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Purpose: This paper aims to propose a bi-level mixed integer linear location-allocation problem. The upper-level objective function is dedicated to minimizing the total distances covered by customers to meet the p-selected facilities and the fixed cost values for establishing these facilities. While in the lower level, a customer preference function evaluates the priority of customers in selecting facilities. Design/methodology/approach: The solution approach to the proposed model uses the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimality conditions to the lower-level problem where a set of p-selected facilities are introduced as the selection of the upper-level decision maker. The bi-level model reduces to a single-level model with some added binary variables. Findings: Sensitivity analysis of the proposed bi-level model concerning variations of such different parameters as customers' preferences and the number of selected facilities have been provided, using some numerical examples. Also, locating a recreational facility in Mazandaran province, Iran, has been provided to evaluate the reliability of the proposed model and efficiency of the solution approach, as well. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is original and its findings are not available elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China's government has invested a great deal of resources to improve the coverage rate of community care facilities for the elderly. However, the facilities that have been built are underutilized. Methods: Referring to the Anderson model, a framework for analyzing the utilization of community care facilities for the elderly was constructed. Descriptive statistics on survey data from 17 communities demonstrated the status of the utilization, and binary logistic regression analysis examined the influencing factors of the utilization. Results: Built community care facilities for the elderly are underutilized and there are significant differences in the influencing factors of the utilization between daily care facilities, medical care facilities, recreation facilities, and spiritual comfort facilities. Conclusions: The main reasons for the underutilization can be delineated as follows: (1) The demand for community care facilities is outstripped by the supply, resulting in a surplus; (2) Complex constraints on demand for facilities due to insufficient enabling resources; (3) Inadequacy of community care facilities in meeting expectations. (4) High substitutability of community care facilities; (5) Bureaucratic pressure hindering facility development. To address the underutilization of community care facilities, it is recommended to clarify the community responsibility boundaries for elderly care and the role that the market plays in community care facilities for the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Single Source Capacitated Facility Location Problem (SSCFLP) consists of determining locations for facilities to meet customer demands so that each customer must be served by a single facility. This paper proposes a matheuristic algorithm for solving large-scale SSCFLP instances that combines neighborhood-based heuristic procedures with the solution of two binary linear programming sub-problems through a general-purpose solver. The proposed algorithm starts from the optimal solution of the linear relaxation of the SSCFLP to reduce its size and identify promising potential locations for opening facilities. Computational experiments were performed on two benchmark sets of large instances. For one of them, the developed algorithm obtained optimal solutions for all instances. For the other set, it provided average relative deviations slightly lower than those of three relevant algorithms from the literature. These results allow us to conclude that the proposed algorithm generates good-quality solutions and is competitive in solving large-scale SSCFLP instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Data‐informed Stepped Care (DiSC) study is a cluster‐randomized trial implemented in 24 HIV care clinics in Kenya, aimed at improving retention in care for adolescents and youth living with HIV (AYLHIV). DiSC is a multi‐component intervention that assigns AYLHIV to different intensity (steps) of services according to risk. We used the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications‐Expanded (FRAME) to characterize provider‐identified adaptations to the implementation of DiSC to optimize uptake and delivery, and determine the influence on implementation outcomes. Methods: Between May and December 2022, we conducted continuous quality improvement (CQI) meetings with providers to optimize DiSC implementation at 12 intervention sites. The meetings were guided by plan‐do‐study‐act processes to identify challenges during early phase implementation and propose targeted adaptations. Meetings were audio‐recorded and analysed using FRAME to categorize the level, context and content of planned adaptations and determine if adaptations were fidelity consistent. Providers completed surveys to quantify perceptions of DiSC acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility. Mixed effects linear regression models were used to evaluate these implementation outcomes over time. Results: Providers participated in eight CQI meetings per facility over a 6‐month period. A total of 65 adaptations were included in the analysis. The majority focused on optimizing the integration of DiSC within the clinic (83%, n = 54), and consisted of improving documentation, addressing scheduling challenges and improving clinic workflow. Primary reasons for adaptation were to align delivery with AYLHIV needs and preferences and to increase reach among AYLHIV: with reminder calls to AYLHIV, collaborating with schools to ensure AYLHIV attended clinic