Search

The present paper reflects the position of the Italian Association for Neuroendocrine Tumors (Itanet), the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE), and the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED) regarding the management of patients affected by gastric, duodenal, and rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) amenable to endoscopic treatment. The key questions discussed in this paper are summarized in Table 1. Data were extracted from the MEDLINE database through searches; expert opinions and recommendations are provided in accordance with the available scientific evidence and the authors' expertise. Recommendations are presented alongside a level of evidence and grade of recommendation based on the GRADE system. This paper specifically focuses on subgroups of NENs considered suitable for endoscopic management according to current international guidelines: i. well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumors (gNET) type 1 < 2 cm and selected cases of type 3; ii. well-differentiated duodenal, non-functioning, non-ampullary NET with size < 2 cm; and well-differentiated rectal NET with size < 2 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Success management can bring valuable contributions to improve project results and stakeholders' relationships. However, the success management process must be explicitly integrated into project management approaches, guides and methodologies (such as PMBOK, PRINCE2 or PM2), which is not currently happening. The purpose of this position paper is to discuss the need and importance for this integration and to present a first proposal on how this can be operationalized. To support the position, the methodology of the European Union PM2 was used. The result of the integration demonstrates that it is possible to advance management and raise the level of project success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) is addressing the issue of incidental findings with a series of position papers to give advice on characterization and management. The biliary system (gallbladder and biliary tree) is the third most frequent site for incidental findings. This first part of the position paper on incidental findings of the biliary system is related to general aspects, gallbladder polyps and other incidental findings of the gallbladder wall. Available evidence on prevalence, diagnostic work-up, malignancy risk, follow-up and treatment is summarized with a special focus on ultrasound techniques. Multiparametric ultrasound features of gallbladder polyps and other incidentally detected gallbladder wall pathologies are described, and their inclusion in assessment of malignancy risk and decision- making on further management is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are myocardial diseases in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, valvular disease and congenital heart disease sufficient to cause the observed myocardial abnormality. Thought for a long time to be rare diseases, it is now clear that most of the CMPs can be easily observed in clinical practice. However, there is a group of specific heart muscle diseases that are rare in nature whose clinical/echocardiographic phenotypes resemble those of the four classical morphological subgroups of hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, arrhythmogenic CMPs. These rare CMPs, often but not solely diagnosed in infants and paediatric patients, should be more properly labelled as specific CMPs. Emerging consensus exists that these conditions require tailored investigation and management. Indeed, an appropriate understanding of these conditions is mandatory for early treatment and counselling. At present, however, the multisystemic and heterogeneous presentation of these entities is a challenge for clinicians, and time delay in diagnosis is a significant concern. The aim of this paper is to define practical recommendations for diagnosis and management of the rare CMPs in paediatric or adult age. A modified Delphi method was adopted to grade the recommendations proposed by each member of the writing committee. The inherited and rare cardiomyopathy team. The multidisciplinary team, with specific expertise in inherited and rare CMPs, has the potential to improve diagnostic work-up and explore the available treatment options. The expertise required involves adult and paediatric cardiologists, genetic counsellors, electrophysiologists, geneticists, psychologists, intensive care specialists, cardiac surgeons and electrophysiologists [Display omitted] • Rare cardiomyopathies (CMPs) require tailored investigation and management. • A multidisciplinary team is essential to improve diagnosis and management of rare CMPs. • A step-by-step clinical evaluation is required to reach aetiological diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes our current understanding of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a multi-factorial systemic disease resulting from a complex interaction between a specific genetic background and multiple environmental/metabolic “hits”. The role of gut microbiota, lipotoxicity, inflammation and their molecular pathways is reviewed in-depth. We also discuss the epidemiology and natural history of NAFLD by pinpointing the remarkably high prevalence of NAFLD worldwide and its inherent systemic complications: hepatic (steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis), cardio-metabolic (cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and type 2 diabetes) and neoplastic (primary liver cancers and extra-hepatic cancers). Moreover, we critically report on the diagnostic role of non-invasive biomarkers, imaging techniques and liver biopsy, which remains the reference standard for diagnosing the disease, but cannot be proposed to all patients with suspected NAFLD. Finally, the management of NAFLD is also reviewed, by highlighting the lifestyle changes and the pharmacological options, with a focus on the innovative drugs. We conclude that the results of ongoing studies are eagerly expected to lead to introduce into the clinical arena new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, prevention and surveillance strategies as well as to new drugs for a tailored approach to the management of NAFLD in the individual patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we carried out the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of paper industry wastes with/without chemical pretreatment, using reactors in batch with anaerobic biofilms developed in spheres covered with ixtle fiber cord. Biofilms were previously developed a UASB reactor using anaerobic sludge with acid/thermal pretreatment to remove hydrogen consuming bacteria. Subsequently, the process of saccharification and simultaneous fermentation (SSF) of paper industry waste without chemical pretreatment was evaluated using batch reactors with developed anaerobic biofilms. The key process parameters were: pH (4, 5 and 6) and enzyme loading of Celluclast enzyme (10, 40 and 70 FPU) at a temperature of 45° C The results for hydrogen production with paper industry