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The paper identifies the antecedents and consequences of integrated supply chain performance (ISCP) in healthcare systems.

Based on a review of the literature constructs of supply chain flexibility (SCF), employee relationships (ERs), organizational orientation (OO) and knowledge exchange (KE) were identified as antecedents of ISCP, and patient centricity (PC) emerged as its consequence. This structural relationship was tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

ERs, SCF, OO and KE positively impacted the performance of an integrated healthcare supply chain. Furthermore, enhanced ISCP in operational processes of the hospital positively influenced patient centeredness and care quality.

Paper contributes by identifying antecedents and consequences of ISCP. Future researchers may explore the inter-relationships among the antecedents of ISCP.

Insights from this study will help practitioners in enhancing hospital operations by integrating processes along the healthcare service supply chain and developing a patient-centric approach.

This paper highlights how PC may be achieved by focusing on a facilitative internal environment. This understanding may help in designing processes that deliver health as a social good in an effective manner.

The empirical evidence from this study can help hospitals integrate their functions, thus, enabling them to deliver quality care.

The purpose of this study is to address the problem of a plethora of potential plans related to business continuity and disaster recovery.

A review of the relevant academic articles, standards and guidelines related to business continuity and disaster recovery was conducted, and the discussed plans include critical information infrastructure plans, disaster recovery plans, information system contingency plans, business continuity plans and continuity of operations plans.

The content of each plan is explained. A layered business continuity and disaster recovery model is proposed, which consolidates all plans in a coherent manner.

Relationships, similarities and differences among each pair of plans are discussed, and the longitudinal validity and applicability of plans are presented.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents and consequences of a value-dense environment in healthcare service delivery.

A structural model was developed based on a literature review. Circulation of a 31-indicator questionnaire among service receivers in the healthcare system across India generated 279 valid responses. The research model was assessed using a cross-sectional research design, and the data were analyzed by partial least squares-structural equation modeling.

Integrated supply chain performance (ISCP), internal service quality (ISQ) and coordinated care are antecedents of a value-dense environment, which drives patient-centricity. The leagile supply chain strategy strengthens the relationship between ISCP and coordinated care. Employee trust and commitment acts as a moderator between coordinated care and ISQ.

By adopting the perspective of service receivers, this paper highlights the influence of value-density on patient-centricity in healthcare organizations. Future research should include healthcare professionals’ perceptions of value-dense environment creation.

The study provides suggestions to practitioners for designing patient-centric healthcare services by leveraging ISCP, coordinated care and ISQ in the value-creation process. Recognizing the relationships among these constructs can aid the timely formulation of corrective actions and future policies.

This study underscores patient-centric care as a basis for effectively delivering healthcare as a social good.

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying and empirically validating the relationships between patient-centricity and value co-creation.

The fluctuations that occurred between the power requirements have shown a higher range of voltage regulations and frequency. The fluctuations are caused because of substantial changes in the energy dissipation. The operational efficiency has been reduced when the power grid is enabled with the help of electric vehicles (EVs) that were created by the power resources. The model showed an active load matching for regulating the power and there occurred a harmonic motion in energy. The main purpose of the proposed research is to handle the energy sources for stabilization which has increased the reliability and improved the power efficiency. This study or paper aims to elaborate the security and privacy challenges present in the vehicle 2 grid (V2G) network and their impact with grid resilience.

The smart framework is proposed which works based on Internet of Things and edge computations that managed to perform an effective V2G operation. Thus, an optimum model for scheduling the charge is designed on each EV to maximize the number of users and selecting the best EV using the proposed ant colony optimization (ACO). At the first, the constructive phase of ACO where the ants in the colony generate the feasible solutions. The constructive phase with local search generates an ACO algorithm that uses the heterogeneous colony of ants and finds effectively the best-known solutions widely to overcome the problem.

The results obtained by the existing in-circuit serial programming-plug-in electric vehicles model in terms of power usage ranged from 0.94 to 0.96 kWh which was lower when compared to the proposed ACO that showed power usage of 0.995 to 0.939 kWh, respectively, with time. The results showed that the energy aware routed with ACO provided feasible routing solutions for the source node that provided the sensor network at its lifetime and security at the time of authentication.

The proposed ACO is aware of energy routing protocol that has been analyzed and compared with the energy utilization with respect to the sensor area network which uses power resources effectively.

A comparative study of three different approaches on a hypothetical supply chain model is presented. The three approaches investigated are: independent; semi‐integrated; and integrated. In the independent approach, it is assumed that decisions are made independently at three different levels. Decisions are assumed to be made at two different levels in the semi‐integrated approach. In the integrated approach, all decisions are assumed to be made at a single level.

The purpose of this paper is to examine existing learning innovation systems and propose a systematic methodology of delivering educational innovations in the right amount, in the right place and at the right time.

