24 research outputs found
Portfolio Planning Methods: Faulty Approach or Faulty Research? A Rejoinder to 'Making Better Decisions' by Wensley
Wensley (1994) makes three key points. First, it is worthwhile to conduct empirical studies of the value of management techniques. Second, managers probably misuse portfolio methods. Third, the Armstrong and Brodie study is flawed. We agree with all three points.marketing, portfolio planning methods
Factors influencing scar formation following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination
The prevalence of scar formation following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination varies globally. The beneficial off-target effects of BCG are proposed to be stronger amongst children who develop a BCG scar. Within an international randomised trial ('BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers'; BRACE Trial), this nested prospective cohort study assessed the prevalence of and factors influencing scar formation, as well as participant perception of BCG scarring 12 months following vaccination . Amongst 3071 BCG-recipients, 2341 (76%) developed a BCG scar. Scar prevalence was lowest in Spain and highest in UK. Absence of post-injection wheal (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.9), BCG revaccination (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.3-2.0), female sex (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.7-2.4), older age (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.4-0.5) and study country (Brazil OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.3-2.0) influenced BCG scar prevalence. Of the 2341 participants with a BCG scar, 1806 (77%) did not mind having the scar. Participants more likely to not mind were those in Brazil, males and those with a prior BCG vaccination history. The majority (96%) did not regret having the vaccine. Both vaccination-related (amenable to optimisation) and individual-related factors affected BCG scar prevalence 12 months following BCG vaccination of adults, with implications for maximising the effectiveness of BCG vaccination.Paola Villanueva, Nigel W. Crawford, Mariana Garcia Croda, Simone Collopy, Bruno Araújo Jardim, Tyane de Almeida Pinto Jardim, Laurens Manning, Michaela Lucas, Helen Marshall, Cristina Prat-Aymerich, Alice Sawka, Ketaki Sharma, Darren Troeman, Ushma Wadia, Adilia Warris, Nicholas Wood, Nicole L. Messina, Nigel Curtis, Laure F. Pitte
Safety of BCG vaccination and revaccination in healthcare workers.
BCG vaccination and revaccination are increasingly being considered for the protection of adolescents and adults against tuberculosis and, more broadly, for the off-target protective immunological effects against other infectious and noninfectious diseases. Within an international randomized controlled trial of BCG vaccination in healthcare workers (the BRACE trial), we evaluated the incidence of local and serious adverse events, as well as the impact of previous BCG vaccination on local injection site reactions (BCG revaccination). Prospectively collected data from 99% (5351/5393) of participants in Australia, Brazil, Spain, The Netherlands and the UK was available for analysis. Most BCG recipients experienced the expected self-limiting local injection site reactions (pain, tenderness, erythema, swelling). BCG injection site itch was an additional common initial local symptom reported in 49% of BCG recipients. Compared to BCG vaccination in BCG-naïve individuals, BCG revaccination was associated with increased frequency of mild injection site reactions, as well as earlier onset and shorter duration of erythema and swelling, which were generally self-limiting. Injection site abscess and regional lymphadenopathy were the most common adverse events and had a benign course. Self-resolution occurred within a month in 80% of abscess cases and 100% of lymphadenopathy cases. At a time when BCG is being increasingly considered for its off-target effects, our findings indicate that BCG vaccination and revaccination have an acceptable safety profile in adults.Paola Villanueva, Nigel W. Crawford, Mariana Garcia Croda, Simone Collopy, Bruno Araújo Jardim, Tyane de Almeida Pinto Jardim, Helen Marshall, Cristina Prat-Aymerich Alice Sawka, Ketaki Sharma, Darren Troeman, Ushma Wadia, Adilia Warris, Nicholas Wood, Nicole L. Messina, Nigel Curtis, and Laure F. Pitte
The Authorpreneur
abstract: The objective of this paper is to give information that can assist Independent (indie) authors at every stage of the book process: development, promotion and distribution of their books. The book market is changing, and it's changing today. As the market evolves it is essential for authors to evolve as well. Due to the market's evolution, authors must question every stage of the book process, from beginning to end. It is due to these significant changes that my paper will be formatted more as a guide for newer indie authors or authors who are having trouble keeping up with the new market. The guide will assist indie authors at every stage of the book process and will also make clear where the new market stands. In order to create a more credible guide, I collected large amounts of primary data and entered the market myself in order to truly understand the new market from an indie author's position. I found this approach essential due to the near absence of credible secondary data and because of the plethora of nuances at every stage of the book process. For primary data, I created and distributed an in-depth survey with the purpose of revealing book blogger preferences, online habits, and preferred methods of contact. The reason for my focus on book bloggers is because of the greatly increased importance of book reviews. I also believe that book blogger preferences are a good indicator of what the typical reader enjoys, giving me further insight into market preferences as a whole. I became an indie author in order to better understand the market so that I could ask the right questions and be better able to give practical suggestions. I wanted to create a guide that real indie authors could use, so it seemed natural that I should become a real indie author. This guide is structured in the way indie authors would create their book
Which Kind of Science Is Construction Management?
