1. Perspectives in the beekeeping value chain : innovationand development in the northern region of ColombiaJalelys L. Leones-Cerpa, Martha Cuenca Quicazán, Juan F. Restrepo, Katherine Velandia, Eduardo Sánchez-Tuirán, Karina A. Ojeda, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Colombia and its regions have abundant botanical wealth and climatic conditions suitable for the development of beekeeping. The Caribbean region is promoting the practice of beekeeping as an activity with benefits to ecosystems, human health, and socioeconomic positioning. The objective of this research is to determine the state of beekeeping in the Colombian Caribbean region and the areas where it is necessary to make improvement actions. The methodology was carried out following bibliographic reviews in databases and government reports, and the surveys were applied through Google Forms. The main results showed the need for more regulations in beekeeping and derived products, the low development of value-added products in the Caribbean region, as well as few technologies for the management of apiaries and the genetic manipulation of bees. The surveys of beekeepers corroborated their perception of some of the areas in which the beekeeping sector requires research and development.
Keywords: Colombian Caribbean region, genetic improvement, honey, value-added products
Published in DKUM: 01.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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2. Implementation of the digital sales channel in the coatings industryEva Krhač Andrašec, Marjan Senegačnik, Benjamin Urh, Tomaž Kern, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The development process in the coatings industry can be shortened by digital transformation, and its costs can be reduced using a technical enabler. However, formulators need up-to-date and comprehensive data on existing and potential ingredients to develop the formulation. We were curious about how to supply formulators with data. The idea was that suppliers of ingredients provide data using the “common enabling technology”. We hypothesize that direct data entry compensates suppliers because they can shorten the sales process and increase sales. We used a survey to select key sales channels in the industry. Detailed process models were designed using structured interviews. We analyzed models using structural and operational indicators. Finally, we formed a new digital sales process and verified it. The results show that the digitally formatted sales process can be shortened by up to 32%. Simultaneously, more potential customers can be accessed using the common technology. Existing sales channels would not be closed down. Nevertheless, the digital sales channel is expected to prove its worth over time and gradually increase its share. The suppliers of ingredients can thus avoid a radical process transformation and the immediate integration of additional information technology into the company information system in such an evolutionary way.
Keywords: digital sales channel, process analyses and improvement, digital transformation, technical enabler, coatings industry, process simulation
Published in DKUM: 06.08.2024; Views: 103; Downloads: 10
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3. Engineering properties of tropical clay and bentonite modified with sawdustIsaac I. Akinwumi, Oluwapelumi O. Ojuri, Adebanji S. Ogbiye, Colin A. Booth, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Construction engineers typically avoid the use of expansive soils as construction materials because they are usually difficult to work on and can cause structural failure. This research work investigates how the application of sawdust to tropical clay and bentonite influences their geotechnical properties in order to determine their suitability for use as landfill-liner materials for the effective containment of toxic substances from landfills. X-ray diffractometry, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the mineralogical composition, oxide composition and microstructure, respectively, of the clay and the bentonite. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to determine the specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction, unconfined compressive strength and permeability characteristics of the clay and the bentonite for varying proportions of sawdust application. Generally, increasing the percentage of sawdust caused a reduction in its specific gravity, maximum dry unit weight and unconfined compressive strength, while it caused an increase in the optimum moisture content and permeability of the modified clay and bentonite. The clay and bentonite both have a sufficiently low permeability that satisfies the hydraulic conductivity requirement for use as clay liners. Eight percent sawdust application to a clay having similar properties as that in this study is recommended as an economic way of modifying it – with the potential of improving its adsorbent property – for use in landfill-liner systems in order to prevent the toxic substances leaching from the landfills, thereby protecting the environment and public health.
Keywords: geotechnical properties, hydraulic barrier, landfill, construction, soil improvement, sustainability
Published in DKUM: 18.06.2018; Views: 1112; Downloads: 155
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4. Analytical method for the analysis of stone-columns according to the Rowe dilatancy theoryBoštjan Pulko, Bojan Majes, 2006, original scientific article Abstract: In this paper a new analytical method to analyse the behaviour of rigid foundations stabilized by end bearing stone-columns is proposed. The stone column and the surrounding soil are treated in axial symmetric conditions as a unit cell. The stone column is assumed to behave as an Mohr-Coulomb rigid-plastic material with non-associative flow rule according to the Rowe stress dilatancy theory and the soil as an elastic material. These common assumptions, combined with equilibrium and kinematic conditions, lead to the simple analytical closed-form solution for the prediction of the behaviour for rigid footings resting on stone-column reinforced ground. The parametric study is presented to show the effect of dilatancy of the granular material on the deformations and stresses in the ground and its beneficial effect on settlement reduction. The results of the new method are compared with some already known analytical methods and some published field test results and observations.
