Cycle Management Research Articles

Stream flow modeling using SWAT model and performance evaluation in Adhaim watershed

https://ejuow.uowasit.edu.iq Understanding the hydrological cycle and finding data crucial for water management require a foundational understanding of basin-scale simulation. To create the most accurate stream flow modeling possible, data from the weather stations was combined with input from other maps of the research area, such as soil, land cover, land use (LCLU), and digital elevation model (DEM). Regarding Adhaim Watershed, period 2000 to 2013SWAT model calibration was done using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI–2) technique and the Nash–Sutcliffe simulation efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). This included an initial calibration from 2000/1/1 to 31/9/2009 which was then validated for 1/10/2010 to 31/12/2013 using daily streamflow values. Adhaim Watershed's whole area was determined to be 11816.82 km2. Grasslands make up 41.01% of the total area. Additionally, 28% of LCLU came from croplands and desolate regions in equal measure. A hydrological type D clay soil was discovered, along with the watershed's primary slope (0–5). The mean streamflow of Adhaim was determined to be 22.m3/????????????, and upon calibration, it was found to be 30 ????3/????????????.

Financial data analytics in healthcare: A review of approaches to improve efficiency and reduce costs

This review explores the role of financial data analytics in healthcare, focusing on its potential to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. It examines current approaches such as predictive analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, highlighting how these tools are used in areas like cost management, resource allocation, and revenue cycle optimization. While financial data analytics offers numerous benefits, including better decision-making and enhanced resource utilization, several challenges persist, such as data privacy concerns, system integration issues, high technology costs, and a shortage of skilled personnel. The paper also identifies opportunities for future advancements, including the adoption of cloud-based analytics, improved interoperability, and enhanced workforce training. The review concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges and maximizing the impact of financial data analytics to promote more efficient, cost-effective healthcare delivery.

The application of analytical hierarchy process to assess adaptation strategies for flood and landslides risks: A case study of a multi-risk area community

The increasing frequency of flood-related emergencies has heightened discussions on climate adaptation and risk management. Despite investments in infrastructure, early warning systems, urban planning improvements, and awareness initiatives, sustained attention and action are essential. The efficacy of preventive measures relies heavily on local community decisions and their cooperation with authorities, impacting the entire risk management cycle. This study investigates the factors influencing flood and landslide adaptation strategies and their perception by citizens in vulnerable areas, aiming to identify key variables that shape citizen behaviour for effective planning and management of adaptation actions. Focusing on Ischia Island, Italy, a multi-risk area, the study applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in focus groups to achieve three objectives: i) Highlight the critical role of citizen perceptions in forming adaptation strategies, emphasizing the need for cohesive efforts among policymakers, experts, and communities to enhance resilience. ii) Examine residents' views on flood and landslide risks to understand local concerns and vulnerabilities. iii) Use multi-criteria analysis to evaluate the importance of factors shaping adaptation strategies, providing a systematic framework for decision-making in disaster risk management. Findings reveal an optimism bias in respondents' perceptions of their home security despite recognizing the area's vulnerability and mistrust in authorities. Environmental and social factors are deemed most important, with environmental strategies focused on harm reduction and local environment enhancement, and social strategies emphasizing information dissemination and mortality reduction. This research offers valuable insights into community perceptions and factors influencing adaptation strategies for flood and landslide risks.

Learning in polycentric governance: Insights from the California Delta science enterprise

AbstractScience is critical for learning and adaptation of policy and governance systems. Increasingly, science is produced in the context of a science enterprise: a complex, polycentric institutional arrangement featuring multiple science forums and actors. The characteristics of these polycentric systems can influence whether and to what extent science supports policy‐relevant learning. Limited research, however, has examined how science enterprises function as polycentric systems and how they can be governed to support learning. Using a survey of actors involved in the science enterprise of the California Delta, we integrate the collective learning framework and ecology of games framework to analyze individual‐ and forum‐level drivers of perceived learning across the adaptive management cycle. The results suggest that social drivers such as leadership, trust, and engagement are most highly correlated with perceived learning. While science enterprise actors often perceive administrative and financial resource limitations, those constraints are less important for learning than social drivers.

