Search Results (213)

Prescriptive Maintenance (PsM) transforms industrial asset management by enabling autonomous decisions through simultaneous failure anticipation and optimal maintenance recommendations. Yet, despite increasing research interest, the conceptual clarity, technological maturity, and practical deployment of PsM remains fragmented. Here, we conduct a comprehensive and application-oriented Systematic Literature Review of studies published between 2013–2024. We identify key enablers—artificial intelligence and machine learning, horizontal and vertical integration, and deep reinforcement learning—that map the functional space of PsM across industrial sectors. The results from our multivariate meta-synthesis uncover three main thematic research clusters, ranging from decision-automation of technical (multi)component-level systems to strategic and organisational-support strategies. Notably, while predictive models are widely adopted, the translation of these capabilities to PsM remains limited. Primary reasons include semantic interoperability, real-time optimisation, and deployment scalability. As a response, a structured research agenda is proposed to emphasise hybrid architectures, context-aware prescription mechanisms, and alignment with Industry 5.0 principles of human-centricity, resilience, and sustainability. The review establishes a critical foundation for future advances in intelligent, explainable, and action-oriented maintenance systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: It is essential to explore and disseminate positive deviance strategies that promote resilience, mindfulness, and well-being beyond stress and burnout reduction strategies for residents and physicians who experience high levels of occupational stress. This scoping review maps studies that investigate positive deviance strategies to enhance the well-being of residents and physicians. Methods: A scoping review was conducted by PRISMA guidelines to identify English-language studies on strategies for physician well-being. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and ERIC were searched using terms related to well-being, coping, and medical education. Results: Among the 38 studies included, 17 (44.7%) targeted physicians in graduate medical education (GME), while 19 (50%) focused on continuing medical education (CME). Positive deviance strategies were identified in 26 studies and were most frequently implemented at the microsystem level, such as small group interventions (e.g., coaching, mentoring, and workshops). These strategies addressed individual and organisational factors that contribute to physician well-being and were associated with improvements in life satisfaction, resilience, professional identity, and psychological safety. The review found that positive deviance strategies were often proactive, values-driven, and disseminated organically over time, emphasising the importance of longitudinal engagement and sustained institutional support. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the growing use of positive deviance strategies, especially at the microsystem level, to promote physician well-being. These approaches emphasise sustainable, values-driven practices and may offer effective, context-sensitive solutions within healthcare systems. Full article

The rubber industry is facing major socio-economic and environmental constraints. Rubber-based agroforestry systems represent a more sustainable solution through the diversification of income and the provision of greater ecosystem services than monoculture plantations. Participative approaches are known for their ability to co-construct solutions with stakeholders and to promote a positive impact on smallholders. This study therefore implemented a participatory research process with stakeholders in the natural rubber sector for the purpose of improving inclusion, relevance and impact. Facilitation training sessions were first organised with academic actors to prepare participatory workshops. A working group of stakeholder representatives was set up and participated in these workshops to share a common representation of the value chain and to identify problems and solutions for the sector in Indonesia. By fostering collective intelligence and systems thinking, the process is aimed at enabling the development of adaptive technical solutions and building capacity across the sector for future government replanting programmes. The resulting adaptive technical packages were then detailed and objectified by the academic consortium and are part of a participatory plant breeding approach adapted to the natural rubber industry. On-station and on-farm experimental plans have been set up to facilitate the drafting of projects for setting up field trials based on these outcomes. Research played a dual role as both knowledge provider and facilitator, guiding a co-learning process rooted in social inclusion, equity and ecological resilience. The initiative highlighted the potential of rubber cultivation to contribute to climate change mitigation and food sovereignty, provided that it can adapt through sustainable practices like agroforestry. Continued political and financial support is essential to sustain and scale these innovations. Full article

The teaching of the Bible emphasizes the importance of prayer for Christians’ faith and spiritual growth, particularly during times of trial and difficulty. Through prayers, Christians enable their spiritual experience of continuous transformation. This study tries to investigate the effects of the organised prayer movement by Jireh Fund Prayer Movement (JFPM) in Hong Kong on Christians who follow the movement. This study explores the effects of participating in the JFPM on Christians’ development of faith, spiritual wellness, resilience and love. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2024, with more than 500 Christians from 67 churches responding to a questionnaire developed for the study to measure the various effects on Christians after they participated in the movement. The questionnaire was developed to measure Christians’ participation in the movement, their spiritual development of faith with hope, spiritual wellness, love, and resilience in the face of stress experienced. The findings are that the organised prayer movements provided by the Jireh Fund have a profound influence on Christians’ development of faith, spiritual wellness, and love. Through shared experiences in participating in prayer group movements, individuals strengthen their faith, enhance their spiritual development, experience divine love, and reduce stress in their daily lives. The sense of community and support found in these movements enhances spiritual wellness, while the focus on collective prayer fosters a culture of love and compassion. Through prayer, believers are empowered to grow in their relationship with God and to extend His love to others, demonstrating the transformative power of organised prayer movements in the lives of Christians. Full article

