The goal of a parallel program is to reduce the execution time, compared to the fastest sequential program solving the same problem. Parallel programming is growing due to the widespread use of network of workstations (NOWs) or powerful PCs in high-performance computing. Because the hardware components are all commodity devices, NOWs are much more cost-effective than custom machines with simila...

OBJECTIVE Delphi technique is a structured process commonly used to developed healthcare quality indicators, but there is a little recommendation for researchers who wish to use it. This study aimed 1) to describe reporting of the Delphi method to develop quality indicators, 2) to discuss specific methodological skills for quality indicators selection 3) to give guidance about this practice. ...

Article history: Received 17 January 2011 Received in revised form 3 June 2011 Accepted 6 June 2011 Available online 8 July 2011 We investigate the relative impact of internal Delphi process factors – including panelists' degree of confidence, expertise, majority/minority positioning – and an external factor, richness of feedback – on opinion change and subsequent accuracy of judgmental forecas...

The migration issue raises lots of questions regarding the resilience of the EU in front of such large-scale migration. This paper is the introductory part of larger research project that has in view to analyze the EU and some of the national strategic documents in order to detect when and how the migration as a security risk showed up and to clarify if it is a objective risk for EU security or...

Background The last decade has seen a drive towards non-medical prescribing in the United Kingdom (UK). However, there is a dearth of any published literature on applying the principles of service redesign to support pharmacist prescribing in any sphere of practice. Objective To develop consensus guidance to facilitate service redesign around pharmacist prescribing. Setting UK hospital practice...

Blended learning is a combination of any form of technology enhanced learning with face-to-face instructor-led training. So called guidebooks describe how self-paced learning activities can be blended with collaborative activities. This paper describes the requirements for such a guidebook based on results from a Delphi study. A draft of a possible structure for such a guidebook is suggested.

Farmers use credit from commercial credit providers to finance production activities. Commercial credit providers have to predict the financial sustainability of the enterprise to ensure that the borrower will have the ability to repay the loan. A Delphi study was conducted to explore what factors are used as indicators of loan-repayment ability of farmers. The objective was not only to identif...

A farm food safety risk assessment tool for fresh produce and salmon farms were developed and the Delphi-based approach was utilised to identify and aggregate the opinions of experts on the food safety hazards and diseases faced in the farms while simultaneously certifying the scientific contents of the tool. The expert panels also serve to validate the methodology used in the farm food safety ...

BACKGROUND The criteria for stopping Delphi studies are often subjective. This study aimed to examine whether consensus and stability in the Delphi process can be ascertained by descriptive evaluation of trends in participants' views. METHODS A three round email-based Delphi required participants (n = 12) to verify their level of agreement with 8 statements, write comments on each if they con...