5,226 research outputs found
UMSL Bulletin 2023-2024
The 2023-2024 Bulletin and Course Catalog for the University of Missouri St. Louis.https://irl.umsl.edu/bulletin/1088/thumbnail.jp
Economic and Social Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Energy Sector
The purpose of the Special Issue was to collect the results of research and experience on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the energy sector and the energy market, broadly understood, that were visible after a year. In particular, the impact of COVID-19 on the energy sector in the EU, including Poland, and the US was examined. The topics concerned various issues, e.g., the situation of energy companies, including those listed on the stock exchange, mining companies, and those dealing with renewable energy. The topics related to the development of electromobility, managerial competences, energy expenditure of local government units, sustainable development of energy, and energy poverty during a pandemic were also discussed
University of Windsor Graduate Calendar 2023 Winter
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/universitywindsorgraduatecalendars/1026/thumbnail.jp
International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022
This conference proceedings gathers work and research presented at the International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022 (IASSC2022) held on July 3, 2022, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. The conference was jointly organized by the Faculty of Information Management of Universiti Teknologi MARA Kelantan Branch, Malaysia; University of Malaya, Malaysia; Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia; Universitas Ngudi Waluyo, Indonesia; Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Philippines; and UCSI University, Malaysia. Featuring experienced keynote speakers from Malaysia, Australia, and England, this proceeding provides an opportunity for researchers, postgraduate students, and industry practitioners to gain knowledge and understanding of advanced topics concerning digital transformations in the perspective of the social sciences and information systems, focusing on issues, challenges, impacts, and theoretical foundations. This conference proceedings will assist in shaping the future of the academy and industry by compiling state-of-the-art works and future trends in the digital transformation of the social sciences and the field of information systems. It is also considered an interactive platform that enables academicians, practitioners and students from various institutions and industries to collaborate
2023-2024 Boise State University Undergraduate Catalog
This catalog is primarily for and directed at students. However, it serves many audiences, such as high school counselors, academic advisors, and the public. In this catalog you will find an overview of Boise State University and information on admission, registration, grades, tuition and fees, financial aid, housing, student services, and other important policies and procedures. However, most of this catalog is devoted to describing the various programs and courses offered at Boise State
Responsible AI in Africa
This open access book contributes to the discourse of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) from an African perspective. It is a unique collection that brings together prominent AI scholars to discuss AI ethics from theoretical and practical African perspectives and makes a case for African values, interests, expectations and principles to underpin the design, development and deployment (DDD) of AI in Africa. The book is a first in that it pays attention to the socio-cultural contexts of Responsible AI that is sensitive to African cultures and societies. It makes an important contribution to the global AI ethics discourse that often neglects AI narratives from Africa despite growing evidence of DDD in many domains. Nine original contributions provide useful insights to advance the understanding and implementation of Responsible AI in Africa, including discussions on epistemic injustice of global AI ethics, opportunities and challenges, an examination of AI co-bots and chatbots in an African work space, gender and AI, a consideration of African philosophies such as Ubuntu in the application of AI, African AI policy, and a look towards a future of Responsible AI in Africa. This is an open access book
Efficiency and Sustainability of the Distributed Renewable Hybrid Power Systems Based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts-Volume II
The climate changes that are becoming visible today are a challenge for the global research community. In this context, renewable energy sources, fuel cell systems, and other energy generating sources must be optimally combined and connected to the grid system using advanced energy transaction methods. As this reprint presents the latest solutions in the implementation of fuel cell and renewable energy in mobile and stationary applications, such as hybrid and microgrid power systems based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain technology, and smart contracts, we hope that they will be of interest to readers working in the related fields mentioned above
An Evaluation of Medication Safety related Communications in the Patient Healthcare Pathway in Kuwait
Background: Patient safety is a recognised public health issue. When post-market medication
safety information emerges, the benefits and risks of the medication concerned are usually
evaluated by drug regulatory agencies. The outcomes of such pharmacovigilance activities are
communicated to the public, patients and other healthcare professionals (HCPs). The aim of
these medication safety communications might vary from improving the intended recipients’
knowledge or attitudes to outlining specific actions to be followed by them. However, it is
currently recognised that sharing medication-related information does not improve patients’
safety on its own if not accompanied by an accurate implementation of these recommendations
in clinical practice. Despite their importance in protecting patient safety and subsequently
affecting public health, no previous study was found to have evaluated or described the process
of creating and disseminating medication safety communications by the Kuwaiti drug
regulatory agency. Equally, no study was found to have investigated the impact of or the factors
affecting the implementation of regulatory-related medication safety communications in
Kuwait. Therefore, this thesis aimed to address these gaps in knowledge by evaluating
medication safety communications in the patient healthcare pathway in Kuwait.
