Journal articles on the topic 'Incoming/outgoing delivery'

BackgroundToday, healthcare is more complex than just ensuring clients receive quality care; it also involves consistently delivering excellent client experience. A non-profit community support services agency conducted an extensive diagnostic journey to determine root causes of inconsistent care delivery between regular and relief frontline staff.Local problemClients and family caregivers noted lower satisfaction in care delivery when a relief staff (ie, internal staff or an external agency that is covering a shift) provided service in comparison with their regular staff. The diagnostic journey discovered that the shift exchange process—when outgoing staff transfers critical knowledge to incoming staff for continuing care—varied significantly between the 11 service locations, leading to a lack of consistent service delivery, thereby impacting client experience.MethodsA working group consisting of Supervisors of Client Services, Personal Support Workers (PSW) and management were tasked with process mapping the current state, highlighting gaps and outlining the ideal state of the shift exchange process.InterventionsUsing best practices from the aviation industry, a checklist was developed that encapsulated all the critical steps needed to be undertaken for a successful, consistent shift exchange. The theory was that the utilisation of the checklist would enable consistency and improve client satisfaction with care delivery, especially when care is delivered by a staff unfamiliar with clients.ResultsPrior to the checklist implementation, 74% of clients were satisfied or very satisfied with their relief staff, and post checklist implementation client satisfaction improved to 90%. Staff self-assessments also indicated that PSWs agreed that the checklist helped provide consistent care.ConclusionThe use of checklists can transform the way care is delivered in the community support sector and other service delivery agencies alike to bring greater standardisation of care between providers, thus significantly improving client experience across the healthcare sector.

End-of-shift handoffs occur when physicians transfer care responsibilities from one shift to another. Typically viewed as a straightforward exchange of information, we argue that several contextually relevant factors shape the communication behaviors of outgoing and incoming residents during handoffs. Digital recordings and transcripts of resident handoffs in medicine and surgery were made at three VA Medical Centers. They were triangulated with cognitive task interviews that elicited residents’ reconstructions of their work practices. Analyses revealed clear distinctions among “day-to-night,” “night-to-day,” and “double handoffs” that involve transitions between day and night teams. Although residents preferred handing off in dedicated, quiet spaces, few (16%) occurred in such settings; 28% contained significant interruptions. The quality handoff artifacts (notes and forms) influenced interactions, especially in cases where multiple residents from different teams were involved, requiring incoming residents to adjust “on the fly.” This study demonstrated that there are multiple contextual factors that affect, and are affected by, handoff interactions. The findings suggest that handoffs are less like the delivery of a telegram (unidirectional) and more like complex adaptive systems (products of interactional co-construction). Teaching communication practices based on interaction complexity may reduce errors and adverse outcomes for hospitalized patients.

The application of Economical Order Quantity method to stock warehouse system by using Radio Frequency Identification technology can provide information that can minimize stock availability in real time. The research aims to develop the stock system using the methods of Economical Order Quantity, Reorder Point and Radio Frequency Identification technology. Computation of Economical Order Quantity is used per month with variables covering amount of raw material, ordering cost and storage cost. Reorder Point computation using lead time variable, raw material usage and safety stock. Safety stock is used if there is a delay in delivery of goods from suppliers, so it does not run out of raw materials and the company can still operate. The inventory data is obtained from transactions of incoming and outgoing goods which are recorded automatically when passing through Radio Frequency Identification reader. The computation of Economical Order Quantity, Reorder Point produces safety stock as output stock system. With the stock of goods in accordance with the fulfillment of Safety stock, then there is no delay in the delivery of goods from suppliers, so it does not run out of raw materials, after determination of the value of re-ordering.

Congestion control is an important factor for performance improvement in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Congestion occurs due to various reasons including a variation in the data rate between incoming and outgoing links, buffer size, flooding attacks and multiple inputs and minimum output capability. Various outcomes of congestion in sensor networks include immense packet loss or packet drop, fast energy depletion, unfairness across the network, reduced node performance and increased delay in packet delivery. Hence, there is an extreme need to check channel congestion in order to enhance the performance with better congestion management. The job of choosing a suitable congestion control technique is a challenging task for the network designer. In this article, the authors traverse through the underlying conceptual ideas on congestion control schemes which come under six unique models. This article highlights a survey on the existing works done so far on congestion control domains in sensor networks. A comparative analysis based on Quality of Service parameters has been discussed.

