Guidelines For Decisions Research Articles

How Can IJDS Authors, Reviewers, and Editors Use (and Misuse) Generative AI?

How Can <i>IJDS</i> Authors, Reviewers, and Editors Use (and Misuse) Generative AI?

ANALYSIS OF LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS OF COURT INSTITUTIONS IN DECIDING CASES RELATED TO GRANT SULTAN LAND IN INDONESIA

The purpose of the study is to analyze legal considerations of court institutions in deciding cases related to land grants by the sultan in Indonesia. The type of research conducted in this study is a normative juridical research which includes a historical approach (historical approach) and a statutory approach. The data sources of this research are primary data or library data or literature obtained or sourced from legal materials. Data collection techniques include interview studies, library research, and field research in various institutions, agencies and private sectors. The data collection tool used is an interview guide involving informants. The results of this study found that The judge's consideration, in the court's decision, is that the judge does not understand the Grant Sultan Criteria to make the Decision, it is suggested that the judge can be guided by the Grant Sultan Criteria which can be the guideline for the Court's Decision. The establishment of a Land Court is possible, to measure the effectiveness of the performance of the judiciary, especially regarding customary land.

Listening to Patients With Lupus: Why Not Proactively Integrate the Internet as a Resource to Drive Improved Care?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. It is characterized by a broad spectrum of manifestations, depending on the affected organs and the severity of the inflammation at the time of presentation. Despite improvements in management, treatments are required on a chronic, cyclical basis; have high potential for unpleasant side effects; and deliver variable efficacy. Patients require care from multiple specialists, which can be delivered simultaneously and sporadically. Our fragmented health care system further exacerbates the disconnect between intermittent medical care and the lived experiences of patients with SLE. The goals of this research are to (1) assess the current standard of care for patients with SLE through the review of medical literature, including clinical consensus guidelines and systematic reviews; (2) assess the lived experiences of patients with lupus through the review of peer-reviewed literature on social listening, structured interviews, and data available from the open-access digital health platform PatientsLikeMe; and (3) present the perspective that the medical community has an opportunity to acknowledge and review the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) with their patients. The results of this research indicate that patients are incorporating DHIs, such as the internet and social media platforms, as critical components of their care for even the most basic of support. Although patients with SLE are depending on this support to shape their care, it is not considered a primary source of care by clinicians. Integrating the voices of patients brings valuable dimension to understanding the lived experiences of patients with SLE and the impacts of mutually dependent patient needs as patients navigate the disease in daily life. The medical community has a meaningful opportunity to leverage and recommend existing DHIs, such as web-based community platforms and web-based patient registries, at every stage of the patient journey to help patients better manage their condition. This has the potential to proactively build patient trust and well-being, reduce the underreporting of symptoms, increase shared decision-making, inform and shape clinical guidelines and future research, and improve patient outcomes.

Construction a new nomogram prognostic model for predicting overall survival after radical resection of esophageal squamous cancer.

Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies in the world, and 5-year overall survival (OS) of esophageal cancer ranges from 12% to 20%. Surgical resection remains the principal treatment. The American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) TNM (tumor, node, and metastasis) staging system is a key guideline for prognosis and treatment decisions, but it cannot fully predict outcomes. Therefore, targeting the molecular and biological features of each patient's tumor, and identifying key prognostic biomarkers as effective survival predictors and therapeutic targets are highly important to clinicians and patients. In this study, three different methods, including Univariate Cox regression, Lasso regression, and Randomforest regression were used to screen the independent factors affecting the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and construct a nomogram prognostic model. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing with TNM staging system and the reliability of the model was verified by internal cross validation. Preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(preNLR), N-stage, p53 level and tumor diameter were selected to construct the new prognostic model. Patients with higher preNLR level, higher N-stage, lower p53 level and larger tumor diameter had worse OS. The results of C-index, Decision Curve Analysis (DCA), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) showed that the new prognostic model has a better prediction than the TNM staging system. The accuracy and reliability of the nomogram prognostic model were higher than that of TNM staging system. It can effectively predict individual OS and provide theoretical basis for clinical decision making.

