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In the post-pandemic era, public space safety has emerged as a central public concern. As global public health awareness rose, traditional manual cleaning methods were increasingly inadequate for large-scale and high-standard cleaning requirements. Therefore, the design of a commercial cleaning robot that combined cleaning efficiency, environmental performance, and sustainability was essential to meet evolving societal demands. This paper systematically gathered and analyzed commercial cleaning robot functional requirements through a comprehensive investigation. According to the Kano model, functional requirements were categorized by attributes and their importance was quantified. Subsequently, using the QFD model, the design requirements for commercial cleaning robots were determined, and their significance weights were established. This identified the key design requirements. The results of this study indicated that the integration of the Kano and QFD models provided a novel perspective for the design of functional integration in commercial cleaning robots. Furthermore, it provided a practical methodological framework for addressing similar issues in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet children's needs for beds at different stages of growth, a product design model integrating the KANO Model, the Hierarchical Analysis Method, and Axiomatic Design (KANO-AHP-AD) was adopted to conduct a design study on the growability of solid wood children's beds. In accordance with the KANO model, the demands for children's beds coming from questionnaires among families with children were classified and sorted, and the demand indicators were then summarized. Secondly, AHP was introduced to establish a multilevel hierarchical model, construct a judgment matrix of design elements, and calculate the weights of these elements to improve the accuracy of users' demand weights. Then, AD was used to complete the mapping of the demand domain, function domain, and design domain of children's beds and to judge their reasonableness through the matrix. Such a design allows users to evaluate and verify the rationality of the program. Through modular design techniques, the growability requirements were fulfilled. A low number of product modules were freely combined to form product types with multiple functions to meet customers' needs for personalization and functional diversification. The work has value for the design of growable children's beds, thus contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to assess heavy metal concentrations in water, gills and liver of Tilapia zilli sampled from Wasai Reservoir from January 2019 to June 2020, with the aim of predicting health risk to the consumers. Sampling stations were selected based on variation of human activities around the water body. Levels of metals were determined using Microwave Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES). The results indicated that metal concentrations in water followed the following order: Zinc (2.55 mg/L) > Chromium (0.067 mg/L) > Lead (0.058 mg/L) > Cadmium (0.031 mg/L), with Arsenic undetected. The Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) showed that heavy metal accumulation in fish tissues was highest for Zn, followed by Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, and As. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the heavy metal concentrations across sampling stations, months, and seasons, except for Cr and Cd, which did not show significant variations (P>0.05). Fish tissue analysis revealed significant increases (P<0.05) in the gills (Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr > As > Cd) and liver (Cu > Pb > Zn > Cd > Cr > As). Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated strong positive correlations for Zn, Cr, Cd, and Pb (P<0.01), while negative correlations were observed for Cd and Cu (P<0.01). The study concluded that heavy metal pollution significantly affected fish physiology and water quality in the reservoir, primarily due to anthropogenic activities. It recommends the implementation of proper reservoir management systems to conserve this vital ecosystem and prevent its long-term deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to enhance the existing literature on the integration of Servqual and Kano concepts by providing a comprehensive justification for recommending improvement actions to service attributes. By utilizing a theoretical service model that considers factors previously overlooked, such as the impact on revenue and cost, performance variability, diminishing marginal utility in consumption, and diminishing marginal product of resources, this study offers propositions and proofs for the best actions in each paired category of service attributes within the combined Servqual and Kano assessments. The findings are presented in the form of an evaluation table, which links each paired category of attribute with its respective optimal action. Importantly, this study introduces novel perspectives on the definition of the best action and the basis for its selection. Unlike previous works that solely focus on customer satisfaction, this research defines the best action from the perspective of the service provider whose primary goal is to maximize profit. The proposed procedure for determining the best action obtained in this study is more justifiable, as it relies less on the ambiguous process of correctly identifying the final categories of attributes in both models. To illustrate the new integration process, an example based on simulated data is also provided. Overall, this study contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive and justified approach to improving service attributes through the integration of Servqual and Kano concepts.

Background: The prevalence of congenital malformations varies from place to place. With a declining economy, increased utilization of traditional medications, and the traditional culture of consanguinity in Kano area, we decided to examine the incidence and pattern of presentation of congenital malformations in the city. Objectives: To document the prevalence, pattern, contribution to perinatal mortality and outcome in babies with obvious congenital malformations. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of obvious major congenital malformations in neonates delivered at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano over a six-year period, was carried out. Data were retrieved from the case files of the neonates. Results: The overall prevalence of congenital malformations was 5.5/1000 total births with a perinatal mortality rate of 60.7/1000 total births. Congenital malformations contributed 1.3 percent to the overall perinatal mortality. Gastrointestinal, central nervous system and unclassified malformations were the commonest. Malformations of the cardiopulmonary system had the highest case fatality rate. Conclusion: The contribution of congenital malformations to perinatal mortality in Kano may be higher than reported in this study as the diagnosis of congenital malformations is often missed because of low autopsy rates and non-availability of advanced diagnostic facilities in our institution.

Background: The interval between delivery and umbilical cord separation varies worldwide. Some maternal, foetal and perinatal factors including cord care practices are known to affect this interval. Objectives: To establish the mean umbilical cord separation time and the effect of maternal and infant characteristics, perinatal factors and cord care practices on this time among healthy babies in northern Nigeria. Methods: An interviewer questionnaire was administered on mothers of healthy babies at Child Welfare Clinics of a tertiary and secondary level hospital in Kano. In each case, information was obtained about mother's parity, place of antenatal care and delivery, gestational age, birth weight, time of umbilical cord separation after birth and cord treatment practices. Results: Five hundred and seventy seven (96.2 percent) of 600 mothers interviewed, took part in the study, four of these mothers had twin gestation. Responses showed that cord separation time ranged from 2 -14 days (4.20 1.70)Three hundred and forty nine (60.9. p e r c e n t ) mo t h e r s a p p l i e d methylated spirit, 145 (25.3 percent) used hot compress, while 50 (8.7 percent) applied toothpaste on the cord. Twenty (3.5 percent) others applied herbs, while nine (1.6 percent) applied dusting powder to the umbilical stump. Cord separation time wa s significantly shorter among babies whose mothers were of high parity, unbooked, and of low educational status. In addition, the use of razor blade, thread, hot compress or application of herbal preparations or toothpaste significantly shortened the separation time (P

