Management Activities Research Articles

Manajemen Strategi Peningkatan Mutu Pendidikan Di Smp Al Bayan Kota Makassar

The purpose of this study is to describe the strategic management approach used to improve teaching standards at Al Bayan Junior High School Makassar City. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The data collection techniques used include notes, interviews, and observations. This research uses three activity streams for qualitative data analysis, namely data reduction, data presentation, and verification/conclusion drawing. The data triangulation technique was used in assessing the validity of the data. The findings show that: (1) Al Bayan Junior High School Makassar City conducts integrated, methodical, and comprehensive planning through the following stages in order to realize the quality of education: a) Examining the school's internal environment both material, technical, and human resources. b) Examining the geographical, social, and economic context outside the school. c) Careful observation and in-depth analysis. (2) In implementing initiatives aimed at raising educational standards, Al Irsyad leaders use the following policies: a) Continuous process improvement. b) Creating standards for school improvement and quality assurance. c) Establishing a school culture. d) Modifying the organizational structure. e) Maintaining positive interactions with customers. (3) To verify that a high-quality education program has been achieved, evaluation is also conducted in the following ways: a) by tracking all results from planning and implementing strategic management activities. b) evaluating student and individual performance. c) providing reports on how all actions were carried out; and d) making necessary corrections.

Alternative Data in Active Asset Management

Alternative Data in Active Asset Management

PMU-based voltage estimation and distributed generation effects in active distribution networks

The integration of distributed generation (DG) and phasor measuring units (PMUs) has significantly impacted electrical distribution networks. This study focuses on real-time control of renewable energy intermittency and strategic PMU deployment. By optimizing the placement of PMUs and DGs, the study aims to achieve several goals: maximize power loss reduction, increase DG penetration, and maintain acceptable voltage profiles. The recommended PMU-based approach incorporates the optimal number of DGs into the distribution network for load flow analysis. Testing this technique on 12-bus, 33-bus, and 69-bus networks yielded substantial gains. For example, power loss was 81.044 % lower in the 33-bus system and 79.256 % lower in the 69-bus test system compared to the base-case scenario. We also compared these results with other methods found in the literature. The developed algorithm is recommended for application in a real electrical power distribution network for more efficient integration of PMUs and new distributed generation units. Integrating PMUs with DG benefits active distribution network management, enabling proactive grid management and stability.

To breed or not to breed: Territory occupancy is predicted by reproductive performance and habitat heterogeneity.

Species life history and anthropogenic influence are important drivers of population performance and viability in human-dominated ecosystems. How these factors affect habitat selection and occupancy in long-lived species is an important topic for their conservation. Long-term datasets are needed for establishing the underlying drivers of this process. In this 22 year-long study, we conducted annual surveys of Bonelli's eagle in the east of the Iberian Peninsula. During this period, 42.8% of the known territories remained unoccupied. Territories with a higher likelihood of raising two chicks over time were stable, evidenced by a lower coefficient of variation in productivity, and were more likely to remain occupied. Moreover, territories with lower habitat diversity, dominated by coniferous forest or agricultural fields, and those located further away from the coast and at higher altitudes showed lower rates of occupancy (i.e., unoccupied >3 consecutive years). To validate these associations, we monitored space use of 22 individuals equipped with Global Positioning System/Global System for Mobile (GPS/GSM) transmitters, which confirmed that eagles selected for open habitats (mainly scrublands and transitional woodland-scrubs) intermixed with forest areas within their home ranges. In contrast, individuals avoided areas dominated by agricultural, urban, and continuous forests for breeding in line with the observations for unoccupied territories. Our results highlight the important interplay between natural and anthropogenic factors, which also have important implications for other raptor species. Preservation of the most productive territories and the re-occupancy of unoccupied territories along with reducing threats in the preferred habitats are fundamental actions that should be taken immediately to sustain viable populations. Potential management actions include enhancing natural prey density through habitat restoration and conservation, mitigating threats and reducing mortality risks due to power lines, fences, poisoning, and maintaining habitat heterogeneity important to eagles' hunting activities.

The Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on Earnings Management

This paper selects listed companies from the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets between 2009 and 2020 as the sample to empirically analyze the impact of corporate performance in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) on the level of their earnings management activities. The study finds that the better the ESG performance, the lower the company's tendency to engage in real earnings management, significantly reducing the level of real earnings management. In contrast, the improvement in ESG performance increases accrual-based earnings management. Further analysis reveals that for non-state-owned enterprises, the restraining effect of ESG performance is more pronounced. All three dimensionsenvironment, social, and governancecan significantly increase corporate accrual-based earnings management. Compared to environmental responsibility, social responsibility and corporate governance are more effective in significantly reducing real earnings management.

Impact of Human Resources Management Activities on Staff Development and Performance at Nigeria National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

Impact of Human Resources Management Activities on Staff Development and Performance at Nigeria National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

Enhancing PV Hosting Capacity of Electricity Distribution Networks Using Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Coordinated Voltage Control

Coordinated voltage control enables the active management of voltage levels throughout electricity distribution networks by leveraging the voltage support capabilities of existing grid-connected PV inverters. The efficient management of power flows and precise voltage regulation through coordinated voltage control schemes facilitate the increased adoption of rooftop PV systems and enhance the hosting capacity of electricity distribution networks. The research work presented in this paper proposes a coordinated voltage control scheme and evaluates the enhanced hosting capacity utilizing a deep reinforcement learning-based approach. A comparative analysis of the proposed algorithm is presented, and the performance is benchmarked against existing local voltage control schemes. The proposed coordinated voltage control scheme in this paper is evaluated using simulations on a real-world low-voltage electricity distribution network. The evaluation involves quasi-static time series power flow simulations for assessing performance. Furthermore, a discussion is presented that reflects on the strengths and limitations of the proposed scheme based on the results observed from the case study.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN A MODERN ORGANIZATION: A REVIEW OF CURRENT APPROACHES

The article presents the author's vision of the problem of loss of effectiveness of traditional leadership approaches in managing a modern organization and the need to search for and implement new approaches. It is proposed to shift the focus of attention from classical approaches: from the position of personal qualities (personalistic), behavioral approach and situational approach, justifying the decrease in the results of their use in the activities of managers, to current approaches to organizational leadership, which are offered by modern scientists of the twenty-first century. Based on the analysis of publications in the scientific electronic library Elibrary.ru, such types of leadership as transformational, transactional, charismatic, team, divided, visionary were established. The features of each approach are identified and described. The concept of the terms “leadership”, “leader” (“manager”), “management” is given. The question is raised about the importance of a manager’s understanding of the changing needs and expectations of modern subordinates: the reality of our time is that there is a great need for a flexible work schedule and the ability to work remotely. A vision of what qualities and skills a modern leader should have is proposed, the need to develop emotional intelligence and the importance of changing the way of building communication with modern subordinates is highlighted. Attention is focused on the fact that the forms and methods of training leaders-managers in modern organizations require constant attention and regular improvement. Using the research results in the practical sphere of activity of managers will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of management in the context of the development of the digital economy within the country, improvement of technologies, artificial intelligence, as well as the influence of foreign policy events and increasing sanctions.

Invasive Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Conditions: Emphasis on COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused death of 6 million lives globally, primarily from respiratory failure, but also a significant number from invasive fungal co-infections in these patients, owing to the immune dysfunction in hospitalized patients. Such complications occurred more often in critically ill, hospitalized patients particularly those admitted in intensive care units and were reported as the major reason associated with a high mortality rate worldwide. Fungal pathogens most commonly associated with COVID-19 patients comprise members of the Mucorales (such as Rhizopus, Mucor, and Lichtheimia), as well as genera Aspergillus and Candida. In India, the prevalence rate of mucormycosis is relatively high than aspergillosis and candidiasis, and the predisposing risk factors associated with such infections included uncontrolled diabetes, underlying lung disease, leukopenia, neutropenia, malignancies and prolonged steroid therapy. However, co-infection with other fungi, including Alternariaand Scedosporium was also sporadically reported. These devastating invasive fungal infections are associated with differential mortality (high-low) and morbidity rates even after active management. The diagnosis of such infections is often challenging due to lack of sensitivity in contemporary diagnostic methods and poses an enormous challenge to healthcare experts. Thus, the role of early and accurate diagnosis, and management of such fungal infections, is vital in preventing life-threatening situations. Hence, this review focusses primarily on the epidemiology, predisposing risk factors, host environment, diagnosis and treatment of the most common medically important invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised conditions associated with COVID-19.