In October 2024, a DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) triggered torrential rains across the Valencian Community, causing 227 deaths, severe infrastructure damage, and economic losses estimated at €17.8 billion. In this context of crisis, startups, despite having fewer resources and less experience than large corporations, played a significant role in crisis communication, shaping public perception and operational continuity. This study explores the communication strategies adopted by startups during and after the disaster, focusing on their activity on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook between October 2024 and January 2025. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a quantitative analysis of digital discourse through the Fanpage Karma tool, assessing metrics such as engagement, reach, and posting frequency. Sentiment analysis was performed using GPT-4, an advanced natural language processing model, and in-depth interviews with startup representatives provided qualitative insights into reputational impacts. The findings reveal that startups which aligned their discourse with the social context, prioritizing transparency and emotional proximity, enhanced their visibility and credibility. These results underscore how effective crisis communication not only mitigates reputational risk but also strengthens the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through trust-building and social responsibility. Full article

This study examines the long-term financial sustainability of commercial banks, emphasizing the crucial role of credit risk management. Given that the core function of credit creation inherently exposes banks to credit risk, this analysis evaluates how five key bank-specific risk variables, namely expected credit losses (ECL_BS), impairment gains or losses (ECL_IS), non-performing loans (NPLs), common equity tier 1 capital (CET1), and leverage (LEV) affect long-term financial sustainability. Applying a panel error correction model on data from listed South African banks spanning 2006 to 2023, the study reveals a stable long-term relationship, with approximately 74% of short-term deviations corrected over time, indicating convergence towards equilibrium. By taking into account the significance of major exogeneous shocks such as the 2009–2010 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regulatory framework changes, the results reveal persistent relationships between credit risk factors and banks’ long-term financial sustainability in both short and long horizons. Notably, expected credit losses, and impairment gains and losses exert significant negative influence on long-term financial sustainability, while higher CET1 and NPLs exhibit positive effects. The study findings are framed within four complementary theoretical perspectives—the resource-based view, institutional theory, industrial organisation, and the dynamic capabilities framework—highlighting the multidimensional drivers of financial resilience. Thus, the study’s originality lies in its integrated approach to assessing credit risk, offering a holistic model for evaluating its influence on long-term financial sustainability. This integrated framework provides valuable, actionable insights for financial regulators, bank executives, policymakers, and banking practitioners committed to strengthening credit risk frameworks and aligning banking sector stability with broader sustainable development goals. Full article

Hazards stemming from extreme natural events have exhibited heightened prominence in recent years. The natural hazard management process adopts a comprehensive approach that encompasses all stakeholders involved in the disaster management cycle. “Actions for Resilience” (A4R) represents a standardised concept derived from ISO/TR 22370:2020 that integrates principles from various scientific disciplines to enhance resilience in systems, whether they are socio-ecological systems, communities, or organisations. A4R emphasises proactive measures and interventions aimed at fostering resilience rather than merely reacting to crises or disruptions. It recognises that resilience is a multifaceted concept influenced by various factors, including social, economic, environmental, and institutional dimensions. Central to A4R is the understanding of complex system dynamics. Also, A4R involves rigorous risk assessment to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities within a system, as well as to build adaptive capacity within systems. A4R advocates for the development of resilience metrics and monitoring systems to assess the effectiveness of interventions and track changes in resilience over time. These metrics may include indicators related to social cohesion, ecosystem health, economic stability, and public infrastructure resilience. In this context, the study aims to apply the proposed hierarchy of factors and group decision-making using fuzzy numbers to identify strategic priorities for improving the urban resilience of the pilot area. The identified priority factors are then analysed across different scenarios, and corresponding actions are described in detail. Full article

Disaster waste management (DWM) has gained much attention due to the issues associated with the enormous amount of disaster waste generated by natural disasters. However, moving beyond ad hoc and champion-based take-up by practitioners, there is generally a lack of momentum towards mainstreaming such DWM practices to achieve resilient outcomes. This study aims to explore the characteristics of DWM practices, drawing on the lived experiences of industry practitioners and government decision-makers. An interpretive case study method was used to investigate how local government organisations could readily engage in effective DWM processes using the “Resilient disaster management framework” previously established by the research team. Insights include a lack of documented plans for DWM and at best a moderate focus on recovery processes for disaster waste. With these issues counterproductive to community resilience outcomes, there is an urgent need to better manage disaster waste, which we propose can be enabled and supported through DWM plans. The extended ‘resilient DWM framework’ proposed in this study provides a useful reference to prepare practical, agile, and comprehensive DWM plans. Full article

