IH&RA REPORTS: HOTEL & RESTAURANT INDUSTRY NEARER TO GOAL OF EXCLUSION FROM INTERNATIONAL STANDARDISATION

TC 228, a Technical Committee formally set up in February 2005 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to draft international standards in the field of "Tourism & Related Services" may finally have reached consensus on the scope of its work programme. This was the objective given to a Task Force which convened in Madrid on 1 June. The outcome was a recommendation to exclude Accommodation and Catering from the formal Scope of the TC’s Work programme.

Hospitality Leaders Call for Standardisation of Services and Metrics

A select group of Sales and Marketing Leaders from the hospitality industry. speaking at the inaugural HSMAI Asia Pacific Thought Leaders in Marketing Roundtable in Singapore. called for a review of Asian Hospitality practices as well as a body to take charge of the issue of standardizing services. metrics and ratings for the industry.

Emerging trends in expansive soil stabilisation: A review

Expansive soils are problematic due to the performances of their clay mineral constituent, which makes them exhibit the shrink-swell characteristics. The shrink-swell behaviours make expansive soils inappropriate for direct engineering application in their natural form. In an attempt to make them more feasible for construction purposes, numerous materials and techniques have been used to stabilise the soil. In this study, the additives and techniques applied for stabilising expansive soils will be focused on,with respect to their efficiency in improving the engineering properties of the soils. Then we discussed the microstructural interaction, chemical process, economic implication, nanotechnology application, as well as waste reuse and sustainability. Some issues regarding the effective application of the emerging trends in expansive soil stabilisation were presented with three categories, namely geoenvironmental,standardisation and optimisation issues. Techniques like predictive modelling and exploring methods such as reliability-based design optimisation, response surface methodology, dimensional analysis, and artificial intelligence technology were also proposed in order to ensure that expansive soil stabilisation is efficient.

Methods of modeling relative growth rate

Background： Analysing and modelling plant growth is an important interdisciplinary field of plant science. The use of relative growth rates, involving the analysis of plant growth relative to plant size, has more or less independently emerged in different research groups and at different times and has provided powerful tools for assessing the growth performance and growth efficiency of plants and plant populations. In this paper, we explore how these isolated methods can be combined to form a consistent methodology for modelling relative growth rates. Methods： We review and combine existing methods of analysing and modelling relative growth rates and apply a combination of methods to Sitka spruce （Piceo sitchensis （Bong.） Carr.） stem-analysis data from North Wales （UK） and British Douglas fir （Pseudotsugd menziesii （Mirb.） Franco） yield table data. Results： The results indicate that, by combining the approaches of different plant-growth analysis laboratories and using them simultaneously, we can advance and standardise the concept of relative plant growth. Particularly the growth multiplier plays an important role in modelling relative growth rates. Another useful technique has been the recent introduction of size-standardised relative growth rates. Conclusions： Modelling relative growth rates mainly serves two purposes, 1） an improved analysis of growth performance and efficiency and 2） the prediction of future or past growth rates. This makes the concept of relative growth ideally suited to growth reconstruction as required in dendrochronology, climate change and forest decline research and for interdisciplinary research projects beyond the realm of plant science.

Cost-effectiveness in Clostridium difficile treatment decision-making

AIM: To develop a framework for the clinical and health economic assessment for management of Clostridium difficile infection(CDI).METHODS: CDI has vast economic consequences emphasizing the need for innovative and cost effective solutions, which were aim of this study. A guidance model was developed for coverage decisions and guideline development in CDI. The model included pharmacotherapy with oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin, which is the mainstay for pharmacological treatment of CDI and is recommended by most treatment guidelines.RESULTS: A design for a patient-based cost-effectiveness model was developed, which can be used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of current and future treatment strategies in CDI. Patient-based outcomes were extrapolated to the population by including factors like, e.g., person-to-person transmission, isolation precautions and closing and cleaning wards of hospitals. CONCLUSION: The proposed framework for a population-based CDI model may be used for clinical and health economic assessments of CDI guidelines and coverage decisions for emerging treatments for CDI.

