Readiness Level Research Articles

Pension planning for entrepreneurs: an actuarial perspective

PurposeHaving adequate pension coverage for the working people is an aim for achieving the welfare of societies. The labour landscape is experiencing changes, of interest in this paper, is the rise in self-employment and entrepreneurship. Moreover, the world population is ageing, with increased life expectancy. Therefore, there is an expectation of more people transitioning to retirement and living longer, with a growing proportion of those transitioning directly from self-employment or entrepreneurship. A limited volume of studies addresses entrepreneur’s pension planning or take-up. This study examines the potential pension gap and considers it from the point of view of the self-employed, governments and policy makers and actuaries. Our work outlines findings from original data analysis to understand factors that affect the level of pension-related preparedness of entrepreneurs. The paper also considers personality traits that are most associated with entrepreneurs and what they mean in terms of pension planning, design and take-up. Having made several observations from the extracted insight and consider that the pension gap is a significant problem, where the financial impacts to society may materialise within the next decade, if action is not taken by Governments, supported by Actuaries (in public and private space). Given the evolving labour market, we consider that government financial security objectives should be strongly linked to financial inclusion strategies. This paper, therefore, provides a collection of factors that actuaries and Governments may want to consider in arriving at appropriate strategies, designing flexible products and widening distribution and reach to the self-employed population.Design/methodology/approachOur work outlines findings from the analysis of original data (UKHLS – UK) to understand factors that affect the level of pension-related preparedness of entrepreneurs, such as the relationships between entrepreneurship and having pension plans and the size of the business. These relationships are explored by setting four linear probability models and test for two types of pension plans: employer and personal pensions. The paper also considers personality traits that are most associated with entrepreneurs and what they mean in terms of pension planning, design and take-up.FindingsThe main findings include: an upward trend towards self-employment with a growingly diverse workforce in terms of gender, age and profession. There is a material of pension coverage gap amongst the self-employed where approximately 20% only of that population have pension plans compared to approximately 80% of the employed population. A positive relationship is detected between personal pension and entrepreneurship where as it is negative with the employer pension. The larger the size of the business the more likely that an employer pension scheme is used. Personality traits affect the behaviour of entrepreneurs towards having pension plans.Research limitations/implicationsConsidering the UK pension environment as an example in understanding the pension gap for the self-employed. Thus, the results obtained are according to the data used from the British database (UKHLS – UK). Other variables may affect the relationships under study, such as the age, gender, the education and financial assessment. Future research may wish to consider in greater detail the impact of these variables.Practical implicationsGovernment financial security objectives should be strongly linked to financial inclusivity to ensure appropriate pension coverage in old age and reduce the likelihood of financial strain to the state of retirement poverty. Financial inclusivity measures may require improved financial literacy initiatives. Actuaries can play a vital role in raising awareness and financial literacy by articulating the risks of income uncertainty in retirement. Actuaries can also be involved in designing and modelling products for better reach considering the factors and personality traits of entrepreneurs mentioned in this research and formulating the appropriate risk-based messages to increase the likelihood of pension takeup.Originality/valueCoverage for the self-employed in social insurance systems and access to private pension arrangements varies across countries. Also, there isn’t a sufficient volume of research on pension take-up or retirement financial resources amongst the self-employed or entrepreneurial population. As it has been depicted in the literature that entrepreneurs are poor pension planners, this paper consolidates several literary, market and analysis insights into this matter to address the identified pension gap from different angles: self-employed or entrepreneurs – Governments and decision-makers – actuaries. Taking into consideration the analysis of important factors and personality traits that affect the pension planning.

