Background: Shortages of mechanical ventilation have become a constant problem in Emergency Departments (EDs), thereby affecting the timely deployment of medical interventions that counteract the severe health complications experienced during respiratory disease seasons. It is then necessary to count on agile and robust methodological approaches predicting the expected demand loads to EDs while supporting the timely allocation of ventilators. In this paper, we propose an integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Discrete-event Simulation (DES) to design effective interventions ensuring the high availability of ventilators for patients needing these devices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to concerns over rising emissions of carbon dioxide (CO) from fossil fuel utilization, there has been a strong emphasis on the development of a safe, economical, practical method of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS). One way to reduce these CO emissions is underground geological sequestration in depleted oil fields or exhausted reservoirs. CO injection into oil reservoirs is an established technology, these reservoirs not only offer the potential for high storage of CO but this process could also target a large amount of oil and gas recovery through a technique called enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cement industry contributes substantially to world emissions. Sustainable and circular practices are adopted globally to mitigate such emissions. Developing countries like Pakistan lack adaptation to circular and sustainable practices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe construction industry (CI) is responsible for consuming 3 billion tons of natural raw materials annually. Also, as per the survey by World Resources Institute, the CI accounts for 40 % of the total waste generated globally. The solution to this inefficient resource usage and adverse effects on the ecosystem is implementing Circular Economy (CE) practices in CI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne of the challenging issues of any country's agenda today is the management of solid waste in the circular economy and eco-efficiency perspective. In this context, there has been much debate about the disposal of diapers, but the current research lacks data for developing countries. Furthermore, the research lacks quantification of data, in terms of output products generated through sustainable waste management practices particularly for diapers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe increase in population has led to the rise in the construction and manufacturing of bricks. Bricks are manufactured in brick kilns that emit very harmful gases which in turn affect the human health, environment and economy. In Pakistan, the diseases related to skin, and respiratory system have created a lot of problems for the humans and animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNowadays, the excessive industrialization, increased use of fossil fuels, elevated levels of vehicular emissions are causing high level of air pollution reaching epidemic levels. The effects of "smog" or in other words of air pollution can be very dangerous for humans, and plants. In fact, air pollution can be linked to many health-related issues, as it is one of the leading causes of pulmonary, respiratory and skin diseases across the globe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPakistan is a developing country characterized by a growing industrialization, which is the major cause of environmental pollution in the country. To control the significant increase in pollution a green incentive has started, aiming to moderate the adverse effects of environmental pollution. Thus, Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) plays an important role in influencing the total environment impact of any organizations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealthcare systems are evolving towards a complex network of interconnected services due to the increasing costs and the increasing expectations for high service levels. It is evidenced in the literature the importance of implementing management techniques and sophisticated methods to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems, especially in emerging economies. This paper proposes an integrated collaboration model between two public hospitals to reach the reduction of weighted average lead time in outpatient internal medicine department.
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