The role of urban trees as nature-based solutions for stormwater runoff control

The soil cover of urban areas drastically reduces infiltration rates and increases the risk of stormwater flooding. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS) are well-acknowledged strategies for sustainable stormwater management and water cycle restoration. As NBS, urban trees provide significant benefits to hydrological balance through rainfall interception, evapotranspiration, and water storage in the underlying soil. This paper proposes an analytical-probabilistic model to evaluate the performance of urban trees for stormwater control. The study investigates the effects on the surface runoff of the main hydrological and environmental variables involved, in particular the infiltration rate into the soil, and the impermeable contributing areas. The reliability of the analytical-probabilistic approach to estimate the surface stormwater runoff (in terms of both runoff probability and average value) was validated through its application to a case study in the city of Lecco (Italy). The results confirmed that the beneficial impact of urban trees on stormwater control is greater during leaf-on season (late spring-summer at Lecco latitude) and when a proper infiltration rate into the soil beneath the tree is ensured.

Navigating Concurrent Disasters: Lessons learned from a Hospital Evacuation Amidst a Pandemic and an Earthquake.

The concurrent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant earthquake in Izmir on October 30, 2020, presented a unique scenario for disaster management and response. This study focuses on the impact of the earthquake, which resulted in 117 fatalities, including 1 due to drowning, and injured 1034 individuals, alongside widespread structural damage including to the Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital. The objective is to assess the activation and implementation of the hospital disaster plan amidst the ongoing pandemic. Through a retrospective evaluation of all actions undertaken as per the Hospital Disaster Emergency Plan within the Disaster Management cycle, this study examines the decision-making process for the hospital evacuation on October 30, 2020, the evacuation of COVID-19 patients, and the strategies employed to increase hospital capacity. Of 216 patients hospitalized at the time of the earthquake, 65 were transferred to other facilities under COVID-19 protocols. The prolonged nature of pandemics and the likelihood of secondary disasters underscore the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and dynamic disaster planning, considering simultaneous multiple hazards. This study suggests the inclusion of multi hazard scenarios and diverse evacuation methods by using types of ambulances, such as ground, helicopter, and boat.

Bibliometric analysis on the factors that affect the cycle of formulation, evaluation, and management of social project

Background Projects enable the resolution of problems and alter societal realities, assuming they represent the optimal choices to modify living conditions positively. If projects are deemed intelligent solutions to problems, why do they fail? This question will be addressed in this article through bibliometric analysis. Methods A bibliometric analysis was conducted on the success or failure factors influencing social investment projects, through a descriptive study with search equations, utilizing a comparative matrix to analyze 32 articles from Scopus and 22 from Web of Science. Results As a result, the number of publications, the themes addressed, and their origins between 2018 and 2023 were identified. The VOSviewer software allowed for identifying keywords and their relationships; with this input, a review of scientific production was conducted to subsequently identify the factors influencing projects and how they have been addressed within their contexts. Conclusions In conclusion, it was found that both the factors influencing success or failure in projects are permeated by the environment and the impact of political, social, and economic factors, in addition to the interaction of elements related to soft and hard skills.

Being a migrant woman during disasters: A phenomenological study to unveil experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Milan, Italy