wastes without pretreatment showed optimal working conditions to maximize hydrogen production by SSF process at: pH (5) and an enzyme load of 70 FPU, so the maximum hydrogen yield obtained was 31.188 mmol/h × gSV. The results obtained from the evaluation of the process of SSF performed with paper industry wastes subjected to chemical pretreatment with H 2 SO 4 2.5% showed the optimum working conditions to maximize hydrogen production: pH (4), an enzyme load of 70 FPU, the maximum value of hydrogen yield obtained was 55 844 mmol/h *gSV. The key process parameters were optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM) based on a two factor-three level central composite design (CCD), using as variables: pH (4.5 and 6), enzyme loading of Celluclast ® (10, 40 and 70 UPF) and temperature (45 °C), for paper industry wastes with/without acid pretreatment. The results showed the analysis of variance was performed to test the importance of the polynomial equation of second order, so equations obtained for both residues (with/without pretreatment) describe the hydrogen yield in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pulp and paper mills typically generate significant quantities of non-hazardous solid waste which require management as a waste material or as a by-product. Most of these solids are removed after primary mechanical treatment, resulting in a sludge that contains large quantities of fibers, papermaking fillers, or both. Although this primary sludge is commonly landfilled, it could be recycled into production on-site, reused in other pulp and paper mills, or used in other products. In an effort to explore these possibilities, the fiber content, fiber quality, and key physical and chemical properties (humidity, ash content, abrasiveness, drainability, and O2 uptake) of 20 different primary sludges sampled in European mills are reviewed in this paper. Although sludge characteristics are highly variable across pulp and paper mill processes, sludges can be considered to fall into two main types: high-ash sludge (>30% dry weight) and low-ash sludge (<30% dry weight). Results of paper tests (caliper, breaking length, tear index, elongation, bursting strength, stiffness, opacity, whiteness, and porosity) and board tests (ring crush test, Concora medium test, corrugated crush test) suggest that at least 12 of the sludges studied could be reused in the paper and board industry. The results make it possible to differentiate three primary sludge grades: the first needs little cleaning and has appropriate strength properties to be a component of printing and writing papers, tissues, and wrapping papers; the second requires cleaning, bleaching, or both and has appropriate strength properties for applications that do not require high brightness, such as corrugated board, boxboard, and some tissue grades; the third requires cleaning and has limited strength properties, but could be used in some mills that operate using closed water cycles because the final product can tolerate a certain degree of dirt and contamination, as in some packaging and construction-paper grades. Primary sludges share several features in common with recycled paper, and therefore these two materials could be managed together. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Review of recent critical care provision reveals substantial changes in clinical unit operating, and policy drivers influencing international critical care delivery. Practitioners who have worked in healthcare environments over this time, will have witnessed substantial shifts in healthcare policy, changes in professional body guidance and greater service evaluation have impacted on critical care management and leadership. This paper offers a personal perspective on seminal management and leadership papers published in the critical care literature over the past decade. Presenting a range of national and international work that utilise diverse approaches, ten key papers are highlighted that have impacted in the United Kingdom setting. Through this, the influence of the modernisation agenda, the increasing significance of outcome studies, and the need for flexible, interdependent practice emerges. A key message to surface from this paper is the need for all in critical care to engage with, and understand the wider implications of management and leadership change for critical care delivery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aeration, as a process in pulp and paper wastewater treatment, uses the greatest share of the energy. Therefore, if the energy efficiency of the treatment has to be improved, the focus must be on aeration. A key finding from the trials conducted for this paper, with effluent from a paper and pulp mill, was that the oxygen transfer coefficient could be doubled and the chemical oxygen demand could be decreased by 25%, if the effluent was pre-treated with 30 mg/l of aluminium coagulant (equivalent to 9.4 tonnes per day of AVR to 20000 cubic metres of effluent). Decrease in oxygen requirement implies decreases in aeration energy use. Pulp and paper mill effluents are not as biodegradable as municipal sewage, and the improvement in oxygen transfer properties of the effluent will have a positive influence over a longer period of time in the biological treatment. If the sludge is digested anaerobically, pre-treatment will also result in doubling the potential for methane generation. A holistic analysis of modifications to processes entails a study of the economic and environmental consequences as well. While the economic aspect is beyond the scope of this paper, only the net global warming as an environmental impact category has been studied, by taking recourse to specific emission coefficients. Of the four dosages of ferric aluminium sulphate considered in this analysis, the net greenhouse gas emissions are the least – 426 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per day when the daily consumption is 9.4 tonnes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new shell element has been proposed for geometrically non-linear, finite element analyses of axially moving paper web. Web instability problems of paper travelling in a printing system, such as wrinkling and fluttering, pose special challenges in the numerical analyses. For examples, these are finite bending stiffness (as opposed to membrane), orthotropy, and non-uniform distributions of mechanical and hygro-properties (in different length scales). The new formulation has accounted for paper transport velocity and paper bending stiffness based on a mixed Lagrangian–Eulerian description of the motion. A natural coordinate system has been employed in the analytical and finite element formulations. Benchmarking with different finite elements in various tests showed that the proposed element is indeed more stable and reliable for the chosen application than existing elements. The usability of the shell element has been successfully demonstrated by two example problems: wrinkling of stretched isotropic and orthotropic membranes, and the vibration of a web showing a speed-tensioning effect above a