PT NCS LOGISTIC LINK is a Transportation Management Service company or commonly called Freight Forwarding. PT. NCS is also engaged in the rental of Warehouses. In the Warehouse at PT NCS LOGISTIC LINK, there is a problem with the layout of the storage of goods in the Warehouse which is still not optimal because the cost of Material Handling in the company is still high and also PT NCS LOGISTIC LINK, a company that manages warehouse rental for companies manufacture. The problems faced by PT NCS LOGISTIC LINK today are the problems that are often faced is the handling of incoming and outgoing goods in the company's warehouse, the company still does not have a defined system, so that the placement of goods in the warehouse is not neatly arranged so that the warehouse seems narrow. Likewise, the warehouse line or line layout is not clear, the placement of finished goods for both export and local products is placed in one location with the material (Completely Knock Down / CKD) in one warehouse location, there is no barrier between the goods belonging to one customer and another. other things, goods are placed to close the road area or forklift lanes and warehouse doors, and goods that have entered earlier are closed with new incoming goods, thus hampering the process of handling goods. With limited storage space, companies are required to use space effectively and efficiently so that storage activities are not hampered and can find the best layout that is more effective and efficient and does not hamper the delivery process. The method used in warehousing management is a shared storage approach in which the products that have the most shipping frequency and the ones that frequently go in and out are brought close to the entrance to minimize the distance of material handling movement. The results of the shared storage approach can minimize the material handling distance of the proposed layout is 1386 m, while the previous condition, the initial layout distance was 1900 m. Has a total range of 514 meters of total mileage. This means that the layout of the proposal could shorten the mileage through which warehouse workers take goods.

Good and efficient Air cargo handling, especially for dangerous goods transportation need to be supported by licensed dangerous goods handling personnel and supported by the transport handling facilities as well as standard procedure. Comprehensive standards and procedures are required to reduce the risk of accidents caused by an error in the handling of the dangerous goods transportation. Main problems in this study: first, to analyse the process of air cargo transportation handling at the Adisutjipto Airport; second, to analyse the standard of the dangerous goods handling personel. The cargo handling process consists of Outgoing (Acceptance, weighing, Documentation, Marking & labeling, X-ray, Storage, Build-up, and Loading) and Incoming (Check Incoming Massage, Unloading, Breakdown, check lists, Physical Examination, Storage, Notice of Arrival, Delivered). The mathematical model of Dangerous Goods Handling Personnel Number Standard: DG Personel Cargo Agent Type A = c.% DG. (2,89 x 10^-2) DG Personnel Warehousing Type B = c.% DG (4,53 x 106-3), DG Personnel Airline Type B = c.%DG. (4,89 X 10^-4).

Visually impaired or partially blind people measure usually counts on exterior aid which could be delivered by humans, educated dogs, or completely different electronic appliances as backing techniques for the bigger psychological feature techniques. The most downside with blind individuals is that they navigate their path to where they need to travel. They usually need assistance from others. This project is determined to support the blind person to beat the deficit of visual ability, by victimization different senses like sound and bit. This project is determined to support the visually impaired person to whip the absence of visual-sense modality, by using distinct connotations like touch and sound (Voice). The detector module is aspired to utilize the precept of ultrasonic ripples to see the change in incoming/outgoing object. The structure also comprises a buzzer to receive an alarm tone (prebuild vocal instructions) and a motor to come up with vibration signals. The network uses ultrasonic ripple signals to acquaint the visually impaired person about incoming/outgoing hurdles. As the expanse between the band and hurdle decreases, the force of vibration signals increases. Thus, the structure formulates the navigation strategy for the needy easy. This architecture bids an inexpensive, credible, mobile, low energy consuming, and athletic solution for navigation with noticeable quick interruptions. The architecture also has another module in which it revamps images into a speech layout. This module will assist visually undermined people in browsing various images as they will be able to read them by hearing them. The Optical Character Recognition [OCR] is expended to do these tasks.

