Tangible Benefits In Terms Research Articles

Sustainable packaging innovations and their impact on HSE practices in the FMCG industry

Sustainable packaging innovations have emerged as a critical avenue for addressing environmental concerns and enhancing operational efficiency within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. This review delves into the multifaceted impact of sustainable packaging innovations on Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) practices within this sector. With the escalating global focus on environmental sustainability, FMCG companies are increasingly integrating sustainable packaging solutions into their operations. These innovations encompass a spectrum of approaches, including recyclable materials, biodegradable packaging, lightweight designs, and renewable resources. Such initiatives aim to mitigate the adverse environmental effects associated with traditional packaging practices, such as excessive waste generation and carbon emissions. The adoption of sustainable packaging innovations profoundly influences HSE practices in the FMCG industry. Firstly, it fosters a culture of environmental responsibility, prompting companies to prioritize eco-friendly materials and production processes. This shift aligns with regulatory standards and societal expectations, reducing the ecological footprint of FMCG products while enhancing brand reputation. Moreover, sustainable packaging innovations significantly impact health and safety aspects within FMCG operations. By reducing the reliance on non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances, companies minimize occupational health risks for workers involved in packaging production and handling. Furthermore, lightweight packaging designs contribute to safer transportation and distribution practices, mitigating the likelihood of accidents and injuries along the supply chain. The integration of sustainable packaging innovations also engenders operational efficiencies within FMCG companies. Through optimization of packaging materials and processes, organizations can achieve cost savings, resource conservation, and enhanced supply chain resilience. These benefits bolster long-term competitiveness and profitability while reinforcing the commitment to HSE principles. Sustainable packaging innovations represent a transformative force within the FMCG industry, reshaping HSE practices and fostering a paradigm of environmental stewardship. As companies continue to prioritize sustainability in packaging strategies, they stand to realize tangible benefits in terms of regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and brand differentiation. This review underscores the imperative for FMCG stakeholders to embrace sustainable packaging innovations as a cornerstone of responsible business practice in the 21st century.

Impact of Land Use Consolidation on Maize Growers' Welfare in Gatsibo District, Rwanda (2012-2015)

This research delved into the transformative role of land use consolidation (LUC) in enhancing the well-being of maize growers within Gatsibo District, Rwanda, spanning from 2012 to 2015. Employing a descriptive and analytical approach, comprehensive data were gathered from primary sources, drawing from documentation, literature, and library resources. Analysis was conducted utilizing statistical tools like SPSS and Excel, resulting in insightful revelations. The study indicated that a substantial majority of respondents (95%) practiced intercropping maize with other crops using traditional methods. However, postLUC implementation, there was a marked shift as maize growers transitioned to exclusive maize cultivation on a larger scale, significantly boosting maize production. Notably, 85% of respondents ceased the use of intercropping methods, highlighting the pivotal role of LUC in optimizing maize yield and profitability. Moreover, a significant portion (78%) of respondents reported a considerable increase in maize production ranging from 25% to 75%, elucidating the profound impact of LUC on enhancing economic conditions. This positive shift was reflected in increased monthly earnings and savings, empowering respondents to elevate their socioeconomic status. Consequently, there was a notable surge in various improvements, including enhanced access to healthcare through Mutual Health Insurance, increased expenditures on essentials like clothing, education, household amenities, and the engagement of additional laborers. While LUC brought about substantial improvements, respondents encountered challenges such as inadequate organic manure, adverse weather conditions, low market prices for products, and limited markets for maize. To address these challenges, suggestions were made, including the expansion of communal cowsheds to bolster organic manure production, the establishment of advocacy groups within cooperatives, and the implementation of efficient watering systems to support year-round cultivation, thereby ensuring the sustainability of maize farming. In summation, the implementation of LUC significantly transformed the livelihoods of maize growers in Gatsibo District. Despite encountering challenges, the tangible benefits in terms of increased production, improved economic conditions, and avenues for further enhancements underscore the pivotal role of LUC in fostering agricultural prosperity within the region. Keywords: Land Use Consolidation, Maize growers and Welfare, Crops, Maize production, watering system.