Conceptualizing pre-service teachers’ artificial intelligence readiness and examining its relationship with various variables: The role of artificial intelligence literacy, digital citizenship, artificial intelligence-enhanced innovation and perceived threats from artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new field that leads to change and transformation in the field of education. As AI technologies develop, it becomes more important to investigate these new technologies as a subject to be included in educational levels. The contribution of AI to success in educational settings is closely linked to the preparation of teachers. On the other hand, AI is an important concept that should be learnt by all students regardless of their educational level. Therefore, it is important to understand how prepared future teachers are for AI learning to ensure the effective implementation of AI in schools. Furthermore, addressing the perceived threats and digital citizenship levels arising from the use of emerging AI-based technologies requires individuals to have effective AI-related knowledge, skills and values. The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between pre-service teachers’ AI readiness levels and various variables. These variables are perceived threats from AI, AI-enhanced innovation, AI literacy, digital citizenship. A total of 816 pre-service teachers participated in the study. PLS-SEM was used to evaluate the relationships between the research variables. In addition, Multigroup Analysis (MGA) was applied to model sub-samples according to gender. It was found that AI-enhanced innovation levels were significantly affected by the dimensions of AI readiness: cognition, vision and ethics in teaching. Perceived threats from AI level was significantly affected by ability and ethics in teaching, which are the dimensions of AI readiness. Perceived threats from AI levels had a significant effect on AI literacy. AI-enhanced innovation was found to have a significant effect on AI literacy and digital citizenship. In addition, differences were found according to gender. The results of this study can also guide pre-professional development programs to be developed for pre-service teachers, which is an important factor to be considered in AI education.

Pembelajaran Berdiferensiasi pada Mata Pelajaran Biologi

Education that is adaptive to individual needs is one of the main demands in the implementation of the Independent Curriculum. This study aims to analyze the influence of differentiated learning on students' cognitive learning outcomes in Biology subjects, especially human respiratory system materials. The research was conducted at SMA Negeri 1 Tondano using a quantitative approach and quasi-experimental methods. The sample consisted of two classes: the experimental class that applied differentiated learning and the control class that followed conventional learning. The data collection instrument is in the form of learning outcome tests given before and after treatment. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistical tests and an independent t-test using SPSS Statistics 27. The results showed that the average posttest results of students in the experimental class were significantly higher than those in the control class. The calculated t value of 6.092 exceeds the table's t value of 1.99, indicating that differentiated learning substantially improves student learning outcomes. Differentiated learning provides space for students to learn according to their learning style and readiness level, increasing motivation and participation. The implications of this study confirm the importance of the role of teachers in designing student-centered adaptive learning strategies. These findings contribute to developing more responsive and contextual learning models at the secondary education level.

Development and validation of an instrument to assess the perception of competencies and level of preparedness in telehealth.

There is a need for a validated instrument that assesses the perception of competencies and the level of preparedness of professionals and technicians who perform telehealth care in Chile. To develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of an instrument designed to measure the perception of competencies and the level of preparedness in telehealth. An instrument on telehealth competencies and level of preparedness was designed, obtaining content validity through expert judgement. The instrument was then administered in 2023 to a total of 83 healthcare professionals and technicians with telehealth experience. To determine construct validity, exploratory factor analysis was conducted, extracting factors using Principal Axes and estimating the number of factors by combining Horn's Parallel Analysis and scree plot. Rotation was performed using the Oblimin method. To estimate reliability, Cronbach's Alpha statistic was calculated. The factor analysis identified items with loadings over 0.6, resulting in a final scale of two factors with a total of 31 items. This factorial model explained 75.5% of the total variance. The first factor brings together items assessing perceptions of telehealth competencies, and the second factor assesses perceptions of the level of telehealth preparedness. Both factors show adequate reliability indicators, with Cronbach's Alpha of 0.98 and 0.97 respectively, and present correlations considered adequate. The instrument has adequate psychometric indicators, even considering the sample size, to measure the perception of competencies and level of preparation in telehealth in health professionals and technicians in the Biobío region. The two factors that make up the instrument help identify training and education needs. It is suggested to extend the validation to samples from other regions and to increase the diversity of clinical disciplines.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Monkeypox Among Healthcare Professionals in Lahore