This study aims to enhance the existing literature on the integration of Servqual and Kano concepts by providing a comprehensive justification for recommending improvement actions to service attributes. By utilizing a theoretical service model that considers factors previously overlooked, such as the impact on revenue and cost, performance variability, diminishing marginal utility in consumption, and diminishing marginal product of resources, this study offers propositions and proofs for the best actions in each paired category of service attributes within the combined Servqual and Kano assessments. The findings are presented in the form of an evaluation table, which links each paired category of attribute with its respective optimal action. Importantly, this study introduces novel perspectives on the definition of the best action and the basis for its selection. Unlike previous works that solely focus on customer satisfaction, this research defines the best action from the perspective of the service provider whose primary goal is to maximize profit. The proposed procedure for determining the best action obtained in this study is more justifiable, as it relies less on the ambiguous process of correctly identifying the final categories of attributes in both models. To illustrate the new integration process, an example based on simulated data is also provided. Overall, this study contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive and justified approach to improving service attributes through the integration of Servqual and Kano concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Groundwater resource management in drylands, characterized by climate variability and population growth, is difficult. Exploration and exploitation of groundwater, due to inadequate surface water is very costly. This study employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS to identify groundwater potential (GWP) areas in a semi-arid region of Nigeria. Land-use-land-cover, drainage density, slope, rainfall, static water level, soil, lithology, and aquifer were selected for GWP analysis. Parameter weights were determined using AHP and ranked based on their contribution to GWP by experts. The parameters were then integrated using the weighted overlay tool in ArcGIS 10.5 to produce a GWP map of the study area. Borehole yield data from 245 wells were collected to determine the model accuracy and model validation. Results classified the study area into very high GWP (1.9%), high GWP (8.8%), moderate GWP (62%), low GWP (20.70%) and very low GWP (6.6%). Areas with better GWP include Gurun, Dugol, Zago, Kumbo, Dukku, Doguwa, Riruwai, Dambazau, etc. Moderate GWP areas are widely spread across the state while areas with poor GWP include Sharawa, Kadewa, Koya, Dagar, Jigilawa, Galwanga, Yanganau, Kunchi, Tofa, Tsanyawa, etc. Validation of the AHP model with borehole yield data shows a correlation coefficient of 71.3% giving a good prediction. AHP and GIS can be used to successfully map GWP areas which could serve as an exploration guide for sustainable management of groundwater resources in semi-arid areas.

Fasilitas dalam bekerja dapat berpengaruh pada efisiensi dan kenyamanan dalam melakukan pekerjaan. Meja QC adalah salah satu fasilitas yang dapat menunjang pekerjaan yang perlu diperbaiki agar sesuai dengan kebutuhan dan juga dapat memberikan kenyamanan dalam bekerja. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan produk meja quality control yang mengintegrasikan metode Kano dan Quality Function Deployment (QFD), serta mempertimbangkan aspek ergonomi. Metode Kano dipilih agar dapat menentukan prioritas dari fitur yang akan dikembangkan, dan metode QFD dipilih agar dapat menentukan hubungan antara kebutuhan responden dengan respon teknis yang dilakukan oleh tim pengembang. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa prioritas pengembangan dari meja QC adalah tinggi meja yang dapat diatur, tahan karat, dan kaki meja dengan tinggi yang sejajar. Dalam proses perancangan, penekanan khusus diberikan pada aspek ergonomi untuk memastikan kenyamanan dan efisiensi penggunaan meja. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah: pertama, menambahkan hidrolis pada kaki meja, sehingga tinggi meja dapat diatur sesuai kebutuhan pengguna. Selanjutnya, menggunakan keramik granit untuk bagian atas permukaan meja, memberikan keindahan dan tahan karat. Juga menambahkan laci pada meja untuk menyimpan alat-alat QC dengan rapi. Selain itu, menambahkan handle di kedua sisi meja agar mudah dipindahkan dan diposisikan ulang. Pembatas meja juga dilengkapi dengan engsel untuk memudahkan dan memberikan kenyaman saat pengguna menulis. Terakhir, menambahkan kereta dorong untuk membantu memudahkan pekerjaan QC, sehingga pengguna dapat bekerja dengan lebih nyaman.

Mining of mineral ore is considered one of the anthropogenic sources of elevating the activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the environment, which in turn causes an increased risk of human exposure via the food chain. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burdens resulting from tin mining activities in Nigeria, farm soil and sixty-two samples of different food crops grown around tin mining areas were evaluated for the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using a high-purity germanium detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil were 64.6 ± 29.5, 72.03 ± 28.73 and 680.6 ± 324.3 Bq/kg, respectively. These values were found to be higher than their corresponding world average values. However, the mean activity concentrations of the measured radionuclides in plants were below their respective world average values, as reported by UNSCEAR. The overall average annual ingestion dose due to the consumption of the analysed plants was 151 µSv/y, which is below the reported world average value of 290 µSv/y. The results obtained show that the hazard indices were low enough to cause any immediate radiological health complications due to the ingestion of the crops grown in the studied areas.