EVALUATION OF THE USE OF SUPPORT FINANCED IN SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES UNDER THE SAPARD PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING AND THE REGIONAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE WARMIŃSKO-MAZURSKIE VOIVODESHIP

The aim of the article is to present the essence and assessment of the use of financial assistance for the SME sector from the SAPARD Program and the Regional Operational Program 2014-2020 in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The subject of the research was the assessment of EU subsidies as a source of enterprise financing. Their aim was to assess the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats resulting from obtaining funds from the ROP for the development of SMEs in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. SWOT analysis was used to achieve the research objective. The research was carried out using the interview method, in which the research tool was a standardized survey questionnaire. They were implemented among the beneficiaries of the Regional Operational Program of Warmia and Mazury for 2014-2020. In addition, classic methods and techniques developed in legal sciences were used. The basic method of research in this sphere was the formal dogmatic method. In addition, the source of data was information obtained from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture. The SAPARD program gave processing plants in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship the opportunity to become familiar with the new support rules used in the EU structural funds. Projects implemented by the SME sector in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship have brought tangible benefits in terms of adapting quality and sanitary standards of agricultural processing production to EU requirements. In the case of the Regional Operational Program 2014-2020, the availability of EU funds in the Warmia and Mazury region was assessed by the respondents as insufficient. Due to the completed financial perspective 2014-2020 of the Regional Operational Program of Warmia and Mazury, the possibility of obtaining EU funds has decreased, which significantly limits the development of SME sector enterprises.

Budget Participation and Managerial Performance: Bridging the Gap through Budget Goal Clarity

Budget participation is an important management tool that improves employee motivation, commitment, and performance by providing a sense of ownership and control over the budgeting process. This study examines the impact of budget participation on managerial performance in higher education institutions (HEIs). More specifically, the research aims to investigate the effect of budget participation on managerial performance through the mediating role of budget goal clarity. A survey was conducted with 373 low- to middle-level managers from HEIs in Iraq, and the research model was tested using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that budget participation positively influences budget goal clarity, which, in turn, positively affects managerial performance. Furthermore, the study reveals that budget goal clarity partially mediates this relationship. The strategic integration of these findings into managerial practices and decision-making processes can unleash substantial and tangible benefits in terms of employee engagement, skyrocketing productivity, and overall organizational success.

Projektowanie zrównoważone w aspekcie zastosowania materiałów proekologicznych

The paper presents the problem of sustainable design in terms of multi-criteria evaluation methods focusing on the selection and use of building materials in the design. Based on the guidelines and procedures of such assessment methods as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BREAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), and others, environmentally friendly building materials were selected for the design of specific building structures was made. For the construction of low-rise single-family homes, products made from waste were used. For the construction of a multipurpose, highrise building, the material chosen was cross-laminated timber (CLT), which is characterized by good environmental performance. The design of a multipurpose urban complex used environmentally friendly concrete, the manufacturing process of which has a dramatically reduced carbon footprint. An analysis of the properties of the building materials, their selection in terms of sustainability, and their use in designs provide tangible benefits in terms of the quality of formation of the built environment.