The management of public health projects in a BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible) environment, exemplified by the ongoing war in Ukraine, presents unprecedented challenges due to fragile systems, heightened uncertainty, and complex socio-political dynamics. This study proposes an AI-driven framework to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of public health interventions under such conditions. By integrating a coupled SEIR–Infodemic–Panicdemic Model with war-specific factors, we simulate the interplay of infectious disease spread, misinformation dissemination, and panic dynamics over 1500 days in a Ukrainian city (Kharkiv). The model incorporates time-varying parameters to account for population displacement, healthcare disruptions, and periodic war events, reflecting the evolving conflict context. Sensitivity and risk–opportunity analyses reveal that disease transmission, misinformation, and infrastructure damage significantly exacerbate epidemic peaks, while AI-enabled interventions, such as fact-checking, mental health support, and infrastructure recovery, offer substantial mitigation potential. Qualitative assessments identify technical, organisational, ethical, regulatory, and military risks, alongside opportunities for predictive analytics, automation, and equitable healthcare access. Quantitative simulations demonstrate that risks, like increased displacement, can amplify infectious peaks by up to 28.3%, whereas opportunities, like enhanced fact-checking, can reduce misinformation by 18.2%. These findings provide a roadmap for leveraging AI to navigate BANI environments, offering actionable insights for public health practitioners in Ukraine and other crisis settings. The study underscores AI’s transformative role in fostering adaptive, data-driven strategies to achieve sustainable health outcomes amidst volatility and uncertainty. Full article

Mental illness relapse among teachers presents a growing public health concern, particularly in under-resourced settings, where social and structural factors often go unaddressed. This study aimed to explore challenges outside the workplace that contribute to mental illness relapse among public school teachers in Limpopo Province and how they cope with them. Guided by the Stress-Vulnerability Model, a qualitative explorative phenomenological design was employed. Fourteen participants with a documented history of existing mental illness and mental illness relapse were purposively selected across four different hospitals. The data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Tesch’s open coding method. The findings revealed unstable home environments, community-level stigma, inadequate institutional support, and systemic barriers to mental healthcare access. Moreover, the participants rely on family members for support and on spiritual practices to cope, highlighting gaps in formal support systems. Addressing these overlooked challenges is critical to reducing relapse resulting from social and systematic challenges, promoting mental health equity, and sustaining teacher resilience in underserved communities. This study calls for collaborative efforts from policymakers, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and community leaders, including faith-based organisations, to develop integrated mental health strategies. Such strategies can promote mental health equity, reduce stigma, and support sustainable teacher well-being in vulnerable communities. Full article

Biomimetics has emerged as a transformative interdisciplinary approach that harnesses nature’s evolutionary strategies to develop sustainable solutions across diverse fields. This study explores its integrative role in shaping smart cities, advancing artificial intelligence and robotics, innovating biomedical applications, and enhancing computational design tools. By analysing the evolution of biomimetic principles and their technological impact, this work highlights how nature-inspired solutions contribute to energy efficiency, adaptive urban planning, bioengineered materials, and intelligent systems. Furthermore, this paper discusses future perspectives on biomimetics-driven innovations, emphasising their potential to foster resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in rapidly evolving technological landscapes. Particular attention is given to neuromorphic hardware, a biologically inspired computing paradigm that mimics neural processing through spike-based communication and analogue architectures. Key components such as memristors and neuromorphic processors enable adaptive, low-power, task-specific computation, with wide-ranging applications in robotics, AI, healthcare, and renewable energy systems. Furthermore, this paper analyses how self-organising cities, conceptualised as complex adaptive systems, embody biomimetic traits such as resilience, decentralised optimisation, and autonomous resource management. Full article

This scoping review investigates the digital transition of critical energy infrastructure (CEI) in maritime ports, which are increasingly vital as energy hubs amid global decarbonisation efforts. Recognising the growing role of ports in integrating offshore renewables, hydrogen, and LNG systems, the study examines how digital technologies (such as automation, IoT, and AI) support the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of port-based CEI. A multifaceted search strategy was implemented to identify relevant academic and grey literature. The search was performed between January 2025 and 30 April 2025. The strategy focused on databases such as Scopus. Due to limitations encountered in retrieving sufficient, directly relevant academic papers from databases alone, the search strategy was systematically expanded to include grey literature such as reports, policy documents, and technical papers from authoritative industry, governmental, and international organisations. Employing Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR (scoping review) guidelines, the review synthesises insights from 62 academic and grey literature sources to address five core research questions relating to the current state, challenges, importance, and future directions of digital CEI in ports. Literature distribution of articles varies across continents, with Europe contributing the highest number of publications (53%), Asia (24%) and North America (11%), while Africa and Oceania account for only 3% of the publications. Findings reveal significant regional disparities in digital maturity, fragmented governance structures, and underutilisation of digital systems. While smart port technologies offer operational gains and support predictive maintenance, their effectiveness is constrained by siloed strategies, resistance to collaboration, and skill gaps. The study highlights a need for holistic digital transformation frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and tailored approaches to address these challenges. The review provides a foundation for future empirical work and policy development aimed at securing and optimising maritime port energy infrastructure in line with global sustainability targets. Full article

