Action Plan Research Articles

Assessing Google Search Trends for Mpox in the United States

Background and Aims: Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) is a zoonotic infectious disease with symptoms of rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The most recent outbreak was reported in May 2022 with the first US case identified in the middle of the same month. Google Trends is a unique tool that quantifies frequencies of a specified search term in real-time, in a given time range, and by geographical location. The present study evaluates the utilisation of Google Trends data in understanding Mpox patterns in the US. Materials and Methods: On 29 September 2023, a Google Trends search was executed to analyse the popularity of the term Mpox for time range of 10 May 2022 to 28 September 2023. Data was exported into MS Excel and matched with the CDC’s Mpox case incidence data. Results: Mpox search was most popular in the District of Columbia (100) followed by Delaware (71), Maryland (70) and Georgia (68), respectively. The popularity scale of 24 was observed 2 days before the first US case was identified which could be attributed to the global rise in cases earlier in May 2022. Although a steep increase in Mpox searches was observed between July and August 2022, the trend aligned with the number of Mpox cases reported to the CDC during the same time frame. Conclusions: Google Trends data, if used in conjunction with other surveillance tools, can help in a better understanding of disease dynamics and may help validate trends obtained through other sources. Since Google Trends monitors and analyses searches in real-time, it can be valuable in establishing a robust action plan.

Towards supply chain resilience: A structured process approach

AbstractThis paper aims to enhance the understanding of how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can bolster their resilience to supply chain disruptions by engaging and aligning cross-functional staff in the process of developing supply chain resilience (SCRES). Employing process theory, the study adopts a multiple case-study methodology involving 18 Danish production SMEs across two iterative phases: an exploratory phase encompassing eight case companies, and a subsequent refinement phase involving an additional ten case companies. Utilizing a mixed-method approach comprising semi-structured interviews, card sorting exercises, observational studies, and a questionnaire survey, the research proposes a four-stage process for enhancing SCRES. This process includes: 1) mapping the supply chain, 2) identifying vulnerabilities and capabilities within each function, 3) prioritizing and creating cross-organizational alignment, and 4) developing action plans. The refined approach, validated through the ten Danish SMEs in the refinement phase, offers a practical and relevant framework for companies seeking to mitigate vulnerabilities and enhance capabilities in their supply chains. By strengthening SMEs' resilience against supply chain disruptions, this approach serves as a potential model for other companies striving to achieve SCRES.

A landscape conservation perspective of state Species of Greatest Conservation Need

AbstractState Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), including lists of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), outline state strategies for protecting species and habitats in the United States. In developing the current, second revision SWAPs, states are increasingly pursuing coordinated landscape conservation approaches. Analyzing SGCN lists in the first revision SWAPs, we found evidence that they already support multistate conservation. Most states address a common set of vertebrate and invertebrate groups, include most of the imperiled species from these groups, do not prioritize endemics over non‐endemics, and often include most imperiled species that are shared with neighboring states. Also, a regional SGCN coordination effort was successful. Although 65% of animals on each SGCN list were assessed as at elevated risk of extirpation by state authorities, only 43% of the combined national list were at elevated risk of global extinction. Over 40% of the combined animal SGCNs are considered globally apparently secure. Plants, snails, freshwater shrimps, and freshwater insects were poorly represented in SGCN lists. For the current SWAP revisions, we recommend improving foundational data on taxonomy, range‐wide distribution, and conservation status; expanded taxonomic coverage in SGCN lists; supporting existing and establishing new interstate initiatives; and diversifying funding mechanisms that target regional cooperation.

