Perceived effectiveness of agricultural clusters and the behavioral pathways to climate smart agriculture adoption: Evidence from Ethiopia.

Management of blood supplies is a very important part of healthcare infrastructure, and the old system is highly dependent on central databases, which cannot be traced, are not transparent, and cannot resist tampering of data. Such restrictions may cause poor coordination, slow emergency response and manipulation of sensitive medical records. To overcome these issues, this paper offers a proposal of distributed ledger architecture to manage blood supply transparently and its tamper-proof. The system that is suggested will exploit blockchain technology and smart contracts to document blood donation, inventory updates, compatibility checks, and allocation transactions in an unalterable and decentralized fashion. To guarantee modularity and scalability, the architecture is designed into layers of components including user interaction, application logic, and blockchain ledger. Smart contracts automate the most important processes like donor validation and blood group matching and minimize human error and administration delays. To achieve privacy and efficiency of the used system, sensitive medical information is stored off-chain, and on-chain cryptographic hash references are used to maintain integrity and auditability. The distributed ledger removes single points of failure and gives a verifiable transaction history available to authoritative stakeholders. This architecture creates a safe, open and resilient architecture that has the potential to enhance trust, coordination and accountability in blood supply networks.

Operational redesign of medical supply management for radiopharmaceutical operations in a hospital without an SPD system.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: India faces a growing challenge of an increasing stray dog population and bite incidents, leading to donor deferrals. As incidence of bite-related deferrals is rapidly rising among the top primary causes of temporary donor deferrals, this trend poses a risk to an already constrained donor pool. Deferrals frequently lead to donor attrition, hence, understanding its impact is critical for blood supply management. AIMS: To analyze prevalence, trends, and impact of antirabies vaccination (ARV) following animal bite-related donor deferrals in a tertiary care hospital blood center in Delhi from January 2021 to April 2025. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study conducted on blood donor deferrals due to ARV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from donor screening logs and compared with hospital emergency room/outpatient departments (ER/OPD) records of patients postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) with ARV during the same period. Trends in ARV-related deferrals were calculated and compared with % PEP-ARV cases in ER/OPD. RESULTS: During this period, 68,296 donors registered at our blood center, of whom 7094 (10.4%) were deferred for not meeting eligibility criteria. Among these, 528 (7.7%) were temporarily deferred due to ARV. The ARV-related deferral rate showed an alarming rise of 189.5% (3.8% in 2021–11% by April 2025), correlating with the rising number of PEP-ARV cases in the ER/OPD. Notably, only 1.32% of these returned for subsequent donation, indicating substantial donor attrition. CONCLUSION: ARV-related deferrals are rising and significantly impacting donor retention. Revising deferral policies, enhancing public awareness, and integrating bite surveillance with donor data are essential to maintain the blood supply and address this growing concern.

Procurement remains one of the central functions in public- and private sector governance, yet relatively little attention has been given to how procurement capabilities develop during undergraduate education. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating an instrument to measure Procurement literacy of undergraduate students in Ghana. Drawing on CIPS Global Professional Standards and other policy frameworks, this study initially conceptualised six domains of procurement literacy. The initial instruments were refined through expert review before being administered to a sample of 554 students from selected public universities. The structure and psychometric properties of the administered instruments were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. In total, a 30-item instrument grouped into five domains emerged: Ethical Procurement Practice, Procurement Planning and Decision-Making, Supplier and Contract Management, Digital and E-Procurement competency, and Legal and Policy Knowledge. The final 30-item scale demonstrated strong internal consistency, satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance across academic levels. Predictive validity was examined using the intention of students’ behavioural intention to engage in ethical procurement practices, with all dimensions showing positive and statistically significant associations. Differences in procurement literacy were also observed at academic levels, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Harman’s single-factor test (48.5%) indicated that common method bias was not a threat. The findings suggest that procurement literacy can be measured reliably at the undergraduate level and that the instrument offers a practical tool for curriculum evaluation, instructional planning, and early capability assessment in procurement education.

