Opportunities For Management Research Articles

Research on the Synthesis of Hong Kong NFT Index Using Principal Component Analysis and Index Prediction Based on LSTM-Modified ARMA-GARCH Model

With the advent of the Web3.0 era, virtual assets have gained prominence in individuals asset portfolios, making Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) increasingly significant within the financial trading landscape. To address the issue of multicollinearity in regression analysis, this paper employs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to perform dimensionality reduction on five correlated foundational sectors. Moreover, to enhance the accuracy and reliability of predictive outcomes, the study combines the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model with the Autoregressive Moving Average-Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (ARMA-GARCH) model. Through the application of these methods and practical implementation, the study forecasts the NFT index of the Hong Kong stock market for the next 30 days. This forecasting of return volatility contributes vital insights for investment decision-making. The research complements and offers application recommendations in financial innovation, deepening, and regulation. By devising novel products and tools to meet investor demands, providing risk management and investment opportunities, the models predictive outcomes can be utilized in regulatory and risk management strategies within the national financial trading market. This study provides regulatory guidance, policy formulation insights, and envisions further refinements of the research methodology by integrating information shock effects.

Utilization of Writing Assistance Tools in Research in Selected Higher Learning Institutions in the Philippines: A Text Mining Analysis

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has sparked significant interest. Artificial intelligence offers opportunities for global learning, personalized instruction, and efficient resource management. In research writing, AI tools streamline processes, from a literature review to data analysis, enhancing efficiency and freeing up time for critical thinking. The researchers of this study used text mining techniques to extract patterns and trends of using writing assistance tools in research from the responses of 327 faculty researchers in various higher learning institutions in the Philippines. Unigram tokenization was used to present the 10 most frequently used words in the corpus, while the k-means elbow method was utilized to show the optimal number of clusters. Sentiment analysis was use to show the positive and negative implications of using writing assistance tools in research. The finding is that faculty respondents value writing assistance tools for enhancing research writing by expediting processes and improving clarity. The implementation of these tools in selected higher learning institutions may present difficulties, such as issues related to overreliance, and hinder students’ and researchers’ development of critical thinking and writing skills. Along with technological and resource challenges, these tools could inadvertently encourage plagiarism if not used responsibly. Cultural and language considerations are also relevant because these tools may not always be attuned to the specific linguistic and cultural nuances of Filipino academic writing. The results of this research may serve as a guide for researchers, educators, and software developers, who may use AI to streamline research writing processes in the educational sector.

Strategi Manajemen Pendidikan untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Pendidikan di Era Digital

Education in the digital era presents new challenges and opportunities for education management. This article discusses education management strategies that can be used to improve the quality of education in the digital era. This study uses a literature approach by collecting data from relevant theoretical sources on education management and digital technology in the educational context. This article outlines several educational management strategies that can be implemented, including the use of digital technology in teaching and learning, managing human resources in the digital era, developing curriculum that is relevant to technology, and implementing learning models that are appropriate to the digital era. This article also discusses the challenges and opportunities faced in implementing these strategies, including managing change, adaptive education policies, and developing teacher professionalism in the digital era.
 This study uses a literature approach, by collecting data from relevant theoretical sources on education management and digital technology in the educational context. Data is analyzed through a systematic synthesis of literature to identify education management strategies that can improve the quality of education in the digital era.
 In the digital era, an adaptive and technology-oriented education management strategy is the key to improving the quality of education. The use of digital technology in teaching and learning, managing human resources oriented towards the digital era, developing curriculum that is relevant to technology, and implementing learning models that are appropriate to the digital era are steps that can be taken to improve the quality of education in the digital era. However, challenges such as managing change, adaptive education policies, and developing teacher professionalism remain an important focus in the implementation of these strategies.

