Financial Demands Research Articles

Selection of Biomedical Equipment for public hospitals in Sri Lanka: A stakeholder perspective

Background: Health technology is an important component in delivering healthcare services. Healthcare technology can be expensive and often does not align with the unique needs of under-resourced areas. Out of the variety of health technologies, biomedical equipment is one of the major assets for any healthcare institution, and it plays an important role in healthcare delivery.Unlike developed countries, Sri Lanka lacks a system for choosing effective biomedical equipment for hospitals. This study explored current practices to improve the biomedical equipment selection process.Purpose: The study aims to assess stakeholders’ perceptions of the decision-making process for selecting biomedical equipment in selected line ministry hospitals in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four (4) line ministry hospitals, with each facility representing a specific level identified within the line ministry. A survey using a self-administered Questionnaire (SAQ) and a desk review using a checklist were conducted to assess the stakeholders' perceptions of the decision-making process in selecting biomedical equipment.Results: The stakeholders' survey revealed low awareness of the unavailability of an HTA policy, institutional guidelines, and essential biomedical equipment list. Equipment requests were mainly paper-based, finalized by a committee, and took over two days to process. Respondents found the decision-making process inconvenient and dissatisfying.The finalized requests assessed through the checklist revealed that they were incomplete, lacking crucial information, such as the Requesting Officer and infrastructure details, and not accounting for financial, environmental, and equipment demand factors.Conclusions: The decision-making system practiced was revealed to be inefficient, inconsistent, and noncomprehensive. It was also found to be made without due consideration of factors related to equipment, finance, infrastructure, human resources, and services. Therefore, establishing a proper need assessment and prioritization method with criteria is recommended.

Gambaran Praktik Pengasuhan Anak Kembar di Kabupaten Gayo Lues

The purpose of this study is to know the image of the practice of child care in gayo lues district. This study uses qualitative methods with a descriptive approach. Number of participants in the study are three subjects. The data is analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The findings suggest that there are 7 themes illustrating the practice of foster care in gayo lues district, of which 7 include the following sub themes. Parenting stress that covers the subtheme of financial demands, the lack of time for yourself. Support system that includes sub themes of extended family help, husband support, local government assistance. Coping strategies that include the subtheme manage time through other work, not managing emotions in a healthy way. Teaching that includes sub themes that enhance understanding, direction and example. The culture that includes the sub theme educating children firmly, the high tone of voice and educating children independently. The vaforitism consists of the sub theme divide and contrast.

The Efficiency of Procurement Process, Organization Performance, and Product Training in Public Organization

The manufacturing sector is considered a key driver of economic progress across different sectors. Industrial products typically enjoy higher "terms of trade," making them more profitable and generating greater added value compared to products from other sectors. This is due to the sector’s diverse range of products and its ability to offer substantial marginal benefits to users. As a result, business players including manufacturers, distributors, traders, and investors are more inclined to participate in this sector because of its attractive profit margins. The government has implemented various initiatives to promote industrial development, which has in turn increased the demand for funding to support this growth, particularly in the industrial sector. In addition to relying on internal sources of finance, the government has been working to secure more external funding, such as foreign investment and foreign loans, to complement development efforts. Given the limited availability of funds, the government needs to adopt policies that open up more opportunities for both domestic and foreign private sector participation in national development. To support this, the government has enacted legislation such as Law No. 1 of 1967 on Foreign Investment (PMA) and Law No. 6 of 1968 on Domestic Investment (PMDN). These laws were later refined through Law No. 11 and Law No. 12 of 1970 and various deregulation policies, including the May 6, 1986 Package, Pakto 1993, and Government Regulation No. 20 of 1994. The government later reorganized its investment policies by passing Law No. 25 of 2007 concerning Capital Investment, which aimed to provide legal certainty, protection, and simplified licensing processes for both domestic and foreign investors. This law is designed to create a more favorable investment environment in Indonesia.

