ABSTRACTGlobal climate change exacerbates urban floods, making their projection into future uncertainties more challenging. Identifying flood impact factors in urban areas is necessary for effective urban flood risk management. However, studies investigating the priority determination among flood impact factors based on an integrated decision‐making tool are limited. This study proposes an integrated flood risk matrix combining two methods. The proposed tool comprises quantitative and qualitative approaches to comprehensively investigate the priorities among flood impact factors. The quantitative approach examines the “uncertainty,” and the qualitative approach investigates the “importance”. The proposed tool, combined with two measures, performs priority determination with respect to hydrological and hydraulic flood risk factors. Pipe roughness and curve number were identified as the key drivers (i.e., high priority). In addition, the proposed matrix demonstrated how priority determination among flood impact factors can help improve decision‐making for urban infrastructure projects. This study improves knowledge of project decision‐making by providing a mechanism that integrates two different methods while providing reliable results.
Student entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and job creation, particularly in developing countries. However, limited financial literacy remains a major barrier to entrepreneurial success among students. This study aims to systematically review the role of financial literacy in supporting student entrepreneurship. A systematic search using the PRISMA 2020 method was conducted in Scopus for the period 2014–2024 with the following search string: (“financial literacy” AND entrepreneurship AND student*) OR (“financial literacy” AND “youth entrepreneurship”). From an initial 155 records, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, empirical, English language, and focusing on students in the context of entrepreneurship. The review identifies three main themes. First, the financial skills addressed include budgeting, saving and borrowing, cash-flow management, investment and risk assessment, and basic accounting. Second, approaches to improving financial literacy are primarily through integrated curricula, business simulations, student venture projects, and industry mentoring. Third, financial literacy strongly impacts entrepreneurial outcomes, including higher self-efficacy, better financial decision-making, stronger resilience in cash-flow management, and greater sustainability of student ventures. The findings underscore the importance of integrating financial literacy as core human capital within entrepreneurship education, especially in developing countries. Limitations of this review include reliance on Scopus and exclusion of non-English studies. The study provides theoretical, practical, and policy implications for universities, educators, and policymakers.
PT.X is a company engaged in lubricant manufacturing. Based on the results of field studies, several risks hinder the company's supply chain process, and PT.X has never conducted a risk assessment. Therefore, risk analysis and mitigation are needed to minimize the risks that arise in the company's supply chain. This research uses the Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) model to map the company's supply chain activities and the House of Risk (HOR) method to identify risks in the supply chain, including risk events, risk agents, and their correlations. The results reveal a total of 32 risk events and 26 risk agents. Then, a Pareto diagram calculation is conducted, identifying 3 priority risk agents that need to be addressed: supplier inability to provide raw materials, lack of work supervision, and inadequate workforce competence. From these 3 priority risk agents, 8 risk mitigation measures have been determined: evaluating supplier performance, establishing contracts with suppliers, planning alternative supplier selection, conducting periodic supervision, establishing company standard operating procedures, providing skills training and work discipline, recruiting workers more selectively and rigorously, and placing workers according to their expertise.
Netrananda Sahu, Suraj Kumar Mallick, Pritiranjan Das
et al.
Due to climate change the drop in spring-water discharge poses a serious issue in the Himalayan region, especially in the higher section of Himachal Pradesh. This study used different climatic factors along with long-term rainfall data to understand the decreasing trend in spring-water discharge. It was determined which climate parameter was most closely correlated with spring discharge volumes using a general as well as partial correlation plot. Based on 40 years (1981–2021) of daily average rainfall data, a rainfall-runoff model was utilised to predict and assess trends in spring-water discharge using the MIKE 11 NAM hydrological model. The model’s effectiveness was effectively proved by the validation results (NSE = 0.79, R2 = 0.944, RMSE = 0.23, PBIAS = 32%). Model calibration and simulation revealed that both observed and simulated spring-water runoff decreased by almost 29%, within the past 40 years. Consequently, reduced spring-water discharge is made sensitive to the hydrological (groundwater stress, base flow, and stream water flow) and environmental entities (drinking water, evaporation, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration). This study will help researchers and policymakers to think and work on the spring disappearance and water security issues in the Himalayan region.
