New innovation management paradigms in the knowledge-driven economy

The growing importance of knowledge as a production factor and as a determinant of innovation can be explained by the continuous accumulation of technical knowledge over time. Innovation Management Techniques (IMTs) are critical to support the process of innovation in firms and help them in a systematic way to meet new market challenges

Revisiting CAUTI Prevention: A Multifaceted Approach using Lean Six Sigma

This project identified gaps in policy and processes to improve patient outcomes related to workflow in the catheter-associated urinary tract infection policy and process at a 400-bed hospital in southern California. Even with an evidence-based infection prevention bundle in place, the current process was not working, as demonstrated by high catheter-associated infection rates for the last two years. This project answers the question: Does the use of a comprehensive evaluation of the current policy and process using the Lean Six Sigma quality improvement model influence a reduction in infection rates in patients who have an internal urinary catheter over 15 weeks? Despite published consensus guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infections; a single, evidence-based approach to the reduction of urinary tract infection does not exist. Avoiding the placement of catheters and encouraging early removal are the most effective interventions to prevent infection. The outcomes of the project resulted in a decrease in infections and significant cost reduction for the organization related to patient days and fines. Implementation of teams, nurse-driven protocols, and the establishment of bi-annual staff education were successful interventions. Lean Six Sigma played a significant role in the recognition of practical strategies required to ensure the effective use of proven infection prevention and to decrease the burden of disease correlated with indwelling urinary catheterization

A design framework for the mass customisation of custom-fit bicycle helmet models

Mass customisation (MC) can provide significant benefits to the customers. For example, custom-fit design approaches can improve the users’ perceived comfort of products where the fit is an important feature. MC can also bring major value to the producers, where for instance, premium prices can be implemented to the products. Research show that MC can bring competitive advantages especially when the system is new. It is therefore surprising that MC of helmets has not been studied more extensively, especially given the advances in 3D scanning, computational analyses, parametric design, and additive manufacturing techniques. The purpose of this study was to present a novel MC framework for the design of custom-fit bicycle helmet models. In the proposed design framework, we first categorized a subset of the Australian population into four groups of individuals based on their similar head shapes. New customers were then classified inside one of these groups. The customisation took place inside these groups to ensure that only small variations of the helmet liner were implemented. During the design process, the inside surfaces of a generic helmet model was modified to match the customer's head shape. We demonstrated that all the customized models created complied with the relevant drop impact test standard if their liner thickness was between the worst and best case helmets of each group. Fit accuracy was verified using an objective evaluation method. Future work should include detailed description of the manufacturing methods engaged in our MC framework

Patient preferences of genomic testing in precision cancer medicine

Aims: The aim of this thesis was to identify and rate themed patient preference attributes of genomic testing in precision cancer medicine (PCM). The effect of clinical treatment intent and time since completing treatment was examined as a novel hypothesis that these factors influence identified preference attribute themes and/or ratings. This thesis then benchmarked the identified preference attributes against the ATLANTIS clinical trial design, in order to assess how a current clinical trial incorporates patient preferences. Methods: A narrative review of current cancer treatment paradigms was undertaken alongside systematic review of the literature assessing patient preferences of genomic testing in PCM. In addition, mixed methods research, using Nominal Group Technique (NGT), identified and rated preference attribute themes of genomic testing amongst cancer patients. These preference attributes were then benchmarked against genomic testing undertaken within the ATLANTIS clinical trial, to determine how a novel PCM study design incorporated the attributes. Results: Patient preferences of genomic testing in PCM are influenced by clinical treatment intent and time since completing treatment. Patients undergoing cancer treatment with radical intent demonstrated higher preference ratings for test sensitivity (true positive) and specificity (true negative). Invasiveness of testing and test turnaround time were higher rated preference attributes amongst patients undergoing treatment with palliative intent. Ten preference attribute themes of genomic testing were identified: regulatory/NHS approval, test turnaround time, invasiveness of testing, physician approval, test sensitivity (true positive), test specificity (true negative), prevalence of variant, distance to travel, implications for family and family endorsement for testing. The novel adaptive design of the ATLANTIS trial incorporated many of the preference attribute themes of genomic testing demonstrated in this thesis. Conclusions: Patient preferences of genomic testing in PCM are influenced by clinical treatment intent. This thesis identified and rated preference attribute themes of genomic testing for patients, as well as benchmarking these against a current UK PCM clinical trial. The adaptive design of the ATLANTIS trial incorporated many of the preference attributes, but does not allow for assessment of interaction between multiple inter-related attributes. The results of this thesis augment novel clinical trial design for studies incorporating genomic testing in order they retain patient-centred values at their core

Beyond Copenhagen: A climate policymaker's handbook

It is still unclear what a post-Kyoto international regime to tackle climate change will look like. Negotiations on a post-2012 framework are revisiting questions that arose when the Kyoto Protocol was put in place Â? such as how targets can best be shared out, and how the different interests of rich and poor countries can be addressed Â? but policymakers must also face new realities. Scientific evidence shows that the climate policies formulated so far are unfit to deal with the magnitude of the challenge. This book looks realistically at the options for a deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. It sets out some of the main ingredients that will have to be included for finalisation of an economically rational agreement that stands a real chance of addressing the threat to the climate system. It critically analyses the European Union's climate policies before reviewing the key elements of such an agreement: carbon markets, flexible mechanisms for transferring money and technology to developing countries, innovation, and the effective enforcement of a global climate deal. The contributors to the volume are Joseph E Aldy, Valentina Bosetti, Carlo Carraro, Juan Delgado, Denny Ellerman, Dieter Helm, Axel Michaelowa, Robert N Stavins and Massimo Tavoni. The French Ministère de lâ??Ecologie, de lâ??Energie, du Développement durable et de la Mer, under the auspices of the 2008 French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, contributed financial support to the production of this volume.

Lost or found? Discovering data needed for research

Finding data is a necessary precursor to being able to reuse data, although relatively little large-scale empirical evidence exists about how researchers discover, make sense of and (re)use data for research. This study presents evidence from the largest known survey investigating how researchers discover and use data that they do not create themselves. We examine the data needs and discovery strategies of respondents, propose a typology for data reuse and probe the role of social interactions and literature search in data discovery. We consider how data communities can be conceptualized according to data uses and propose practical applications of our findings for designers of data discovery systems and repositories. Specifically, we consider how to design for a diversity of practices, how communities of use can serve as an entry point for design and the role of metadata in supporting both sensemaking and social interactions.Comment: Harvard Data Science Review (2020

Event-driven servers using asynchronous, non-blocking network I/O: Performance evaluation of kqueue and epoll

This research project evaluates the performance of kqueue and epoll in the context of event-driven servers. The evaluation is done through benchmarking and tracing which are used to measure throughput and execution time respectively. The experiment is repeated for both a virtualised and native server environment. The results from the experiment are statistically analysed and compared. These results show significant differences between kqueue and epoll, and a profound impact of virtualisation as a variable