The concept of product design in the twenty-first century is based on people's demands. User's sensory cognition has profound influence on the product experience. To tap the market potential and help designers understand customers' deep-seated emotional needs, it is necessary to investigate the link between users' sensory cognition and products. The study aims to delve into users' emotional needs for health kettles and convert these demands into detailed design specifications. It also aims to improve the product design and increase user satisfaction by investigating the correlations among users, product experts, and designers. By providing more precise research methods, designers may more accurately capture and meet users' emotional needs. First, the study adopted the KANO model to extract product requirements from the users' perspective. It divided the needs into different levels. Subsequently, it used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to further analyze, from the expert's perspective, the needs' technological feasibility and market feasibility, etc. It established a demand list with different weights. Finally, the study used Kansei Engineering to correlate user needs with product design elements to obtain the most suitable elements for consumers. This research created a reasonable and comprehensive design scheme that ranged from the exploration user need, the expert's feasibility evaluation, to the extraction of design elements. The combination of the KANO, AHP, and Kansei Engineering models can better uncover users' needs while assessing the feasibility of the needs in advance, providing designers with appropriate design elements and new insights for innovative product design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately identifying and classifying customer requirements is crucial for successful product design. However, traditional methods for requirement classification, such as Kano models based on questionnaires, can be time-consuming and may not capture all requirements accurately. Analyzing large volumes of user reviews using simple natural language processing techniques can also result in accuracy issues. To address these challenges, we propose a framework that combines pre-trained models (PTMs), Kano models, and the sentiment analysis technique. Our approach integrates an LDA-K-Means model enhanced by PTM ERNIE for pinpointing product feature topics within user reviews. Then, a sentiment analysis is performed using the fine-tuned PTM SKEP to assess user satisfaction with features. Finally, the Kano model is applied to perform requirement classification. We evaluate our framework quantitatively, demonstrating its superior performance compared to the baseline models. Our sentiment analysis model also outperforms the other baseline models. Moreover, a case study on smartphones illustrates the effectiveness of our framework. This research results suggest that leveraging a suitable PTM can better address the problem of requirement classification in user review analyses, leading to improved product design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An initial survey conducted through interviews with several students and parents found dissatisfaction with school services. This is supported by data on customer dissatisfaction complaints, and there was no effort from the school to fix it; no previous research has focused on this. The purpose of this study was to determine the efforts that can be made to improve the quality of service. The population in this study were grade 12 students. The sampling technique used a questionnaire, while the analysis used was the integration of the Servqual, Kano, and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methods. The results of the study using the Servqual method obtained 25 service attributes with negative results. While the Kano method obtained 22 important category attributes. Based on the results of the integration of Kano's service quality method into the QFD method, it was found that 3 attributes became priorities for improvement, namely implementing 5S, holding teacher and employee polls, and adding practical tools. The improvement solution for the Brantas Vocational School is implementing 5S management, conducting regular employee performance assessments by holding polls and adding practical equipment in the department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zakat philanthropic institutions have a pivotal role in fund collection and distribution, yet they haven't realized their full potential primarily due to diminished public trust. Addressing this challenge requires strategies to elevate service quality. This study introduces an integrated method combining SERVQUAL, Kano, and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to optimize Zakat service quality. Out of twenty-one service attributes evaluated, fourteen were identified as pivotal for strategic enhancement, spanning areas like information management, human resources, and product diversification. Utilizing the QFD framework, these attributes were transformed into actionable quality improvement measures. The suggestions for quality improvement measures include refining website functionalities, ensuring consistent and engaging information dissemination, comprehensive employee training, introducing e-wallet options, and expanding student loan provisions. By integrating SERVQUAL, Kano, and QFD, this research offers a holistic assessment approach, emphasizing only those service aspects that truly resonate with donor satisfaction. The findings and recommendations present immediate actionable insights for institutions aiming to augment zakat collection and distribution efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are relatively few studies in Nigeria, and indeed, sub-Saharan Africa that have documented the relative frequencies and histomorphological patterns of endometrial carcinoma. This study aimed to determine the relative frequencies and clinicepidemiological characteristics of endometrial carcinoma and its histological variants in Kano, North-Western, Nigeria. Method: A 10-year retrospective study of all endometrial carcinoma cases in the Department of Pathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. All relevant information was retrieved and data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Results: Endometrial carcinoma showed an increment in prevalence from 0.5% of all gynaecologic admission in 2008 to 1.0% in 2017. Type I endometrial carcinoma, specifically endometrioid adenocarcinoma accounted for 80% of cases, while endometrial serous carcinoma was the most common type II endometrial carcinoma representing 20% of cases. Over 75% of endometrial carcinomas occurred in postmenopausal women with a mean age of 59 years. Conclusion: There is a rise in the prevalence of endometrial carcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining of mineral ore is considered one of the anthropogenic sources of elevating the activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the environment, which in turn causes an increased risk of human exposure via the food chain. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burdens resulting from tin mining activities in Nigeria, farm soil and sixty-two samples of different food crops grown around tin mining areas were evaluated for the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using a high-purity germanium detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil were 64.6 ± 29.5, 72.03 ± 28.73 and 680.6 ± 324.3 Bq/kg, respectively. These values were found to be higher than their corresponding world average values. However, the mean activity concentrations of the measured radionuclides in plants were below their respective world average values, as reported by UNSCEAR. The overall average annual ingestion dose due to the consumption of the analysed plants was 151 µSv/y, which is below the reported world average value of 290 µSv/y. The results obtained show that the hazard indices were low enough to cause any immediate radiological health complications due to the ingestion of the crops grown in the studied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique silver ornaments of the Miao nationality in Guangxi, China reflect the specific characteristics of the times and cultural background. With the change of environment and the development of Internet economy, the protection and development policies of Miao silver jewelry are also changing. Service design is a new extension of the traditional design field in the post-industrial era, and it is an all-round realization of the design process. This study aims to solve the development mode of traditional Guangxi Miao silver jewelry craft in modern society, propose the strategic design of transformation from traditional product design mode to cultural service with the concept of service design, and explore the innovative strategy of traditional silver jewelry product design. Through case analysis, using the design thinking and methods in service design, starting from the service design process, construct the process of design stage of Miao silver jewelry products in Guangxi, and based on the characteristics of different stages, integrate KANO model and consumer satisfaction analysis method, finally review the process objectives and application process of service design stage, Construct the design process model of Miao silver jewelry product service based on design thinking from three levels of instinct layer, functional layer and reflection layer, explore the conservation strategies of traditional silver jewelry techniques, enhance the social and cultural value of traditional silver jewelry, bring new opportunities for the design of traditional silver jewelry products, better promote the development of traditional culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to Indonesia's tropical climate, it experiences frequent heavy rainfall, which is the primary cause of flooding. Despite various solutions implemented, the issue of flooding persists. Consumers demand an effective emergency flood protection solution to prevent water from entering homes at any time. This product is a flood barrier specifically designed for installation at the front door of houses. The development of this flood barrier product aims to address user needs and ensure flood resistance. To achieve this, the Kano method, and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) are utilized in the product design process, aligning it with customer desires. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is employed in testing to assess the flood barrier's ability to contain water effectively. Moreover, the data representing the user requirements is collected from residents in the Baleendah area. Those residents' houses have been affected by flooding. This area faces significant economic losses due to flooding, estimated at IDR 5,490,292,000,000. Bandung Regency is projected to have the highest frequency of flooding incidents in West Java in 2022, contributing to the broader issue of flooding in the province and country. The developed flood barrier product has successfully met most customer needs, leading to customer satisfaction. The product offers a reasonable price, customer customization options, and user-friendly features. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities has been well-received by users. The flood barrier product also demonstrates its efficacy in retaining floodwater through its low equivalent elastic strain, equivalent stress, and deformation values against hydrostatic pressure. These attributes enable the product to withstand floodwaters and prevent their entry into households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient experience is an essential component of high-quality care often measured through the satisfaction of patients. This service evaluation draws on a model from customer service to help better understand patient expectations and what matters to them most when attending for an MRI. An online survey based on Kano's model of customer satisfaction was administered online. Participants assessed 28 attributes as part of undergoing an MRI scan, rating how important these were to their satisfaction and thereby their experience. Six hundred and fifteen patients responded, with the majority aged 55–74 years and having had an MRI before. Classification of the attributes shows how those deemed 'functional' in nature have more potential to dissatisfy if not present, whereas those considered 'relational' are thought to have more of an influence over enhancing satisfaction. The importance of relational aspects focused on communication and ensuring that patients are fully informed were highlighted as drivers for improving satisfaction within MRI. • Functional aspects of experience are most likely to dissatisfy if not met. • Relational aspects of experience drive increasing satisfaction with service. • Patients want to be informed about and supported through the experience. • Patients value the connection with imaging staff when undergoing an MRI. • Time is well acknowledged as a barrier to meeting patient needs in MRI. • Acknowledge, Introduce, Describe, Explain, Reassure, Take through next steps is proposed as an alternative communication framework to support rapid rapport and meet patient needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease and invasive human filariasis. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors for the acquisition of canine dirofilariasis in dogs in Kano metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 170 dogs of 6 months and above in Kano metropolis and tested by the Modified Knott's technique for circulating microfilaria, an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay in order to detect the presence of filarial antigens of D. immitis as evidence of occult infection. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was administered to each of the dog owner to obtain demographic, management and environmental information associated with each dog sampled. Test for association and hypothesized factors was determined and the its strength was tested using a binary logistic regression. Out of the 170 dogs tested, 17 (10.00%) were positive for D. immitis infection with the Modified Knott's technique. However, after subjecting the samples for antigen detection by ELISA tests 23 (13.53%) were positive for D. immitis antigen, giving a sero-prevalence of 13.50%. There was agreement between the two tests on the 17 microfilaria positive samples. Majority of the infected dogs were males (56.5%), aged 24-47 months (43.50%) and of local breed (65.2%). There was significant association (p = 0.05) between D. immitis infection and dogs usage, breed and dogs with stagnant water (gutters) close to their houses (OR= (9.714; 95% CI (1.179-80.024)), OR=5.33; 95% CI (1.349-21.079), OR= 5.775; 95% CI (0.697-47.832), respectively. The study established that D. immitis infection is prevalent (13.53%) in household dogs indicating the possibility of zoonotic transmission in Kano metropolis. This demands for intensified vector control and good dog management practices to reduce dog to dog and dog to human transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SMEs is one of the pillars that can improve people's lives and is very meaningful for the government. In order for SMEs to continue to develop, even increase, it is necessary to measure service quality and customer satisfaction so that SMEs can identify weaknesses in their business as evaluation material. The research method begins by reviewing the literature related to the SMEs service industry, classifying, choosing what is appropriate for this research. The results of the research show that several methods can be used to measure, analyze, evaluate, and develop products. The KANO method with functional dysfunction assessment to identify customer desires based on attributes can have a significant influence on customer satisfaction. Servqual with a 5 gap analysis model for customer satisfaction analysis, IPA can be used to measure, test, analyze and determine service priority improvements, while QFD is broader. In addition to evaluating the quality of services and products, it is also for development or innovation and is not limited to the service industry but can be used to develop products for the manufacturing industry. Every business needs to be evaluated to improve performance, several approaches such as KANO, Servqual, IPA, QFD can be used as a reference for measuring, evaluating and developing to continue to improve and develop the business.