The Long-Term Detection of Suspended Particulate Matter Concentration and Water Colour in Gravel and Sand Pit Lakes through Landsat and Sentinel-2 Imagery

Over the past half century, the demand for sand and gravel has led to extensive quarrying activities, creating many pit lakes (PLs) which now dot floodplains and urbanized regions globally. Despite the potential importance of these environments, systematic data on their location, morphology and water quality remain limited. In this study, we present an extensive assessment of the physical and optical properties in a large sample of PLs located in the Po River basin (Italy) from 1990 to 2021, utilizing a combined approach of remote sensing (Landsat constellation and Sentinel-2) and traditional limnological techniques. Specifically, we focused on the concentration of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and the dominant wavelength (λdom, i.e., water colour). This study aims to contribute to the analysis of PLs at a basin scale as an opportunity for environmental rehabilitation and river floodplain management. ACOLITE v.2022, a neural network particularly suitable for the analysis of turbid waters and small inland water bodies, was used to atmospherically correct satellite images and to obtain SPM concentration maps and the λdom. The results show a very strong correlation between SPM concentrations obtained in situ and those obtained from satellite images, both for data derived from Landsat (R2 = 0.85) and Sentinel-2 images (R2 = 0.82). A strong correlation also emerged from the comparison of spectral signatures obtained in situ via WISP-3 and those derived from ACOLITE, especially in the visible spectrum (443–705 nm, SA = 10.8°). In general, it appeared that PLs with the highest mean SPM concentrations and the highest mean λdom are located along the main Po River, and more generally near rivers. The results also show that active PLs exhibit a poor water quality status, especially those of small sizes (<5 ha) and directly connected to a river. Seasonal comparison shows the same trend for both SPM concentration and λdom: higher values in winter gradually decreasing until spring–summer, then increasing again. Finally, it emerged that the end of quarrying activity led to a reduction in SPM concentration from a minimum of 43% to a maximum of 72%. In this context, the combined use of Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery allowed for the evaluation of the temporal evolution of the physical and optical properties of the PLs in a vast area such as the Po River basin (74,000 km2). In particular, the Sentinel-2 images consistently proved to be a reliable resource for capturing episodic and recurring quarrying events and portraying the ever-changing dynamics of these ecosystems.

Data-driven method for electric vehicle charging demand analysis: Case study in Virginia

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the U.S. will be accelerated by the historic $7.5 billion public investments in EV charging infrastructure. Careful analysis of EV charging demands plays a vital role in understanding the energy requirements, power grid impact, and smart charging management opportunities of EVs. To this end, this paper develops a data-driven trip-chaining-based modeling framework including five steps: Trip data acquisition and preprocessing, EV adoption modeling, travel itinerary synthesis, EV charging demand simulation and EV load profile generation. The developed analysis framework was demonstrated using real-world data for one region in Virginia, U.S. The results show that the proposed modeling framework can work effectively. For the study region in 2040, the predicted number of plug-in EVs is 470,114, resulting in a weekly charging demand of 38,078,127 kWh (55 % home, 9 % work, and 36 % public) in September and 45,920,358 kWh (61 % home, 9 % work, and 30 % public) in February.

Bio-treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash: A sustainable path for recyclability

This study investigates the impact of bio-treatment on Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash (MSWIFA), comparing bio-treated MSWIFA (BFA) to raw MSWIFA (RFA). BFA exhibited a larger particle size and the presence of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) gels. Both RFA and BFA maintained highly alkaline pH levels, with mineral analysis showing reduced chlorine content in BFA and the presence of Monocarboaluminate (Mc), suggesting potential concrete strength improvements. Bio-treatment effectively reduced polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) levels, meeting standards. Biomineralization stabilized heavy metals in MSWIFA, reducing leaching concentrations and meeting national standards. Blending BFA with magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) improved compressive strength, especially in early stages, further enhanced by calcium acetate. SEM images confirmed MICP gels on paste surfaces, contributing to increased strength. Analytical techniques (X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and thermal gravimetric analysis) supported superior performance in hydration and strength. SEM-EDS analysis showed effective solidification/stabilization of heavy metals, reduced chlorine content, and enhanced biomineralization. Leaching tests confirmed reduced heavy metal concentrations in leachate. In summary, bio-treatment enhances the properties and environmental impact of MSWIFA, offering sustainable waste management opportunities.