Struggling with studying and earning – realities of the UK's cost-of-living crisis on students on social work programmes

ABSTRACT The UK has been experiencing an extended cost-of-living crisis since 2021 and students attending universities have struggled with the impacts of rising prices. This article reports on findings from a study to explore local recruitment and retention issues in adult social care from the perspective of different populations of interest in the South of England. A mixed methods approach was undertaken. One group of participants were students enrolled in social work undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. They completed an online questionnaire (n = 20), with a subsample (n = 11) being interviewed. Comments relating to the wide-ranging effects of cost-of-living issues discussed by the participants were themed together and are described. The findings offer suggestions to evaluate student support mechanisms and reduce the potential impacts of ongoing financial difficulties caused by the need to juggle course, placement and financial demands across this and other applicable undergraduate sectors and their programmes. They also reflect risks to future workforce recruitment alongside the potential of ‘earn and learn’ programmes, such as apprenticeship routes – which may offer a viable alternative to qualification for those at particular risk of financial hardship whilst studying.

Unveiling the Concealed Risks: The Influence of Digital Finance on Cyber Financial Crime in China

Digital finance has emerged as a pivotal catalyst for economic growth in China, profoundly altering social structures and behaviors. Despite its benefits, it has also engendered financial risks, thereby complicating social governance. This study utilizes a panel dataset from China’s provinces spanning 2011 to 2021 to analyze the influence of digital finance development on cyber financial crime rates. The results reveal a positive correlation: an increment of one unit in the digital finance index is associated with a 0.058 unit increase in cyber financial crime rates. These findings are robustly supported by tests for endogeneity and robustness. Variations in impact are observed across urbanization levels and average wage brackets. And the study identifies income distribution and traditional financial demand as the mechanisms of the effect. Furthermore, this study presents strategic recommendations to enhance financial inclusion, facilitate income redistribution, strengthen cyber crime governance, and integrate digital and traditional finance for the advancement of financial modernization.

Dynamic matching of energy and heat conduction in production workshops and financing for manufacturing enterprises based on the Internet of Things

With the advancement of Industry 4.0, the application of Internet of Things technology in manufacturing enterprises is increasingly extensive, and energy heat transfer, as an important factor affecting production efficiency and cost, needs to be optimized by new technical means. This study explores the energy heat conduction characteristics of production workshops based on the Internet of Things and its impact on the dynamic matching of financing for manufacturing enterprises, providing an innovative energy management model to promote the sustainable development of enterprises. The research uses the Internet of Things technology to monitor the energy flow and heat transfer in the production shop in real time through sensors and data acquisition systems. Combined with big data analytics and machine learning algorithms, in-depth analysis of energy consumption data is performed to identify bottlenecks and optimization points for heat transfer. At the same time, the financing dynamic matching model is constructed to analyze the financing needs and costs of enterprises under different energy management levels. The study found that iot technology can significantly improve the thermal efficiency of production plants and reduce energy waste. On the basis of the optimization of energy heat transfer, the financing demand and financing cost of enterprises have also undergone dynamic changes. The optimization of energy heat transfer based on the Internet of Things not only improves the energy efficiency of the production floor, but also provides a new impetus for the financing of manufacturing enterprises. Implementing an effective energy management strategy will help companies stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive market.

British Government Officials in the Ottoman Empire and Evolving Humanitarianism after the Balkan Wars and the First World War

Abstract This article assesses the changes in humanitarianism by locally stationed British government officials after the Balkan Wars and after the First World War. Studies have examined British humanitarian goals in the Ottoman Empire in relation to the First World War, but lacking is an assessment of efforts from locally stationed British officials, with a particular absence of research regarding the Balkan Wars. We find that while British humanitarianism was expanded after the First World War, the framework for those changes was established during the Balkan Wars. Comparing evolving humanitarianism during these time periods is best seen via changes in the range of intervention strategies to create ‘good government’, to prevent and stop atrocities, and to care for refugees. Unlike the British relationship with the Ottoman government during the Balkan Wars, Britain’s humanitarian stance in 1918 and 1919 was matched by a stronger grasp on power in Constantinople and over the Ottoman Porte. However, as the political, social, financial, and military demands of the post-war landscape undermined Constantinople’s power, so too was British humanitarianism undermined.