critical web transport velocity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Australia, a pervasive response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gasses and the exchange of these gasses between the atmosphere and forests has been to focus on storing carbon (C) in forested landscapes. However, the amount of C stored and able to be stored in the landscape, which is often called carbon carrying capacity, is commonly over-estimated and over-emphasised. This occurs, in part, due to a focus on the continent’s most C-rich forests when discussing landscape C storage or carbon carrying capacity, and by failing to account for wildfires that will prevent all forests from becoming old and C-rich. These effects on forest age-class structure and thus C-stocks, in the Australian landscape currently tend to be overlooked at the policy level. Underemphasised is the widely recognised role of wood products in greenhouse gas mitigation, both as a C-stock and by providing society with low emission products. Improving atmospheric outcomes will only be achieved if variation in landscape C stocks is accurately described and the full role of forests in greenhouse gas mitigation including the role of wood products is explored and reflected in policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accountable care organizations have received considerable attention as a component of health care reform and have been specifically addressed in recent national legislation and demonstration projects by CMS. The role or roles of radiologists in such organizations are currently unclear, as are changes to the ways in which imaging services will be delivered. The authors review concepts fundamental to accountable care organizations and describe roles for radiologists that may facilitate their success in such health care delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and nutrition services, along with the health care organizations they serve, are becoming increasingly complex. These complexities are driven by sometimes conflicting (if not polarizing) human, department, organization, and environment factors and will require that managers shift how they think about and approach productivity in the context of the greater good of the organization and, perhaps, even society. Traditional, single-factor approaches to productivity measurements, while still valuable in the context of departmental trend analysis, are of limited value when assessing departmental performance in the context of an organization’s goals and values. As health care continues to change and new models of care are introduced, food and nutrition services managers will need to consider innovative approaches to improve productivity that are consistent with their individual health care organization’s vision and mission. Use of process improvement tools such as Lean and Six Sigma as strategies for evaluating and improving food and nutrition services efficiency should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review article we will cover the management of both primary and secondary postpartum haemorrhage. Detailed national guidance on the management of primary PPH has been in place since 1998. Despite this, multiple MBRRACE-UK reports have consistently found significant scope for improvement in the care delivered to women. The recurrent nature of the themes highlighted in the reports is equally sobering, which suggests a failure to learn from these tragic cases. The first part of this paper will provide practical steps that can be taken to embed the learning from successive MBRRACE-UK reports into our day-to-day clinical practice. The second part of this paper will provide an overview of the literature on secondary postpartum haemorrhage. Secondary PPH is associated with significant maternal morbidity. Despite this, there is a lack of randomised controlled trials to inform the management of these women, and the long-term sequalae associated with both the condition and its management is unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As valued members and decision makers of the health care team, registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, practice in a wide variety of settings from corporate wellness to the intensive care unit. Each of these work settings has unique information needs, but all require that dietetics practitioners have immediate access to accurate information. Successful dietetics practice in today''s rapidly changing environment requires skills in finding, evaluating, and sharing accurate food and nutrition information. The term informatics is used to describe the science of managing, storing, and communicating information. While not required for informatics practice, use of computers greatly facilitates management of large amounts of information. Health informatics focuses on the application of information science within the health care arena. The field of health informatics includes medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, public health, and now nutrition informatics. Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, are now creating nutrition informatics as a new area of dietetics practice. Current use of informatics in health care includes electronic health records, outcomes research, and knowledge acquisition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ethno-pedology, the systematic definition and classification of indigenous technical knowledge of soil attributes, has often ignored scientific knowledge of soil properties. This paper considers one ethno-pedological class, cesa–goz soils, managed by Kanuri and Shuwa Arab peoples in the Kala–Balge region, northeast Nigeria. Soil micromorphology demonstrates that these soils have been managed in different ways over extended periods, defined by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. This has resulted in discrete soil types, indicating that ethno-pedological soil classification can be enhanced by integrating it with scientifically defined soil properties and chronologies. These observations carry major implications for the application of ethno-pedology approaches to land management development and the understanding of landscape history. