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1 – 10 of over 18000Firoz Ahmad and Boby John
This study aims to investigate a reliability-level demand-oriented pharmaceutical supply chain design with maximal anticipated demand coverage. Different hospitals with the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate a reliability-level demand-oriented pharmaceutical supply chain design with maximal anticipated demand coverage. Different hospitals with the particular reliability value associated with the various pharmaceutical items (PIs) are considered. An inter-connected multi-period supply chain comprising manufacturers, distribution centers, hospitals and patients is assumed for the smooth flow of health-care items, enhancing supply chain reliability. A reliability index for PIs is depicted to highlight product preference and facilitate hospitals’ service levels for patients.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-integer multi-objective programming problem that maximizes maximal demand coverage minimizes the total economic costs and pharmaceutical delivery time is depicted under intuitionistic fuzzy uncertainty. Further, a novel interactive neutrosophic programming approach is developed to solve the proposed pharmaceutical supply chain management (PSCM) model. Each objective’s marginal evaluation is elicited by various sorts of membership functions such as linear, exponential and hyperbolic types of membership functions and depicted the truth, indeterminacy and falsity membership degrees under a neutrosophic environment.
Findings
The proposed PSCM model is implemented on a real case study and solved using an interactive neutrosophic programming approach that reveals the proposed methods’ validity and applicability. An ample opportunity to generate the compromise solution is suggested by tuning various parameters. The outcomes are evaluated with practical managerial implications based on the significant findings. Finally, conclusions and future research scope are addressed based on the proposed work.
Research limitations/implications
The propounded study has some limitations that can be addressed in future research. The discussed PSCM model can be merged with and extended by considering environmental factors such as the health-care waste management system, which is not included in this study. Uncertainty among parameters due to randomness can be incorporated and can be tackled with historical data. Besides, proposed interactive neutrosophic programming approach (INPA), various metaheuristic approaches may be applied to solve the proposed PSCM model as a future research scope.
Practical implications
The strategy advised is to provide an opportunity to create supply chains and manufacturing within India by helping existing manufacturers to expand, identifying new manufacturers, hand-holding and facilitating, teams of officers, engineers and scientists deployed and import only if necessary to meet timelines. Thus, any pharmaceutical company or organization can adopt the production and distribution management initiatives amongst hospitals to strengthen and enable the pharmaceutical company while fighting fatal diseases during emergencies. Finally, managers or policy-makers can take advantage of the current study and extract fruitful pieces of information and knowledge regarding the optimal production and distribution strategies while making decisions.
Originality/value
This research work manifests the demand-oriented extension of the integrated PSCM design with maximum expected coverage, where different hospitals with pre-determined reliability values for various PIs are taken into consideration. The practical managerial implications are explored that immensely support the managers or practitioners to adopt the production and distribution policies for the PIs to ensure the sustainability in supply chain design.
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Hoong Sang Wong and Chen Chen Yong
This chapter provided systematic and comprehensive analysis on trawl fisheries management and conservation measures in the Straits of Malacca. Detailed analysis is conducted on…
Abstract
This chapter provided systematic and comprehensive analysis on trawl fisheries management and conservation measures in the Straits of Malacca. Detailed analysis is conducted on Malaysian fishery management framework particularly domestic country's trawl fishery status, legal structure, input-control strategies, ecosystem protection plan, pollution, law enforcement, and complementary measures that designed to reduce and prevent overfishing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Malacca Straits. Gaps and challenges found in existing trawl fisheries literature are presented followed by recommendations for improvement in the management and conservation of trawl fisheries.
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L. Ahmad Soltani, E. Shivanian and Reza Ezzati
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method based on the homotopy analysis method (HAM) with the aim of fast searching and calculating multiple solutions of nonlinear…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method based on the homotopy analysis method (HAM) with the aim of fast searching and calculating multiple solutions of nonlinear boundary value problems (NBVPs).