Accounting practices and professional power dynamics during a crisis

This paper examines how changes in accounting practices during a crisis can affect organisational dynamics between hospital managers and clinicians. Our theoretical framework applies a multi-dimensional concept of power (Hardy, 1996) – which distinguishes power over resources, processes and meaning – to a longitudinal case study of a public university hospital during a budgetary crisis. Based on interviews with managers and clinicians, three successive time intervals with distinct power constellations are identified. Initially, we identify a pre-crisis phase where management formally controls resources, which seems to have limited effects on clinician dominance because managers lack ‘processual power’ and ‘power of meaning’. Next, an implantation phase emerges whereby the introduction of mandated budget cuts triggers shifts in the distribution of power, such that managers acquire power by securing the collaboration of clinicians – a phenomenon which has tangible benefits in terms of enabling budget compliance and increased service provision. Finally, the third phase may be conceptualized as a fiscal pressure regimen whereby, when budgetary pressures intensify further, management's newly gained ‘power of meaning’ is eroded because management are now seen to pursue unrealistic demands. Drawing on research insights gleaned during each phase, our analysis contributes to extant literature in at least three ways. First, we present novel findings regarding the impact of crises-related applications of accounting practices on intra-organisational power constellations. Second, our work highlights how accounting practices help shape the understanding of crisis, which, in turn, impacts the distribution of organizational power and influences intra-organizational patterns of collaboration. Third, we find that awareness of the meaning power of accounting practices can help shape strategic action in crisis situations.

Decision-Making under the Risk, Uncertainty and COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions Applying the PL9A Method of Logistics Planning—Case Study

The next industrial revolution, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, is prompting a different look at the issue of supply chain change management. A new perspective should take into account the aspect of supply chain efficiency at multiple levels. Efficient logistics is green and energy-saving, both of which need to be systematically integrated with the logistical planning processes. The dynamic changes on the demand and supply side resulting from social, political, and economic transformations have significantly influenced the shaping of long-term supply chains. The development of new manufacturing and logistics technologies prompts the development and implementation of new integrated planning methods to support supply chain management processes. Modern supply chains are oriented towards operations in a dynamically changing socio-economic environment. The new methods are capable of incorporating dynamic adaptation of logistics infrastructure which respond to changing relationships between supply and demand. To meet the identified problems of complexity, relevance, and time-consumption of the logistic planning process in modern enterprise management, the PL9A method of logistic planning and 9A LOGPLANNER application for logistics planning were developed. The article presents the results of experimental and simulation studies on the improvement of logistic processes in a working manufacturing enterprise with application of the PL9A method. The results of the experimental work indicate that the application of the PL9A method embedded in the 9A LOGPLANNER software makes it possible to dynamically simulate any number of logistics system variants in a short period of time, while reducing risk and obtaining tangible benefits in terms of energy and ecological efficiency.

Balanced fertilization for increasing and sustaining fruit quality and productivity-A Review

Balance nutrient management is an approach to soil health management that combines organic and mineral methods of soil fertilization with physical and biological measures for soil and water conservation. The indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides along with improper nutrient management is deleterious to the plant and soil health, environment and human being who consume them. It also causes soil health deterioration and disturbs the soil microorganisms. Due to these practices, the plants also become susceptible to several biotic and abiotic stresses. The quality attributes of different fruits are badly affected due to indiscriminate application of inorganic agro-chemicals which results in quality deterioration with less consumer preference and low returns to the growers. Thus, adequate mineral nutrition is a pre-harvest factor affecting fruit quality. Therefore, it is a holistic approach based on usage of all possible sources of plant nutrients in an integrated manner is considered as alternative source to maintain soil fertility and plant nutrient supply for sustaining the desired crop productivity. Due to huge distinction in the nutrient use efficiency of perennial fruit crops, their nutrient management- based production system is characteristically intricate to understand. Integrated plant nutrient management aims to optimize the condition of the soil, with regard to its physical, chemical, biological and hydrological properties, for the purpose of enhancing farm productivity, whilst minimizing land degradation. There are studies that integrated nutrient management provide tangible benefits in terms of higher yields, but simultaneously and almost imperceptibly conserve the soil resource itself along with produce quality. The replenishment of soil nutrients lost by leaching and/or removed in harvested products through an integrated plant nutrition management approach that optimizes the benefits from all possible on- and off-farm sources of plant nutrients. The review on balanced fertilization on a variety of fruit crops revealed similar combinations. These observations provided a countrywide database that INM module which consists of nutrient sources having three-tier nutrient release pattern, has far reaching consequences on soil and plant health translating into real guard production sustainability, nearer to climate resilient fruit crops.