Factors Affecting Psychological Well-Being, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Dental Students in Delhi and the National Capital Region: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Research has shown that mental health issues are prevalent among university students and healthcare professionals. Dental practitioners are particularly at risk due to the demanding nature of their profession. Our study aims to survey dental students and faculty to assess their psychological well-being and identify key stressors and potential interventions. Methodology A cross-sectional study examined the psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) dental studentsand faculty from the School of Dental Sciences. A questionnaire was distributed via email and WhatsApp to 350 participants. The questionnaire contained a unique set of items for each study group related to factors affecting psychological well-being among students, and a separate questionnaire was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21) in the same population. Results A cross-sectional study of 350 dental students and educators found no significant changes in depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS) levels between age groups. Females, however, reported greater levels of these difficulties than men (D=71.5%, A=71.9%, S=76.7% for females vs. D=28.5%, A=28.1%, S=23.3% for men, with p-values for D=0.014, A=0.001, and S=0.031). Overall, 67.3% of UG students study away from home and live in hostels or flats, with academic and financial demands (30.6% and 33.5%, p-values: 0.014 and 0.098, respectively). Many people find their workload unpleasant (40.8%, p-value=0.143) and feel overwhelmed by academic obligations (47.9%, p-value=0.002), with 20%-25% worried about examinations, failure, and balancing well-being with academics (p-values: 0.001, 0.006, and 0.002, respectively). In total, 57.1% suffer severe social isolation (p-value=0.045), and more than 40% have mental health issues (p=0.003). While the mentor-mentee program is rated as helpful (p-value=0.68), 35% of students are ignorant of mental health options (p-value=0.006). Financial concerns are a big worry, with 38.7% seeking assistance, and second- and third-year students suffer more challenges than first-year students. Overall, 41.2% of instructors are perceived as extremely accessible, whereas 34.3% and 31.4% feel that scheduled breaks are required due to stress (38.2%, p=0.053). Most instructors (51.4%) encourage counseling and interact with students (76.5%), while 77.1% discuss mental health. Among the PGs, 74.2% of participants are content with the college's amenities, but 90.3% are stressed because of the PG seat departing bond, demonstrating widespread concern over this issue. To cope, 22.6% seek help from loved ones, while 19.4% pursue hobbies, emphasizing the value of personal support networks and leisure activities. Conclusion The study found that females perceive more stress than males. Most UG students live with supportive families and only experience academic helplessness on rare occasions. First-year students find academic effort more demanding than their peers at higher educational levels. Overall academic load gradually decreases from the first to the third year but rises significantly in the final year before declining during internships. As academic load increases, students tend to isolate themselves socially. Engaging in leisure activities can help mitigate the negative effects of stress on physical and psychological health. Faculty members recommend college counseling services to help students cope with stress.

Financial Literacy, Retirement Planning, and Demand for Life Insurance: Evidence from Lagos State-owned Tertiary Institutions

Financial Literacy, Retirement Planning, and Demand for Life Insurance: Evidence from Lagos State-owned Tertiary Institutions

How to better communicate the likely effectiveness of proposed training: Interpreting meta-analytic results for (and with) an applied audience

ABSTRACT Whether to develop and/or conduct training can represent a significant decision for organizations due to associated financial, personnel, and time demands. Various stakeholders in that decision will want to know what to expect from such training, including its likely effectiveness. Informing such stakeholders of the magnitude of relevant previous results – from a single study or, better, from studies aggregated via a meta-analysis – can help their decisions to be as informed as possible. But explanations of the size of training effects as found in the literature are not always phrased in a way easy for an applied audience to understand. This brief article clarifies the ‘percent improvement due to training’ interpretation of d, and extends it to differing rates of pre-training success. This in turn suggests that customer involvement in estimating appropriate base-line success rates could make interpretations of the degree of training effectiveness more organizationally specific and hence more useful.

A multi-level Statistical Study on the Financial Supply and Demand Structure of Science and Innovation Enterprises: A case study of Hefei Science and Innovation Financial Reform Pilot Zone

A multi-level Statistical Study on the Financial Supply and Demand Structure of Science and Innovation Enterprises: A case study of Hefei Science and Innovation Financial Reform Pilot Zone

Marketing Strategies for Financial MCN Institutions in the Era of Integrated Media

The rapid convergence of multiple types of information carriers in the era of integrated media has given rise to the immediate popularity of short-form videos while enhancing the speed and quality of information dissemination, and the Multi-Channel Network (MCN) Institutions behind them have emerged. With the growth of residents' wealth and the increase in demand for investment and financing, MCN institutions focusing on the financial field are attracting more and more attention from the market. Studying the marketing strategies of financial MCN institutions can help improve their business model and is of great significance in promoting the healthy development of investor education. In this paper, we focus on traffic conversion as an essential link in marketing, summarize the common traffic conversion strategies of financial MCN institutions, analyze the case study of JF Wealth Holdings Ltd., and finally provide corresponding strategic suggestions in terms of customer positioning, traffic retention, traffic conversion, and so on.