La expansión urbana es un fenómeno recurrente hoy en día en ciudades latinoamericanas intermedias. En Cuenca, Ecuador, la mayoría de los planes de vivienda de interés público que se construyen actualmente, se desarrollan en la periferia urbana, en conjuntos con viviendas unifamiliares adosadas, lo que contribuye al crecimiento desmedido de la ciudad. Los entes municipales promotores de estos proyectos aseguran que existe un rechazo de las personas a vivir en edificaciones de mediana altura, pese a que esto supondría varias ventajas relacionadas a un consumo de suelo menor. El presente estudio indaga sobre las condiciones de habitabilidad en conjuntos residenciales de mediana altura que se construyeron en la ciudad a finales del siglo XX, para establecer aquellas características de la habitabilidad que son más valoradas por los usuarios y que deberían ser tomadas en cuenta al momento de proyectar esta tipología de vivienda. La habitabilidad es medida a través de una encuesta que aborda aspectos físicos y psicosociales. Se utiliza la metodología Kansei-Kano para cuantificar datos cualitativos basados en la percepción. Los resultados obtenidos permiten determinar que temas como seguridad, calidad del espacio físico y presencia de estacionamientos son temas importantes para generar buenas condiciones de habitabilidad.

The development of digital technology has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges for the art industry, and seeking transformation and upgrading has become the preferred choice for the development of the art industry in the wave of digitalization that keeps rushing forward. This paper constructs an art design system using image processing technology to provide strong technical support for the core design of the art industry. The method of sparse feature expression and visual communication is used to extract the edge features of artworks, and the chunked feature matching technology is used for spatial sampling of artworks to realize the three-dimensional display of artworks based on virtual reality technology. The application effect of the image processing algorithm used in the art design system of this paper is significantly better than that of the original processing technology and digital signal-based processing technology. At the same time, the feature extraction and matching algorithms in the three-dimensional display of this paper are also significantly better than other algorithms, and the matching and fusion of artworks can realize the effect of high similarity with the original works. Based on the Kano model of display demand research, this paper finally calculated that the SI value is located between 0.1943~0.8120, the DSI value is located between -0.7053~-0.1004, and according to the calculation of the various demand items affecting user satisfaction, which provides a directional guideline for the upgrading and transformation of the display of works of art and the art industry.

As a mode of perpetuating and revitalizing traditional culture, cultural and creative products have garnered widespread affection and recognition from the public. In the context of evolving societal trends and advancements in science and technology, the digitization of traditional cultural and creative products has emerged as a prominent trend. This study undertakes the digital design of these products, primarily focusing on the innovative application of a style transfer algorithm to traditional motifs, supplemented by their visualization through digital platforms such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Furthermore, it facilitates intelligent consumer interaction via gesture recognition algorithms, thereby enhancing user engagement and experience. During the implementation phase, this research conducts comparative analyses of style transfer and gesture recognition within digital cultural and creative products. It also employs the Kano questionnaire to categorize and analyze user needs effectively. Notably, while the recall rate of the style transfer algorithm documented in this study remains below 0.9, it consistently achieves high precision, significantly enhances feature extraction capabilities, and improves the quality of the style transfer effects produced. Moreover, the static gesture recognition algorithm achieves an impressive average recognition rate of 98.2%. The dynamic gesture recognition algorithm, meanwhile, maintains an average recognition rate of 94% with a processing time of 3.2 seconds, balancing the demands of real-time interaction and accuracy effectively. This study systematically analyzes the significance of each requirement element across six dimensions, classifying customer needs for digital cultural and creative products into four distinct categories. Additionally, it delineates a viable pathway for the integration of digital art elements into the design of artistic and innovative products, setting a foundation for future innovations in this field.

IntroductionThe availability of quality primary health care (PHC) services in Nigeria is limited. The PHC system faces significant challenges and the improvement and expansion of PHC services is constrained by low government spending on health, especially on PHC. Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures dominate health spending in Nigeria and the reliance on OOP payments leads to financial burdens on the poorest and most vulnerable populations. To address these challenges, the Nigerian government has implemented several legislative and policy reforms, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act enacted in 2022 to make health insurance mandatory for all Nigerian citizens and residents. Our study aimed to determine the costs of providing PHC services at public health facilities in Kaduna and Kano, Nigeria. We compared the actual PHC service delivery costs to the normative costs of delivering the Minimum Service Package (MSP) in the two states.MethodsWe collected primary data from 50 health facilities (25 per state), including PHC facilities—health posts, health clinics, health centers—and general hospitals. Data on facility-level recurrent costs were collected retrospectively for 2019 to estimate economic costs from the provider’s perspective. Statewide actual costs were estimated by extrapolating the PHC cost estimates at sampled health facilities, while normative costs were derived using standard treatment protocols (STPs) and the populations requiring PHC services in each state.ResultsWe found that average actual PHC costs per capita at PHC facilities—where most PHC services should be provided according to government guidelines—ranged from US$ 18.9 to US$ 28 in Kaduna and US$ 15.9 to US$ 20.4 in Kano, depending on the estimation methods used. When also considering the costs of PHC services provided at general hospitals—where approximately a third of PHC services are delivered in both states—the actual per capita costs of PHC services ranged from US$ 20 to US$ 30.6 in Kaduna and US$ 17.8 to US$ 22 in Kano. All estimates of actual PHC costs per capita were markedly lower than the normative per capita costs of delivering quality PHC services to all those who need them, projected at US$ 44.9 in Kaduna and US$ 49.5 in Kano.DiscussionBridging this resource gap would require significant increases in expenditures on PHC in both states. These results can provide useful information for ongoing discussions on the implementation of the NHIA Act including the refinement of provider payment strategies to ensure that PHC providers are remunerated fairly and that they are incentivized to provide quality PHC services.