appointments and addressing transportation challenges. All adaptations to optimize DiSC implementation were fidelity‐consistent. Provider perceptions of implementation were consistently high throughout the process, and on average, slightly improved each month for intervention acceptability (β = 0.011, 95% CI: 0.002, 0.020, p = 0.016), appropriateness (β = 0.012, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.027, p<0.001) and feasibility (β = 0.013, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.022, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Provider‐identified adaptations targeted improved integration into routine clinic practices and aimed to reduce barriers to service access unique to AYLHIV. Characterizing types of adaptations and adaptation rationale may enrich our understanding of the implementation context and improve abilities to tailor implementation strategies when scaling to new settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea has faced many social issues due to long working hours, lack of rest areas, and poor rest facility environments for cleaners, security guards, department store workers, etc. Discussions have been ongoing about mandating the installation of rest facilities. From August 18, 2022, Article 128–2 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, concerning the installation of rest facilities, was enforced. Consequently, employers in all industries are required to install rest facilities, and laws have been established to ensure these facilities meet certain standards. Accordingly, this study investigated the current status of rest facility installations and the awareness of the law's enactment in Korean industrial sites. The results, analyzed by gender, age, managerial status, industry, and size of the business, indicated that younger people were less satisfied with the rest facilities. Managers were more knowledgeable about the legal regulations than workers. In the service industry, compared to other industries, smaller businesses were less likely to have rest facilities and were less aware of the legal regulations. The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data to help establish the rest facility installation laws in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2023, the two largest bioimaging networks in the Americas, Latin America Bioimaging (LABI) and BioImaging North America (BINA), came together during a 1‐week meeting in Mexico. This meeting provided opportunities for participants to interact closely with decision‐makers from imaging core facilities across the Americas. The meeting was held in a hybrid format and attended in‐person by imaging scientists from across the Americas, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. The aims of the meeting were to discuss progress achieved over the past year, to foster networking and collaborative efforts among members of both communities, to bring together key members of the international imaging community to promote the exchange of experience and expertise, to engage with industry partners, and to establish future directions within each individual network, as well as common goals. This meeting report summarises the discussions exchanged, the achievements shared, and the goals set during the LABIxBINA2023: Bioimaging across the Americas meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a framework of Reliable Capacitated Facility Location Problem with Single source constraint, which allows us to capture the mental account management problem for a bank under uncertain environment. In the problem, each facility, corresponding to a financial product, has limited capacity and may fail randomly, which represents that the product fails to reach the threshold level of return. Each customer, corresponding to a mental account, is served by a single primary facility or product, and its demands, or the setting goals, can be split on several backup facilities or alternative investments with redundant capacity. With the operation, a portion of the satisfaction can still be met by the backup facilities when the primary service of a customer fails. We formulate a mixed integer programming model for the problem and design a Lagrangian relaxation based solution algorithm, which sophisticatedly exploits the structure of the model and transfers the complicated relaxation problems into 0–1 knapsack problems to reduce the complexity. A local search procedure is also incorporated into the algorithm to enhance the accuracy of small- and large-scale computation. Finally, a real-life case of mental accounting is investigated to illustrate the application of the decision model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement-based design (DBD) methods were originally developed in the 1990s for concrete structures and later modified for light-frame wood buildings and mass timber buildings. DBD methods use displacement as the design criterion to minimize economic losses, control component damage, and enable rapid return to functionality for increased resilience. This paper introduces a performance-based design check procedure that uses the direct displacement-based design (DDD) method and numerical pushover analysis for the design of cross-laminated timber and light-frame shear (CLT-LiFS) buildings. Prestressing CLT panels with embedded posttensioning high-strength steel cables or external high-strength steel rods enable them to provide robust lateral load resistance and self-centering capacity. LiFS walls offer additional lateral load resistance and energy dissipation through the slip of nail connections. A six-story CLT-LiFS building was used as a design example meeting three performance levels (damage limitation, life safety, 15 and collapse prevention) based on ASCE/SEI 41-17 criteria. Each performance level corresponds to a set of three criteria: interstory drift limits, cable stress