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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased public interest in e-health literacy, especially among university students. However, gaps remain in their ability to find and use credible online health information. Purpose: This study explores the effects of public health emergencies on e-health literacy among Chinese university students, aiming to identify influencing factors and propose solutions to improve digital health education. Methods: A structured survey using the eHEALS scale and additional questionnaires was administered to 300 students in Northern China. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0, focusing on literacy levels and their determinants. Results: The pandemic heightened interest in e-health, leading to modest improvements in literacy levels. However, challenges persist, including evaluating the credibility of information and addressing privacy concerns. Apps emerged as the most widely used e-health tools. Discussion: Findings highlight the importance of targeted health education programs to bridge gaps in e-health literacy and support students in effectively using digital health tools. The results emphasize integrating privacy safeguards and enhancing user trust in e-health systems. Conclusions: Enhancing e-health literacy can empower students to make informed health decisions, fostering better self-management and resilience during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous vehicles need to continuously analyse the driving context and establish a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic traffic environment. To ensure the safety and efficiency of their operations, it would be beneficial to have accurate predictions of surrounding vehicles’ future trajectories. AVs can adjust their motions proactively to improve road safety and comfort with such information. This paper proposes a novel approach to predict the future trajectories of interacting vehicles, through a model of potential spatial-temporal interactions. A unique kernel function that emphasises risk-awareness was developed to extract spatial dependencies. The established model was trained and evaluated with the publicly available Highway Drone Dataset and Intersection Drone Dataset. The performance of the developed model was assessed with eight state-of-the-art methods. An ablation study and safety analysis were also conducted to evaluate the proposed risk-awareness kernel function. Results show that the proposed model’s inference speed is over eight times faster than the commonly used LSTM-based models. It also achieves an improvement of over 8% in prediction accuracy when compared with the state-of-the-art model.

The collaboration relationship with suppliers is essential for managing supply chain risks strategically. By closely collaborating with suppliers, strategic procurement can enhance global supply chain resilience and adaptability to potential disruptions. Combining risk management with supplier development, the collaboration relationships yield positive results through visibility within a multi-tier supply chain for mitigating risks. For this research, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify the key factors for the successful implementation of the supplier collaboration relationship strategy. The findings emphasize the significant resilience impact triggered by communication, digitalization, risk categorization, flexibility and regionalization. As a result of the supply chain resilience and in correlation with supplier collaboration relationships are: risk awareness, transparency within the supply chain, early supplier involvement in product development and knowledge sharing, forecast and inventory and supplier development procurement.

Purpose: To describe the process of becoming aware of and acting on personal cardiovascular (CVD) risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Method: A purposive sample of 14 persons living with T2D participated in semi-structured, open-ended, in-dept interviews. The interviews were analysed with grounded theory. Result: The analysis identified the core category "Balancing emotions, integrating knowledge and understanding to achieve risk awareness and act on it." Five categories describe the movement from not being aware of the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) to becoming aware of this risk and taking action to reduce it. Persons with T2D need to transform their knowledge and experience of CVD risk and incorporate it in their individual situations. Emotional and existential experiences of CVD risk can lead to awareness about the severity of the condition and contribute to increased motivation for self-management. However, an overly high emotional response can be overwhelming and may result in insufficient self-management. Conclusion: Persons with T2D seemed not to fully grasp their increased risk of CVD or recognize that self-management activities were aimed at reducing this risk. However, their awareness of CVD risk gradually increased as they came to understand the severity of T2D and became more emotionally and existentially engaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Companion animals, such as dogs and cats, support the physical and psychological health of their owners. However, they can also carry pathogens that might be transmittable to humans. This risk is especially relevant for vulnerable groups, including young children, elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, risk communication by veterinarians is essential for raising awareness about associated risks. Our results showed that veterinarian risk communication was perceived well and rated with a high average score, indicating strong satisfaction among pet owners. Despite this positive feedback, there remained a gap between how often veterinarians provided information and the owners' expressed need for further guidance. Thus, enhanced education and training of veterinary practitioners could narrow this gap. Overall, veterinarians play an important role in communicating risks associated with zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance, ultimately helping to improve the health of humans and animals. The intimate bonds between humans and their pets create favourable conditions that support the mutual transmission of pathogens in either direction. In this context, veterinarians are essential in informing and educating pet owners about health risks linked to zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To effectively convey this information, veterinarians should have strong communication skills. To gather insights on pet ownership, veterinary consultations, and risk communication, an online questionnaire was used to survey dog and cat owners in Germany. The survey evaluated the frequency and perception of communication concerning zoonotic pathogens and AMR, deriving a communication score. The findings showed that pet owners rated veterinarian communication with a high average score, reflecting a high satisfaction level. The longer pet owners had been clients, the more frequently they received information on zoonoses and AMR, and the better they rated the communication. However, the results also indicated that the amount of information on zoonoses and/or AMR provided by veterinarians was still lower than desired by pet owners. Risk factors, including pathogen detection, vulnerable individuals, owning imported animals, and feeding them raw meat, fish, offal, or uncooked bones, were regularly present. These findings underscore the critical role of risk communication in preventing zoonoses and AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the association between the location, relative to the coast, of an individual's primary residence and the homeowners' risk tolerance. Utilizing data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study and employing a probit model, we analyzed how varying risk tolerance levels affect the likelihood of owning a home in a coastal ZIP code. The respondent's risk tolerance was classified as high, medium, or low according to their self-reported willingness to take financial risks. Our results suggest that individuals with lower risk tolerances are less likely to own a home within a coastal ZIP code. Specifically, homeowners with medium-risk tolerance are 2.91% less likely, and those with low-risk tolerance are 3.17% less likely to own a primary residence in a coastal ZIP code when compared to those with high-risk tolerance. These results are statistically and economically similar when using a logit model. These findings are both statistically significant and align with economic theory. The analysis also included various demographic and socioeconomic factors, finding that age, income, and certain employment statuses influence coastal homeownership. This research contributes to the understanding of home ownership location choices and risk tolerance. Our results provide policymakers with insights into the risk characteristics of individuals who prefer coastal areas as their primary residences. This information can inform future policy decisions by highlighting the societal and economic implications of regulations related to residential coastal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collaboration relationship with suppliers is essential for managing supply chain risks strategically. By closely collaborating with suppliers, strategic procurement can enhance global supply chain resilience and adaptability to potential disruptions. Combining risk management with supplier development, the collaboration relationships yield positive results through visibility within a multi-tier supply chain for mitigating risks. For this research, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify the key factors for the successful implementation of the supplier collaboration relationship strategy. The findings emphasize the significant resilience impact triggered by communication, digitalization, risk categorization, flexibility and regionalization. As a result of the supply chain resilience and in correlation with supplier collaboration relationships are: risk awareness, transparency within the supply chain, early supplier involvement in product development and knowledge sharing, forecast and inventory and supplier development procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Climate change has made the relationship between disaster and sustainable development more critical. Especially in developing countries, disasters frequently devastate local communities and hinder progress. Children are at a higher risk during catastrophes; however, their knowledge of disaster risk is limited. Education for disaster risk reduction can bring the necessary changes for a safe society. School disaster prevention education can raise awareness through lectures and games, but interactive dialogues between students and teachers can be more effective. Also, GPS tracking can be a valuable tool for understanding people’s behavior during disasters. Methodology This study proposes a method to analyze the relationship between students’ daily behavior and their experiences of flood damage and preparedness for disaster risk. It is a simple method using questionnaires and GPS loggers and can be applied in mountainous areas in developing countries where equipment is inadequate. The proposed method will be used to understand the current state of disaster risk among children and identify disaster risk reduction issues. The study area lies in Paluntar Municipality, Gorkha district, Nepal. Forty-five students from two schools in the region participated in the study. Results The results showed that students who commute to school in areas inundated by heavy rainfall in recent years were not adequately prepared for disasters, even though they had experienced flood damage in the past and were significantly more concerned about future harm. Our field observations and interviews of teacher-student relationships showed that students were very attentive to their teachers’ instruction. Teachers understand the dangers of heavy rainfall and how to prepare for it, but students need to learn how to deal with it. In other words, the school staff’s disaster education to the students effectively reduces disasters. Early warning is needed when severe floods are expected during the rainy season.