Operational Decisions on Remanufacturing under the Product Innovation Race

To obtain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, firms usually need to adopt an innovation program as a key strategic initiative. New product innovation is usually accompanied by discarding the old products and results in negative effects on the environment. Conversely, to maintain environmental sustainability, a greater number of governments have enacted regulations to promote remanufacturing as an integral part of manufacturers’ existing businesses. However, at the firm level, remanufacturing may induce the cannibalization of new product sales. The primary goal of this paper is to provide firms with guidelines for the operational decisions on remanufacturing under the product innovation race. In particular, from a profit-maximization perspective, we suggest that the cost-efficient firm should look for cost-reduction opportunities in remanufacturing operations; otherwise, it should invest more resources into new product development. Our analysis also provides insights for environmental groups and agencies by indicating that improved environmental sustainability should involve not only setting collection targets but the implementation of additional reuse targets as well.

How to Promote Healthier and More Sustainable Food Choices: The Case of Portugal

The demand for food has been increasing throughout the years, with notable preferences for animal-based foods. Considering the impact of the excessive animal-based consumption on the environment and public health, international organisations and the scientific literature have advised for a large-scale transition towards healthier and more sustainable food consumptions, i.e., a systematic decrease in animal-based consumption followed by an increase in plant-based consumption. However, to effectively promote healthier and more sustainable food choices such as plant-based ones, it is crucial to understand what motivates consumers’ food choices. Based on primary data (N = 1040), representative of the Portuguese population, it was possible to assess the potential motivators behind food choices, allowing to provide guidelines for policy decision. The impact of different socioeconomic characteristics, food consumption orientations, and food-related behaviours on food choices was estimated. In general, most of the drivers of plant-based meals were also motivators for reducing animal-based meals. The main findings demonstrate that the more environmentally conscious and informed the consumer, the more likely they are to choose more plant-based and less animal-based meals on a weekly basis; not only informed consumers, but consumers who actively look for information before buying choose more plant-based meals. Thus, not only information, but, more importantly, education regarding food characteristics and its impact on society should be the focus of policymakers. Understanding the drivers and barriers of food choices is vital for informing future food policy to promote healthier and more sustainable choices rich in plant-based foods, both for Portugal as well as for other European countries, particularly the southern ones with similar culture and where the Mediterranean diet is highly promoted.

Servant and authentic leadership as drivers of innovative work behaviour: the moderating role of creative self-efficacy

PurposeThe importance of innovation has attracted growing attention due to the complex and rapidly changing business environment. This study aimed, first, to examine the joint effect of servant and authentic leadership (AUL) styles on employee creativity (EC), second, to examine the direct and mediated effect of servant leadership (SL) on employees' innovative work behaviour (IWB), third, to examine the effect of EC on IWB and finally, to investigate the moderating effect of creative self-efficacy (CSE) on the relationship between AUL and EC.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was used, and the data were collected from 446 employees in the Qatari public sector. The data were then analysed by employing partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS software to validate the measures before testing the proposed model.FindingsThe results of this study emphasized the strong hypothesized link between EC and IWB. It also endorsed the mediating role of EC between SL and IWB and the moderating role of CSE in the AUL-EC relationship.Originality/valueThe originality of this study comes from various aspects. First, it is unique in separately examining EC and innovation and the link between them. Second, it investigates the joint impact of servant and AUL styles on EC. Third, it explores the mediating role of EC between SL and IWB. Fourth, the moderating effect of CSE on the AUL-EC link also was examined to gain a full understanding of the relation effect. Finally, the value of the current study also comes from the integration of the triangular theory of creativity, SL and AUL theories and self-efficacy theory to explain the proposed model of the study. Moreover, this study serves as a guideline for decision-makers on how to enhance IWB among employees by focusing on leadership programmes and the creative and innovative culture.