Workplace violence is a widespread issue affecting hospital nursing staff and significantly undermines their psychological well-being. Such violence originates from various sources, including users, colleagues, and supervisors. Psychological resilience has been linked to more favourable indicators of well-being. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore how different sources of workplace violence (users, colleagues, and supervisors) are related to psychological well-being and psychological resilience. Additionally, it examines whether resilience is statistically associated with a mediating role in the relationship between source-specific workplace violence and the psychological well-being of hospital nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional, multicentre, descriptive, and mediational study was conducted with a sample of 447 hospital nurses. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing workplace violence from users, colleagues, and supervisors, alongside measures of resilience, psychological well-being, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Among all reported incidents of workplace violence in the previous year, 69.2% were attributed to users, with verbal abuse (68.7%) being more prevalent than physical aggression (24.1%). Additionally, 37% of nurses reported experiencing violence from colleagues, and 25% from supervisors. Workplace violence from all three sources was significantly associated with both psychological well-being and resilience. Resilience was statistically associated with a mediating role in the relationship between workplace violence and nurses’ psychological health, suggesting a potential mechanism of influence without implying causality. Conclusions: The prevalence of workplace violence from users, colleagues, and supervisors among hospital nurses is notably high. Findings indicate that violence from any of these sources is negatively associated with psychological well-being. However, resilience mitigates this impact by reducing psychological distress, positioning it as a crucial personal resource for nurses facing such adversity. These results underscore the need for interventions aimed at developing and strengthening resilience among hospital nursing staff. Moreover, the findings can inform the design of organisational strategies to prevent violence and to promote resilience and well-being within healthcare settings. Full article

This review explores the development of energy storage technologies and governance frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region, where rapid economic growth and urbanisation drive the demand for sustainable energy solutions. Energy storage systems (ESS) are integral to balancing renewable energy fluctuations, improving grid resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper examines the role of international organisations, including the United Nations, International Energy Agency (IEA), and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in promoting energy storage advancements through strategic initiatives, policy frameworks, and funding mechanisms. Regionally, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have launched programs fostering collaboration, technical support, and knowledge sharing. Detailed case studies of Japan, Thailand, and China highlight the diverse policy approaches, technological innovations, and international collaborations shaping energy storage advancements. While Japan emphasises cutting-edge innovation, Thailand focuses on regional integration, and China leads in large-scale deployment and manufacturing. This analysis identifies key lessons from these frameworks and case studies, providing insights into governance strategies, policy implications, and the challenges of scaling energy storage technologies. It offers a roadmap for advancing regional and global efforts toward achieving low-carbon, resilient energy systems aligned with sustainability and climate goals. Full article

In today’s environment of increased uncertainty, firms face new challenges in aligning sustainability orientation (SO) with financial performance (FP). In this non-ergodic world, past trends offer limited insight into the future due to economic instability, geopolitical conflicts, trade wars, environmental and social disasters, sustainability policy and commitment reversals, etc. To investigate this, we conducted a systematic literature review and topic modelling with a latent Dirichlet allocation of 117 English peer-reviewed articles in management, business, economics, and finance related to SO and FP *. These articles, obtained from Scopus and Web of Science, were open-access and had reached the final publication stage. By integrating resource-based, institutional, and stakeholder theories, we aim to identify the current understanding of the SO concept and the mechanisms linking it to FP. Our findings show that sustainability-oriented firms are better equipped to achieve financial success in a non-ergodic world. However, outcomes vary widely based on context and duration, with existing literature revealing positive and negative relationships or no impact. Topic modelling identified 17 themes, such as stakeholder engagement, business performance, sustainability-oriented innovation and corporate sustainability. We propose five theoretical propositions and forward-looking research directions based on these findings. As a result, our study contributes to the existing academic literature by providing an integrated resource-based, institutional, and stakeholder theory view of the relationship between SO and FP for organisational resilience and outlining future research directions for managing this relationship in a non-ergodic world. Full article