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States that inventory is the most significant financial asset of women’s clothing retailers, showing that the majority look at inventory management as a tool to improve customer satisfaction. Suggests that satisfying customer needs results in increased revenues, greater liquidity, lower inventory levels and improved returns on investment. Considers the keys to successful inventory management using case studies as examples and concludes that many retailers are moving in the direction of continuous assessment of inventories rather than point in time assessments.

Using the upper echelons theory, this study aims to investigate the moderating effect of managerial discretion (MD) on the impact of dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) on established firms’ (EFs) response strategies to disruptive innovation (RStDI).

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data from senior management of sample firms, targeting the population of professional service firms (PSFs) operating in the Emirate of Dubai. After receiving 491 responses, data was analyzed using IBM packages (SPSS and Amos) through a covariance-based structural equation modeling technique.

As proposed, the underpinnings of DMCs (managerial human capital, managerial social capital and managerial cognitive perceptions) were associated with EFs’ strategies for responding to DIs. Surprisingly, despite theoretical predictions, MD did not moderate the relationship. These findings provided support to the main propositions of the upper echelons theory, however, not for its contextual moderator (MD).

The cross-sectional approach to testing the research model limits the identified significant effects that should be further investigated. The research sample was restricted to PSFs operating in Dubai, UAE, thus limiting the generalizability of the findings to the examined context.

The findings of this investigation are valuable to managers and hiring teams. They provide empirically supported insights on the critical role of managerial dynamic capabilities underpinnings (human capital, social capital and cognitive perceptions) in facilitating organizational RStDI. The findings also provide significant insights to policymakers, notably on the importance of innovative and well-crafted policies and regulative frameworks that enhance MD.

This study provides one of the first empirical quantitative analysis to assess MD and test its effects as a moderator, thus contributing significantly to the existing theoretical arguments on MD. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to quantify the relationship between DMCs and organizational RStDI.

The article focuses on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convective flow of MoS₂-SiO₂ /ethylene glycol (EG) hybrid nanofluid. The effectiveness of Hall current, periodically heating wall and shape factor of nanoparticles on the magnetized flow of hybrid nanocomposite molybdenum disulfide- silicon dioxide (MoS₂-SiO₂) suspended in ethylene glycol (EG) in a vertical rotating channel under the influence of strong magnetic dipole (Hall effect) and thermal radiation is assessed. One of the channel walls has an oscillatory temperature gradient. Four different shapes (i.e. brick, cylinder, platelet and blade) of nanoparticles disseminated in base fluid (EG) are considered for simulation of the flow.

The analytical solution of governing equations has been presented. Influences of emerging physical parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles, the shear stresses and the rate of heat transfer are pointed out and discussed via graphs and tables.

The analysis revealed that Hall parameter has suppressing behavior on the velocity profiles within the rotating channel. The impact of nanoparticle shape factor advances the temperature characteristics significantly in the rotating channel. Brick-shape nanoparticles put up relatively low-temperature distribution in the rotating channel. The Hall parameter reduces the amplitudes of the shear stresses at the channel wall. However, the radiation parameter enhances the amplitude of the rate of heat transfer at the channel wall.

The important technical advantage of hybrid composition of nanoparticles as a drug carrier is its stability, high thermal conductivity, high load carrying capacity, etc. The proposed model may be beneficial in biomedical engineering, automobile parts, mineral and cleaning oils manufacturing, rubber and plastic industries.

To the best of our knowledge, there is little or no report on the aspects of assessment of the effectiveness of Hall current and nanoparticle shape factor on an MHD flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting MoS₂-SiO₂/EG ethylene glycol-based hybrid nanofluid confined in a vertical channel with periodically varying wall temperature subject to a rotating frame. The present work furnishes a robust benchmark for the dynamics of nanofluids.

Purpose – Research on hospital system organization is dated and cross-sectional. We analyze trends in system structure during 2000–2010 to ascertain whether they have become more centralized or decentralized.

Design/Methodology/Approach – We test hypotheses drawn from organization theory and estimate empirical models to study the structural transitions that systems make between different “clusters” defined by the American Hospital Association.

Findings – There is a clear trend toward system fragmentation during most of this period, with a small recent shift to centralization in some systems. Systems decentralize as they increase their members and geographic dispersion. This is particularly true for systems that span multiple states; it is less true for smaller regional systems and local systems that adopt a hub-and-spoke configuration around a teaching hospital.

Research Limitations – Our time series ends in 2010 just as health care reform was implemented. We also rely on a single measure of system centralization.

Research Implications – Systems that appear to be able to centrally coordinate their services are those that operate in local or regional markets. Larger systems that span several states are likely to decentralize or fragment.

Practical Implications – System fragmentation may thwart policy aims pursued in health care reform. The potential of Accountable Care Organizations rests on their ability to coordinate multiple providers via centralized governance. Hospitals systems are likely to be central players in many ACOs, but may lack the necessary coherence to effectively play this governance role.

Originality/Value – Not all hospital systems act in a systemic manner. Those systems that are centralized (and presumably capable of acting in concerted fashion) are in the minority and have declined in prevalence over most of the past decade.