limits, and CLT compressive strain limits at the rocking interface. The design was checked using a series of nonlinear time history (NLTH) analyses with a suite of ground motion records. The results from the design check procedure and the statistical distributions of performance criteria from NLTH analysis confirmed that the six-story CLT-LiFS building met performance expectations. Additionally, a collapse fragility curve was developed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the building's behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the article is to answer the question whether the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in China and spread around the world at the beginning of 2020, has affected the management of healthcare facilities. An example of such a change in strategic and operational management, especially in the field of patient service and rules related to personnel management, is JST Sp. Z o. o. CM Klara in Częstochowa. Design/methodology/approach: The study was based on a purposive, pilot study. The survey tool was a questionnaire. Contact with the facility took place by e-mail correspondence and direct meetings with the management of the facility. The Supreme Audit Office's (NIK) report on the functioning of hospitals in the COVID-19 pandemic was analysed. Findings: The study can serve as a small contribution to the development of rules for the conduct of healthcare facilities in the event of a pandemic or other global health threats. On the basis of the study, it was possible to identify areas that require special attention, places in the management of the facility that are bottlenecks and elements that are well adapted to the fight against the pandemic. Research limitations/implications: The study in its current form is a pilot study. In the future, this study could apply to both Polish and other countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to develop general rules of conduct in the management of facilities in the era of pandemic threat. Practical implications: An extended study could help to develop general rules of conduct for the management of healthcare facilities in the era of pandemic threat. Social implications: A well-managed healthcare facility, especially at a time of enormous challenge such as the pandemic, can significantly contribute to saving the lives and health of many people, preventing the spread of the pandemic, limiting its impact on medical staff and educating the population related to the fight against the pandemic. Originality/value: The issue related to the management of healthcare facilities in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique issue. It can be particularly helpful for managers of health care facilities as well as for the state authorities to which these facilities are subordinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment in the design of control command and signaling devices (CCS) is one of the elements required by law. These analyses should be carried out at many stages of investment with the participation of various teams. This article presents a risk analysis method based on fuzzy sets, which can support and increase the safety of investment processes involving the railroad traffic control industry. The article analyzes hazards identified in CCS design. These risks were identified using a survey method based on a set of questions prepared by the authors and by conducting interviews among experts from design offices. As part of the survey, responses were obtained from 28 respondents who are specialists in the railway traffic control industry. Workshop meetings were held in six different design offices and at manufacturing plants of motion control systems. The identified risks were analyzed using the FMEA (failure mode and effect analysis) method and the fuzzy set method, as well as various methods of fuzzification and defuzzification. The results of all of the methods were compared with each other. The best solution from the analyzed ones was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the 2023 AIChE Annual Meeting, sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference, themed "Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future," which will take place from November 5–10, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, FL.

Copyright of Erciyes Akademi is the property of Erciyes Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The audit team had no disagreements with ESA management in the financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matters and delivered a completely clean audit. President Collinge also informed the GB that an ad hoc committee comprising D. Ojima, S. Naeem, and K. Weathers will synthesize the comments submitted by ESA members on the National Nature Assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Background: We determined the minimum threshold (Tmin) of annual facility case volume to optimize outcomes for patients with resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: We identified patients with localized perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent resection within the National Cancer Database (2010–2017). We used marginal structural logistic regression models to estimate the average treatment effect of receiving care in facilities meeting/exceeding Tmin on 90-day mortality and other postoperative outcomes. Results: A total of 2471 patients underwent resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma at 471 facilities. There was no effect of total hepatopancreatobiliary, surgical hepatopancreatobiliary, total hepatobiliary, surgical hepatobiliary, or total perihilar cholangiocarcinoma case volume on 90-day mortality. A Tmin of seven perihilar cholangiocarcinoma resections/year resulted in lower odds of 90-day mortality (IP-weighted OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.66–0.87). A