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Drug use-associated infective endocarditis (DUA-IE) is a major cause of illness and death for people with substance use disorder (SUD). Investigations to date have largely focused on advancing the care of patients with DUA-IE and included drug use disorder treatment, decisions about surgery, and choice of antibiotics during the period of hospitalization. Transitions from hospital to outpatient care are relatively unstudied and frequently a key factor of uncontrolled infection, continued substance use, and death. In this paper, we review the evidence supporting cross-disciplinary care for people with DUA-IE and highlight domains that need further clinician, institutional, and research investment in clinicians and institutions. We highlight best practices for treating people with DUA-IE, with a focus on addressing health disparities, meeting health-related social needs, and policy changes that can support care for people with DUA-IE in the hospital and when transitioning to the community. [Display omitted] • Patients with DUA-IE should be offered treatment for substance use disorder. • Decisions regarding cardiac surgery for patients with DUA-IE should involve multidisciplinary collaboration. • Patients with DUA-IE should have health-related social needs like transportation and housing addressed before discharge to support posthospitalization care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantification of phosphorus (P) loss risk of animal manures is essential to scientifically sound P risk assessment and environmental friendly nutrient management, but has faced significant challenges due to the shortage of appropriate techniques. This study was conducted to determine P source coefficients (PSC) for quantifying differential P loss risk of various manures relative to soluble chemical fertilizer. After 2-d, 2-week, 8-week, and 26-week soil incubations with various manures, P-amended soils were analyzed for Olsen P (Ol), Mehlich-3 P (M3), water extractable P (WEP), and Fe-oxide coated filter paper strip P (FeO), each of which was then used to calculate manure PSC. Manure PSC M3 had the strongest linear relationships ( r 2 = 0.95–0.97) among different incubation durations, compared with PSC WEP ( r 2 = 0.79–0.91), PSC Ol ( r 2 = 0.85–0.94), and PSC FeO ( r 2 = 0.88–0.91). The 2 week incubation yielded PSC M3 which had the strongest linear relationships ( r 2 = 0.87–0.97 with a mean of 0.95) among the tested soils, compared with those from 2-d, 8-week, and 26-week incubations. In addition, laboratory PSC M3 had the strongest linear relationships with those PSC M3 measured under field conditions, relative to PSC Ol , PSC FeO , and PSC WEP . Hence, the 2-week incubation along with Mehlich-3 P yielded the most consistent PSCs for various manures across soil types, incubation durations, and soil conditions, and can be recommended as a common protocol for determining manure PSC. The recommended default PSC values are 110, 65, 46, and 43% for liquid swine, liquid dairy, solid poultry, and solid beef manures, respectively, for the new P index of Ontario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the development paths leading to the transition to cleaner bleaching technologies in the pulp industry. It devotes particular attention to the key features of the Swedish transition, but also compares this to the Finnish experiences. The empirical investigation builds on an analytical framework highlighting the conditions under which pollution regulations can provide efficient incentives for deep emission reductions at industrial plants. Existing and new archive material, including not least comprehensive license trial acts for Swedish pulp mills over an extended time period, are studied. Based on this historical analysis our findings contradict previous literature, the latter emphasizing that pressures from consumers and the public were the most significant driving forces behind the adoption of–and innovation in–alternative bleaching technologies during the late 1980s. Instead, this paper asserts, the green pulp transition was characterized by regulation-induced technological change and was made possible by long history of industry-wide cooperation in environmental R&D. Furthermore, while previous research has emphasized the leading role of the Nordic countries in green pulp innovation, we identify a number of profound differences between Finland and Sweden. These emerge from various national contexts in terms of, for instance, industry structures and strategies, political cultures, and regulatory styles. Finally, at a more general level the paper provides a few policy implications for supporting the ongoing transition towards a forest-based bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the intelligent construction environment, PC project improves the work efficiency, but the cost control is difficult. This paper will analyze the cost of PC engineering, trying to find out the key points and difficulties of cost control based on intelligent construction. By comparing the PC project with the traditional frame shared wall structure project, this paper makes it clear that the single cost of the PC project can be lower than that of the traditional building in the whole life cycle. Through the analysis of construction data, this paper points out how to solve and control the cost of PC engineering. It is clear that intelligent construction means and BIM technology can improve construction efficiency and quality, ensure safe construction and reduce construction labor costs. PC project is the development direction of future construction. Intelligent information management of prefabricated buildings is recommended to meet the market demand and promote the industry's industrialization and information development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing game's popularity is caused by their possibilities in decision-making training. Management games allow avoiding potential mistakes related to the business choices, but they require several updates and improvements in terms of context and new trends. The business environment is constantly changing and requires new creative approaches to be trained. One of them is the business greening and realizing the idea of sustainable behavior and engagement in managerial games. This paper aims to propose managerial game improvements to achieve better game engagement and become more interesting for students because of its real business world connection. The object of the research and analysis is the Marketplace®, which is the educational managerial game. In this paper, the game analysis three levels were presented to propose the recommendations for the Marketplace game development. The main finding is that an assessment survey should occur in the game climax, to engage and immerse students in the game. The survey questions should also be reexamined to develop a more dynamic game analysis. Then the game itself has to consist of sustainable development of practical solutions and enable students' creativity to raise their engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health inequalities are a perennial concern for policymakers and in service delivery to ensure fair and equitable access and outcomes. As health inequalities are socially influenced by employment, income, and education, this impacts healthcare services among socio-economically disadvantaged groups, making it a pertinent area for investigation in seeking to promote equitable access. Researchers widely acknowledge that health equity is a multi-faceted problem requiring approaches to understand the complexity and interconnections in hospital planning as a precursor to healthcare delivery. Operations research offers the potential to develop analytical models and frameworks to aid in complex decision-making that has both a strategic and operational function in problem-solving. This paper develops a simulation-based modelling framework (SimulEQUITY) to model the complexities in addressing health