Keywords: ground improvement, stone columns, ground settlements, dilatancy theory
Published in DKUM: 17.05.2018; Views: 1363; Downloads: 73
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5. Quality registers in professional health care educations : knowledge gaps and proposed actionsAnnika Nordin, Torie Palm Ernsäter, Bo Bergman, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Background and purpose: The use of quality registers has increased rapidly in Sweden and they are identified as beneficial for health care competitiveness. A quality register is a structured gathering of patient information, to improve health care. However, the introduction of quality registers in health care organisations presupposes that employees know how to use them in quality improvement. Disconnections, or knowledge gaps, concerning quality registers hamper the possibilities to take advantage of them. Taking departure in professional health care educations, the purpose with the paper is to identify and explore knowledge gaps concerning quality registers. A second purpose is to propose actions to bridge the gaps.
Methodology/Approach: In 2012 50 semi-structured telephone interviews were completed and the material analysed in the search for knowledge gaps.
Results: Five knowledge gaps were found. Some professional health care educations teach improvement knowledge, but they have difficulties integrating quality registers as a resource in teaching. Quality registers do not sufficiently cooperate with professional health care educations and county councils do not generally include learning of quality registers in clinical placements/practicums.
Conclusion: Professional health care educations need forums where they can collaborate with others to jointly explore how learning of quality registers can be integrated. There are promising approaches.
Keywords: quality registers, quality improvement, health care
Published in DKUM: 22.01.2018; Views: 1171; Downloads: 150
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6. Managing IT services : aligning best practice with a quality methodMiha Kastelic, Peter Peer, 2012, original scientific article Abstract: Managing information technology services is becoming an increasingly difficult task. To support the management of IT services, different standards and methodologies have been developed. ITIL (short for IT Infrastructure Library) is the most commonly used best practice approach to effective IT Service Management to date. ITIL focuses primarily on what to do in order to ensure value of IT services, but it does not explain how to achieve this effectively. This shortcoming can be overcome by complementing the framework with other quality approaches to service management. In this context several methodologies are mentioned including the use of Six Sigma (6s) methodology. The statistical nature of the Six Sigma methodology enables us to analyze the vast amount of data gathered from the field of IT. Only after these value-based metrics are obtained can the overall health of the IT service be determined and the necessary improvement measures made. The aim of this paper is to analyze in detail the two approaches. We will establish a common link between them, with it the opportunity to complement ITIL with the Six Sigma methodology, and consequently set foundations for introduction of necessary measurable changes.
Keywords: IT service management, ITIL, Six Sigma methodology, DMAIC, continual improvement
Published in DKUM: 04.12.2017; Views: 1299; Downloads: 190
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7. Analiza komplementarne uporabe notacij BPMN, DMN in CMMN v orodju Camunda BPMJurij Valent, 2017, master's thesis Abstract: Osrednja točka magistrskega dela predstavlja dopolnjevanje standarda za modeliranje
poslovnih procesov BPMN z notacijama CMMN in DMN, pri čemer notacija CMMN služi
za upravljanje nestrukturirane aktivnosti v procesu, notacija DMN pa za upravljanje
odločitev (odločitvenih pravil) v poslovnem procesu. Osredotočamo se na celovit pristop k
modeliranju poslovnih procesov. Pregledali smo osnovne gradnike posameznih tehnik za
modeliranje poslovnih procesov in preverili, ali so gradniki, ki predstavljajo pristop
»Triple Crown Of Process Improvement«, v vizualnem konfliktu. Vso pridobljeno teorijo
smo prenesli v prakso in koncept »Triple Crown of Process Improvement« preizkusili v
orodju Camunda BPM, ki podpira ta pristop. Hkrati pa smo v strokovni literaturi preverili,
ali že obstajajo primeri uporabe »Triple Crown of Process Improvement«.