Design/methodology/approach
A major problem with the previously modified HAM, namely, predictor homotopy analysis method, which is used to predict multiplicity of solutions of NBVPs, is a time-consuming computation of high-order HAM-approximate solutions due to a symbolic variable namely “prescribed parameter”. The proposed new technique which is based on traditional shooting method, and the HAM cuts the dependency on the prescribed parameter.
Findings
To demonstrate the computational efficiency, the mentioned method is implemented on three important nonlinear exactly solvable differential equations, namely, the nonlinear MHD Jeffery–Hamel flow problem, the nonlinear boundary value problem arising in heat transfer and the strongly nonlinear Bratu problem.
Originality/value
The more high-order approximate solutions are computable, multiple solutions are easily searched and discovered and the more accurate solutions can be obtained depending on how nonhomogeneous boundary conditions are transcribed to the homogeneous boundary conditions.
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Ahmad F. Alenezi, Ahmed Aljowder, Mohamed J. Almarzooqi, Marya Alsayed, Rashed Aldoseri, Omar Alhaj, Sally Souraya, Graham Thornicroft and Haitham Jahrami
This paper aims to translate and validate an Arabic version of the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE) BACE scale to make it appropriate for the targeted socio-cultural…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to translate and validate an Arabic version of the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE) BACE scale to make it appropriate for the targeted socio-cultural and linguistic context.
Design/methodology/approach
This psychometric study has two main compounds: translating the BACE into Arabic and validating it. Using the back-translation method, the authors involved seven professional individuals to maximize the efficacy of the translated version. The authors began with the process of translating the scale from English into Arabic and vice versa followed by evaluation, compression and matching. Later, a pilot study with a sample size of 35 participants was conducted to receive feedback on the Arabic version of the scale. Finally, an online survey was generated and distributed among Arabic-speaking countries; a total of 630 participants were voluntarily involved in this study.
Findings
A total of 630 participants completed the survey with a mean age of 31.4 ± 12.9, and 402 (63.8%) were females. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and McDonald's Omega coefficient were both greater than 0.9. The confirmatory factor analysis was found to fit highly satisfactory with the stigma-related barriers.
Research limitations/implications
The BACE was validated in Arabic and its psychometric properties were examined in-depth and found to be strong.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to translate tools to make mental health more accessible to patients in need.
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Nur Syaedah Kamis and Norazlina Abd. Wahab
This paper aims to explore the level of hibah knowledge among Muslims in Kedah and investigate its determinants, consisting of education level, education stream, religiosity…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the level of hibah knowledge among Muslims in Kedah and investigate its determinants, consisting of education level, education stream, religiosity, social influence and social media.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is quantitative in nature. Questionnaires were distributed to collect data from Muslims in Alor Setar, Kedah. In total, 195 questionnaires were collected and data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The study finds that Muslims in Alor Setar, Kedah have good knowledge of hibah. Further, education stream, religiosity, social influence and social media were identified as significant factors that influence their knowledge of hibah.
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation is its narrow focus in surveying Muslims only in Alor Setar, Kedah. The second limitation is the limited number of determinants used in investigating hibah knowledge among Muslims and the techniques used in analyzing the data. Despite these limitations, the study’s findings provide invaluable insights into the factors influencing hibah knowledge among Muslims in Alor Setar, Kedah.
Practical implications
This study provides insights regarding the significant personal factors and environmental factors to increase Muslims’ knowledge of hibah. The link between the Islamic education stream and hibah knowledge provides a clear indication that Islamic education can curb the economic problems caused by the substantial amounts of frozen and unclaimed assets in Malaysia. A significant relationship between the environmental factors (social influence and social media) and hibah knowledge also implies that the government and private agencies related to Islamic estate planning and management may use these significant determinants as part of the marketing strategy to increase the usage of hibah as an alternative tool for estate planning.