The urban areas of Mediterranean Europe, and particularly Italy, have experienced considerable expansion since the late 19th century in terms of settlements, structures, and infrastructure, especially in large population centers. In such areas, the geohydrological risk is high not only for inhabited areas but also along roadways exposed to flooding. This scenario is worrying, especially in road underpass sections, where drivers are unlikely to perceive a real risk due to the high degree of confidence that comes from the habit of driving. Underpasses have been widely used to obviate the need to find shorter alternative routes and manage vehicular traffic in urban settings impeded by previous anthropogenic and natural constraints. To assess the numerical consistency, frequency, and areal distribution of flood risk around road underpasses, several hundred pieces of data were selected (mostly from international, national and local newspapers, CNR IRPI archive and local archives) and cataloged in a thematic database, referring mainly to the Italian territory. The behavioral aspects in the face of risk were also examined in order to provide a better understanding and raise awareness for preventive purposes. The results of this specific CNR research, which lasted about two years, confirm the exposure of underpasses to extreme risk events, affecting road users. In Italy alone, between 1942 and 2023, 698 underpasses were identified as having experienced a flooding event at least once. The database shows that 680 vehicles were involved in Italy, with a total of at least 812 individuals, of whom 19 died. Despite incomplete and uneven information, the findings of the analysis regarding the increment in underpasses flooding and the drivers action in front of a flooded underpass may be useful for undertaking the appropriate mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Exotic animals can carry pathogens that may spread to humans and other animals. When traded and kept as pets, the risk of disease transmission increases as there is a higher potential of close contact and stress involved that can weaken the animals' immune system, making them more likely to shed pathogens. This becomes especially important for households with children younger than five years, elderly and pregnant people or immunocompromised individuals. Thus, this survey investigated how exotic pets are kept, the advice given by veterinarians and how well veterinarians communicate the risks of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. The results showed that owning exotic pets comes with several health risks. However, pet owners generally felt satisfied with their veterinarians' communication, especially when they had consulted a veterinarian for a longer time. Despite this, pet owners expressed a desire for more frequent information on these topics. Therefore, it is important to provide more educational resources. Enhancing education and training for veterinarians, particularly in universities, could improve their communication with pet owners about the risks associated with exotic pets. This study highlights the important role of veterinarians in the prevention of pathogen transmission from animals to humans through targeted risk communication. Exotic animals traded and kept as pets can transmit a variety of diseases to humans and other animals, and vice versa. Therefore, it is essential for pet owners, particularly vulnerable groups, to be informed about associated risks. Veterinarians play a crucial role in informing pet owners about health risks associated with zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and should, therefore, have good communication skills to effectively transfer information to pet owners. Thus, exotic pet owners in Germany were surveyed on animal husbandry, veterinary consultation and risk communication. To evaluate the perception of communication, a self-developed questionnaire was used to derive a communication score. The perception of veterinarian communication received a high average score showing a high level of satisfaction. The duration of the veterinarian–client relationship was associated with better communication perception, and the frequency of communication on zoonoses and AMR was associated with the presence of a permanent veterinarian. However, the results indicated that the frequency of disseminated information on zoonoses and/or AMR from veterinarians was lower than desired by the pet owners. Therefore, more educational material on zoonoses and AMR should be made available, and the awareness concerning risk communication should be increased by further education and training at universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change has made the relationship between disaster and sustainable development more critical. Especially in developing countries, disasters frequently devastate local communities and hinder progress. Children are at a higher risk during catastrophes; however, their knowledge of disaster risk is limited. Education for disaster risk reduction can bring the necessary changes for a safe society. School disaster prevention education can raise awareness through lectures and games, but interactive dialogues between students and teachers can be more effective. Also, GPS tracking can be a valuable tool for understanding people's behavior during disasters. Methodology: This study proposes a method to analyze the relationship between students' daily behavior and their experiences of flood damage and preparedness for disaster risk. It is a simple method using questionnaires and GPS loggers and can be applied in mountainous areas in developing countries where equipment is inadequate. The proposed method will be used to understand the current state of disaster risk among children and identify disaster risk reduction issues. The study area lies in Paluntar Municipality, Gorkha district, Nepal. Forty-five students from two schools in the region participated in the study. Results: The results showed that students who commute to school in areas inundated by heavy rainfall in recent years were not adequately prepared for disasters, even though they had experienced flood damage in the past and were significantly more concerned about future harm. Our field observations and interviews of teacher-student relationships showed that students were very attentive to their teachers' instruction. Teachers understand the dangers of heavy rainfall and how to prepare for it, but students need to learn how to deal with it. In other words, the school staff's disaster education to the students effectively reduces disasters. Early warning is needed when severe floods are expected during the rainy season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim High-altitude mountaineering has become more and more popular, however if female alpinists show different injury pattern is not finally elucidated.Material and methods A retrospective analysis was therefore conducted from the central registry of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) during the observational period from 2009 to 2022 concerning intersex differences of emergencies specific while high-altitude mountaineering.Conclusions A total of 1252 female (22%) and 4347 male (78%) emergencies while high-altitude mountaineering were elucidated. A significant difference was detected in average NACA score as proxy for the severity of an event for falls, where female cases show a significant lower severity with NACA score 3.0 ± 1.5 as compared to male cases with NACA score 3.5 ± 2.0 (p