Contemporary community composition, spatial distribution patterns, and biodiversity characteristics of zooplankton in large alpine Lake Sevan, Armenia

We studied the quantitative composition, spatial distribution, and temporal dynamics of the zooplankton community of the alpine Lake Sevan, Armenia, the largest surface water in the Caucasus region. This article is providing a long-term information and fills the research gap of multiyear data on zooplankton, as the previous research on zooplankton provided only snapshots of the community, and a consistent assessment over multiple years was missing. However, an initial mini-review of historical studies indicated that zooplankton biomass and fish abundance were undergoing large fluctuations, indicating the importance of top-down control. We analysed 239 samples from the period 2016-2019 from 32 sampling sites in Lake Sevan and recorded 37 species of meso- and macrozooplankton (Rotifers, Copepods, Cladocera). Biomass fluctuations were high with peaking biomasses in 2016 and lowest biomasses in 2018, yearly averaged biomass varied about one order of magnitude. Variability over time was hence much higher than spatial variability. The pelagic habitat at the deepest part of the lake showed the highest diversity and biomasses but contrasts between sampling sites remained smaller than changes from year to year or seasonally. Many samples were dominated by a single species, and these key species explain observed biomass dynamics to a wide extent. We applied hierarchical clustering in order to identify phenological groups that appear to show similar patterns of occurrence. This clustering resulted in 6 groups where of 5 groups just consisting of one single species and these 5 key species were the Cladocerans Daphnia magna, Daphnia hyalina, Diaphanosoma sp. as well as the calanoids Arctodiaptomus bacillifer and Acanthodiaptomus denticornis. The most important species in Lake Sevan’s zooplankton during the observation period was D. magna, which reached high biomasses in 2016 and 2017 but then suddenly almost disappeared in 2018 and 2019. When there were more D. magna present, the water became clearer, which was measured using Secchi depth. This shows that these large water fleas effectively controlled the amount of phytoplankton in the water. Daphnia magna, in turn, managed to dominate zooplankton community only during times of extremely low fish biomass indicating strong top-down control of this large Cladoceran by fish. Both observations together imply a strong trophic linkage between fish, zooplankton, and phytoplankton and provide evidence for trophic cascades in Lake Sevan. Besides the novel insights into zooplankton community dynamics of this unique lake of high socio-economical, cultural, and ecological importance, our study also points to potential management opportunities for eutrophication control by biomanipulation, as well as our investigation allows us to conclude that probably biotic factors were more important than abiotic factors in explaining the observed changes and dynamics within the plankton community.

Improved energy management of chiller system with AI-based regression

This research aims to enhance energy management in commercial building air-conditioning systems, specifically focusing on chillers, which are significant energy consumers. This study evaluates various regularized regression models using comprehensive time series operating data from a system comprising five chillers of two distinct capacities. Compared with lasso and elastic net regression, ridge regression exhibits superior performance metrics when optimized with the appropriate hyperparameter. This makes it the most suitable method for modeling the system coefficient of performance (SCOP), thereby facilitating the development of an effective energy management plan. Key variables that strongly influence SCOP include the part load ratios of operating chillers, the operating numbers of chillers and pumps, and the temperatures of chilled water and condenser water. This study further identifies July as the month with the highest potential for performance improvement based on the predicted benchmark regions. This study introduces a novel approach that balances feature selection, model accuracy, and optimal tuning of hyperparameters. It highlights the significance of a generic and simplified chiller system model in evaluating energy management opportunities for sustainable operation, taking into account the distinct performance characteristics and time series features of individual system components. The findings from this research can guide future efforts towards more energy-efficient and sustainable operations in commercial buildings.