The COVID-19 outbreak had a significant negative impact on the world, and the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong brought a considerable shock to Chinese society. There is a growing call for more resilient cities. However, empirical evidence and validation of modeling studies of resilience indicators for urban community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic still need to be provided. In this study, a resilience assessment indicator model comprising 4 subsystems, 7 indicators, and 12 variables was developed to assess the resilience of Hong Kong communities in response to COVID-19 (i.e., Resilience Index). Furthermore, this study utilized regression models such as geographically weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale GWR (MGWR) to validate the resilience model proposed in this study at the model and variable levels. In the regression model, the Resilience Index and the individual variables in the resilience model are explanatory variables, and the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic (confirmed cases, confirmation rate, discharged cases, discharge rate) are dependent variables. The results showed that: (i) the resilience of Hong Kong communities to the COVID-19 pandemic was not strong in general and showed some clustered spatial distribution characteristics; (ii) the validation results at the model level showed that the Resilience Index did not explain the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic to a high degree; (iii) the validation results at the variable level showed that the MGWR model was the best at identifying the relationships between explanatory variables and the dependent variable; and (iv) compared with the model-level assessment results, the variable-level assessment explained the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic better than the model level assessment results. The above analysis and the spatial distribution maps of the resilience variables can provide empirically based and targeted insights for policymakers.
Background Examine how Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) can be used to manage patient safety and improve the standard of care for patients.Methods In order to improve key medical training in areas like surgical safety management, blood transfusion closed-loop management, drug safety management and identity recognition, we apply the TeamSTEPPS teaching methodology. We then examine the effects of this implementation on changes in pertinent indicators.Results Our hospital’s perioperative death rate dropped to 0.019%, unscheduled reoperations dropped to 0.11%, and defined daily doses fell to 24.85. Antibiotic usage among hospitalised patients declined to 40.59%, while the percentage of antibacterial medicine prescriptions for outpatient patients decreased to 13.26%. Identity recognition requirements were implemented at a rate of 94.5%, and the low-risk group’s death rate dropped to 0.01%. Critical transfusion episodes were less common, with an incidence of 0.01%. The physician’s TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire and Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire scores dramatically improved following the TeamSTEPPS team instruction course.Conclusion An evidence-based team collaboration training programme called TeamSTEPPS combines clinical practice with team collaboration skills to enhance team performance in the healthcare industry and raise standards for medical quality, safety, and effectiveness.
Ding Hock Hii, Nur Amalina Muhammad, Noorhafiza Muhammad
The semiconductor industry faces the dual challenge of risk assessment and process improvement. This paper introduces a framework that integrates Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to address these challenges effectively. FMEA serves as the initial step to identify potential risks within the system, followed by applying the PDCA cycle to systematically address and enhance the identified risks. The comparison between the initial Risk Priority Number (RPN) value, determined through FMEA, and the post-RPN in PDCA value gauges the success of the framework. Implementing the system in a semiconductor assembly line yielded a significant 51% improvement in RPN, with additional Lean tools incorporated into PDCA, such as SMART goals, 6M, and multi-voting. This integrated framework amplifies risk management, fosters continuous improvement, optimizes resource utilization, and empowers data-driven decisions, ultimately bolstering organizational growth. However, the study acknowledges limitations such as its single-case focus and potential RPN calculation subjectivity.
Industrial engineering. Management engineering, Management information systems
The presentation discusses the potential of blockchain and AI to revolutionize the pharmaceutical supply chain. The author, with a rich history in healthcare technology, highlights the inefficiencies and challenges faced by the industry, particularly in areas like drug discovery, manufacturing, and distribution.
Blockchain technology, with its ability to create immutable records, can enhance transparency, traceability, and security across the supply chain. This can help in tracking the journey of drugs from raw materials to the final product, reducing the risk of counterfeiting and ensuring quality.
AI, on the other hand, can optimize various processes, such as drug discovery, clinical trials, and supply chain logistics. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI can identify patterns, predict trends, and make informed decisions. This can accelerate drug development, improve manufacturing efficiency, and optimize inventory management.
