The information content of the Reserve Bank of Australia's inflation forecasts

In this article, the inflation forecasts produced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and that generated by private forecasters, are used to assess whether the Reserve Bank possesses information about inflation that the private sector does not have. The results show that the Reserve Bank inflation forecasts embody useful predictive information about inflation, beyond that contained in private forecasts, over the recent inflation targeting period.     

An empirical study of collaborative partnering among enterprises and government organizations for information system outsourcing

Most researches on information systems (IS) outsourcing indicate that public sector decides to outsource information technology (IT) services due to the belief that private vendors offer more cost advantages. This research explores government sectors of outsourcing and focus on the role of relationship for IS-service providers. Quantitative data of 126 questionnaires and 30 IS demonstrate that trust, mutual dependence, equipment investment and information sharing are contributing factors to successful outsourcing long-term partnerships. Information sharing between the service receiver and provider is also vital in terms of equipment investment in long-term partnerships, and is affected by the level of trust that each party holds for the other within the outsourcing process. Conceptual model is useful in explicating important government-business partnering strategies – the model highlights not only the economic benefits that the IS-outsourcing relationship brings based on social exchange theory characteristics, but also suggests many additional relevant elements.     

An empirical study of the determinants of UK oil and gas voluntary disclosures

Significant oil and gas firm market value is derived from their physical reserve quantum, assets which are not recorded on their statements of financial position. This article provides empirical evidence regarding voluntary disclosure of such reserves in line with the previously unresearched UK sector with regard to its unique reporting guidelines. The study considers both the reporting of the reserve quantum and the quality of that reporting. This article seeks to inform the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB’s) on-going consideration of mineral resource reporting. Listed companies are considered to evidence forms of reserve disclosure with a logistical regression approach applied to measure determinants of reporting. The risk associated with mineral reporting reserves is hypothesized as the key disclosure driver whilst controlling other relevant variables. The majority of firms disclosed reserve quantities in some form but only a minority disclosed in line with recommended practice, disclosure quality being more variable between companies. The findings indicate that a voluntary disclosure approach is ineffective, partially explained by agency related behaviour. Risk, proxied by the stage of production, drives reserve disclosure showing that producer firms are more likely to disclose reserve quantum balances and of a significantly higher quality.     

Strategic visualisation tools for managing technological information

In an information economy, the effective management of a massive amount of technological information is inevitable when attempting to facilitate the decision-making process. It is an important part of selecting R&D projects and allocating budgets to promising technology development. Information visualisation is thus regarded as a critical tool in technological information management because it can provide decisive implications that the intelligence of humans cannot produce. This paper proposes six graphical forms, including a technology tree, a technology map, a technology network, a technology matrix, a technology curve, and a technology dictionary, presenting the generic form and concept of each method. Moreover, the principles and applications of such visualisation tools are suggested in order to enhance their use in practical circumstances. A case study of TFT-LCD (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) technology will help to explain how to apply visualisation tools to strategic technology management.     

Capturing the real value of patent analysis for R&D strategies

Patent information can be used for strategic planning purposes. Conventional patent analysis has commonly focused on factual information and, in particular, on information extraction, visualisation and interpretation. Less scholarly attention has been devoted to the strategic role of an integrated system of patent intelligence in supporting decision-making in R&D investments. Our paper addresses this gap and explores how patent analysis may benefit those firms that intend capturing the beneficial effects of Open Innovation. We also critically discuss the intrinsic limits of both patent information and patent analysis, which should be taken into account by systems of patent intelligence.     

课堂传播中学生主体对知识信息的需求特征及其把握

课堂传播活动中学生对知识信息的需要系统,与外在环境和社会发展处于相互作用之中,既是动态的,也是分层的;其主导需要对社会具有提醒作用,并在其群体内部引领走向;其易于受到具有流行性特征的社会文化心理的＂干扰＂,必须予以引导和纠偏。     

Clinical characteristics and resource utilization of patients with bipolar disorder who have frequent psychiatric interventions

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the demographics, clinical characteristics and resource utilization of patients with bipolar disorder who required frequent psychiatric interventions (FPIs) with those needing fewer interventions in the Duke Healthcare System database between 1999 and 2005.

Methods:

This retrospective analysis was conducted using electronic medical records of bipolar patients with FPIs, defined as having ≥4 clinically significant events (CSEs) in any 12-month period while in the Duke University Healthcare System. CSEs were composed of emergency room visits, inpatient hospitalizations, or a change in psychotropic medication due to psychiatric symptoms (score ≥4 on the Clinical Global Impressions–Severity scale). Data were compared between patients with and without FPIs.

Results:

Of 632 patients with bipolar disorder 52.5% were identified as having FPIs. These patients were younger and more often female and African American than those with fewer interventions (p?<?0.01 for all). Patients with FPIs were generally prescribed more psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications, utilized more healthcare resources and experienced more psychiatric co-morbidities than those who did not require FPIs (p?<?0.01 for all).

Limitations:

These results are from a single healthcare system and may not be generalizable to all patients with bipolar disorder. This analysis was retrospective and relied on availability of adequate information recording and coding of diagnoses by physicians.

Conclusions:

Patients with bipolar disorder who required FPIs were significantly different from those with fewer clinically defined interventions with respect to their demographic and clinical characteristics and prescribed medications.     

我国消费信用存在的问题与对策探讨

消费信用是我国经济发展的内在动力。然而,目前我国消费信用存在着诸如消费信用品种及其提供者缺乏、风险控制能力不足、法律法规不健全等问题。今后,我们应该转变消费观念,倡导居民消费信用,健全个人消费信用体系,建立和完善相关配套法律法规等,从而使我国的消费信用更加科学有序地发展。     

会计计量的十大“硬伤”

会计这门经济学科是社会经济发展产物,并随着社会经济发展而发展。2008年金融危机已暴露出现行会计计量弊端,因此,在后金融危机时代,如何进一步完善、推动会计理论发展,以适应社会经济发展需要,是会计界必然面对的问题。     

基于产业布局视角的信息服务业发展模式研究

产业布局的科学化、合理化,有利于形成与资源优势和区位优势相结合的特色经济,促进产业结构的升级和国民经济的协调健康发展。文章从我国信息服务业的布局现状入手,分析各区域信息服务业发展的特点,运用产业布局理论提出我国信息服务业发展模式的总体思路。