Entrepreneurial orientation and international performance: the moderating effect of decision-making rationality

This research examines how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) influences international performance (IP) of the firm taking into account the moderating effect of decision-making rationality (DR) on the EO–IP association. Such an investigation is significant because it considers the interplay of strategic decision-making processes supported by the bounded rationality concept in the entrepreneurship field. Drawing from a study on activities of 216 firms in the United States and United Kingdom, the evidence suggests that DR positively moderates the EO–IP association. The findings suggest that managers can improve IP by combining EO with rational (analytical) processes in their strategic decisions

A case study on the impact of fixed input parameter values in the modelling of indoor overheating

Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings while also improving their environmental resilience have intensified. These efforts are often supported by building stock models which can inform policymakers on the impact of policies on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and the indoor environment. The input values of such models are commonly informed by reference tables, which can result in inaccurate specification and incomplete representation of the distribution of possible values. In this modelling case study of a semi-detached dwelling archetype, the influence of using a reference U-value (2.1 W/(m2K)) for solid walls in England on heat-related mortality rate is compared to a probabilistic specification based on empirical evidence (median = 1.7W/(m2K)). Using the theoretical reference U-value generally resulted in a lower indoor overheating risk compared to the use of the empirically derived U-values pre-retrofit, but a larger increase in heat-related mortality rate following internal wall insulation (1.20%) than the use of the empirical median (0.94%, 95 % Confidence Interval = 0.87–0.99 %). This highlights the potentially significant implications of using fixed reference values. Future work will employ this probabilistic framework on multiple influential parameters

Modelling job crafting behaviours: Implications for work engagement

In this study among 206 employees (103 dyads), we followed the job demands–resources approach of job crafting to investigate whether proactively changing one’s work environment influences employee’s (actor’s) own and colleague s (partner’s) work engagement. Using social cognitive theory, we hypothesized that employees would imitate each other’s job crafting behaviours, and therefore influence each other’s work engagement. Results showed that the crafting of social and structural job resources, and the crafting of challenge job demands was positively related to own work engagement, whereas decreasing hindrance job demands was unrelated to own engagement. As predicted, results showed a reciprocal relationship between dyad members’ job crafting behaviours – each of the actor’s job crafting behaviours was positively related to the partner’s job crafting behaviours. Finally, employee’s job crafting was related to colleague’s work engagement through colleague’s job crafting, suggesting a modelling process

Toward a joint catalogue of recent seismicity in western Greece: preliminary results

Οι κατάλογοι με δεδομένα πρώτων αφίξεων των σεισμικών κυμάτων που συντάσσονται από τα τρία μόνιμα σεισμολογικά δίκτυα της Ελλάδας ενοποιήθηκαν και υπέστησαν κοινή επεξεργασία προκειμένου να επαναπροσδιοριστούν οι θέσεις των σεισμικών επικέντρου στη Δυτική Ελλάδα. Τα αποτελέσματα της κοινής επεξεργασίας, που παρουσιάζονται στην παρούσα εργασία, αφορούν στην εξαετία 2000 - 2005 και τη γεωγραφική περιοχή μεταξύ 35-42°Β και 19-22°Α. Μετά τη διαδικασία της ενοποίησης των φάσεων των διάφορων κέντρων, ο αριθμός των σεισμικών γεγονότων στον κατάλογο που προέκυψε αυξήθηκε κατά 3000 περίπου σε σχέση με τους προϋπάρχοντες, επιμέρους καταλόγους. Τα επίκεντρα των σεισμών του ενιαίου καταλόγου επαναπροσδιορίστηκαν με τη χρήση του αλγόριθμου Hypoinverse και διάφορους συνδυασμούς μονοδιάστατων μοντέλων ταχυτήτων που έχουν προταθεί για τον ελλαδικό χώρο και συντελεστές βαρύτητας για τα δεδομένα των φάσεων. Από τους διάφορους συνδυασμούς που δοκιμάστηκαν προέκυψε ότι η βαρύτητα που δίνεται στις φάσεις των S κυμάτων επηρεάζει δραστικότερα τα αποτελέσματα του επανα-προσδιορισμού των επικέντρων. Οι μικρότερες τιμές σφαλμάτων στους χρόνους γένεσης των σεισμών και τη χωροθέτηση των επικέντρων τους κατά την οριζόντια και την κατακόρυφη διεύθυνση προκύπτουν όταν οι φάσεις των S κυμάτων δε χρησιμοποιηθούν. Τα επανα προσδιορισμένα επίκεντρα εμφανίζουν περισσότερο διακριτές συγκεντρώσεις και διαγράφουν με μεγαλύτερη σαφήνεια τις τεκτονικές δομές της περιοχής μελέτης.Routine catalogue phase data of three Greek permanent seismic networks are merged and jointly used to relocate earthquakes in western Greece. Processed data refer to the time period from 2000 to 2005 and to the geographical area between 35- 42°N and 19-22Έ. After the merging procedure, the number of events in the joint catalogue is increased by more than 3000 compared to the individual pre-existing catalogues. Earthquakes are relocated using the Hypoinverse algorithm and several different combinations of ID velocity models and phase weighting schemes. Among these two tested factors, S-phase weights are found to affect the relocation results more drastically. In fact, minimum mean rms, erh and erz values (0.28 sees, 3.6 km and 5.8 km, respectively) are found when S-phases are neglected. Relocated epicenters appear more clustered and illuminate well-known, as well as obscure, seismotectonic structures of the are

