Modern Information Technology Tools Research Articles

Causes, effects and deterrence of insurance fraud: evidence from Ghana

PurposeThis paper aims to measure the extent of effects of insurance fraud on the financial performance of insurance companies in Ghana. It also examines the causes and stringent measures that can be used to fight against insurance fraud.Design/methodology/approachPrimary and secondary data obtained from 39 insurers in Ghana are used in this paper. A multiple regression model is used to determine the relationship between financial performance and insurance fraud variables.FindingsThe results from the model indicate that statistically insurance fraud has a significant negative effect on the annual return on assets (financial performance) of insurers in Ghana. Also, weak internal controls, poor remuneration of employees, falsified documents, deliberate acts of policyholders to profit from the insurance contract and inadequate training for independent brokers are found to be the major causes of insurance fraud in Ghana. To deter insurance fraud, effective internal fraud policy, rigorous assessment of insurance policies and claims, adequate training for independent brokers on insurance fraud and modern information technology tools are paramount in fighting this menace in Ghana.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings are to have substantial impact on the techniques insurance companies will develop to fight insurance fraud and the policies that will be developed by governments and national insurance regulatory bodies to fight this menace.Originality/valueThe main value of this paper is the determination of the key variables that constitute insurance fraud and their impacts on the annual financial performance of insurance companies in Ghana.

Financial feasibility of drip irrigation system in grape cultivation

This study was undertaken to assess the financial feasibility of drip irrigation system in grape cultivation in Bi椀apur district of Karnataka. Primary data were collected from 120 grape cultivators in Bi椀apur and Indi taluks. The Total investment on drip irrigation system amounted to ` 61, 050/ha and annual working cost was worked at ` 17, 141/ha. Total cost in production of grape under drip and furrow irrigation was ? 5, 01, 297/ha and ` 5, 48, 708/ha, respectively. Additional returns in drip irrigation over furrow irrigation method were worked out at ` 56, 829/ha. At 11.75 per cent discount rate, the NPV of investment on drip irrigation system was ` 1, 15, 433.10, BC ratio, IRR and Pay Back Period were 1.89, 46.87 per cent and 1.07 years, respectively. Other than these there was savings in labour and material costs. These indicators showed the financial feasibility of the drip irrigation system. Delay in sanctioning of loans and approval of subsidy; improper disbursement of subsidy, lack of technical support were some problems faced by farmers in adoption of drip irrigation system. Since there are high dividends from micro irrigation, there is a need for larger quantum of subsidy especially for the small and marginal farmers. Procedures for approval and subsidy disbursement need to be simplified in terms of number of documents, number of days required for approval etc with the help of modern information and communication technology tools.

Review of Health Trends in 2014 and 2015 Projections

The editors of World Medical & Health Policy would like to welcome you to this first 2015 issue and thank you for your past contributions. We continue to receive an increasing number of manuscripts, and hope that our readers, peer reviewers, and editors will continue to submit their research to our journal. In retrospect, 2014 was a year of many breakthroughs and advances in biomedicine and global health. Even with persisting shortages of skilled health workers, the number of deaths among children continues to decline. New cases of HIV and tuberculosis infections are dropping. Globally, homicide rates are decreasing. Modest gains in reducing the incidence of healthcare associated/acquired infections are being achieved. Access to better sanitation and potable water is improving, and the rate of malnutrition is declining. Violence against women and children is on the rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four children, and one in six girls, are physically and sexually abused; one in three women are at risk of falling victim to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. The 2014–2015 season influenza vaccine does not match the genetically drifted strain of AH3N2 (A/Switzerland/9715293) virus. The correct virus strains, based on the WHO recommendations, were included in the Southern Hemisphere vaccine, but not for the Northern Hemisphere vaccines. H3N2 viruses were predominant during the 2003–2004, 2007–2008, and 2012–2013 seasons. All three seasons had high mortality levels. As of January 2015, WHO reports increasing influenza activity in the Northern Hemisphere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports high activity of influenza in 43 states in the United States, with a number of patient loads similar to the peak of the 2012–2013 season. The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first described in 1976. Multiple small outbreaks have occured since then. By the end of 2013, bats were implicated in the transmission of Ebola virus (EV) to people in Guinea, West Africa. In January 2015, EVD infected more than 20,000 individuals, primarily in West African countries, with few documented or suspected cases worldwide. Mortality estimates for the West African countries reached more than 8,000, or about 40% to 49% of all cases. Flight restrictions, passenger checkpoints, and quarantines or isolation are being enforced to different degrees in many countries even though, for example, a recent statement by the United Nation's Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, contested the controversial quarantine policies of New York and New Jersey in the United States as not being supported by scientific evidence. Current confusing EVD risk communications, re-interpretations by media outlets, and changing policies and standards of infection control all play a significant role in creating an environment of public mistrust in public health systems. These challenges continue to remind us of resource shortages plaguing the medical and health-care infrastructure, and the health-care workforce's ability to conduct surveillance, identify risks, and respond to many new environmental and biosecurity problems threatening communities' health and well-being. EVD is now receiving resources necessary to fight the disease, educate communities, address the environment and wild life zoonoses, and rebuild the health-care infrastructure in affected countries. In December 2014, Ministers of Health and Finance of Ebola-affected countries, and international partners, outlined a plan on how to fight EVD. Sustaining this effort is important and requires continued support even during economic hardships. Such examples showcase nations mobilizing to address health problems when crises develop. Current models of governmental and public health practices are based on outdated notions not suitable for epidemics and pandemics interventions in the twenty-first century. New, more effective models and methods must be developed, supported by robust global medical and public health systems. We hope that in 2015 policymakers and stakeholders will strive to address pressing problems facing nations' health using modern information-technology tools, synthetic biology, and the ever expanding biomedical knowledge base to address modern health challenges and threats rapidly, ethically, effectively, and economically.