Background: Monkeypox (Mpox), a re-emerging zoonotic disease, poses a growing threat to global health, especially in non-endemic regions. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) serve as the first line of defense against such outbreaks. However, limited local evidence exists on the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among HCPs in Pakistan, hindering targeted intervention strategies. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to monkeypox among healthcare professionals in Lahore, with a focus on the influence of gender, professional role, and clinical exposure on KAP outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals (n = 60) from selected hospitals in Lahore between December 2024 and March 2025. Participants aged 18–65 years, directly involved in patient care, were selected via stratified random sampling. Those with prior monkeypox-specific training were excluded. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic data and monkeypox-related KAP. The study was ethically approved and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v27, applying descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation to explore associations. Results: Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores (r = 0.945, 0.853, and 0.841 respectively; p < 0.01). Male participants showed higher KAP scores than females (knowledge: 23.02 ± 5.30 vs. 16.56 ± 1.64, p < 0.001). Clinical exposure to monkeypox was associated with markedly better knowledge (25.56 ± 0.50 vs. 15.88 ± 2.23, p < 0.001). Among professional groups, paramedics scored highest, followed by nurses and doctors. These findings underscore disparities in preparedness levels among healthcare subgroups. Conclusion: The study reveals notable deficiencies in monkeypox-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare professionals, particularly among doctors and female staff. Role-specific, experiential training programs are essential to enhance clinical preparedness and ensure effective outbreak control in human healthcare settings.

Formation of psychological readiness of wrestlers for training activities and competitions

Along with appropriate organizational, material, and medical support, significant attention should also be paid to measures for psychological support and appropriate support for athletes' training. The athlete's psychological growth should occur throughout his or her sporting life. The processes of psychological training of athletes have been systematized and improved for years, taking into account the type of sport and many factors. The athlete should constantly work on developing psychological literacy and improving his or her own psychogram. The coach's task is not only to teach the athlete certain technical actions, but also to form personal abilities that help them achieve high results in their competitive activities. Achieving victory in sports takes place thanks to the athlete's level of physical, technical and psychological preparedness for the competition and directly depends on his ability to overcome the negative effects of competitive stress. The most commonly used means of psychological training of an athlete are: formation of a worldview, suggestion and autosuggestion, training through participation in activities, control and self- control, as well as the possibilities of physiotherapy, psychopharmacology and electrical stimulation. To assess psychological readiness at a certain training stage, the coach can apply the method of assessing the psycho-emotional state and use recommendations for psychological motivation at different stages of the training process, control over the psychological impact on the athlete and determine the direction of the dynamics of his or her psychological development. A variant of the coach's algorithm of developing of the athlete's psychological readiness for training process and competitions is proposed. Recommendations for the coach how to support the formation of the athlete's psychological consciousness are provided.

Examining Individual and Environmental Factors Associated with Emergency Preparedness Among People with Disabilities in China

Background: People with disabilities, particularly those from developing countries, often fare worse during disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies. China is located in the most disaster-prone region in the world. However, no study has examined emergency evacuation planning among people with disabilities in China. The latest literature on emergency preparedness tends to focus on individual-level factors such as demographic characteristics, self-efficacy, and disability status. A focus on individual-level factors overlooks the importance of environmental influences on disaster preparation. Objective: This paper explores how individual and environmental factors are associated with emergency preparedness among people with disabilities in China. Methods: Two hundred and forty-eight people with various disabilities filled out an online cross-sectional survey on the level of emergency preparedness among people with disabilities in China. We conducted a hierarchical logistic regression to examine which environmental-level factors are associated with emergency preparedness after controlling for individual-level factors. Results: The results show that when entering only individual-level factors, self-efficacy in evacuation and previous emergency experiences are significant factors associated with being prepared. After including the environmental-level factors, self-efficacy remains significant. People with a physical disability and those from Hubei province, when compared with respondents from the rest of China, are less likely to be prepared. Another protective factor other than self-efficacy is being part of an online disability peer-support group. Conclusions: When designing risk management interventions, public health officials should consider both individual- and environmental-level factors. Using an online peer-support community may be considered an innovative component when designing these interventions.