How to Read Donor Development Policies: Developing Aids for Reading and the Case of Finland 1993–2023

Since the 1990s, and accelerating with the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the goals for development aid in donor-government development policies have proliferated. Goal structures have also become complex. It is, therefore, often difficult to read a given donor’s intentions from officially declared policy: what exactly it claims being committed to accomplishing with aid in recipient countries and through what means? Furthermore, when goals and means for aid are non-transparent, it becomes more difficult to evaluate or assess donor development policies as officially promised action plans. Related to but not identical to Hall’s policy paradigm concept [Hall, P, 1993, ‘Policy paradigms, social learning, and the state: The case of economic policymaking in Britain’, Comparative Politics, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 275–296] this study aims to develop an analytical framework for reconstructing given donor’s aid logic of goals and means. The framework keeps attention on tracking everywhere two elementary answers from direct or implied statements in official policy documents: what change or changes exactly a given donor claims to promote in recipient countries and through what actions or measures? With interest in Finnish development policies, all the main policy documents for three decades (1993–2023) were analysed. The finding was an apparently enduring core of policy understanding used in Finnish development policies, giving similar stated logic for aid for three decades.

No such thing as waste in primary food sector.

The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to double its use of recycled material by 2030. We argue that waste-centric approach to resources may have adverse consequences to this ambition. The aim of the work was to find out the factors limiting or promoting the use of waste from primary food sector in countries with the same cultural background and similar climate in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. Biomass from the primary food production sector is of good quality and excellent to use, but its use may be limited if given waste status. From numerous management decision trigger clusters, which may affect valorisation of the biomass, we focus on technology and policy. Our semi-structured interviews addressed the analysis and management of waste or by-products and explored the end-of-waste and alternative mechanisms that allowed the biomass to be valorised. However, the interviews revealed that none of the companies regard anything becoming waste, but as raw material or production left-over. Any obstacles hypothesised turned out not to be acknowledged by companies at all. This appears to be a very good example of the use of resources, but the approach is haphazard and may conflict with official understanding and waste reporting requirements. Definition of waste is the same in the EU, and arbitrary treatment can be misleading. There is a need for better management of the material flow to ensure effective biomass circulation avoiding its becoming waste. We recommend that this be addressed by introducing environmental, social, governance and a self-control system.

Investigating Students' Problem Solving Achievements, the Modeling Steps reached and Modeler Types in the Process of Mathematical Modeling Activities

The aim of this study is to identify the effect of mathematical modeling activities applied as action plans on the development of students' achievement in solving algebraic verbal problems, as well as to investigate the mathematical modeling competencies they use during these mathematical modeling activities and the modeling steps they reach. Moreover, the types of mathematical modelers that the students demonstrated during this application process were examined in the study. The study was conducted as an action research with a total of 15 7th grade students in rural areas. It was aimed to reveal the mathematical modeling competencies that students achieved during mathematical modeling activities through observations, researcher and student diaries, as well as interviews conducted with students. Content analysis was implemented to analyze the data. During the study, the mathematical modeling competencies demonstrated by the students in each mathematical modeling activity and the mathematical modeling steps they reached were identified. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that students' mathematical modeling competencies were related to competencies such as general mathematical knowledge or verbal comprehension, and it was also revealed that students' mathematical knowledge competence could be examined in more detail. It was also observed that students could achieve competencies through group work and it was found that students' success in solving the verbal algebraic problems generally improved based on their mathematical modeling competencies.

Salinity tolerance of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus: From global to local, a new tool for implementing management strategy

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) raises concerns about the global proliferation of non-native species (NIS) driven by increasing temperatures. In 2023, the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus experienced a significant range expansion in the French Mediterranean lagoons, now present in over 20 lagoons and numerous estuaries with different invasion gradients. It has been established that this species is eurytherm (tolerates a wide range of temperatures; 0–40 °C), rendering temperature a non-limiting factor for its proliferation. On the other hand, salinity is a critical factor to consider, as C. sapidus requires brackish water for copulation and saline water for egg maturation. In this study, we present the salinity tolerance of C. sapidus using the metabolic performance to define the tolerance of the species to a large range of salinities (13 levels from 0 to 65 psu). Results showed that C. sapidus tolerates a large range of salinities with a minimum critical threshold (CTmin) at 0 psu, an optimum at 18.5 psu, and a CTmax at 62.4 psu. Using the performance curve equation, we applied the curve to real salinity data measured each month in 2023 in 20 lagoons invaded. Using this approach, we were able to map, on a fine spatial scale, the distribution of suitable habitats for C. sapidus in the year 2023. Additionally, we have developed a tool to prioritize the lagoons based on their suitability, thereby providing a decision-making framework for management measures in each lagoon. It emerged that 50 % of lagoons were priority areas, 10 % were intermediate and 40 % required monitoring. On the basis of this approach, we can respond to European regulations to help decision-makers implement action plans and/or early detection programs for invasive species management.

