Search

Lean management is a way to satisfy the increasing customer demands while maintaining production efficiency. This paper aims to map and analyze the level of use of lean management methods in the manufacturing industry in the Czech Republic. It searched for links and dependencies between company size, production type, and lean management methods in operational processes. The data were obtained from a nationwide survey within the manufacturing industry companies and were presented using descriptive statistics. A structured questionnaire was sent to 469 manufacturing companies with a return rate of 18.8%. Nonparametric statistical analysis (Fisher’s exact test) was used to confirm or reject the hypotheses. The research results confirmed the dependence of lean management methods on company size and production type. Lean management methods are used mainly by large enterprises, while micro- and small enterprises rarely employ them. Considering production typology, lean management is applied in serial production, and Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) prevails. The most used techniques in mass production include the method of order in the workplace (5S) and Kaizen. The findings suggest that the future of industrial output should focus on sustainability and rationalization of production resources, which is offered by the synergy of lean management and Industry 5.0. AcknowledgmentThis paper is co-financed by IGA/FLKR/2023/002 Rationalization and Sustainability of Resources in Production-Logistics Processes the Czech Republic and RVO/FLKŘ/2024/01 Logistic Systems Safety.

The purpose of the article is to study the issue of application of software requirements management methods during project management under conditions of uncertainty. It has been established that the management of requirements under conditions of uncertainty should be considered as permanent processes of system management of requirements throughout all stages of the project life cycle, which involves activities aimed at maintaining, tracking and checking requirements from the moment of their formation to their implementation and beyond. Based on the results of the research, it was found that the most common requirements management methods are: flexible (Agile) approach; advanced requirements analysis; the "Gradual Disclosure" method; models of iterative and incremental development; the "Minimum Viable Product" method; "Just-in-Time" method etc. It has been established that the use of software requirements management methods becomes especially relevant in conditions of uncertainty, as these methods allow you to effectively deal with dynamic changes and ensure the flexibility of the project. It was found that requirements management should focus on the organization, communication and development of requirements, among which the following can be distinguished: change management, traceability of requirements, communication, version control of requirements documents, etc. It has been investigated that change management involves making corrections to specified requirements during project implementation, as well as assessing the impact of corrections, obtaining permission to modify and update the necessary documents. Traceability, in turn, means defining and maintaining traceable relationships between requirements and other project artifacts, such as project documentation, test cases, and code. Therefore, traceability makes it possible to guarantee that all requirements are taken into account and corrections can be traced throughout the development of the project. At that time, communication facilitates effective communication between project stakeholders regarding the requirement and involves the conversion of updates, resolution of problematic aspects, and facilitating that all members of the working group have a common understanding of the formulated requirements. Also, control over the versions of requirements documents in order to track corrections in time. The obtained results of the conducted research serve as a basis for further research in the part of more effective use of requirements management methods during the implementation of projects in conditions of uncertainty.

The aim of the research is to identify the effectiveness of using a proposed strategy according to the (Marquqrd) model in the algebraic thinking skills of second-grade intermediate students in the schools of the General Directorate of Education in Babylon. To achieve the goal, the following null hypothesis was formulated: There are no statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) between the mean scores of the students of the experimental group, which were taught using the proposed strategy according to the (Marquqrd) model, and the control group that studied in the usual way in the pre-post test of algebraic thinking skills. The research community, which represents the middle and secondary schools for boys within the General Directorate of Education in Babylon, was identified, and the Yahya bin Zaid (p.) middle school was randomly selected, and the research sample consisted of (67) students from the second intermediate grade students, and two groups were chosen randomly, with (33) students for the experimental group, and (34) for the control group. For the purpose of collecting data for the research, a test of algebraic thinking skills was built, as the test in its final form consisted of (24) items of the objective type, multiple-choice. The appropriate statistical analyzes were carried out (difficulty coefficient, ease, discrimination coefficient and effectiveness of the alternatives), and the psychometric properties were ascertained. After the statistical tools were chosen to analyze the results of the application of the test, such as using the associated analysis of variance (ANCOVA), the results indicated that: (1) The students of the experimental group outperformed the students of the control group in the test of algebraic thinking skills. (2) The use of the proposed strategy according to the (Marquqrd) model led to an improvement in the algebraic thinking skills of the students of the experimental groups compared to the students of the control group.

Accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) exemplifies a widely accepted commitment to business school differentiation both in terms of both value and quality. Business schools embarking on the initial accreditation journey must invest significant human and capital resources to achieve this goal. Given this, institutions should employ practices designed to optimize their potential for success. Well-established project management processes can do just that. This paper summarizes the scope of AACSB initial accreditation, reviews applicable project management development approaches, and summarizes the project management methods and artifacts most appropriate for each phase of the accreditation process.

Summary: The paper examines strategies to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems, which are challenged by high operating temperatures that reduce performance. It focuses on enhancing PV systems through the use of gallium arsenide (GaAs) thin films and reviews techniques like spectral beam splitting to boost efficiency, particularly in multi-junction PV receivers and hybrid collectors. The study also explores Photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems that combine PV cells with thermal absorbers, highlighting advanced absorber designs, mini/microchannels, and the use of polymers over traditional metals. Additionally, the incorporation of phase change materials (PCM) and nanofluids is discussed for their potential to improve thermal conductivity and storage. By synthesizing experimental and numerical research, the paper emphasizes the importance of these innovations in advancing PVT systems for sustainable energy production.

IntroductionBean is one of the most important legumes worldwide for direct human consumption and it is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates. Bean is weak in competing with weeds due to its slow growth during the early stages. Therefore, competition with weeds causes a significant reduction in grain yield at the end of the growing season. Weeds and crops are always competing for obtaining nutrients, water, light and space. Weed competition is a kind of nonliving stress, which effect on plant yield. The photosynthetic capacity of plants depends on abiotic factors such as the quality and quantity of light. Each of the photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids absorb light at a different wave length. The rate of photosynthesis and biomass production in plants is also largely dependent on the chlorophyll content of leaves. The weed interference in the plant growth maybe caused a change in the content of carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments in plant leaves. Pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, with different morphological and genetic characteristics, show different responses in the presence of weeds, which may ultimately result in possible difference in yield. Measurement of growth indices is necessary to study the competitive ability of species during the growth period. Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effect of different chemical and non-chemical weed control managements on the yield of determinate and indeterminate bean varieties, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. This field experiment was carried out in Behshahr, Mazandaran, in 2021. The first factor was different weed control methods: application of trifluralin herbicide as pre-sowing 2.5 liters per hectare; application of trifluralin herbicide 2.5 liters per hectare + one weeding; wheat mulch in the amount of two tons per hectare; application of bentazon 50% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 75% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 100% of the recommended dose; weed-free control and control with weed infestation and the second factor includes bean cultivars: Negin variety (determinate growth type) and Sadri variety (indeterminate growth type). Weeds were sampled at flowering and final harvesting stages, and weed species, density, and dry weight of weeds were measured. Also, photosynthetic pigments and yield were investigated. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that weed species in the field were from 9 plant families and included 10 species. From the total species observed in the field, 4 species have C4 photosynthetic pathway, 4 species have C3 photosynthetic pathway and one species has CAM photosynthetic pathway. The Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Portulaca oleracea L. species had the highest frequency and Chrozophora tinctoria and Physalis alkekengi had the lowest frequency in the field. In all three stages (21 days after planting, flowering and final harvesting stages), the highest density and dry weight of weeds were observed in the control treatment without weeding, and among the weed management treatments, mulch and bentazon 100% treatments caused a decrement in the density and dry weight of weeds in both Negin and Sadri cultivars. Based on the results, the highest chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were observed in both Negin and Sadri cultivars in the weed-free control treatment, and the lowest values were in the control treatment without weeding. Also, the control treatment without weeding had the highest amount of carotenoids in Negin cultivar (0.41 mg.g-1 fresh weight) and in Sadri cultivar (0.37 mg.g-1 fresh weight), while the lowest ones in Negin and Sadri cultivar (0.29 and 0.28 mg.g-1 fresh weight, respectively) was observed in the weed-free control treatment. The highest seed yield of Negin and Sadri cultivar (1957.11 and 2426.01 kg.ha-1, respectively) were observed in the weed-free control treatment. ConclusionsIn general, it can be concluded that the Sadri cultivar with higher competitive ability has performed better against the weed than the Negin cultivar. Among the weed management treatments, the non-chemical management of mulch and the chemical treatment of bentazon 100% had better performance.