Process Capability Indices for Processes when the Underlying Data are Interval-Valued

One of the important activities of process quality management is to see that the processes of interest are, in fact, stable and capable. In this paper, the problem of obtaining process capability indices (PCIs) for the processes when the underlying data are interval-valued is considered. Since interval-valued data such as systolic and diastolic readings have specifications for both lower and upper values, drawing PCIs cannot be straightforward. In this paper, we attempted to build connections between the lower and upper specifications limits based on which the resulting PCIs are drawn. This is done by considering the coefficients of inflation and the mean shift values of distributions of both lower and upper values of the interval-valued data. The new expressions for the proposed PCIs are determined. We have considered the systolic and diastolic data to demonstrate the computations of PCIs.

The Management of Nurturing, Child Care for Children Aged 18 to 36 Months Using a Participatory Approach: A Case Study of Preschools in Thanh Hoa Province

In the education system, each level of education has its own characteristics and must be given special attention, including preschool education, which is the first stage of personality formation and understanding of each person, so it must be considered a key educational task, the top priority in the national education system. Through going to school, children will be comprehensively developed in terms of physical, intellectual, emotional, aesthetic, and personality formation. Currently, with the economic development situation, the need for comprehensive development for children is also more focused not only by parents but also in each school. This has become the goal to develop and perfect the system of equipment, facilities, and capacity of teachers and the school's management team. The study uses a participatory approach based on the management participation of management groups in particular and components in education in general, thereby assessing the current status of management of child care and nurturing activities. The research results also show that the management of preschools still has many shortcomings, including the differences in economic characteristics of each region, the quality of the teaching staff, facilities and equipment, etc. There are many issues that still need attention due to the uneven development between regions and areas. Therefore, in order for activities to develop more and more, it is still necessary to pay attention to investment and research the current

Impact of Smoking on Overall and Cancer-Specific Mortality in Prostate Cancer: Elevated Risks in Older and Early-Stage Patients—A Population-Based Study

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks sixth in cancer mortality among Taiwanese men, with smoking rates remaining high despite the 2009 Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act. This study used the Taiwan Cancer Registry to evaluate smoking’s impact on PCa mortality, providing important information for healthcare strategies and patient management. From 2011 to 2017, 23,107 PCa patients were analyzed, with 7164 smokers and 15,943 non-smokers. The baseline characteristics, clinical stages, comorbidities, and treatment modalities were all included to estimate overall and cancer-specific mortality using the Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier analysis. The stratified analysis of clinical stage and age group was also estimated. Our study found an association between smoking and increased overall and cancer-specific mortality in PCa patients. Although smokers over 60 had higher risks of overall mortality than non-smokers, cancer-specific mortality did not show significant differences in any age group. Smokers had higher overall mortality than non-smokers across all clinical stages, but cancer-specific mortality was significantly raised only in early-stage cases. In conclusion, smoking is associated with higher overall mortality in PCa patients, with a significant increase in cancer-specific mortality in early-stage cases. Therefore, active smoking management is critical for clinical urologists, particularly in the treatment of early-stage patients.

Long-term responses of intertidal and subtidal seagrasses to anthropogenic disturbances and sea warming in the northwestern pacific coast

Long-term ecological research is imperative for comprehensively understanding how ecosystems respond to environmental changes over time. This study examined the long-term responses of seagrasses (Zostera japonica, Z. marina, and Z caespitosa) in intertidal and subtidal zones to anthropogenic disturbances and sea warming on the southern coast of the Korean peninsula over 15 years (2008–2022). Dramatic declines in the intertidal seagrasses were observed due to human activities such as clam harvesting and oyster cultivation, resulting in the disappearance of almost all Z. japonica in intertidal zones. Subtidal seagrasses, including Z. marina and Z. caespitosa decreased gradually throughout the study period. The biomass and canopy height of the subtidal Z. marina showed an inverse trend against water temperature. In addition, water temperature anomalies such as marine heat waves (MHWs) caused abrupt declines of seagrasses within both the intertidal and subtidal zones. Annually repeated and acute human-induced disturbances were the primary threat to the intertidal seagrass species. Nevertheless, the subtidal seagrasses were primarily affected by unpredictable summer MHWs as well as gradual rising water temperatures, with MHWs causing more dramatic alterations in the coastal seagrass ecosystems compared to gradual SST rising. The continuous decline of seagrasses due to natural and human-induced disturbances will alter the structure of shallow coastal ecosystems, leading to significant changes in the ecosystem services they provide. The results of this study underscore the importance of management actions in coastal seagrass ecosystems and highlight the need to predict future impacts of ongoing climate change.

