bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Asian Super Obese a Safe and Effective Procedure?
Authors: Ng Hannah JH , Kim Guowei , Chew Claire Alexandra Z , San Moe Thu , So Jimmy BY , Shabbir Asim
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Outcomes of bariatric surgery for super obese Asians are not well reported. We aimed to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Asian patients with body mass index (BMI) <47.5 kg/m2 to those with BMI ≥47.5 kg/m2. Materials and Methods: A total of 272 patients from a Singapore university hospital who underwent LSG from 2008 to 2015 with a follow-up of at least 6 months were included in the study. Primary endpoint was weight loss at 1-year and 3-years. Morbid obesity (Group 1, G1) was defined as BMI <47.5 kg/m2 and super obesity (Group 2, G2) was defined as BMI ≥47.5 kg/m2. Results: There were 215 patients in G1 and 57 patients in G2 (mean preoperative weight: 107.3 kg and 146.8 kg; mean follow-up: 27.9 and 26.8 months, respectively). Mean total weight loss at 3-years of 41.9 kg for G2 was significantly higher (P = 0.003) than 27.2 kg for G1. Mean percentage excess weight loss (EWL) did not differ at 3-years. There was no difference in operating time, blood loss, length of stay, 30-day morbidity and readmission. There were no conversions and mortality in both groups. Remission of hypertension (P = 0.001) and dyslipidaemia (P = 0.038) were significantly associated with achieving EWL percentage (%EWL) >50 in G1. Conclusion: LSG is an equally safe and effective operation in Asians with BMI ≥47.5 kg/m2 when compared to patients with BMI <47.5 kg/m2 in achieving significant weight loss and improvement in comorbidities. Super obese lose more weight but have lower %EWL.

Key words: Short-term outcomes
Performance of the Paediatric Index of Mortality 3 and Paediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction 2 Scores in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Wong Judith JM , Hornik Christoph P , Mok Yee Hui , Loh Tsee Foong , Lee Jan Hau
Published: June 2022

Introduction: The Paediatric Index of  Mortality 3 (PIM 3) and Paediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction 2 (PELOD 2) scores were recently revised. We aimed to assess the performance of these scores in a contemporary cohort of critically ill children. Materials and Methods: This is a single-centre prospective study conducted in a multidisciplinary paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Consecutive PICU admissions over 1 year were included and admission PIM 3 and PELOD 2 scores were calculated. The performance of each of the scores was evaluated by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test for the outcome of PICU mortality. Results: A total of  570 patient admissions were eligible for this study. The median age of patients was 3.1 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.4, 8.9 years). Overall median PIM 3 and PELOD 2 scores were 1.2 (IQR: 0.4, 3.2) % and 4 (IQR: 2, 7), respectively. The overall mortality rate was 35/570 (6.1%). The PIM 3 and PELOD 2 scores had good discrimination for mortality (AUCs 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85, 0.91] and 0.86 [95% CI 0.83, 0.89], respectively). Goodness-of-fit was satisfactory for both scores. Higher PIM 3 and PELOD 2 scores were also associated with decreasing ventilator and PICU-free days. Conclusion: PIM 3 and PELOD 2 scores are robust severity of illness scores that are generalisable to a contemporary cohort of critically ill children in Singapore.

Key words: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, Paediatric intensive care unit, Patient outcome assessment, Severity of illness index
Long-Term Morbidities in Children with Critical Illness: Gaps and Opportunities
Authors: Senna Stephanie , Ong Chengsi , Ng Zhi Min , Lee Jan Hau
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Improved mortality rates in paediatric critical care may come with the cost of increased morbidity. Goals of modern paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) management should focus on restoring long-term function of paediatric critical illness survivors. This review outlines our current knowledge on trajectories and risk factors of long-term morbidities in PICU survivors. Specifically, we aimed to identify current limitations and gaps in this area so as to identify opportunities for future investigations to reduce the burden of morbidities in these children. Materials and Methods: A review of primary studies published in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases in the last decade (2008-2017) describing long-term morbidities in PICU survivors was conducted. Results: Children surviving critical illness continue to experience morbidities after discharge. A set of risk factors modify their long-term trajectories of recovery, with some children achieving their premorbid level of function, while some others deteriorate or die. Limitations in current methodologies of morbidity research impair our understanding on the causes of these morbidities. Opportunities for future endeavours to reduce the burden of these morbidities include identifying patients who are more likely to develop morbidities, evaluating the efficacy of early rehabilitation, identifying patients who might benefit from tight glycaemic control, characterising the optimal nutritional intervention, and improving management of increased intracranial pressure. Conclusion: Survivors of paediatric critical illness experience differing trajectories of recovery from morbidities. Future research is needed to expand our repertoire on management strategies to improve long-term function in these children.