Standardization in laboratory medicine: Adoption of common reference intervals to the Croatian population

Considering the fact that the results of laboratory tests provide useful information about the state of health of patients, determination of reference value is considered an intrinsic part in the development of laboratory medi-cine. There are still huge differences in the analytical methods used as well as in the associated reference intervals which could consequently significantly affect the proper assessment of patient health. In a constant effort to increase the quality of patients' care, there are numerous international initiatives for standardiza-tion and/or harmonization of laboratory diagnostics in order to achieve maximum comparability of laboratory test results and improve patient safety. Through the standardization and harmonization processes of analytical methods the ability to create unique reference intervals is achieved. Such reference intervals could be applied globally in all laboratories using methods traceable to the same reference measuring system and analysing the biological samples from the populations with similar socio-demographic and ethnic characteristics. In this review we outlined the results of the harmonization processes in Croatia in the field of population based reference intervals for clinically relevant blood and serum constituents which are in accordance with ongoing activity for worldwide standardization and harmonization based on traceability in laboratory medicine.

Analysis of Extreme Rainfall Events (Drought and Flood) over Tordzie Watershed in the Volta Region of Ghana

In regional water resources management and disaster preparedness, the analysis of extreme rainfall events is essential. The need to investigate drought and flood conditions is now heightened within the context of climate change and variability. The Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) was employed to assess the extreme rainfall event on Tordzie watershed using precipitation data from 1984-2014. The SPI on the time scale of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were determined using “DrinC” software. The drought was characterised into magnitude, duration, intensity, frequency, commencement and termination at the time scales of SPI-3, SPI-6, SPI-9 and SPI-12. Results indicated that the middle reaches (Kpetoe) of the watershed experienced less severe drought condition compared to the lower reaches (Tordzinu). Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s slope (SS) revealed general increasing drought trend but insignificant at 95% confidence interval. The SS indicated change in magnitude of 0.016 mm/year, 0.012 mm/year, 0.026 mm/year and 0.016 mm/year respectively at the mentioned time scales at 95% confidence interval at the Tordzinu and that of Kpetoe were 0.006 mm/year, 0.009 mm/year, 0.014 mm/year and 0.003 mm/year. These changes could have implication for agriculture and water resources management and engender food insecurity among smallholder farmers.

The New Approach for Risk Regulation in Banks

The purpose of this report is to present the necessity of proceeding to new reforms in bank regulation and to increase the stability and risk sensitivity of the capital base under applying the Standardised Credit Risk Assessment Approach (SCRA) in banks. The dynamics in the bank regulation and supervision of credit risk assessment approaches are explored. In the paper, a thorough theoretical-methodological and historical-logical analysis was made of the evolution of the development and chronology of the global regulatory frameworks for banks—Basel 1, Basel 2, and Basel 3. The contemporary projections and challenges for the banks’ management under the new regulatory and institutional changes are presented. The SCRA is a positive asset in bank capital regulation in contemporary banking. The revisions to the regulatory framework by Basel 3 are a long continuous process influenced by numerous economic, social, and political factors. The preparation of the Bulgarian banking system for a new reform of financial regulation is analyzed. The need for adoption of a new risk-based approach for capital assessment and the importance of transparency in bank financial reporting is proved.

Projected Warming and Occurrence of Meteorological Droughts—Insights from the Coasts of South India

The latest development in the climate change forecast, using regional climate models, made it possible to provide more detailed information on the future changes in the climatic variables in the face of global warming. The PRECIS, UK Met office Hadley Centre’s Regional Climate Model is being used in simulating the future climate corresponding to the IPCC-SRES A1B emission scenario for the period 2040-2070 with reference to the base line year 1970-2000 for coastal region of Thiruvallur, South India. The results indicated a significant increase in the mean maximum temperature, mean minimum temperature and a slight decrease in the precipitation over the study area. The outcomes of the IMD method of Percent Deviation analysis show that the Thiruvallur has witnessed moderate to mild droughts during the period 1970 to 2011. Moderate drought years were mainly 1974, 1980, 1982 and 1999 with -35.78%, -30.09%, -30.54%, -27.30% rainfall deviations respectively. SPI-12 is also employed to analyze the occurrence and severity of drought events in the past. The analysis revealed that the year 1974 with SPI value -2.05 was the extremely severe drought year on record during the period 1970-2011. The years 1982 (-1.7), 1980 (-1.67), 1999 (-1.48) were severe dry years. Pearson’s correlation analysis proved that both the outputs have significant positive correlation (0.05 level) with R2 value of 0.992. It is necessary to develop early warning systems and apt drought preparedness strategies to cope with this natural hazard.