Analysis of the Development Trends of Preschool Population and the Demand for Preschool Education Resources under the New Population Situation: Taking Beijing as an example

The development of preschool education has become an important task in the development of education in China. However, under the trend of fewer children and changes in new population policies, the development trend of preschool education population and the demand for semester education resources in China are not clear, which brings many challenges to the allocation of future education resources. This study uses a Population Development Environment Analysis (PDE) model to predict the demand for educational resources among the preschool population in Beijing from 2020 to 2040. The research results show that during the prediction period, the scale of education eligible young children, the scale of preschool children in the first three years, the scale of kindergarten buildings, and the demand for full-time teachers and caregivers all show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The demand for education funds and per capita funds is gradually increasing. The future allocation of preschool education resources needs to be adjusted reasonably based on the actual needs and usage of resources. After investing heavily in the allocation of preschool education resources, attention should be paid to the relative surplus of resources caused by the subsequent decrease in resource demand.

Pricing effects of extreme high temperature: Evidence from municipal corporate bonds in China

Climate change and the escalation of extreme weather events jeopardize every corner of the globe. This paper investigates the impact of extreme high temperatures on the spread of newly issued municipal corporate bonds (MCBs) in China, which serves as a crucial instrument for local governments to meet the financial demands. We find that relative to the reference temperature range of 16 °C–20 °C, the issuing spread of MCBs increases by 2.48 basis points for each extra day where the mean temperature surpasses 32 °C. The findings highlight the risk-increasing effects of extreme temperatures in financial markets.

Sustainability of specialized healthcare in upper-middle-income economies: Innovations despite constraints

Countries such as Jamaica have had to be largely self-reliant in funding their health-care systems. The success of an early and sustained focus on primary healthcare, coupled with a change in the disease profile from infectious concerns to chronic non-communicable diseases associated with aging, has resulted in a marked rise in healthcare costs. Rapid technological advances in the diagnosis and treatment of many specialized conditions have further increased the cost of care. Funding these health-care costs sustainably is a challenge for Jamaica and other similarly developed economies due to competing demands for scarce funds. In addition to government health-care allocations, sources of sustainable funding from local public-private partnerships, through mechanisms such as philanthropy, may help address, at least in part, this chronic problem. This review examines strategies to create a framework for such funding, as well as proposes specific practical steps for their achievement. The author’s motivation to participate in the process of change stems from the stubbornly persistent inequalities of healthcare that people and health-care workers in Jamaica – and similar lower- and middle-income countries – routinely cope with. These inequalities must be addressed to truly achieve greater health egalitarianism, social stability, and ultimately, the developed country status they aspire to. The need to think innovatively to achieve this goal is self-evident, given the current inability of governments to achieve this goal.

Reconstructing the Concept of Uang Panai in South Sulawesi: A Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah Approach for Revitalizing Women-Friendly Islamic Values

Uang panai is a significant issue that often hinders individuals from getting married due to the high financial demands imposed by the bride's family. These demands can sometimes thwart marriage aspirations. This study explores the reconstruction and revitalization of uang panai using Muhammad Syahrur's limit theory to make it more affordable and achievable for men. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, a method that intricately describes specific phenomena or events and subsequently analyzes data to understand the emerging relationships and patterns. The findings indicate that by applying the minimum (al-hadd al-adna) and maximum (al-hadd al-a'la) limits, uang panai can be regulated based on the individual's income while maintaining the honor and dignity of the woman.

Transitioning to a green economy in China: The environmental and economic impacts of green credit.

