The Use of Life Cycle Management Principles in Biosystems Engineering： A Pragmatic Approach to Solving Agri-industrial Sustainability Problems

LCM （life cycle management） is a systematic approach, mindset and culture that considers economic, social, and environmental factors among other factors in the decision making process throughout various business or organizational decisions that affect both inputs and outputs of a product or service life cycle. It is a product, process, or activity management system aimed at minimizing environmental and socio-economic burdens associated with an organization＇s product or process during its entire life cycle and value chain. LCM＇s application is gaining wider acceptance both in the corporate and governmental organizations as an approach to reduce ecological footprints and to improve the sustainability of human activities. But where and how can it be used in agricultural engineering applications？ This study highlights the potential areas of LCM application in agricultural and allied sectors and how it can be utilized. The study revealed that LCM tools such as design for environment and life cycle analysis can be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of-and to improve the products, equipment, and structures produced by biosystems engineers as well as the processes used to generate them.

Application of PDCA Cycle in Hand Hygiene Management of Psychiatric Medical Staff

Objective:To study the application effect of the plan-do-check-act(PDCA)cycle management in the hand hygiene management of psychiatric medical staff.Methods:One hundred and twenty medical staff from a psychiatric hospital from May 2023 to December 2023 were selected and divided into two groups.The control group(May 2023 to August 2023)applied the conventional management model,and the observation group(September 2023 to December 2023)applied the PDCA cycle management.The hand hygiene compliance,hand hygiene knowledge,and hygiene qualifications were compared,including the amount of hand sanitizer used.Results:The proportion of medical staff’s hand hygiene compliance and hand hygiene knowledge mastery scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05);the hand hygiene passing rate in the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);the daily amount of hand sanitizer per patient bed and the amount of hand sanitizer used was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The PDCA cycle management model for psychiatric medical staff promoted the improvement of hand hygiene compliance and increased their hand hygiene qualifications.It is suitable for further popularization and application in future clinical practice.

Adoption of network and plan-do-check-action in the international classification of disease 10 coding

BACKGROUND with the widespread application of computer network systems in the medical field,the plan-do-check-action(PDCA)and the international classification of diseases tenth edition(ICD-10)coding system have also achieved favorable results in clinical medical record management.However,research on their combined application is relatively lacking.Objective:it was to explore the impact of network systems and PDCA management mode on ICD-10 encoding.Material and Method:a retrospective collection of 768 discharged medical records from the Medical Record Management Department of Meishan People’s Hospital was conducted.They were divided into a control group(n=232)and an observation group(n=536)based on whether the PDCA management mode was implemented.The two sets of coding accuracy,time spent,case completion rate,satisfaction,and other indicators were compared.AIM To study the adoption of network and PDCA in the ICD-10.METHODS A retrospective collection of 768 discharged medical records from the Medical Record Management Department of Meishan People’s Hospital was conducted.They were divided into a control group(n=232)and an observation group(n=536)based on whether the PDCA management mode was implemented.The two sets of coding accuracy,time spent,case completion rate,satisfaction,and other indicators were compared.RESULTS In the 3,6,12,18,and 24 months of PDCA cycle management mode,the coding accuracy and medical record completion rate were higher,and the coding time was lower in the observation group as against the controls(P<0.05).The satisfaction of coders(80.22%vs 53.45%)and patients(84.89%vs 51.72%)in the observation group was markedly higher as against the controls(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of computer networks and PDCA can improve the accuracy,efficiency,completion rate,and satisfaction of ICD-10 coding.