An integrated design method for office furniture products, combining Kano/AHP/QFD, had been proposed. The SET analysis model was used in conjunction with the Kano model to classify user requirements into attributes and identify core user demands. The AHP method was introduced to calculate the weights of core user demands and prioritize them, determining the user requirements that need to be given special attention. The QFD theory was applied to transform the user requirements that require special attention into specific product functional structures, and to prioritize and rank them by their weights, guiding the conceptual design of smart office desks. The results indicated that the following user demands should be given special attention: work item reminders and alerts, reminders for healthy habits, etc. When conducting design practices, it was crucial to consider factors such as reasonable dimensions, flexible and rotatable structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the quantity of e-waste collected in Kano metropolis and its associated valuable resources. Both quantitative and qualitative data were utilized in this study. The qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions (FGD), while the quantitative data consisted of the average estimate of e-waste collected per week at each collection point. The e-waste quantity map was produced using ArcGIS 10.3, and the valuable resources and their associations were analyzed using Nvivo 12 QSR software. The findings of this study revealed that approximately 741,120 kg (741.12 metric tons per year) of e-waste is generated annually in the study area. The identified valuable resources include ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, information technology materials, plastics, and lead dust. It was observed that individuals engaged in e-waste activities primarily do so for the monetary value associated with these resources. Consequently, the weekly income derived from these activities ranges from as little as N10,000 ($28) to over N100,000 ($278), depending on the specific collection center and the nature of engagement. This study identified three categories of buyers for the e-waste resources, namely Nigerian agents, foreign agents, and recyclers. The research provides valuable insights into the significant quantity of e-waste generated and the valuable resources recovered in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. As a recommendation, it is crucial for the appropriate authorities to enact sustainable regulations governing the handling of collected e-waste and the exportation of valuable resources. Such measures will help maintain a sustainable environment while effectively managing the e-waste generated in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: UTI is the most common nosocomial infection among hospitalized patients. Emerging increasing resistance has been observed among uropathogens of the family enterobacterales. Extended spectrum beta lactamase genes encode for multidrug resistance and unrestricted use of antibiotics in hospitals provides an environment for spread of infections with limited treatment options. This necessitates therapies based on culture and antimicrobial sensitivity to improve patients' outcomes We aimed to determine susceptibility pattern of ESBL uropathogens among hospitalized patients in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Methodology: Three hundred and eighty-nine urine samples were obtained from in-patients with UTI between April 2020 and April 2021. Five samples were rejected and remaining analyzed. Susceptibility testing was done by modified Kirby Bauer technique. Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines 2019 (CLSI 2019) and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility testing guidelines version 2 (EUCAST version 2) were used for screening and confirmation of ESBL production respectively. Results: Of the 384-urine processed, 105 (27.3%) were gram negatives and 81 were Enterobacterales, Isolation rates were E. coli-55.6%, K. pneumoniae-29.6%, Citrobacter spp.-12.3%, P. mirabilis-1.2% and Morganella spp.-1.2%. Among Enterobacterales, 32 (39.5%) were ESBL producers. Prevalence of ESBL were 62.5% for Escherichia coli, 28.1% for Klebsiella pneumoniae and 9.4% for Citrobacter species. Susceptibility showed that ESBL-producing Isolates were highly susceptible to amikacin (96.9%). Resistance to other antibiotics varied from 3.1% to 100%. Conclusion: We recommend strengthening laboratory capacity, antibiotics stewardship and Infection control to prevent spread of resistant pathogens including ESBLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable supply chain management plays an important role in company's sustainability success. As the frequently emerging disruptions may harm supply chain's sustainable performance, managers need to design an effective sustainable supply chain (SSC) resilience solution to mitigate different risks. In addition, it is critical to integrate customer requirements (CRs) in SSC resilience solution design as SSC's performance is highly determined by customer satisfaction (CS) in the customer-oriented market. This article proposes an integrative approach to achieve an effective design of SSC resilience solution, taking both CRs and risk factors (RFs) into consideration. In this study, the Kano model, decision-making and trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) are integrated with quality function deployment (QFD) through nonlinear programming to guide companies' design. Kano model is employed to analyse CRs qualitatively and quantitatively to determine each CR's priority and CS. DEMATEL is adopted to determine the RFs' interrelationships. The results obtained with the Kano model and DEMATEL are incorporated into QFD to transform CRs into RFs, and then into resilience measures. Furthermore, a nonlinear optimisation model is formulated to achieve the optimal resilience solution with maximised CS and risk mitigation under minimum cost investment. Finally, a case study is conducted to verify the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to Indonesia's tropical climate, it experiences frequent heavy rainfall, which is the primary cause of flooding. Despite various solutions implemented, the issue of flooding persists. Consumers demand an effective emergency flood protection solution to prevent water from entering homes at any time. This product is a flood barrier specifically designed for installation at the front door of houses. The development of this flood barrier product aims to address user needs and ensure flood resistance. To achieve this, the Kano Method and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) are utilized in the product design process, aligning it with customer desires. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is employed in testing to assess the flood barrier's ability to contain water effectively. Moreover, the data representing the user requirements is collected from residents in the Baleendah area. Those residents houses have been affected by flooding. This area faces significant economic losses due to flooding, estimated at IDR 5,490,292,000,000. Bandung Regency is projected to have the highest frequency of flooding incidents in West Java in 2022, contributing to the broader issue of flooding in the province and country. The developed flood barrier product has successfully met most customer needs, leading to customer satisfaction. The product offers a reasonable price, customer customization options, and user-friendly features. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities has been well received by users. The flood barrier product also demonstrates its efficacy in retaining floodwater through its low equivalent elastic strain, equivalent stress, and deformation values against hydrostatic pressure. These attributes enable the product to withstand floodwaters and prevent their entry into households.

Context: The morbidity and mortality arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries were further worsened by the disruption in health systems and diversion of strained health resources for emergency response. Aim: This study ascertained whether there was an increase in the number of deaths recorded in Kano, Nigeria, during the pandemic, compared to the preceding 3 years and identified the potential causes of these deaths. Materials and Methods: Using a retrospective design, data were collected from a tertiary hospital in Kano from January to June 2020. Data on number and date of deaths, as well as clinical information of the deceased, were retrieved from hospital records. Comparison data were collected on all deaths and admissions in the hospital within a similar period (January–June) of 2017–2019. Results: The age of the deceased ranged from one day to 115 years, with the majority being males (n = 414; 63.2%) and adults (n = 491; 75.0%). The majority did not have history of recent travel (n = 570; 87.0%), contact with COVID-19 suspected cases (n = 622; 95.0%), or confirmed COVID-19 (n = 625; 95.4%). Slightly less than half (n = 262; 46.2%) died within 24h of admission. The majority (n = 452; 79.7%) died within 7 days of admission. The most common cause of death recorded on admission was sepsis (n = 66; 10.1%), while 53 (8.1%) were brought in dead. SARS-CoV-2 infection was the documented cause of death in twelve patients (1.8%). More than half (n = 378; 57.7%) had underlying medical conditions, of which hypertension (n = 172; 45.5%) was the most common. The highest annual average deaths (178) and admissions (2179) were recorded in 2019, while 135 deaths and 1532 admissions were recorded in 2020. Most deaths occurred in April 2020 (208), while the highest number of admissions was recorded in March 2020. Mortality was higher in April of 2020 (14.1%, 95% CI: 12.4%–16.0%) compared to the same month in 2017 (7.6%, 95% CI: 5.9%–9.7%), 2018 (8.4%, 95% CI 7.0%–10.2%), and 2019 (8.5%, 95% CI 7.3–9.8%). Conclusion: In summary, we found excess mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kano, Nigeria, consistent with prior studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Malaria Frontline Project (MFP) supported the National Malaria Elimination Program for effective program implementation in the high malaria-burden states of Kano and Zamfara adapting the National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) program elimination strategies. Project implementation The MFP was implemented in 34 LGAs in the two states (20 out of 44 in Kano and all 14 in Zamfara). MFP developed training materials and job aids tailored to expected service delivery for primary and district health facilities and strengthened supportive supervision. Pre- and post-implementation assessments of intervention impacts were conducted in both states. Results A total of 158 (Kano:83; Zamfara:75) and 180 (Kano:100; Zamfara:80) healthcare workers (HCWs), were interviewed for pre-and post-implementation assessments, respectively. The proportions of HCWs with correct knowledge on diagnostic criteria were Kano: 97.5% to 92.0% and Zamfara: 94.7% to 98.8%; and knowledge of recommended first line treatment of uncomplicated malaria were Kano: 68.7% to 76.0% and Zamfara: 69.3% to 65.0%. The proportion of HCWs who adhered to national guidelines for malaria diagnosis and treatment increased in both states (Kano: 36.1% to 73.0%; Zamfara: 39.2% to 67.5%) and HCW knowledge to confirm malaria diagnosis slightly decreased in Kano State but increased in Zamfara State (Kano: 97.5% to 92.0%; Zamfara: 94.8% to 98.8%). HCWs knowledge of correct IPTp drug increased in both states (Kano: 81.9% to 94.0%; Zamfara: 85.3% to 97.5%). Conclusion MFP was successfully implemented using tailored training materials, job aids, supportive supervision, and data use. The project strategy can likely be adapted to improve the effectiveness of malaria program implementation in other Nigerian states, and other malaria endemic countries.