Integrated pre- and post-disaster management of emergency rescue supplies and basic living necessities: A stochastic programming approach

In the fight against global climate change, the transportation sector is of critical importance because it is one of the major causes of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Although urban rail transit systems offer a lower carbon footprint compared to road transportation, accurately forecasting the energy consumption of these systems is vital for sustainable urban planning, energy supply management, and the development of carbon balancing strategies. In this study, forecasting models are designed using five different machine learning (ML) algorithms, and their performances in predicting the energy consumption and carbon footprint of urban rail transit systems are comprehensively compared. For five distribution-center substations, 10 years of monthly energy consumption data and the total carbon footprint data of these substations are used. Support Vector Regression (SVR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), and Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Network (NAR-NN) models are developed to forecast these data. Model hyperparameters are optimized using a 20-iteration Random Search algorithm, and the stochastic models are run 10 times with the optimized parameters. Results reveal that the SVR model consistently exhibits the highest forecasting performance across all datasets. For carbon footprint forecasting, the SVR model yields the best results, with an R2 of 0.942 and a MAPE of 3.51%. The ensemble method XGBoost also demonstrates the second-best performance (R2=0.648). Accordingly, while deterministic traditional ML models exhibit superior performance, the neural network-based stochastic models, such as LSTM, ANFIS, and NAR-NN, show insufficient generalization capability under limited data conditions. These findings indicate that, in small- and medium-scale time-series forecasting problems, traditional machine learning methods are more effective than neural network-based methods that require large datasets.

BackgroundEmergency departments are often chaotic environments where delays can significantly impact patient care. Key items are stored in supply carts in or near patient rooms to promote efficiency and enable nurses to spend more time assisting patients. However, disorganization, lack of standardization, and lack of stocking can cause significant delays and negatively impact the quality of care.ObjectiveThis study utilized human-centered and participatory design to improve the workflow for supply acquisition in an emergency department.MethodsUsing a mixed methods, participatory design approach following the double diamond framework, the team worked with nursing staff and physicians in an urban emergency department to understand the root causes of frustrations with the current supply carts. Qualitative findings about bedside nursing workflows were integrated with quantitative observations of inventory and supply usage to drive a rapid-cycle prototyping process to optimize supply management in the bedside cart.ResultsA lack of clinical staffing exacerbates preexisting challenges with restocking the medical supplies in the bedside carts. This problem is compounded by the misallocation of supplies, with high-frequency items underrepresented and low-frequency items overrepresented in the bedside carts. This leads to wastage of the seldom-used supplies and a lack of access to the most used supplies. The reorganization of the cart through co-design with nursing staff sped up supply acquisition by approximately 20% overall, tripled the availability of the most important supplies, and reduced the need for restocking from once per shift to once per 3 shifts, thus producing tangible improvements even within institutional limitations.ConclusionsA participatory design process, using human factors principles in tandem with extensive input from end users, enables improvements to stocking. Implications for practice include (1) lack of easy access to appropriate supplies negatively impacts patient care and contributes to nurse burnout and frustration, (2) human factors engineering can improve access to patient care supplies through redesigning the layout of hospital supply carts to better align with workflows, and (3) co-design with frequent collaboration from stakeholders and end users ensures that solutions address the issues that matter most in a sustainable way.

The construction industry is characterized by a complex structure of supply chains, which include many participants from the extraction of raw materials to the final implementation of projects. This is especially relevant for the regions of Siberia and the Far East, influencing their socio-economic development. Modern requirements of sustainable development require the integration of ESG principles into the supply management of building materials and services. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing pressure from regulators, investors and the public on companies in the construction sector in terms of ensuring environmental safety, social responsibility and proper corporate governance in value chains. The aim of the work is to systematize the main ESG risks of the construction industry supply chains and develop approaches to their identification and minimization. The research uses methods of system analysis, expert assessments, and comparative analysis of risk management practices in Russian and foreign construction companies. The classification of ESG risks into three main areas has been carried out, highlighting specific factors characteristic of construction supply chains. The results show that the most important for construction companies are the environmental risks associated with the carbon footprint of materials, the social risks of labor rights violations in subcontractors, and the management risks caused by the lack of transparency of suppliers. The practical significance of the work consists in the formation of methodological recommendations for building an ESG risk monitoring system in the supply chains of construction organizations, which will increase the sustainability of the business and its investment attractiveness.