Higher education is not effectively incorporating new discoveries in cognitive science and human learning into effective teaching strategies. In this paper, the authors explore the various impediments to change. To partially overcome these barriers, Drexel University, in collaboration with Untra Academic Management Solutions, LLC, has embarked on the development of a knowledge management system to assist instructors in obtaining, implementing, evaluating and disseminating new educational innovations. The system as envisioned would be capable of adapting to various educational environments and evolving with changes in curricula, faculty expectations, learning outcomes and student characteristics.

The SocraticNet as a learning environment is stimulated, based on Socratic inquiry among teachers and learners. It is an interactive social network system utilising Web 2.0‐based emerging technologies fostering communication and sharing among faculty, students and others (e.g. librarians) engaged in a particular course or other educational experience. Students learn by sharing what they know, by asking questions, judging and evaluating the retrieved information, and using this information efficiently in completing their assignments or research papers. This approach results in multidimensional information flow – instructor to instructor, instructor to student, student to instructor, student to student – which adds a new richness to the interactions between faculty and students providing the framework for a true learning community.

The present work has been conducted at one institution. This can be extended to include more institutions and tried with different disciplines. There are implications for changes in relation to teaching and learning approached adopted in higher education and also for development of technology tailored to address issues emanating from the scenario.

The research work presented has the potential to stimulate debate to further develop and refine thinking on the role and use of technology directed at improving teaching and learning in higher education.

This paper examines learning and teaching styles in higher education taking cognizance of conditions and factors impeding new innovations in practice. Details discussions are presented and unique suggestions are made.

The paper aims to assess the quality (content and legibility) of handwritten operation notes and the reader's interpretation of legibility by clinical seniority.

Consecutive elective and emergency general surgical operations over a six-week period from September 2011 at one hospital were retrospectively collected. Non-retrieval of operation notes, typed notes and endoscopies were excluded. The content of each operation note was assessed against a 26-item checklist. Legibility was assessed by 4 readers (2 Foundation Doctors and 2 Registrars in General Surgery) using an original objective scoring system.

A total of 404 operations were identified; 45 were excluded following review of operation notes. Operation notes were derived from 12 consultants and 11 registrars. Analysis of the content score suggested that time of procedure (1 per cent), ASA grade (1 per cent) and blood loss (5 per cent) were poorly reported. Clinical indication and post-operative instructions were documented in only 52 per cent and 66 per cent of operation notes respectively. Registrar notes had a higher content score compared with consultant notes (15.8 vs 13.5, p<0.001). Legibility scores were reported to be higher for Registrar readers, compared with Foundation Doctor readers (OR 1.95, 95 per cent CI 1.75-2.18, p<0.001). Registrar-written notes had higher legibility scores compared with consultants (OR 19.0, 95 per cent CI 11.6-31.2, p<0.001).

The quality of handwritten notes varies. Registrar-written notes are more content-rich and legible.

Clinical seniority and specialty training may improve the interpretation of handwritten operation notes. This study adds to growing evidence supporting the widespread adoption of a computerized immediate operation note.

An objective scoring system to assess legibility of operation notes written as freehand was used. Also, legibility according to the reader's seniority in clinical training was evaluated.

The post-operative management of flexor tendon injuries has been the focus of considerable exploration and there continues to be variation in approaches and methods of mobilisation. The purpose of this paper is to explore therapy management following repair to flexor tendons at zone II and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) (all zones) in Ireland.

A descriptive survey questionnaire design through an online format was used. Therapists were recruited through the Irish Association of Hand Therapists, the national bodies for occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and therapy managers in acute hospitals, with 29 therapists participating in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data.

Patients were generally seen three to five days following surgery. Early active mobilisation approaches were favoured by all but one therapist, with 62% using the Belfast protocol and 34% the Manchester Short Splint (MSS) protocol. Each early active protocol exercise session commences with passive motion followed by graded active flexion. Tenodesis is incorporated by the majority of respondents within the first four weeks. Therapy programme and splints are modified based on patient presentation. Resistance exercises are commenced from week seven. Patient compliance was identified as the most influential factor in the post-operative intervention approach taken.

This study provides the first Irish profile of current practice in the post-operative management of flexor tendon repairs at zone II and FPL which has not previously been reported. Further research should explore the reasoning behind the interventions chosen and also the implications for practice of changes to surgical techniques.

With the increase of state capital, corporate total factor productivity (TFP) has a tendency to jump up at first and then slowly decrease. Generally, no significant “productivity paradox” can be observed in China’s manufacturing industry. With the increase of export density, corporate TFP also shows a trend of initial jump growth and subsequent slow decline. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Using the 1996–2013 China Industrial Enterprise Database, this paper studies the monopolistic behavior of Chinese manufacturing enterprises through the measurement of TFP and corporate monopoly power.

Results show that China’s manufacturing monopoly enterprises are generally innovation-oriented rather than rent-seeking. However, there are certain differences between diversified types of monopoly enterprises: the ones with state capital are more inclined to innovate than those without, whereas the ones with export delivery value are more inclined to seek rent than those without.

Therefore, the government should implement differentiated policies for diversified types of monopoly enterprises, and do so in a targeted manner fully reflecting the containment of rent-seeking and the encouragement of innovation.