A cross-validation of a structural equation model of accidents: organizational and psychological variables as predictors of work safety

A study to establish a structural equation model of accidents is presented. The eight variables included in the model were those associated with accidents in previous research. The reliability of questionnaires to measure those variables and a structural equation model relating them are provided. The model explaining the occurrence of accidents was cross-validated through three Spanish samples (n=123; 182; 124).The model presented a good fit to data in two samples, while a third had unclear fit indices. Therefore, most relationships among variables did not vary among these three samples. The role of the safety variables in the model is discussed. The discussion is also focused on risk measurement difficulties commonly reported in the literature. Finally, some suggestions for future safety research with structural equation modelling techniques are provided.     

Job stress, job strain, and psychological withdrawal among Dutch university staff: towards a dualprocess model for the effects of occupational stress

This study examined the antecedents of job strain (emotional exhaustion, health complaints) and withdrawal behaviour (e.g. lowered organizational commitment) among a cross-sectional sample of 131 academic staff members of the law department of a large Dutch university. Conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989) provided the theoretical background for this study. Strains and withdrawal behaviours were expected to be most prominent among those who reported having few resources and/or who reported high job demands. Structural equation modelling revealed that this was indeed the case. As predicted, differential patterns of effects emerged for job demands and job resources. Analysis of the effects of four job-specific stressors revealed that especially the structural aspects of a staff member's teaching task (e.g. the number of students in their classes) contributed strongly to perceived job demands. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.     

On vendor part delivery dates in a stochastic assembly system

This paper describes the development of a model for the determination of optimal mean part delivery dates in a stochastic assembly system for the objective of minimizing the expected cost of subassembly and part inventory. Parts are assembled at each station to a subassembly. The part delivery and processing times at assembly stations follow known probability distributions. An approximate solution technique based on the optimization of individual stations in isolation is developed. The approximation applies a correction factor, as a function of the variability in part delivery and processing time, cost parameters and number of stations, to the decisions from the single station solutions to compensate for interdependence between stations. Results indicate that this is an effective approach and yields good near-optimal solutions with very little computational effort. Insights regarding the effect of the type of distribution used, random processing times, variance of the distribution used and cost parameter values on part delivery dates are also reported.     

Intelligent scheduling model and algorithm for manufacturing

This paper puts forward an intelligent scheduling model based on Hopfield neural network and a unified algorithm for manufacturing. The energy computation function and its dynamic state equation are derived and discussed in detail about their coefficients (parameters) and steps (Delta t) in iteration towards convergence. The unified model is focused on the structure of the above function and equation, in which the goal and penalty items must be involved and meet different schedule models. The applications to different schedule mode including jobshop static scheduling, scheduling with due-date constraint or priority constraint, dynamic scheduling, and JIT (just in time) scheduling are discussed, and a series of examples with Gantt charts are illustrated.     

Ensuring units invariant slack selection in radial data envelopment analysis models,and incorporating slacks into an overall efficiency score

This paper introduces a new methodology ensuring units invariant slack selection in radial DEA models and incorporating the slacks into an overall efficiency score. The CCR and BCC models are units invariant in their radial component, but not in their slack component, thus changing the units of measurement of one or more variables can change the models' solution. The proposed Full Proportional Slack (FPS) methodology improves the slack selections of the CCR and BCC models by producing slack selections that (a) are units invariant, thus producing fully units invariant models, (b) maximize the relative improvements represented by the slacks, and not their values, and (c) measure the full slacks that need to be removed from their corresponding variables. The FPS methodology is a fully oriented methodology first maximizing the improvements in the variables on the side of the orientation of the model. The Proportional Slack Adjusted (PSA) methodology incorporates the FPS slacks into an overall efficiency score, making it easier to interpret and use the results. The FPS and PSA methodologies are illustrated using an input oriented VRS Loan Quality DEA model with data from the retail branch network of one of Canada's largest banks.     