Background: Thyroid disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are interconnected endocrine disorders with a bidirectional relationship. T2DM patients may present with various thyroid abnormalities, such as gland enlargement and nodule formation, warranting noninvasive assessment through ultrasound scanning. Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate thyroid gland volume (TGV) in adult patients with T2DM using ultrasound imaging in Kano. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 participants were randomly selected and underwent sonographic scans of the thyroid gland using a medical ultrasound machine with a 7.5 MHz linear probe. Thyroid volumes were recorded, and demographic information was collected. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 29, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean TGV ± standard deviation was 5.8 ± 3.1 cm3. Females exhibited a statistically higher TGV (6.1 ± 3.4 cm3) compared to males (5.6 ± 2.8 cm3). There was no significant difference in TGV among patients with different diabetes control habits. The mean volume of the right lobe (3.1 ± 1.8 cm3) was significantly greater than that of the left lobe (2.7 ± 1.6 cm3). TGV correlated positively with T2DM duration, age, weight, and body mass index. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the TGV among patients with T2DM in Kano. The findings indicate a positive correlation between TGV and T2DM duration and demonstrate gender and laterality differences. Ultrasound-based assessment of thyroid volume can be a valuable tool in monitoring thyroid health in T2DM patients and may aid in the early detection and management of thyroid abnormalities.

Background: Administration of vaccines at recommended ages and according to recommended intervals between doses of multi-dose antigens provides optimal protection, ultimately reducing the possibility of propagating the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. A sizable discrepancy in the median age at vaccination has been shown in Nigeria. This study assessed age-appropriate vaccination and related factors among children aged 0–23 months attending immunization clinics in the Kano metropolis. Materials and Methods: An adapted and pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from a cross-section of 384 pairs of mothers/babies who presented to the immunization clinics of selected primary health centers within Kano metropolis. Results: The median ages at vaccination were 13, 49, 91, 122, and 282 days for BCG, pentavalent-1, pentavalent-2, pentavalent-3, and measles antigens, respectively. Proportions of children who had received age-appropriate vaccines were 83.8%, 81.6%, 64.9%, 60.4%, and 40.3% for BCG, pentavalent-1, pentavalent-2, pentavalent-3, and measles vaccinations, respectively. Children who were 4 months or older were 80% less likely to be age-appropriately vaccinated compared to those 3 months or younger (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1–0.7). Furthermore, children with a previous experience of an adverse event following immunization were 50% less likely to be age-appropriate for the index vaccination (aOR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.9). Conclusion: Many children in the Kano metropolis were not age-appropriately vaccinated. The measles vaccine had the least proportion of age-appropriately vaccinated children. Sensitization and health education of caregivers on timely vaccination cannot be overemphasized.

Pet World merupakan salah satu jasa pelayanan kebutuhan hewan peliharaan yang berada di Kabupaten Garut, namun pemenuhan tingkat kepuasan pelanggan belum dapat dilakukan secara optimal. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui tingkat layanan berdasarkan pada dimensi kualitas yang diberikan terhadap kepuasan pelanggan serta menghasilkan usulan perbaikan untuk meningkatkan kualitas layanan pada Pet World. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan Mix Method dimana data kualitatif dilakukan untuk menguji validitas dan reliabilitas. Sedangkan data kuantitatif digunakan untuk pengolahan metode Servqual untuk mengukur kepuasan pelanggan, metode ZOT untuk mengukur apakah pelayanan masih dalam batas toleransi, dan metode kano untuk mengukur prioritas.Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa atribut layanan yang tidak memuaskan atau atribut yang memiliki gap score negatif yaitu dua atribut pada dimensi tangibles dalam segi kenyamanan dan keamanan, satu atribut pada dimensi reliability pada segi ketepatan dalam produk serta satu atribut pada dimensi responsivenes pada segi akses informasi. Selain itu, metode Servqual, ZOT, dan Kano relevan dengan penelitian yang dilakukan karena pada metode ini mengukur kualitas layanan berdasarkan pada dimensi kualitasnya serta berorientasi pada kepuasan pelanggan. Abstract [Measurement of Service Quality Based on Service Quality (Servqual) Dimensions With Zone of Tolerance (ZOT) and Kano on Pet World] Pet World is one of the services for pet needs in Garut Regency, but the fulfillment of the customer satisfaction level has not been optimal. The purpose of this study was to know the level of service based on the dimensions of quality provided to customer satisfaction and to produce suggestions for improvements to improve service quality at Pet World. This study used a Mix Method approach. The Qualitative data was used to test the validity and reliability. The quantitative data was used for processing the Servqual method to measure customer satisfaction, the ZOT method to measure whether the service is still within tolerance limits, and the Kano method to measure priority. The results showed unsatisfactory service attributes or attributes with a negative gap score were two attributes on the tangibles dimension in terms of comfort and security, one on the reliability dimension in terms of product accuracy, and one on the responsiveness dimension in terms of access to information. In addition, the Servqual, ZOT, and Kano methods are relevant to the research conducted because this method measures service quality based on its dimensions and does orient to customer satisfaction. Keywords: Kano; Mix Method; service quality; zone of tolerance

