Improving network performance in the health care system: a network-based analysis of the Hungarian health care services = A hálózati teljesítmény javítása az egészségügyi rendszerben: a magyar egészségügyi szolgáltatások hálózati megközelítésű elemzése

The dissertation aims to contribute to better understanding of what role networks play in the organisation of health services, and how networks can contribute to better performance in the health care sector. Literature about performance measurement and management of public services as well as network research in public administration and public management was reviewed, and served as a solid theoretical base for the empirical research. Examples from the health care sector were provided throughout the literature review, building on the findings of health care management. The main ambition of the research was to contribute to the refinement of theories and models that describe the performance of public services and service provision networks. Since the research was carried out in the context of the Hungarian health sector, policy implications for the development of the Hungarian health care were also given. Based on the research aim and the current state of art, a mix of descriptive and exploratory approach was used. The dissertation analysed two cases from the Hungarian health sector: the case of regional e-health developments and the formation of general practitioner clusters. (...

Food safety regulation in Europe: how to measure performance and effectiveness

The paper aims to review the existing empirical literature on food safety regulation in Europe, in order to assess how performance and effectiveness are measured. The paper explores the main empirical contributions that describe the measurement process that has been applied in the literature to operationalize some key variables. Those variables have been identified through a preliminary literature review. This allowed to draw a general picture of the state of the art in the field of food regulation and to go deeper into unsolved research questions. Furthermore, measurement and operationalization processes are assessed. The method used is systematic review, which allows replicability and relies on the key principles of objectivity and scientific rigor. The paper eventually discusses the results in order to set the ground for further empirical analysis on the impact that the institutional regime (i.e. regulation, regulators and controllers) has on the effectiveness of food regulation

Mitigating Odors from Agricultural Facilities: A Review of Literature Concerning Biofilters

This article reviews literature on biofilter research both in laboratories and at confined livestock facilities. The purpose is to give an up-to-date review of biofilters used to mitigate of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from agricultural facilities using biofilters. More specifically the article addresses: 1) Factors concerned in design and operation of biofilters such as media property, empty bed residence time, media moisture measurement and control, microbial ecology, construction, and operation cost; and 2) Biofilter performance such as odor/VOC reduction efficiency (RE), and air pressure drop. Lab-scale, pilot-scale, and full-scale biofilter studies were reviewed. Biofilter design and odor/VOC REs were summarized in tables for easy reference and for a perspective on the current state of the art. The relationship between the biofilter configuration/operation factors and biofiter performance was discussed. This literature study indicates: 1) Biofilters can be used as an effective technology for reducing odor/VOC emissions from animal facilities (RE up to 99% for odor and up to 86% for 16 odorous VOCs reported); 2) The three most important factors effecting biofilter performance are packing media, media moisture content, and empty bed residence time; 3) Removal efficiency, air pressure drop, and construction/operation cost are three parameters of concern when a biofilter is installed and operated; and 4) Further studies such as developing precise media moisture measurement and control technologies, bacterial structure, and long time full-scale biofilter tests are needed to better understand the biofiltration process and improve biofilter applications for agriculture

La performance nel settore pubblico tra misure di output e di outcome. Una revisione strutturata della letteratura

The paper aims at understanding the state-of-the-art on the performance measurement models in the public sector. Thus, the article highlights the existing studies in the international scenario, critically analyzing the main topics, and drafting the future research lines. A structured literature review has been employed to analyze the papers published in the most famous journals of public management and administration. The results underline a framework summarizing the existing literature in the international scenario. In particular, findings highlight a call to encompass transparency, responsibility, sustainability, and public value in the measurement system, also taking into consideration new types of public organizations, such as the hybrid ones. While some sectors are well investigated, there is the need to deepen the knowledge of certain fields further. In the long run, scholars and practitioners should generate and rethink new integrated performance evaluation models that can cope with the changes occurring in the public sector. Findings provide a shared vision of current research lines, supporting scholars in their future work on new streams