Originality/value
This study contributes to a better understanding of Muslims’ knowledge about hibah. The government and related agencies in Islamic estate planning and management can now gain better insights into Muslims’ level of knowledge about hibah and the factors influencing their knowledge of hibah as an effective tool for Islamic estate planning and management. Hence, more effective strategies can be recommended to enhance the knowledge of Muslims on hibah. The findings of this study should be of value to the government in its effort to address the increasing number of frozen estates in Malaysia.
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Nor Azizah Ahmad, Sulfeeza Mohd Drus and Hairoladenan Kasim
The relevant importance of enterprise architecture (EA) to an organization has gained the attention of the public sector. However, its adoption rate remains slow on the uptake…
Abstract
Purpose
The relevant importance of enterprise architecture (EA) to an organization has gained the attention of the public sector. However, its adoption rate remains slow on the uptake. Thus, this study aims to investigate the various factors associated with adoption intention based on the technological, organizational and environmental framework for federal and state types of public organizations to provide greater predictive accuracy and relevance of EA adoption in Malaysia’s public sector (MPS) context.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical study was conducted through an online survey in Malaysia. Based on 255 samples from public organizations throughout Malaysia, a multigroup analysis with partial least square structural equation modeling was performed to identify the respective influencing factors for adopting EA by federal and state organizations in the Malaysian public sector.
Findings
Five organizational factors (clear communication, normative pressure, expected benefit, good governance and organization size) and two environmental factors (coercive pressure and mimetic pressure) were found to be significant factors influencing adoption intention for EA. Additionally, clear communication and coercive pressure were noted to be significant factors influencing adoption for both federal and state organizations. Other significant factors for federal organizations include expected benefit and normative pressure, whereas for state organizations, another significant influencing factor was good governance. The predictive accuracy for federal organizations was slightly higher at 74.6% than that of state organizations, that is, at 65%.
Research limitations/implications
These findings imply that federal and state organizations respond to different factors that motivate their intention to adopt EA. These findings guide future intentional practice and ensure greater motivation for EA adoption.
Practical implications
The identification of specific factors that matter to the federal and state public organizations in driving intention to adopt EA in this study has provided significant information that could help in effective decision-making process for these organizations. Common strategies that emphasize on clear communication and coercive pressure can be applied to address EA adoption processes for both federal and state public organizations. Further to that, more specified strategies such as highlighting expected EA benefits and instilling good governance work more effectively for federal and state, respectively.
Originality/value
This study has provided a more extensive view of EA adoption in MPS by differentiating the discerning factors based on the technological–organizational–environmental framework significant for federal and state types of organizations. Hence, this could help in formulating strategies specified to the organization type and ensure greater success in EA adoption in both federal and state organizations.
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Youseef Alotaibi and Ahmad F. Subahi
This paper aims to introduce the goal-oriented requirements extraction approach (GOREA). It is an elicitation approach that uses, specifically, healthcare business goals to derive…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce the goal-oriented requirements extraction approach (GOREA). It is an elicitation approach that uses, specifically, healthcare business goals to derive the requirements of e-health system to be developed.
Design/methodology/approach
GOREA consists of two major phases: (1) modelling e-health business requirements phase and (2) modelling e-health information technology (IT) and systems requirements phase. The modelling e-health business requirements phase is divided into two main stages: (1) model e-health business strategy stage and (2) model e-health business environment stage. The modelling e-health IT and systems requirements phase illustrates the process of obtaining requirements of e-health system from the organizational goals that are determined in the previous phase. It consists of four main steps that deal with business goals of e-health system: (1) modelling e-health business process (BP) step; (2) modelling e-health business goals step; (3) analysing e-health business goals step; and (4) eliciting e-health system requirements step. A case study based on the basic operations and services in hospital emergency unit for checking patient against COVID-19 virus and taking its diagnostic testing has been set and used to examine the validity of the proposed approach by achieving the conformance of the developed system to the business goals.