To Leave an Area After Disaster: How Evacuees from the WTC Buildings Left the WTC Area Following the Attacks

How people leave a devastated area after a disaster is critical to understanding their ability to cope with risks they face while evacuating. Knowledge of their needs for communications about these risks is particularly crucial in planning for emergency responses. A convenience sample of 1,444 persons who survived the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11, 2001 were surveyed to ascertain their initial and ultimate destinations once they had left the buildings, how they arrived there, the role of types of obstacles they encountered, and the need for information and the seeking of other people as potential factors in influencing the process of leaving immediately. This survey was part of a larger, original survey. Results showed differences in how people traveled by mode to initial and ultimate destinations, how immediately they left the area, and factors associated with when they left. How they traveled and when they left were associated with where people lived, their tendency in times of stress to seek out other people including who they knew in the immediate area (e.g., co‐workers or friends), the physical conditions surrounding them, and the importance to some of waiting for more information. Many people indicated they did not leave immediately because they had no information about where to go or what services would be available to them. Perceptions and communications about risks they were facing were reflected in the choices they considered in how and when to leave the area. These findings have numerous ramifications for understanding and guiding personal behavior in catastrophic situations.     

基于混频数据模型的宏观经济对股票市场波动的长期动态影响研究

股票价格时间序列与宏观经济变量时间序列原始数据的不同频直接导致传统计量模型在处理宏观经济波动与股票市场波动的关系问题中产生模型误设和估计偏误。本文运用混频自回归条件异方差模型从水平值和波动率两个维度实证分析生产者价格指数、居民消费价格指数、宏观经济景气指数及同业拆借利率四个宏观经济变量对股票市场波动的长期动态影响。同时,运用主成分分析提取宏观经济第一主成分并构建一个宏观经济综合指数,进一步探究宏观经济总体状况对股票市场波动的长期影响。研究发现：股票市场已实现波动率显著地放大了股票市场的长期波动。生产者价格指数、居民消费价格指数、宏观经济景气指数的水平值和波动率均对股票市场长期波动产生显著影响;且其波动率维度呈现出较强的持续效应;同业拆借利率仅在水平值维度对股票市场波动长期成分产生微弱影响。宏观经济第一主成分和宏观综合指数的波动率对股票市场波动长期成分均具有显著的正向放大作用,但持续效应较弱;而其水平值对股票市场波动长期成分的影响虽然微弱,但持续时间较长。     

多部件采购外包的两阶段均衡投标策略

本文考虑一个由单个制造商和多个供应商群体组成的供应链——该制造商需要采购多个部件,对于每个部件在市场上均存在多个供应商。不同于传统的从各供应商群体分别采购各个部件,制造商考虑将所有部件的采购整体外包给某个供应商。在第一阶段,制造商使用一级价格密封投标的逆向拍卖来确定赢得整体采购合约的供应商。接下来,第一阶段投标的获胜者生产其所能供应的部件,并使用逆向拍卖向第一阶段中未获胜的其他竞标者采购其余部件。我们分析了供应商在两个阶段的均衡竞价策略,并比较了制造商在亲自逐件采购和外包整体采购两种情况下的期望采购成本。我们证明了在两种机制下制造商的总的期望采购成本相等。     

基于Fréchet Copula的欧式脆弱期权定价

运用Fréchet Copula和相关性测度Kendallτ来刻画脆弱期权行权概率与对手方违约之间的相关结构,并给出了欧式脆弱看涨期权价格的闭形式表达式.然后由Kendallτ和标的资产价格与执行价格比率的不同数值,对欧式脆弱看涨期权的价格进行了数值计算和敏感性分析.结果表明,随着τ值的增加和标的资产价格与执行价格比率的降低,欧式脆弱看涨期权的价值相应地呈下降趋势,这与理论结果和实际都是相符的.     

基于改进Feltham-Ohlson模型的公允价值会计信息相关性研究

2007年始在我国上市公司实行的新会计准则的核心之一是引入与国际趋同的公允价值计量属性。本文运用Feltham-Ohlson模型原式及作者提出的演化式,以我国A股上市公司为样本,实证探究新会计准则下公允价值会计信息的相关性。