Assessing the sustainability development of an organization

Introduction. The article presents a review of scholarly literature and the author's assessment of the potential for sustainable development of a medical organization. The purpose of the article is to describe the author's methodology for assessing the potential for sustainable development, and to evaluate the effectiveness of its application in a medical organization. Materials and Methods. The study used the following research methods: comparative analysis, T.L. Saati, and the author’s methodology for assessing the potential for sustainable development of a medical organization. Results. In the process of analyzing the methodology for self-assessment of the maturity on the way to achieving the sustainable development of the ISO 9004 standard organization, the author revealed a number of problems. They include low sensitivity to individual assessment of processes, the lack of a mathematical expression of the level of development for certain areas of activity, and the absence of an integral indicator sensitive to minimal changes. The author describes in detail process of developing her methodology for assessing the potential for sustainable development of an organization and illustrates the application of this methodology within a medical organization for evaluating sustainable development in statics and dynamics. Conclusions. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the ways of applying the author's assessment methodology by the head of the medical organization.

Vehicle Management System Using RFID

The main purpose of this study was to provide a repository area for all registered vehicle in an organized and systematic filing, archiving and reports can be printed in real time. The system can prompt the users that the validity permit of radio frequency identification tag will be expired and need for renewal. Specifically, this paper sought to design and develop the Vehicle Management System Using RFID and evaluated its level of usability and performance as perceived by the target users. A total of 189 respondents participated in the study that was composed of five experts, three employees and 181 students, faculty and staff registered for School Year 2017-2018 using a standard questionnaire International Standard Organization/International Electrotechnical Commission 25010. Descriptive research was employed on this study based on the set objectives. Findings of the study, revealed that the functionality, the level of usability and its performance were interpreted as Very Good. These findings suggested that respondents were impressed in terms of easiest registration and monitoring of the registered vehicles that enters in and out of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Main Campus.

Record Management System with Document Control

The primary purpose of this study was to provide a new way of keeping and retrieving documents in a digital form available in the Records Office and a computerized leave management system modified for the employees of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College Estancia, Iloilo. Specifically, this paper sought to design and develop the Record Management System with Document Control and evaluated its level of usability and performance as perceived by the target users. A total of 165 respondents of the said institution participated in the study which includes the five experts for School Year 2016-2017. The data were gathered through a survey questionnaire that primarily solicited feedbacks from respondents using the International Standard Organization/International Electrotechnical Commission 9126 Model. Descriptive research design was employed to describe the observations of the respondents based on the set objectives. The results revealed that the functionality of the system product, the level of usability as well as its performance were all interpreted as “Very Good”. This significant result implied that the respondents were impressed by the system features of the developed system in a convenient way.

Microbiological Quality of High Quality Cassava Flour Produced from Selected Varieties of Low Postharvest Physiological Deterioration Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The microbial properties of food are important quality characteristics of food materials as it relates directly with the health of the consumer. This study examined the microbiological properties of high quality cassava flours produced from low postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) cassava. Wholesome four varieties of yellow-fleshed Low PPD cassava and one variety of high PPD cassava were, peeled, washed, grated, pressed, pulverized, flash dried at 120 °C for 8 minutes, milled with cyclone hammer mill fitted with a screen of 250 µm aperture size, cooled and packed into high density polyethylene bag. The high quality cassava flours produced were analyzed for total viable fungal and bacteria count, fungi isolated were further characterized and identified using molecular methods. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 25.0 and significant means were separated applying Duncan multiple range test. The mold count ranged from 1.50±0.71 - 2.50±0.71 cfu/ml, with flour produced from IITA-TMS-IBA-011371 and TMEB 419 having the lowest count while the highest was recorded in IITA-TMS-IBA-011368, respectively. The yeast count ranged from 1.00±0.00 - 2.0±0.00 cfu/ml, with flours produced from IITA-TMS-IBA-070593 and IITA-TMS-IBA-011371 having the lowest count while the highest was recorded in flour from IITA-TMS-IBA-011368, respectively. The total viable bacterial and fungal count (microbiological quality) of the flours prepared from IITA-TMS-IBA-011368, IITA-TMS-IBA-070593, IITA-TMS-IBA-011412, IITA-TMS-IBA-011371 and TMEB 419 cassava varieties were within the permissible limit of the microbial load of food allowed for human consumption according to the Standard Organization of Nigeria and CODEX alimentraius.