Methodology for the initial selection of young footballers

The problem of preparing a full-fledged football reserve touches upon a wide range of organizational, methodological, and scientific issues. It is related to the problem of managing the long-term training of young football players. The article deals with the issue of imperfection of the preparation of a highly qualified reserve in modern football and ways to solve this problem. Natural selection does not solve the problem of preparing a qualified reserve, as football academies experience a significant “dropout” of children who play football after a while. A large percentage of young football players stop training after certain periods of time due to ineffective initial selection of children to children's and youth sports schools. The purpose of the study is to improve the process of initial selection of young football players to football academies, children's and youth sports schools. Research methods: analysis of scientific literature, comprehensive testing of young football players in terms of physical (running 30 m, running 300 and 400 m, long jump from a place,) technical (throwing the ball for distance, hitting the ball for distance, shots on goal for accuracy, juggling the ball, driving the ball, circling the posts, kicking the goal) and psychological training, methods of mathematical statistics. The selection of young football players was carried out with the help of game, expert, hardware, test methods, the level of complex preparedness of a young football player was determined. Conclusions: a multi-stage selection of young football players in football academies and football departments of children's and youth sports schools will enable the coaching staffs of these sports institutions to prepare a highly qualified reserve for professional football clubs

STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF INNOVATION MANAGEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF SELF-SUFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE DAIRY PROCESSING BUSINESS: CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS

The article aims to identify strategic and tactical priorities for managing innovation activities in the milk processing industry. The relevance of this topic stems from the critical role of dairy processing enterprises in ensuring food security, stable economic performance, and social well-being, particularly under conditions of market volatility, limited access to external financing, and structural challenges in the agro-industrial complex. Innovation is considered a key factor in achieving sustainable competitiveness, increasing productivity, and developing value-added chains in the sector. The research methodology is based on a combination of statistical analysis, economic diagnostics, and structural-functional and system-based approaches to enterprise management. This combination makes it possible to assess both quantitative and qualitative parameters of innovation activity and resource utilization. Particular attention is paid to evaluating the effectiveness of existing innovation practices, the scale and structure of capital investments, and the availability of financial and institutional support for innovation at the enterprise level. The study reveals a significant imbalance between material and intangible investments, a low degree of innovation in production and management processes, and underdeveloped mechanisms for integrating innovations into operational, financial, and strategic decision-making frameworks. It has been established that innovation activity in the sector is susceptible to internal resource constraints, the depreciation of fixed assets, and increasing external market pressures from import competition and price volatility. These factors hamper the ability of enterprises to initiate, develop, and scale innovation. Based on the analysis, the authors propose a classification of innovation strategies aligned with business development objectives and adaptable to various organizational readiness and resilience levels. These include leadership strategies, preservation models, enhancement approaches, and frameworks for radical transformation. Furthermore, the article outlines a set of tactical tools designed to facilitate the effective implementation of innovations, including mechanisms for technological modernization, cost efficiency improvements, supply chain flexibility, product quality upgrades, and market positioning enhancements. Emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of aligning innovation efforts with business goals, using resource-efficient methods and monitoring systems to ensure successful outcomes. The practical significance of the research lies in developing a structured, action-oriented framework for innovation management that supports both the long-term sustainability and short-term adaptability of milk processing enterprises. This integrated approach helps increase their economic resilience, strengthens their competitive advantages, and expands their potential for integration into global value chains and international markets.

UV‐C Disinfection Robots: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTThe use of ultraviolet (UV‐C) disinfection robots has become increasingly popular in diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, public transportation, and high‐traffic areas, especially following the COVID‐19 pandemic. These robots offer the potential to enhance disinfection efficiency and reduce human exposure to microorganisms. However, the application of UV‐C light for disinfection is not without challenges. These challenges include the need for precise environmental mapping, accurate dose delivery, and the mitigation of safety risks associated with UV‐C light exposure to humans and animals. This systematic review aims to examine the current development of UV‐C disinfection robots, identify key technological challenges, and explore the methods used to ensure effective and safe disinfection. An automated search was conducted in Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and SpringerLink for studies published up to July 2023, followed by snowballing to gather additional relevant works. A total of 96 studies were reviewed. The majority of these studies either did not address the correct UVGI dose application or lacked methods to ensure appropriate dose delivery. Additionally, the positioning of UV‐C lamps was often done subjectively, and most studies did not incorporate any safety measures to prevent accidents related to UVGI exposure. Based on this analysis, a new classification for UV‐C disinfection robots was proposed, highlighting technological advancements and readiness levels. Despite the progress made in the field, significant challenges remain in developing UV‐C disinfection robots that deliver effective disinfection doses while ensuring safety and operational efficiency. This review emphasizes the need for further research to address these gaps, particularly concerning navigation algorithms, dose accuracy, and safety measures.

Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool: Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Spanish Version.

A standardized tool, the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET), originally published in English, is available for the purpose of assessing the level of disaster preparedness among nurses, however, a Spanish version is yet to be developed. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to prepare a Spanish version of the DPET (DPET-SP), and secondly, to analyse the psychometric properties of the new Spanish version. The target population comprised nurses in the region of Asturias, Spain. Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency) and item-total correlations (item discrimination) were used to test the reliability of the tool. Construct validity was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The content validity of the Spanish version was estimated using the scale-level content validity index. The appropriateness of the factor analysis was tested using the Kaiser-Meyer-Ollin test. Sphericity of the correlation matrix was examined using Barlett's test. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to categorise the measurement instrument into salient factors. Convergent validity was assessed using Average Variance Extracted (AVE). The PCA determined that the 45 items could be grouped into five factors Cronbach's alpha value was 0.964, the AVE values for the five constructs ranged from 0.51 to 0.71, the goodness-of-fit of the model structure was good, the convergence reliability values ranged from 0.80 to 0.95 and the square root of the AVE of each individual factor must be greater than all other correlations between pairs of constructs, so there is divergent validity. The DPET-SP has adequate validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be utilised by nurses for whom Spanish is their first language.

Parental Factors as Predictors of School Readiness among Nursery School Children in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State

Readiness plays a significant role in achieving a smooth transition of the child from home to school, which is the first objective of early childhood education. The child can acquire skills necessary for learning, living, and, most importantly, adjusting to his/her new environment. Studies have focused on different factors that can determine school readiness and the extent to which parental factors predict school readiness among Nursery children cannot be overstated. Thus, this study investigated parental factors (parental involvement, educational qualification, and occupation) as predictors of school readiness among nursery children. Ecological social theory anchored the study, while a correlational survey research design was adopted. 400 respondents, which comprises nursery school children and their parents from semi-urban and urban nursery schools/communities, were purposively selected from four local governments. Three research questions were raised, and two hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 significance level. Parental Factor Instrument (PFI) and Children Readiness Rating Scale (CRRS) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Findings revealed that nursery children’s school readiness is average (WA= 2.82). However, children demonstrated a high level of readiness in the physical domain (WA= 3.27). It was also revealed that parental factors are good predictors of nursery children’s school readiness. Thus, children are not ready for the cognitive, socio-emotional, and language skills. Parents should be more proactive in their children’s holistic readiness as this improves their school readiness.

AI-Augmented Public Health Interventions in India

Abstract The adoption and scaling of technology in public health settings in the global South has traditionally been challenging. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has exacerbated the challenges, but AI also brings with it exciting new frontiers. India is a large, diverse country that encapsulates well the challenges and opportunities for AI in the global South. Here, we describe the landscape for AI as a force for driving public health outcomes in India and the critical role in this played by technology platforms. We give examples of our own work in Tuberculosis and infant health to illustrate how AI can be fruitfully integrated into large-scale platforms in order to meaningfully address gaps in public health. Finally, we point out the importance of learning lessons from early deployments on these platforms, despite the varying levels of AI maturity and readiness across modalities.