A methodological framework for assessing agreement between cost-effectiveness outcomes estimated using alternative sources of data on treatment costs and effects for trial-based economic evaluations

A new methodological framework for assessing agreement between cost-effectiveness endpoints generated using alternative sources of data on treatment costs and effects for trial-based economic evaluations is proposed. The framework can be used to validate cost-effectiveness endpoints generated from routine data sources when comparable data is available directly from trial case report forms or from another source. We illustrate application of the framework using data from a recent trial-based economic evaluation of the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve strain BBG administered to babies less than 31 weeks of gestation. Cost-effectiveness endpoints are compared using two sources of information; trial case report forms and data extracted from the National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD), a clinical database created through collaborative efforts of UK neonatal services. Focusing on mean incremental net benefits at £30,000 per episode of sepsis averted, the study revealed no evidence of discrepancy between the data sources (two-sided p values >0.4), low probability estimates of miscoverage (ranging from 0.039 to 0.060) and concordance correlation coefficients greater than 0.86. We conclude that the NNRD could potentially serve as a reliable source of data for future trial-based economic evaluations of neonatal interventions. We also discuss the potential implications of increasing opportunity to utilize routinely available data for the conduct of trial-based economic evaluations

Study on Doping Prevention: A map of Legal, Regulatory and Prevention Practice Provisions in EU 28

Historically, anti-doping efforts have focused on the detection and deterrence of doping in elite and competitive sport. There is, however, a growing concern that doping is occurring outside the organised sporting system; giving rise to the belief that the misuse of doping agents in recreational sport has become a societal problem and a public health issue that must be addressed. The EU Commission awarded a contract (EAC/2013/0617) to a Consortium to undertake this Study with the aim of developing the evidence-base for policies designed to combat doping in recreational sport. Fourteen internationally recognised experts shaped the Study which comprised (i) the collection of primary data through a structured survey, and (ii) secondary data through literature searches and website analysis. All 28 Member States participated in the information-gathering process. Specifically, this involved a systematic study of the ethical considerations, legal position, prevention research landscape, and current practise in relation to the prevention of doping in recreational sport. The Study provides a comprehensive overview of current practice and legislation as it applies to the prevention of doping and promotes and supports the sharing of best practices in the EU regarding the fight against doping in recreational sport. It concludes with seven recommendations for future action that focus on the need for a coordinated response in relation to the problems arising from doping in recreational sport

Economic outcomes associated with deep surgical site infection in patients with an open fracture of the lower limb

Aims The aim of this study was to estimate economic outcomes associated with deep surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with an open fracture of the lower limb. Patients and Methods A total of 460 patients were recruited from 24 specialist trauma hospitals in the United Kingdom Major Trauma Network. Preference-based health-related quality-of-life outcomes, assessed using the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L and the 6-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-6D), and economic costs (£, 2014/2015 prices) were measured using participant-completed questionnaires over the 12 months following injury. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between deep SSI and health utility scores, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and health and personal social service (PSS) costs. Results Deep SSI was associated with lower EQ-5D-3L derived QALYs (adjusted mean difference -0.102, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.202 to 0.001, p = 0.047) and increased health and social care costs (adjusted mean difference £1950; 95% CI £1383 to £5285, p = 0.250) versus patients without deep SSI over the 12 months following injury. Conclusion Deep SSI may lead to significantly impaired health-related quality of life and increased economic costs. Our economic estimates can be used to inform clinical and budgetary service planning and can act as reference data for future economic evaluations of preventive or treatment interventions

Re-evaluation of cosmic ray cutoff terminology

The study of cosmic ray access to locations inside the geomagnetic field has evolved in a manner that has led to some misunderstanding and misapplication of the terminology originally developed to describe particle access. This paper presents what is believed to be a useful set of definitions for cosmic ray cutoff terminology for use in theoretical and experimental cosmic ray studies