Key words: Intensive Care, Outcomes assessment (healthcare), Paediatrics
Personalising Care in the Older Woman with Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Parks Ruth M , Cheung Kwok Leung
Published: June 2022

The incidence of breast cancer increases with age. Despite this, most research in the field is targeted at younger patients. Age-specific guidelines are not widely referred to and guidelines which allude to the older woman as an individual are based solely on conventional factors. This creates a problem for older women with primary operable breast cancer who are not fit, too frail or do not wish to have surgery. Preliminary studies have shown that older women with breast cancer have distinct biological features compared to their younger counterparts. This means that they are likely to have less aggressive cancers such as those who are oestrogen receptor-positive. Geriatric assessment (GA) has been used in clinical practice to identify patients that are suitable for certain treatments. More research on this group of patients’ unique biological features and GA will help tailor personalised care for them. Key words: Geriatric assessment, Oestrogen receptor-positive, Primary endocrine therapy
The Elderly Emergency Laparotomy Patient – More Than Just the Operation
Authors: Fernando Jeremy , Loh Sze Ming
Published: June 2022

The elderly patient presenting with an acute surgical abdomen or bowel obstruction has become a common and challenging situation. These patients bring comorbidity and frailty that necessitate appropriate risk assessment and comprehensive perioperative management. Robust communication is required between patients, families and health professions. The Australia and New Zealand Emergency Laparotomy Audit-Quality Improvement (ANZELA-QI) study is based on the United Kingdom’s National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) and will gather large scale data, providing hospital-level information to enable clinicians to reduce variation in management. Successful management of the elderly laparotomy patient requires close coordination between surgeons, anaesthetists and physicians. The ANZELA-QI study will help establish the role of collaborative models of care and the need for perioperative care teams. Key words: Abdominal surgery, Acute care, Risk assessment
sistemas de espaços livres como instrumento de leitura da morfologia urbana e suas implicações sócio ambientais no Município do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Tângari Vera Regina
Published: June 2022

Esse texto introduz as questões debatidas e estudadas por pesquisadores, professores, profissionais e estudantes, no âmbito do Grupo de Pesquisas Sistemas de Espaços Livres no Rio de Janeiro-SEL/RJ do PROARQ-UFRJ, entre 2007 e 2021, a respeito dos sistemas de espaços livres nas nossas cidades e regiões. Estabelece como marco a discussão de pesquisas que evidenciam os aspectos do acesso e do uso dos espaços livres de edificação nas cidades brasileiras, com foco no Estado e no Município do Rio de Janeiro, e seu rebatimento sobre a esfera pública, em termos de gestão, projeto e apropriação. Apresenta os pressupostos aplicados para análise do papel dos espaços livres de edificação na configuração urbana do Município do Rio de Janeiro. Esses espaços tem função importante no processo de constituição da forma, na caracterização de tecidos urbanos e na definição de centralidades que se concentram em torno e ao longo dos espaços livres de circulação e permanência: ruas, avenidas, praças, largos. Os estudos realizados auxiliam no entendimento sobre os aspectos observados relativos à segregação sócio espacial presente no Município do Rio de Janeiro.
Análise qualitativa das preparações do cardápio de um restaurante universitário
Authors: Ribeiro Sabbagh Melissa Ionara , De Albuquerque Barbosa Maria Cristina , Carneiro Angélica Cotta Lobo Leite
Published: June 2022

Objetivo: Analisar as preparações de um cardápio oferecido aos estudantes universitários. Métodos: Para análise do cardápio foi utilizado o método de Análise Qualitativa das Preparações do Cardápio (AQPC). Foram avaliados os cardápios das refeições servidas no almoço de segunda a sexta, elaborados para o mês de abril de 2019. Os cardápios foram analisados seguindo os seguintes critérios: oferecimento de folhosos e frutas, monotonia de cores, presença de duas ou mais preparações ricas em enxofre, oferta de carne gordurosa, frituras, de forma isolada ou associadas aos doces e a oferta de doces como sobremesa. Resultados: De acordo com o método AQPC os cardápios apresentaram ofertas diárias de frutas, folhosos  e doces (100%). A ocorrência de carnes gordurosas, de alimentos ricos em enxofre e da monotonia de cores foram 57,1%, 47,6% e 38,1%, respectivamente. Já os critérios fritura, fritura associada a doces, apresentaram percentuais de ocorrência bem reduzidos (9,5%). Conclusão: Foi possível observar  que o cardápio do RU apresenta-se adequado com relação à presença diária de verduras e frutas e a baixa ocorrência de fritura e fritura mais doce. Com relação à oferta de carnes gordurosas e alimentos ricos em enxofre, alguns ajustes precisam ser implementados para melhorar a qualidade do cardápio. A ocorrência diária de doces deve ser objeto de atenção quanto ao planejamento dos cardápios, em função dos possíveis riscos de doenças crônicas na população atendida.
Contact Tracing for COVID-19 Using Bluetooth Low Energy
Authors: Shi Manxi , Kreitzman Linda
Published: June 2022

Contact tracing in simple terms is the process of determining whom an infected person has come in contact with and is used to attempt to slow the spread of infectious and life-threatening diseases. Here is a link to an article further describing contact tracing for COVID-19. Manual contact tracing done by public health officials is a slow and inefficient process. People are working on digital contact tracing using Bluetooth low energy for it to one day replace manual contact tracing. Cell phones and other portable devices can transmit Bluetooth low energy signals that can be picked up by others around them, leading to it being a very popular topic of research.
KONSEP PEMIKIRAN ABDURRAHMAN WAHID TENTANG ISLAM KOSMOPOLITAN
Authors: Samsudin Samsudin , Nurbaya Siti
Published: June 2022