total of two facilities met the Tmin. Patients receiving treatment at Tmin facilities had lower odds of length of stay ≥ 7 days (IP-weighted OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75–0.97) and positive surgical resection margins (IP-weighted OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.47–0.55). Additionally, undergoing surgery at Tmin facilities resulted in higher (≥ 4 nodes) lymph node yields (IP-weighted OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.21–3.11) but no change in the odds of nodal positivity. There was no effect of undergoing surgery at Tmin facilities on 30-day mortality or re-admission. Conclusions: Resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is infrequently performed at a high number of facilities. A Tmin of ≥ 7 resections/year resulted in lower 90-day mortality and improved postoperative outcomes. Our data suggest that regionalization of care for patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma could potentially improve outcomes in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Elektronik Industrie is the property of Hüthig GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Healthcare facilities are crucial assets that are necessary to be updated and evaluated regularly. One of the most pressing issues today is the renovation of healthcare facilities to match international standards. In large projects involving nations renovating healthcare facilities, it is necessary to rank the evaluated hospitals and medical centers in making optimal decisions for the redesign process. Objective. This study presents the process of renovating old healthcare facilities to meet international standards, applying proposed algorithms for measuring compliance for redesign, and deciding whether or not the redesign process is beneficial. Methods. The evaluated hospitals were ranked using a fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution algorithm and a reallocation algorithm that calculates the layout score before and after applying the proposed algorithm for the redesign process using bubble plan and graph heuristics techniques. Results and Conclusion. The results of the methodologies applied to 10 evaluated hospitals as selected hospitals in Egypt showed that the hospital with the abbreviation (D) had the most required general hospital criteria, and the hospital with the abbreviation (I) had no cardiac catheterization laboratory and lacked the most international standard criteria. After applying the reallocation algorithm, one hospital's operating theater layout score improved by 32.5%. Proposed algorithms support decision-making by helping organizations redesign healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate surveillance of population access to essential surgery is key for strategic healthcare planning. This study aimed to estimate population access to surgical facilities meeting standards for safe surgery equipment, specialized surgical personnel, and bellwether capability, cesarean delivery, emergency laparotomy, and long-bone fracture fixation and to evaluate the validity of using these standards to describe the full breadth of essential surgical care needs in Liberia. Method: An observational study of surgical facilities was conducted in Liberia between 20 September and 8 November 2018. Facility data were combined with geospatial data and analysed in an online visualization platform. Results: Data were collected from 51 of 52 surgical facilities. Nationally, 52.9 per cent of the population (2 392 000 of 4 525 000 people) had 2-h access to their closest surgical facility, whereas 41.1 per cent (1 858 000 people) and 48.6 per cent (2 199 000 people) had 2-h access to a facility meeting the personnel and equipment standards respectively. Six facilities performed all bellwether procedures; 38.7 per cent of the population (1 751 000 people) had 2-h access to one of these facilities. Bellwether-capable facilities were more likely to perform other essential surgical procedures (OR 3.13, 95 per cent c.i. 1.28 to 7.65; P=0.012). These facilities delivered a median of 13.0 (i.q.r. 11.3-16.5) additional essential procedures. Conclusion: Population access to essential surgery is limited in Liberia; strategies to reduce travel times ought to be part of healthcare policy. Policymakers should also be aware that bellwether capability might not be a valid proxy for the full breadth of essential surgical care in low-income settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metrology device based on the near-field speckle technique was developed in the x-ray test beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility to meet the at-wavelength detection requirements of ultra-high-precision optical elements. Different sources of error that limit the uncertainty of the instrument were characterized. Two main factors that contribute to the uncertainty of the measurements were investigated: (1) noise errors introduced by the electronics and the errors introduced by the algorithm and (2) stability errors owing to environmental conditions. The results show that the high measurement stability of the device is realized because it is insensitive to the effect of the external environment. The repetition accuracy of the device achieved 9 nrad (rms) when measuring the planar mirror that produces weak phase curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditional p-center problem is one of the classical facility location problems, which aims to find p facilities meeting the given distance condition with q pre-existing facilities. It is worth noting that, with the proliferation of the social network, the effect of social factor is non-negligible. However, the state-of-the-art solutions for the conditional p-center problem fail to deal with the social-aware scenario, and the key challenge is that the existing methods are incompatible with