A step-by-step plan to manage and measure adding value by FM/CREM

ABSTRACT Purpose To present a new Value Adding Management model in order to support decision makers in identifying appropriate interventions to add value to the organisation, to manage its implementation, and to measure the output and outcomes. Theory The paper builds on value adding management theories and models including the triplet input-throughput-output, a distinction between output, outcome and added value, the Plan-Do-Act-Check cycle, change management and performance measurement. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and a cross-chapter analysis of a forthcoming book, where authors from different European countries present a state of the art of theory and research on 12 value parameters, how to manage and measure each value, and to discuss the costs and benefits of typical FM and CREM interventions to enhance satisfaction, image, culture, health and safety, productivity, adaptability, innovation, risk, cost, value of assets, sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. Findings The new Value Adding Management model follows the steps from the well-known Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. The four steps are supported by various tools that were found in the literature or came to the fore in the state-of-the-art sections of the 12 value parameters. Furthermore an overview is presented of ways to measure the 12 value parameters and related Key Performance Indicators. Originality/value Much has been written about adding value by FM and CREM. This paper presents a new Value Adding Management model that opens the black box of inputthroughput-output-outcome and which is supported by various management and measurement tools

A Decade of Integrated Reporting Studies: State of the Art and Future Research Implications

Purpose – Over the past decade, researchers have witnessed an exponential growth in the number of publications on IR. This paper aims to understand the state of the art of the research field and to highlight the areas where further academic research is needed, guiding developments in theory, research, policy and practices. Design/methodology/approach – The authors apply the dynamic literature review method called “Systematic Literature Network Analysis”, which combines systematic literature review and bibliographic network analysis. Furthermore, to overcome some of the limitations connected to the methodology, the authors integrate the literature with a manual content analysis of papers. Findings – IR adoption and practices and their determinants represent the most analyzed aspects of literature. Over time, attention has been paid to more specific issues, such as the relationship between IR and other disclosure mechanisms, IR quality and its assurance, the critical analysis of the IR framework and principles and difficulties in IR adoption. Although the literature on IR can be considered to be in its mature stage, many aspects are still under-researched, so there is plenty of space for future research. Originality/value – The authors propose the following main issues as subjects to be investigated in future studies: IR is not simply an evolution of sustainability reporting, but an innovative communication tool; the debate on who the recipients of value are (shareholders or stakeholders) and on what the definition of value adopted by IR is still remains an open issue; more attention should be given to the role of IR as a managerial tool, which could support strategy formation and communication, and influence internal processes of performance measurement and evaluation; what the future of IR will be in light of recent EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and new ISSB’s standards is still an open question. From a methodological perspective, little is known about structured approaches in accounting studies. The authors confirm how methodologies, such as that of this paper, may be exploited as a tool to support dynamic analysis for setting the agendas for future studies in the accounting field

Potential of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for the Determination of Olive Oil Quality

The analysis of the physico-chemical parameters of quality of olive oil is still carried out in laboratories using chemicals and generating waste, which is relatively costly and time-consuming. Among the various alternatives for the online or on-site measurement of these parameters, the available literature highlights the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This article intends to comprehensively review the state-of-the-art research and the actual potential of NIRS for the analysis of olive oil. A description of the features of the infrared spectrum of olive oil and a quick explanation of the fundamentals of NIRS and chemometrics are also included. From the results available in the literature, it can be concluded that the four most usual physico-chemical parameters that define the quality of olive oils, namely free acidity, peroxide value, K232, and K270, can be measured by NIRS with high precision. In addition, NIRS is suitable for the nutritional labeling of olive oil because of its great performance in predicting the contents in total fat, total saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in olive oils. Other parameters of interest have the potential to be analyzed by NIRS, but the improvement of the mathematical models for their determination is required, since the errors of prediction reported so far are a bit high for practical application

Resilience, Reliability, and Recoverability (3Rs)

Recent natural and human-made disasters, mortgage derivatives crises, and the need for stable systems in different areas have renewed interest in the concept of resilience, especially as it relates to complex industrial systems with mechanical failures. This concept in the engineering systems (infrastructure) domain could be interpreted as the probability that system conditions exceed an irrevocable tipping point. But the probability in this subject covers the different areas that different approaches and indicators can evaluate. In this context, reliability engineering is used the reliability (uptime) and recoverability (downtime) indicators (or performance indicators) as the most useful probabilistic tools for performance measurement. Therefore, our research penalty area is the resilience concept in combination with reliability and recoverability. It must be said that the resilience evaluators must be considering a diversity of knowledge sources. In this thesis, the literature review points to several important implications for understanding and applying resilience in the engineering area and The Arctic condition. Indeed, we try to understand the application and interaction of different performance-based resilience concepts. In this way, a collection of the most popular performance-based resilience analysis methods with an engineering perspective is added as a state-of-the-art review. The performance indicators studies reveal that operational conditions significantly affect the components, industry activities, and infrastructures performance in various ways. These influential factors (or heterogeneity) can broadly be studied into two groups: observable and unobservable risk factors in probability analysis of system performance. The covariate-based models (regression), such as proportional hazard models (PHM), and their extent are the most popular methods for quantifying observable and unobservable risk factors. The report is organized as follows: After a brief introduction of resilience, chapters 2,3 priorly provide a comprehensive statistical overview of the reliability and recoverability domain research by using large scientific databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. As the first subsection, a detailed review of publications in the reliability and recoverability assessment of the engineering systems in recent years (since 2015) is provided. The second subsection of these chapters focuses on research done in the Arctic region. The last subsection presents covariate-based reliability and recoverability models. Finally, in chapter 4, the first part presents the concept and definitions of resilience. The literature reviews four main perspectives: resilience in engineering systems, resilience in the Arctic area, the integration of “Resilience, Reliability, and Recoverability (3Rs)”, and performance-based resilience models

