Department of Administration

Introduction: Identifying health facility damage following disasters is crucial, but ground-based evaluations require substantial time and labor. Remote-sensing artificial intelligence (AI) models trained on satellite imagery can estimate building damage, and could be used to generate rapid health facility damage reports. There is little published methodology for generating these estimates, testing real-world accuracy, or exploring error sources. This study presents a novel method of overlaying model damage outputs with health facility location data to generate health facility damage estimates following the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey. Two models were compared for agreement, accuracy, and errors. Methods: Building-level damage estimates were obtained for Model A (Microsoft neural network model) and Model B (Google AI model), and overlaid with health facility location data to identify facilities with significant damage. Model agreement, sensitivity, and specificity for damage detection were calculated. A descriptive review of common error sources based on selected satellite imagery was conducted. A spatially aggregated damage estimation, based on a proportion of buildings damaged in a 0.125 km 2 area, was also generated and assessed for each model. Results: Twenty-five hospitals, 13 dialysis facilities, and 454 pharmacies were evaluated across three cities. Estimated damage was higher for Model A (10.4%) than for Model B (4.3%). Cohen’s kappa was 0.32, indicating fair agreement. Sensitivity was low for both models at 42.9%, while specificity was high (A: 93.6%, B: 96.8%). Agreement and sensitivity were best for hospitals. Common errors included inaccurate building identification and underestimation of damage for destroyed buildings. Spatially aggregated damage estimates yielded higher sensitivity (A:71.4%, B:57.1%) and agreement (Cohen’s kappa 0.38). Conclusion: Leveraging remote-sensing models for health facility damage assessment is feasible, but currently lacks the sensitivity to replace ground evaluations. Improving building identification, damage detection for destroyed buildings, and spatially aggregating results may improve the performance and utility of these models for use in disaster response settings.

Purpose This study aims to analyze the collaborative dynamics of the integrated public service delivery model in Minas Gerais, Brazil, examining how interorganizational relationships, governance arrangements and coordination mechanisms shape collaborative performance in a hybrid, multilevel context. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study was conducted using document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key actors involved in the management and operation of the Unidades de Atendimento Integrado system. The data were analyzed through thematic content analysis and interpreted using Ferolla and Passador (2014) framework, which evaluates collaboration across three dimensions: participation, representativeness and publicization. Findings Findings show that, despite the existence of formal coordination mechanisms and hybrid governance structures, collaborative performance remains limited. Excessive centralization, rigid standardization, fragmented accountability chains and the absence of deliberative and participatory processes undermine horizontal collaboration and restrict frontline autonomy. As a result, the collaborative potential of integrated service centers is only partially realized. Research limitations/implications Although limited to a single case, the findings identify mechanisms that are likely to appear in similar integrated service models, especially those operating in multilevel governance settings. Future studies may compare alternative models across regions or countries. Practical implications The results underscore the need for clearer accountability structures, shared performance indicators, strengthened interorganizational coordination routines and expanded discretion for frontline managers. Establishing participatory channels and reducing excessive centralization can enhance collaborative performance and improve service outcomes. Social implications Strengthening collaboration in integrated citizen service centers can improve accessibility, reduce bureaucratic barriers, enhance responsiveness and build public trust in state institutions. Originality/value This study advances the literature on collaborative governance by examining an underrepresented territorial context and demonstrating that formal integration and hybrid governance arrangements do not guarantee effective collaboration. It highlights the enabling conditions – shared authority, mutual trust and participatory structures – required for integrated service delivery to generate collaborative capacity and public value.

This study examined the relationship between diversity and career plateau among teachers in selected private secondary schools in Isoko North, Ukwuani, and Ethiope East local Government Areas of Delta state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to ascertain the influence of demographic diversity (DD), cultural diversity (CD) and intellectual and academic diversity (IAD) on career plateau (CP). Survey research design was utilized in this investigation. The study population comprised of teachers in selected private secondary schools in Isoko North, Ukwuani, and Ethiope East local Government Areas of Delta state. However, convenience sampling technique was used to select 200 respondents. The responses obtained from the respondents were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation statistics and simple linear regressions with the aid of SPSS version 23. The findings revealed that there is significant positive effect of demographic diversity (t= 8.04, p<0.05), cultural diversity (t= 7.00, p<0.05) and intellectual and academic diversity (t= 7.59, p<0.05) on career plateau. The study recommends that Organizations (private secondary schools) should comprehend how variability in DD, CD and IAD affect CP and then consider strategies such as inclusive policies and practices to ensure that diverse employees receive equal career progression opportunities and support to overcome potential plateaus. Through inclusive policies and practices, organization can alleviate the unexpected career plateau effects associated with DD, CD and IAD, encourage an unbiased and conducive work environment for all employees. Keywords: Diversity, Demographic Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Intellectual and Academic Diversity, Career Plateau.