Abstract Background This paper aims to instigate discussion and publication of methodologies applied to enhance quality management through comprehensive scientific reports. It provides a detailed description of the design, implementation, and results of the quality control program employed in the SMESH study. Methods Cross-sectional, multicenter, national study designed to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus in sex workers and in men who have sex with men (MSM). Respondent-driven sampling recruitment was used. An online system was developed for the study and checkpoints were defined for data entry. The system checked the quality of biological samples and performed a retest with part of the sample. Results A total of 1.598 participants (442 sex workers and 1.156 MSM) were included. Fifty-four health professionals were trained for face-to-face data collection. The retest showed Kappa values ranging between 0.3030 and 0.7663. Conclusion The retest data were mostly classified as indicating a strong association. The data generated by the checkpoints showed the successful implementation of the quality control program.

Abstract Key message The invasive pine wood nematode is a major threat to pine forests worldwide, causing extensive tree mortality. Although scientific knowledge and control measures are continuously improving, important gaps remain. We argue that some key questions, notably related to early detection and pest management, need to be urgently tackled in countries at risk of invasion such as France.

This study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between the quality management method and the supplier performance measurement system. The results indicate that in some cases, organizations that had implemented lean management or TPS used supplier assessment measures more often and perceived them as more important ones. Moreover, according to the study, the most popular supplier measures are within the scope of process ones, such as timeliness of deliveries and completeness of deliveries. From the product measures, the most important one is the defectiveness level. The environmental measures' importance is, on an average level, much lower than the core-business ones. The most critical environmental supplier measure is using hazardous substances in production.

Abstract Background Inflammatory diseases may occur within the crypt beside the preputial frenulum in men. This study was performed to gain an understanding of the etiology, clinical manifestations, and management methods of cryptitis beside the preputial frenulum in men. Results Thirteen patients treated for cryptitis beside the preputial frenulum served as the observation group, and 40 healthy individuals served as the control group. The patients’ clinical manifestation was the presence of a yellowish oily substance embedded in the crypt. Wiping off the substance revealed a conical blind cavity-like structure with an opening diameter of 1 to 5 mm (2.8 ± 1.3 mm) and depth of 1 to 4 mm (2.5 ± 1.1 mm). No blind cavity-like structures in the crypt were found in the control group. The shortest distance between the opening edges of the bilateral crypts in the observation and control groups was 6 to 14 mm (10.3 ± 2.4 mm) and 2 to 10 mm (3.9 ± 1.9 mm), respectively, with a statistically significant difference. Examination for pathogens in the secretions from skin lesions showed that the three most common pathogens were Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. All patients recovered after antibiotic treatment. Conclusions A blind cavity-like structure in the crypt may be related to excessive width of the preputial frenulum. Cryptitis may be a secondary infection caused by smegma trapped in the blind cavity-like structure. Maintaining cleanliness in the frenulum area may help to prevent the occurrence of cryptitis. Antibiotic treatment is effective.