This writing describes the fruit of Abdurahman Wahid's thoughts on Cosmopolitan Islam which emphasizes more on the basic essence of Islamic teachings, not just symbols and mere religious formalities. Cosmopolitan Islam is Gus Dur's genius thought in responding to actual issues that are directly related to issues of religion, culture, politics and development in the 1980-1990s. In cosmopolitan Islam Gus Dur invites the wider community to always hold fast to values universalism of religion, nationalism and upholding the attitude of openness to accept differences.
Fen Bilimleri Öğretmenlerinin Yetkinlik Algıları ve Öğretim Metodu Kullanma Durumlarının Belirlenmesi
Authors: ŞENCAN Rifat , CANBULAT ŞAHİNER Nejla
Published: June 2022

Araştırma, ortaokullarda görev yapan Fen ve Teknoloji Öğretmenlerinin yetkinlik algıları ve öğretim metodu kullanma durumlarının belirlenmesi, öğretim metodu kullanma durumları ile yetkinlik algıları arasında fark olup olmadığının değerlendirilmesi amacıyla kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı tipte planlandı. Karaman İl Merkezi ortaokullarında görev yapan toplam 52 Fen ve Teknoloji Öğretmeni ile yürütüldü. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Öğretmen Yetkinlik Ölçeği ve Müfredata Göre Öğretim Yöntemi Kullanma Formu kullanılarak toplandı. Toplanan veriler SPSS21.0 paket programı ile ortalama, yüzde gibi tanımlayıcı istatistikler, t testi, Kruskal Wallis ve Mann Whitney U testleri ile değerlendirildi. Araştırma kapsamına alınan öğretmenlerin yaş ortalaması 38,69±9,30 (26-60 yaş), ÖYÖ’den aldıkları toplam puan ortalamaları 95,61±8.65 idi. Fen ve Teknolojileri Öğretmenlerinin yetkinlik algılarının “çevresel etkiler” alt boyutunun cinsiyetten etkilendiği görüldü. ÖYÖ toplam ve alt boyut puan ortalamalarının, yaş, eğitim durumu ve mesleki çalışma yılından etkilenmediği belirlendi.
Разработка модели эффективного управления изменениями на основе методики DEA в экономических системах
Authors: Никулина Т.Н.
Published: June 2022

В последнее время оценка эффективности органов власти в целом и муниципальных органов находится под пристальным вниманием. Основная причина - оценка влияния управления на сохранение баланса между финансовым и социальными эффектами, которые стимулируют развитие территорий. Есть предпосылки о возможности совмещения обозначенных аспектов, не выделяя какой-то один. Как следствие, при определении уровня эффективности изменений в разрезе экономической и социальной направленности, можно выявить достоверную картину деятельности территории.
Türk Veteriner Hekimliği Tarihinde Aforizmalar
Authors: KÜÇÜKASLAN Özgül
Published: June 2022

Aforizma (özdeyiş, özlü söz, vecize, ülger, kelamıkibar, aforizm, motto), bir düşünceyi en kısa ve kesin bir biçimde anlatan ve kimin tarafından söylendiği belli olan söz olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Veteriner hekimliği mesleğine ilişkin olarak büyük devlet adamı İsmet İnönü’nün “Denilebilir ki insan hekimliği veteriner hekimliğin yanında okyanusa karşı iç deniz gibidir” sözleri ve Milli Şair Veteriner Hekim Mehmet Akif Ersoy’un “Bir tecrübe etsen senin aklın da yatar, bize insan hekiminden daha lazım baytar” sözleri, kuşaktan kuşağa geçerek yaşayan ve bu mesleğin her üyesi tarafından bilinen özlü sözlerin başında gelmektedirler. Türkiye’de Cumhuriyet sonrası döneme ilişkin olarak yapılan eser incelemeleri sırasında; deyiş güzelliği, anlatım gücü, kavram zenginliği bakımından araştırma konusu yapılmaya değer bir söz varlığı olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada, veteriner hekimliği mesleğinin büyükleri ve devlet adamlarının veteriner hekimliği mesleğine ilişkin olarak dile getirdikleri bu anlamlı sözlerin tarihin tozlu sayfaları arasından çıkarılarak veteriner hekimlerle buluşturulması amaçlanmıştır. Aforizmalar seçilirken, teknik olarak dil bilgisi yönünden aforizma yapısına uygun olmalarına dikkat edilmiş, bu çerçevede; söyleyeni belli, kısa ve yargı bildiren 37 adet aforizma kaydedilmiştir. Çalışmada derli-toplu olarak sunulan bu anlamlı sözlerin meslektaşlarımıza ışık tutacak bir yol göstermeleri bakımından önemli oldukları düşünülmektedir. Aforizmaların, öğrenci derslerinde, meslek yıldönümlerinde, akademik açılış ve mezuniyet törenleri gibi hitabet sanatının ön planda olduğu toplantılarda değerlendirilerek faydalı olabilecekleri ileri sürülebilir.
Biocombustíveis: uma revisão sobre o panorama histórico, produção e aplicações do biogás
Authors: Huch Duarte Victória , Valentini Marlon , Santos Gabriel Borges dos , Nadaletti Willian Cezar , Muller Vieira Bruno
Published: June 2022