The integration of blockchain and AI can create a powerful synergy, leading to significant improvements in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This includes enhanced patient safety, reduced costs, and faster time-to-market for new drugs. The presentation provides a concise view of the health care supply chain processes and discusses AI patterns such as RAG, GAM and Fine-Tuning methods such as LoRA and QLoRa that can help in building trust in the supply chain.
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
Natural disasters are becoming increasingly regional, frequent, and complex. Semi-quantitative risk assessments based on risk indices or relative risk levels lack quantitative parameters to characterize losses adequately. This study focuses on earthquakes and geological disasters, quantitatively assessing the risk of probable maximum loss (PML) from multi-hazard on the Tibet Plateau (TP) in terms of both absolute and relative values. The results indicate that total PML from multi-hazard on the TP is estimated at 465.5 billion CNY, with a relative value of 5.3%. The total loss value of towns with very high absolute PML is estimated at 254.8 billion CNY, while the relative loss value of towns with very high relative PML is 25.1%. Towns with high absolute value of PML for multi-hazard may have higher fixed asset values, while those with high relative value imply higher vulnerability. Adjusting building structures and reducing the vulnerability of buildings could effectively mitigate the risk of disaster losses caused by multiple hazards.
AbstractUnstable rock slopes pose a hazard to inhabitants and infrastructure in their vicinity, necessitating advanced monitoring methodologies for timely risk assessment and mitigation. Recent geotechnical monitoring techniques often rely on sensor data fusion to enhance forecasting for imminent failures. Our investigation extends beyond a single sensor type to data fusion for heterogeneous sensor networks using a Multimodal Asynchronous Kalman Filter. We illustrate the application of the proposed method on a case study data set consisting of data from an on-site sensor network enriched by remote sensing data. Employing a Multimodal Asynchronous Kalman Filter, we capitalise on the distinct resolutions inherent in each sensor input. The outcome was a combined dataset with a high spatiotemporal resolution. Our approach facilitates the estimation of essential physical attributes for monitored objects, encompassing translation, rotation, velocities and accelerations. The case study site was an unstable rock section of ca. 50.000 m3 in Aurland, Norway, which collapsed as a multi-stage failure in July 2023. Our method can be transposed to various sites with distinct sensor networks, enhancing state estimations for objects on unstable rock slopes. These estimations can significantly improve applications such as risk assessment and robust early-warning systems, enhancing predictions of critical failure points.
The earthquake prediction released by USGS in 1985 to the public stated that there was an Mw6.0 earthquake occurring in the Parkfield area by January 1993 with a 95% chance. This prediction has proved unsuccessful. Some researchers analyzed the reasons for the failure of the prediction on the basis of statistics. In this study, we explored this problem by means of b-value and the Earth's rotation-correlated seismicity. The results show that an increasing trend in b-value occurred prior to May 1992 and a decreasing trend with a relative decrease of more than 35% from June 1992 to early 1999. In several years before the 2004 Mw 6.0 Parkfield earthquake, the b-value remained stable at the lowest level. A significant correlation between seismic activity and Earth's rotation occurred only when the 2004 mainshock was approaching. It has been well- known that when a stressed focal medium is approaching failure due to action of a critical stress, the focal medium will reach a critical state. At this point, seismicity could be significantly correlated to Earth's rotation. So, significantly Earth's rotation-related seismic activity indicated that the focal medium in the Parkfield area was at a critical state. Since the decline in b-value corresponds to increasing stress and the significantly Earth's rotation-related seismic activity indicates the critical state of the focal medium, we suggest that two precursors are the decline (several years to more than a decade) in b-value and the significantly Earth's rotation-related seismic activity. These two precursors did not emerge during or before the 1985 Parkfield earthquake prediction period. Instead, they appeared preceding the 2004 Mw 6.0 Parkfield mainshock. This may be the reason that the Mw 6 Parkfield earthquake did not occurred till 2004.