Abstract Risk governance is a widely used framework in natural and societal risk management research. Risks from natural hazards in urban areas call for the establishment of rigorous and participatory urban risk governance. In this study, we examined participatory risk governance (PRG) of flood risk management (FRM) in Seoul, South Korea. We conducted key informant interviews and implemented a survey with citizens, to explore perceptions of flood risks and risk management, and to examine prospects for improving PRG in Seoul. We found a gap between the perceptions of key informants and citizens. Key informants believed that citizens’ low awareness of flood risks hinders PRG. Yet our research found that citizens’ risk awareness was not low, and risk awareness may not be the main barrier to participation in PRG. Instead, we found that citizens lacked knowledge of FRM actions, and they assigned government bodies a high level of responsibility for FRM, compared to the level of responsibility that citizens assigned to themselves. Moreover, the actors involved in FRM tended not to trust each other, which implies a lack of mutual understanding. To increase the effectiveness of PRG, we suggest a polycentric governance structure anchored by a leading actor group, and active promotion of the participation of actors at multiple levels of governance. Communication between government and citizen participants, designed to foster improved understanding and recognition of one another’s roles and contributions to FRM, will enhance trust and improve the implementation of PRG in Seoul.

Background: Physical exercise helps to mitigate cardiovascular risks in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), but there are limited data in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess cardiovascular risk awareness, exercise practices and metabolic outcomes among Nigerians with diabetes. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at five tertiary hospitals using questionnaire interviews and clinical assessments. Participants’ knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and knowledge of exercise were assessed on 12- and 5-item scores, while exercise practices were classed as adequate if performed regularly on 3 or more days weekly for a total of 150 min or more based on the American Diabetes Association recommendations. Mean body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, serum haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), lipid profile, urea, creatinine and uric acid were then compared among participant groups. Results: We studied 426 participants with DM, 58.7% females. The mean age was 52.9 ± 13.1 years, with males significantly older than females (54.6 ± 12.2 vs. 51.8 ± 13.5 years; 95% confidence interval: 0.27–5.28, P = 0.03). The mean age at diabetes diagnosis was 44.8 ± 11.7 years, and the median duration of diabetes was 84 months. There was low knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and low knowledge of exercise (mean scores of 2.94 and 2.31, respectively). Forty-three per cent of participants reported adequate exercise, which was significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.007), male gender (P = 0.001) and formal education (P = 0.021). Participants with adequate exercise had lower systolic BP and serum urea compared to those with inadequate exercise, but there were no significant differences in BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, serum lipids, creatinine or uric acid. Conclusion: Participants had low knowledge of cardiovascular risks and the appropriate exercise practices for diabetes patients. There is a need for better patient education on diabetes self-care and exercise at clinic visits.