A dependência global em relação aos combustíveis fósseis como fonte de energia vem gerando preocupações diante dos elevados índices de poluição ambiental e sua característica não renovável. Fontes alternativas renováveis ​​e promissoras de energia, como o biogás, têm sido amplamente estudadas e discutidas na busca de um futuro mais sustentável. Este trabalho revisa as perspectivas de produção dos biocombustíveis, com foco especial no biogás. O presente estudo é então, um trabalho de revisão que busca definições que esclarecem sobre os processos de produção de biogás, esclarecendo quais as matérias-primas podem ser utilizadas, bem como sua composição e utilizações no mercado. Conforme apresentado nesta revisão, o biogás apresenta-se como uma alternativa viável de energia renovável e sustentável para a crescente demanda mundial por energia, encontrando-se em constante expansão de produção. Ainda, essa revisão salienta que a aplicação de tecnologias para purificação do biogás permite a utilização deste biocombustível como fonte energética de excelente qualidade oportunizando a redução do consumo de gás natural, minimizando a dependência dos combustíveis fósseis, contribuindo para o balanço energético global e reduzindo significativamente as emissões dos gases de efeito estufa.
Spatial and Temporal Variation of Particulate Matter Around Lagos Environs
Authors: Oluwasayo Peter Abodunrin
Published: June 2022

Air monitoring is very essential for characterizing health risks, formulating cost-effective abatement strategies, creating and enforcing appropriate air quality standards, and as well as healthy urban planning. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variation of aerosol pollution in Lagos environs, Nigeria. Selected sampling locations were Computer Village (CV), Oshodi Garage (OG), Magodo Estate (MG), and Caleb International College (CIC). Associated anthropogenic activities were the basis for the selection of the sampling location. Measurements of particulate matters were undertaken by employing the AEROCET 531S device in these selected residential, academic, and commercial environments across Lagos State. The measurements were taken at approximately 2 m from the ground in each sampling location. Data analysis and visualization were executed with python to enhance the visualization of the spatial and temporal distribution of the different particulate matter within and across the locations. A pronounced gradient of the particulate matter concentrations (µg/m3) was observed across the study area. The study outcome demonstrates that particulate matter distribution is dominated by PM10 in all locations under consideration. The proportions of fine particles to coarse particles in these environments were low ranging from 0.027 – 0.277 in CV, 0.018 – 0.395 in OG, 0.080 – 0.291 in MG, and 0.028 – 0.272 in CIC. Findings from this study established the dominance of coarse particles assumed to be contributed by cement dust, coal dust, flour, paint spray, pollen, cloud droplets, etc.
Technical Note: Corrosion Behavior of 316 Stainless Steel With and Without an Ni Coating in Solid-State Fluoride Salt
Authors: Huang Jinning , Wang Yanli
Published: June 2022

With the rapid development of molten salt reactors, the problem of post-treatment of spent fuel salt discharged from the core becomes increasingly prominent. Like molten fluoride salts, solid fluoride salts are also highly corrosive, which poses a serious challenge to container materials. This paper describes the corrosion behavior of 316 stainless steel (316 SS) with and without Ni coating in low-temperature solid fluoride salt. Results show that 316 SS without Ni coating experiences pitting corrosion with the prolongation of corrosion time. 316 SS with Ni coating experiences intergranular corrosion. In addition, a loose hollow interlayer is formed between Ni coating and matrix. Corrosion of both samples increases with the extension of exposure time with solid fluoride salts.
Case study of VA Caribbean Healthcare System’s community response to Hurricane Maria
Authors: Wyte-Lake, DPT, MPH Tamar , Schmitz, MAIDP Susan , Torres-Sabater, RN, MEP, CHCM Cosme , Dobalian, PhD, JD Aram
Published: June 2022