Keywords: DMN, CMMN, BPMN, CAMUNDA BPM, TRIPLE CROWN OF
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
Published in DKUM: 27.10.2017; Views: 1522; Downloads: 191
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8. Self-assessment questionnaire for family doctors' assessment of quality improvement competencies : a cross-cultural adaptation in SloveniaZalika Klemenc-Ketiš, Primož Kuhar, Janko Kersnik, Genc Burazeri, Katarzyna Czabanowska, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Aim: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Quality Improvement Competency Self Assessment (QICS) questionnaire for family physicians into the Slovenian language and to validate it in a representative sample of Slovenian FPs.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational postal survey was conducted in a random sample of 398 Slovenian FPs. We used the QICS questionnaire that was developed on the basis of the new Quality Improvement Competency Framework for family medicine. The QICS questionnaire consists of 37 items included in six domains. The questions can be answered on a five-point Likert scale. The validity of the translation was provided by the backward translation from Slovenian to the English language and by the reference group consisting of experienced FPs in the consensus process. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Spearman rho to determine the test-retest reliability (the questionnaire was sent to the physicians in the sample twice in a period of two weeks).
Results: The final sample consisted of 100 (25.1%) family physicians, out of which 71 (71.0%) were women. Mean age of the sample was 43.3 ± 9.6 years. Mean score of the QICS questionnaire was 127.0 ± 30.1 points (first round) and 127.8 ± 30.6 points (second round). Cronbach’s alpha scores were 0.984 (first round) and 0.988 (second round). Spearman’s rho for the summary score of the whole scale was 0.829 with p < 0.001.
Conclusion: The Slovenian version of the QICS questionnaire proved to be a valid and reliable tool for selfassessment of quality improvement competencies by FPs in terms of continuous professional development.
Keywords: clinical competence, family medicine, self-assessment, quality improvement
Published in DKUM: 05.04.2017; Views: 1702; Downloads: 182
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9. Discourse Characteristics of Self-Help Books: The Example of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyTamara Nerat, 2017, master's thesis Abstract: The main purpose of the thesis was to explore the discourse characteristics in self-help books on the example of a popular classic of this genre. The aim was a discourse analysis of the self-help manual The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) by Stephen R. Covey. The book falls under the self-help category and includes typical features which are common for the genre. The thesis presents the distinguishing characteristics and shows the conventions which make it a typical representative of its genre. The main part consists of a discourse analysis of a chapter from the book, discussing the prevailing cohesive relations and its situational and generic coherence. The analysis examines the following cohesive devices: reference chains, typical examples of ellipsis and substitution, conjunction (the use of linking words and lexical ties), typical examples of lexical cohesion (examples of reiteration). The practical value of discourse analysis is in the fact that it displays a text's cohesion and coherence, both of which impact the text's quality and show if a text makes sense as a unified whole. The knowledge of cohesive devices is useful for evaluating texts (helping readers, critics, teachers) and text production (helping writers, journalists, students). The analysis has demonstrated connectedness and unity achieved through the use of cohesive devices and the prevalence of certain cohesive devices which can be linked to the specifics of the genre. The analysis also shows a situational and generic coherence, that is in line with the expectations towards the genre and context. An insight into how the internal organization of the text and content is connected to the register and genre of the text is supplied by the conclusion based on the analysis.
Keywords: discourse, cohesion, cohesive devices, coherence, register, genre, self-help, Stephen R. Covey, self-improvement, habits
Published in DKUM: 20.02.2017; Views: 2864; Downloads: 261
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10. Potential reduction of concrete deterioration through controlled DEF in hydrated concreteSamo Lubej, Milan Radosavljević, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) is a chemical reaction with proven damaging effects on hydrated concrete. Ettringite crystals can cause cracks and their widening due to pressure on cracked walls caused by the positive volume difference in the reaction. Concrete may show improvements in strength at early ages but further growth of cracks causes widening and spreading through the concrete structure. In this study, finely dispersed crystallization nuclei achieved by adding air-entraining agent (AEA) and short vibration of specimens is presented as the main prerequisite for reducing DEF-induced deterioration of hydrated concrete. The study presents the method and mechanism for obtaining the required nucleation. Controlling long-term DEF by providing AEA-induced crystallisation nuclei, prevented excessive and rapid initial strength improvements, and resulted in a slight increase of compressive strength of fine grained concrete with only marginally lower density.
Keywords: delayed ettringite formation, aerated concrete, strength improvement
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1514; Downloads: 31
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