Correspondence is one activity that can not be separated from an organization, because the mail is one of the important communication media in the organization and communication with other organizations.High-intensity correspondence activities need to have a good management, so that the information conveyed can be delivered properly and safely. This management can also make letters well documented.System development in this research using Extreme Programming method. This method was chosen because the development is still done on a small scale. In addition, this method has a simple process, fast and precise because prioritizing the communication aspects between clients with developers. The built-in information system has features for receiving incoming mail, sending outgoing mail, sending and receiving mail dispositions, and sending and receiving memos. With this system can be effecient mail management and make it easy to manage the data letter itself. Keywords : Agile Process, Letter, Extreme Programming, PHP, Information System

The Golgi complex is considered the central station of the secretory pathway where cargo proteins and lipids are properly modified, classified, packed into specific carriers and delivered to their final destinations. Early electron microscope studies showed the extraordinary structural complexity of this organelle. However, despite the large volume of incoming and outgoing traffic, it is able to maintain its architecture, although it is also flexible enough to adapt to the functional status of the cell. Many components of the molecular machinery involved in membrane traffic and other Golgi functions have been identified. However, some basic aspects of Golgi functioning remain unsolved. For instance, how cargo moves through the stack remains controversial and two classical models have been proposed: vesicular transport and cisternal maturation. Since neither of these models explains all the experimental data, a combination of these models as well as new models have been proposed. In this context, the specific role of the cisternae, vesicles and tubules needs to be clarified. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the Golgi organization and function, focusing on the mechanisms of intra-Golgi transport.

A detailed morphological and tracer study of endocytosis via coated pits in Paramecium multimicronucleatum was undertaken to compare endocytic processes in a free-living protozoon with similar processes in higher organisms. Permanent pits at the cell surface enlarge, become coated and give rise to coated vesicles (188 +/− 41 nm in diameter) that enclose fluid-phase markers such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Both the pits and vesicles are labeled by the immunogold technique when a monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against the plasma membrane of this cell is applied to cryosections. The HRP is delivered to an early endosome compartment, which also shares the plasma membrane antigen. The early endosome, as shown in quick-freeze deep-etch replicas of chemically unfixed cells, is a definitive non-reticular compartment composed of many individual flattened cisternal units of 0.2 to 0.7 microns diameter, each potentially bearing one or more approximately 80-nm-wide coated evaginations. These coated evaginations on the early endosomes contain HRP but are not labeled by the mAb. The coated evaginations pinch off to form a second group of coated vesicles (90 +/− 17 nm in diameter), which can be differentiated from those formed from coated pits by their smaller size, absence of plasma membrane antigen and their location somewhat deeper into the cytoplasm. This study shows a striking similarity between protozoons and mammalian cells in their overall early endosomal machinery and in the ability of early endosomes to sort cargo from plasma membrane components. The vesicles identified in this study form two distinct populations of putative shuttle vesicles, pre-endosomal (large) and early endosome-derived vesicles (small), which facilitate incoming and outgoing traffic from the early endosomes.

AbstrakKelompok Usaha Melur yang merupakan Mitra kegiatan pengabdian ini memiliki beberapa permasalahan tata kelola manajerial, yaitu: 1) Belum terorganisasinya pembukuan dengan baik. 2) pemasaran produk masih sangat sederhana dan belum memanfaatkan teknologi informasi. 3) Kurangnya alat mesin jahit untuk menambah produksi. Tujuan kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kapasitas manajerial dan pemasaran pada Kelompok Usaha Melur di Desa Sambirejo, Percut Sei Tuan. Tujuan tersebut dicapai melalui pendampingan kepada Kelompok Usaha Melur di bidang pembukuan/pengelolaan keuangan dan strategi marketing berbasis internet. Kelompok Usaha rumah tangga ini bergerak dalam bidang pembuatan keset kaki. Bahan baku produk tersebut menggunakan limbah kain/produksi penjahit lain. Pembuatan keset kaki ini juga memberdayakan ibu-ibu rumah tangga di daerah sekitar yang ingin menambah pengetahuan jahit menjahit dan pada gilirannya menambah penghasilan ibu-ibu anggota kelompok usaha tersebut. Pelatihan pembukuan dilakukan dengan memberikan pemahaman dan pendampingan terkait pencatatan kas masuk dan keluar, penghitungan harga pokok produksi dan pembuatan laporan keuangan. Selanjutnya, pendampingan pemasaran berbasis internet dilakukan dengan memberikan wawasan untuk memaksimalkan teknologi yang ada untuk memasarkan produk mereka. Metode yang dipakai dalam pengabdian ini adalah dengan menggunakan penyuluhan dan pendampingan hingga kelompok usaha melur memiliki pembukuan yang rapih dan memiliki toko online di media sosial. Kata kunci: Pendampingan, Pengelolaan Keuangan, Pemasaran Online, UKM Melur. Abstract “Melur Entrepreneur Community” have several gavernance problem, such as: 1) the absence of bookkeeping systems. 2) traditional marketing strategy, and 3) ineffectiveness of production. This community service activity conducted in Melur Entrepreneur Community aims to overcome the problems as mentioned. That purpose was achieved through training and guiding the member of Melur Entrepreneur Community in bookeeping dan marketing strategy based on Information Technology. Melur Entrepreneur Community are focus in making doormats from the waste of tailor production. They also empowering woman of households who want to gain a knowledge of sewing and in turn would increase their income. Bookkeeping training is done by providing insight and assistance related to the recording of incoming and outgoing cash, cost analysis of production and financial reporting. Furthermore, knowledge of internet based marketing is delivered by providing insight to maximize existing technology to marketing their products. The method which used in this activity is counseling and training to achieve the outcome, that is the availability of bookkeeping and online store on social media.Keywords: training/guiding, financial administration, online marketing, SMEs.