The Level of Disaster Preparedness of Library Personnel in the Municipality of Midsayap, North Cotabato

This study aimed to determine and assess the level of disaster preparedness of library personnel in the Municipality of Midsayap. A total of 32 library personnel from the 12 libraries in the municipality served as respondents. A descriptive-quantitative approach was employed, utilizing a modified questionnaire and a researcher-made instrument. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents are generally prepared when it comes to disaster. However, the study found no significant difference in disaster preparedness among library personnel when grouped according to their gender, educational attainment, years of service, types of libraries, sitting capacity, and number of resources.

Heating and Current Drive in STEP: Why Neutral Beam Injection is not desirable

Abstract STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s prototype fusion power plant programme aiming to demonstrate net electrical output from a spherical tokamak. The plasma scenarios require completely non-inductive current drive for the flat-top and the majority of the ramp-up/down phases. Most of the current (~80%) is self-generated by the plasma pressure gradient with the remainder provided by the heating and current drive (HCD) system. The capabilities and limitations of Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) for current drive in relevant STEP scenarios are presented, as well as the additional integration, technology readiness level, maintainability, and financial considerations that determine the optimal HCD system for a reactor class tokamak. It is demonstrated that, in isolation, NBI has excellent current drive efficiency achieving ζ=0.4 at ρ=0 rising to ζ=1.4 at ρ=0.8 for beam energies ≤1MeV. However, once considered in an integrated design, the poor wall-plug efficiency, large size and consequent high cost makes NBI undesirable in STEP compared to microwave based HCD.

Fusion Components Failure Rate Database, status and evolution

Abstract Nuclear fusion is expected to be available as energy technology source of energy from mid-50s of present century. One key aspect for the success of such technology will be the reliability growth implemented in the design since the early phases. In fact, nuclear fusion plants are expected to exploit many fusion plant specific components with relatively low technology readiness level, or in some cases exploit components with mature technology from fission plants but within different and poorly explored operating domain window (e.g., in terms of loads, operation regimes, etc.). An important source of uncertainty in reliability assessment then resides in the failure and repair model definition for fusion plant components. 
In order to limit such uncertainty, ENEA Fusion Components Failure Rate Database was developed to collect failure and repair screening data suitable for fusion systems reliability analyses. The records of the database were validated by field expert collaborative effort and mainly consist of two categories: i) nuclear fission data recommended values to use for fusion applications ii) data estimated from nuclear fusion research facility operating experience.
First a review of available data, database organization status is presented. Then database evolution is described in terms of added failure and repair data records derived from engineering selection, specific component selection datasheet or failure modeling.

Level of Preparedness and Implementation of Madrasah Education Program of Public Elementary Schools in Koronadal City Division

This study determined the preparedness and implementation level of the Madrasah Education Program in the Division of Koronadal City. These schools were the Marbel 1 CES, Koronadal CES II, Koronadal CES I, Marbel 3 ES, and Osita CES. The study used descriptive correlational method. The survey involved determining the level of preparedness in terms of Teacher Teaching Efficiency, School Facilities, and School Equipment, and the level of implementation of Madrasah Education in terms of curriculum, learning resources, instructional delivery, and assessment. The study's respondents used a total enumeration of school heads (5), ALIVE teachers (8), and selected eighty (80) learners as respondents to the survey in the Koronadal City. They were (93) respondents in all. The researcher was utilized the weighted mean to interpret the level of preparedness and level of implementation of the administrators, teachers and pupils in Madrasah Education Program, a five-point Likert scale was used. The preparedness level of madrasah education was rated Prepared (M=3.91) among variables on preparedness and the implementation level of madrasah education was rated Prepared (M=4.45) among variables on implementation. Based on the results gathered data by the researcher the p value of .000 of level of preparedness and implementation of Madrasah Education Program of public elementary schools in Koronadal City Division is Rejected and in significant relationship between the level of preparedness and implementation based on the results gathered data by the researcher and the r value of .800 which is positively high correlated between the level of preparedness and implementation.