Poultry meat, due to its low price and nutritional value, is a healthy and easily accessible option for many households worldwide. Poultry consumption is, therefore, expected to continue to grow. However, this increase may lead to the rising numbers of cases of bacterial gastroenteritis, as poultry meat often carries foodborne pathogens such as <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. While the current on-farm biosecurity programs and food safety management systems implemented by the poultry industry are intended to mitigate the presence of these pathogens, some find their way to the retail level, posing a risk to the consumer. A safeguard for the consumer could potentially result from meat marination. However, the current marinated meat products sold on the market aim to extend the shelf life and overall taste and tenderness of the meat rather than its safety. Marination could be optimised not only to reduce any foodborne pathogen present in the meat but also to increase the shelf life reducing waste at the retail level. Formulations composed of various ingredients with different active principles may be used to achieve this objective. Wines present a superb component for marinades. Due to their complex nature, wines possess organic acids, phenolic compounds, and ethanol, all of which own significant antimicrobial potential. Essential oils may be another option. By combining different active principles in a marinade, we could potentially reduce the concentrations of the overall bactericidal ingredients. The objective of this review was to analyse the recent studies in this field and try to understand the best options for developing a convenient, natural-based bactericidal marinade.
<b>Introduction:</b> Community pharmacies are high-performance workplaces; if the environment is not conducive to safe practice, mistakes can occur. There has been increasing demand for pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic as they have become integral to the response. Suboptimal practices in the work environment and with pharmacists and their teams can impact the safe delivery of services. New Zealand pharmacists’ perceptions of the current work environment and beliefs around whether suboptimal practice have increased within the last five years and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their practices are unknown. <b>Aim/Objectives</b><b>:</b> To assess what New Zealand pharmacists associate with suboptimal practice in their workplace and investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacists and their workplaces. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b> We employed an anonymous online questionnaire derived from a human factors framework utilised in the aviation industry to explore the potential environment, team and organisational factors as the determinants of suboptimal work practices. The software, hardware, environment and liveware (S.H.E.L.L) model was adapted to create questions classifying the risk factors to potentially identify aspects of work systems that are vulnerable and may provide risks to optimal practice. Additional perceptions around the effect of COVID-19 on their workplace and roles as pharmacists were explored. Participants were community pharmacists working in New Zealand contacted via a mailing list of the responsible authority for the profession. <b>Findings</b><b>:</b> We received responses from 260 participants. Most participants indicated that suboptimal practice had increased in the last 5 years (79.8%). The majority of participants indicated that COVID-19 had impacted their workplaces (96%) and their roles as pharmacists (92.1%). Participants perceived that suboptimal practice was associated with a lack of leadership and appropriate management; poor access to resourcing, such as adequate staff and narrow time constraints for work tasks; a lack of procedures; competition; and stress. A lack of experience, professionalism and poor communication between staff, patients and external agencies were also issues. COVID-19 has affected pharmacists personally and their work environments. Further study in this area is required. <b>Conclusion</b><b>s:</b> We have identified that pharmacists across all sectors of New Zealand agreed that suboptimal practices had increased in the last 5 years. A human factors S.H.E.L.L framework can be used to classify themes to understand the increases in suboptimal practice and the role of COVID-19 on pharmacist practice. Many of these themes build on the growing body of the international literature around the effect of the pandemic on pharmacist practice. Areas for which there are less historical data to compare longitudinally include pharmacist wellbeing and the impact of COVID-19.
Faith R. Chidavaenzi, Adrino Mazenda, Ntobeko Ndlovu
Increasing food production by developing small-scale irrigation schemes is a requirement for tackling household food insecurity. Strategies, such as the World Vision, Enhancing Nutrition, Stepping Up Resilience and Enterprise, have been established to enhance food availability in the drought-prone Burirano Ward 4, Chipinge, Zimbabwe, through the drip irrigation intervention. This study analysed the extent to which the drip intervention has increased food production, abilities, income and nutrition of households. Consequently, the key factors impacting the performance of the drip irrigation scheme were assessed. The study utilised a mixed-method convergent parallel design, drawing from semi-structured questionnaires administered on a census of 40 household beneficiaries as well as a focus group discussion of five key informants directly linked to the Chidzadza irrigation scheme, Burirano Ward 4, Chipinge, Zimbabwe. The findings show that the drip irrigation scheme significantly increased households’ food production abilities, nutrition and income. The main factors responsible for the success of the drip irrigation scheme are cheap labour from household members and agriculture extension support. Issues that prevent the success of the scheme include erratic rain supplies and damaged water pipes. Strategies to increase household food production through the drip irrigation scheme include maintenance of water pipes, an increase in water catchment areas and water availability through solar-powered borehole systems.