AimsThe GMC recommends that organisations ensure learners have an induction in preparation for each placement. We aimed to ensure that high quality induction was being delivered in psychiatry posts across the whole of the Severn Deanery. This included multiple localities (Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Devizes, Weston-Super-Mare, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Taunton and Yeovil) across three NHS trusts.BackgroundInduction plays a vital role in preparing doctors for their new roles. Crucially, some doctors are not only new to the specific role and site, but also new to the specialty (for example, Foundation Doctors and GP Trainees). In Severn, each locality takes responsibility for providing Junior Doctors with a locality-specific induction; these occur four times per year. Previous feedback from trainees in Severn was poor; as demonstrated by informal feedback and the August 2018's GMC survey results, showing some localities ‘required improvement’.MethodPre- and post-intervention measurements were ascertained by written questionnaires for Foundation Doctors, GP Trainees and Core Trainees in Psychiatry. Baseline questionnaires were completed in August/September 2019. Five ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ Cycles were completed over the following eighteen months. Examples of the changes made included incorporating ‘missed’ topics (such as wellbeing, seclusion reviews and exception reporting) and specific information to on-call responsibilities, reducing replicated information, and touring clinical sites. These changes were coordinated via monthly meetings between Locality Trainee Leads (LTLs).ResultThere was an overall improvement in trainee's satisfaction with induction. Outcomes also included the development of an induction checklist specific to each locality and a ‘gold standard’ list for what local induction should involve. This is hopefully soon to be ratified by the Medical Education department and Severn Deanery.ConclusionHaving worked on this project for over 18 months, sustainability of change remains a crucial issue. In response to this, we have established several recommendations: the LTL job role needs to be revised to include updating the written induction handbook in each locality and delivering face-to-face induction. Outgoing and incoming LTLs will plan each induction together, at least 4 to 8 weeks before the start date. Support from Medical Education regarding attendees at each induction is to be put in place. Handbooks will be shared across localities, so that the ‘core’ information is consistent. Ongoing feedback will ensure that Junior Doctors continue to receive a high quality and relevant induction.