Research and Implementation of Curriculum-Oriented Knowledge Learning Platform

In the face of vast and decentralized knowledge resources in the information society, it is not easy for learners to capture the knowledge which they really need timely and accurately. An efficient and practical educational knowledge-learning platform was built, by employing knowledge engineering methods to achieve the functions of dynamic expansion of knowledge resources, assisted learning and etc. It has a great theoretical value and application prospects by making effective integration of educational knowledge organization, management and services, transforming the traditional passive learning mode into self-study, making full use of modern information technology tools, developing educational knowledge resources and optimizing the educational process.

Strategic planning and decision support in small-medium wood enterprises using database technology

As the enterprise management plays vital role in the overall performance of a company, it is recognized the need for application of quality improvement tools and techniques such as database technology. A DataBase Management System (DBMS) is an IT application, which contains information about the company in various levels. Enterprises can use DBMS to plan and standardize their practices and increase overall efficiency in the company. It is an essential management tool for Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) because in such companies the entrepreneur-owner is personally responsible for managing the activities of the company without being an expert. This modern information technology tool is the basis of the application of marketing principles and techniques via electronic media and more specifically the internet. The purpose of this paper is to explore how implementation of modern information technology tools, such as DBMS, simplifies SME management. That DBMS design approach can be a useful tool while designing similar applications in SME in wood sector and also in various issues in primary and secondary production sector.

How Can Individualized Healthcare Plans Be Used Most Effectively?

IHPs represent an underutilized "voice" of school nursing. Modern data methods and health information technology tools provide many examples and avenues for school nursing to contribute to documentation and interpretation of evidence to support the statement that "every child needs a school nurse". Using reliable and valid data measures that are relevant not only to school nursing practice but also to the greater U.S. health care and educational systems, school nurses have a compelling message to tell about the state of children today and challenges children face in arriving at future success. Equally compelling, we have at our fingertips in our IHPs the substance of evidence of the work we do and the contributions we make in helping every child succeed and be well. Failing to step forward to tell this story ourselves only means that someone else might tell it for us.

Information Technology (IT) as An Improvement Tool For Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

In this paper, it has been tried to evaluate influence of information technology – as a key factor – from different aspects in order to create and manage direct relationship between organizations and their customers. A framework is presented to develop required infrastructure for effective and sustainable relationship between customer and organization. It uses modern information technology tools as input to collect useful data from customers. Then, data are collected and needed processes are done in customer relationship department of organizations. Results are improved customer relationship, sustainable competitive advantages and reduced costs of organization.

Representing resuscitation data—Considerations on efficient analysis of quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Objective To discuss challenges in representing resuscitation data from Utstein style reports and devices like defibrillators with focus on unified and efficient handling of variety of resuscitation research objectives. Methods and results Information on therapy such as shock delivery, chest compressions and ventilation can be extracted from defibrillators. A method for merging this information with cardiac rhythm annotated from ECGs, yields a representation of the resuscitation episode with cardiac rhythm also giving information on response to therapy. These data should be synchronised to an electronic Utstein report. With modern technology for communicating information it is possible to structure, store and transport data flexibly so that data captured with devices from different manufacturers can be combined. Conclusions A scheme for representing resuscitation data should combine essential information stored in different locations after a resuscitation attempt. The resulting representation should enable data analysis to enable studies of the relationship between therapy and patient response. As the complexity and amount of data generated during resuscitation efforts are ever increasing, the time is mature for using modern information technology tools to provide infrastructure for efficient data management and analysis to identify and meet future challenges in resuscitation data analysis.