Between the East and the West. Regional Transformations and the Development of Polish Research Libraries 1989–2023

Abstract The article explores developments and challenges in Polish research libraries from 1989, which opened the country up to new economic, technological, educational, and cultural realities to the present. These decades saw intense development, particularly in technology, although not without stumbling blocks. How have libraries benefitted and changed? How sustainable and useful for user communities are these changes? The article is based on available data and studies, and on the author’s own observations and experience from 30 years of managerial activity in one of Poland’s research libraries.

Generation and evaluation of energy and water fluxes from the HOLAPS framework: Comparison with satellite-based products during extreme hot weather

Improving our understanding of the energy and water exchanges between the land surface and the lower atmosphere (i.e. land–atmosphere interactions), and how climate change may affect them, is crucial to predict changes in temperature and precipitation extremes. Observations of energy and water fluxes at the land surface are typically retrieved from the eddy covariance method, which presents limitations related to spatial and temporal gaps, and the non-closure of the energy and water balances. Meanwhile, soil moisture (SM) products derived from satellite data have been widely used at regional and global scales, but they are limited to capture only surface soil water content and variations. The combination of remote sensing (RS) data and modelling frameworks is called to be the solution to improve the spatial coverage and vertical resolution of land–atmosphere interactions data, ensuring the energy and water balance closure. Here, we explore the combination of remote sensing and meteorological data with a physical-based modelling framework, the High resOlution Land Atmosphere Parameters from Space (HOLAPS). We used HOLAPS to produce hourly consistent estimates of energy and water fluxes over Europe at 5 km resolution. HOLAPS and other satellite-based evapotranspiration and sensible heat flux products from the literature are evaluated against the water balance method and eddy covariance measurements. HOLAPS SM estimates together with other RS-modelling products are also evaluated against ground-based measurements at the surface and in the root zone. The evaluation of HOLAPS ET estimates show similar performance to the other products with Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) ¿ -0.41 in comparison with eddy covariance measurements from FLUXNET in all seasons but in boreal winter. The simulation of H is more uncertain than for ET with KGE values ranging from -2.5 to 0.8 along the products and stations at monthly scales. HOLAPS reaches slightly better results than the rest of ET and H products at daily scales in summer (KGE ¿ 0.3 for ET and KGE ¿ 0.0 for H) and during hot conditions (KGE ¿ 0.2 for ET and KGE ¿-0.2 for H), while the state-of-the-art products show KGE ¿ 0.1 for ET and KGE ¿ -0.41 for H in summer and KGE ¿ -0.1 for ET and KGE ¿ -0.6 for H during hot conditions. All products evaluated here yield a reasonable performance (KGE ¿-0.41 at most sites) in simulating SM at the surface and in the root zone. Our results expose the need for further investigating and improving product performances during extreme conditions. The good performance of HOLAPS together with its inherent advantages (RS data driven, high temporal and spatial resolution, spatial and temporal continuity, soil moisture at different depths and long-term consistent evapotranspiration and sensible heat flux estimates) support its use for agricultural and forest management activities as well as to study land–atmosphere interactions based on Earth Observations.

Wetland Restoration benefits both climate and biodiversity

Wetland Restoration benefits both climate and biodiversity In GRIP on LIFE IP, public authorities in Sweden work together with forest owners’ associations, non-governmental organisations and researchers to improve environmental consideration of waters and wetlands in the forest landscape while continuing active forest management. Our goal is to improve the environment and conditions for animals and plants living in the forest’s watercourses and wetlands.

Plastic ingestion in aquatic insects: Implications of waterbirds and landfills and association with stable isotopes