inequalities at a hospital level. The model encompasses an entire hospital operation (including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department services) using the discrete-event simulation method to simulate the behaviour and performance of real-world systems, processes, or organisations. The paper makes a sustained contribution to knowledge by challenging the existing population-level planning approaches in healthcare that often overlook individual patient needs, especially within disadvantaged groups. By holistically modelling an entire hospital, socio-economic variations in patients' pathways are developed by incorporating individual patient attributes and variables. This innovative framework facilitates the exploration of diverse scenarios, from processes to resources and environmental factors, enabling key decision-makers to evaluate what intervention strategies to adopt as well as the likely scenarios for future patterns of healthcare inequality. The paper outlines the decision-support toolkit developed and the practical application of the SimulEQUITY model through to implementation within a hospital in the UK. This moves hospital management and strategic planning to a more dynamic position where a software-based approach, incorporating complexity, is implicit in the modelling rather than simplification and generalisation arising from the use of population-based models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue carbon, a concept that emerged in the last decade, has received increasing attention in recent years. The development of blue carbon as a nature-based solution is crucial to global climate governance, biodiversity conservation, and restoration of fishery resources. This study utilized CiteSpace visualization software to conduct bibliometric and systematic analyses of 3474 papers retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection in 2003–2022, depicting a comprehensive framework of international research on blue carbon, exploring hotspots and trends, and proposing future directions and implications for ocean and coastal management. Overall, blue carbon research has experienced the early exploration period (2003–2007) based on scientific concepts, the development period (2008–2015) of research on carbon sequestration mechanisms and functions of different organisms and ecosystems, and the outbreak period (2016–2022) of carbon sink system quantification and management based on model prediction. Co-authorship analysis indicated that blue carbon research collaborates well across intuitions and countries, while collaboration among authors needs to be strengthened. Thematic evolution and hotspot analysis based on cited references and keywords revealed that coastal wetlands, especially mangroves, are a popular research theme, and the functional protection and development of management strategies for coastal ecosystems are major current research hotspots. In addition, it emphasized the need to focus on the protection, restoration and creation of blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), develop sustainable marine ranching to promote blue carbon trading, explore more potential emerging blue carbon, and strengthen the management of blue carbon from the social level in the future. This paper combines traditional bibliometric review with modern visual analysis software to carry out network metrics, clustering and visualization of the blue carbon thematic literature from multiple perspectives, which reflects its novelty. It provides the latest, in-depth and comprehensive insights into blue carbon research that will serve as valuable reference for relevant scholars, managers and governments. [Display omitted] • Blue carbon field has experienced exploration, development and outbreak periods. • Blue carbon research is well-collaborated across institutions and countries. • Coastal wetlands, especially mangroves, have been a popular central research area. • Protection and management of coastal ecosystems are new hotspots in research. • Propose ocean and coastal management implications for realizing the potential of blue carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of information systems in enterprise management research is very important, but there is a problem with large management errors. VB system management method cannot solve the integration problem in enterprise management research, and the information recognition rate is low. Therefore, this paper proposes a supply chain method for information system analysis. First, the management theory is used to study the information, which is deeply excavated to reduce the Irrelevant management factors. Then, the supply chain method divides the enterprise management information and forms the final information identification set. MATLAB simulation shows that the information identification accuracy and information of the supply chain law are known under the condition that the enterprise management requirements are known. The recognition time was better than the VB system management method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seven African Great Lakes are some of the most critical freshwater, large-lake systems in the world, providing essential services, food, drinking water, and other livelihood support to over 62 million people. Like most freshwater systems around the world, these lakes are strained by anthropogenic stressors, leading to degradation of these biologically important, and human-dependent resources. Despite their importance, these lakes suffer from insufficient research approaches which are short-term, disparate, and unharmonized. Further, a lack of monitoring, data and information exchange, education and training, and gender balance in research, all lead to insufficient knowledge on which to better manage and protect these lakes. While past efforts have resulted in some knowledge accumulation, there is a need for new approaches to understanding and managing these lakes: bottom-up, harmonized, and long-term processes. This paper, and those within this special section of the Journal of Great Lakes Research , highlight new, highly collaborative efforts of freshwater experts representing each riparian country of each African Great Lake through formal advisory groups. These papers are the result of harmonized efforts and collegial agreements as to what issues need to be addressed foremost, written by those on the ground. While each lake has specific, prioritized lists of issues, five overarching issues must be addressed to achieve success on these lakes: providing agency and coordination of African freshwater scientists; increase long-term monitoring; strengthen education and training of existing and future experts; enhance information and data exchange; and ensure stronger gender balance in science and leadership positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Tanganyika is one of the most important lakes in the world because it supports millions of people who rely on its resources and its exceptional biodiversity. However, the lake currently suffers from a range of anthropogenic stressors, including water