integrating the social condition. In this paper, we first formalize the conditional p-center problem in geo-social networks (GSCpC). To tackle this problem, we develop a homophily-based relaxation algorithm by considering both social constraint and spatial constraint. Specifically, in the first phase, we propose a partition algorithm based on Voronoi diagram to conquer the social constraint. Next, in the second phase, we propose a heuristic algorithm to refine the query results by minimizing the distance. To accelerate the performance, we also propose a category-aware user grouping strategy and a spatial distance based strategy to prune the unpromising results significantly. Experimental results on real-world datasets demonstrate that our approaches are more efficient and effective compared to the benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of structural and demographic changes in rural areas, fewer facilities and meeting places exist in Denmark. In this article, we assess which role facilities and meeting places in rural areas might have for the self-assessed Quality of Life (QoL) of the individuals living in the rural areas. Based on 27 semi-structured qualitative interviews with persons from three different rural areas in Denmark, we show how facilities and meeting places in rural areas play a role in relation to self-assessed QoL via two different types of mechanism: 1) through providing a framework for activities and 2) through the symbolic role facilities and meeting places might have to indicate that one is part of a thriving village. We argue that it is important to acknowledge both mechanisms when assessing the role of facilities and meeting places for QoL in rural areas. The findings in this study focus on the users of the local facilities. Further qualitative research could explore which role the presence of facilities and meeting places might play for the inhabitants who do not use the local facilities and meeting places to the same extent as the interview persons in this study. • Facilities and meeting-places provide physical spaces for meeting with other inhabitants in rural areas. • Too little is known about which role facilities and meeting-places might have for self-assessed Quality of Life (QoL). • Facilities and meeting-places in rural areas influence individuals lself-assessed QoL via two types of mechanisms: 1) through providing a framework for activities and 2) through the symbolic role facilities and meeting places have to indicate that one is part of a thriving village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linear accelerator (LINAC) system currently under construction at the Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF) employs acceleration tubes to accelerate the electron beam to 2.2 GeV. The RF field within the acceleration tube is controlled by an MTCA.4-based low-level radio frequency (LLRF) prototype system to meet stringent phase stability requirements. This paper introduces the structure of the LLRF system, encompassing both its hardware and software components. The LLRF system uses the non-IQ-sampling method to suppress odd harmonics through digital filters, achieving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of approximately 73 dB. Given that the power sources of most acceleration tubes operate in a saturated state, the radio-frequency (RF) control algorithm within the software is based on a separate amplitude open-loop and phase close-loop to maintain stable phase control during amplitude disturbances. The design of the RF control logic, including digital filters, the REF phase tracking method, the close-loop feedback controller, and the output pulse mode control algorithm, is detailed. Offline pulse-to-pulse test results demonstrate that it achieves a phase stability of 0.0176° rms with a solid-state amplifier, meeting the facility's requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust is a prerequisite in all endeavours concerning uncertainty and interdependencies. By studying the development of a sustainable, high performing building this paper report on such an endeavour. The client implemented a collaborative project delivery method where key actors were brought together to collaboratively develop the project in the design phase. For the participants to collaborate, and thus work as a high-performance team, there was a need for trust. Therefore, this study addresses the following research questions: what was perceived as the key elements for building trust in this project? and, how did the key elements impact the trust-building in this project? The study is based on observations of weekly design meetings (so-called Big-Room sessions), as well as secondary data from a document study, and a supplementary questionnaire. Trust was essential as the participants were able to rely on each other's expertise and work interdependently towards a common goal. The most prominent elements that affected trust were the start-up seminar, team composition, shared interest, support from management, joint problem solving, and the use of integrated concurrent engineering. These elements built and sustained trust due to their ability to create or positively impact the experiences, problem-solving, shared goals, reciprocity, and reasonable behaviour of the project team. The insight into how the collaborative project delivery method build trust may be valuable for practitioners and researchers alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report is a summary of the first SRS-Africa meeting that was held virtually on the 15th of October 2021, to gain information on the status of radiopharmaceutical sciences in Africa. Registration data included information on participants' qualifications and field of work. An independent survey performed in Africa prior to the meeting elicited details of available staff in different countries, facilities and