noted that CPFR uptake has been significantly lower than initially expected. The main reason for this slow uptake is the general recognition that successful implementation of CPFR is not a trivial task and the fact that it inflicts dramatic changes to the ‘usual’ way of doing business. Based on the premise that CPFR has significant positive potential for supply chain collaboration, the motivation of this paper is to review CPFR enablers and to develop a model which addresses the most significant ones. To complete this task, a hybrid modelling approach integrating fuzzy extended analytical hierarchy process and interpretive structural modelling is proposed. The model developed is based on an identified gap by the automotive sector and embeds expert opinion, from two separate industrial groups in the automotive sector through the use of workshops. Although potential success factors for CPFR implementation can vary across somewhat between differing supply chains, the results maintain wider general applicability due to the many common issues across sectors. The paper highlights the need for decision-makers to be aware of the most influential enablers prior to a CPFR implementation project and to understand the relationships between these enablers.     

Do Tax–Benefit Systems Cause High Replacement Rates? A Decompositional Analysis Using EUROMOD

This paper considers using a cross‐country microsimulation tax–benefit model for Europe, EUROMOD, to simulate the distribution of replacement rates for six European countries, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. In particular we show the important role of household composition and the presence of other household members' incomes in preserving the standard of living while out of work compared with the impact of the tax–benefit system. Given this strong influence of primary incomes, replacement rates are not necessarily the best indicator of the impact of the tax–benefit system in this respect. We therefore consider in addition an alternative measure, the participation tax rate.     

思维法则学框架下东西方管理理论的比较——探索管理科学中国学派走向世界的道路

思维法则学下的CmCvAwAs系统理论,汲取了哲学和心理学的成果,包含了东方哲学思想,可为东西方管理理论的比较提供一个结构化框架.在CmCvAwAs系统理论框架下,对需要层次理论、系统开发的生命周期理论、质量管理理论、群体发展阶段理论、物理-事理-人理系统理论、东方管理学、和谐管理理论、和合管理理论进行了比较,分析了CmCvAwAs系统理论对于管理研究和管理实践的理论含义,并基于此给出了管理科学中国学派走向世界的一些具体的机遇和挑战.     

A continuous latent spatial model for crack initiation in bone cement

Summary.  Hip replacements rovide a means of achieving a higher quality of life for individuals who have, through aging or injury, accumulated damage to their natural joints. This is a very common operation, with over a million people a year benefiting from the procedure. The replacements themselves fail mainly as a result of the mechanical loosening of the components of the artificial joint due to damage accumulation. This damage accumulation consists of the initiation and growth of cracks in the bone cement which is used to fixate the replacement in the human body. The data come from laboratory experiments that are designed to assess the effectiveness of the bone cement in resisting damage. We examine the properties of the bone cement, with the aim being to estimate the effect that both observable and unobservable spatially varying factors have on causing crack initiation. To do this, an explicit model for the damage process is constructed taking into account the tension and compression at different locations in the specimens. A gamma random field is used to model any latent spatial factors that may be influential in crack initiation. Bayesian inference is carried out for the parameters of this field and related covariates by using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques.     

Choice and control in social care: Experiences of older self-funders in England

This paper considers the experiences of older self-funders in England in the context of policies promoting choice and control. Self-funders are people who are not state-funded; they pay for social care from their own resources. Choice and control have been operationalized through personal budgets, based on the assumption that managing resources enhances ability to access appropriate care and support. This paper uses data from 40 qualitative interviews with self-funders and their relatives, and 19 with professionals. It explores the impact of the financial and social capital that self-funders are assumed to have and asks how older self-funders experience choice and control. The study found that older self-funders drew on personal experiences, family, and friends for information; were reluctant to spend their wealth on care due to competing priorities; and felt they had more control over the timing of decisions than people who were state-funded. Personal wealth appears to be perceived differently to funds “gifted” to people through cash for care schemes.     

Perceived Power and Physical Violence in Marital Conflict

Relations among perceived marital power, the demand/withdraw interaction pattern, and self-reports of the use of verbal aggression and physical violence were examined in a sample of 42 married couples. Couples completed several self-report questionnaires and discussed two areas of marital dissatisfaction, one identified by the wife and one identified by the husband. These interactions were rated for the use of the demand/withdraw interaction pattern. Regression analyses revealed that lower levels of perceived power by the husbands and higher levels of perceived power by the wives were associated with the use of verbal aggression and violence by husbands and wives, the husband demand/wife withdraw interaction pattern was associated with husband's use of verbal aggression, and the wife demand/husband withdraw pattern was associated with husband's verbal aggression and violence and with wife's violence.