Background: Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in 2017, catastrophically impacted infrastructure and severely disrupted medical services. The US Department of Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System (VA CHCS), which serves approximately 67,000 patients and has most of its facilities on the island of Puerto Rico, was able to successfully maintain operations after the hurricane. As a part of the larger VA system, VA CHCS also has a mission to support “national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.” The objective of this study is to better understand the ways VA and its facilities meet this mission by exploring how VA CHCS acted as a community resource following Hurricane Maria.Methods: This study investigated experiences of five employees in critical emergency response positions for VA CHCS, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 8, and the Office of Emergency Management. All respondents were interviewed from March to July 2019. Data were collected via semistructured interviews exploring participants’ experiences and knowledge about VA’s activities provided to the community of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Data were analyzed using thematic and in vivo coding methods. Results: All respondents underscored VA’s primary mission after a disaster was to maintain continuity of care to Veterans, while concomitantly describing the role of VA in supporting community recovery. Three major themes emerged: continuity of operations for the San Juan VA Medical Center (VAMC) and its affiliated outpatient clinics, provision of services as a federal partner, and services provided directly to the Puerto Rican community.Discussion: Recent disasters have revealed that coordinated efforts between multidisciplinary agencies can strengthen communities’ capacity to respond. This case example demonstrates how a VA hospital not only continued serving its patients but, with the support from the greater VA system, also filled a wide variety of requests and resource gaps in the community. Building relationships with local VAMCs can help determine how VA could be incorporated into emergency management strategies. In considering the strengths community partners can bring to bear, a coordinated regional response would benefit from involving VA as a partner during planning.
Hurricane effects, mitigation, and preparedness in the Caribbean: Perspectives on high importance–low prevalence practices from agricultural advisors
Authors: Álvarez-Berríos, PhD Nora L. , Wiener, MS (Forestry) Sarah S. , McGinley, PhD Kathleen A. , Lindsey, PhD Angela B. , Gould, PhD William A.
Published: June 2022

Frequent hurricanes affect agricultural productivity, food security, economic security, and human wellbeing in the Caribbean islands. We assessed recent hurricane effects on the agricultural sector, and the challenges faced by farmers, foresters, and advisors related to hurricane preparedness and recovery in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands (USVI). We used qualitative and quantitative survey methods to compile perspectives from agricultural advisors related to hurricane effects on farmlands, preparedness and recovery measures taken by land managers, and the needs regarding preparing for and responding to future hurricanes. Survey responses from over 200 advisors at eight institutions provided insight into the most devastating hurricane effects across farmlands, including issues related to power outages, communication, road access, and fallen trees. Our results highlight strategies considered critical for hurricane preparedness and recovery but not prevalent in application among land managers. Advisors’ perceptions suggested that farmers and ranchers apply essential recovery practices, but critical short-term preparedness practices are limited, and long-term preparedness practices are uncommon. Advisors also indicated the need for more training and educational resources to improve hurricane recovery response. We conclude that better planning to minimize the vulnerability to future hurricanes can be achieved through an increased understanding of how preparedness and recovery practices help mitigate hurricane effects, improved interagency coordination for hurricane response and preparedness, and integrated educational campaigns with advisors and land managers.
Analysis of pre- and post-disaster management and recovery in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria
Authors: Rivera, PhD Fernando I.
Published: June 2022

Hurricane Maria, similar to other recent emergency events, continues to remind emergency management of the continuous threats communities encounter. Years prior to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was experiencing dire economic conditions which accelerated when the government declared bankruptcy in 2014. Austerity measures were put in place to confront the growing public debt resulting in higher taxes, a crumbling infrastructure, and economic restrictions impacting pensions and other social services. On top of these economic struggles, Puerto Rico experienced catastrophic damages from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The aftermath of these storms and the subsequent experiences with seismic events and the COVID-19 pandemic are reminders of the complexities emergency management is currently facing. As the frequency and intensity of major weather events continues to rise there is a need for a holistic understanding for emergency managers to better mitigate, prepare, response, and recover to disasters and emergency situations.This special issue provides such understanding. Grounded on the nexus between energy, water, and food, this collection of manuscripts explores the emergency management challenges faced in Puerto Rico in relation to several areas of inquiry, including housing, agriculture, the hospitality industry, communication, health and mental health, public health, and access to healthcare services. These studies not only identify some of the challenges faced in these contexts but provide recommendations and tools to use in future emergencies.
COVID-19 and burnout in healthcare personnel: A review of the literature
Authors: Pekevski, PhD Jordan
Published: June 2022

Healthcare personnel have been providing care to individuals affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for well over a year. They have been faced with numerous challenges during this time. Burnout was a problem for healthcare providers even prior to the pandemic, but the increased challenges of the pandemic are likely to raise the burnout rates in this population. This study provides information on burnout and the effects of previous epidemics and the current pandemic on burnout and mental health of healthcare providers. Lastly, information on interventions is presented, including organizational and individual interventions.
Displacement after disaster: Challenges and opportunities responding to Puerto Rican evacuees in Central Florida after Hurricane Maria
Authors: Corbin, PhD Tanya Buhler
Published: June 2022

Major disasters often displace populations, requiring coordinated response efforts from governmental and voluntary organizations to support and assist an influx of evacuees. Despite the frequency and significance of this occurrence, this aspect of disaster management has received limited scholarly attention, with research predominantly focusing on response and recovery at the impacted disaster sites. This study investigates disaster management and support offered to Puerto Rican evacuees arriving in Central Florida after Hurricane Maria. A multiagency resource center (MARC) was established at the Orlando Airport to support evacuees, facilitating a network of agencies to coordinate response efforts. The analysis uses data obtained through in-depth, semistructured interviews from members of the Orlando metropolitan area disaster response community who worked at the MARC center, and content analysis of state and local government documents. The results identify challenges and successes and common themes in disaster support for displaced evacuees after disasters. Results confirm some conventional wisdom about disaster response, such as persistent significant challenges related to shelter and housing, and offer new insights about how to successfully support displaced evacuees, particularly using MARCs. This study provides foundational knowledge to inform future research and contributes to the development of successful support for those who are displaced after disaster.
Vulnerable populations: A cross-case synthesis of correctional facility disaster response during Hurricanes Katrina and Maria
Authors: Dement, BA (Hons), MA Carl , McAleavy, BA (Hons), MSc, PhD Tony
Published: June 2022

