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Critical structures such as hospitals, high-precision manufacturing facilities, telecommunications centers, and fire stations, especially, need to maintain their functionality even during severe earthquakes. In this sense, seismic isolation technology serves as a vital design method for preserving their functionality. Seismic isolators, also known as earthquake isolation systems, are used to reduce the effects of earthquakes on buildings by isolating them from the ground they are located on. By ensuring that less acceleration and force demand is transmitted to the superstructure, both the building and the equipment and the devices in the building are prevented from being damaged by earthquakes. This experimental study aims to conduct vibration tests on a small-scale multi-story steel-building model equipped with a specially designed rolling-type seismic base isolation system. The relationship between the test model and the prototype was achieved by frequency simulation. The tests will be performed on a shake table under six different earthquake accelerations to examine the model's dynamic behavior. The primary goal is to evaluate the isolation performance of the rolling-type seismic base isolator under seismic loads, with a focus on recording the vibrations at the top of the test building. It has been observed that the isolator placed at the base of the building significantly reduced the peak acceleration and displacement values of the floor motion. Under the most severe earthquake record applied to the shake table, the acceleration at the top of the building with the isolator was found to be reduced by approximately 50%, compared to the non-isolated case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Firefighters can be exposed to complex mixtures of airborne substances, including hazardous substances released during structural fires. This study employed silicone wristbands (SWBs) as passive samplers to investigate potential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and flame retardants (FRs). SWBs were deployed at different areas of four fire stations, in four truck cabins, and at an office control location; they were also donned outside the jackets of 18 firefighters who responded to fire calls. Overall, office areas had significantly lower PAHs than fire station areas. Vehicle bays and truck cabins had significantly higher concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs than sleeping and living room areas. For organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) were detected in all the samples; 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) was more frequently detected in the fire station areas. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) concentrations were highest in the truck cabin and office areas, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP) was highest in truck cabins. Thirteen of 16 PAHs and nine of 36 OPFRs were detected in all the SWBs worn by firefighters, and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) was the predominant OPFR. Levels of LMW PAHs were significantly lower when firefighters did not enter the fire. LMW PAHs, HMW (high molecular weight) PAHs, and EHDPP were significantly elevated when heavy smoke was reported. This work highlights the potential for occupational exposure to PAHs and flame retardants in some fire station areas; moreover, factors that may influence exposure during fire suppression. Whilst firefighters' occupational exposure to PAHs is likely related to fire suppression and exposure to contaminated gear and trucks, exposure to OPFRs may be more related to their presence in truck interiors and electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nine different types of essential facilities in the state of Iowa (such as hospitals, fire stations, schools, etc.) were analyzed on a county level in terms of flood depth, functionality and restoration time after flooding, and damage sustained during flooding. These essential facilities were also analyzed on the state level in terms of their location relative to the 100 y and 500 y flood zones. Results show that the number of essential facilities within the flood extent reached up to 39%, and during the 100 y flood scenario all but one of the six chosen counties lost functionality of 100% of their facilities. Most essential facilities were found to have a flood depth of 1 to 4 ft deep and a restoration time of 480 days. The purpose of this study is to bring awareness to decisionmakers regarding the risk that flooding events pose to essential facilities and to highlight the increasing dangers of flooding on a broader scale. This study will be beneficial to improve mitigation strategies, emergency response plans, and ensuring that emergency services and facilities are available in the event of future floods for the affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing population density would increase the demand for urban facilities. One of the most important kinds of these facilities is fire stations, whose duties include securing, preventing, and fighting fire. One of the most important problems with fire stations could be their inappropriate distribution and, therefore, the limitation of their service area. So, optimal site selection of fire stations is considered the main problem in this study. The goal of our study is to do site selection in Tehran, the capital of Iran, by considering seven criteria: farness from existing fire stations, closeness to main roads, closeness to high population density places, closeness to gas and fuel stations, closeness to historical, cultural and recreational sites (cinemas and museums), closeness to green spaces and closeness to evacuation places. These criteria maps were fuzzified with the help of a linear membership function. Then, they were overlaid with the Gamma fuzzy operation. Then the 5-minute service area of each station was computed and excluded from the decision space, and the places with high scores were determined as the best places to locate new fire stations. These places are located in five of Tehran's regions. These regions are 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine and compare the mass concentration and size distribution of particulate matter (PM) at two Polish fire stations, one equipped with a washing machine intended for the decontamination of uniforms (FSN) and the other not equipped with this type of device (FSC), to assess the effectiveness of washing machines in reducing PM concentrations inside fire stations and estimate PM doses inhaled by firefighters while performing activities in truck bays and changing rooms during one work shift. The average PM concentrations at the FSN were 18.2–28.9 µg/m3 and 27.5–37.3 µg/m3, while at FSC they were 27.4–37.9 µg/m3 and 24.6–32.8 µg/m3 in the truck bays and changing rooms, respectively. At each measurement point, most of the PM mass (65–75%) was accumulated as fine particles. The dominance of fine particles in the total mass of PM results in high values of PM deposition coefficients (0.59–0.61) in three sections of the respiratory tract at each monitoring site. This study initially indicates the effectiveness of washing machines in reducing the concentration of fine particles and demonstrates the necessity, as well as directions for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The local metric basis and local metric generator can play a significant role in deciding optimal locations for many facilities like hospitals, fire stations, medical labs, and grocery stores. The local metric basis generates codes in terms of distance for each node of the graph in such a way that no two adjacent nodes have the same code, which allows for the optimal allocation of resources. In the current manuscript, the local metric basis (LMB) for three families of graphs, P (n , 1) , P (n , 2) , and P (n , 3) , which are generalized Petersen graphs and commonly employed in interconnection networks, are determined. The manuscript also proposes an algorithm to compute the local metric basis and its application in the optimal placement of different facilities in a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1960s, conservationist Aldo Leopold noted: "One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds." Decades later, activist Greta Thunberg interpellated world leaders: "I want you to act as if our house were on fire. Because it is." Together, these quotes capture two central features of environmental activism. First, despite growing public concern, environmental loss—including more-than-human deaths, species extinctions, devastated ecosystems—is grieved only by environmental scientists, activists, and witnesses. Second, they highlight the temporal gulf separating those who despair at mounting environmental degradation, and those who, trapped in a "business-as-usual" temporality, remain indifferent. While the environmental humanities and eco-psychology have analysed these phenomena, political theorists are lagging behind. This paper addresses this gap by bringing theories of representation and chronopolitics to bear on a flurry of recently published memoirs chronicling activists' emotional and temporal alienation. I read these as self-authorized representative claims aiming, first, to summon the already-grieving into a self-aware constituency and second, to bridge what P.J. Brendese has termed the "segregated temporalities" of hegemonic and environmentalists' time. I argue that these texts illuminate a key aspect of representation in the context of environmental crisis: that it can be primarily understood as grounded in a chronopolitical conflict over competing understandings of time. As concrete illustrations, I examine Daniel Sherrell's Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World and Danielle Celermajer's Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Emergency responders, including firefighters are frequently exposed to life-threatening situations in their daily lives causing an increased risk for occupational stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, and correlation of PTSS with stress, anxiety, and depression among Malaysian firefighters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among firefighters stationed in 20 fire and rescue stations in Penang, Malaysia using self-administered online survey through a purposive sampling. Information collected were sociodemographic data, measurement of severity of PTSS via Post -Traumatic Checklist-5 (PCL-5), and assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress via Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). A descriptive analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient analyses were employed in study analysis. RESULTS: Out of 562 firefighters participated in the study, the prevalence of PTSS, stress, anxiety, and depression was 5.0%, 2.1%, 13.0%, and 8.5%, respectively. Among those with PTSS, 28.6%, 78.6%, and 67.9% suffered from stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Hence, anxiety was highly coexisted with PTSS. There was significant positive correlation between PTSS score and the score of stress (r=0.656, P< 0.001), anxiety (r=0.699, P< 0.001), and depression (r=0.700, P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggested that stress, anxiety, and depression can co-occur with PTSS. Hence, firefighters should have regular mental health assessments as the concurrent effect of multiple medical conditions may require comprehensive treatment to address the various aspects of each condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies in management and leadership indicate that one's decision-making style is reflective of one's leadership style. In the context of civil protection and the fire service, the ability of the fire officers to adopt the best style of decision-making and leadership in each situation represents a critical factor of success. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the relationship between decision-making and the leadership style of fire officers. For this study, a quantitative method was used, with the application of questionnaires with closed questions. A sample of 346 officers of Portuguese fire stations answered the questionnaire. Correlations between styles are consistent with findings from other studies. Decision-making styles directly influence the leadership styles adopted. Fire officers prioritize people and social concerns, involving teams in decision-making. Research shows positive correlations between participants' roles, conceptual decision-making, and relation-focused leadership. Higher academic degrees are associated with relationship-focused leadership. Behavioral decision-making mediates the impact of education on leadership styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the densely populated Kathmandu Metropolitan City, inadequate fire service coverage poses a