The impact of SyncPlus on workflow in an independent pharmacy

BackgroundMedication Synchronization (Med Sync) is a medication management strategy that aligns two or more medications to be refilled on the same date. Med Sync may improve several patient outcomes when implemented in a community pharmacy. SyncPlus is a Med Sync service developed at Crosby’s Drugs. Objectives for assessment of SyncPlus included evaluation of changes to delivery volume, number of delivered prescriptions, and number of medication therapy management interventions before and after SyncPlus implementation. Practice descriptionCrosby’s Drugs is an independent pharmacy in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The pharmacy offers several services to a largely Medicare-insured population. Practice innovationSyncPlus patients must fill all prescription medications at Crosby’s Drugs and take at least 5 chronic medications, excluding controlled substances and gabapentin. To enroll, patients verbally agree to review their profile with a technician. Patients complete a clinical consult with a pharmacist to address medication-related problems. Through shared decision-making, the patient and pharmacist determine an anchor drug and next fill date. Medications are short-filled as insurance coverage allows. Pharmacists and interns address medication-related problems and contact prescriber offices for refills and clarifications. Documentation and billing are conducted via the Outcomes platform. Evaluation methodsA 3-month retrospective chart review was performed before and after SyncPlus implementation. Internal pharmacy data and Outcomes data provided reports to address objectives. ResultsIn the three months after SyncPlus implementation, 10 patients were enrolled over three months. The sum of total deliveries dropped from 4478 to 3974. The number of prescriptions delivered were similar before and after SyncPlus implementation. During the 3 months post-implementation 89 Outcomes interventions were completed compared with 18 interventions in the three months prior. ConclusionsA medication synchronization program in an independent pharmacy may improve workflow efficiency by reducing deliveries and increasing opportunities for medication management for patients.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis Using High-Resolution Metabolomics.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a metabolic disorder and the pre-stage of several cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and angina pectoris. Early detection of AS can provide the opportunity for effective management and better clinical results, along with the prevention of further progression of the disease. In the current study, an untargeted and targeted metabolomic approach was used to identify possible metabolic signatures that have altered levels in AS patients. A total of 200 serum samples from individuals with AS and normal were analyzed via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate analysis approaches were used to identify differential metabolites. A group of metabolites associated with bile acids, amino acids, steroid hormones, and purine metabolism were identified that are capable of distinguishing AS-risk sera from normal. Further, the targeted metabolomics approach confirmed that six metabolites, namely taurocholic acid, cholic acid, cortisol, hypoxanthine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and isoleucine, were found to be significantly upregulated, while the concentrations of glycoursodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, testosterone, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and valine were found to be significantly downregulated in the AS-risk sera. The receiver operating characteristic curves of three metabolites, including cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine, showed high sensitivity and specificity. Taken together, these findings suggest cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine as novel biomarkers for the early and non-invasive detection of AS. Thus, this study provides new insights for further investigations into the prevention and management of AS.

Derivative disclosures and managerial opportunism

AbstractDerivatives are increasingly used by managers not only to hedge risks but also to pursue nonhedging activities for fulfilling opportunistic incentives. The Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (SFAS 161) requires firms to disclose their objectives and strategies for using derivatives. Using the adoption of this standard, we examine whether and how derivative disclosures influence managerial opportunistic behavior. We employ insider trades and stock price crash risk to capture managerial opportunism. Applying a difference‐in‐differences research design with hand‐collected data on derivative designations, we find that, after the implementation of SFAS 161, derivative users that comply with SFAS 161 experience a significantly greater decrease in both insider trades and stock price crash risk, compared with a matched control sample of nonderivative‐users. We further provide evidence to suggest that SFAS 161 curbs managerial opportunism via reducing information asymmetry between corporate insiders and outside investors and enhancing the effectiveness of derivative hedging.