Economic green transition is the change of economic development mode under environmental constraints; this process will generate huge demand for credit financing. Understanding the connection between credit allocation and environmental performance is crucial for the coordinated development of the economy and environment. Utilizing the Chinese Industrial Enterprises Database, I constructed a city-level green credit index and compiled panel data from 2006 to 2013 for 282 selected cities in China. A spatial model was employed to explore the influence of green credit on the economic green transition. The findings reveal a positive relationship between green credit and economic green transition during the study period. Green credit not only enhances local green total factor productivity but also exerts beneficial impacts on adjacent areas though demonstration effects. Additionally, the reallocation of credit resources and the innovation of clean technologies are identified as key mechanisms through which green credit fosters a greener economy. However, the study also finds that the impact of green credit is moderated by factors such as a high reliance on natural resources, the underdevelopment of market intermediaries, and excessive governmental intervention, which can undermine its effectiveness. Furthermore, the efficacy of green credit exhibits regional heterogeneity; it has a significant positive impact in the eastern regions of China, while its influence appears to be non-significantly positive in the central and western regions. This study enriches the research on the macroeconomic impacts of green credit, offering practical evidence and theoretical support for the implementation of green credit policies by local governments in China.

Blockchain Financial Statements: Innovating Financial Reporting, Accounting, and Liquidity Management

The complexity and interconnection within the financial ecosystem demand innovative solutions to improve transparency, security, and efficiency in financial reporting and liquidity management, while also reducing accounting fraud. This paper presents Blockchain Financial Statements (BFS), an innovative accounting system designed to address accounting fraud, reduce data manipulation, and misrepresentation of company financial claims, by enhancing availability of the real-time and tamper-proof accounting data, underpinned by a verifiable approach to financial transactions and reporting. The primary goal of this research is to design, develop, and validate a blockchain-based accounting prototype—the BFS system—that can automate transformation of transactional data, generated by traditional business activity into comprehensive financial statements. Incorporating a Design Science Research Methodology with Domain-Driven Design, this study constructs a BFS artefact that harmonises accounting standards with blockchain technology and business orchestration. The resulting Java implementation of the BFS system demonstrates successful integration of blockchain technology into accounting practices, showing potential in real-time validation of transactions, immutable record-keeping, and enhancement of transparency and efficiency of financial reporting. The BFS framework and implementation signify an advancement in the application of blockchain technology in accounting. It offers a functional solution that enhances transparency, accuracy, and efficiency of financial transactions between banks and businesses. This research underlines the necessity for further exploration into blockchain’s potential within accounting systems, suggesting a promising direction for future innovations in tamper-evident financial reporting and liquidity management.

The impact of intergovernmental fiscal tools on local service decision: the Nebraska case for water and wastewater systems

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of federal funding on local spending for water and wastewater infrastructure (hereafter ‘W&WI’) in Nebraska. The recent deterioration of W&WI creates potential risks to citizens’ lives. The federal government operates several programmes to assist with W&WI improvements. However, funding is limited, while there are substantial demands for funding. To understand the fiscal impact of intergovernmental aid on local expenditures, this study utilised panel data from 2010 to 2018 for 129 Nebraska municipalities with population over 800 that have water and wastewater systems. This study finds some evidence of the stimulating (‘flypaper’) effect of federal aid on local expenditures. However, in disaggregated models, the aid has crowd-out effects on specific types of spending (e.g. operating expenses). The findings can contribute to policymakers’ understanding of the impact of federal funding programmes and suggest directions for improvement of these tools.

Effect of GST on WCM and Profitability of FMCG Sector in India

Working capital primarily consists of a company’s current assets, or the part of its financial resources that are converted from one kind of resource to another as operations are carried out on a daily basis. Working capital management is regarded as a key component of a company’s profitability. This study examines the working capital relationship with firm’s profitability. An optimal working capital is essential for enhancing the value of an organization. The impact of GST is significantly evident on all transactions of FMCG sectors, especially during stock transfer between two branches of a company, during which period the funds get blocked. This study considered 55 FMCG manufacturing firms, listed in BSE for a period of 12 years starting from 2012 to 2023. Multiple regression model was used to test the hypothesis. The study established a low working capital turnover ratio, which indicates quick realization of inventory, and creates the demand for funds to procure more stock for production purpose. The working capital turnover was used to gauge aggressive investing practices. An aggressive investment strategy is indicated by a low working capital turnover ratio, and a conservative strategy is indicated by a high ratio.