Abstract Downstream customer firms’ bargaining power can lead to suboptimal diversification in upstream suppliers’ innovation when customers cannot commit to a long-term relationship. After the revelation of financial fraud by a major customer, suppliers surprisingly outperform a control group in terms of sales growth, Tobin’s q, and survival likelihood over a 10-year period. Our results suggest that, before a fraud revelation, supplier managers’ short decision horizons and aversion to short-term risk enable influential customers to demand relation-specific innovation, leading to suboptimal diversification. When customer importance weakens, suppliers engage in riskier and novel innovation, thereby stimulating sales growth. (JEL G14, G3, L14, L24)

Sustainable urban water management extends beyond technical infrastructure, relying on organizational capacity, effective governance and adaptive strategies that foster resilience and innovation. In many developing contexts, public water utilities face institutional and operational constraints that limit sustainable performance. This study examines organizational and governance determinants of water system effectiveness in Lagos, Nigeria, developing an empirical SEM-based framework to explain their interactions. Using a systematic review, expert interviews and a practitioner survey analyzed via Exploratory Factor Analysis and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, the study identifies two core organizational dimensions—Operational Capability in Water Systems (OCWS) and Sustainability Governance and Innovation (SGI)—and three strategic clusters that enhance performance. Findings highlight the role of collaborative capacity, governance innovation, and cross-institutional coordination, aligning with sustainable infrastructure and organizational symbiosis principles. The framework advances existing sustainability models by integrating organizational capability and governance innovation into water utility performance assessment. Practical implications include strengthening institutional capacity, embedding innovation-focused governance mechanisms, and promoting inter-agency collaboration. Future research could apply this framework in other contexts or assess policy reforms that support resilient, sustainable urban water management.

Contemporary supplier relationship management transformation signifies a pivotal advancement in manufacturing operations, confronting persistent obstacles in procurement efficacy, compliance oversight, and partnership collaboration. This article investigates cloud-based supplier collaboration platform deployment within the mining and building materials manufacturing domain, wherein enterprises administer vast supplier networks whilst managing intricate compliance mandates and operational limitations. Conventional manual methodologies encompassing documentation, spreadsheets, and dispersed communication mechanisms have chronically yielded protracted cycle durations, irregular data integrity, and constrained transparency throughout procurement divisions. The investigation scrutinizes how a prominent manufacturing enterprise revolutionized supplier management practices via integrated cloud technologies, intelligence-driven verification frameworks, and mechanized workflow structures. The inquiry evaluates deployment methodology, technological framework, and consequential organizational ramifications of this transformation endeavor. Discoveries reveal considerable enhancements in operational productivity, compliance execution, and supplier relationship caliber subsequent to platform adoption. The evaluation augments comprehension of how manufacturing enterprises can harness digital capabilities to strengthen supplier collaboration, diminish operational vulnerabilities, and establish resilient supply chain alliances. The article culminates in exploring wider ramifications for procurement transformation and delineating trajectories for sustainable digital supplier management practices within complex industrial settings.

Purpose Previous research on supplier innovativeness literature has focused on how buyers can effectively “pull” innovations from their suppliers. Yet little is currently known about how suppliers proactively seize opportunities to enhance their innovativeness to survive within increasingly complex supply chain environments. This study fills this gap from the supplier’s perspective, with a particular focus on buyer digital information sharing. Specifically, this study aims to explore (i) the relationship between buyer digital information sharing and supplier innovativeness; and (ii) the contingency factors that impact this fundamental relationship. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) theory, this study constructed a moderated moderation model that incorporates supplier learning intent and supplier realized absorptive capacity as moderators of the association between buyer digital information sharing and supplier innovativeness. Survey data were collected from automotive manufacturing suppliers in China. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to test the proposed conceptual framework. Findings Research findings indicate that buyer digital information sharing positively affects supplier innovativeness, with this direct effect being amplified by supplier learning intent. Moreover, supplier realized absorptive capacity further strengthens the moderating role of supplier learning intent. Practical implications This study guides supply managers in effectively leveraging relationship-based interactions to enhance their innovation capabilities. It particularly emphasizes the necessity of cultivating supplier learning intent and supplier realized absorptive capacity to unlock the full potential of buyer digital information sharing. Moreover, for buyers, the timely sharing of high-quality digital information with suppliers can also strengthen long-term competitiveness and sustainability within the buyer-supplier network. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of how buyer digital information sharing fosters supplier innovativeness. By extending the MOA theory to a cross-organizational context, it further demonstrates that supplier innovativeness arises from the synergistic interaction among opportunity (buyer digital information sharing), motivation (supplier learning intent) and ability (supplier realized absorptive capacity). This refined theoretical perspective explains why and when buyer-provided digital information can be effectively transformed into supplier innovativeness.