Type 2 diabetes with good glycemic control have improved insulin response and lower non-esterified fatty acid level after a meal challenge

Background: Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) involves defects in β-cell function with impaired first and second phase insulin response, and reduced insulin sensitivity. Diabetic dyslipidemia is an important and common risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Aims: This study examined the effect of glycemic control on post prandial insulin and lipid parameters in response to a standardised meal challenge among Type 2 diabetes patients with good and poor glycemic control. Methods: We cross-sectionally studied 31 T2DM patients with good glycemic control and 32 T2DM patients with poor glycemic control. Subjects were given, after minimum 10 hours of fasting, a standard meal containing 58% fat. Fasting and serial postprandial blood samples were taken over 8 hours to determine levels of triglyceride, direct LDL-C, apoB lipoprotein, non-esterified-fatty-acid, insulin and blood glucose. Results: Post prandial NEFA was significantly higher in poor controlled diabetes patients compared to good control diabetes patients (p = 0.019), and post-hoc analysis showed significant difference from 3 hours post prandial to 4 hours post prandial, where p= 0.021. Although the difference in insulin between the 2 groups did not reach statistical significance (p =0.058), post-hoc analysis showed significant difference between the 2 groups from fasting to 1 hour post prandial (p = 0.034) despite postprandial glucose being significantly higher in poor controlled diabetes patients (p < 0.001), throughout the postprandial period. Conclusion: T2DM patients with good glycemic control have improved insulin response with lower non-esterified fatty acid.

Causes of Big Bushfires in Australia: Higher Temperatures and Rainfall or More Fuel?

The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia caused the loss of 34 lives and an estimated 100 bn AU$ damage. This has sharpened the apparent division between Australians who believe that the increasing number of bushfires is due to climate change, and those who suggest that fuel loads must be managed more carefully. Bushfires whose area equals or exceeds 1 mHa have been analysed in this paper. The results show that the number, duration, and size have increased over the period 1850-2020, but that since 1953, there has been a downward trend in the number of big bushfires. There is a range of temperatures of about 20°C that are associated with the fires, with a modal temperature of 30°C - 32.5°C. Using an analysis of the maximum temperatures for the period 1970-2020 as a standard for comparison with bushfires for the period 1850-2020, shows that during bushfire events the standardised temperatures have a downward trend. This is most clearly shown by the application of the Fisher Exact Test. This suggests that the fuel load in forests is a key factor for bushfires. The role of pre-bushfire rainfall shows a rapid rise in the area burnt when the rainfall exceeds 150 mm month-1 which would lead to more plant growth and hence fuel load. The role of traditional burning over the whole of Australia is described based on documentary evidence. A tentative cost benefit analysis has shown that a comprehensive program of wildfire management is cost effective. The recommendations of previous research, National Inquiries and more recent management practices, have all failed to prevent the 2019-20 fire disaster in Australia.

Evaluation of Daily Gridded Meteorological Datasets over the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and Implication to Water Resources Management

Hydro-climatological study is difficult in most of the developing countries due to the paucity of monitoring stations. Gridded climatological data provides an opportunity to extrapolate climate to areas without monitoring stations based on their ability to replicate the Spatio-temporal distribution and variability of observed datasets. Simple correlation and error analyses are not enough to predict the variability and distribution of precipitation and temperature. In this study, the coefficient of correlation (R2), Root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE) and mean wet and dry spell lengths were used to evaluate the performance of three widely used daily gridded precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature datasets from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU), Princeton University Global Meteorological Forcing (PGF) and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) datasets available over the Niger Delta part of Nigeria. The Standardised Precipitation Index was used to assess the confidence of using gridded precipitation products on water resource management. Results of correlation, error, and spell length analysis revealed that the CRU and PGF datasets performed much better than the CFSR datasets. SPI values also indicate a good association between station and CRU precipitation products. The CFSR datasets in comparison with the other data products in many years overestimated and underestimated the SPI. This indicates weak accuracy in predictability, hence not reliable for water resource management in the study area. However, CRU data products were found to perform much better in most of the statistical assessments conducted. This makes the methods used in this study to be useful for the assessment of various gridded datasets in various hydrological and climatic applications.

