This study investigates seismic risk and potential impacts of future earthquakes in the Sunda Strait region, known for its susceptibility to significant seismic events due to the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. The aim is to assess the likelihood of major earthquakes, estimate their impact, and propose strategies to mitigate associated risks. The research uses historical seismic data and probabilistic models to forecast earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.0 to 8.2 Mw. The Gutenberg-Richter model helps project potential earthquake occurrences and their impacts. The findings suggest that the probability of a major earthquake could occur as early as 2026–2027, with a more significant event estimated to likely occur around 2031. Economic estimates for a 7.8–8.2 Mw earthquake suggest potential damage of up to USD 1.255 billion with significant loss of life. The study identifies key vulnerabilities, such as inadequate building foundations and ineffective disaster management infrastructure, which could worsen the impact of future seismic events. In conclusion, the research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive seismic risk mitigation strategies. Recommendations include reinforcing infrastructure to comply with seismic standards, implementing advanced early warning systems, and enhancing public education on earthquake preparedness. Additionally, government policies must address these issues by increasing funding for disaster management, enforcing building regulations, and incorporating traditional knowledge into construction practices. These measures are essential to reducing future earthquake impacts and improving community resilience.
Political representation is responsible for choices regarding the supply and the management of transport infrastructure, but its decisions are sometimes in conflict with the will and the general interest expressed by citizens. This situation has progressively prompted the use of specific corrective measures in order to obtain socially sustainable decisions, such as the deliberative procedures for the appraisal of public goods. The standard Stated Choice Modelling Technique (SCMT) can be used to estimate the community appreciation for public goods such as transport infrastructure; but the application of the SCMT in its standard form would be inadequate to provide an estimation that expresses the general interest of the affected community. Hence the need to adapt the standard SCMT on the basis of the operational conditions imposed by deliberative appraisal procedures. Therefore, the general aim of the paper is to outline the basic conditions on which a modified SCMT with deliberative procedure can be set up. Firstly, the elements of the standard SCMT on which to make the necessary adjustments are identified; subsequently, modifications and additions to make to the standard technique are indicated; finally, the contents of an extensive program of experimentation are outlined.
Embassies are important buildings, involving the diplomatic image of a country’s government in another foreign country. Given the rising tensions between countries, either political, economic, religion or war, attacks on embassies have been increasing in recent years. Thus, it is evident that appropriate measures are to be taken to reduce the potential impact of an attack. The paper discusses the measures in enhancing building security of embassies. The principles for Security Planning and Design are discussed, followed by an introduction to a systematic security risk assessment framework. The framework is evaluated regarding the potential security risk posed by an attack against elements of the mega infrastructure using explosives. Further options to increase the security of embassies are also explored to reduce the risk of a potential attack. A security-enhanced building, planned and constructed well to specifications, can provide benefits to the client, including greater cost advantage and increase of value for the structure.
The healthcare sector is progressively modest and patients expect higher service quality; therefore, healthcare practitioners’ and academic researchers’ attention upsurges in exploring service quality, intensifying satisfaction and generating behavioral intention. Despite the significance of the healthcare sector and the importance of quality-related matters, there is a paucity of research and publications dealing with healthcare service quality. This conceptual review evaluates the service quality in Pakistani healthcare sector rendering patients’ perspective. The proposed model emphasizes patients’ switching intention caused by poor or inadequate service quality through intervening constructs of satisfaction and alternative attractiveness. Additionally, current review explored the alternative attractiveness as mediator which was neglected in healthcare context. The model also attempts to propose the association between alternative attractiveness and outcome variable by switching costs regarding patients’ perspectives. The conceptual framework enables hospital managers to comprehend how patients assess healthcare quality provided in the presence of alternatives. The perception of patients would assist them in allocating healthcare resources and hospital management attain performance feedback through service quality parameters. Present review developed an inclusive framework as a novel injector in healthcare sector for patients’ perceived service quality.
This study applies the multiple streams theory. It will further analyze the internal factors of the confluence of multiple sources, in order to explain why the “Joint Recruitment of Four Universities in Macao” policy has become the agenda of the Macao government. The entrance examination requirements from Macau universities are various. They increase local students’ pressure and consume their energy, thus serving as the source of the Problem Stream. The Policy Stream is represented by the Macau government’s intention to reduce students’ educational burden through establishing a unified assessment system. The Political Stream includes the Macau government’s commitment to improving the Macau education system, such as strengthening the multi-assessment system and the “The Fundamental Law of Non-tertiary Education System”. The convergence of these three sources has opened a policy window for the “Joint Recruitment of Four Universities in Macao” system, leading to a new student evaluation system. This policy not only addresses Macau’s social challenges and improves education governance while also highlighting the city’s educational diversity endeavors. Additionally, the strategies for implementing the “Four-University Joint Examination” policy include reducing the number of exams for students, implementing multi-education and multi-enrollment in higher education institutions, analyzing and improving the examination system based on educational big data, and understanding the basic elements and integration paths of big data in higher education. The Macau government can adjust major settings and enrollment quota allocation in the future, draw in more students from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the “Belt and Road” regions, and integrate the joint admission method into the Greater Bay Area education cooperation in order to meet the needs of the growing Macao education industry.
Agricultural productivity has remained central to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria for several decades. However, the decline in the agricultural sector after the discovery of oil and gas resources is a serious challenge. The government has initiated several policies to rejuvenate agricultural productivity. Little attention has been given to the exploration of policy implementation for fish farming and aquaculture as an integral part of agribusiness in the country. The World Bank asserts that the yearly demand for fish is 3.4 million metric tons (i.e., 40%) is locally produced and the remaining 60% is supplied through importation of fish. Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to re-assess policy implementation to explore and expand the potential of fish farming in Nigeria to address abject poverty and high unemployment rates. This can be achieved when a shift of attention is given to small- and medium-scale businesses, and consequentially achieve sustainable agribusiness and socio-economic development in the country. This study used library-based research and content analysis as its methodology, wherein secondary data were used to review different aspects that can foster fish farming in the country. The findings from the content analysis of the study demonstrated that in order to achieve domestic production and stop the importation of fish, there is a need for the establishment of nothing less than 400,000 fish farming across the country. The paper highlighted various types and techniques for breeding, rearing, and harvesting fish by strengthening their effectiveness and efficiency. This study emphasized the vital importance of technology, such as reliable energy facilities, solar energy, and solar irrigation, in reducing the cost of diesel in powering generators to maximize fish investment. The limitations of this study are highlighted, and SWOT analysis (i.e., strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) in fish farming is elaborated. It is suggested that the implementation of policies to support farmers in general and fish farmers in particular, such as the provision of credit loans and other fish feeds for sustainable agribusiness and socio-economic development, occupies a central climax of this research.
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