Sensory attribute is one of quality parameter that affects buying intention of consumer for commercial instant chocolate drink product. Evaluation of consumer liking using hedonic method or ideal profile method was not enough to fulfill consumer satisfaction. This research aims to identify sensory attributes which are able to give consumer satisfaction using survey method integrated with structural equation model (SEM), Kano method, and total unduplicated reach and frequency (TURF). Kano method is used to evaluate sensory attributes based on consumer satisfaction, while TURF is used to identify sensory component which is able to increase buying intention of consumers with regard to the range and frequency for chocolate instant commercial drink. Preliminary research conducted by modelling consumer preferences suggested that there was an influence of 0.76 sensory attributes to consumer satisfaction. Seven samples were purchased from market and evaluated by 30 untrained panelists using home use test with an approach of consumer habit to consume hot chocolate drink once a week. The panelists were chosen from people who consume commercial instant chocolate drink. Results of this research showed that sensory attributes creamy (texture) and dark chocolate (color) were attractive features which were able to improve consumer satisfaction. Atribute sweet (taste) was categorized as must-be features, while flavor, aroma, and color were classified as one-dimensional features. Combination of attributes in one category can improve the range to reach the targeted consumers and frequency of consumers towards the product, for example attribute creamy can reach 97%, but combination of attributes creamy and thickness can reach 100% of the targeted consumers.

Background: The burden of food-borne diseases is becoming a global problem. The aim of this study was to assess and compare personal hygiene knowledge among street food vendors and canteen food handlers in the Kano metropolis. Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was carried out using a structured intervieweradministered questionnaire, focus group discussion guide and observation checklist, to assess and compare personal hygiene knowledge among street food vendors and canteen food handlers in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. Quantitative data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels using SPSS version 20.0 at a 5% a level of significance. Thematic analysis was used to analyze verbatim transcripts from qualitative interviews. Results: The response rates were 305/310 (98.4%) and 288/310 (92.9%) among street food vendors and canteen food handlers, respectively. The proportions of street food vendors and canteen food handlers with poor, fair and good knowledge of personal hygiene were (29.5% versus 19.8%), (51.8% versus 54.2%) and (18.7% versus 26.0%), respectively (p=0.009). There was a statistically significant association between education and knowledge of personal hygiene among street food vendors (p=0.03) and canteen food handlers (p=0.04). Though slightly better among canteen food handlers, narratives by the two groups of food handlers pointed to the general lack of awareness of basic personal hygiene which was supported by the findings from observation. Conclusion: Personal hygiene knowledge was poor among the two groups of food handlers; therefore, the Government should ensure legislation and enforcement involving training of food vendors, periodic medical examination, and issuance of fitness certificate to all food vendors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nigde University Journal of Physical Education & Sport Sciences / Nigde Üniversitesi Beden Egitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Journal of Physical Education & Sports Science 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 hotel industry, especially non-star hotels, is experiencing the development of very tight competition where consumers prioritize service quality in addition to very low prices, which demands the readiness of their human resources. Identify and analyze matters that need to be considered by lodging managers regarding consumer perceptions of the quality of lodging services for service improvement and increasing the readiness of its human resources. This research uses an integrated approach from the QFD Matrix, Servqual and the Kano Model to find out what things (WHATs) are the main problems of consumer complaints and how (HOWs) overcome these consumer complain its focusing on the human resource aspect. There were 16 service attributes from the results of interviews with consumers and brainstorming with inn managers which were then analyzed using the Servqual and Kano Model, it turned out that 10 service attributes did not meet the level of customer expectations and became the WHATs submatrix in QFD. The largest Level of Interest and Percentage of Interest in the HOW sub-matrix (above 10%) is on human resource issues so that service quality improvements are focused on these matters. The research is limited to the case of one of the cheap lodgings as well as limitations on interviews with respondents and hotel managers who are determined randomly. Analysis of service quality was carried out on all service attributes from the results of interviews, but the discussion was only discussed on service attributes that had the highest interest percentage above 10% in the aspect of human resources. Research on human resource aspects of service quality in the hospitality industry by integrating the QFD Matrix, Servqual and Kano Models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Maternal and perinatal deaths could be prevented if functional referral systems are in place to allow pregnant women to get appropriate services when complications occur. Methodology: The study was a 1-year retrospective study of obstetric referrals in Aminu Kano Teaching hospital, from 1st January to 31st December 2019. Records of all emergency obstetrics patients referred to the hospital for 1 year were reviewed. A structured proforma was used to extract information such as sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, indications for referral, and pre-referral treatment. The care given at the receiving hospital was extracted from the patients' folders. An Audit standard was developed and the findings were compared with the standards in order to determine how the referral system in the study area perform in relation to the standard. Results: There were total of 180 referrals, the mean age of the women was 28.5 ± 6.3 years. Majority (52%) of the patients were referred from Secondary Centres and only 10% were transported with an ambulance. The most common diagnosis at the time of referral was severe preeclampsia. More than half of the patients (63%) had to wait for 30 to 60 minutes before they see a doctor. All the patients were offered high quality care and majority (70%) were delivered via caesarean section. Conclusion: There were lapses in the management of patients before referral; failure to identify high risk conditions, delay in referral, and lack of treatment during transit to the referral centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Management Issues / Problemy Zarządzania is the property of Problemy Zarzadzania 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.)