Wetlands provide numerous ecosystem services including freshwater purification. Nonetheless, their functionality is continuously impacted by many pollutants. Plastics are considered as an emerging threat for these ecosystems, but only recently have studies began to focus on plastic and microplastic (MP) contamination in wetlands, especially in biota. This study aims to investigate the abundance of MPs in two ubiquitous aquatic insect taxa (i.e. Corixidae (Hemiptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera)) collected in twelve zones within Mediterranean wetlands belonging to three basins located in Andalusia (south-west Spain). We compared MP contamination across basins and tested the proximity to landfills and presence of colonial waterbirds [i.e. white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus michahellis and L. fuscus)] on MP abundance in aquatic insects. We also performed stable isotope analyses of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N and δ13C) to evaluate the potential association between MP abundance and isotopic values. We detected 571 suspected MPs (mostly blue fibers) in insects of different developmental stages (i.e., larvae, pupae, nymphs and adults). Polyesters and polypropylene were the most frequent polymers detected. The generalized linear mixed models indicated that MP abundance decreased with increasing distance from landfills; but it also increased in sites with birds that fed on landfills and roost in wetlands. When controlling for landfill effects, sites in the smallest basin (Guadalete) had lower MP contamination than those in Odiel-Tinto and the much larger (>15×) Guadalquivir. Moreover, we found a negative association between MPs items/g (or mean MPs) and 15N isotopes in adult corixids. Our findings showed that MP pollution is present in all the study areas, including strictly protected wetlands. The use of aquatic insects for biomonitoring of MP pollution can help identify priority areas for management actions to mitigate plastic pollution.

Clinicians' use of Health Information Exchange technologies for medication reconciliation in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: a qualitative analysis.

Medication reconciliation is essential for optimizing medication use. In part to promote effective medication reconciliation, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) invested substantial resources in health information exchange (HIE) technologies. The objectives of this qualitative study were to characterize VA clinicians' use of HIE tools for medication reconciliation in their clinical practice and to identify facilitators and barriers. We recruited inpatient and outpatient prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) and pharmacists at four geographically distinct VA medical centers for observations and interviews. Participants were observed as they interacted with HIE or medication reconciliation tools during routine work. Participants were interviewed about clinical decision-making pertaining to medication reconciliation and use of HIE tools, and about barriers and facilitators to use of the tools. Qualitative data were analyzed via inductive and deductive approaches using a priori codes. A total of 63 clinicians participated. Over half (58%) were female, and the mean duration of VA clinical experience was 7 (range 0-32) years. Underlying motivators for clinicians seeking data external to their VA medical center were having new patients, current patients receiving care from an external institution, and clinicians' concerns about possible medication discrepancies among institutions. Facilitators for using HIE software were clinicians' familiarity with the HIE software, clinicians' belief that medication information would be available within HIE, and their confidence in the ability to find HIE medication-related data of interest quickly. Six overarching barriers to HIE software use for medication coordination included visual clutter and information overload within the HIE display; challenges with HIE interface navigation; lack of integration between HIE and other electronic health record interfaces, necessitating multiple logins and application switching; concerns with the dependability of HIE medication information; unfamiliarity with HIE tools; and a lack of HIE data from non-VA facilities. This study is believed to be the first to qualitatively characterize clinicians' HIE use with respect to medication reconciliation. Results inform recommendations to optimize HIE use for medication management activities. We expect that healthcare organizations and software vendors will be able to apply the findings to develop more effective and usable HIE information displays.

Comprehensive Overview and New Research on Carbonate Rocks of the Sé Velha Cathedral in Coimbra, Portugal

In addition to the surrounding climatic environment, the intrinsic characteristics of the stones used in construction are a critical factor to understand a building’s conservation state and define the necessary planning and conservation management activities. The use of environmentally susceptible stones, such as carbonate stones, in heritage buildings can be especially problematic. The present investigation presents an overview of past research and contributes to identifying the types of carbonate stones used over time in Coimbra’s Old Cathedral in Portugal, which was classified as a National Monument and integrated into the Coimbra World Heritage site by UNESCO. Our mineralogical and chemical analyses revealed the use of carbonate stones from different quarries (Coimbra region), including Ançã limestone and dolostone (Porta Especiosa portal), Portunhos limestone and Outil limestone (in the perimeter of windows), and marlstones and Outil limestone (side facades). These stones, which were installed at various times during the construction and alteration of the monument, represent a great challenge for conservation planning due to their intrinsic vulnerability to adverse environmental conditions and pollution.

Monitoring for Amoebic Disease (Malpighamoeba mellificae) in Honey Bee Colonies

Digestive health is an overlooked but vital component of the success of Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections can inhibit nutrient uptake and waste elimination by the honey bee digestive tract. Active management requires monitoring honey bee health on an individual and colony basis, providing adequate nutrition, and controlling for other pests and diseases. One organism that has gained recent attention is Malpighamoeba mellificae. This publication describes how to detect M. mellificae in A. mellifera colonies.