Risk governance is a widely used framework in natural and societal risk management research. Risks from natural hazards in urban areas call for the establishment of rigorous and participatory urban risk governance. In this study, we examined participatory risk governance (PRG) of flood risk management (FRM) in Seoul, South Korea. We conducted key informant interviews and implemented a survey with citizens, to explore perceptions of flood risks and risk management, and to examine prospects for improving PRG in Seoul. We found a gap between the perceptions of key informants and citizens. Key informants believed that citizens' low awareness of flood risks hinders PRG. Yet our research found that citizens' risk awareness was not low, and risk awareness may not be the main barrier to participation in PRG. Instead, we found that citizens lacked knowledge of FRM actions, and they assigned government bodies a high level of responsibility for FRM, compared to the level of responsibility that citizens assigned to themselves. Moreover, the actors involved in FRM tended not to trust each other, which implies a lack of mutual understanding. To increase the effectiveness of PRG, we suggest a polycentric governance structure anchored by a leading actor group, and active promotion of the participation of actors at multiple levels of governance. Communication between government and citizen participants, designed to foster improved understanding and recognition of one another's roles and contributions to FRM, will enhance trust and improve the implementation of PRG in Seoul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical exercise helps to mitigate cardiovascular risks in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), but there are limited data in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess cardiovascular risk awareness, exercise practices and metabolic outcomes among Nigerians with diabetes. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at five tertiary hospitals using questionnaire interviews and clinical assessments. Participants' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and knowledge of exercise were assessed on 12- and 5-item scores, while exercise practices were classed as adequate if performed regularly on 3 or more days weekly for a total of 150 min or more based on the American Diabetes Association recommendations. Mean body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, serum haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), lipid profile, urea, creatinine and uric acid were then compared among participant groups. Results: We studied 426 participants with DM, 58.7% females. The mean age was 52.9 ± 13.1 years, with males significantly older than females (54.6 ± 12.2 vs. 51.8 ± 13.5 years; 95% confidence interval: 0.27--5.28, P = 0.03). The mean age at diabetes diagnosis was 44.8 ± 11.7 years, and the median duration of diabetes was 84 months. There was low knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and low knowledge of exercise (mean scores of 2.94 and 2.31, respectively). Forty-three per cent of participants reported adequate exercise, which was significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.007), male gender (P = 0.001) and formal education (P = 0.021). Participants with adequate exercise had lower systolic BP and serum urea compared to those with inadequate exercise, but there were no significant differences in BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, serum lipids, creatinine or uric acid. Conclusion: Participants had low knowledge of cardiovascular risks and the appropriate exercise practices for diabetes patients. There is a need for better patient education on diabetes self-care and exercise at clinic visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community is the vanguard of urban resilience construction, the vanguard of disaster risk reduction and guiding the priority of work. Community residents are the direct victims and main responders of disaster risks. The smooth implementation of community earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work is an important component of the modern earthquake prevention and disaster reduction governance system. However, there are still many difficulties in carrying out community earthquake prevention and disaster reduction. Based on the current situation of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction in a community in Jiaxing, a system construction framework for community earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work is proposed for the eastern region, so as to prevent earthquake disaster in a planned and prepared manner, and avoid and reduce the harm that earthquake may bring to the community to the greatest extent, help community workers and residents to improve their awareness of the risk of earthquake disaster, cultivate community emergency culture for earthquake disaster, and promote the stability and development of communities under their jurisdiction.

Aim: High-altitude mountaineering has become more and more popular, however if female alpinists show different injury pattern is not finally elucidated. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was therefore conducted from the central registry of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) during the observational period from 2009 to 2022 concerning intersex differences of emergencies specific while high-altitude mountaineering. Conclusions: A total of 1252 female (22%) and 4347 male (78%) emergencies while high-altitude mountaineering were elucidated. A significant difference was detected in average NACA score as proxy for the severity of an event for falls, where female cases show a significant lower severity with NACA score 3.0 ± 1.5 as compared to male cases with NACA score 3.5 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, on average men have more often a fatal event. It might be suggested that men choosing routes in rougher terrain, tend to overestimate their abilities more often and have a higher willingness to take risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales is the property of Fondo Editorial Fundacion Universitaria Luis Amigo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study focuses on improving pre-emptive risk recognition and safety checks to prevent workplace accidents. It underscores improvements by addressing existing research issues, suggesting potential enhancements through system development. Work approval procedures and workers' prior risk awareness, through the confirmation of work safety standards in physically separated work areas, are fundamental methods of preventing serious accidents and creating a safe work environment. A key factor concerning worker safety is recognizing the potential accident risk factors (or hazards) in advance through practical job hazard analysis and consequently take risk-reduction measures in case the safety standards are not met. Despite the crucial significance of pre-awareness of work risks at the majority of construction sites, tools to enhance this awareness are currently limited. Furthermore, real-time detection of work risks and the implementation of risk reduction measures are contingent upon a monitoring environment and a robust safety culture. This study proposed construction worker location-tracking technology that recognizes personal identification (ID). A safety check system based on location tracking combining personal quick response code (QR code) recognition and computer vision technology to automatically identify workers' personal identities and track their physical location was proposed. A real-time safety check system was implemented to classify automatically whether workers have confirmed hazards and to approve a work process in high-risk workplaces by supervisors. Location-tracking technology with ID recognition performed the following two safety management functions. First, if a construction worker does not pre-check the work risk information before entering the work zone, the geofencing technology automatically classifies workers as those who are not aware of job hazards. Secondly, the safety manager or supervisor entering the on-site work zone possesses the authority to halt work if the work environment fails to meet safety standards and can issue warnings regarding risky situations. Essential functions were validated through a case study involving preliminary testing within the development system. To assess the practical application of the system, virtual simulations were conducted using recorded videos from a construction site to replicate the two essential functions of the system. The system was constructed using an Apache server and Python code, and for testing purposes, the names of the workers were randomized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban areas of Mediterranean Europe, and particularly Italy, have experienced considerable expansion since the late 19th century in terms of settlements, structures, and infrastructure, especially in large population centers. In such areas, the geohydrological risk is high not only for inhabited areas but also along roadways exposed to flooding. This scenario is worrying, especially in road underpass sections, where drivers are unlikely to perceive a real risk due to the high degree of confidence that comes from the habit of driving. Underpasses have been widely used to obviate the need to find shorter alternative routes and manage vehicular traffic in urban settings impeded by previous anthropogenic and natural constraints. To assess the numerical consistency, frequency, and areal distribution of flood risk around road underpasses, several hundred pieces of data were selected (mostly from international, national and local newspapers, CNR IRPI archive and local archives) and cataloged in a thematic database, referring mainly to the Italian territory. The behavioral aspects in the face of risk were also examined in order to provide a better understanding and raise awareness for preventive purposes. The results of this specific CNR research, which lasted about two years, confirm the exposure of underpasses to extreme risk events, affecting road users. In Italy alone, between 1942 and 2023, 698 underpasses were identified as having experienced a flooding event at least once. The database shows that 680 vehicles were involved in Italy, with a total of at least 812 individuals, of whom 19 died. Despite incomplete and uneven information, the findings of the analysis regarding the increment in underpasses flooding and the drivers action in front of a flooded underpass may be useful for undertaking the appropriate mitigation strategies.

