The 'Mystery' of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Review of: Mitra, Jay (2011) Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development: An Introduction. Routledge. ISBN 9780415405157 <http://repository.essex.ac.uk/4334/

Risk-Based Capacitor Placement in Distribution Networks

In this paper, the problem of sizing and placement of constant and switching capacitors in electrical distribution systems is modelled considering the load uncertainty. This model is formu- lated as a multicriteria mathematical problem. The risk of voltage violation is calculated, and the stability index is modelled using fuzzy logic and fuzzy equations. The instability risk is introduced as the deviation of our fuzzy-based stability index with respect to the stability margin. The capacitor placement objectives in our paper include: (i) minimizing investment and installation costs as well as loss cost; (ii) reducing the risk of voltage violation; and (iii) reducing the instability risk. The proposed mathematical model is solved using a multi-objective version of a genetic algorithm. The model is implemented on a distribution network, and the results of the experiment are discussed. The impacts of constant and switching capacitors are assessed separately and concurrently. Moreo- ver, the impact of uncertainty on the multi-objectives is determined based on a sensitivity analysis. It is demonstrated that the more the uncertainty is, the higher the system cost, the voltage risk and the instability risk are

The pattern of knowledge sharing in organization with social interaction approach: A case study in the Research Department of National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company

The aim of this study was to provide the pattern of knowledge sharing in organization with social interaction approach. This is an applied, and descriptive-correlational research. The population consisted of senior experts and executive managers of the research department of national Iranian oil engineering and Construction Company. Thirty subjects were selected purposefully who directly involved in the project of knowledge sharing in organization. For data collection, the questionnaire and for data analysis the regression and structural equation modeling were used. The findings indicated that knowledge sharing activities, including sender, recipient, organizational context, and knowledge sharing mechanisms have a significant positive correlation with the function of knowledge sharing; furthermore, the co-existence of knowledge sharing dimensions and their suitability facilitate knowledge sharing in organization. Finally, knowledge sharing is the culture of knowledge-based interactions and appropriate approach for knowledge sharing refers to social interaction approach

Modeling the theory of planned behaviour to predict adherence to preventive dental visits in preschool children

Objectives Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease that occurs in a continuum and can be prevented by children and their parents’ adherence to recommended oral health behaviors. Theory-driven tools help practitioners to identify the causes for poor adherence and develop effective interventions. This study examined the Expanded Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) Model by adding the concept of Sense of Coherence (SOC) to predict parental adherence to preschooler’s preventive dental visits. Methods Data regarding socio-economic demographics were collected from parents of children aged 2–6 years. Constructs of TPB including parental attitudes, subjective norms (SN), Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC), and intention to attend preventive dental visits for their preschoolers were collected by questionnaire, alongside parents’ sense of coherence (SOC). Dental attendance was measured by asking if the child had a regular dental visit during the last year. Structural Equation Modeling Analysis (SEMA) was carried out to identify significant direct and indirect (mediated) pathways in the extended TPB model. Results Three hundred and seventy-eight mothers (mean age = 34.41 years, range 22–48) participated in the study. The mean age of children was 3.92 years, range: 2–6), and 75.9% had dental insurance. Results of the final model showed that predisposing factors (child’s birthplace and mother’s birthplace) significantly predicted enabling resources (family monthly income and child’s dental insurance status); both predicted the TPB components (PBC, SN, and attitude). TPB components, in turn, predicted behavioural intention. However, contrary to expectation, intention did not significantly predict dental attendance in the past 12 months. Parent’s SOC significantly predicted TPB components and dental attendance. Overall, 56% of the variance in dental attendance was explained by the expanded TPB model. Conclusions The expanded TPB model explained a great deal of variance in preschooler’s dental attendance. These findings suggest that the expanded model could be used as the framework for designing interventions or strategies to enhance dental attendance among preschoolers; in particular, such strategies should focus specifically on enhancing parental SOC including empowerment

The pattern of knowledge sharing in organization with social interaction approach: A case study in the Research Department of National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company

The aim of this study was to provide the pattern of knowledge sharing in organization with social interaction approach. This is an applied, and descriptive-correlational research. The population consisted of senior experts and executive managers of the research department of national Iranian oil engineering and Construction Company. Thirty subjects were selected purposefully who directly involved in the project of knowledge sharing in organization. For data collection, the questionnaire and for data analysis the regression and structural equation modeling were used. The findings indicated that knowledge sharing activities, including sender, recipient, organizational context, and knowledge sharing mechanisms have a significant positive correlation with the function of knowledge sharing; furthermore, the co-existence of knowledge sharing dimensions and their suitability facilitate knowledge sharing in organization. Finally, knowledge sharing is the culture of knowledge-based interactions and appropriate approach for knowledge sharing refers to social interaction approach

Soft magnons in anisotropic ferromagnets

We discuss spin-wave transport in anisotropic ferromagnets with an emphasis on the zeros of the band edges as a function of a magnetic field. An associated divergence of the magnon spin should be observable by enhanced magnon conductivities in nonlocal configurations, especially in two-dimensional ferromagnets.</p

Soft Magnons in Anisotropic Ferromagnets

We discuss spin-wave transport in anisotropic ferromagnets with an emphasis on the zeroes of the band edges as a function of a magnetic field. An associated divergence of the magnon spin should be observable by enhanced magnon conductivities in non-local experiments, especially in two-dimensional ferromagnets