equipment, radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals used, research undertaken and difficulties experienced. We present here a brief overview of this meeting's topics of discussion, including ongoing research, gaps and challenges, and local opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Istanbul, home to numerous historical treasures, houses one of the oldest fully constructed hospitals. This 50-bed hospital was built in the early 12th century during the Byzantine period by Empress Irene of Hungary and her husband Emperor John II Komnenos inside one of the largest monasteries of its time. The monastery housed one of the first hospitals and schools of medicine and included a nursing home, ophthalmologic health center, library, and cemetery. After the Empress died, her husband continued to enlarge the complex to its current state. Soon after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the complex was renamed after Zeyrek Mehmet, who was ordered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmet II or Mehmed the Conqueror) to convert the monastery into a mosque, constructing a Fatih Medrese for a short period of time. The hospital, however, remained untouched, and its rooms were used for Koran lessons. The building was fully restored from 2009 to 2017 and is still used as a mosque today. We would like to introduce the Pantokrator Monastery, maybe the only remaining hospital of the Byzantine era. Although it was built in the 12th century, the monastery is still a modern facility meeting current standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to empirically validate five propositions about the benefits of three-dimensional (3D) visualizations for the management of subsurface utility projects. Specifically, the authors validate whether benefits from 3D in the literature of building construction project management also apply to subsurface utility projects and map them using a taxonomy of project complexity levels. Design/methodology/approach: A multiple case study of three utility construction projects was carried out during which the first author was involved in the daily work practices at a utility contractor. 3D visualizations of existing project models were developed, and design and construction meetings were conducted. Practitioners' interactions with and reflections on these 3D visualizations were noted. Observational data from the three project types were matched with the five propositions to determine where benefits of 3D visualizations manifested themselves. Findings: Practitioners found that 3D visualizations had most merit in crowded urban environments when constructing rigid pipelines. All propositions were validated and evaluated as beneficial in subsurface utility projects of complexity level C3. It is shown that in urban projects with rigid pipelines (project with the highest complexity level), 3D visualization prevents misunderstanding or misinterpretations and increases efficiency of coordination. It is recommended to implement 3D visualization approaches in such complex projects Originality/value: There is only limited evidence on the value 3D visualizations in managing utility projects. This study contributes rich empirical evidence on this value based on a six-month observation period at a subsurface contractor. Their merit was assessed by associating 3D approaches with project complexity levels, which may help utility contractors in strategically implementing 3D applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive 5 to 6 well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late phase 3 trials. The monographs are targeted to Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees. Subscribers also receive monthly 1-page summary monographs on agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation/medication use evaluation (DUE/MUE) is also provided each month. With a subscription, the monographs are available online to subscribers. Monographs can be customized to meet the needs of a facility. Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. For more information about The Formulary Monograph Service, contact Wolters Kluwer customer service at 866-397-3433. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in technology have accelerated the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With the emergence of artificial intelligence, not only the manufacturing sector but also all sectors of society are expected to undergo changes in the future. In this age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is going to be more important for learners to improve their creativity than to acquire knowledge. So scholars are exploring new ways of teaching to cultivate suitable talent for the future society. Among these various methods of education, Maker Education at Micro Manufacturing Space is recognized as the optimal method for the AI era. This study, in light of this, analyzed the operation of Micro Manufacturing Space, which is located in a university, and further suggested the direction of development of Micro Manufacturing Space in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The results of this study are as follows. At the university's Micro Manufacturing Space, students can be trained to think innovatively and improve creativity. In addition, this space can also be used as an open learning and meeting space for university students to visit freely. Moreover, the place can be built for the purpose of a start-up space. Therefore, future Micro Manufacturing Space in universities, as it were, will definitely prove to be a multifunctional space providing support to foster and improve creativity of the main force of the future of society. The findings can be used as theoretical basic data in the creation of a Micro Manufacturing Space for design thingking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term release of uranium