ObjectivesData standards and barcoding technologies are implemented in hospitals to uniquely identify objects, people and locations; streamline the management of supplies and inventories; improve efficiency; reduce waste and improve patient safety and quality of care. This study examined the implementation of the Scan4Safety programme at one NHS demonstrator site to understand the hospital experience of adopting these standards, barcoding and related technologies.MethodsExploratory case study design, informed by information infrastructure theory, at one Scan4Safety demonstrator site. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal and external stakeholders (n=19), and 67 documents related to the Scan4Safety programme were identified. Interview transcripts and documents underwent thematic analysis.ResultsKey enablers for Scan4Safety included allocated funding, government role/regulation, executive buy-in/wide stakeholder involvement, patient focus, agile/adaptive approach and data linkage. Challenges were both internal and external, mainly pertaining to data quality, work-as-done and trade-offs. Mechanisms of anticipated positive outcomes and potential risks were also identified.DiscussionScan4Safety benefits are delivered through tracking and tracing capabilities, and automating data capture, alerts and data linkages. For traceability of devices, the benefits depend on the extent to which items are tracked in inventory and consistent barcode scanning at the point of care.ConclusionsLinked standards for identification of patients, products, places and procedures, across supplies and hospital processes, constitute a wide-ranging information infrastructure with the potential for significant value to patients and the whole health system.

This study evaluated powdered activated carbon (PAC) pre-coating as a pretreatment strategy to enhance dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal and control fouling during microfiltration of surface water. Two PAC types (one is coal-based and the other is wood-based), divided into three different particle size ranges (22–44, 44–63, 63–88 μm) using sieves and coating weights ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 and 2.4 mg/cm2, were systematically compared. Coating PAC improved the quality of water after filtration and stabilized filtration flux, with smaller PAC particle size ranges exhibiting higher DOM removal efficiencies, achieving maximum removals of approximately 30–35% for DOC and over 50% for UV260 at the highest coating weight, whereas uncoated membranes showed negligible DOM removal. The resulting PAC layer on the membrane increased filtration resistance. Fluorescence EEM and Mw distribution results showed that aromatic and high molecular weight DOM was preferentially adsorbed by PAC before reaching the membrane surface; therefore, their contribution to membrane fouling could be reduced. SEM observations showed differences in the images of deposits formed on the PAC layer. These results indicate that the PAC layer acted as a protective interception zone that reduced direct contact between DOM and the membrane surface, thereby contributing to improved flux stability. The coating effect varied with the weight, type and size range of PAC, highlighting the importance of PAC selection. The findings of this study could contribute to more efficient and sustainable urban water supply system operation and management through water quality improvement and process configuration.