Variation of surface solar radiation components from 2016 to 2020 in China: Perspective from geostationary satellite observation with a high spatiotemporal resolution

At present, traditional satellite datasets still grapple with inadequacies in terms of capturing solar radiation with fine spatiotemporal granularity. This study utilizes the high spatiotemporal resolution of CARE data, which is developed based on geostationary satellite observations, and employs multivariate analysis techniques to conduct an in-depth investigation into the multidimensional spatiotemporal variations of different types of solar radiation across various regions in China from 2016 to 2020. In addition, the potential of solar energy resources was also assessed using cluster analysis method. The results revealed an upward trend in different components of solar radiation across most of China, with shortwave radiation exhibiting a significantly negative correlation with PM2.5 concentrations (R = −0.91, p < 0.05). This finding suggests that the increase in SWR may be attributed to the effective implementation of China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. It suggests that China's endeavors to mitigate air pollution have not only resulted in improvements in national air quality but have also had an indirect positive effect on enhancing the potential for photovoltaic power generation. The assessment of solar energy resources potential indicated, with 99 % statistical confidence, that western China constitutes the core region for solar energy resources development, whereas northeastern and southeastern regions face certain constraints in solar energy resources utilization. Furthermore, we examined the specific influence of atmospheric circulation patterns on solar energy resources, uncovering that the El Niño phenomenon, by altering cloud distribution and variability, indirectly affects solar radiation intensity in specific regions. This study aids in understanding China's solar radiation variations, crucial for shaping effective energy policies towards carbon neutrality.

Supporting experiential learning for expanding successes: extending Kolb’s model

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate how middle managers help subordinates expand their successes, drawing on experiential learning theory and the broaden-and-build theory. Using an open-ended survey of middle managers (n = 203) working for a global manufacturer of motor vehicles and parts in Japan, the grounded theory approach was used to develop the model of experiential learning support for expanding successes. The results suggest that managers tend to help their subordinates review and expand their successes through four phases that consist of recognition and acceptance, analysis (causal analysis, generalisation, and improvement) sharing (documentation and standardisation and knowledge sharing) and application (stretched assignments and action plan). This study contributes to the literature on Human Resource Development by identifying positive instructional methods for developing employees.

Understanding how community-dwelling persons with early dementia perceive health and community services: Informing the dementia strategy of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

With an increased aging population, the number of individuals with dementia is expected to rise. The onset of dementia marks the start of negotiating access to a wide range of health and social services to find practical and emotional supports to deal with the management of changes and subsequent challenges that individual with dementia face. The toll of dementia goes beyond the health care system, affecting families and caregivers' quality of life. This places more pressure on family caregivers and health care institutions to provide services for affected individuals. It is important to understand the service needs of this population to enable them to live at home longer, contribute to society and maintain a positive quality of life. To increase understanding of how persons living at home with early dementia and their caregivers/significant others currently perceive and interact with health and community-based services and service providers. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the experiences of individuals with early dementia and care providers with health and community-based services using semi-structured interviews and content analysis. Participants included 16 individuals 50years and older with mild/early dementia living at home, 22 informal caregivers of individuals with mild/early dementia, and 5 key community informants (community health nurses and social workers). Four thematic categories of barriers and two thematic categories of facilitators for access to and uptake of supportive services were identified. Five strategies to inform the development of an action plan to enhance access to, and uptake of, supportive services were determined. Early recognition of dementia through education and publicity enhanced public awareness, attention, and social inclusion with dementia-friendly neighborhoods and facilities need to be considered to achieve effective dementia-related services. Inclusion and recognition of the wishes of persons with dementia is key.