Purpose Accountability in personnel records management is to a large extent, dependent on the availability of personnel records, there has been very little recognition of the need to address the management of personnel records as evidence for accountability either in relation to Freedom of Information (FOI) or Open Data. It is in this regard, therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the legal frameworks for personnel records management in support of accountability. The study used a descriptive design which combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches where both qualitative and quantitative information was involved in the study. Founded on the records life cycle and the records continuum, the study aimed to fulfil its main objective: establishing legal frameworks for personnel records management at Garissa County Government (GCG). Purposive sampling was used to select 11 Human Resource Management Officers (HRMO), 11 Personnel Record Management Officers (PRMO) and 11 Personnel Records Management Clerks (PRMC) and 55 staff members who made the total sample of 88 respondents. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics with the help of a Statistical Package for Social Scientists (version 17) was used to perform the analysis of quantitative data and presented through frequency tables, percentages, means and standard deviations. Results indicated that the County Government does not have legal frameworks in personnel records management. Several challenges were identified including lack of personal records management policy, lack of integrity, lose of documents/file and poor communication system. Generally, the study shows that legal frameworks in personnel records management is very important in accountability, therefore, GCG management needs to take measure to improve legal frameworks in personnel records management infrastructure and develop personnel records management policy. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted using a descriptive design. This design ensures that data collected are analysed and findings are reported to establish a better understanding of a physical or social phenomenon. The descriptive design combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches where both qualitative and quantitative information was involved in the study. The study was conducted at the County Government of Garissa’s Head Quarters; it targeted staff involved in personnel records management. Garissa town was selected because it is a centre of various activities in County Government of Garissa. The target population comprising HRMO, PRMO, PRMC and staff from different ministries who depended on the personnel records management activities. Purposive sampling was used to select 11 HRMO, 11 PRMO, 11 PRMC and 55 staff members who made the total sample of 88 respondents from the population. Questionnaire method was used to collect data from HRMO, PRMO, PRMC and staff members quickly and give more freedom (in terms of time and flexibility) to the respondents. Interviews were used to obtain more in-depth information from the PRMO, HRMO and PRMC being the individuals’ in-charge of personnel records were to provide information on legal frameworks for personnel records management at GCG. Findings Lack of a policy signifies a lack of accountability and awareness of the personnel records management standards, meaning that the staffs are not aware of their responsibilities towards the management of the County’s records. This is therefore likely to contribute significantly to poor performance (Mampe and Kalusopa, 2012). This then puts the County in a precarious position regarding personnel records due to lack of guidelines on classing and handling of personnel records. Lack of a policy also shows a lack of commitment in the area, purporting neglect, where responsibilities are not clearly assigned and remain unclear. Weak institutional capacity and the absence of, for example, comprehensive personnel records management policies have been cited as one of the main causes of archival (as well as records management) underdevelopment in Africa (Ngulube and Tafor 2006). From the reactions of the existence of a draft policy, the staff indicated that it covered among other things: a policy statement, scope, definition of terms, applicable legislation and procedures, mail management encompassing both incoming and outgoing mail, filing classification, retention and disposal, as well as a statement of responsibilities. The study revealed that: personnel records management in Kenya operates under the framework and guidance of the Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services – KNADS which is supported by the Public Archives and Documentation Services Act, Cap 19. Besides the Cap 19, of 1965 of the Laws of Kenya, there are also various legislations that support the management of records in Kenya including the Ministry of State for Public Service (MSPS) (DPM) Circular on personnel records reference number DPM. 12/6A Vol. I (71) of 12th March 2008, the Records Management Procedure Manual for the Public Service, May 2010, prepared by the MSPS in consultation with the KNADS to provide guidelines and procedures to be followed in the day to day management of records in the public service. It is meant to be used alongside existing laws and legislation governing records management in the service. The effective utilization of the manual as stated by the Ministry is to contribute towards the government’s quest to achieve good governance and accountability in the Public Service. Adherence to the Manual is also meant to streamline personnel records management practice leading to effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and the Government Financial Regulations and Procedures, chapter 23, section 4:2–5 give guidelines on the retention period for financial records. The management of personnel records is guided by various legislations and circulars such as Public Archives and Documentation Service Act, (Cap.19, Laws of Kenya) revised 1991, The Employment Act Chapter 226, revised in 1977 and 2007, The Regulation of Wages and Conditions of Employment Act Chapter 229, Income Tax Act Chapter 470 revised 1989, The National Social Security Fund Act Chapter 258 revised 1989, The Service Commission Act Chapter 185 of 1967 and DPM.12/6A VOL. I (71) dated 12th March 2008 on the destruction of personnel records. Compliance to all the above legal frameworks will ensure that personnel records management in support of accountability at GCG is achieved. Research limitations/implications The lack of effective personnel records management programme in a county agency was in itself non-conformity to the requirements and guidelines issued by the public services, thus leading to a lot of caution on how much could be revealed regarding the same. The focus of the study was on the assessment of paper-based and electronic personnel records management within the County Government. The assessment excluded other electronic records, such as online databases, with only personnel records being considered. Practical implications Nonexistence of personnel records management legal frameworks implies that the responsibilities for cooperate record management to GCG plans and guidelines of managing personnel records were inefficient. As a result of the absence of written personnel records management policy, there was also a lack of guidelines for appraisal, disposition and schedules of records. On legal frameworks for personnel records management at GCG, the findings revealed that there were many policies in GCG but personnel records management policy was missing which is very crucial. Record management policy will also enhance human resource management policy. The missing of the personnel records management policy reduces the accountability to people who deal with records management in general, increases lack of integrity and indicate that there is a presence of irrational decision. Social implications The missing of the personnel records management policy reduce the accountability to people who deal with records management, in general, increases lack of integrity and indicate that there is a presence of irrational decision. Originality/value The purpose of the study was to investigate the management of personnel records in support of accountability in devolved governments: A case of GCG.