Copyright of Progress in Earthquake Sciences is the property of China Earthquake Administration, Institute of Geophysics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: we aim to investigate attitudes toward vaccination by analyzing empirical factors associated with vaccine acceptance in the Lazio region mpox vaccination (MpoxVax) campaign in Italy. Methods: all subjects who accessed MpoxVax and signed the informed consent were prospectively enrolled in the MPOX-VAC Study and were asked to fill out an anonymous survey. Two endpoints were selected: 'delayed acceptance' and 'early acceptance', defined as access for vaccination >60 and ≤30 days from the vaccination campaign starting (VCS), respectively. Results: over the study period, 1717 individuals underwent vaccination: 129 (7%) > 60 [1588 (92.5%) ≤ 60] and 676 (60%) ≤ 30 days from VCS. A bisexual orientation, a lower education level and a worse perceived physical and mental health were associated with delayed access to vaccination. Being pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users and, marginally, HIV positive; having a high perceived risk for mpox infection; and reporting high-risk behaviors like the use of recreational drugs/chems, sex under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and having a higher number of principal sexual partners, were associated with early access to vaccination. Conclusions: according to our data, risk awareness was a major determinant of early MpoxVax acceptance. Conversely, worse perceived health status and a low educational level were critical factors associated with delayed vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an AC stochastic optimal power flow (SOPF) for the flexibility management of electric vehicle (EV) charging pools in distribution networks under uncertainty. The AC SOPF considers discrete utility functions from charging pools as a compensation mechanism for eventual energy not served to their charging tasks. An application of the AC SOPF is described where a distribution system operator (DSO) requires flexibility to each charging pool in a day-ahead time frame, minimizing the cost for flexibility while guaranteeing technical limits. Flexibility areas are defined for each charging pool and calculated as a function of a risk parameter involving the uncertainty of the solution. Results show that all players can benefit from this approach, i. e., the DSO obtains a risk-aware solution, while charging pools/tasks perceive a reduction in the total energy payment due to flexibility services.

AbstractWater safety programs to protect children from water-related accidents and increase their awareness of the risk factor crucial to maintaining safety. This study examined the behavior of 48 junior high school students after an intervention program on water safety in a river using the Rohrmann’s Risk Communication Model and the Analysis, Design, Development, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to collect responses about the children’s perception of danger at three-time points: pre-post-post (5 months) after the program’s implementation. We hypothesized that water safety education can increase children’s awareness of appropriate behavior around water and raise their awareness of danger. The evaluation indicators consisted of an increase in the awareness of the water area risk perception, general risk acceptance, and risk-taking behavior. The results suggest that practical water safety program may have a positive effect on the students’ awareness of water safety and help prevent water accidents. This study is unique in that it was conducted in a natural body of water.