Monolithic Ontological Methodology (MOM): An Effective Software Project Management Approach

Due to rapid changes in software applications, especially incorporating the demands of self-regulating technologies becomes a major challenge in software projects. This research focuses on technological, managerial, and procedural challenges, which are believed to the most significant factors contributing to projects failure. To address these issues, this study proposes Monolithic Ontological Methodology (MOM) which addresses the weakness in the existing benchmark methodologies including PRINCE2, Extreme Programming, and Scrum in terms of project management, quality control, and stakeholder involvement. The MOM consists of seven phases and each phase has the required number of iterations until it is approved by management. The updated information is recorded and shared with the respective teams. The standard documentation with control language is structured by Descriptive Logic (DL) that reduces ambiguity and technical debate. Furthermore, the illustration of the MOM includes figures, logical expressions, and descriptions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was performed. The findings indicate the validity of MOM concerning considered performance metrics. Although the applicability of the proposed methodology involves relatively more documentation and formalities. The adaptive nature of MOM makes it suitable for the standard organization and brings sustainability to the organization by implementing distributed project management.

Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC): Current Food Safety and Quality Standards for Complementary Foods

Food safety is imperative, especially for infants and young children because of their underdeveloped immune systems. This requires adequate nutritious food with appropriate amounts of macro- and micronutrients. Currently, a well-established system for infant food is enforced by the regulatory bodies, but no clear system exists for complementary food, which is consumed by children from the age of 6 month to 24 months. As the child grows beyond 6 months, the need for nutrients increases, and if the nutritional needs are not fulfilled, it can lead to health problems, such as stunted growth, weak immune system, and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, it is important to have regulatory bodies monitoring complementary food in a similar capacity as is required for infant formula. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the existing regulatory bodies, such as the Codex Alimentarius, International Standard Organization (ISO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), etc., and their regulations specifically for infant formula that can be adopted for complementary foods. This study focuses on the development of a hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls (HARPC)-based food safety plan to ensure safe food processing and prevent any possible outbreaks.

Organisation of Multi-Mycotoxin Proficiency Tests: Evaluation of the Performances of the Laboratories Using the Triple A Rating Approach

In accordance with the International Standard Organization ISO 17043, two proficiency tests (PTs) for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2); deoxynivalenol; fumonisins FB1, FB2, and B3; ochratoxin A, the T-2 toxin; and the HT-2 toxin were conducted in 2019 and 2020 using cornflakes and rusk flours that were prepared in house. The homogeneity and the stability of these materials were verified according to the criteria laid down in ISO 13528 using randomly selected samples. Most of the targeted toxins were found to be homogenously distributed in both materials with no significant changes during the timescale of the PTs. Next, the materials were distributed to approximately 25 participating laboratories from Europe, Canada, and the United States. The obtained datasets were computed using robust statistics. The outliers were checked and removed, and the toxin concentrations were assigned as the consensus value of the results of the participants at Horwitz ratios <1.2. The z scores were generated for all mycotoxins, and the results were pooled to calculate the relative sum of squared z scores (SZ2) indexes and were clustered according to the triple A rating. Overall, at least 80% of the participating laboratories achieved good and acceptable performances. The most frequent categories assigned to good performances (SZ2 ≤ 2) were AAA (51%) and BAA (13%). Clusters of BBA + CBA (6%) included laboratories reporting acceptable z scores <90% of the total z scores for less than 90% or 50% of the mycotoxins targeted in the 2 matrices. The triple A rating seems to be appropriate in evaluating the performances of laboratories involved in multi-mycotoxin analyses. Accredited and non-accredited analytical methods achieved good and acceptable performances.