Key technologies, engineering management and important suggestions of shale oil/gas development: Case study of a Duvernay shale project in Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

The Duvernay project in Canada was taken as an example to summarize the advanced technology and engineering management model of shale oil and gas development in North America.Preliminary suggestions were put forward to accelerate the commercial development of domestic continental shale oil and gas.The advanced technologies,valuable knowledge and rich experience were introduced,including the evaluation of geological target area of the project,rapid long horizontal drilling and completion,high-intensity fracturing,and well spacing optimization.In particular,the concept and connotation of the full-life cycle management of North American unconventional resource projects were analyzed.Its emphasis on early evaluation and risk management,and a highly competitive market environment have played an important role in promoting technological innovation and management innovation.In addition,the low-cost sharing system of industry-wide knowledge and experience and the management mode were applied.These management approaches are of great significance for reference in accelerating the exploration and development of unconventional resources in China.China possesses abundant shale oil and gas resources,which are an important replacement to guarantee the national oil and gas energy supply.However,due to the late start and special geological characteristics and engineering difficulties in China,there is a large gap in technology level and management mode compared with North America.According to the advanced experience and enlightenment of the shale oil and gas development in North America,a preliminary proposal to accelerate the development of shale oil and gas in China was made.

Applied Rainwater Harvesting Education： An Australian Case Study

Rainwater tanks have been an integral part of the Australian landscape given the vital role these tanks have played over the years in rural Australia. In the past Local government and Water Authorities actively discouraged the use of rainwater tanks and informing citizens that they were illegal and dangerous. Kogarah Council within the Sydney metropolitan area is a proactive Council, and became the first council in Sydney to adopt Total Water Cycle Management （TWCM） principles into its Sustainability Management Plan, integrating these principles into on-ground projects at a catchment level in a planned and strategic approach. Among it priority projects was the Rainwater Tanks in Schools. This paper outlines how this project assisted all 22 schools in the Kogarah LGA （The Local Government Association） to increase the efficiency of water use and install rainwater tanks to reduce potable water use in toilet flushing and irrigating school gardens. The rainwater harvesting reduced the amount of drinking water used for toilet flushing and/or irrigation. The rainwater tanks also act as a visual reminder to conserve water for the students. The project has equipped the next generation with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and undertake actions that will move towards achieving sustainability.

An updated review and conceptual model for optimizing WEEE management in China from a life cycle perspective

Waste electrical and electronic equipment （WEEE） is a rapidly growing category of solid waste. China is now facing WEEE problems from both growing domestic generation and illegal imports. Currently, the amount of WEEE formally treated has increased steadily in China. The layout of the formal sector has been basically completed. Meanwhile, by controlling illegal disassembly activities, the informal sector has been gradually transformed to formal one. Beginning with the overview of the WEEE recycling industry in China, this paper first lists the latest progress in WEEE management from such aspects as the new edition of China RollS Directive （Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive）, the updated WEEE Treatment List, the updated WEEE fund standard, the revised National Hazardous Waste List, and a brand-new plan on extended producer responsibility. In so doing, we elucidate the current challenges on WEEE management in detail： the imbalance between fund levies and subsidies, the gap in the supervision scope, the homogenization of recycling industry and the lack of life cycle approaches. Finally, a conceptual framework for integrated management of WEEE is proposed from a life cycle perspective. Overall, the life cycle management of WEEE includes three aspects： developing life cycle information for decision-making, implementing life cycle engineering with life cycle tools, and improving WEEE legislation based on life cycle thinking. By providing specific operating strategies, this life cycle framework should help to optimize WEEE management in developing countries where legislation is imperfect and the recycling system is relatively immature.

Digitalization of mine operations:Scenarios to benefit in real-time truck dispatching

One of the key factors in a profitable open-pit mine is the efficiency of the waste disposal system. Using GPS-technology, the truck-dispatching decisions can be made in real-time but the chosen strategy has a crucial role. Therefore, finding the optimal dispatching strategy for truck-shovel operations is extremely important. Dispatching strategies have been reported in the literature, but the comparison of these strategies is still missing. This paper illustrates the differences between the strategies by conducting a stochastic simulation study based on the data gathered from an actual mine. The findings underline the importance of the global vision in dispatching decisions.