The need for residential houses is still high for property and construction commodities. The availability of land and market prices for residential houses continue to increase yearly. Only 45.04% of Jakarta residents had a home ownership status in 2020. 2021 is the precast building mode. It is justified that precast construction structures can save 35% on construction costs and are 27.33% more reliable than ordinary concrete structures. The research examines the integration of the PERT method and earned value management (EVM) based on Java programming in residential precast case studies. The results of this study are that the implementation of the PERT method can increase the efficiency of project duration by 6%, and the implementation of the EVM method can increase project cost efficiency by 7% with the indicators Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = 1.01 (under schedule) and Cost Performance Index = 1, 07 (Under Budget)

Objective: This study qualitatively examined road traffic crash (RTC) data collection and management in southwest Nigeria, with the goal of addressing the tenets of the UN Decade of Action Plan on Road Safety's call for an effective data system., Methods: Data on RTCs data collection in the study area was obtained through key informant interviews with five hospital accident emergency unit directors, three Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector commanders, and three Nigeria Police Force (NPF) commissioners. Datasets were transcribed, categorized, and interpreted using content analysis, descriptive statistics, and WHO recommended minimal crash data element requirements., Results: The study found disparate systems, a lack of synergy, and discrepancy in the various data sources in the country when compared with WHO recommendations on road traffic data collection systems, with 55% of agencies using non-standardized paper forms. The study also reveals that the minimum crash data elements recommended by WHO are not consistently captured in the NPF, FRSC, and hospital traffic crash data sources., Conclusions: The study suggested the use of an upgraded National Road Traffic Crash Data Management System (NRTCDMS) Data Template to unify data gathering and linkage issues, but recommends a digital version of the template.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are a growing global concern, threatening food security. Non-chemical weed management approaches are becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, the adoption of non-conventional agricultural practices is on the rise, with regenerative farming practices aimed at rebuilding soil organic matter, restoring biodiversity, and reducing chemical use gaining traction. Consequently, non-chemical weed management methods are seen as essential solutions. However, excessive reliance on these methods may inadvertently lead to weed selection and adaptation, reducing their effectiveness. Here, we explore the mechanisms driving changes in efficacy due to selectivity and adaptation to non-chemical weed management practices. Additionally, we discuss potential integrated weed management (IWM) strategies that combine chemical and non-chemical methods to mitigate the risks of weed adaptation. This study highlights the role of evolutionary processes in shaping weed adaptation to non-chemical weed management methods and underscores the need to understand these processes to develop IWM approaches that remain effective over time. Monitoring phenological shifts and adaptations in the field should be a key component of decision support systems, tailored to the unique conditions of each site. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of weed adaptation mechanisms can enhance the efficacy of IWM strategies and help delay the inevitable adaptation to these control methods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in educational institutions to adopt new methods of management and leadership of teacher's teams. The traditional approach of top-down leadership and strict hierarchies is being replaced by a more collaborative and inclusive approach. This has been spurred on by several factors, including a greater focus on student-cantered learning and the need to retain highly qualified teachers in an increasingly competitive environment. In this article, we will explore some of the new methods of management and leadership in educational institutions and how they are being implemented in managing teachers' teams. Teachers have valuable insights and expertise that can be leveraged to improve teaching and learning outcomes. There is a need to give teachers a greater say in decision-making and encouraging them to take on leadership roles in areas such as curriculum development, assessment design, and professional development. This approach fosters a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility, which in turn leads to greater job satisfaction and teacher retention. Thus, new methods of management in educational institutions are critical for ensuring the success of educational institutions. Leadership in managing teacher teams is especially crucial, as teachers are at the heart of the educational system. Innovative management methods can create a culture of collaboration, encourage open communication, and promote innovation. Additionally, the provision of professional development opportunities and support for teacher well-being is essential for fostering a positive work environment and ensuring the success of educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to identify conflict management methods used by secondary school principals based on the perspective of teachers. A sample of 256 male and female teachers participated in the study. The concept of conflict management was measured using cooperation, avoidance, waiver, competition, and settlement as a method to manage conflicts among teachers. The findings of the study indicated that 'settlement' was the most preferred method for conflict management by school principals, followed by cooperation, then by the waiver. Avoidance was the least preferred method to be used by school principals in conflict management. The results of the study revealed statistically no significant differences in gender, educational qualification, and experience among participants on the perceived conflict management method used by the school principals (p-value >0.05). The study recommended training courses for school principals to raise their awareness of conflict management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]