Frequency and Outcomes of Cervical Spine Computed Tomography Imaging on Alcohol-Intoxicated Patients in the Emergency Department

BackgroundCervical spinal (c-spine) injuries range greatly in severity from minor ligamentous injuries to osteoligamentous instability with spinal cord injuries. Initial evaluation begins with stabilization as needed and immediate immobilization. Current practice as to whether the c-spine can be cleared clinically without radiographic evaluation is often guided by using the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study Low-Risk Criteria and the Canadian C-Spine Rule. Under these clinical decision guidelines, stable trauma patients presenting with alcohol intoxication cannot have the c-spine cleared clinically and imaging should be “considered.” ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the frequency of computed tomography (CT) c-spine scans ordered for patients presenting with alcohol intoxication to the emergency department (ED), the timing of the studies, and subsequently determine the proportion of which showed a clinically significant result that required intervention. MethodsIn this retrospective medical record review, all clinically alcohol-intoxicated patients presenting to two academic EDs were included. Overall demographic characteristics, time to order of CT imaging, radiology reads, and outcomes of patient visits were determined. ResultsThere were 8008 patient visits included in the study. Of these visits, 5 patients scanned in ≤3 h had acute findings on CT scan and no patients with a deferred timing of CT scan after patients metabolized had an acute finding on CT scan. No patients required operative management. ConclusionsThis study's results suggest that it is a safe clinical practice to defer CT imaging for patients presenting to the ED with alcohol intoxication and low suspicion for c-spine injury per history and examination.

ОЦЕНКА УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ РЕГИОНОВ ПРИВОЛЖСКОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ОКРУГА

One of the main conditions for the successful implementation of the adopted Spatial Development Strategy in the Russian Federation is the sustainable development of its regions. The study was conducted in order to study the level of sustainable development of the regions of Volga Federal District, which occupies 6.1% of the territory of Russia, based on the model developed by the authors. The indicators of sustainable development proposed for assessment (economic, social, scientific and innovative, environmental) make it possible to make an objective and comprehensive assessment of the regional policy pursued in the region, show the level of sustainable development and give appropriate guidelines in further management decisions for its management. As a result of the study, following the results of 2020, the regions were ranked according to the level of their sustainable development of the year into five groups. The Republic of Tatarstan has taken a leading stable position. The group close to sustainable development includes Bashkiria, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as Perm Krai. Saratov region has signs of unstable socio-economic development. The Orenburg, Penza, Kirov, Ulyanovsk regions and the Udmurt Republic were included in the group with an unstable pre-crisis economic state. According to the level of sustainable development, Chuvashia, Mordovia and Mari El are classified as a group with signs of socio-economic crisis. The regions of Volga Federal District, regardless of the rank obtained, are invited to annually assess the level of sustainable development and form a development strategy based on the experience of the leading regions. The results of the study can be the basis for making a forecast of the socio-economic development of the regions of the Volga Federal District and indicators of their sustainability for the future.

Surgical outcome of different surgical modalities for adult recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Background Surgical debulking remains the mainstay of treatment of adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (AO-RRP). But there are no guidelines for decision-making of surgical modality. Objectives This retrospective study aims to obtain a better understanding of AO-RRP, and select the best surgical modality for RRP among microdebrider, CO2 laser, and KTP laser. Material and methods Medical records of 72 AO-RRP patients were reviewed, with at least a 6-month follow-up. We focused on demographic data, the median treatment intervals (MTI) (Days), the survival curves, and treatment-related complications. Results Seventy-two AO-RRP and a total of 172 surgical procedures were included, with either the microdebrider (n = 46), CO2 laser (n = 102), or KTP laser (n = 24). The MTI of all patients was 230.0[132.0, 455.0] (median[P25-P75]), with microdebrider group (267.50[152.5, 449.5]), CO2 laser group (247.5[145.5, 474.7]), and KTP laser group (107.5[68.3, 330.5]), and there were no significant differences among three surgical modalities on MTI or survival curves (p > .05). The duration of surgery was 44.9[25.6] in the microdebriders group, 48.4 [29.5] in the CO2 laser group, and 51.3[18.4] in the KTP laser group, but there was no significant difference in the operation duration among the three groups (p > .05). Postoperative glottic webs and scar formations were found in 4.3% of patients in microdebrider group, 16.7% of patients in CO2 laser group, and 8.3% of patients in KTP group. Conclusion and Significance Microdebrider surgery for RRP took the shortest time and had the lowest rate of postoperative complications. However, different surgical modalities are equally effective in controlling recurrence after RRP surgery.

An investigation into chiropractic intern adherence to radiographic guidelines in clinical decisions with a descriptive comparison to clinical practitioners.