Mapping Highly Detailed Colour Information on Extremely Dense 3D Models: The Case of David's Restoration

Abstract The support of advanced information technology (IT) to preservation, restoration and documentation of Cultural Heritage (CH) is becoming a very important goal for the research community. Michelangelo's David was one of the first applications of 3D scanning technology on a highly popular work of art. The subsequent restoration campaign, started in 2002 and concluded in 2004, was also a milestone for the adoption of modern scientific analysis procedures and IT tools in the framework of a restoration process. One of the focuses in this restoration was also methodological, i.e. to plan and adopt innovative ways to document the restoration process. In this paper, we present the results of an integration of different restoration data (2D and 3D datasets) which has been concluded recently. The recent evolution of HW and SW graphics technologies gave us the possibility to interactively visualize an extremely dense 3D model which incorporates the colour information provided by two professional photographic campaigns, made before and after the restoration. Moreover, we present the results concerning the mapping, in this case on the 2D media, of the reliefs produced by restorers to assess and document the status of the marble surface before the restoration took place. This result could lead to new and fascinating applications of computer graphics for preservation, restoration and documentation of CH.

Leveraging customer knowledge: a comparative study of eCRM functionality and its use in e-commerce websites

Customer knowledge is recognised as a source of innovation and a key strategic resource. Effective management of customer knowledge helps organisations to understand customer needs, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as maintain competitive advantages. In the online environment and in the absence of face to face interaction with customers, organisations are turning to modern information technology tools to help better manage customer knowledge and customer relations. In this paper, we explore and investigate how companies make use of eCRM functionality to attract and retain customers as well as leverage customer knowledge.

Developments in Retail Logistics

In this article, the authors distinguish between in-store and out-store logistics. While the first may generate more value for the customer in terms of ease of shopping, pleasant ambience among other psychological factors, the second deals with cost cutting and generating better financial choices for the customer. Whereas both of these are critical and must have an interactive, synergistic effect, the in-store logistics force the retailer to control the total supply chain and the out-store logistics creates temptation for the suppliers and/or logistics firms to control the total supply chain. While the out-store logistics appear to play a major role in large scale retailing, in-store logistics are more critical for small scale retailers. Six key research propositions are presented throughout the paper to be used in the exploration of this rather neglected area. The authors maintain that if the overall function of the supply chain were to generate optimal results, the in-store and out-store logistics must work together so that the retailing sector can generate more consumer value. It is maintained that there is a need for better communication flow between the retailer and supplier through the modern information technology tools.

Setup Time Reduction for Electronics Assembly: Combining Simple (SMED) and IT‐Based Methods

As much as 50% of effective capacity can be lost to setups in printed circuit board assembly. Shigeo Shingo showed that radical reductions in setup times are possible in metal fabrication using an approach he called “Single Minute Exchange of Dies” (SMED). We applied SMED to setups of high speed circuit board assembly tools. Its key concepts were valid in this very different industry, but while SMED typically emphasizes process simplification, we had to add modern information technology tools including wireless terminals, barcodes, and a relational database. These tools shield operators from the inherent complexity of managing thousands of unique parts and feeders. The economic value of setup reduction is rarely calculated. We estimate a reduction of key setup times by more than 80%, and direct benefits of $1.8 million per year. Total cost of the changes was approximately $350,000.

Teaching evolution using visual simulations

Teaching evolution and natural selection is normally a problematical and complicatedtask (Lerner, 2000), but promising results were obtained by using modern informationtechnology tools (Edwards & Cohen, 1999).As an alternative, we developed a new interactive learning tool for teaching naturalselection and origin of random variations. The tool is based on text-to-picture transfor-mations, where the text represents the DNA of a fictional organism. Thus, basic geneticoperators like crossover, mutation, selection, and the influence of the environment canbe studied in a simple and user-friendly way.

