When does management matter in a dog-eat-dog world: An “Interaction Value Analysis” model of organizational climate

Interaction Value Interaction Value Analysis (I.V.A.) models a network of rational actors who generate value by interacting with each other. This model can be used to understand human organizations. Since people form organizations to facilitate interactions between productive individuals, the value added by interaction is the contribution of the organization. This paper examines the result of varying the queuing discipline used in selecting among back-logged interaction requests. Previously developed I.V.A. models assumed a First-in-first-out (FIFO) discipline, but using other disciplines can better represent the “Climate” of an organization. I.V.A. identifies circumstances under which organizations that control members’ interaction choices outperform organizations where individuals choose their own interaction partners. Management can be said to “matter” when individual choices converge to a point where interactions generate a lower than optimal value. In previous I.V.A. models, relinquishing central control of interaction choices reduced the aggregate value by anything from 0% to 12%, depending on circumstances. This paper finds the difference between the two modes of organization to go as high as 47% if actors display preferences between interaction partners instead of treating all equally. A politically divided, dog-eat-dog, “Capitalist” climate follows one queuing discipline, which is found to generally increase the value that a strong control structure can add. A chummy, in-bred “Fraternal” climate gains from control in some circumstances (low interdependence or low differentiation), but not in others (high or medium interdependence and differentiation under low diversity, for example). These are compared to the previous version of I.V.A., in which the queuing discipline was FIFO and the climate deemed “Disciplined”. Previously published findings on Organizational Climate are duplicated and extended with a higher level of detail. Priority queuing in an I.V.A. model is thus a useful proxy for Organizational Climate, open to future validation because its detailed predictions can be confirmed or falsified by observation. Walid Nasrallah is currently Assistant Professor in the Engineering Management program at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He received his Ph.D. from the Construction Engineering and Management program at Stanford University in 2000 and his Master’s degree at MIT in 1989. Between the two, he occupied several positions in the construction and software engineering fields. His research interests today include simulation, decision theory, and the evolution of organizations in response to new technologies.     

Blood flow evaluation in high-frequency, 40 MHz imaging: A comparative study of four vector velocity estimation methods

Ultrasonic imaging is often used to estimate blood flow velocity. Currently, estimates are carried out using Doppler-based techniques. However, there are a number of shortcomings such as the limited spatial resolution and the inability to estimate longitudinal flows. Thus, alternative methods have been proposed to overcome them. Difficulties are notably encountered with high-frequency imaging systems that use swept-scan techniques. In this article, we propose to compare four vector velocity estimation methods that are complementary to Doppler, focusing on 40 MHz, high-frequency imaging. The goal of this study is to evaluate which method could circumvent the limitations of Doppler methods for evaluation of microcirculation, in the vessels having diameter on the order of 1 mm. We used two region-based approaches, one decorrelation-based approach and one spatiotemporal approach. Each method has been applied to seven flow sequences with various orientations and mean velocities. Four sequences were simulated with a system approach based on a 3D set of moving scatterers. Three experimental sequences were carried out by injecting blood-mimicking fluid within a gelatin phantom and then acquiring images with Visualsonics, Vevo 660 system. From velocity estimates, several performance criteria such as the normalized mean error or the normalized mean standard deviation were defined to compare the performance of the four estimators. The results show that region-based methods are the most accurate exhibiting mean errors less than 10% and mean standard deviation less than 13%. However, region-based approaches are those that require the highest calculative cost compared to the decorrelation-based method, which is the fastest. Finally, the spatiotemporal approach appeared to be a trade-off in terms of computational complexity and accuracy of estimates. It provides estimates with errors less than 10% for mean velocity and the CPU time is approximately 17 s for a ROI of size 40 * 80 pixels.     

The design of robust value-creating supply chain networks: A critical review

This paper discusses Supply Chain Network (SCN) design problem under uncertainty, and presents a critical review of the optimization models proposed in the literature. Some drawbacks and missing aspects in the literature are pointed out, thus motivating the development of a comprehensive SCN design methodology. Through an analysis of supply chains uncertainty sources and risk exposures, the paper reviews key random environmental factors and discusses the nature of major disruptive events threatening SCN. It also discusses relevant strategic SCN design evaluation criteria, and it reviews their use in existing models. We argue for the assessment of SCN robustness as a necessary condition to ensure sustainable value creation. Several definitions of robustness, responsiveness and resilience are reviewed, and the importance of these concepts for SCN design is discussed. This paper contributes to framing the foundations for a robust SCN design methodology.     

Some properties of Hermite-based Sheffer polynomials

In this paper, the concepts and the formalism associated with monomiality principle and Sheffer sequences are used to introduce family of Hermite-based Sheffer polynomials. Some properties of Hermite-Sheffer polynomials are considered. Further, an operational formalism providing a correspondence between Sheffer and Hermite-Sheffer polynomials is developed. Furthermore, this correspondence is used to derive several new identities and results for members of Hermite-Sheffer family.     

Comparison of Some Purities,Flatnesses and Injectivities

In this article, we compare (n, m)-purities for different pairs of positive integers (n, m). When R is a commutative ring, these purities are not equivalent if R does not satisfy the following property: there exists a positive integer p such that, for each maximal ideal P, every finitely generated ideal of R _P is p-generated. When this property holds, then the (n, m)-purity and the (n, m′)-purity are equivalent if m and m′ are integers ≥np. These results are obtained by a generalization of Warfield's methods. There are also some interesting results when R is a semiperfect strongly π-regular ring. We also compare (n, m)-flatnesses and (n, m)-injectivities for different pairs of positive integers (n, m). In particular, if R is right perfect and right self (?₀, 1)-injective, then each (1, 1)-flat right R-module is projective. In several cases, for each positive integer p, all (n, p)-flatnesses are equivalent. But there are some examples where the (1, p)-flatness is not equivalent to the (1, p + 1)-flatness.     

Turnpike Property in Optimal Microbial Metabolite Production

Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications - We consider the problem of maximization of metabolite production in bacterial cells formulated as a dynamical optimal control problem (DOCP)....     

Influence of laser irradiation on the optical properties of nano-sized powder of metal oxide

ZnO Nano powders were prepared by co-precipitation method which includes post-oxidation and annealing in air. Influence of laser irradiation was carried out using 355 nm laser on the physical properties of ZnO nanoparticles. SEM studies reveal agglomeration of grains resulting into enlargement and deformation of the nanoparticles. XRD pattern exhibited decrease in FWHM which is a clear evidence of the increase in crystallite size due to laser irradiation. Optical properties showed decrease in the band gap of the laser irradiated Nano powders. The observed results indicated the UV laser irradiation increases the ZnO nanoparticles crystallinity that affects the optical properties of the ZnO.     

Efficient synthesis of α-substituted-α-arylmethyl phosphonates using trichloroacetimidate CC coupling method

A simple convenient protocol for the synthesis of diethyl α,α-diaryl methylphosphonate derivatives 5a-f, 6b-f, 7a-f and 8a-f, diethyl α-alkenyl α-aryl methylphosphonates 9a-d and 10a-d and α-(oxoalkyl) α-aryl methylphosphonate 11a-d and 12a-d is described. Trichloroacetimidates 3a-d were treated with activated arenes, styrene, allyltrimethylsilane or silylenol ethers C-nucleophiles in the presence TMSOTf to afford the desired products in good yields and short reaction time.