Supply chain across the world is getting more complex with every passing day. Due to globalization, companies are operating internationally, and so their operations have incorporated a plethora of areas. With great expansion, comes great risk as well as therefore, the supply chain of today face great risks when operating at a global scale and these risks hinder their performance. In this study we explore the relationship of supply chain risk management, reaction time, resilience with the performance of organization and investigates in detail how a better strategy of supply chain risk management can lead to better performances and firms becoming resilient to disruptions and risks. This study is based on the automobile sector of Pakistan and the data was recorded from all the leading automobile industries of Pakistan. The research follows a quantitative model. 100 questionnaires were filled out by people employed in automotive firms and the data was analyzed using SPSS. Correlation analyses were performed to see how performance and supply chain risk management along with other variables – resilience and reactive supply chain, were related to each other. Furthermore, regression test was applied to understand the impact of meeting a structured supply chain risk management on firm’s performance and the results reveal that supply chain risk management does take a significant influence on the performance of a firm. Future work can be done in this same area by exploring more industries and firms, taking a bigger sample size and exploring more categories of risks that influence the firms’ operations in their own ways.
Abstract While sourcing by means of Public-Private Partnerships has been lauded over recent years, increasingly risks appear to jeopardise public organisations' unique societal tasks. Integrated Risk Management has not yet been applied to public organisations getting involved in PPP in the sense of understanding risk management capabilities. This article explores risk awareness and risk management practices underpinning maintenance partnership formation by means of a dual case study of two PPP projects and a short industry survey. The results suggest that organisations face several “intolerable risks” linked to project governance and project management responsibilities: insufficient representation of qualified employees, absence of a shared performance system, assignment of responsibilities and decision-making authority, impractical or inappropriate partnership agreement, and timing of the partnership initiative. Cross-case analysis revealed the role of different levels of risk awareness and senior management involvement. Drawing on these findings, a framework for risk management for PPP formation projects is developed.
Post-flowering frosts cause appreciable losses to the Australian chickpea industry. The Northern Grains Region (NGR) of Australia, which accounts for nearly 95% of chickpea production in Australia, is frequently subjected to such events. The objective of this study was to map frost risk in chickpea in the NGR and develop strategies to minimise the impacts of such risk. The Agricultural Production System Simulator (APSIM) modelling framework was used to determine spatial and temporal trends in post-flowering frost risk. The NGR could be divided into six broad sub-regions, each delineating locations with similar frost risk. The risk was nearly two to three times greater in the Southern Downs and Darling Downs sub-regions as compared to the Central Queensland Highlands, Dawson Callide, New South Wales, and Northern New South Wales−Western Downs sub-regions. There was an increasing trend in the frequency of frost events in the Southern Downs and New South Wales sub-regions, and a decreasing trend in the Central Queensland Highlands and Dawson Callide sub-regions, consistent with the changing climate of the NGR. In each sub-region, frost risk declined with delayed sowings, but such sowings resulted in simulation of reduced water limited yield potential (unfrosted) as well. The model output was also used to compute 10, 30, 50, and 70% probabilities of the last day of experiencing −3 to 2 °C minimum temperatures and identify the earliest possible sowings that would avoid such temperatures after flowering. Choosing the earliest sowing times with a 30% frost risk could help increase overall yields in environments with high frost risk. Simulations involving genotype x environment x management interactions suggested additional opportunities to minimise frost losses through the adoption of particular cultivars of differing phenology and the use of different agronomy in various environments of the NGR. The study indicates that there is considerable variation in frost risk across the NGR and that manipulating flowering times either through time of sowing or cultivar choice could assist in minimising yield losses in chickpea due to frost.