Cheese consumption on atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and its complications: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background and aimEvidence from prospective cohort studies has revealed an inverse association between cheese consumption and the development of atherosclerosis (AS), atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), and their complications. However, it remains unclear whether this observed association is influenced by potential confounding factors that may arise during the long-term development process of AS, ASCVD, and its complications. Therefore, to further clarify the causal relationship between cheese consumption and AS, ASCVD, and its complications, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal association between cheese intake and the aforementioned health outcomes. Methods and resultsWe employed a two-sample MR analysis based on publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to infer the causal relationship, with no overlap between their participating populations. The effect estimates were calculated using the random-effects inverse-variance-weighted method. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q statistic, funnel plot, leave-one-out analysis, and MR-Egger intercept tests. The genetically predicted cheese intake was found to be associated with lower risks of coronary AS (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.88, P = 0.001), peripheral vascular AS (OR = 0.56, 95 % CI 0.37–0.84, P = 0.006), other vascular AS (OR = 0.66, 95 % CI 0.44–0.99, P = 0.043), coronary artery disease (OR = 0.64, 95 % CI 0.56–0.74, P = 1.57e-09), angina pectoris (OR = 0.70, 95 % CI 0.58–0.84, P = 4.92e-05), myocardial infarction (OR = 0.63, 95 % CI 0.52–0.77, P = 3.56e-06), heart failure (OR = 0.62, 0.49–0.79, P = 1.20e-04), total ischemic stroke (OR = 0.76, 95 % CI 0.63–0.91, P = 0.003), peripheral artery disease (OR = 0.64, 95 % CI 0.43–0.95, P = 0.028), and cognitive impairment (OR = 0.65, 95 % CI 0.56–0.74, P = 3.40e-10). However, no associations were observed for cerebrovascular AS, arrhythmia, cardiac death, ischemic stroke (large artery AS), ischemic stroke (small vessel), ischemic stroke (cardioembolic), and transient ischemic attack. ConclusionThis two-sample MR analysis reveals a causally inverse association between cheese intake and multi-vascular AS (including coronary AS, peripheral vascular AS, and other vascular AS), as well as multiple types of ASCVD and its complications (such as coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, total ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease). The findings from this study may lay a stronger theoretical foundation and present new opportunities for the dietary management of future atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

The Successful Administration of Steroid in Extrahepatic Cholestasis

Biliary atresia is the most common cause of liver transplantation in children. Kasai surgery is still a bridging therapy for biliary atresia, but patients are often late for treatment. Based on the currently proposed theory, biliary atresia results from a progressive inflammatory process and progresses to fibrosis of the bile ducts. A case of a 1.5-month-old boy with prolonged jaundice followed by acholic stools and dark urine was presented. He had cholestasis, elevated GGT levels, and a liver biopsy suggesting extrahepatic cholestasis. He was treated with methylprednisolone, ursodeoxycholic acid, and vitamin supplementation was started orally. After steroid therapy, direct bilirubin levels decreased rapidly to 0.55 mg/dl on day 14. Jaundice, acholic stools, cholestasis, and liver function tests were improved. Therapeutic opportunities based on the pathogenesis of inflammation in biliary atresia using steroids may provide new opportunities for non-surgical management of biliary atresia in the early phase of the disease.

The effect of state ownership on corporate investment efficiency: evidence from listed firms in Vietnam

Extant literature shows that state ownership is a special type of ownership. Politicians tend to follow both social and economic goals to maintain their positions. In some cases, they may sacrifice the latter to achieve the former. Therefore, firms with high state ownership face more serious agency problems than those with low state ownership. This study investigates how state ownership affects corporate investment efficiency in Vietnam, where privatizing state-owned firms is an important economic policy. Our sample includes 4,937 observations from firms listed between 2007 and 2020. Using fixed effects, random effects, random effects Tobit, pooled OLS, and Poisson regression with fixed effects, we find that state ownership has a negative impact on corporate investment efficiency. In addition, the multinomial logistic regression results show that firms with state ownership are more likely to engage in overinvestment. State ownership weakens corporate governance and thus creates opportunities for managers to expropriate shareholders. Managers tend to increase firm size through overinvestment to strengthen their positions; therefore, firms with state ownership have lower investment efficiency.