Migrants and women were among the groups most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic disaster. By adopting an intersectional lens, it can be inferred that migrant women (MW) were particularly vulnerable to its impacts. This study aims to explore the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MW living in Milan, Italy, investigating a broad spectrum of experiences. We conducted a phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews from September 2023 to January 2024. Interviews were transcribed and inductively analyzed. We interviewed 19 cisgender MW women coming from 10 different countries, with a median age of 43 years. At the pandemic’s onset, 12 were undocumented migrants, four were documented, while three had obtained Italian citizenship. Most held informal job positions, primarily as domestic workers, and were impacted by the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, non-governmental organizations were the preferred entry point to the healthcare systems. Their psychological well-being was compromised by distance from family members and the extensive COVID-19 media coverage. Despite skepticism, most MW adhered to the vaccination campaign due to its de-facto mandatory nature. Social isolation was not considered a major impact. Overall, MW did not perceive themselves as a particularly vulnerable group. Systemic interventions to address inequalities faced by MW should be incorporated throughout the entire disaster risk management cycle, and an intersectional approach should be integrated into all stages of public policy development. As distrust emerged as a particularly significant issue building trust before disasters is crucial for an effective response.

Geospatial tools and data for health service delivery: opportunities and challenges across the disaster management cycle.

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, the health system faces significant challenges, not only from shifting patterns of climate-sensitive diseases but also from disruptions to healthcare infrastructure, supply chains and the physical systems essential for delivering care. This necessitates the strategic use of geospatial tools to guide the delivery of healthcare services and make evidence-informed priorities, especially in contexts with scarce human and financial resources. In this article, we highlight several published papers that have been used throughout the phases of the disaster management cycle in relation to health service delivery. We complement the findings from these publications with a rapid scoping review to present the body of knowledge for using spatial methods for health service delivery in the context of disasters. The main aim of this article is to demonstrate the benefits and discuss the challenges associated with the use of geospatial methods throughout the disaster management cycle. Our scoping review identified 48 articles employing geospatial techniques in the disaster management cycle. Most of them focused on geospatial tools employed for preparedness, anticipatory action and mitigation, particularly for targeted health service delivery. We note that while geospatial data analytics are effectively deployed throughout the different phases of disaster management, important challenges remain, such as ensuring timely availability of geospatial data during disasters, developing standardized and structured data formats, securing pre-disaster data for disaster preparedness, addressing gaps in health incidence data, reducing underreporting of cases and overcoming limitations in spatial and temporal coverage and granularity. Overall, existing and novel geospatial methods can bridge specific evidence gaps in all phases of the disaster management cycle. Improvement and 'operationalization' of these methods can provide opportunities for more evidence-informed decision making in responding to health crises during climate change.

A behavioural perspective on pandemic preparedness

Abstract Driven by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the RIVM Behavioural Unit is working on the preparedness of social and behavioural sciences. This includes establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network and a knowledge base on pandemic preparedness and behaviour. Using the socio-ecological model and the emergency management cycle, we propose a conceptual framework for a behavioural perspective on pandemic preparedness. The multilevel (individual, community, organisational, national and supra-national), time-dependent (cold, acute, recovery phase) structure of the framework can be helpful in explicating who has to do what, when. In addition, to explain and understand what different actors require for those behaviours prior to or during a pandemic, we propose an adapted version of the COM-B model (Michie et al., 2011), including determinants of behaviour related to motivation, capabilities and opportunities. Based on these frameworks, various monitoring tools are developed. Here we present the Pandemic Preparedness and Behaviour (PPb) survey aimed at cold phase monitoring behaviour on an individual level (i.e. hygiene behaviours, social activity, preparedness behaviours) and their determinants. With this survey we will obtain baseline measurements ahead of a possible future pandemic and will have developed the appropriate tools to be used in a hot phase for as much as possible. In addition, results on cold phase determinants can help to identify where communities, organisations and governments can provide support to improve pandemic preparedness. In this presentation, the proposed conceptual framework and the PPb survey will be discussed, together with their relevance for preparedness of the social and behavioural sciences.