pollution and sedimentation, resource, biodiversity decline, habitat loss (both physical and functional) and climate change. Past and current research has been limited and disparate, only allowing the scientific community to gather inadequate data required to make informed policy and management plans for this lake. Based on data and knowledge derived from scientific studies and field experiences by scientists and experts working in the Lake Tanganyika basin, this paper outlines past research, present gaps, and the opportunities for collaboration to generate scientific knowledge to inform positive policy and management strategies leading to the protection of Lake Tanganyika's ecological integrity. The results of this paper draw from independent short surveys, freshwater expert meetings, and formal and informal discussions carried out to identify and prioritize specific issues and threats that need to be addressed for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of the Lake Tanganyika basin. After highlighting each issue or threat, the authors propose possible management interventions; the results of this work focus heavily on the need for enhanced specific research on many issues and a larger, multi-disciplinary, long-term monitoring program to collect comprehensive information on a host of variables that will ultimately assist relevant stakeholders and key agencies in addressing these issues and threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of stock assessment is to provide managers with an understanding of the biomass and age-/size-composition of a stock, stock status (ideally relative to target and reference points), and to support management decision making, often through projections and application of harvest control rules. Stock assessments are increasingly being used to form the basis for the operating models used to evaluate the ability of management strategies to achieve the goals of fisheries management. Stock assessments for rock lobsters were among the first to adopt size-structured population models as the basis for stock assessment, and population model-based stock assessments have been used extensively to evaluate management strategies for rock lobster stocks in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This paper identifies how closely population model-based stock assessments for rock lobsters satisfy the guidelines identified for best practices for conducting stock assessments during meetings of, for example, the Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology and papers identifying best practice guidelines for stock assessment. The paper highlights some key directions for stock assessment science for rock lobsters, including considerations related to environmental variation and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Treatment of industrial wastewaters is currently confronting important challenges concerning both cost management of treatment plants and fulfillment of tightening environmental regulations. Online monitoring of wastewater treatment is critical, because changes in the performance of treatment can lead to various problems such as decreased efficiency of purification, decreased energy efficiency, or ineffective use of chemicals. Moreover, changes in the operation of a treatment process can inflict changes that have unforeseen consequences, including an increased amount of harmful effluents, and therefore it is essential for a monitoring system to be able to adapt to various process conditions. It seems, however, that the monitoring systems used currently by the industry are lacking this functionality and are therefore only partially able to meet the needs of modern industry. In addition, there is typically a large amount of measurement data available in the industry, for which advanced data processing and computational tools are needed for monitoring, analysis, and control. For this reason, it would be useful to have a monitoring system which could be able to handle a large amount of measurement data and present the essential information on the state and evolution of the process in a simple, user-friendly and flexible manner. In this paper, we introduce an adaptive multivariable approach based on self-organizing maps (SOM) which can be utilized for advanced monitoring of industrial processes. The system developed can provide a new kind of tool for illustrating the condition and evolution of an industrial wastewater treatment process. The operation of the system is demonstrated using process measurements from an activated sludge treatment plant, which is a part of a pulp and paper plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This systematic review aims to identify what is known about patient and healthcare professional experiences of managing recurrent vulvovaginal thrush by synthesising published findings. Five databases were searched for studies on patient and healthcare professional experiences managing recurrent thrush. Two reviewers independently screened and quality assessed qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies. Findings from eligible studies were thematically synthesised. 720 papers were identified, and 29 were included. Four descriptive themes were developed to depict the repeated management of recurrent thrush. These themes were: (re)experiencing impacts, (re)identifying recurrent thrush, (re)considering consultations, and (re)trying treatments. An analytic high-order frame of 'interwoven and reoccurring uncertainties' was used to understand these themes. Patients and healthcare providers face uncertainties when managing recurrent thrush. The inconsistencies raised across papers suggests an unaddressed gap in knowledge about patient experiences and their informational and support needs; this includes insights about this condition's diagnosis, management, treatment, impacts, and meaning. This review has implications for patient education, health promotion, and communication between patients and providers. Our interpretations suggest the need for more research and resources to help support patients and clinicians in managing this condition to promote more understanding, communication, and collaborative care. • Recurrent thrush differs from acute or episodic experiences. • Managing recurrent thrush is neither straightforward nor inconsequential. • Patients and healthcare professionals face interwoven and recurring uncertainties. • Improvements in communication and patient education on recurrent thrush are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern information technologies, such as Competitive Intelligence (CI) and Business Intelligence (BI), are areas of interest for many researchers. Thanks to them organizations can achieve organizational success and added value. This means that they can be more creative and innovative, achieve a competitive advantage, attract new customers, and enter new markets. The main goal of this study is to investigate the CI issue, in particular, to examine the key benefits that organizations can derive from its use. The paper presents the results of surveys on CI use carried out in 233 