Assessment and Comprehensive Evaluation of Large-Scale Reclaimed Water Reuse for Urban River Restoration and Water Resource Management: A Case Study in China

Replenishing reclaimed water into urban rivers, which suffer from reduced flow and deteriorating water quality due to anthropogenic activities, presents an opportunity for water resource management and ecological restoration, while the effect and evaluation need to be considered. This study investigated the feasibility of large-scale reclaimed water reuse in urban rivers, focusing on water quality improvements and reuse scheme evaluation, utilizing modeling software to simulate the water quality after implementing the reclaimed water replenishment scheme. After seven days of reclaimed water replenishment simulated, the water quality in the receiving urban rivers exhibited substantial improvements to different extents, with some rivers showing a decrease of over 90% in chemical oxygen demand (CODMn), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. A comprehensive evaluation method using the physical element extension–analytic hierarchy process (AHP) evaluation model was developed to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of the large-scale project of reclaimed water reuse in urban rivers. The overall score of the large-scale reclaimed water reuse scenario reaches 89, approaching Level I and indicating a highly scientific and reasonable plan. This study contributes to the field of urban river restoration and water resource management by demonstrating the potential for improving water quality in urban rivers through large-scale reclaimed water reuse. The innovative comprehensive evaluation method offers valuable insights for guiding the implementation of similar projects in other urban river systems, addressing water resource challenges, and promoting ecological restoration in urban areas.

Towards integrated, and sustainable municipal solid waste management system in Shashemane city administration, Ethiopia

Solid waste generation is attested to be unavoidable product of human activities. Sustainable management of such waste is a pressing challenge faced in many developing countries today. The study was motivated by the fast growing population and the inefficient waste management system threatening the public health and the image of Shashemene city in Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were: to explore the existing household solid waste management practices, to examine the current governance system of municipal solid waste management, to investigate the contemporary challenges and opportunities of municipal solid waste management, and forward integrated and sustainable municipal solid waste management system for Shashemene city. Data were collected from sampled households, key informants, focus groups, and the city's environment. Data were analyzed by employing quantitative and qualitative methods. 94.8 % of the respondents opined that the solid waste generated in their city is organic in nature (Ash, and sweeps; leftover food, and vegetable peels; paper, and cardboards; green leaves, and grass; and cattle dung). 96.7 % of respondent households opined that they have temporary waste storage in their yards and trash bags were asserted to be widely used (87.6 %) in handling the trash in the courtyard. The waste sorting and recovering practices among the residents is very low and is certainly the major cause for inefficient and unsustainable management system of municipal solid waste in Shashemene city. Generally, a grand mean of 2.23 confirmed the absence of good governance in municipal solid waste management system in Shashemene city. Moreover, the significant proportion of responses ( ≥ 50 %) for each of the nine principles of good governance as either poor or very poor asserted governance failure of the municipal solid waste management system in Shashemene city. The results of the study confirmed that low public awareness on waste management; inadequate collection capacity; poor integration and coordination of stakeholders; environmentally unsound dump site; and illegal dumping by key stakeholders are the major challenges underpinning the unsustainable municipal solid waste management in the city. It is recommended that Shashemene city must adopt integrated sustainable municipal solid waste management system to substantially enhance the waste management service in the city leading to ultimate advancement of public health and environmental quality.