Simple Summary: Histomonosis has become a serious disease not only for turkeys but for the entire poultry sector. Despite a focus on research on histomonosis over recent years, possible disease-favouring conditions are still poorly understood. For this reason, an interview-based case series study was initiated on 31 affected turkey farms in Germany. Despite a generally good risk awareness among participating farmers for disease-favouring conditions, an insufficient attitude towards certain biosecurity aspects was detected. Furthermore, hypotheses concerning various possibilities of pathogen introduction via animate or inanimate vectors could be generated, which need to be tested in follow-up studies. Overall, this study demonstrates that improvements in biosecurity, flock, and health management are necessary to ensure animal welfare in the future. Since the ban of effective feed additives and therapeutics, histomonosis has become an important disease and, subsequently, a welfare issue for turkey production. We conducted an interview-based case series study to generate hypotheses about possible disease-favouring conditions in 31 H. meleagridis-infected flocks. The determined parameters were related to the general farm (flock management, biosecurity measures, etc.) as well as the histomonosis-specific disease management. Some inadequate biosecurity measures were observed. An inappropriate usage of the hygiene lock and cleaning as well as the disinfection frequency of equipment, clothes, and the hygiene lock could possibly be histomonosis-favouring conditions. These factors could increase the risk for the introduction of H. meleagridis and the risk of a pathogen spread on an affected farm. Insects, wild birds, litter materials, and contaminated dung could be potential vectors of H. meleagridis. Predisposing gastrointestinal diseases were observed in 71% of the affected flocks. Additionally, stress events related to higher temperature, movement of birds, and vaccination were documented in association with clinical histomonosis. The results emphasise the need for both good disease control and health management to ensure sustainable animal health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual enhancement supplements (SESs) that have illegal additions of pharmaceuticals or analogues pose a significant health risk, particularly with long-term usage. When supplements are adulterated with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, dosages can vary widely and there may be an increase in adverse effects and drug–drug interactions which cannot be avoided. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the public risk awareness toward SES and the associated adverse events as well as explore significant factors associated with knowledge and risk awareness. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among University male students and staff at Ajman University, United Arab Emirates (UAE), using a self-administered survey via a web-based electronic link to explore key issues. A total of 1,101 male subjects participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. Four hundred and thirty-three(39.3%) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.2–44.5) participants reported using SES products. Of these, 137 (31.6%) [95% CI: 28.6–37.2] experienced adverse effects from SES product use. SES use was more prevalent among participants aged 60 to 69 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.63–5.28), diabetic patients (OR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.75–3.90), hypertension patients (OR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.45–3.1), and those overweight or obese (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.44–2.35). This study indicates that SES is a popular practice among the UAE university staff and students. However, there is a need to implement risk awareness programs to raise public awareness regarding SES use and safety. Regulatory bodies are encouraged to provide additional advice on the proper use and possible risks of consuming SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was hit by one of the largest seismic disasters known to date. At the time, the culture and perception of seismic risk was low among the population and--because of the lack of seismic sensors in Haiti--so was seismological knowledge. In a citizen seismology approach, the S2RHAI project used low-cost seismic sensors (Raspberry Shake) to (1) complement the national seismic network and (2) to improve risk perception, preparedness, and scientific knowledge of the population. Through these objectives, we introduce a paradigm shift in which seismic networks are not only composed of sensors, but also of citizens who gather around these tools and the information they produce. We present here the results of a qualitative survey of 15 Raspberry Shake (RS) seismometer hosts in Haiti. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to learn about users' experience to assess their motivations, difficulties, and expectations in this citizen seismology process. We found that RS hosts expressed pride and interest in being part of the RS network and actively contributing to risk reduction in their community. Some of them reported a form of empowerment in that they could compensate for the deficiency of the state, which they generally distrust. However, the RS hosts also expressed the need for more technical and scientific support from scientists. Also, few of them engaged in mediation activities or discussions with their community members, partly because they feared that this would awaken the trauma caused by the earthquake of 12 January, 2010. This allowed us to list concrete actions to (1) improve the seismic information system, (2) better integrate the volunteers into the network, (3) enrich the collaboration between citizens and seismologists, and (4) accompany them in their role as ambassadors to their community. We conclude that understanding the motivations, obstacles, and expectations of volunteers is essential to increase the chances of sustainability of this citizen seismology project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computation offloading has effectively solved the problem of terminal devices computing resources limitation in hospitals by shifting the medical image diagnosis task to the edge servers for execution. Appropriate offloading strategies for diagnostic tasks are essential. However, the risk awareness of each user and the multiple expenses associated with processing tasks have been ignored in prior works. In this article, a multi-user multi-objective computation offloading for medical image diagnosis is proposed. First, the prospect theoretic utility function of each user is designed considering the delay, energy consumption, payment, and risk awareness. Second, the computation offloading problem including the above factors is defined as a distributed optimization problem, which with the goal of maximizing the utility of each user. The distributed optimization problem is then transformed into a non-cooperative game among the users. The exact potential game proves that the non-cooperative game has Nash equilibrium points. A low-complexity computation offloading algorithm based on best response dynamics finally is proposed. Detailed numerical experiments demonstrate the impact of different parameters and convergence in the algorithm on the utility function. The result shows that, compare with four benchmarks and four heuristic algorithms, the proposed algorithm in this article ensures a faster convergence speed and achieves only a 1.14% decrease in the utility value as the number of users increases.

This study aims to investigate and discuss the factors that influence buyers’ and investors’ decision in buying and investing in property in hill land areas. A sequential mixed methods approach, which involved extensive literature review, questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview was used. Literature review to identify influencing factors was followed by a questionnaire survey. A total of 373 valid questionnaires were analysed. Ten (10) semi-structured interviews were performed thereafter to clarify and validate the survey findings. The study found that only a slight majority were aware of the risk of landslide owing largely to the fact that, not every neighborhood had experienced landslide incidents. Understanding on the relationship between factors that influencing buyers/investors to acquire property in hillside area and provides useful insights that that the combination of influencing factors and a vibrant residential property market relatively outweighs the risks associated with landslide occurrence in the study area.

This study focuses on improving pre-emptive risk recognition and safety checks to prevent workplace accidents. It underscores improvements by addressing existing research issues, suggesting potential enhancements through system development. Work approval procedures and workers’ prior risk awareness, through the confirmation of work safety standards in physically separated work areas, are fundamental methods of preventing serious accidents and creating a safe work environment. A key factor concerning worker safety is recognizing the potential accident risk factors (or hazards) in advance through practical job hazard analysis and consequently take risk-reduction measures in case the safety standards are not met. Despite the crucial significance of pre-awareness of work risks at the majority of construction sites, tools to enhance this awareness are currently limited. Furthermore, real-time detection of work risks and the implementation of risk reduction measures are contingent upon a monitoring environment and a robust safety culture. This study proposed construction worker location-tracking technology that recognizes personal identification (ID). A safety check system based on location tracking combining personal quick response code (QR code) recognition and computer vision technology to automatically identify workers’ personal identities and track their physical location was proposed. A real-time safety check system was implemented to classify automatically whether workers have confirmed hazards and to approve a work process in high-risk workplaces by supervisors. Location-tracking technology with ID recognition performed the following two safety management functions. First, if a construction worker does not pre-check the work risk information before entering the work zone, the geofencing technology automatically classifies workers as those who are not aware of job hazards. Secondly, the safety manager or supervisor entering the on-site work zone possesses the authority to halt work if the work environment fails to meet safety standards and can issue warnings regarding risky situations. Essential functions were validated through a case study involving preliminary testing within the development system. To assess the practical application of the system, virtual simulations were conducted using recorded videos from a construction site to replicate the two essential functions of the system. The system was constructed using an Apache server and Python code, and for testing purposes, the names of the workers were randomized.