Preliminary assessment of a microgrid integrated with a biomass gasification CHP system for a production facility in Central Italy

The aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to improve buildings energy efficiency has led to develop smart grids to manage electricity and heat. The work deals with the thermal and electric microgrid analysis of the Loccioni Company: the production facility consists of high-energy performance industrial and office buildings, partially powered by produced on-site renewable energy (solar PV, hydropower plants, water ground heat pumps). The challenge of continuous improvement in the use of energy led the company to develop a thermal microgrid for optimal management of the heat produced by a small-scale CHP system (50 kWel/110 kWth). The cogeneration system is based on biomass (pellet) chemical degradation process of gasification. The work discusses preliminary results relating to the first months of the system operation, to highlight the energy benefits and the critical issues. Data are collected by the Company monitoring system and a laboratory feedstock physico-chemical characterization is carried out. The main goal of this paper is to lay the foundations for the development of an energy management system that regulates energy flows between buildings. The development of the thermal microgrid will guarantee not only tangible benefits in terms of energy savings but also an increase in the resilience of the entire building/plant system.

Avionics Systems Panel Research and Innovation Perspectives

As current, large-scale research and development initiatives are reshaping the future of aviation and space operations, avionics systems are becoming cyber-physical and progressively evolving into a variety of autonomous, intelligent, and closed-loop human-machine systems. This article provided the IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society (AESS) Avionics Systems Panel (ASP) views on avionics systems evolutionary pathways, with an identification of key research challenges and industry-focused innovation opportunities. The ever-increasing density of air traffic and the rise of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are prompting a rapid evolution of communication, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) and avionics (CNSþA) technologies that will provide unprecedented enhancements in terms of safety and efficiency, thus unleashing additional airspace and airport capacity. Several of the underlying CNS technologies have already hit the market, while other more advanced capabilities and decision support systems are still being researched and developed. The methodological transition to performance-based operations (PBO) is also a quantum shift that will have profound impacts on aviation equipment mandates and standards with very tangible benefits in terms of airspace capacity, safety, access modalities, prioritization, and overall fairness. The PBO transition is well underway for navigation equipment standards and operational arrival/ departure procedures, whereas communication and surveillance equipment is still currently following legacy mandates/ equipage schemes.

An Environmental Scan of Sex and Gender in Electronic Health Records: Analysis of Public Information Sources.

BackgroundHistorically, the terms sex and gender have been used interchangeably as a binary attribute to describe a person as male or female, even though there is growing recognition that sex and gender are distinct concepts. The lack of sex and gender delineation in electronic health records (EHRs) may be perpetuating the inequities experienced by the transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) populations.ObjectiveThis study aims to conduct an environmental scan to understand how sex and gender are defined and implemented in existing Canadian EHRs and current international health information standards.MethodsWe examined public information sources on sex and gender definitions in existing Canadian EHRs and international standards communities. Definitions refer to data element names, code systems, and value sets in the descriptions of EHRs and standards. The study was built on an earlier environment scan by Canada Health Infoway, supplemented with sex and gender definitions from international standards communities. For the analysis, we examined the definitions for clarity, consistency, and accuracy. We also received feedback from a virtual community interested in sex-gender EHR issues.ResultsThe information sources consisted of public website descriptions of 52 databases and 55 data standards from 12 Canadian entities and 10 standards communities. There are variations in the definition and implementation of sex and gender in Canadian EHRs and international health information standards. There is a lack of clarity in some sex and gender concepts. There is inconsistency in the data element names, code systems, and value sets used to represent sex and gender concepts across EHRs. The appropriateness and adequacy of some value options are questioned as our societal understanding of sexual health evolves. Outdated value options raise concerns about current EHRs supporting the provision of culturally competent, safe, and affirmative health care. The limited options also perpetuate the inequities faced by the TGNB populations. The expanded sex and gender definitions from leading Canadian organizations and international standards communities have brought challenges in how to migrate these definitions into existing EHRs. We proposed 6 high-level actions, which are to articulate the need for this work, reach consensus on sex and gender concepts, reach consensus on expanded sex and gender definitions in EHRs, develop a coordinated action plan, embrace EHR change from socio-organizational and technical aspects to ensure success, and demonstrate the benefits in tangible terms.ConclusionsThere are variations in sex and gender concepts across Canadian EHRs and the health information standards that support them. Although there are efforts to modernize sex and gender concept definitions, we need decisive and coordinated actions to ensure clarity, consistency, and competency in the definition and implementation of sex and gender concepts in EHRs. This work has implications for addressing the inequities of TGNB populations in Canada.