Hospitals have a complex infrastructure with a wide range of functional units of medical services. A well-designed facility layout planning is essential for the smooth functioning as well as to provide safe and convenient services to patients at the right time. A functional layout is suggested to optimize time and resources in the process of service delivery, reducing the challenges of patients and healthcare professionals involved in patient care. This article focuses on developing a new facility functional layout that promotes convenience, comfort and economy with enhanced quality of medical care. A pathway of patient movement is effectively designed for better health outcomes, especially when there is a huge inflow of patients seeking information about the choice of healthcare facilities and subsequent medical attention. A circular hospital facility layout with unidirectional flow is proposed, which will effectively prevent face-to-face movement of incoming and outgoing patients and their bystanders, thereby preventing spread of diseases or infection and speed up the service delivery process. The authors believe that the proposed layout will substantially improve quality, service and speed of medical procedures, though the initial investment might be higher for implementing this layout. This study is of paramount importance in maintaining social distancing at hospitals as it prevents chaotic movement of patients and more specifically total avoidance of face-to-face situations between incoming and outgoing patients.

Stock Inventory Information System is a system used to enter inventory data for incoming and outgoing goods into the database, controlling inventory, and providing inventory information. So that there will be no errors in data input, data output, and report results based on the desired data. PT Berkatmas Mulia Guna is a company engaged in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) contractors. Includes new installation of HVAC machines and systems, maintenance and repair of HVAC systems. PT Berkatmas Mulia Guna also includes manufacturing HVAC machines such as AHU, FCU, Exhaust Fan, Supply Fan and Heating. A lot of data changes and a long process of stock data collection from suppliers and customers in the process of processing inventory data, will result in inaccurate data obtained. In inventory data collection, recording of incoming and outgoing goods still uses a manual process with excel which can result in duplicate data or duplicate data for processing inventory data. Based on this problem, the authors conducted a study entitled "Inventory Information System Stock Goods at PT. Berkatmas Mulia Guna ”which aims to make it easier to handle the stock inventory process, data entry and exit, delivery of goods, so that the inventory process of goods is faster and more precise. This application system development method uses the waterfall method which consists of six stages. The stages are System Analysis and Design, software requirements analysis, system design, coding, system testing and maintenance. In making this application using a desktop-based website programming language for the Windows operating system, and using the MySql database.

The full benefit of prefabricated timber systems in the construction of multi-story buildings depends on integration and efficiency in the upstream logistics and supply chain. The purpose of this research is therefore to determine the potential value that the use of Radio-Frequency Identification technology (RFID) can contribute to the prefabricated construction of timber, and to undertake the basic development of a RFID tracking model for this purpose. The methods used in this study not only build on the knowledge gained from previous literature, but also include interviews with industry experts, field trial design and field trials. The research showed that the RFID tracking system's value proposition tends to be strongest where there are large scale and vertically integrated supply chains, logistics complexity between a limited number of discrete but partnered supply chain links and/or internal logistical complexity problems. Therefore, five distinct added value stages of RFID applications have been found in incoming delivery logistics, factory panel production, outgoing delivery logistics, on-site installation and third parties who can inspect the finished construction work. Application of RFID technology in prefabrication factory environments, where fixed readers can be used in predefined processes, was found promising. However, due to the temporary nature of the sites and the associated investment, the capacity for high automation levels is thought to be more limited on site.