from residual sources at former uranium mill sites was often not considered in prior conceptual and numerical models, as contaminant removal focused on meeting radiological standards. To determine the reactive transport parameters, column tests were completed with various influent waters (deionized water, site groundwater, and local river water) on sediment from identified areas with elevated uranium on the solid phase in (1) vadose-zone (VZ) sediments, (2) saturated-zone sediments with higher organic carbon content, and (3) both vadose- and saturated-zone sediments with additional gypsum content. The gypsum was precipitated when low-pH, high-sulfate, tailings fluids or acidic waste disposal water were buffered by natural aquifer calcite dissolution. In general, the resulting uranium release was higher in the sediments with greater uranium concentrations. However, the addition of deionized water (DI) to the VZ sediments delayed the uranium release until higher-alkalinity groundwater was added. Higher-alkalinity river water continued to remove uranium from the VZ sediments for an extended number of pore volumes, with the uranium being above typical standards. Thus, river flooding is more efficient at removing uranium from VZ sediments than precipitation events (DI water in column tests). Organic carbon provides a stronger uranium sorption surface, which can be explained with geochemical modeling or a larger constant sorption coefficient (Kd). Without organic carbon, the typical sorption in sands and gravels is easily measurable, but sorption is stronger at lower, water-phase uranium concentrations. This effect can be simulated with geochemical modeling, but not with a constant Kd. Areas with gypsum create situations in which geochemical sorption is more difficult to simulate, which is likely due to the presence of uranium within mineral coatings. All the above mechanisms for uranium release must be considered when evaluating remedial strategies. Column testing provides initial input parameters that can be used in future reactive transport modeling to evaluate long-term uranium release rates and concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding on-ramp merging process is important for effective planning, design and operations of the on-ramp merging area. Mixed traffic streams with varying vehicle sizes and maneuverability, and lack of lanediscipline leading to lateral interactions are common in developing countries. Available studies on on-ramp merging operations in mixed traffic streams did not explore the effect of traffic composition and merging section geometry on the capacity and speed drops in the merging area. In this study, field data collected from the on-ramp merging section of an urban highway was used to develop a calibrated and validated microsimulation model. The model calibration involved optimizing conflict area and car-following parameters, and validation included comparing the model performance with another section on the same corridor. The calibrated model was used to evaluate the capacity and speed drops in the merging area for 600 scenarios representing various combinations of vehicle compositions, flow rates, merging section lengths, and mainline and on-ramp widths. Scenarios simulated for three hours with and without on-ramp traffic revealed merge area length, truck composition in mainline, merging traffic flows, and width of mainline and on-ramp as the statistically significant factors. The capacity dropped about 15% for mainlines with two, three, and four lanes. A second-order polynomial speed drop model developed from the simulation data indicated optimum merging section length of 100 m for mainline with two lanes and 150 m or more for mainlines with three and four lanes. The speed drop is maximum at about 1400 PCU/h/lane mainline flow and monotonically increase with ramp flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper shows the results of research on general zones in large European multispeciality hospitals. A dozen or so institutions, flagship examples of large contemporary hospitals, were selected for the study. The research focused on internal zones, in particular the reception area linked to the main communication system of the hospital which functions as a public space offering a range of services, and provides the space for communication, waiting and meetings. This work aims to determine design trends in the location and forms of general zones, their characteristics and proportion to other zones in hospitals, architectural features and functional-spatial solutions. The relationships between the shape of the hospital, its internal general zones, and their percentage share in the total building area were examined. Art and greenery in these zones were also investigated, along with the presence of natural lighting, the colours, and the type of finishing materials used in this type of space today. The study revealed noticeable differences between the form of general zones in large contemporary as well as 20th-century hospitals. In addition to their form, the arrangement of zones has also changed, and they often do not resemble a hospital space. Art and greenery play an increasingly important role. The general zone is a hospital's essential communication hub, constituting the main public space where people may meet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Public health policy and practice is strengthened by the application of quality evidence to decision making. However, there is limited understanding of how initiatives that support the generation and use of evidence in public health are operationalised. This study examines factors that support the internal functioning of a partnership, the Western Australian Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN). SiREN aims to build research and evaluation capacity and increase evidence-informed decision making