We present structural properties of optimal policies for the problem of scheduling a single server in a forest network of N queues (without arrivals) subject to switching penalties. In addition to linear holding costs, we impose either lump sum switching costs or batch setup delays which are incurred at each instant the server processes a job in a queue diierent than the previous one. We use re...

BACKGROUND Ongoing doctor-patient relationships are integral to the patient-centred ideals of UK general practice, particularly for patients with chronic conditions or complex health problems. 'Holding', a doctor-patient relationship defined as establishing and maintaining a trusting, constant, reliable relationship that is concerned with ongoing support without expectation of cure, has previou...

Despite the rising popularity of the practice of competency modeling, research on competency modeling has lagged behind. The present study begins to close this practicescience gap through three studies (one lab study and two field studies), which employ generalizability analysis to shed light on (a) the quality of inferences made in competency modeling and (b) the effects of incorporating eleme...

Competency development is a critical success factor for organizations and their employees when it comes to competitiveness. Competency Management Systems contribute to systematic competency development within organizations by supporting processes such as needs identification, intervention planning and implementation, and evaluation. However, designing Competency Management Systems comes with a ...

In “Competency to Stand Trial in Preadjudicated and Petitioned Juvenile Defendants,” Baerger et al. report the results of their investigation of competency to stand trial of juveniles charged with various offenses. The findings support the expected positive correlations between age and competency and cognitive ability and competency. The importance of the paper, however, lies in its contributio...

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of shoulder abduction angles, dominant and non-dominant arm and external loading on co-contraction ratio during arm abduction in scapular plane in overhead athletes and non-athletes. 10 swimmers, 10 handball players and 10 tennis players and ten non-athletes voluntarily participated in this study. Electromyography activity of shoulder muscles ...

Background: Faculty members are the main sources of universities. Determination and promotion of their competencies lead to the overall performance promotion of universities. Faculty members’ teaching competencies have the greatest role in the improvement of education, research and universities social services quality. Therefore, in order to investigate this issue more carefully, this study aim...

Competency is a topic of great interest to educators and administrators in practice disciplines, particularly health care disciplines such as nursing. This article focuses on the role of competency in nursing. Through a concept analysis process, various elements of competency were assessed. The defining attributes of competency are the application of skills in all domains for the practice role,...

competency- based mastery learning: a planned clinical experience for nursing students     baghaei r [1] , mohammadpour y [2] *, habibzade h [3] , rasouli d [4] , khalilzadeh h [5] , jafarizadeh h [6]    received: 2 may, 2011 accepted: 6 july, 2011   abstract  background & aims: clinical education is one of the most important and crucial parts of nursing education. successful clinical education...

Using a theoretical cultural competency model, the effectiveness of a cultural competency learning assignment was examined to determine: 1) students' cultural competency levels as reflected through the assignment, and 2) the effectiveness of the assignment as a cultural competency learning activity. Third-year family medicine clerkship students completed a required project to research and refle...