Natural disasters pose significant challenges to maintaining a continuous and safe blood supply. This study aimed to analyse the emergency response of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) blood services during the 2023 Turkey earthquake, focusing on blood supply continuity, donor mobilization and lessons learnt for future preparedness. A retrospective analysis was conducted using operational data from the TRC General Directorate of Blood Services. Information on blood component requests, supplies, donor mobilization, infrastructure status and personnel deployment was collected from the period immediately following the earthquake through the subsequent recovery phase. The earthquake severely disrupted blood service infrastructure in the affected provinces, resulting in the destruction of two blood collection units and damage to several facilities. Despite these challenges, the TRC successfully met demands from the transfusion centres through rapid activation of its Emergency Crisis Board, inter-regional redistribution of packed red blood cells and strategic donor management. Within 15 days, 250,708 blood units were collected nationwide-a 129% increase compared to pre-disaster levels. Controlled donation scheduling, proactive communication and inter-regional staff deployment ensured sustained operations and prevented overcollection. However, gaps in data interoperability between hospitals and TRC systems limited real-time monitoring of clinical blood usage. The TRC's response demonstrated the effectiveness of a centralized and integrated blood service model in managing large-scale emergencies. Key lessons include the importance of donor flow regulation, transparent communication and improved hospital data integration to enhance future disaster preparedness and resilience.

This study was conducted to investigate potential regulatory mechanisms of hybridization increased the meat production performance in sheep. Thirty-six 3-month-old male lambs of Suffolk sheep (SFK, n = 12), Hu sheep (HH, n = 12), and their F1 hybrids (SH, n = 12) were selected and raised in individual pens under identical nutritional supply and husbandry management regimes over a 95-day (including a 15-day pre-trial period) experimental period. At the end of the feeding trial, six sheep closest to the average body weight were selected from each group for the subsequent trial, involving the collection of Longissimus dorsi samples and the determination of production performance, muscle fiber characteristic and transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. The results showed that the SH sheep had significantly higher pre-slaughter live weight and carcass weight than the HH sheep, while lower than those of the SFK sheep (p < 0.05). The muscle fiber density of the SH group was significantly higher than that of the parental groups, while the muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area were significantly smaller (p < 0.05). The collagen fiber content of the SH group was intermediate between the two parental groups and significantly higher than that of the SFK group (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis identified 2920 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were mainly enriched in the AMPK, PI3K-Akt, and PPAR signaling pathways. Metabolomic analysis detected 1617 differential metabolites (DMs), which were enriched in the fatty acid degradation and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Integrated analysis revealed that core genes SESN3 and metabolites (malate, testosterone) enhance energy supply capacity through AMPK pathway, thereby promoting muscle fiber proliferation and increasing meat yield in the hybrid sheep. In conclusion, the heterosis of the SH group originates from the remodeling of muscle fiber structure and the synergistic regulation of related pathways, which provides a theoretical basis for sheep crossbreeding.

Blind on one eye? A critical analysis of the relationship between external customers and purchasing and supply management

Sustainable urban development has emerged as a critical policy priority in India amid rapid urbanization, increasing infrastructural deficits, and growing environmental pressures. Bihar, one of India’s economically constrained yet rapidly urbanizing states, offers a significant case for examining how governance capacity shapes urban sustainability outcomes. This study analyzes governance challenges affecting sustainable urban development in Bihar by integrating insights from existing academic literature, state policy documents, and primary survey data collected from Muzaffarpur city. Drawing on Chakrabarti and Sanyal (2018) and official reports of the Government of Bihar (2021; 2023), the research examines institutional, administrative, financial, and participatory dimensions of urban governance. The empirical findings reveal notable gaps between policy frameworks and on-ground implementation. Survey responses indicate mixed to negative perceptions regarding the effectiveness of government policies, regulatory enforcement, and community participation in urban planning. While respondents acknowledged partial improvements in basic infrastructure such as water supply and waste management, they expressed limited satisfaction with the adoption of energy-efficient infrastructure, sustainable transport systems, and the availability of green spaces. Weak stakeholder collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and civil society further constrains the effectiveness of sustainable urban initiatives. Economic outcomes associated with urban development were perceived as uneven, with limited translation of investment into inclusive employment opportunities. The study concludes that despite multiple state-led initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable urban infrastructure, persistent governance challenges—such as weak institutional coordination, limited fiscal autonomy of urban local bodies, inadequate citizen participation, and fragmented implementation—continue to hinder long-term urban sustainability in Bihar. Strengthening decentralized governance, enhancing municipal capacity, and institutionalizing participatory and collaborative governance mechanisms are essential for achieving inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

Improvement of internal customer service: strategies for supply management