Climate changes at mine closure: a systematic review

This systematic review addresses the implications of climate change on mine closure processes, aiming to identify, analyze, and synthesize recent literature on how climate change influences the rehabilitation of mined areas, environmental risks, the safety of remaining structures, and the long-term sustainability of closure projects. Through a methodology of selecting scientific articles, articles published between 2020 and 2024 found in the Capes/CAfe database were analyzed. The analysis covered the climatic impacts on increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns in relation to soil erosion, water management, and revegetation in mine closure processes. The results highlight challenges and opportunities arising from extreme weather events, which compromise the stability of mine structures, and the noted absence of Emergency Action Plans for dealing with extreme events, which hinders decision-making and the implementation of control measures. Recommendations include the development of adaptive practices and the incorporation of advanced environmental monitoring to mitigate risks and promote sustainability in mine closure, as well as being essential to increase environmental resilience.

Circular economy: Extending end-of-life strategies

The transition from linear economy to circular economy (CE) has gained mainstream status in recent times, not only at product and process levels, but also at component level. In order to adopt the CE as common practice, there is a need to reimagine the product end-of-life (EoL) phase to include assessment of individual component health status. Implementation of EoL strategies on products designed based on wear and tear, robustness, and safety concerns is, however, complex. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of designing for CE by applying a visual health-based analysis (VHA) at the component level at the EoL stage. The application of this diagnostic tool is exemplified in a case at a large Swedish outdoor power product manufacturer by analyzing components for reuse, remanufacture, refurbishment, recycling, and recovery strategies. The VHA results in the calculation of a CE potential at the component-product level based on individual component's cost, complexity, health, and diagnostic approach. This study presents a diagnostic tool for practitioners to understand circularity at the component-level in the effort to identify EoL strategies. Furthermore, in supporting the CE principle of maximizing resource recovery, the study potentially contributes to the EU's CE action plan and the UN-SDGs 8, 9, 12, and 13.

Feasibility of managing and organizing the problem of informal settlements a field study on informal areas in Najaf Governorate

The research aims to study the problem of informal housing in Najaf Governorate, present strategic scenarios to solve the problem, as well as choosing the low-cost construction strategy as an approved strategy in the research. The study included (9) areas in which informal housing units spread, namely (Al-Radhwiya, Al-Rahma neighborhood, Al-Najaf Sea depression, Al-Shawafi area, behind Al-Quds neighborhood, Al-Jadidah II slums, Al-Jadidah III slums, Tabuk neighborhood, Al-Barakiyah), affiliated to the Najaf Governorate Municipality Directorate. The researchers used the descriptive analysis method based on structured personal interviews in informal areas to identify the problem, in addition to using financial tools by calculating costs (fixed capital, working capital) and revenues to solve the problem by submitting a proposal to establish a low-cost residential complex. The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that efforts and procedures can be organized to reach a radical solution by choosing the optimal and fastest scenario, which is building low-cost housing units, and benefiting from the areas on which slums were built. The study recommended a set of recommendations, the most important of which is forming a government working group from the departments concerned with urban planning, the municipality, the Investment Authority, and departments related to infrastructure, to prepare a technical study and an action plan to establish a package of projects distributed across the governorate's areas. These projects are granted to the best investors in establishing low-cost housing units, and forming a subcommittee to evaluate the lands and re-use them in an optimal manner. In a way that achieves benefit for the city, whether by converting them into green spaces, parks, or investment projects that enhance commercial activity in the city.