Zerhouni describes proposed NIH public access policy

Writing in the journal Science in December 2004, NIH director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni described the proposed public access policy that said will create a stable and permanent archive of peer-reviewed, NIH-funded research publications. According to Zerhouni, the policy will enhance NIH’s ability to manage its research portfolio and to provide the public with access to published findings. It will also augment the ability of scientists to exchange information more effectively, while preserving the critical role of journals and publishers in peer review, editing, and scientific quality control. “We believe a stable, permanent archive of peer-reviewed, NIH-funded research publications will help NIH better meet its mission and will augment the ability of scientists to exchange information more effectively. This archive, searchable with modern information technology tools, will enable NIH to manage more efficiently and to understand better its research portfolio, to monitor its scientific productivity, and to help set research priorities. It will also help us to create an end-to-end, paperless, grants-management process,” Zerhouni said. The NIH director pointed out that the proposed policy plan requests, but does not require or mandate, that NIH-funded investigators submit electronically to the NIH the final, peer-reviewed author’s copy of their manuscript, unless the publisher agrees to replace it with the final published copy. He said NIH would embargo the author’s copy from release for 6 months after the publisher’s date of publication, providing at minimum a 6-month delay between final peer review and public availability in the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) PubMed Central. In September last year, the NIH had solicited the public’s views on the plan. NIH subsequently received roughly 6000 comments by the November 16th deadline. These indicated support from librarians, patient advocates, teachers, and individual scientists. Some major research organizations, including the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Association of American Universities issued a qualified endorsement. However, many other scientific societies and commercial publishers called for NIH to delay or drop the plan. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology said the plans were “unacceptable” and should be withdrawn. In the statement in Science, Zerhouni said NIH support is involved in approximately 65,000 articles per year. He pointed out that according to data from 2003, NLM estimates that publications resulting annually from NIH-funded research represent about 10% of the articles in the nearly 5000 journals indexed by PubMed. NIH-funded articles account for more than half of the total published articles for only 1% of these journals. “It is unlikely that scientists and libraries would use the proposed public access policy to gain access to the scientific literature in lieu of their journal subscriptions, because if they did, they would be able to access only a fraction of a journal’s content. In addition, there are many other components of journals, such as science news, industry information, literature reviews, job announcements, and other products that bring value to the reader. These will not be a part of the NIH archive,” Zerhouni explained. “NIH highly values traditional routes of research information dissemination through peer-reviewed journals. Peer review is a hallmark of quality and is vital for validating accuracy and interpretation. Publication in peer-reviewed journals is a major factor in determining professional standing and in making hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions. We also value the communities of research created by scientific organizations and the journals they publish.”

Comprehensive Data Collection to Support Asset Management at Virginia Department of Transportation

In 1996 the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) initiated an Inventory and Condition Assessment System (ICAS) project, designed to collect inventory, condition, and location information for a comprehensive set of assets and allow this information to be stored, accessed, and used in strategic and tactical day-to-day asset management decision making. ICAS requirements included an accurate and complete inventory of roadway infrastructure assets (number and description), an accurate location of these assets (georeferenced through global positioning satellites), an assessment of their condition (damaged, blocked, rusted, etc.), and a central relational database to store the collected information. The project encompassed all roadway assets within highway fence-line boundaries. VDOT used a prime contractor and team of subcontractors to perform data collection and systems development. The ICAS project concluded in November 2002, and the following deliverables were received and accepted by the agency: a complete inventory of highway-maintainable assets in three counties, a comprehensive data dictionary, a process for the consistent measurement of asset conditions, a statewide process for managing asset information, modern information technology tools to access the information, tools to support use of multiple location-reference systems, and statewide centerlines for the entire highway network. The results achieved and lessons learned from this complex project are documented.

Real-Time Control Performance Monitoring as a Tool for Remote Maintenance Service

Modern computer and information technology tools allow real-time control performance monitoring both in processing plants and from a remote location. This allows the development of new kind of service business. In this paper the principles of control performance monitoring is presented. Also, the issues of the remote monitoring are discussed.

Establishing an in‐house documentation system and the role of the library as exemplified by the GSF Research Centre

The possibilities for creating an in‐house documentation system within a special library are described. The responsibilities assumed by a library at a large institution such as at the GSF Research Centre are also discussed. These days a library must make use of the wide range of modern information technology tools if it is to provide an optimal service for its users. Not only is it necessary to use automated systems for the library administration, but ideally information technology tools should be provided to the user to enable optimal handling of personal bibliographic data. This is even more essential for a special library. For this purpose, the GSF is acquiring database software which is available to scientific personnel for creating individual literature databases, as well as for serving librarians. The library supports its users with initial consultations, software training sessions and regular meetings. Additionally, the library offers assistance with the transfer of external electronic data (for example the results of online searches), with the selection of output formats, and a hot‐line. Thus, the library plays a central role regarding all issues of literature work using electronic data processing. The databases in the library, as well as databases from scientists at the GSF, which contain literature pertinent to the environment, are combined in one documentation system representing the comprehensive knowledge and resources within the GSF.

The role of computer‐aided modelling in learning physics

Abstract Physics education should take the chance to link research about students' alternative frameworks and new teaching strategies with the use of modern information technology tools. The article shows how iconic model building software like STELLA can be used to help students gain a deeper qualitative conceptual understanding.