Adoption Of Innovative Techniques Research Articles

A new method for the estimation of stochastic epidemic descriptors reinforced by Kalman-based dynamic parameter estimation. Application to mpox data.

In the realm of epidemiology, it is essential to accurately assess epidemic phenomena through the adoption of innovative techniques that yield reliable predictions. This article introduces an advanced method that merges the Extended Kalman Filter approach with recursive algorithms to compute critical stochastic attributes important for evaluating epidemics. A new three-dimensional discrete Markov process is presented, according to which the total number of infections, deaths, and the duration of epidemic outbreaks are estimated. This approach represents a notable improvement over the standard estimation procedure, which relies on Markov-based stochastic models with fixed parameters. Furthermore, it constitutes a real-time estimation process, as opposed to the standard method, which is more suitable for offline applications. The proposed methodology marks an original attempt to integrate computational techniques for modeling stochastic epidemic characteristics with dynamic parameter estimation procedures. An additional advantage is the reduction of noise in the system's states enhancing the overall precision. The method's performance is thoroughly assessed through 3 simulated epidemic instances. Furthermore, its application to the actual 2022 mpox data from the Czech Republic demonstrates promising effectiveness. In comparison to the standard methodology, our approach yields estimates with deviations of only 4.383 weeks, 3.542 infections, and 0.266 deaths, as opposed to the standard method where we observe deviations of 15.372 weeks, 5.786 infections, and 0.501 deaths. Overall, the proposed estimation procedure proves to be a valuable tool for investigating epidemic phenomena characterized by fluctuating dynamics, potentially providing valuable insights for addressing the associated public health challenges. MSC: 62M20, 60J22, 65C40, 62G30, 62P10.

HERNIA SURGERY TRENDS AND LANDSCAPE IN LATVIA: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract Background This study analyzes hernia surgeries in Latvia across years and healthcare facilities, aiming to discern trends and methodologies amid budgetary constraints and healthcare disparities. Method Analyzing hernia surgeries from 2016 to 2022, this study evaluated total repairs, elective surgeries, laparoscopic techniques, and specific methodologies at Riga East University Hospital and Latvian healthcare institutions. Results Hernia repairs fluctuated annually: 4516 (2016), 4285 (2017), 4315 (2018), 4639 (2019), 4169 (2020), 4527 (2021), reaching 5488 in 2022. In 2022, laparoscopic incisional hernia surgeries accounted for 19% (67 cases) of 226 total incisional hernia surgeries. Elective hernia surgeries ranged from 86.4% to 93.3% from 2017 to 2019, slightly declining in subsequent years (probably effect of COVID-19). Laparoscopic abdominal wall hernia surgeries varied from 15.3% to 20.2%. There was a notable surge in laparoscopic groin surgeries, and a shift towards TAPP (437 cases) over TEP (65 cases) in 2022. Emerging minimally invasive procedures – E-TEP (130), SCOLA (60), TARM (20) became apparent since 2019. At Riga East University Hospital, hernia surgeries significantly increased from 527 (2020) to 633 (2022). Laparoscopic techniques in groin hernias rose from 16% (2019) to 26% (2022), while laparoscopic incisional hernia surgeries declined from 11% (2019) to 8% (2022). Conclusion This study sheds light on the dynamic landscape of hernia surgeries in Latvia, highlighting trends in procedures, preferences, and adoption of innovative techniques. Understanding these trends is crucial for healthcare professionals to enhance hernia care strategies and adapt to the constraints and disparities within Latvia's healthcare system.

Barriers to Innovation in Water Treatment

While phenomenal strides are being made on the technological front, the water industry lags behind other sectors in the adoption of innovative techniques. Contributing factors include long lifetimes and costs of previous water infrastructure, risk aversion due to public health concerns surrounding water access, and low financing for innovation. While many professionals see the need for innovation, they prefer traditional tried and tested routes. Regulations may be useful in accelerating the transition to sustainable technologies. Furthermore, the literature emphasizes the role of environmental, social, and political actors, as well as their interplay in realizing innovation in the water sector.