A Triple-A supply chain measurement model: validation and analysis

"This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-06-2018-0233. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited"[EN] Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish definitions and dimensions of Triple-A supply chain (SC) variables based on a literature review and to validate a Triple-A SC measurement model using a worldwide multiple informant sample. Design/methodology/approach Following a literature review, Triple-A SC variables (agility, alignment and adaptability) are conceptualized and a list of possible items is created for their measurement. An international 309 plant sample is used to validate the convergent and criterion validities of the composites proposed to measure Triple-A SC. Findings Contributions to the literature: clarification of Triple-A SC variable concepts; identification of key dimensions of Triple-A SC variables; development of a validated Triple-A SC measurement scale for future empirical research and industrial applications. Research limitations/implications A rigorously validated instrument is needed to measure Triple-A SC variables and enable researchers to credibly test theories regarding causal links between capabilities, practices and performance. Practical implications Proposal of a scale for use by managers of different functions to analyze Triple-A SC deployment in the company. Originality/value The only Triple-A SC scale used in the previous literature has serious limitations: scales were not taken from an extended literature review; data were collected from single respondents in a single country. This is the first validated Triple-A SC measurement model to overcome these limitations.This study has been conducted within the frameworks of the following projects: 'Accion especial SGUIT-2015 (SBAPA2015-06) HPM-(Project 2015/148 U.S.)-Junta de Andalucia (Spain); PAIDI Excellence Project P08-SEJ-0384-Junta de Andalucia (Spain); and DPI2009-11148-Spanish National Program of Industrial Design and Production.Marin-Garcia, JA.; Alfalla-Luque, R.; Machuca, JA. (2018). A Triple-A supply chain measurement model: validation and analysis. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management. 48(10):976-994. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-06-2018-0233S9769944810Agarwal, A., Shankar, R., & Tiwari, M. K. (2007). Modeling agility of supply chain. Industrial Marketing Management, 36(4), 443-457. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.12.004Alfalla-Luque, R., & Medina-López, C. (2009). Supply Chain Management: Unheard of in the 1970s, core to today’s company. 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Design and Fabrication of a Force-Displacement Control Mechanism for Bone-Surgical Tool Testing

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of an experimental setup for orthopedic-tool testing, tailored for a surgical instrumentation company. The multifaceted project encompasses a literature review, conceptual design, prototyping, and rigorous testing, resulting in a versatile control system capable of assessing various orthopedic tools, including bone drills, saws, burrs, and power handpieces. Orthopedic surgical procedures (which include cutting and/or drilling into bone) often need to be performed on bones for faster recovery. The drilling and cutting process can cause an increase in temperature at the cutting site which can cause bone necrosis. The tools also need to be reliable and operate at optimum speeds and loading to increase success rates of surgical procedures. To optimize the cutting conditions, minimize thermal osteonecrosis and, other unwanted damage of bone during surgery; the cutting process, effect of the tool design and cutting parameters on the tool performance need to be investigated. As such, a mechanism for testing the bone-cutting tools is important. The experimental setup integrates state-of-the-art sensors and measurement devices, capturing crucial data such as force, speed, and temperature. A user-friendly control interface enhances operational efficiency, while safety features, ensure user well-being and system integrity. Calibration processes and performance criteria set the stage for comprehensive testing, with iterative feedback loops from stakeholders guiding continuous refinement and documentation finalization. Future work is outlined, including advanced sensor integration, dynamic simulation models, clinical validation studies, and collaborative research initiatives. This project sets the foundation for ongoing advancements in orthopedic tool testing, emphasizing adaptability to emerging technologies and a commitment to improving patient outcomes in bone surgery