Background: we aim to investigate attitudes toward vaccination by analyzing empirical factors associated with vaccine acceptance in the Lazio region mpox vaccination (MpoxVax) campaign in Italy. Methods: all subjects who accessed MpoxVax and signed the informed consent were prospectively enrolled in the MPOX-VAC Study and were asked to fill out an anonymous survey. Two endpoints were selected: ‘delayed acceptance’ and ‘early acceptance’, defined as access for vaccination >60 and ≤30 days from the vaccination campaign starting (VCS), respectively. Results: over the study period, 1717 individuals underwent vaccination: 129 (7%) > 60 [1588 (92.5%) ≤ 60] and 676 (60%) ≤ 30 days from VCS. A bisexual orientation, a lower education level and a worse perceived physical and mental health were associated with delayed access to vaccination. Being pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users and, marginally, HIV positive; having a high perceived risk for mpox infection; and reporting high-risk behaviors like the use of recreational drugs/chems, sex under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and having a higher number of principal sexual partners, were associated with early access to vaccination. Conclusions: according to our data, risk awareness was a major determinant of early MpoxVax acceptance. Conversely, worse perceived health status and a low educational level were critical factors associated with delayed vaccination.

This paper aims to identify risk awareness through factors that influence the intention to buy people's life insurance in Daklak province of Vietnam and provide implications for life insurance companies. The data resources were conducted from the survey of 250 people in Daklak Province and applied the ordinal logit model for the analysis. Remarkably, as we conducted the study during the COVID-19 pandemic period, a dummy variable of COVID-19 was included in the analysis. The results of this research have some similarities and differences with other studies. As with the references, saving motivation was the most crucial factor affecting the dependent variable. Saving motivation, financial literacy, brand name, and risk awareness have a positive impact. While age and gender were differences that have a negative effect on the intention to buy life insurance, which means that young people and women have more intention to purchase life insurance than younger men. The four factors consisting of financial literacy, brand name, risk awareness, and gender were considered the second most important factors. COVID-19 and attitude were the third critical effect on the intention to purchase life insurance. Income was the less important factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Self-tracking with wearable devices and mobile applications is a popular practice that relies on automated data collection and algorithm-driven analytics. Initially designed as a tool for personal use, a variety of public and corporate actors such as commercial organizations and insurance companies now make use of self-tracking data. Associated social risks such as privacy violations or measurement inaccuracies have been theoretically derived, although empirical evidence remains sparse. This article conceptualizes self-tracking as algorithmic-selection applications and empirically examines users’ risk awareness related to self-tracking applications as well as coping strategies as an option to deal with these risks. It draws on representative survey data collected in Switzerland. The results reveal that Swiss self-trackers’ awareness of risks related to the applications they use is generally low and only a small number of those who self-track apply coping strategies. We further find only a weak association between risk awareness and the application of coping strategies. This points to a cost-benefit calculation when deciding how to respond to perceived risks, a behavior explained as a privacy calculus in extant literature. The widespread willingness to pass on personal data to insurance companies despite associated risks provides further evidence for this interpretation. The conclusions—made even more pertinent by the potential of wearables’ track-and-trace systems and state-level health provision—raise questions about technical safeguarding, data and health literacies, and governance mechanisms that might be necessary considering the further popularization of self-tracking for health.

1,500 respondents took part in an Internet survey conducted in autumn 2020 in the Russian Federation. The survey was a part of the Radon Cross-Cultural Multilingual Public Opinion Survey (STEAM project) in the framework of the IAEA technical cooperation project RER9153. The survey was representative for the population of the country as per sex, age, and a region of residence. Random sampling error didn’t exceed 2.5 % for 95 % confidence interval. All respondents were given some information on radon that was as similar as possible in questionnaires published in languages spoken in all 22 countries that took part in the STEAM project; it was done in order to provide an opportunity to make further cross-country comparison of the survey results. The objective of the survey was to investigate what attitudes people had towards their health and towards radon as a possible health risk factor. The survey revealed that in the Russian Federation people were rather poorly aware about radon. Only 31.7 % respondents stated that they were to a greater or lesser extent informed about radon. The level of knowledge about radon as a health risk factor was at a comparable level. For the majority of respondents, information about radon received from Rospotrebnadzor and its subordinate research institute formed the perception of radon as a risk factor that requires actions to mitigate its impact on health. Medical specialists turned out to be the most trustworthy source of information about health risks, first of all, family doctors and physicians in polyclinics; people also trusted medical prevention centers, Rospotrebnadzor, regional and local public health care authorities. Results of the presented survey that was the first social survey focusing on the radon problem and conducted throughout the country can be used as a basis for planning communication strategies within the framework of both national and regional radon programs.

Luanda Bay and Mussulo Lagoon, situated in Luanda (Angola), are two coastal ecosystems highly sensitive to environmental issues, such as climate change, water pollution, eutrophication, and harmful algal blooms. These environmental problems can severely affect the quality of life of coastal populations. In this study, we aim to evaluate several psychological variables, such as environmental risk perception and awareness, sense of place, environmental attitudes, and the overall quality of life of the coastal community in these areas, using a comprehensive questionnaire applied to residents and other ecosystem users. Results indicate that most respondents considered that they possess high knowledge about climate change, water pollution, and ingestion of contaminated seafood. However, regarding eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, most participants reported a low/moderate knowledge. Life experience and the media were reported as the most relevant sources of information on environmental problems. Respondents indicated a moderate risk perception towards environmental risks, and a moderate/high emotional attachment to the place. Residents’ perceived quality of life was moderate/good in terms of physical and psychological health, and social relationships, but the environmental component was perceived as weak. Results suggest that improvements in the natural environment are needed to increase the quality of life in these ecosystems.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic had been hitting throughout the world since early 2020. Indonesia faces severe impacts, including the deaths of millions of people and vast virus transmission through a bad waste management system. Since the government applied lockdown in many regions, household waste increases and led to various problems. This research aims to explain household waste management intention during Covid-19, especially in a metropolitan city like Jakarta. This research adopts the Theory of Planned Behavior and examines the impacts of pandemic awareness, knowledge, and religion. Participants were involved in this study are 314 respondents. Questionnaires were gathered through emails, messenger applications, and social media. We use Structural Equation Modelling, particularly Confirmatory Factor Analysis, to analyze data and utilize LISREL 8.80. Results show that household waste management behavior can be encouraged through intention and pandemic risk awareness. Meanwhile, perceived behavioral control and household expenditures have to impact to intention to manage household waste. Moreover, government support also plays an important role in enhancing the intention of managing household waste. Therefore, social media and religious activities can be used to raise the level of risk awareness.