Rain Water Harvesting for Food and Livelihood Security: A case study from Pali, India

Abstract Arid zones are characterized by high evaporation, low and uneven rainfall, undulated topography, presence of salt layers at shallow depth in the soil and poor-quality ground water. Under these conditions an innovative farmer in the district of Pali in the state of Rajasthan, India explored options for farm diversification under hot-arid conditions at his farm. His motivation brought him to the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) where he was trained in various basic aspects of rain water harvesting. KVK, Pali studied the methods and innovative ideas utilized by the farmers and the subsequent gain in yield and income by adoption of rainwater harvesting at his farm on a yearly basis. Initially he constructed a small rainwater harvesting structure by which he was able to store substantial quantities of water for longer duration. As a result of constant motivation, he constructed a concrete rainwater storage structure (40M x 40M x 3.5M) and explored further options to increase production at his farm. Also, development of goat farming, intercropping, raising fodder crops and grasses, and developing a fishery, all from the gains of water harvested from rains, gave him confidence and added to the prosperity of his farm. Presently, on farm productive activities, family labour mobilization and diversification provide him with a stable income. This experiential learning also led to new knowledge emerging from interactions among a hitherto powerful scientific hierarchy and served as role model for other farmers’ adoption of innovative techniques.

L’adoption des innovations techniques

L'introduction des innovations techniques remet en cause l'ordre ancien jusqu'a ce que les innovations techniques soient adoptees. Ce fut le cas pour l'arrivee de la voiture dans les campagnes bretonnes, ou en fonction de leur position sociale, les individus acceptent plus ou moins l'innovation technique

Incremental innovation: A case study analysis

By its nature innovation suggests that unknown and potentially high risk is incurred. The perils of innovation have been well established, yet the pressures to innovate and seek new solutions to business problems do not diminish. Within the knowledge economy there has been a large amount of conceptual work to develop, for example, sophisticated models of customer relationship management. As with other managerially orientated initiatives such as business process re-engineering and total quality management, however, the process of adoption and subsequent business benefits are not consistently apparent to managers. The application of new management thinking and the adoption of innovative techniques are subject to significant risk of failure, with consequent effects on a business already under pressure to improve performance. This paper considers a traditional, family-orientated firm that has prospered for many years. Business pressures are forcing the company to consider ways in which profitability can be maintained and improved. The actions of the company are considered against two conceptual frameworks. First, the empirically-derived understanding of marketing practice developed by the Contemporary Marketing Practice group, secondly the conceptual approach to the development of database management practice proposed by Shaw and Stone. The innovation involved the introduction of a database marketing activity within the organisation. The case study demonstrates how the company develops incrementally from a traditional transactional approach to marketing, and adopts database marketing as a means to improve performance. This effectively represents a product being developed and internally sold by the marketing department of the organisation to the rest of the company. The success of this process is considered against criteria for product development proposed by Poolton and Barclay. The paper concludes by noting that adopting an incremental approach can reduce the risks associated with innovation. This is consistent with the frameworks discussed. This may, however, lead to suboptimisation of the potential returns, but may still be consistent with the objectives of the management team.

The Expansion of Capital and Uneven Development on a World Scale

This paper explains the divergence among countries in level of development in terms of primary and secondary uneven development, both resulting from the process of accumulation. Primary uneven development arises because of the more dynamic expansion of capitalist countries relatively to countries in which capitalism is incipient. This difference is inherent in the social relations of capital. Secondary uneven development occurs within the group of predominantly capitalist countries, due to competition and adoption of technical innovations within the social relations of capital. The former generates divergence; the latter exhibits a cyclical pattern of convergence and divergence, with convergence the long term tendency.

The Boom in contemporary Israeli fiction

A critical introduction to contemporary Israeli that places works and writers in their cultural and social context. Five essays explore facets of what Mintz calls the complexity of cultural reverberations in Israeli fiction of the past two decades, a period during which literature and the institutions of literary culture became the principal mode of encountering and mediating modernity. Among the major concerns addressed are the emergence of female writers, characterization of redefined gender roles, re-imagining the Holocaust, de-marginalization of Sephardic writing, and adoption of innovative techniques like magic realism and experimental narrative strategies. The collection shows how contemporary Israeli both chronicles and confronts cultural and societal dichotomies -- collectivism vs. individualism, native Israelis vs. Holocaust survivors, male vs. female, religion vs. secular, Ashkenazic vs. Sephardic -- that characterize a nation whose self-conception has been shaped by its complex and conflicted history. CONTRIBUTORS: Robert Alter, Nancy Berg, Yael S. Feldman, Anne Golomb Hoffman, Alan Mintz, Gilead Morahg

Technology Adoption and Welfare under a Monopoly: An Illustration of Microeconomic Policy Analysis