Objective: This study aims to critically evaluate the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), New Orleans, Louisiana response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, response to Hurricane Maria in 2017 to determine key areas for policy development.Design: This study uses an interpretivist paradigm to conduct an inductive, cross-case synthesis and content analysis.Setting: The OPP in Katrina and the MDC in Maria; case-studies determined by similar exposure to hurricanes in the Caribbean and inmate population.Subjects: Inmates as an intrinsically vulnerable population.Interventions: Cross-case synthesis of the two selected case-studies comparing response to separate hurricanes.Main outcome measure(s): The ProQuest, Wiley, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were used to establish a corpus of qualitative data focused on the evacuation and humane treatment of inmates. Inductive content analysis resulted in three themes which informed seven policy recommendations for enhanced correctional facility preparedness for natural and human-induced hazards. Results: The preparedness of correctional facilities remains inadequate despite significant experience during Katrina, Maria, and other disasters demonstrating a failure in isomorphic learning.Conclusions: The theoretical contributions of this study are encapsulated in seven recommendations. Three are recommended accountability and support measures for the BOP and state institutions by involving the FEMA and the GAO. The other four are recommended improvements in EM planning for counties and municipalities.
Six months after Maria: A post-hurricane examination of mental health and associated risk factors in older Puerto Ricans
Authors: Swiatek, BS Jani L. , Corcoran IV, BA Joseph P. , Ramsey, PhD Frederick V. , Gentile, MD Nina T.
Published: June 2022

Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, there were elevated rates of depression and suicide in Puerto Rico. This study evaluates mental health in older and elderly Puerto Ricans 6 months after the hurricanes and suggests strategies for improving future psychosocial responses. Patients attending clinics were evaluated for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) and suicide risk (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions [ASQ]) and were surveyed about their perceived safety, designated as a proxy for anxiety. Used in conjunction, PHQ-9 and ASQ were found to identify a greater proportion of individuals experiencing adverse mental health effects than if each instrument was used in isolation. Patients were also surveyed about time to water and electricity restoration, and it was found that prolonged time to water restoration was associated with increased prevalence and severity of depression and decreased perceived safety. Based on collected patient data (n = 523), using multiple mental health screening tools for diagnosis, improving perceptions of home safety or anxiety, and prioritizing water restoration may reduce mental health sequelae in the elderly and enhance the effect of psychosocial responses following disasters.
Concerned, yet committed: A tertiary hospital healthcare workers’ concerns and readiness in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Thangayah, MMed (EM), MRCEM Jeevan Raaj , Dutta, PGFEM, MRCEM Aliviya , Ponampalam, FRCS (A&E), FAMS, GDOM R.
Published: June 2022

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a vital resource in every society. The concerns of HCWs during pandemics are unique as they have to consider multiple issues including their health as well as the risks to their loved ones. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provides no exception in testing HCWs’ readiness.Purpose: We aim to study the concerns and preparedness of HCWs at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a tertiary healthcare institution, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of interest were the differences between HCWs from the emergency department (ED) compared to other non-ED locations.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the form of a voluntary survey containing 34 questions. All data were anonymous. Chi-square analysis and Bonferroni correction were carried out to ascertain the significance of the associations between the two groups.Results: A total of 1249 responses were received. Of all respondents, 57 percent felt that their jobs put them at great risk of exposure to COVID-19 while 67 percent accepted the risk as part of their job and 60 percent were still afraid of falling ill. Among the respondents, 78 percent responded that they would not look for another job while almost half considered it acceptable if their colleagues resigned. There were significant differences between ED and non-ED staff in terms of feeling that not only they but also those close to them were at high risk of exposure to the disease, people avoiding them and their families due to their job and ED staff feeling that there would be increased workload but inadequate manpower to handle the demands.Conclusion: Despite previous experience with pandemics, this study highlights that there still are issues faced by HCWs that need to be addressed in order for them to function effectively. Although there are differences between ED and non-ED HCWs’ concerns, all HCWs need to be recognized as crucial stakeholders and due attention should be given to them.
Equity, participation, and planning for recovery in Puerto Rico
Authors: Kim, PhD Karl , Porro, MURP Roberto , Ghimire, PhD Jiwnath , Durand, MS Lillian Ramirez , Serrano, MS Ruperto Chaparro , Gonzalez, MURP Bernardo , Yamashita, MURP Eric
Published: June 2022