Active distribution grids cause bi-directional power flow between transmission system (TS) and distribution system (DS), which not only affects the optimal cost but also the secure operation of the power system. This paper proposes a hybrid coordination method to solve the risk-aware distributed optimal power flow (RA-DOPF) problem in coordinated TS and DS. For operation risk evaluation, the weather-based contingencies are considered in both TS and DS. A hybrid coordination method is developed that entails analytical target cascading (ATC) and Benders decomposition (BD). Moreover, the risk-aware optimal power flow (RAOPF) in TS and risk-based security-constrained optimal power flow in DS have been performed using the BD method considering basic optimal power flow as a master problem, whereas $N-1$ and $N-2$ contingencies are considered as sub-problems. Different case studies are performed using the IEEE 30-bus system with generation reserves as a TS and a 13-bus system as a DS. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.

Ercan Celikkayalar,1 Marja Airaksinen,1 Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä,1,2 Jenni Nieminen,1 Jenni Kleme,1 Juha Puustinen1,3,4 1Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; 2Unit of Family Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; 3Social Security Center of Pori, Pori, Finland; 4Unit of Neurology, Satasairaala Central Hospital, Pori, FinlandCorrespondence: Ercan Celikkayalar Email eacelikkayalar@gmail.comPurpose: The use of benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZD) is common among older adults although there is growing evidence of their harmful effects. This study investigated how well older people are aware of the potential risks related to the BZD they are taking and whether the risk awareness has changed in the years between 2004 and 2015.Patients and Methods: The data were collected by interviewing BZD using home-dwelling patients aged ≥ 65 years with normal cognitive function (MMSE ≥ 20) who were admitted to the hospital within a 1 month study period in the years 2004 and 2015. Patients were asked whether they were aware of the ten main potential risks related to BZD use. A risk awareness score (range 0– 10) was assessed for each patient, each known potential risk yielding one point.Results: The study included 37 patients in 2004 and 31 patients in 2015. In 2004, 6/37 patients (16%), while 16/31 patients (52%) in 2015 had risk awareness scores between 6 and 10. Awareness of dependence (p=0.047), interaction with alcohol (p=0.001), dizziness (p=0.002) and developing tolerance (p=0.002) had improved, while awareness of the other potential risks remained unchanged, muscle weakness being the least known (3/37 in 2004 and 4/31 in 2015 were aware of it as a potential risk). Regular BZD use had declined (p=0.043) but pro re nata (PRN; when required) BZD use had increased (p=0.003) between the years 2004 and 2015.Conclusion: Older BZD users’ awareness of some potential risks related to BZD use (dependence, interaction with alcohol, dizziness and developing tolerance) had improved between 2004 and 2015, while awareness of other potential risks remained unchanged.Keywords: benzodiazepines, risk awareness, potentially inappropriate medications, insomnia, aged, interview

A bicycle-sharing system (BSS) has been implemented in Seoul, South Korea to promote green transportation policy as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to mitigate climate change, reduce traffic jams, and promote physical activity. However, the concentration of air pollutants in Seoul often exceeds the standards of the World Health Organization, thereby creating a conflict with SDG 3 (Health). Therefore, it is important to recognize the trade-offs between actions targeted at SDGs as they might offset each other. In this context, a primary concern is investigating how the behavior of BSS users regarding outdoor air pollution appears. This study explores the relationship between ambient air pollution and the behavior of BSS riders in Seoul. We conducted a time-series analysis of associations between particulate air pollution and participation in the BSS. We used generalized additive models, adjusted for mean temperature, humidity, rainfall, day of the week, long-term trends, and seasonality to construct an exposure–response relationship. We observed a nonlinear relationship between increasing air pollution and bicycle ridership. This study method can be used as a basis for similar analyses to investigate BSS policies in other cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundOutdoor workers can be exposed to relatively high levels of ultraviolet radiation and are at risk of developing occupational skin cancer. Implementing the use of sun protection in outdoor workers at work is therefore important. The objective of this follow-up study was to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention to improve the use of sun protection in Danish outdoor workers.MethodA total of 237 Danish outdoor workers were asked to complete surveys in 2016/17 and in 2020. Multicomponent interventions, between surveys, included information on skin cancer risk and use of sun protection, personal dosimetry and skin examination for signs of photodamage and skin cancer. Survey items on awareness of occupational skin cancer risk and perceived importance of sun protection as well as availability and use of sun protection at work were compared and analyzed in relation to the multicomponent intervention.ResultsOverall, the use of sun protection at work increased significantly (composite score [95% CI] 4.0 [3.7, 4.3] in 2016/17 and 4.6 [4.3, 4.9] in 2020, p < 0.001). Sunscreen was by far the biggest contributor, and the only type of sun protection used at work, which changed significantly (often/always use 37% in 2016/17 and 52% in 2020, p < 0.001). The biggest influence on the increased use of sun protection at work seemed to be a significant increase in the awareness of occupational skin cancer risk (moderate/high 43% in 2016/17 and 63% in 2020, p < 0.001) and perceived importance of sun protection at work (moderate/high 69% in 2016/17 and 83% in 2020, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that awareness of occupational skin cancer risk as well as the perceived importance and use of sun protection at work in Danish outdoor workers may be improved by means of multicomponent intervention.