Exploring the relationship between small and medium-sized enterprises innovation and organizational performance: a prospective study on the industrial sector in Ecuador

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between the innovation capacity and performance of manufacturing firms in the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical and chemical sectors using strategic foresight analysis. Design/methodology/approach From an extensive literature review, the fundamental variables related to manufacturing firms’ innovation for better performance were identified. Six hypotheses and actions were proposed related to financing, economic resources, capacities and research and development. Several scenarios were tested through foresight methodology to determine the more appropriate to be implemented by manufacturing firms over the next five years. Findings Scenario 01, where all the hypotheses resulted positive, has a 15.3% probability of occurrence. The results offer a relevant understanding of the behavior of the variables proposed as strategic actions for the sector. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, foresight methodology is applied for the first time to analyze the manufacturing sector in Ecuador. The authors propose a plan of action from the strategic scenario identified in this study, supporting the development of the industrial sectors under study.

Strategic hospital resilience capability response to adversity: fusing government regulation and COVID-19 pandemic.

Strategic leadership plays an important role in achieving organizational success in surviving and growing in a challenging business environment. This study aims to examine the role of strategic leadership in responding to a rare moment in the health industry, which is the combination of government regulations that tend to continue to change and the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 358 respondents from 141 type C and D hospitals in Indonesia participated in this research. This study used six latent variables and 27 dimensions, processed using structural equation modeling. The results of this study confirmed that resilient leaders will not seek new partners by developing network capabilities; but rather choose to save the hospital first, by resources reconfiguration as response to the unanticipated adversity caused by fusing the government regulation and emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study makes an important contribution that enables hospital management to develop action plans in response to national health-care regulations coupled with the emergence and extension of the COVID-19 pandemic; as well as the results of the investigation into organizational resources, and to implement strategic resilience capability more effectively.

Informing policy with health labour market analysis to improve availability of family doctors in Tajikistan

BackgroundTajikistan has embarked on health reforms to orient the health system towards primary health care (PHC). The health labour market analysis (HLMA) was initiated by the Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization (WHO) on policy questions related to the PHC workforce team. This article presents the results with focus on family doctors as a critical part of the PHC team, providing lessons for strengthening family medicine and PHC in the European Region and central Asia.MethodsThe HLMA framework was used to guide the analysis. The data for analysis were provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan. Descriptive means were used to analyse the data. A Technical Working Group guided the process.ResultsThere has been an increase in the number of health workers in the country over the last 7 years. However, there is a huge shortage of family doctors when compared with norms, with decreasing family doctor densities over the last 7 years. Family doctors have the highest vacancy rates among specialists and also constitute the highest proportion of specialists who migrate. There is inequitable distribution of doctors across the regions. Overall number of enrolments and graduates in family medicine are declining. Although salaries in PHC are higher than in hospitals, the overall health workforce salaries are lower than the national average. While there have been efforts to retain and attract doctors to PHC in rural and remote regions, challenges exist. The attraction of doctors to narrow specialties may be leading to undermining PHC and family medicine. While the optimal skill-mix and availability of nurses provide an opportunity to strengthen multi-disciplinary teams at the PHC level, shortages and unequal distribution of doctors are affecting health services coverage and health indicators.ConclusionsApplication of the HLMA framework has helped identify the bottlenecks in the health labour market flows and the possible explanations for them. The policy considerations emerging out of the HLMA have contributed to improving evidence-based planning for retention and recruitment of the PHC workforce, improvements in medical and nursing education, and higher investments in the PHC workforce and particularly in family doctors. Implementation of the Action Plan will require political commitment, financial resources, strong inter-sectoral collaboration, stakeholder management, and cross-country learning of best practices. Through this process, Tajikistan has shown the way forward in implementing the Central Roadmap for health and well-being in Central Asia and the Framework for Action on the Health and Care Workforce in the WHO European Region.

PULSE Ambassadors program: empowering departments to transform STEM education for inclusion and student success.

The Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE) is a non-profit educational organization committed to promoting the transformation of undergraduate STEM education by supporting departments in removing barriers to access, equity, and inclusion and in adopting evidence-based teaching and learning practices. The PULSE Ambassadors Campus Workshop program enables faculty and staff members of host departments to 1) develop communication, shared leadership, and inclusion skills for effective team learning; 2) implement facilitative leadership skills (e.g., empathic listening and collaboration); 3) create a shared vision and departmental action plan; and 4) integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the department and curriculum. From the first workshop in 2014, teams of trained Ambassadors conducted workshops at 58 institutions, including associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral institutions. In their workshop requests, departments cited several motivations: desire to revise and align their curriculum with Vision and Change recommendations, need for assistance with ongoing curricular reform, and wish for external assistance with planning processes and communication. Formative assessments during and immediately following workshops indicated that key outcomes were met. Post-workshop interviews of four departments confirm progress achieved on action items and development of individual department members as agents of change. The PULSE Ambassadors program continues to engage departments to improve undergraduate STEM education and prepare departments for the challenges and uncertainties of the changing higher education landscape.

Rehabilitating Workers Aged 55 and Over: Professionals' Perspectives and Solutions.

Work disability affects a growing number of workers aged 55 and over (W55 +). While rehabilitation programs have demonstrated efficacy for workers with an average age of 42, they often have not been designed to meet unique needs of aging workers. This study aimed to describe the difficulties encountered by work rehabilitation professionals and explore their solutions for improving services offered to W55 + . This study used a simple descriptive design with purposive sampling. Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists were mainly recruited in private clinics. An interview guide based on the Work Disability Paradigm was piloted and used with the participants. Qualitative interviews were conducted with work rehabilitation professionals and then transcribed. A thematic analysis was performed. The sample consisted of fifteen participants (average age 38years) with near equal representation across genders and disciplines. Difficulties were identified in relation to the (1) characteristics of W55 + , (2) work environment, (3) compensation system, and (4) communication among stakeholders. Five solutions were proposed to improve the services offered: provide healthcare professionals with access to tools and training, implement communication mechanisms, integrate a return-to-work coordinator, develop a joint action plan for managing W55 + , and implement an integrative prevention approach in workplaces. Our results represent a first step in mapping various stakeholders' needs to ensure better support for W55 + with work disabilities. These results delineate a roadmap for future research that should expand upon these stakeholders' perspectives to provide a more comprehensive description of their needs and potential solutions.

Harmonising Indicators to Report Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan: Systemic Analysis of Existing Regional and City Indicators Sets

Harmonising Indicators to Report Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan: Systemic Analysis of Existing Regional and City Indicators Sets

Action plan proposal to obtain triple certification in a natural gas transportation company

Goal: for large gas transportation companies, it is of strategic relevance to be compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001 certifications, acknowledging their Integrated Management System (IMS). Based on this context, the purpose of this study was to propose an action plan to obtain triple certification for a Brazilian natural gas transportation company. Design / Methodology / Approach: the methodology comprised research of applied nature, exploratory and descriptive objectives, qualitative approach, with a single case study investigation strategy, and data collected through triangulation, combining documents, interviews, and field observation. Results: First, an action plan, which enabled the company to achieve triple certification in ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001 standards. Second, a table correlating seventeen IMS elements with technical and academic literature, and guidance documents of the studied company, making it easier to visualize interdependencies. Limitations of the investigation: The main one is the generalization limit of the conclusions, models or theories developed from a single case study, used in this work. These limitations do not reduce the importance of the results found, since the proposed action plan enabled the natural gas transportation company to obtain the desired triple certification. Practical implications: the proposed action plan may support other companies to achieve triple certification. Originality / Value: no research has been identified in the international literature that deals with triple certification for companies operating in the natural gas transportation market, specifically, the correlation of IMS elements with literature references and guidance documents of the studied company.