Women as Drivers of Change for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: Case Study of a Novel Extension Approach in Wardha, India

What can a case study of an initiative for empowerment of women farmers tell us about nutrition-sensitive agriculture? Through this case study, the paper highlights how women farmers act as drivers of change and manage to bring about production and consumption diversity, even in a cash crop growing region; how women farmers’ groups serve as important social networks in aiding the spread of these changes; and how bundling of women’s empowerment programmes with agricultural extension has the potential to promote nutrition-sensitive farming. The spread of mixed cropping practices among women farmers was crucially related to the context-specific technical guidance that was provided. Women farmers adopted different cropping pattern designs, integrating pulses, millets and vegetables with cotton/soyabean as main crops. They perceived tangible benefits in terms of enhanced availability of food grains and vegetables for household consumption through mixed cropping practices. The paper brings to light the need for the State to strengthen the agricultural extension system for scaling up nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices among small farmers.

Personality and behavioural outcomes in diving: current status and recommendations for future research.

This paper provides a brief overview of the shift from studies describing the personality profiles of divers to studies exploring associations between personality variables and diving performance in terms of behavioural outcomes. The personality associations that were investigated include performance during training, panic proneness, diving injuries, susceptibility to inert gas narcosis, and the behaviour of tourist divers. The paper concludes with a number of suggested directions for further research on personality and diving that may provide tangible benefits in terms of both enhanced safety and improved performance underwater.

The economics of corporate lobbying

Prior literature examines motivations and impact of corporate lobbying and presents inconclusive evidence. We examine the association of corporate lobbying with firm performance by focusing on how this relationship varies with firm characteristics. Addressing various endogeneity concerns, our analysis shows that corporate lobbying has a negative association with firm performance. We find that the negative association between corporate lobbying and firm performance is largely driven by operationally complex firms. On the other hand, firms with high growth opportunities benefit more from lobbying than low-growth firms. Lobbying seems to provide limited tangible benefits in terms of helping a firm obtain government contracts or successfully pass the congressional bills lobbied. These results suggest that agency costs dominate the strategic benefits of lobbying activities. However, there is some evidence that firms benefit when there is political alignment between the firm and the party in power.

An Educational Intervention to Improve Splinting of Common Hand Injuries

BackgroundHand trauma is a top presenting complaint to hospital emergency departments (EDs) and can become costly if not treated effectively. The cornerstone for initial management of the traumatized hand is application of a splint. Improving splinting practice could potentially produce tangible benefits in terms of quality of care and costs to society. ObjectivesWe sought to determine the following: 1) whether the present standard of ED splinting was appropriate and 2) whether a strategically planned educational intervention could improve the existing care. MethodsWe used a pre- and postprospective educational intervention study design. In the preintervention phase, patients referred to our hand clinic were assessed for injury and splint type. Splinting appropriateness was evaluated according to a predetermined hand surgeons' expert consensus. Next, an educational intervention was targeted at all ED staff at our institution. Postintervention, all patients were again evaluated for splint appropriateness. A follow-up evaluation was performed at 1 year to see the long-term effects of the intervention. ResultsThe most common mechanism of injury of referred patients was falling (35%), and the most frequent injury was metacarpal fracture (40%). Splint appropriateness increased significantly postintervention from 49% to 69% (p = 0.048). At follow-up after 1 year, splinting appropriateness was 70% (p = 0.041). ConclusionAppropriate hand splinting practice is essential for hand trauma management. Our results show that an educational intervention can successfully improve splinting practice. This quality of care initiative was low-cost and demonstrated persistence at 1 year of follow-up.