significant fire risk. With the demand for fire services increasing due to rapid growth in population and infrastructure development, the limited number of fire stations, insufficient human and physical resources, poor street connectivity, narrow streets, and delays in response to calls for emergency services have resulted in significant property loss, environmental impact, serious injuries, and even loss of life. Although a substantial body of research exists on understanding fire patterns and fire station site selection in developed countries, there is a noticeable lack of similar research in developing countries, which can be attributed to a lack of available data and interest. This study utilises ward-level urban fire incident data in Kathmandu from July 2019 to February 2023 to examine the spatial pattern of fire risk, fire service coverage and identify potential sites for fire stations. Results reveal a significantly higher fire rate in the central part of the city. Fire rescue service cannot reach most areas in Kathmandu within 5 min, with some areas exceeding 10 min response time. The findings from this study will enable fire agencies to enhance the operational efficiency of emergency response and help develop policies and programs related to fire risk prevention and mitigation. This includes targeted education and awareness campaigns and the allocation of finite fire service resources, such as the strategic placement of fire stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Little is known about how mass gatherings affect emergency response intervals. Previous research suggests that college football games increase ambulance transport intervals, but their impact on emergency response intervals is unexplored. This study examines how collegiate home football games in College Station, Texas (USA) affect emergency vehicle response intervals. Methods: The study determined the impact of collegiate football games on emergency response intervals using incident data provided by the College Station Fire Department (CSFD). Home games during the 2021-2023 Texas A&M University (TAMU) football seasons were the period of interest. Responses for a 72-hour period (Friday-Sunday) on home game weekends (HGWs) and non-home game weekends (NHGWs) were included (n = 5,095). Results: Response intervals on football HGWs were an average of 30 seconds faster than on NHGWs. Emergency vehicles were 16.5% less likely to respond from fire station locations on HGWs compared to NHGWs. There was also a 12.1% increase in the number of calls to campus locations and a 9.7% increase in calls to the local entertainment district on HGWs compared to NHGWs. Conclusions: Home collegiate football games do not delay response intervals for emergency response vehicles. Further research is needed to determine if these findings can be reproduced in other communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article, "Red and Wolfe," recounts the tale of Red, a witch, and Wolfe, a wolf, who live in seclusion in a cabin in the woods. When their neighbors, Hans and Gretel, purchase the gingerbread house and plan to construct a condominium complex, Red recognizes their magical abilities and hopes they can help fix the damage caused by Wolfe. However, Wolfe overhears a conversation among The Pigs, real estate developers, discussing the murder of a witch, leading him to suspect Red. He flees into the forest, leaving Red trapped in a shed. The Pigs demolish the cabin and build the condos, while Wolfe disappears. The article explores the belief that new buildings cannot be haunted or constructed by pigs, though some claim to hear faint screams at night. The author presents this as a topic of discussion without taking a stance, aiming to inform library patrons conducting research on specific subjects. [Extracted from the article]

I estimate whether the ability to anonymously surrender an infant to a safe haven site such as a hospital, police station, or fire station in the United States affects child well‐being. By analyzing variation in state safe haven policies, I find safe haven laws significantly increase infant foster care entrance. I further find suggestive evidence of safe havens reducing infant deaths. The mortality effects are immediate but subside over time, implying infants have been relinquished when their alternative was not death from abuse or abandonment. Robustness checks and falsification tests support these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was to examine characteristics concerning frequent users of emergency medical services (EMS) transport by comparing patients who used EMS transport frequently for one year and those who used EMS transport for more than two years consecutively. Methods: A retrospective review for frequent use of EMS transport was conducted. The patients from the fire stations that transported more than 70% of all EMS transport to the study hospital emergency department (ED) were included. The study subjects were divided into consecutive group (frequent EMS transport for ≥ two years consecutively) and non-consecutive group (frequent EMS transport for only one year). Characteristics of patients who were frequent users of EMS transport and those of all cases with EMS transport were examined. Results: Of the total 205 patients and 1204 cases of frequent EMS transport, 85 (42%) patients and 755 (63%) cases were in the consecutive group. Patients in the consecutive group were more likely to have risky alcohol use, unemployed state, and medical aid type of payment for ED treatment than those in the non-consecutive group. More patients had previous experience of EMS transport to the study hospital ED in the consecutive group and the number of cases with alcohol ingestion was higher in the consecutive group. Elapsed time from EMS call to ED arrival was longer for the consecutive group. Conclusion: Risky alcohol use, unemployed state, and previous experience of EMS transport were associated with consecutive and frequent use of EMS transport in frequent users of EMS transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing urban service locations is a key issue within city planning, integral to promoting the well-being of citizens, and ensuring effective urban development. However, many current approaches emphasize spatial analysis focused solely on physical attributes, neglecting the equally vital social dimensions essential for enhancing inhabitants' comfort and quality of life. When social factors