Obtaining the maximum possible flow rates that can be induced by free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annuli under fundamental thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind (heating or cooling one of the annulus walls with a uniform heat flux while keeping the other wall at ambient temperature). Obtaining the maximum possible flow rates that can be induced by free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annuli under fundamental thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind (heating or cooling one of the annulus walls with a uniform heat flux while keeping the other wall at ambient temperature).

The fully‐developed laminar free convection momentum equation has been solved numerically using an analytical solution of the governing energy equation.

Results are presented to show the effect of the annulus radius ratio and the dimensionless eccentricity on the induced flow rate, the total heat absorbed by the fluid, and the fully developed Nusselt numbers on the two boundaries of the annulus for a fluid of Prandtl number 0.7.

Applications of the obtained results can be of value in the heat‐exchanger industry, in cooling of underground electric cables, and in cooling small vertical electric motors and generators.

The paper presents a solution that is not available in the literature for the problem of fully developed free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annular channels under thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind. Also presents the maximum possible induced flow rates, the total heat absorbed by the fluid, and the Nusselt numbers on the two boundaries of the annulus. The effects of N and E (the radius ratio and eccentricity, respectively) on these results are presented. Such results are very much needed for design purposes of heat transfer equipment.

In this paper we discuss the potential role capital markets will play in health care restructuring. According to theory, agency costs, asymmetric information and strategic interactions cause the cost of capital for nonprofit entities to slope upward. Freestanding nonprofits are particularly disadvantaged in this regard. We conclude that some organizational forms will be less viable due to problems of capital access. Empirical work examines the capital structure of nonprofit entities. Our results indicate that chain hospitals are able to access more debt, both taxable and tax-exempt, than freestanding hospitals. Capital markets also associate for profit market presence with capital risk. We conclude that freestanding hospitals are at a relative disadvantage is accessing capital markets.

To explore the effect of the annulus geometrical parameters on the induced flow rate and the heat transfer under the conjugate (combined conduction and free convection) thermal boundary conditions with one cylinder heated isothermally while the other cylinder is kept at the inlet fluid temperature.

A finite‐difference algorithm has been developed to solve the bipolar boundary‐layer equations for the conjugate laminar free convection heat transfer in vertical eccentric annuli.

Numerical results are presented for a fluid of Prandtl number, Pr=0.7 in eccentric annuli. The geometry parameters of NR₂ and E (the fluid‐annulus radius ratio and the eccentricity, respectively) have considerable effects on the results.

Applications of the obtained results can be of value in the heat‐exchanger industry, in cooling of underground electric cables, and in cooling small vertical electric motors and generators.

The paper presents results that are not available in the literature for the problem of conjugate laminar free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annular channels. Geometry effects having been investigated by considering fluid annuli having radii ratios NR₂=0.1 and 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 and four values of the eccentricity E=0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7. Moreover, practical ranges of the solid‐fluid conductivity ratio (KR) and the wall thicknesses that are commonly available in pipe standards have been investigated. Such results are very much needed for design purposes of heat transfer equipment.

Gives introductory remarks about chapter 1 of this group of 31 papers, from ISEF 1999 Proceedings, in the methodologies for field analysis, in the electromagnetic community. Observes that computer package implementation theory contributes to clarification. Discusses the areas covered by some of the papers ‐ such as artificial intelligence using fuzzy logic. Includes applications such as permanent magnets and looks at eddy current problems. States the finite element method is currently the most popular method used for field computation. Closes by pointing out the amalgam of topics.

The purpose of this study is to propose a modeling method of the equivalent circuit for a new type of high-temperature superconducting partial-core transformer (HTS-PCT) made of ReBCO-coated conductors.

The modeling process is based on the “Steinmetz” equivalent circuit. The impedance components in the circuit are obtained by the calculations of the core losses and AC losses of the HTS windings by using theoretical methods. An iterative computation is also used to decide the equivalent resistances of the AC losses of the primary and secondary HTS windings. The reactance components in the circuit are calculated from the energy stored in the magnetic fields by finite element method. The validation of the modeling method is verified by experimental results

The modeling method of the equivalent circuit of HTS-PCT is valid, and an equivalent circuit for HTS-PCT is presented.

The equivalent circuit of HTS-PCT could be obtained by the suggested modeling method. Then, it is easy to analyze the characteristics of the HTS-PCT by its equivalent circuit. Moreover, the modeling method could also be useful for the design of a specific HTS-PCT.

The study proposes a modeling method of the HTS-PCT made of the second-generation HTS tapes, i.e. ReBCO-coated conductors.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of turbulence on the stability characteristics of finite hydrodynamic journal bearing lubricated with micropolar fluid.

The non-dimensional transient Reynolds equation has been solved to obtain the non-dimensional pressure field which in turn used to obtain the load carrying capacity of the bearing. The second-order equations of motion applicable for journal bearing system have been solved using fourth-order Runge–Kutta method to obtain the stability characteristics.

It has been observed that turbulence has adverse effect on stability and the whirl ratio at laminar flow condition has the lowest value.

The paper provides the stability characteristics of the finite journal bearing lubricated with micropolar fluid operating in turbulent regime which is very common in practical applications.

Non-linear stability analysis of micropolar fluid lubricated journal bearing operating in turbulent regime has not been reported in literatures so far. This paper is an effort to address the problem of non-linear stability of journal bearings under micropolar lubrication with turbulent effect. The results obtained provide useful information for designing the journal bearing system for high speed applications.