Methods: This multiphase study was preceded by a systematic literature review of the factors
affecting HCPs’ implementation of regulatory-related medication safety communications,
using a narrative synthesis approach. Following the systematic review, multiphase research
was initiated. This consisted of three phases, each of which focused on a specific stakeholder
group involved in the process of medication safety communication. Phase 1 involved Kuwait
Drug and Food Control (KDFC), an administration within the Ministry of Health (MOH), as
the regulatory agency responsible for pharmacovigilance activities. This was a convergent
mixed-methods study. Data collection in this phase included documents produced by KDFC or
issued to KDFC relating to medication safety and three face-to-face interviews with KDFC
employees involved in pharmacovigilance activities. Documents were analysed using a
descriptive quantitative approach and a framework analysis technique.
Phase 2 focused on healthcare professionals working in MOH hospitals in Kuwait. This phase
was an exploratory mixed-methods study, where focus group discussions were conducted
followed by the distribution of an online survey. The focus group discussions were analysed
using a thematic analysis technique. In the second part of this phase, an online survey was
developed based on Phase 1, the focus group discussions and the systematic literature review.
Survey data analysis included descriptive analysis (frequency and percentile) and statistical
analysis including principal component analysis (PCA) and the Kruskal–Wallis H test, which
was followed by a post hoc analysis of variables that had significant results. Other statistical
tests applied included Fisher’s exact test, the Mann–Whitney U Test, and multivariate
regression analysis. Participants’ answers to open-ended survey questions were analysed using
a conventional content analysis technique.
Phase 3 was an interpretive phenomenology study. This phase involved semi-structured phone
interviews with six female patients of childbearing age who used a valproate-related
medication for epilepsy or migraine. These patients had been prescribed the valproate-related
medication in one of six secondary hospitals and one specialist neurology hospital within the
MOH hospitals. An interpretive phenomenological analysis technique was applied to analyse
the transcripts.
Results: The results of the systematic literature review indicated that the factors affecting
HCPs’ implementation of medication safety communications occur at multiple levels. These
levels included the sources or senders of the safety information (delays in the delivery of
medications safety communications), healthcare institutions (hospitals’ position and
interpretations of the recommendations), the HCPs (knowledge of the content of medications
safety communications), and the patients and/or their carers (willingness to use the medication
concerned). Phase 1 revealed a lack of legislation and a pharmacovigilance-specific policy.
Results from Phase 2 reflected poor knowledge of the concept of medication safety
communications within the context of pharmacovigilance and a lack of familiarity with the
tools used by KDFC to communicate emerging medication information among HCPs. In the
survey, although the majority of HCPs who responded were aware of the teratogenicity of
VRM (65.1%, (n = 110/169)), only 2.6% had responded correctly to the statements of the VRM
KDFC recommendations. More than half of the participants (57%) reported changing their
practice to accommodate at least one intended KDFC recommendation. Providing female
patients with written information (37.2%) and counselling female patients about contraceptive
use (37.2%) were the most reported intended changes in practice. The most reported barriers
to implementation included not having the capacity in terms of time and/or the infrastructure
to implement the recommendations (33.8%).
Four themes originating from patient interviews included (1) the timeline of the patient’s
experience (2) varied knowledge and perception with valproate use, (3) patient’s expectations
from HCPs and (4) experiences and preferences towards medication safety communications.
Conclusion: Medication safety communications are essential tools for disseminating
information related to medication safety updates to HCPs, patients and the public. This research
identified challenges at the level of the sender (KDFC) and the intended recipients (HCPs and
patients) that could reduce the ability of KDFC’s medication safety communications to reach
clinical practices. The first step in increasing their reach is to adapt electronic methods for
disseminating such information. Involving stakeholders, such as HCPs and patients, in
evaluating the clarity and understandability of KDFC’s medication safety communications
should be the focus of future research
A Conceptual Model for Quality 4.0 Deployment in U.S. Based Manufacturing Firms
Manufacturing is currently undergoing a fourth industrial revolution, referred to as Industry 4.0, enabled by digital technologies and advances in our ability to collect and use data. Quality 4.0 is the application of Industry 4.0 to enhance the quality function within an organization. Quality practitioners are uniquely positioned within organizations and already possess data application skillsets. Despite a perception that Quality 4.0 will be critical to future success shared by a majority of industry, most companies have not attempted to implement Quality 4.0 strategy, and those that have report very low rates of success. The goal of this study was to understand the challenges and key factors behind implementation of a Quality 4.0 system and develop a model for implementation, highlighting those key factors. The model was developed through literature review, case study analysis, and expert interviews. The model indicated that four main constructs exist in Quality 4.0 deployment, digital strategy, enabling factors, methodologies, and technology. A top-level strategy should be developed to address key technology development themes as well as nontechnical business process themes. Strategy should then be executed in the domain of enabling factors and methodologies with a clear technology application serving as the output. A successful Quality 4.0 implementation will use the technology application to drive tangible quality improvement activities which add value to the business
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