Based on a survey of stakeholders from 34 municipalities in Puerto Rico 1 year following Hurricane Maria, this study reports on progress and priorities for longer-term recovery. Following a description of the storm and its impacts and an overview of recovery principles, initial insights expressed after the storm are studied. Over 56 percent of respondents ranked the need for equity considerations as the top recovery priority, while 23 percent ranked building back faster, and 11 percent supported building back stronger as the top priority. Building back greener was the top recovery goal for 10 percent of the respondents. In addition to broad recovery goals, specific actions and initiatives to support recovery are also investigated. While the needs for more robust data collection and information sharing emerged, gaps in training and capacity building were also reported. The analysis sheds light on the need for more participatory, deliberative processes, and the challenges of leadership, management, and inclusive governance following large-scale disasters. The findings are relevant to other island communities and the development of effective systems for disaster recovery.
The evolution of an unintended peer support group
Authors: McLean, MD, MPH Andrew J. , Connell, MD, MS Joan M.
Published: June 2022

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to provide a case report and review potential emotional wellness benefit of multidisciplinary/multiagency membership within a statewide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) advisory group.Methods: Members of a statewide COVID-19 advisory group were surveyed as to their level of participation and perceived emotional wellness benefit resulting from group membership.Results: A majority of members across all disciplines/ agencies reported a benefit of emotional wellness from group membership.Discussion: We believe that it is important in disaster settings, regardless of the labeled group function, to be mindful of the potential benefits to group members from not only a task standpoint, but a process standpoint as well. In addition, it is important to recognize the multiple benefits of interdisciplinary interaction and inclusion.
Factors influencing first responders’ mental health during COVID-19
Authors: Peat, EMT-B, BS Aidan
Published: June 2022

As the world adapts to the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare professionals have been performing lifesaving medical interventions under intensely stressful conditions. First responders are a subset of this population that experience traumatic emergency situations daily while working in hazardous conditions during COVID-19. Past studies on first responders’ mental health have reported that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidality are higher than anticipated in this population. In order to understand the factors influencing mental health in first responders during COVID-19, a survey was distributed to a convenience sample of 415 emergency responders from across the country. This survey addressed the influence of demographics and COVID-19 on cumulative PTSD and stress scores; 67 percent of survey respondents indicated that they knew another first responder who has contemplated or committed suicide, with 11 percent of respondents indicating that they themselves have suicidal tendencies. The results determined a variety of factors that influence mental health in first responders including age, gender, diagnosis of a previous mental health disorder, and career vs. volunteer departments. This study emphasizes the role that government funding plays in ensuring mental health resource access for first responders. Furthermore, this study has revealed that improved agency safeguards against COVID-19 can help reduce stress in emergency services personnel during this pandemic.
Hashtag Memory Activism
Authors: Fridman Orli
Published: June 2022

This chapter examines the growing prevalence of digital memory activism
and online commemorations. It introduces the #hashtag #memoryactivism
framework as an analytical approach to studying the commemoration
of contested pasts on social media, utilizing hashtags as a mnemonic
practice. By studying hashtags used by memory activists in Serbia, each
related to unwanted memories of the wars of the 1990s, the chapter traces
activists’ use of online platforms to engage with forbidden ideas or disputed
memories and terminologies. The ways in which the hashtag is being
thoughtfully appropriated by activists as part of their memory work in
various campaigns is discussed, as is hashtag memory activism as a more
nuanced form of both hashtag activism and of memory activism.
Influence Of Learning Strategy And Independence Learning On The Learning Outcomes of Islamic Education
Authors: Ananda Rusydi , Hayati Fitri
Published: June 2022

In applied learning, it can be seen that there are differences in students' abilities in absorbing teaching materials from the teacher. So there needs to be a strategy to overcome independence in student learning. This study aims to determine and describe: (1) the effect of the implementation of learning strategies on learning outcomes of Islamic Education, (2) the effect of learning independence on Islamic s Education learning outcomes, and (3) the influence of learning strategies and learning independence on learning outcomes Islamic education. The population of this study was all students of class V Al-Hijrah Deli Serdang consisting of 3 classes. Based on the cluster Random sampling technique. The research instrument is a test used to obtain learning outcomes data and a questionnaire to obtain student learning independence data. The analysis technique is an analysis of variance. The results showed: (1) the average Islamic  Education learning outcomes of students taught with the CIRC learning strategy were higher than the average Islamic Education learning outcomes of students taught with expository learning strategies, (2) the average Islamic  Education learning outcomes of students with high learning independence are higher than learning outcomes of students with low learning independence and (3) there is an interaction between learning strategies and learning independence.
The Opportunities and Challenges of Learning Online During the Pandemic: Thai High School Students' Perspective
Authors: Oimpitiwong Miss Pitchsinee
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates students' online learning experience during COVID-19, specifically aiming to identify points of improvement within the current distance-learning infrastructure in Thailand. The research consolidates students ’opinions toward online learning, their ease in adapting to the new learning environment, which depends not only on each student's learning style but also on their teachers as well as social and economic factors. Identifying the advantages and disadvantages of learning from home, the research presents students' needs and suggestions for improvement. As such, this work may guide future adjustments to online learning.
An Intelligent Sensor Mobile Phone Assisting System using AI and Machine Learning
Authors: Liang Ruilang , Sun Yu
Published: June 2022