Determinants in disaster preparedness of nurses in the Azores

Abstract Background Disasters are situations of complexity and unpredictability, increasingly frequent and more destructive. They require rapid and effective action from different teams from different contexts, with preparation and qualifications for an adequate response to victims, recovering the environment, and restoring living conditions, and nurses play a significant role in these events. Understanding the level of preparedness of nurses for disasters is fundamental for defining the competency framework in the disaster management cycle. Objectives To analyze the preparation of nurses in the Azores for a catastrophe. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed with 160 nurses from the Azores. The questionnaire validated for the Portuguese population “Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET ®): Preparation of nurses in the face of a catastrophe” was applied. It was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results More than half of respondents (n = 137, 71%) indicated that they were not fully prepared to respond to disasters, while 29% (n = 46) acknowledged that they felt adequately prepared. Of the 160 respondents, only 20% (n = 30) participated in the development of emergency plans and only 14% (n = 22) participated in the creation of emergency plans that contribute to improvements at the local level. Training through simulation training was cited as important in disaster preparedness (n = 129, 78%). Discussion The present study identified little involvement of RAA nurses in preparing emergency plans and less than half feel poorly prepared in responding to a catastrophe. This finding is consistent with studies by Baker, Alamri, & Aboshaiqah (2019) and Emaliyawati et al. (2021). Conclusions This study was conducted in a region prone to natural disasters. It is vital to invest in the training of these professionals throughout the disaster cycle so that they can contribute to reducing the impact that the catastrophe will have on the individual/family and community. Key messages • Strengthening capabilities through regular disaster training based on effective information. • Low participation in the development of emergency plans that contribute to improvements at the local level.

Recycling impacts of renewable energy generation-related rare earth resources: A SWOT-based strategical analysis

As the global energy mix transforms and renewable energy technologies rapidly develop, there has been a significant increase in the demand for rare earth elements, which play a crucial role in renewable energy systems. By recycling rare earth resources from obsolete equipment, the reliance on newly mined rare earth resources can be reduced, thereby reducing the related environmental and energy footprints and increasing the stability of the supply chain. This study aims to systematically and strategically analyze and discuss the recycling impacts of renewable energy generation (REG)-related rare earth resources in terms of environmental, economic, social, and governance aspects. A SWOT strategical analysis framework integrating a management cycle and intelligent text data mining is built to address the above tasks from an ESG (Environment, Society, and Governance) perspective. The SWOT analysis of the rare earth recycling impacts focuses on strengths (e.g., reduced dependence on rare resources, reduced environmental and emission pressure), weaknesses (e.g., high cost, technology and management complexity), opportunities (e.g., policy support, technological innovations, diversification of the global supply chain), and threats (e.g., market volatility, the emergence of alternative materials). This analysis framework reveals textual topic changes and suggests cyclic and strategical improvement pathways to analyze the multi-dimensional recycling impacts. The text data analysis results indicate that the trend of rare earth recycling is gradually transformed from technologies, supply and demand, and secondary resources into resource and environment sustainable development. Beyond overcoming identified challenges, future pathways should focus more on the integration of advanced emerging technologies, life cycle management, and dynamic adjustment of recycling strategies. This study could provide policymakers and industry practitioners with recommendations and outlook on current development status and improvement strategies to promote REG-related rare earth recycling.

The balance of carbon emissions versus burial in fish ponds: The role of primary producers and management practices

In the global carbon cycle, ponds can play a dual role: they have the capacity to store carbon through sedimentation, but also to be important greenhouse gas emitters. Of all the pond landscapes in Europe, many are managed by Humans for fish production and little is known today about their role as carbon sinks or sources. We monitored 20 fish ponds from the Dombes region (France) during a production season in 2022. We measured both sedimentation rates, the diffusion of CO2, CH4 and N2O and ebullition of CH4 over three different seasons (spring, summer and autumn) in order to provide an estimate of the carbon balance for each pond. Five were dried-out in 2023 as part of the management cycle, and were monitored for dry flux emissions during this period. On average, our measurements suggest that fish ponds were carbon sinks (6 fish ponds as sources and 14 as sinks). There was on average a net sequestration of 4.16 (+/- 10.00) tonnes of CO2e per hectare over 6 months. Measurements from the dry year, indicate that the ponds were carbon sources (mean value of 23.89 tonnes of CO2eq emitted). However, whilst the drying out phase directly increases emissions, it also encourages the development of macrophytes in the subsequent years which improves carbon storage through sedimentation, and appears to be an important driver of the observed balances. These data are consistent with the fact that fish ponds have the capacity to be either sources or sinks of carbon for the atmosphere. Moreover, by promoting good levels of primary productivity, the presence of aquatic plants and by improving carbon storage, management practices appear to have the capacity to turn fish ponds into carbon sinks. These agroecosystems could thus play an important role in the context of climate change mitigation.