Aplicación metodológica: the integrated use of management system standards para la integración de sistemas de gestión

Diversas metodologías se han desarrollado desde los años noventa para la integración de múltiples sistemas de gestión en todo tipo de organización. Sin embargo, en la actualidad es poco conocido que la International Standard Organization (ISO) ha desarrollado una metodología de integración propia que permite alinear diferentes perspectivas normativas en una sola gestión. El manual The Integrated Use of Management System Standard (IUMSS) establece un método de cuatro etapas principales (preparación, conexión, incorporación y mantenimiento) en las cuales la estructura de alto nivel sirve como guía para integrar requisitos comunes, homólogos y abordar los específicos. El objetivo de la investigaciónNTC ISO 14001: 2015 sistema de gestión ambiental, NTC ISO 45001:2018 sistema de seguridad y salud en el trabajo y NTC ISO 13485:2016 sistemas de gestión de calidad para dispositivos médicos; haciendo uso del manual a través de una descripción cualitativa y analítica. Finalmente, se realizó la validación de la metodología de integración de las normas a través del método del ábaco de Régnier, concluyendo que el manual es una herramienta robusta orientada a la disminución del exceso de redundancias y al cierre de brechas entre los requisitos de las normas ISO integradas y los procesos de una organización.

Effect of Crocus sativus L. Stigmas Microwave Dehydration on Picrocrocin, Safranal and Crocetin Esters

The dehydration process is the basis to obtain high quality saffron and to preserve it for a long time. This process modifies saffron’s main metabolites that define its quality, and are responsible for the characteristic color, taste, and aroma of the spice. In this work, the effect of microwave dehydration on saffron main metabolites (picrocrocin, safranal and crocetin esters) from Crocus sativus L. stigmas at three determinate powers and different time lapses was evaluated. The results showed that this dehydration process obtained similar or lower crocetin esters content, and after three months of storage, higher concentration was shown in treatments at 440 W for 36 s, 55 s, and 73 s; at 616 W for 90 s; and at 800 W for 20 s. Picrocrocin content was lower and safranal content was higher in all treatments compared to the control both before and after storage. Regarding to commercial quality, microwave dehydration obtained Category I of saffron according to International Standard Organization (ISO) 3632. After three months of storage, treatments at 616 W for 83 s and 800 W for 60 s obtained lower categories. The results obtained suggest that microwave dehydration is a suitable process for obtaining high quality saffron, 800 W with 6 lapses of 20 s being the best conditions studied.

Criminal investigation in Irkutsk province: the peculiarities of specialization of police structures in the late 19th century

In the context of modern transformation of Russian statehood, attention to the problems of law enforcement activities improvement has strengthened. The problems of specialization of police structures have become of a key importance. It&rsquo;s no coincidence that during the recent decade, the process of formation and development of criminal investigation has been actively studied. The topicality of the problem determines the object, subject and purpose of the research. The research object is the process of formation and development of criminal investigation service in Irkutsk province, the research subject is the implementation of this process in the work of Irkutsk police. The purpose of the research is to define the sense, tendencies, patterns and contradictions of this process. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the analysis of the process of formation of criminal investigation service in Irkutsk province. The specificity of organization of criminals detection in Irkutsk province was determined by the specificity of local law enforcement activity. To the extent possible, local administration was trying to carry out criminal investigation in the region using the standard organization of the police work. But such an organization was in contradiction with the requirements imposed on it. Police were not able to organize proper criminal investigation due to the variety of tasks they faced. It turned out to be impossible to organize criminal investigation by independent units in Irkutsk province. Experience proved that the system of financial support for criminal investigation of that time didn&rsquo;t allow creating special investigative units. This factor determined the appearance of &ldquo;private detectives&rdquo; under the jurisdiction of Irkutsk police. However, the insufficient financial support resulted in the poor quality of investigative activity which usually erupted into illegal activities. Remarkably, the necessity to create organizational structures of criminal investigation was much more urgent than in other regions of the country, which is proved by persistent actions of the province administration.&nbsp; &nbsp;