in a public health context. Methods: This study was informed by systems concepts. It developed a causal loop diagram, a type of qualitative system model that illustrated the factors that influence the internal operation of SiREN. The causal loop diagram was developed through an iterative and participatory process with SiREN staff and management (n = 9) via in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 4), workshops (n = 2), and meetings (n = 6). Results: Findings identified critical factors that affected the functioning of SiREN. Central to SiREN's ability to meet its aims was its capacity to adapt within a dynamic system. Adaptation was facilitated by the flow of knowledge between SiREN and system stakeholders and the expertise of the team. SiREN demonstrated credibility and capability, supporting development of new, and strengthening existing, partnerships. This improved SiREN's ability to be awarded new funding and enhanced its sustainability and growth. SiREN actively balanced divergent stakeholder interests to increase sustainability. Conclusion: The collaborative development of the diagram facilitated a shared understanding of SiREN. Adaptability was central to SiREN achieving its aims. Monitoring the ability of public health programs to adapt to the needs of the systems in which they work is important to evaluate effectiveness. The detailed analysis of the structure of SiREN and how this affects its operation provide practical insights for those interested in establishing a similar project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous collapses and landslides caused by the Wenchuan earthquake provide abundant loose materials for a large number of debris flows that occurred after the earthquake. Most of the check dams were silted or damaged by debris flow due to the increased volume of materials after the earthquake. Taking the debris flows in the Qinglin Basin in China as a case study, 43 sets of numerical simulations of debris flow with different probabilities of occurrence and different facility combinations were performed to obtain the submerged range, velocity, and mud depth of debris flow in the residential area. The total risk of the residential area is calculated on the basis of the risk of a single building according to the vulnerability of the property and population and combined with the depth and velocity of debris flow. According to the change in risk in the residential area under different facility combinations, a novel method of quantitative evaluation of the benefits of facilities for disaster mitigation based on risk reduction per unit height of facility (RRPH) has been proposed. According to the result of the analysis, the method can quantify the benefits of disaster reduction by different facilities, analyze whether existing facilities meet disaster mitigation goals, and determine the optimal facility height, facility combination, or existing facilities improvement and optimization scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities is a priority at the global, national, and local levels. To inform improvements planning, conditions of WASH, waste management, and environmental cleaning were assessed in 81 facilities in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, as part of a nationally representative survey in 2019. The survey included on-site checks, structured interviews, and drinking-water quality analysis. WHO/UNICEF indicators for WASH service levels and an advanced service level defined at the national level were applied. The results showed that all investigated facilities provided basic water services; 94% of facilities provided basic hygiene and waste management services; 58 and 2%, respectively, provided basic cleaning and sanitation services. Only 1% of investigated facilities met the basic level for all five WASH dimensions. Advanced service levels were only met for hygiene, waste management, and/or cleaning in 15-38% of facilities. In 33% of health care facilities, drinking-water quality was not in compliance with the national standards. The results revealed that there is a need for increased awareness and efforts to ensure basic provisions for sanitation, environmental cleaning, and drinking-water safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) have experienced an increase in cancer burden in the recent years. There is need for major investments in the cancer treatment facilities including radiotherapy (RT). Aims: This study aimed to provide a quantitative estimation of the effect of establishing new RT facilities on patient access through Geographic Information System (GIS) modelling of population density and service availability to assess the best location for a new RT centre when there are multiple competing locations. Methods: Methods involved cancer epidemiological data collection and assessing RT demand (proportion needing RT) in 2040, assessment of current RT facilities meeting the demand, GIS‐based assessment of minimal travel distance in relation to RT demand and scenario‐based location planning with adoption of the principles of efficiency, availability and equity for establishment of suitability of new RT facilities. Results: In 2040, three highest new cancer case projections are for Papua New Guinea (PNG) (22662), Fiji (2058) and New Caledonia (2037). Twenty‐nine megavoltage machines (MVMs) are needed to meet adequate RT demand with three existing in New Caledonia, Guam and French Polynesia meeting 2–6% demand. PNG with highest RT demand of 68% and Fiji with second highest (6%) demand are found as the choice venues for maximum accessibility of cancer population within the PICTs. Conclusion: The travel distance‐based GIS modelling estimation of establishment of new RT facilities will provide useful information for planning of RT services in the PICTS with improved patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]