Assessment of nursing managers’ awareness and hospital preparedness for disasters: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionPreparedness, focused on planning, training, and research, is one of the primary stages of the disaster management cycle. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine the level of awareness in nursing managers and the preparedness of hospitals for disasters in the hospitals of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023, with a total of 167 Nursing Managers in Sanandaj selected as the research sample using a census approach. Data were collected using a demographic information form, WHO Hospital Emergency Response Checklist, and managers’ emergency awareness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v26 (P < 0.05).FindingsThe results indicated that the overall mean score of managers’ awareness was 77.89%, categorized as good. The assessment of hospital preparedness showed that the overall emergency preparedness level of hospitals in Sanandaj was 69.23%, considered strong. Among the dimensions of hospital preparedness, the highest score was in the command-and-control dimension at 83.33%, while the lowest was in the human resources dimension at 56.66%.ConclusionThe findings indicated a high level of awareness among nursing managers and a strong level of hospital preparedness in Sanandaj. However, improving and enhancing specific dimensions may require targeted educational and organizational approaches.

Design and implementation of a project management training program to develop workforce ready skills and career readiness in STEM PhD students and postdoctoral trainees

A growing number of STEM doctorates pursue careers across the broader biomedical workforce, including industry, policy, and healthcare. Graduate and postdoctoral trainees need training to develop professional skills that prepare them for diverse workforce options. Through engagement with faculty and trainees, we determined that formal management skills are underdeveloped in trainees, particularly around managing projects in a way that is translatable to broader industries. At Georgetown University Medical Center, we adapted Kern's six-steps of curriculum design to develop the Academy for Transferable Management Skills (ATMS) program to help graduate and postdoctoral trainees develop linear experience in utilizing project management tools in their academic research contexts. ATMS includes a self-paced online CANVAS course with learning objectives and content modules that map to the project management cycle from initiation to closure, developed in consultation with PhD-level industry experts. From 2021–2024, 25 trainees have completed the ATMS program, including the capstone project and posttest evaluation. Trainees also complete brief quizzes after each module as a formative assessment of learning. The pre-test evaluation (n = 92) revealed a baseline of project management “pain points” regularly encountered by trainees (risk management, project charters, work breakdown structures, and managing project scope). Posttest data (n = 25) reveal a significant increase (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) in project management self-efficacy measures across the aforementioned pain point scales. Notably, 100% of trainees indicated that they may/would refer the program to colleagues. ATMS offers trainees the flexibility to pick frameworks that apply to their projects with trainees planning to use project schedules (84%), Work Break Down Structures (80%), lessons learned reports (68%), and communication plans (68%) in their work. This integrated experiential learning approach equips trainees to develop and execute their projects according to industry-informed project management principles, which allows them to perform their current research more efficiently and to utilize project management frameworks in a way that is directly transferable to broad careers.

Professional nurses' perspectives of an ideal performance management process.

A well-managed performance management process can significantly influence professional nurses' job satisfaction and improve patient outcomes. Conversely, ineffective management of the process can lead to demotivation of the nursing staff. This study aimed to understand professional nurses' perspectives on an ideal performance management process. The study was conducted in a designated hospital in South Africa owned by a private healthcare group. The study population consisted of professional nurses involved in a performance management cycle. A descriptive qualitative research design with an appreciative inquiry approach was employed. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Five focus groups of five professional nurses each were used to conduct interviews. The interviews lasted between 60 min and 80 min. The number of interviews conducted provided sufficient data for data saturation. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and the 5-D model of appreciative inquiry. Trusting relationships between management and professional nurses play an essential role in ensuring a tailored performance management process. Training of both professional nurses and managers, a sound reward system for high-performing employees, and a fair and transparent process that addresses challenges and promotes opportunities can promote a positive work environment. Professional nurses require support from their managers and top management. Involving professional nurses in the planning and implementation can ensure proper relationships exist and that constraints are appropriately addressed. Implementing the findings can improve the competencies of both managers and professional nurses to maintain a positive performance management process.