The Limits of Interdisciplinarity and the Practice of Environmental Law Scholarship

This article utilises the concept of interdisciplinarity as a background against which to reflect on the nature of environmental law scholarship. The article argues that, while interdisciplinary scholarship has some tangible benefits in terms of expanding the perimeters of a discipline, the effects of interdisciplinary work are often exaggerated. In fact, interdisciplinary scholarship may have the unintended consequence of entrenching academic disciplines even further. In light of this, it is argued that environmental law scholarship is best perceived and defined as a deliberative practice which takes place within and speaks to a specific community of scholars – an interpretive community. In order to secure a vibrant discipline, the article argues that the community ought to maintain a flexible, open-ended and broadly defined approach to environmental law scholarship.

Will you walk into my parlor? Spaces and practices of beauty in Mumbai

While studies on corporeal beauty – the ‘body beautiful’ – constitute a mini academic industry, everyday practices of ‘beauty work’ are somewhat underresearched. This paper engages with notions and practices of beauty in a context of socio-cultural transformation and global flows in urban India. The ‘beauty parlor’ emerges as a socio-cultural space where urban aspirations are made and realized, mirroring the shifting place of beauty in the daily life of subjects with diverse class locations. A qualitative study of five beauty parlors in Mumbai revealed embodied practices of aesthetics that reflect the interplay of social structure and agency in the everyday life experiences of men and women. Providing tangible benefits in terms of new opportunities, beauty practices are also influenced by a desire for status, and ideas of ‘good health’ within an emergent ethic of self-care. Practices and consumption in the parlor juxtapose modernity and tradition materializing the field of beauty.

The Limits of Interdisciplinarity and the Practice of Environmental Law Scholarship

This article utilises the concept of interdisciplinarity as a background against which to reflect on the nature of environmental law scholarship. The article argues that, while interdisciplinary scholarship has some tangible benefits in terms of expanding the perimeters of a discipline, the effects of interdisciplinary work are often exaggerated. In fact, interdisciplinary scholarship may have the unintended consequence of entrenching academic disciplines even further. In light of this, it is argued that environmental law scholarship is best perceived and defined as a deliberative practice which takes place within, and speaks to, a specific community of scholars—an interpretive community. In order to secure a vibrant discipline, the article argues that the community ought to maintain a flexible, open-ended and broadly defined approach to environmental law scholarship.

P211 Domiciliary care of patients with primary and secondary pneumothoraces: Our experience in Ayrshire, patient satisfaction and health economic analysis

BackgroundDomiciliary care (DC) of Spontaneous Pneumothoraces (SP) with an ambulatory Heimlich Valve (HV) attached to the Intercostal Chest Drain (ICD) has potential for care-closer-to-home, avoiding hospitalisation and saving healthcare resources....

Ethnic Sensitive or Molecular Sensitive Beyond All Regions Being Equal in Multiregional Clinical Trials

For decades, clinical trials have been the primary mechanism for medical products to enter the marketplace. Over more than a decade, globalization of medical product development via a multiregional clinical trial (MRCT) approach has generated greater enthusiasm because of tangible benefits in terms of cost and time for drug development. There are, however, many challenges including and not limited to design issues, statistical analysis methods, interpretation of extreme region performance, and in-process quality assurance issues. This article presents a number of examples to exemplify regional variability expected versus precision of treatment effect estimates that are generally impacted by the type of primary efficacy endpoint evaluated. We explore region-driven intrinsic and extrinsic ethnic factors for potential explanation of regional heterogeneity caused by differences in medical practice and / or disease etiology. Bayesian credible interval may be considered as a viable approach to assess the robustness of region-specific treatment effect. Ethnic-sensitive or molecular-sensitive region-driven designs may be explored to prospectively address the potential regional heterogeneity versus the potential predictiveness of causal genetic variants or molecular target biomarkers on treatment effect.