Global geospatial data from Earth observation:status and issues

Data covering the whole of the surface of the Earth in a homogeneous and reliable manner has been accumulating over many years.This type of data became available from meteorological satellites from the 1960s and from Earth-observing satellites at a small scale from the early 1970s but has gradually accumulated at larger scales up to the present day when we now have data covering many environmental themes at large scales.These data have been used to generate information which is presented in the form of global data sets.This paper will give a brief introduction to the development of Earth observation and to the organisations and sensors which collect data and produce global geospatial data sets.Means of accessing global data sets will set out the types of data available that will be covered.Digital elevation models are discussed in a separate section because of their importance in georeferencing image data as well as their application to analysis of thematic data.The paper will also examine issues of availability,accuracy,validation and reliability and will look at future challenges.

Humanitarian action in academic institutions:a case study in the ethical stewardship of unidentified forensic cases

Forensic anthropologists are often responsible for the management of long-term unidentified individuals.Others have contextualised these decedents—many of whom likely belonged to socially,politically,and/or economically marginalised groups in life—as part of a larger identification crisis in the US.However,there has been little discussion surrounding how this humanitarian crisis has manifested in academic institutions,where anthropologists often provide medicolegal consultation and act as long-term stewards of the unidentified.The Identification&Repatriation Initiative was created at the Forensic Anthropology Centre at Texas State University(FACTS)to recognise and investigate unidentified human remains in long-term storage.Our paper outlines common challenges that were encountered during our initial reassessment of unidentified cases at FACTS,emphasising the detrimental impacts of inconsistent procedures,loss of context,and case fatigue.It is likely that other academic institutions face similar challenges,and by highlighting these issues we hope to help initiate a larger conversation concerning ethical stewardship of human remains in these settings.By incorporating humanitarian perspectives into forensic casework,anthropologists in academia can better advocate for the long-term unidentified.

Supply chain process optimisation via the management of variance

This paper presents a new optimisation approach for variance within a supply chain management process.The approach is presented by the variance cube of purchasing(VCP)that involves a lean method for variance optimisation,namely the cost and variance driver analysis.The approach focuses on the optimisation and the control of existing process variance within the supply chain.The application of the cube is presented by a case study involving a globally acting Tier 1 supplier,who produces steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.In this case,the sourcing process of this Tier 1 supplier will be analysed,evaluated and optimised regarding variance.The variance is presented in the form of the number of suppliers who are involved in the sourcing process.Unnecessary existing process variance,like an unnecessary huge number of suppliers within the sourcing process,is a type of waste.Time,money,quality and technology can be saved through a greater understanding of the optimal number of suppliers within a sourcing process.The results of the case study led to a generalised method to optimise the existing process variance,present cost improvements as well as optimising the key performance indicator to manage the number of suppliers in the sourcing process.The general approach can be used for other company departments like logistics and for different industries other than automotive.The insights of this article support the operative user and the strategic company management in order to reduce and improve unnecessary variance in different sections.The structured analysis of supply chain process variance via the VCP and the key performance indicator“optimal supplier number per sourcing process”are new to company management.

On the laboratory rearing of green dock leaf beetles Gastrophysa viridula （Coleoptera： Chrysomelidae）

Leaf beetles Gastrophysa viridula have attracted recently increased research interest from various points of view, since they are： （i） pest insects in rhubarb crops; （ii） potential biocontrol agents of dock plants Rumex spp. in grasslands; and （iii） a model species in ecological studies on insect population dynamics, biochemistry, behavior, biomechanics and biomimetics. The continuous rearing of beetles at standardized conditions may help to unify the fitness state of different individuals, allowing a better comparison of experimental results. The present communication suggests a modular space- and time-saving rearing method ofG. viridula in stackable faunariums under laboratory conditions, which has been successfully established and continuously used over the last 5 years. Several developmental stages were kept in separate boxes, and multiple generations were kept simultaneously, depending on the required number of beetles.

Pervasive geo-security - a lightweight triple-A approach to securing distributed geo-service infrastructures

Security has recently become a major concern in distributed geo-infrastructures for spatial data provision.Thus,a lightweight approach for securing distributed low-power environments such as geo-sensor networks is needed.The first part of this article presents a survey of current security mechanisms for authentication and authorisation.Based on this survey,a lightweight and scalable token-based security infrastructure was developed,which is tailored for use in distributed geo-web service infrastructures.The developed security framework comprises dedicated components for authentication,rule-based authorisation and optimised storage and administration of access rules.For validation purposes,a prototypical implementation of the approach has been created.