Analyzing interconnections between national stock exchange India and global markets using data analytics

<span>Financial networks have become increasingly complex and interconnected in the global economy. In this context, the use of data analytics has emerged as a valuable tool for understanding and analyzing the relationships between different financial markets. This paper presents a study using Pearson and partial correlation analysis to explore the interconnections between the National Stock Exchange India (NSEI) and global stock markets. The analysis aims to provide insights into the dynamics and patterns or cross-markets interactions and to identify potential opportunities for investment and risk management that to considering the world’s 43 major indices based on imports and exports. The historical data from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2008 to 30<sup>th</sup> June 2022 was obtained from the public domain. In this study, a Python framework was developed to investigate Pearson and partial correlation-based networks in financial markets. The results showed that these two types of networks are significantly different from each other. Furthermore, the study discovered that the NSEI is closely connected to the Singapore market and is integrated with other markets. These findings emphasize the complexities to financial market relationships and have important implications for investors and policymakers.</span>

WILL NOVEL EDUCATION POLICY STIMULATE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN BANGLADESH: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE UNITED STATES

The purpose of this study is to understand how the novel education policy, which is to be implemented in 2025 in Bangladesh, will foster business management opportunities and the probable lessons from the United States. This study conducted a mixed methodology analysis followed by a purposive sampling method. 200 students from primary to higher secondary levels and 20 teachers were selected. We also conducted Four Focus Group Discussions with curriculum experts who were directly involved with developing this method in Bangladesh. An exclusive interview with the President of Hyundai Motors Asia assisted in exploring the context in-depth. The study revealed a positive response from students, ranging from prospective career opportunities to rising interests to implement their acquired knowledge, eradicating the fear of science as well as emphasizing becoming small business entrepreneurs and believing in stimulating business opportunities. Further research is encouraged to assess the impacts of this educational reform in diverse employment sectors in-depth.
 Keywords: Education Policy; Business Management; Bangladesh; United States

An overview of groundwater response to a changing climate in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: potential implications for the basin system and opportunities for management

The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) is a highly allocated and regulated, mostly semiarid basin in south-eastern Australia, where groundwater is a significant water resource. Future climate predictions for the MDB include an expansion of arid and semiarid climate zones to replace temperate areas. The impacts of climate change are already evident in declining groundwater levels and changes in the connection status between rivers and groundwater, and modelling has predicted a further reduction in future groundwater recharge and ongoing declines in groundwater levels. This is predicted to further reduce river baseflow and negatively impact groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), and these system responses to a changing climate and extreme events are complex and not always well understood. This report provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of groundwater response to a changing climate for the MDB, and outlines challenges and opportunities for future groundwater research and management. Opportunities for the region include improving data systems and acquisition through automation and novel data sources, and growing capability in integrated, risk-based modelling. Quantification of the groundwater/surface-water connection response to declining groundwater levels, and assessing GDE water requirements and thresholds, would enable identification of vulnerable systems and inform the development of metrics for adaptive management, improving the ability to respond to climate extremes. There is potential to adapt policy to support active management of groundwater where required, including conjunctive use and water banking. Improving knowledge sharing and water literacy, including understanding community values of groundwater and GDEs, would support future decision-making.

Social networks that shape conservation outcomes

This article explores the role of park rangers’ social networks in two national parks in Sub-Saharan Africa and suggests that the way that actors connect shape conservation outcomes. We do this against the backdrop of how conservation worldwide has moved away from state-centric top-down approaches towards management structures that includes a wide range of stakeholders spanning multiple administrative levels and sectors. This trend entails challenges as well as opportunities for conservation management. The theoretical framework of the study is given by social capital theory and the notion that the structure of social networks – more specifically the three network features of bonding, bridging, and linking – relate to the presence of institutional trust and rule compliance. The findings indicate that the structure of social networks, in particular the different forms of social capital in those networks, matters for the way they function. The result indicates that bridging and linking ties positively relate to institutional trust and rule compliance. These social networks form a basis for building institutional trust in areas where trust towards government tends to be low. Managers should think about these structures when they implement conservation policy. We recommend to 1) foster structures where park rangers connect to a wide range of actors and thus resources, information, and knowledge 2) include park rangers in the decision making for a more efficient and sustainable management, and 3) build bridges that reach the local communities to facilitate institutional trust and encourage voluntary compliance.