It is argued that the mainstream views on the nature of construction management are insufficient, and as one consequence of this, the relevance of construction management has been questioned. As a solution to this situation, construction management is suggested to be repositioned as a design science, rather than as an explanatory science. A historical consideration reveals that design science equals to one of the sciences proposed by Aristotle, however, the suggestion of Aristotle has been forgotten. Thus, there has been a long-standing neglect of the design science, which explains the present fragmentation of this field. It is argued that this redefinition of construction management will solve several problems plaguing this discipline, including the problem of relevance
Editorial
This October 2014 issue of the International Journal of Music Business Research opens with the award-winning paper from the 4th Vienna Music Business Research Days 2013. In this Francisco Bernardo & Luís Gustavo Martins of the Catholic University of Portugal in Porto pose the crucial question of whether, in the digital age, disintermediation is re-shaping the music industry and fostering independent approaches to the market. Aspects of Bernardo & Martins' article are echoed in the subsequent paper by O'Hare entitled, "Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Music Business Education". The author argues these days a music business education is essential to achieve success in the music business. The third article in this volume is a contribution by Beatrice Jetto of the University of Technology and Notre Dame University in Sydney, Australia. In this she focuses on the relationship between music blogs and the music industry by analysing 18 semi-structured interviews with bloggers specialising in music
A generic tool for cost estimating in aircraft design
A methodology to estimate the cost implications
of design decisions by integrating cost as a design
parameter at an early design stage is presented. The model
is developed on a hierarchical basis, the manufacturing cost
of aircraft fuselage panels being analysed in this paper. The manufacturing cost modelling is original and relies on a
genetic-causal method where the drivers of each element of
cost are identified relative to the process capability. The
cost model is then extended to life cycle costing by computing the Direct Operating Cost as a function of
acquisition cost and fuel burn, and coupled with a semiempirical numerical analysis using Engineering Sciences
Data Unit reference data to model the structural integrity of the fuselage shell with regard to material failure and various modes of buckling. The main finding of the paper is
that the traditional minimum weight condition is a dated
and sub-optimal approach to airframe structural design
Modelo de previsão da demanda para as indústrias atuantes no setor de infra-estrutura brasileiro dos segmentos de energia elétrica e telecomunicações
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenhara de Produção.Proposição de um modelo de processo de previsão da demanda - combinando métodos quantitativos e qualitativos - para as indústrias atuantes no setor de infra-estrutura brasileiro dos segmentos de Energia Elétrica e Telecomunicações, baseando-se em recentes pesquisas e bibliografia sobre o tema e no estudo de caso do processo de previsão em empresas destes segmentos. O modelo consiste em um processo que combina métodos quantitativos e qualitativos de julgamento, ressaltando a necessidade de se utilizar os primeiros sempre que as séries temporais permitirem - preferencialmente os mais simples - e sistematizando o emprego das técnicas qualitativas de modo a minimizar a introdução de viés por julgamento
Discovery and Communication of Important Marketing Findings: Evidence and Proposals
My review of empirical research on scientific publication led to the following conclusions. Three criteria are useful for identifying whether findings are important: replication, validity, and usefulness. A fourth criterion, surprise, applies in some situations. Based on these criteria, important findings resulting from academic research in marketing seem to be rare. To a large extent, this rarity is due to a reward system that is built around subjective peer review. Rather than using peer review as a secret screening process, using an open process likely will improve papers and inform readers. Researchers, journals, business schools, funding agencies, and professional organizations can all contribute to improving the process. For example, researchers should do directed research on papers that contribute to principles. Journals should invite papers that contribute to principles. Business school administrators should reward researchers who make important findings. Funding agencies should base decisions on researchers' prior success in making important findings, and professional organizations should maintain web sites that describe what is known about principles and what research is needed on principles.marketing, marketing findings