Thermally driven MnCl2[sbnd]NH4Cl resorption cycle for seasonal thermal management of urban buildings

The frequency of extreme weather conditions caused by global greenhouse gas emissions has led to a significant increase in energy consumption for refrigeration and heating supply in urban buildings. However, conventional sensible and latent heat storage technologies hold low thermal energy storage density and short-term energy storage capabilities. Additionally, electrically driven compression refrigeration with non-negligible global warming potential (GWP) is unsuited to high ambient temperatures in summer. We propose an advanced strategy, adopting the MnCl2NH4Cl resorption cycle to achieve efficient desorption refrigeration of NH4Cl and resorption heating supply of MnCl2 under seasonal conditions. Experimental results have demonstrated that our proof-of-concept system can output 70 °C heat with a thermal energy storage density of 166.2 kJ·kg−1, providing continuous heating for 30.5 min under the winter ambient temperature of 10 °C. Moreover, COPref remained at 0.589 for continuous indoor refrigeration lasting 58.5 min under summer ambient and refrigeration temperatures of around 30 °C and 2 °C, respectively. This exceptional adaptability to ambient temperatures enables efficient adjustment of urban building comfort. Our work presents a promising zero-carbon pathway for replacing conventional fossil fuels employed in the thermal management of urban buildings with solar energy.

Assessing the Influence of the Knowledge Management Cycle on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture Considering the Interplay of Employee Engagement

Assessing the Influence of the Knowledge Management Cycle on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture Considering the Interplay of Employee Engagement

Impact assessment of social entrepreneurship

The purpose of the article is to elucidate the main methodological and normative aspects in assessing the impact of the activity of social enterprises in the Republic of Moldova. The methodological approach is based on the PDCA quality management cycle and the role of the monitoring and evaluation function in the managerial cycle of any activity. Currently, in the Republic of Moldova, the social entrepreneurship activity is at the embryonic stage of development. Thus, in order to boost the development of this sector and achieve the desired economic and social impact, there is a need to increase the quality of managerial procedures both at the macro level – that of sectoral public policies, and at the micro level – that of the management of social enterprises. In the process of evaluating the impact of social entrepreneurship, the author relies not only on the economic and social effects, but also on the principles of sustainable development.

Ways to Improve the Efficiency of Control Mechanisms in the Sphere of Public Procurement

Introduction. Corrupt practices constitute permanent threats to economic security and the main obstacle to the effective satisfaction of state needs through the mechanisms of the contract system. Control, as an integral function of any management cycle, plays a special role in the sphere of public procurement, since this area is directly related to the use of budget funds. Purpose. The article investigates the main results of the effectiveness of control in the sphere of public procurement at the departmental level (within the framework of the functioning of state control and supervisory bodies), internal control of customers, as well as public control over procurement activities in Russia. Methods. The determination of the possible vectors of control mechanisms in procurement was based on scientific works in the field of legal analysis of monitoring contractual activities by the state and society. In order to assess the effectiveness of control activities, statistical information on the activities of state bodies was studied in the field of procurement using comparative and statistical methods. Results. Based on the results of the analysis of departmental control in various state bodies, we proposed to create a general information base for recording the results of control in the field of procurement. Within the framework of improving the mechanisms of intra-departmental control of customers, the need to introduce standardization mechanisms in the approaches to assessing the performance of contractual services was justified. Conclusion. The system of control in the sphere of procurement for the needs of society and the state has a wide range of opportunities for effective reduction of corruption and its prevention. At the same time, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the system by means of individual point reforms.