The purpose of this study was to assess chiropractic interns' knowledge and adherence to radiographic clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and compare their clinical decisions to previous surveys of established practitioners in Canada and Australia. A clinical decision-making survey was administered to 88 interns. The survey contained clinical scenarios and vignettes with inquiries regarding indications for radiographic referral, the likelihood of referral, and the application of CPGs. Forty-four percent (43.75%) of the interns were aware of CPGs, 38.75% were unsure, and 17.5% were not aware. When asked specific questions about the appropriateness of diagnostic imaging, the interns' responses were similar to those of practitioners in Canada and Australia. When interns evaluated a clinical vignette, there was lower compliance with CPGs. The interns' clinical decisions regarding the use of diagnostic radiography did not significantly differ from those of practitioners who were surveyed in other related studies. Interns were inconsistent in applying their decision making in clinical cases. Notwithstanding the similarities with practitioners, some deviation from the guidelines indicates the need for further intern education to improve the implementation of CPGs for optimal cost-effective and clinically appropriate care.

Research on Risk Management in Banking System

Risk management equips a bank with the tools that risk managers can use to detect, analyze and resolve risks. Risk management enlightens a business on the different ways to deal with risks by providing a guideline for sound decision-making. Risk management involves several processes like assessment, communication, monitoring and valuation of risks. A company can ensure the security of their assets and prevent losses through these processes. Also, it enables the business to weigh the options of risks and make a sound decision on investments. This paper explores the impact of risk management in banking by analyzing the risk management process, strategies, types of risks, technologies and quantitative methods in banking.

Associated Factors of In-hospital Mortality among Intubated Older Adults in Emergency Department; a Cross-sectional Study.

A decision-making guideline on when to intubate an older person based on predictors of intubation outcome would be extremely beneficial. This study aimed to identify the associated factors that could predict the outcomes of endotracheal intubation among older adults in the Emergency Department (ED). In this retrospective cross-sectional study, patients aged ≥65 years intubated at the ED of University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 2015 to 2019 were studied. The association between age, gender, place of inhabitation, Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR) score for frailty, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II) score, indication for intubation, and diagnosis on admission with in-hospital mortality (primary outcome) and duration of ventilation, and length of stay (secondary outcomes) were evaluated using univariate analysis and Cox's regression survival analysis. 889 cases aged 65 years and above were studied (61.5% male). The rate of in-hospital mortality was 71.4%. There was a significant association between age (p < 0.001), nursing home residency (p = 0.008), CCI≥ 5 (p = 0.001), APACHE-II (p < 0.001), pre-intubation Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (p < 0.001), cardiac arrest as indication of intubation (p < 0.001), diagnosis on admission (p < 0.001), length of stay (p < 0.001), and length of ventilation (p = 0.003) and in-hospital mortality. Age ≥ 85 years (HR= 1.270; 95%CI=1.074 to 1.502) and 75 to 84 years (HR=1.642; 95%CI=1.167 to 2.076), cardiac arrest as indication of intubation (HR: 1.882; 95% CI: 1.554 - 2.279), and APACHE-II scores 25 - 34 (HR: 1.423; 95% CI: 1.171 - 1.730) and ≥ 35 (HR: 1.789; 95%CI: 1.418 - 2.256) were amongst the independent predictive factors of in-hospital mortality. Nearly three out of four individuals aged ≥65 years intubated at the ED died during the same admission. Older age, cardiac arrest as indication of intubation, and APACHE-II score were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Workplace Wellness, Mental Health Literacy, and Usage Intention of E-Mental Health amongst Digital Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The prevalence of mental health problems in both Malaysian and global workplaces has significantly increased due to the presence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, globalization, technology advancement in Industry 4.0, and other contributing factors. The pervasiveness of the issue poses a huge challenge to improving the occupational safety and health (OSH) of workers in various industries, especially in the digital industry. The emergence of the innovative industry is evident mainly due to the rapid development of Industry 4.0 and the relevant demands of multiple businesses in the digital transformation. Nonetheless, limited studies and academic discussions were conducted on the OSH topic of digital employees. Hence, the current study serves to fill the existing gap and provide academic contributions by scrutinising the perceptions of digital workers regarding their workplace well-being, mental health literacy, and the impression of employing e-mental health. The objectives of this study are: 1) To examine the mental health literacy and workplace wellness of digital workers, 2) to explore the emental health usage intention and actual e-mental health utilization, and 3) to identify digital workers’ feedback on e-mental health. In the current context, e-mental health focuses on three dimensions, namely, 1) “health in our hand (HIOH)”, 2) “interacting for health (IFH)”, and 3) “data enabling health (DEH)”. The present study employed an online cross-sectional survey and received 326 digital workers’ completed responses. Variables, such as “mental health literacy (MHL)”, “workplace wellness (WW)”, and e-mental health intention and usage were explicated by analysing the data through descriptive statistics. The study results indicated a moderate to a high level of the MHL and the WW. More than half of the workers possessed a high intention level to employ e-mental health, with the HIOH dimension being the most prevalent domain. Nevertheless, the actual e-mental health usage was very low, owing to the online resources being a new concept amongst digital employees. Numerous confounding factors also existed in affecting the low usage, such as privacy concerns, data security levels, and health verification issues. In addition, the mental health issue has not been openly and widely discussed in Malaysian workplaces due to stigmatisation. As such, the current findings could provide additional insights into the OSH literature; it could serve as a guideline for the OSH decision-makers, employers, and eHealth developers when establishing a feasible framework for the practical adoption of e-mental health services by digital workers.