Technology is taking over the world [7]. Thus, how elderly people can request for help when they use a mobile device if there is anybody around them? In this paper, we address this issue by providing a system that can share and remote control a mobile device in real time [8]. An Android mobile app has been developed as an assistant tool. Thus, when a user needs help, she/he uses an unique ID, sends a request and shares the mobile screen, so the helper sees the sharing screen in his/her device and assists the person who needs help. We applied our application to data analysis and accurate measurements. For the accurate measurement, we conducted diverse experiments to observe the stability of use in different devices, and the influence of geographic, environmental, and network factors. The result shows there are no interrupts during the 30 experiments, which means that the system is stable for use and the network speed is the main factor which affects the average connection delay. For the data analysis, we advertised the Mobile App in communities and schools and received a total of 20 feedback questionnaires. We observe that users from 66 - 70 yield the highest positive score.
Deep Multiple Instance Learning for Forecasting Stock Trends using Financial NewsDeep Multiple Instance Learning for Forecasting Stock Trends using Financial News
Authors: DENG Yiqi , YIU Siu Ming
Published: June 2022

A major source of information can be taken from financial news articles, which have some correlations about the fluctuation of stock trends. In this paper, we investigate the influences of financial news on the stock trends, from a multi-instance view. The intuition behind this is based on the news uncertainty of varying intervals of news occurrences and the lack of annotation in every single financial news. Under the scenario of Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) where training instances are arranged in bags, and a label is assigned for the entire bag instead of instances, we develop a flexible and adaptive multi-instance learning model and evaluate its ability in directional movement forecast of Standard & Poor’s 500 index on financial news dataset. Specifically, we treat each trading day as one bag, with certain amounts of news happening on each trading day as instances in each bag. Experiment results demonstrate that our proposed multi-instance-based framework gains outstanding results in terms of the accuracy of trend prediction, compared with other state-of-art approaches and baselines.
Transformer based Ensemble Learning to Hate Speech Detection Leveraging Sentiment and Emotion Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Kapil Prashant , Ekbal Asif
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the increasing propagation of hate speech on social media has encouraged researchers to address the problem of hateful content identification. To build an efficient hate speech detection model, a large number of annotated data is needed to train the model. To solve this approach we utilized eleven datasets from the hate speech domain and compared different transformer encoder-based approaches such as BERT, and ALBERT in single-task learning and multi-task learning (MTL) framework. We also leveraged the eight sentiment and emotion analysis datasets in the training to enrich the features in the MTL setting. The stacking based ensemble of BERT-MTL and ALBERT-MTL is utilized to combine the features from best two models. The experiments demonstrate the efficacy of the approach by attaining state-of-the-art results in all the datasets. The qualitative and quantitative error analysis was done to figure out the misclassified tweets and the effect of models on the different data sets.
NGHIÊN CỨU TÌNH HÌNH Ô NHIỄM TIẾNG ỒN VÀ THỰC TRẠNG GIẢM THÍNH LỰC CỦA BỘ ĐỘI THI CÔNG CÔNG TRÌNH NGẦM QUỐC PHÒNG
Authors: Thị Trúc Quỳnh Vũ , Bá Vượng Nguyễn , Minh Tuấn Lương , Tú Thiên Hồ , Phương Hiền Nguyễn
Published: June 2022

Mục tiêu: Khảo sát tình hình ô nhiễm tiếng ồn và tình trạng giảm thính lực của bộ đội thi công công trình ngầm. Đối tượng và phương pháp nghiên cứu: Chọn 200 bộ đội công binh ở 2 lữ đoàn Công Binh đủ tiêu chuẩn chia làm 2 nhóm: 100 bộ đội làm việc trực tiếp trong công trình ngầm, 100 làm việc hành chính không trực tiếp làm trong công trình ngầm và 100 mẫu đo cường độ tiếng ồn tương ứng với vị trí làm việc của 100 bộ đội làm việc trực tiếp trong công trình ngầm. Kết quả: Trong 100 mẫu tiếng ồn có 61% mẫu vượt tiêu chuẩn vệ sinh lao động (TCVSLĐ). Cường độ tiếng ồn vượt từ 1,5-30,4 dBA so với tiêu chuẩn của Bộ Y tế. Tỉ lệ giảm thính lực ở người lao động trong các khu vực sản xuất trực tiếp chiếm 39%, giảm thính lực ở bộ đội có đặc điểm là giảm tần số cao, thuộc dạng điếc tiếp âm đối xứng phù hợp với giảm thính lực do tiếp xúc với tiếng ồn. Tỷ lệ giảm thính lực tăng theo tuổi đời. Tuy nhiên, nghiên cứu chưa thấy sự khác biệt giữa giảm thính lực và tuổi nghề ở bộ đội thi công công trình ngầm. Kết luận: Mức độ ô nhiễm tiếng ồn trong công trình ngầm khá cao, có tới 61% mẫu vượt quá TCVSLĐ và vượt quá 1,5-30,4 dBA so với tiêu chuẩn của BYT. Làm việc lâu dài trong môi trường này có thể dẫn tới tình trạng giảm thính lực do tiếp xúc với tiếng ồn là 39% và có mối liên quan giữa tỉ lệ giảm thính lực với tuổi đời.