Implementing Lean Startup (LS) and Lean Product Development (LPD) can significantly impact innovation when developing new products and, consequently, the manufacturing stage. This study empirically conducts ideation and value prospection phases to favor the manufacturing stage in a low-complexity system of meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) through the lens of socio-technical system theory. A case study was conducted through three main phases (ideation, value prospection and learning) by employing seven lean practices and involving more than 160 participants in a survey to conduct hypothesis testing. The findings from the application of the questionnaire were obtained through Cronbach’s Alpha to assess the reliability and Chi-square to test the hypothesis. The study’s findings state the importance of socio-technical theory in a low-complexity system, integrating LS and LPD to develop sustainable, customer-centered, viable bee boxes and informative booklets. It addresses a solution to promote income generation for vulnerable coastal communities, considering the interaction between social and technical aspects essential to support the manufacturing stage ahead. The study provides a holistic perspective through the interplay of people, technologies and the environment in the initial stages of product development to anticipate promising scenarios for effective and efficient manufacturing processes.

Background: The continued use of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-containing intravenous (IV) infusion devices in healthcare - particularly in Arab countries - poses significant clinical and ethical risks. Despite global regulatory alerts, the concept of biocompatibility is often misrepresented, leaving patients and nurses exposed to leachable toxins. The absence of enforceable standards in local procurement systems exacerbates these dangers. Aim: To explore the gap between biocompatibility claims and real-world safety in DEHP-based IV systems, while highlighting the nursing role in clinical risk detection, advocacy, and policy reform. Design: Narrative review employing a thematic synthesis approach across toxicological, regulatory, and clinical domains. Scope: The review covers international regulatory frameworks and nursing practice, with emphasis on high-risk environments such as neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), oncology wards, and dialysis units in Arab hospitals. Methods (Tool of Data Collection): A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar, targeting publications from 2000 to 2025. Grey literature and official reports were retrieved from the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Health Care without Harm (HCWH), BBraun, and regional authorities. Inclusion focused on toxicological, regulatory, and nursing-related documents. Sources were thematically synthesized across five domains: toxicological risks, labeling and regulatory gaps, patient safety outcomes, occupational exposure, and nurse-led advocacy. Results: Strong toxicological evidence was identified linking DEHP exposure to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Regulatory definitions of biocompatibility lacked transparency, particularly in Arab healthcare systems where DEHP-based devices remain prevalent due to the absence of binding material safety regulations. Nurses were identified as both frontline users and at-risk individuals due to occupational exposure and insufficient labeling. A thematic model was proposed to guide nursing-led safety interventions and procurement reform. Conclusion: DEHP use in IV devices remains an overlooked clinical and occupational threat. Misaligned biocompatibility labels and weak regulatory enforcement compromise the safety of IV therapy, especially in vulnerable patient populations. Recommendations: Nurses must lead advocacy for DEHP-free infusion systems, regular biocompatibility audits, and patient-centered procurement policies. Arab regulatory bodies should align with international directives (e.g., SCHEER, WHO) and empower nursing staff through transparent labeling, standardized training, and sustainable procurement reforms.

Entrepreneurial marketing has been conceptualized to address challenges encountered by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those operating with limited resources and under dynamic environmental conditions. This study investigates the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation predict digital marketing capabilities and enhance marketing performance in the context of SMEs in emerging markets. This study employs a quantitative approach through a survey-based design with a self-administered (structured) questionnaire. The sample size of 398 SMEs was determined using Slovin’s formula, and data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), a robust technique commonly adopted in marketing research. These findings reveal that entrepreneurial orientation has a significant direct effect on digital marketing capabilities and marketing performance. Similarly, market orientation exerts a positive and significant impact on both digital marketing capabilities and marketing performance. Furthermore, digital marketing capability significantly influences marketing performance and mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and marketing performance, as well as between market orientation and marketing performance. These findings underscore the strategic role of entrepreneurial and market orientations as foundational drivers of digital marketing capability and overall marketing performance in resource-constrained and volatile business environments.

This article explores the gradual erosion of academic freedom in contemporary educational institutions, attributing this decline to the pervasive influence of ignorance.Through examination of both historical and contemporary examples, this piece highlights how ignorance-manifested through censorship, lack of critical thinking, and the suppression of diverse viewpointsundermines the foundational principles of academic freedom.The paper argues that when academic freedom is compromised, there are detrimental effects on educators, students, and society at large.It is essential to foster an environment of open inquiry and intellectual rigor to preserve the integrity of academia.Furthermore, intellectual freedom and critical thought are requisite for a thriving society and a secure union between democracy and education.Recommendations for policy changes and educational reforms are proposed to counteract these detrimental trends and promote a culture of knowledge, tolerance, inclusion, and understanding.Ultimately, this paper underscores the critical importance of combating ignorance to safeguard the future of academic freedom and to ensure the continued progress and vitality of educational institutions.