organizations. The collected extensive research material allowed us to answer, among others, the following questions: (1) what is the purpose of using CI in organizations: (2) in which areas is CI used in organizations; (3) what IT are applied in CI; and (4) what benefits organizations derive from CI. The most important results from our study indicate that CI enables organizations (1) to monitor their environments more effectively; (2) to identify opportunities and threats emerging on the market much faster; (3) to understand the customers and their preferences better; and (4) to improve the decision-making quality at all management levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper concerns the role of e-leadership in organizations operating in crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the extensive literature review, it introduces a new model of organizational performance based on e-leadership, as a response for sudden growth of dependence of modern organizations on IT. The influence of e-leadership on organizational performance is assumed to be mediated by work engagement, employees' dynamic capabilities, work motivation, P-J fit and job performance. The theoretical model is verified by empirical research performed among 1160 organizations operating in Poland, Italy and USA during an active wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The obtained results confirmed the proposed hypotheses, allowing to conclude that e-leadership activates work engagement of employees, who are more willing to use their dynamic capabilities to shape work motivation and reestablish P-J fit, which in turn influences positively job and organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we assess the perceptions on fish consumption behaviour at different value chains using survey data from 3 coastal counties (Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale) in Kenya. Study profiled the different sectors; fishers, fish traders, fish shops, fish mongers, fish farmers and consumers. Qualitative and quantitative data was captured to evaluate availability of target species, market trends, pricing and fish consumption. A 1–5 Likert scale was adopted to analyse consumption behaviour. The Likert scale data was subjected to ANOVA analysis in SPSS to assess significance. Rabbit fish showed a higher preference compared to milkfish, Nile tilapia grown in sea water "marine tilapia" and silver pompano. High value fish attracted higher prices per kg in all seasons. The market prices of milkfish and Nile tilapia grown in sea water were 25 − 35 % lower than rabbit fish and silver pompano. There were variations in landings during North East Moonson and South East Moonson and more fish landings from open water as compared to near shore areas. Species preference was influenced by palatability, price, demand and quality meat where more than 30 % of the fisher's preferred rabbit fish based on the attributes. Farming skills, seed availability and management informed species farmed. The study demonstrated significance of demographic characteristics: family, age, culture, gender and education on fish preference. The paper reveals a need for high returns and value for money in the preference of fish species thus guiding mariculture management. Findings recommend rabbitfish as a suitable species for mariculture based on reference from both high income level and low income level consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies in engineer–to–order (ETO) manufacturing environments that seek efficiency gains through adopting a mass customisation strategy meet significant challenges. The implementation of the mass customisation (MC) strongly focuses on transitioning from mass production. The purpose of this study is to identify current areas of concern and operational challenges when adopting mass customisation principles in ETO companies. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was carried to evaluate the challenges the Portuguese Industry faces in the moulding companies' sectors and how they are improving their ability to meet deadlines. The study will look at ways of boosting customer satisfaction by providing unique products at a relatively low cost. The study exposed issues of MC in ETO companies in general, it is critical to achieving more efficient use of resources, workflow, and innovative management methods and approaches to deal with the variability and complexity of this manufacturing system. The competitive pressure to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness in this type of organisation requires constantly searching for new concepts and tools that can be developed and applied. Furthermore, this paper explores the ETO companies' significant difficulties and the technical and scientific solutions used and proposed as its significant contribution, as well as a proposal for future research and development to increase ETO companies' resilience and performance level in managing their value chain and executing operations in response to customer requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the foot and ankle can pose both a diagnostic challenge, and a management dilemma. This paper seeks to describe the various types of AVN in the foot and ankle and clarify the expected presentation, examination findings, investigations and management strategies available. In addition, discussion of the relevant basic sciences, and the process of bone healing will facilitate a broader understanding of the condition, and the risk factors for its development. AVN can be secondary to trauma, as in most cases of talar AVN, or secondary to factors such as steroid use, alcohol excess, metabolic diseases, repetitive microtrauma, and abnormal biomechanics. Usually, a combination of the above is thought to be responsible. Many of the conditions described are established in childhood, either presenting at the time, or in the third or fourth decade. Management ranges from exercise limitation and offloading footwear, to surgical decompression, osteotomy, fusion or excision. AVN has a high morbidity and affects a young demographic, causing a substantial burden on healthcare. Early recognition of symptoms, and appropriate investigation and management could reduce the number of patients progressing to advanced disease, avoiding the frequently unsatisfactory surgical outcomes associated with options such as fusion and excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• From 87 studies, a total of 22 studies were eligible. • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) during pregnancy is an extremely rare case. • Care of pregnant patients with TBI often requires multidisciplinary approach. • We propose management guideline for head injury in pregnancy. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) during pregnancy is an extremely rare condition in our neurosurgical emergency practices. Studies on the epidemiology and management of TBI in pregnancy are limited to case reports or serial case reports. There is no specific guidelines of management of TBI in pregnancy yet. The authors performed a structured search of all published articles on TBI in pregnancy from 1990 to 2020. We restricted search for papers in English and Bahasa. The literature search yielded 22 articles with total 43 patients. We distinguished C-section based on its timing according to the neurosurgical treatment into primary (simultaneous or prior to neurosurgery) and secondary group (delayed C-section). The mean GOS value in primary C-section is better compared to secondary C-section in severe TBI group (3.57 ± 1.47 vs 3.0 ± 1.27, respectively) consistently in the moderate TBI group (4.33 ± 1.11 vs 3.62 ± 1.47, respectively). The fetal death rate in primary C-section is lower compared to secondary C-section in severe TBI group (14.2 % vs 33.3 %, respectively), contrary, in moderate TBI group (16.7 % vs 12.5 %, respectively). Care of pregnant patients with TBI often requires multidisciplinary approach to optimize treatment strategy on a case-by-case basis in light of prior experience across different center. We propose management guideline for head injury in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance planning in Industry 4.0 gains benefits from symbolic AI for knowledge representation learning from heterogeneous data. Traditionally simulation models are utilized that are not flexible to cope with dynamic changes and to react to ad-hoc events. This paper presents a novel competence-based maintenance planning (CBMP) methodology using a knowledge graph conjoined with linear programming and a genetic algorithm. Aligned with production planning goals, CMBP allows optimizing human resource planning through integrating competence factors in shift scheduling and task allocation. The use case study in semiconductor manufacturing has resulted in a reduced Mean Time To Repair of 18%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent rivers, which do not flow all year round, have biophysical functioning specificities which need to be considered when defining management policies, even more so in the current context of global change. However, in Europe intermittent rivers benefit from the same regulations as permanent rivers, which undoubtedly leads to their degradation. This paper aims to identify (1) how perceptions and values of intermittent rivers interact with their management and (2) determine whether the prospect of climate change leads the stakeholders to questioning their perceptions and values of intermittent rivers and the way we should manage them. Semi-structured interviews and mental mapping exercises were conducted with 28 various stakeholders (elected officials, fishers, river managers, and residents), all of whom lived along the French intermittent Albarine River. Qualitative analysis of the discourses and maps confirms strong interactions between the perceptions and values related to intermittent rivers and their management. The results highlight social devaluation of the intermittent section in terms of aesthetics, recreation, and biological values. They also point to the role of power plays between river managers and fishers, in the prioritization of management actions that favor perennial sections to the detriment of intermittent ones. These dynamics of devaluing and discarding intermittent sections or rivers from management plans are all the more alarming as there is little propensity among river stakeholders to think about the future of these intermittent rivers and their value in the context of climate change, where the prevalence of intermittent rivers is likely to increase dramatically. • Stakeholders devalue intermittent rivers (IR) compared to perennial rivers. • Devaluation is due to aesthetic, recreational and biological reasons. • Devaluation leads to IR or IR sections being excluded from management plans. • Stakeholders do not consider a future with increased intermittency with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several highly cited review articles identify recommended adaptation strategies for conservation. However, those reviews do not include evaluation of whether the recommended adaptation measures were tested and found to be effective in reducing climate change vulnerability. The basic question of this paper is to determine if there has been assessment of the potential effectiveness of adaptation recommendations for conservation reported in the published literature, and if so, what kind of assessment was used. To answer this question, literature was surveyed from the references in previous review papers focused on climate change adaptation recommendations, and augmented by a targeted literature search to identify studies that assess the effectiveness of recommended adaptation actions listed in those reviews. Identified studies were categorized by study type according to a hierarchy of adaptation efficacy testing. The result was a very modest number of studies that experimentally tested adaptation efficacy (n = 13), including only one indicating the chosen strategy did not achieve its intended goal, and only one study that tested efficacy through monitoring. For some of the recommendations, only one efficacy-assessing paper was identified. There appears to be a significant shortage of studies presenting evidence that would be most useful in determining if a recommended action is likely to confer the desired conservation improvement, as well as a stagnation in the growth of the field. This points to a need for more efforts to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of adaptation recommendations for biodiversity management. Without it, we cannot learn which are the good ideas. • Adaptation strategies to improve biodiversity outcomes are largely untested. • Only 14 studies were identified in which adaptation efficacy was tested. • Efforts to test adaptation efficacy do not appear to be increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ontologies provide engineers and developers with an unambiguous, verifiable, and expandable knowledge base related to a certain domain. Every project that requires control over consistent knowledge, which is especially relatable when using artificial intelligence with datasets increasing in size every second, would reap benefits from adding ontologies to the equation. It is a powerful asset enabling the development of a project with integrity between platforms or teams. Unfortunately, the cost of entry for a developer into the ontology engineering area is high, as it has been proven over the last decades that developing an ontology is a complex, collaborative task, which requires the support of an adequate methodology as well as software tools. The current paper's objective is twofold. First, it provides a survey on the methodology and software tools used for the creation of the ontology, its maintenance and collaboration. The paper investigates how the tools evolved over the years and what trends have emerged. Second, as the result of the analysis conducted, we show that current solutions have deficiencies and a technological debt; therefore, we present our plan to build a modern tool that uses state-of-the-art technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]