Findings
The results indicate that (1) the proposed GOREA has a positive influence on the system implementation according to e-health business expectations; and (2) it can successfully fulfil the need of e-health business in order to save the citizens life by checking them against COVID-19 virus.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed approach has some limitations. For example, it is only validated using one e-health business goal and thus it has to be authenticated with different e-health business goals in order to address different e-health problems.
Originality/value
Many e-health projects and innovations are not established based on robust system requirements engineering phase. In order to ensure the success delivery of e-health services, all characteristics of e-health systems and applications must be understood in terms of technological perspectives as well as the all system requirements.
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Arshdeep Singh, Kashish Arora and Suresh Chandra Babu
Climate change-related weather events significantly affect rice production. In this paper, we investigate the impact of and interrelationships between agriculture inputs, climate…
Abstract
Purpose
Climate change-related weather events significantly affect rice production. In this paper, we investigate the impact of and interrelationships between agriculture inputs, climate change factors and financial variables on rice production in India from 1970–2021.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on the time series analysis; the unit root test has been employed to unveil the integration order. Further, the study used various econometric techniques, including vector autoregression estimates (VAR), cointegration test, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and diagnostic test for ARDL, fully modified least squares (FMOLS), canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition method (VDM) to validate the long- and short-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India of the scrutinized variables.
Findings
The study's findings revealed that the rice area, precipitation and maximum temperature have a significant and positive impact on rice production in the short run. In the long run, rice area (ß = 1.162), pesticide consumption (ß = 0.089) and domestic credit to private sector (ß = 0.068) have a positive and significant impact on rice production. The results show that minimum temperature and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a significant but negative impact on rice production in the short run. Minimum temperature, pesticide consumption, domestic credit to the private sector and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a negative and significant impact on rice production in the long run.
Originality/value
The present study makes valuable and original contributions to the literature by examining the short- and long-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India over 1970–2021. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, The majority of the studies examined the impact of climate change on rice production with the consideration of only “mean temperature” as one of the climatic variables, while in the present study, the authors have considered both minimum as well as maximum temperature. Furthermore, the authors also considered the financial variables in the model.
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Muhanad Ahmed Ali, Farah Ahmad and Marina Morrow
While there is literature that examines factors associated with low participation in cancer screening among Canadian ethnic groups, there is limited understanding of black visible…
Abstract
Purpose
While there is literature that examines factors associated with low participation in cancer screening among Canadian ethnic groups, there is limited understanding of black visible minorities, particularly Somalis. Thus, the purpose of this study is to synthesize knowledge pertaining to the perceptions, beliefs and barriers of Somali women and men toward screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in countries such as Canada.
Design/methodology/approach
The scoping review methodology was used to search for peer-reviewed articles that explicitly examined perceptions, beliefs and barriers among Somalis toward screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in developed countries. The following electronic databases were searched without time frame restrictions, namely, OVID Medline, Embase, CINHAL, PubMed, Scopes and ProQuest. A total of 402 peer-reviewed articles were identified and screened. Three articles were identified through reference list screening (one eligible) and consultation with experts in the networks (two eligible). In total, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria for synthesis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the selected articles for key themes and the synthesis was informed by the socio-ecological model.
Findings
The majority of studies originated from the USA and focused primarily on Somali women and cervical cancer screening. Themes that emerged from the literature include individual-level negative experiences and socio-cultural perceptions/beliefs; community-level barriers in cancer screening; and systemic challenges in navigating the health-care system. Many of the studies focused on individual and community-level determinants of cancer screening, with little attention to systemic level determinants. Other gaps identified include factors influencing Somali men’s low participation in cancer screening; limited studies on colorectal cancer and Somali women; and specific cancer-screening barriers faced by Somalis within the Canadian context.
Originality/value
The findings of the review reveal multiple cancer screening challenges for Somali communities and the gained insights should inform both health and social care practitioners and policymakers.
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