Graphical presentation in textbooks of the problem of technology adoption by a monopolist always assumes a uniformly downward shift in the marginal cost curve. My purpose in this article is to show that, despite its convenience, this nonintersecting marginal cost assumption obscures some of the workings of a monopoly and incorrectly suggests that welfare improvements and adoption are synonymous. Using graphs and an economic surplus argument, I study the conventional analysis and clarify some issues concerning monopoly and technical change. Specifically, I explore the relationships among welfare, adoption, and output. When an alternative technology reduces output but increases social welfare, then it is adopted. Further, when a technology increases output and is adopted, then it increases social welfare. The graphical analysis provides a good classroom opportunity to evaluate welfare, as well as to demonstrate how monopolies work and why they are inefficient. As human knowledge advances, resource availability changes, and legislation is altered, monopoly firms continually face new choices among technologies that may or may not result from active research and development (R&D) by firms. Apart from the deadweight-loss issue created by a monopoly, there are the issues of incentives for R&D and adoption of technical innovations by the monopolist. The appropriability of rents associated with innovation implies that the compet

The sustainability of Papua New Guinea agricultural systems: the conceptual background

Abstract Papua New Guinea offers an opportunity to study the Intensification and sustainability of village agriculture under the pressures of demographic change and social and economic development. This paper describes research investigating the process of agricultural intensification. Theories of intensification suggest the process is associated with increasing population, or with increased production for social purposes, or both. Intensification brings about changes that must be overcome by innovation. Innovation may demand temporary or permanent increases in labour, and changes in the social relations of production, but intensification without innovation is likely to lead to land degradation. A tension exists between the environment, social organization, production and the adoption of innovative techniques, which may determine whether intensification is sustainable. The research is presently identifying, mapping and systematically describing agricultural systems. Preliminary results suggest intensification is positively associated with altitude, sweet potato (lpomoea batatas) cultivation, and with a number of innovative agronomic techniques.

Patterns of generation and adoption of innovation in organizations: Contingency models of innovation attributes

Abstract This study addresses the debate over the occurrence and the applicability of unitary sequence and multiple sequence patterns in the innovation process in organizations. Our general argument is that each pattern's explanatory power hinges on identifiable contingencies. These influencing factors can and should be taken into account by both theorists and managers. Focusing on two types of innovation processes, generation and adoption, we use two innovation attributes—complexity and type—to determine the suitability of each pattern to a specific innovation process. It is proposed that generation and adoption of simple innovations, generation of technical innovations, and adoption of administrative innovations is adequately explained by the unitary sequence pattern. However, generation and adoption of complex innovations, generation of administrative innovations, and adoption of technical innovations is better described by the multiple sequence pattern. Implications for theory development and management practice are then discussed.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYPES OF INNOVATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACTThe relationship between adoption of administrative and technical innovations over time and its impact on organizational performance was studied. A confirmatory analysis of the data from 85 public libraries showed that, over consecutive time periods, changes in the social structure, portrayed by the adoption of administrative innovations, lead to changes in the technical system, portrayed by the adoption of technical innovations. Empirical support was also provided for Daft's (1982) framework for organizational innovation that was found to be effective in separating organizations based on their performance levels.

Des systèmes de production agricole aux systèmes agraires

From agricultural systems of production to agrarian systems. Presentation of research work. — Research itinerary followed by a team of agronomists wishing to discover the conditions and consequences for farmers concerning the adoption of technical innovations. Their approach is to analyse in situ the working of the farm units by studying the processes and mechanisms occurring in production. Each of the stages includes the system analysed in the preceeding one, so that the field of variables expands and the spatial organization of. phenomena builds up successively from the level of the plot of land, to the production workshop, to the farming unit, to the area set of farms.

The early years of modern Finnish agriculture

Abstract Finnish social studies have recently begun to concentrate rather less upon the old traditional agricultural community and to investigate the profound changes in urban and rural society at the turn of the century. In this book, Veikko Anttila has examined agricultural change during this period, but the title is a little deceptive, since it is only concerned with a part of the process of change, viz. the extension and adoption of technical innovations in agriculture. Moreover it deals mainly with innovations in crop cultivation, and since the emphasis in the Finnish farm economy was shifting at that time from crop cultivation to stock-raising and forestry, the work is in fact a specialised study of one aspect of agricultural modernisation in Finland. The few references to innovations in the field of stock-raising tend to interrupt the study rather than contribute to its thesis.