Abstract Background Extended contact interventions delivered via text messaging are a low-cost option for promoting the long-term continuation of behavior change. This secondary analysis of a text message–delivered extended contact intervention (‘Get Healthy, Stay Healthy’ (GHSH)) explores the extent to which changes in physical activity, dietary behaviors and body weight were associated with the frequency of text messages (dose) and contact between the health coach and participant (engagement). Methods Following a telephone coaching program, participants were randomised to receive extended contact via tailored text messages (GHSH, n = 114) or no additional contact (n = 114) over a 6-month period. Message dose, timing, and content were based on participant preferences, ascertained during two tailoring telephone calls. All incoming and outgoing messages were recorded. At baseline and 6 months, participants self-reported body weight and dietary behaviors (fruit and vegetable servings/day). Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed via accelerometry. Results Median dose (25th, 75th percentile) was 53 (33, 72) text messages in total across six months. Mean fortnightly dose in weeks 1–2 was 5.5 (95 % CI: 4.3, 6.6) text messages, and remained stable (with the exception of planned decreases in weeks involving additional intervention contacts). Offset against the average fortnightly dose of goal checks (1.6, 95 % CI: 1.3, 2.0 and 1.5, 95 % CI: 1.2, 1.8, for physical activity and diet respectively), mean replies to goal checks were highest in weeks 1–2 (1.4, 95 % CI: 1.4, 1.5 and 1.3, 95 % CI: 1.2, 1.4, respectively) and tended to become lower in most weeks thereafter. Greater weight loss was positively associated with text message dose (P = 0.022), with a difference of 1.9 kg between participants receiving the most and fewest texts. There was no association between engagement and changes in outcome measures. Conclusions A fixed dose of texts does not seem suitable to meet participants’ individual preferences. Higher self-selected text doses predicted better weight outcomes. However, greater participant engagement through text replies does not predict more favourable outcomes, despite being a suggested facilitator of successful behavior change maintenance. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number: ACTRN12613000949785. Date registered: 27 August 2013. Retrospectively registered. http://www.anzctr.org.au/.

The traditional goal of stormwater management is to reduce the threat of flooding to life and property, and so most landscapes are engineered to maximize the speed at which the unwanted water leaves the watershed. This has been effective in landscapes with some topographic gradient. This often involves the installation of drainage ditches that disperse runoff from urban areas to receiving water bodies; in coastal areas this means a tidal creek, estuary, bay, sounds, or the coastal ocean. This practice reduces flood hazards in some cases but results in unintended effects on the natural hydrology in the watershed and downstream tidal dynamics. For low-gradient watersheds in humid climates, ditch systems also lower the water table of an area, increasing infiltration to recharge and groundwater discharge to streams (baseflow), and larger volume of freshwater delivered downstream yearround. Ditches also create unintentional avenues for the incoming tide from a tidal creek or tidally-influenced waterway to reach further inland, thus reducing the hydraulic gradient between the inland areas and the receiving water body. The combination of these effects can exacerbate compound flooding events, increasing the flood probability if high tide and storm events coincide. Additionally, coastal communities face the challenge of mitigating more complicated flood hazards while land development increases to meet the needs of a growing population. This study analyzed the tidal influence within an inland drainage ditch in the central coast of South Carolina USA that is representative of thousands of artificially-drained coastal watersheds. The ditch-creek system investigated here is 12 km long in a 753-hectare (1860-acre) watershed of Church Flats Creek, a first-order tidal system. We monitored for 13 months a 0.75-km reach of the lower ditch portion of the system, just above the relatively undisturbed tidal creek and marsh. Prior to ditching in the 1960s this system had a wetland-rich floodplain but is now partially tidal. Field data collected were stream stage (depth), discharge, tidal range, tidal volume, incoming (flood) and outgoing (ebb) tidal durations, and water table hydrograph at a location about 50 m of mid-reach of the ditch. Multiple linear regressions were performed to best predict the flood and ebb tidal durations of the system based on tidal characteristics within the ditch. The mean values were 229 ± 2.5 and 182 ± 2.1 minutes for flood and ebb tide durations, respectively and the models explained 84% (residual standard error (RSE) of 25 minutes) and 80% (RSE of 23 minutes) for the flood and ebb conditions, respectively. The models were simulated for sea levels in 1993 and 2050, and results indicate that the flood tide within the drainage ditch is predicted to increase an average of 66 minutes and the total tidal duration (flood and ebb) an average of 139 minutes by 2050. These results suggest a loss in drainage functionality as sea level rises. Increases in the duration of tidal influence will induce a lower capacity for stormwater volume than the drainage infrastructure was constructed to manage, therefore resulting in an increased frequency of compound flooding events because of the lower storage volume and decreased hydraulic gradient in the system. This study fills a knowledge gap of tidal dynamics within coastal ditch-creek systems and we urge stormwater managers to consider the unintended consequences of using traditional stormwater methods in a region that does not benefit from gravity drainage practices like in other regions.