Discussing Cost and Value in Patient Decision Aids and Shared Decision Making: A Call to Action.

Direct and indirect costs of care influence patients' health choices and the ability to implement those choices. Despite the significant impact of care costs on patients' health and daily lives, patient decision aid (PtDA) and shared decision-making (SDM) guidelines almost never mention a discussion of costs of treatment options as part of minimum standards or quality criteria. Given the growing study of the impact of costs in health decisions and the rising costs of care more broadly, in fall 2021 we organized a symposium at the Society for Medical Decision Making's annual meeting. The focus was on the role of cost information in PtDAs and SDM. Panelists gave an overview of work in this space at this virtual meeting, and attendees engaged in rich discussion with the panelists about the state of the problem as well as ideas and challenges in incorporating cost-related issues into routine care. This article summarizes and extends our discussion based on the literature in this area and calls for action. We recommend that PtDA and SDM guidelines routinely include a discussion of direct and indirect care costs and that researchers measure the frequency, quality, and response to this information.

Digital transformation in the state entity

State companies have models of governance and management of Information Technology - IT, which are structuredfrom the perspective of ISO/IEC 38500:2015, COBIT, MinTIC guidelines, ISO 20000 and ITIL v3, which incorporatethe key decision factors, policies and guidelines, model components, and value chain processes. This project proposed the revision of the improvement strategy applicable to these models, through the evaluation of the current situation and determination of the plan that allows raising the maturity level for the generation of value in Colombian state entities. For the development of the research with a quantitative approach, we start with the review of the current state of maturity and gaps of the IT governance model and the IT governance and management macro-process with respect to meeting the objectives and goals established in the IT processes. This is followed by the definition of the management plan to close the identified gaps aligned with the MinTIC guidelines, the COBIT 2019 framework, and the ITIL 4 information technology infrastructure library. Finally, the work concludes with a manual for the application of the improvement strategy to the proposed model.

Thực trạng thực hiện an toàn phẫu thuật tại Bệnh viện Răng Hàm Mặt Trung Ương năm 2022

In 2018, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No.7482/QD-BYT to improve surgical safety in hospitals. This study was conducted with the aim of describing the surgical safety status at the Hanoi Central Hospital of Odonto –stomatology National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in 2022 based on the guidelines of the above decision. Method: this study used cross-sectional description, quantitative method. The period time was from January 2022 to November 2022 at Hanoi central hospital of Odonto Stomatology. The sample size was 112 surgeries and related health staffs and documents. The study used a checklist to assess the safety level, classified according to Decision No.7482/QD-BYT. Collected data were entered using SPSS 25.0 software to analyse frequency and mean. Results: the hospital scored a safety level of 94,5/110, reaching level 4 - ensured surgical safety. There were 3 of 8 criteria obtainded total pass, 5 of 8 criteria obtained partial pass, criterion 4 had the lowest rate of surgery meet its requirements (72.3%). 54 of 67 sub-items were assessed as passing, 08 of 67 sub-items were assessed as partial pass, and 05 of 67 sub-items failed. Since then, solutions for staff training, supervision, and medical equipment supply were provided to improve surgical safety at the hospital. Keywords: Surgical safety, hospital, 7482/QD-BYT, safety level, criteria.

MACROECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVENESS: EVIDENCES FROM FACTOR EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION-DRIVEN COUNTRIES

The investigation of factors that increase or hinder competitiveness has been one of the core tenets of theoretical and empirical researchers, but so far there has been no consensus. This study responds to this issue by exploring how different facets of the macroeconomic environment influence competitiveness in the three Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) types of economy (factor-driven economy, efficiency-driven economy, innovation-driven economy). Using Porter’s classification, we divided countries based on factor, efficiency and innovation. Additionally, the generalized method of moments (GMM) was used to capture endogeneity and unobserved heterogeneity of data in an unbalanced panel data for 81 countries (2002-2018). The results show that the variations of competitiveness across countries are mainly determined by variations in the stage of economic development. Firstly, GDP growth, low start-up costs and higher R&amp;D expenditure play a key role in explaining the variation in competitiveness in three country clusters. Secondly, as regards Stage 1 countries, we find that trade openness, tax rate, GDP growth, start-up costs, real effective exchange rate, R&amp;D expenditures and labor productivity are particularly vital for competitiveness. Concerning Stage 2 countries, we may observe that trade openness, tax rate, GDP growth, inflation, start-up costs, financial development, real effective exchange rate, R&amp;D expenditures and labor productivity had a statistically significant impact on competitiveness. When it comes to Stage 3 countries, factors such as trade openness, FDI, tax rate, GDP growth rate, inflation, tax rate, startup costs, financial development, R&amp;D expenditures, and labor productivity have an impact on competitiveness. This article presents some essential features, such as the macroeconomic index to determine competitiveness. These features can be used as guidelines for decision makers because they identify areas where taking further actions can improve competitiveness. Finally, our obtained results are highly consistent across a series of robustness tests and robustness checks covering alternative samples and alternative variable groups.

Impact of Investor Sentiment on Portfolio Return - Do Economic and Market Conditions Matter?

In a first of its kind, this paper tries to explore the relationship between investors sentiment and BSE Sensex return over the period January 2010 to December 2021 and under different market and economic conditions. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper uses 32 market and macroeconomic variables as proxy to the investor sentiment. Principal component analysis has been used and the first 11 principal components with eigenvalue more than 1, have been selected to create investor sentiment sub-indices. Weighted/generalized least squares (GLS) method has been used to achieve the objectives of the study. Findings: We find that the impact of sentiment was significantly positive on portfolio return over the period of study. Furter, the slope of fivesentiment sub-indices increased in the boom period and the slope of two sub-indices increased significantly in the bull period. Research Implications: Findings of the study are helpful for retail investors, policy makers and other decision makers in the Indian stock market. Results are helpful for retail investors as guidelines for decision making and; also, they learn about the association between sentiment and portfolio return under different economic and market conditions. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the relationship of sentiment and portfolio return in the Indian stock marketover different economic and market conditions.

Characteristics, Possible Origins, and Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in Surface Waters of the Han River Watershed, South Korea.

To safeguard aquatic environments in and around the Han River watershed in South Korea, a multivariate statistical evaluation of trace elements, a trace element concentration analysis and source determination, and a human health risk assessment were conducted on 10 trace elements at 25 sites. The results demonstrated that the Han River watershed was mainly affected by anthropogenic activities (traffic/industrial activity). The range of concentrations was arranged in descending order: Fe (217.13 ± 301.03 µg/L) > Mn (102.36 ± 153.04 µg/L) > Zn (23.33 ± 79.63 µg/L) > Ba (29.05 ± 12.37 µg/L) > Ni (5.14 ± 11.57 µg/L) > Cu (3.80 ± 3.56 µg/L) > Pb (0.46 ± 0.52 µg/L) > Se (0.06 ± 0.04 µg/L) > Cd (0.01 ± 0.01 µg/L) > Ag (0.004 ± 0.013 µg/L). The hazard index values of trace elements in surface water for combined pathways (ingestion and dermal contact) were < 1.0 for both adults and children, indicating no possible human health hazards. The estimated total cancer risk did not exceed the acceptable limit (1 × 10-4) for adults and children. The findings of this study provide data-driven guidelines for water environment policy decisions in the study area.