Analisis Kesiapsiagaan Masyarakat dalam Menanggulangi Bencana Alam di Indonesia (Studi pada Bencana Alam di Sumatera Utara)

This research is motivated by concerns and also the number of natural disasters in Indonesia, including the North Sumatra region which is prone to various types of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Community preparedness plays an important role in efforts to mitigate disaster risk and reduce its impact. This study aims to analyze the level of community preparedness in dealing with natural disasters in several vulnerable areas in North Sumatra and the factors that affect them. The method used is a qualitative descriptive approach with data collection through interviews, observations, and documentation, with analysis using the theory of B Miles and Huberman. The results show that the level of community preparedness is in the category of "quite prepared", but there are still weaknesses in terms of technical knowledge about emergency response, the use of evacuation routes, and the lack of regular training from relevant institutions. Factors such as education, previous experience of disasters, and access to information have been proven to have a significant effect on community preparedness. Therefore, efforts to improve structured and community-based disaster education are needed to build community resilience to disasters in a sustainable manner. The implication is to provide information that the community is ready for disasters, but some are not, therefore the government has a role to always be ready so that the community is able to overcome natural disaster problems, especially in disaster-prone areas.

SYNERGIZING AI, IOT, AND NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR INNOVATIVE MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS

Background: The three technologies mentioned above, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Nanotechnology, are still believed to transform healthcare diagnosis and therapies in the future. These technologies promise to improve accuracy, workflow, and patient-centered practices, but barriers to implementing them persist: privacy, regulation, and technical skills. Objective: This research thus sought to establish the level of awareness and understanding of the professionals concerning AI, IoT, & nanotechnology in Healthcare; The level of readiness of these intelligent technologies in the healthcare delivery systems; The probable probability level of how widely spread across the health diagnostic and healing solutions the AI, IoT & nanotechnology may likely penetrate the field. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study because the study targeted a large population with a large sample size of 250 respondents who are health care practitioners, researchers, and information technology experts. Quantitative data were used to describe the findings with frequencies and percentages. In contrast, inferential data (Regression & Chi-square tests) were used to test adoption likelihood, age, and familiarity hypotheses. Hypothesis testing using normality and reliability tests was used to confirm the data. Results: Most respondents had a high awareness of AI and IoT and a positive attitude towards its ability to improve diagnostics. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by Cronbach's Alpha, which was high (1. 0). Normality tests showed that some variables, like customers' Confidence in tackling healthcare issues, were not normally distributed. The main issues revealed include privacy, legal issues, and resource constraints, especially technical skills. Self-confidence and readiness to act were also age-dependent, with 18 – 29-year-old photographers showing varied self-confidence compared to their older colleagues. Conclusion: All three innovation systems, AI, IoT, and nanotechnology, are more appreciated in the context of Healthcare, and there is a high willingness to change medical diagnosis and therapy. However, areas such as privacy, regulation, and expertise form some of the barriers that need to be resolved to enable the penetration of the technology to deeper and more parts of society. Ultimately, this research shows the need for continued and focused scholarship and educational efforts geared toward successfully mainstreaming these technologies in healthcare

A Decade of Lead Halide Perovskites for Direct‐Conversion X‐ray and Gamma Detection: Technology Readiness Level and Challenges

AbstractOver the past decade, lead halide perovskites (LHPs) have become a vibrant thrust in the field of direct conversion X‐ray and gamma‐ray radiation detectors, offering promising cost‐effective and robust alternatives to traditional semiconductors. This review article chronicles the significant strides made since the inception of this field, emphasizing the material, structural, and functional advancements. It begins with an overview of the fundamental properties of perovskites that render them suitable for high‐energy radiation detection, such as their high atomic number, prominent charge carriers’ mobility and lifetime, and high resistivity. The review highlights key developments in material synthesis and processing techniques that have enhanced these detectors' stability, efficiency, and scalability. Furthermore, the review discusses the evolution of device architectures from single‐channel photodiodes to complex multi‐pixel arrays for imaging applications. The conclusion is focused on the remaining challenges that hamper the immediate progression of LHP radiation detectors to higher technology levels. This review is intended as a resource for academic researchers and industry stakeholders, summarizing the first decade of LHP detectors and forecasting the trajectory of this promising field, while remembering that forecasting the future trajectory, though challenging, is guided by current technological trends.