are considered, they tend to operate at smaller scales. This paper addresses this gap by prioritizing integrating social factors alongside spatial analysis at the community level. By employing space syntax theory, this study investigates urban service suitability in Hajjah, a Palestinian urban community, presenting a novel approach in the literature. The research identifies good spots for essential governmental facilities like health clinics and fire stations using axial map analysis. It also suggests reallocation for some schools. Additionally, it shows ways to improve the placement of community amenities, finding ideal park locations but suboptimal mosque placements. Commercial services also exhibit areas for enhancement including gas stations and shops. The insights from this research can offer policymakers and planners insights to create more efficient, equitable, and accessible cities. The research approach incorporates social behavior dynamics into spatial analysis, promoting inclusive urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was undertaken to assess the province of Marinduque's fire incidence from 2018 to 2022 and determine its firefighting capability, which includes fire prevention programs, tools, PPEs and Equipment (fire trucks), manpower, skills and trainings acquired, facilities and infrastructure and financial resources management. Present the level of performance in implementing fire prevention programs, and to know if there is a significant relationship of firefighting capabilities and performance of BFP-Marinduque Personnel. To identify the gaps in the implementation of fire prevention programs as well as the problems encountered and strategies employed by the personnel and management of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the province of Marinduque from 2018 to 2022. Further, to propose a framework of service delivery for fire prevention based from the results of this study that could be helpful in the future researches. The descriptive research method was used in this study. The documentation records obtained from the Bureau of Fire Protection Provincial Office in Tampus, Boac, Marinduque, and the province's six Municipal Fire Stations, as well as the survey questionnaires administered in each station and the provincial office, are the sources of data. The information was tallied, analyzed and interpreted. The statistical tools that were utilized to treat and interpret the data required for the study are frequency count, percentage calculations, ranking, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Fire Incidence in the Province of Marinduque reveals a total of 58 fire events. The municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Santa Cruz, and Torrijos have similar fire causes, except for Mogpog, which has open flames or unsupervised cooking as the leading cause of fires in this area. The capability of the Marinduque Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in terms of tools, personal protective equipment, and the number of firetrucks indicates a varied landscape of readiness throughout towns, with an overall capability of 74.49% and a verbal description of "adequate." In terms of manpower, the total capability of the BFP in Marinduque is assessed as "adequate" at 62.06%. In terms of firefighting capability in terms of acquired skills and trainings. BFP staff possess a broad range of skills that can be categorized into three: hard skills, professional skills, and specialized skills. The firefighting capability in terms of adequacy and sufficiency of facilities and infrastructures yields a total mean for adequacy of 3.25, implying that these facilities, on average, provide what is necessary but with room for improvement. The total sufficiency mean is 3.06. BFP Marinduque has maintained a consistent budget utilization rate of 100% for the last five fiscal years. The mean performance ratings for various Fire Prevention activities range from 4.08 to 4.69, indicating that the BFP's performance is either "Very Satisfactory" or "Outstanding". There is a significant relationship of firefighting capabilities to the performance of BFP-Marinduque therefore null hypothesis is rejected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiang Mai encounters severe pollution during the wildfire season. Wildland firefighters encounter various hazards while engaged in fire suppression operations, which encompass significant exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollutants resulting from combustion, especially particulate matter. The adverse effects of wildfire smoke on respiratory health are a significant concern. The objective of this study was to examine the potential adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure on the respiratory function and DNA damage of wildland firefighters. This prospective cohort study conducted in Chiang Mai from January to May 2022 planned to evaluate the health status of wildland firefighters during the pre-peak, peak, and post-peak ambient air pollution seasons. The measurement of PM2.5 was done at every forest fire station, as well as utilizing data from the Pollution Control Department. Participants received general health examinations, spirometry evaluations, and blood tests for DNA damage analysis. Pair t-tests and multiple regression models were used to examine the connection between pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1) and PM2.5 concentration, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Thirty-three peak-season and twenty-one post-peak-season participants were enrolled. Four pre-peak-season wildland firefighters had FVC and FEV1 declines of > 15%. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative association between PM2.5 exposure and FVC% predicted (− 2.81%, 95% CI − 5.27 to − 0.34%, P = 0.027) and a marginally significant negative correlation with FVC (− 114.38 ml, 95% CI − 230.36 to 1.59 ml, P = 0.053). The remaining pulmonary measures showed a statistically insignificant decline. There were no significant changes in DNA damage detected. Wildland firefighters suffered a significant decline in pulmonary function associated with PM2.5 exposure. Spirometry is crucial for monitoring and promptly identifying respiratory issues that occur during wildfire seasons. Further research is recommended to explore DNA damage alterations and their potential association with PM2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-critical race theory movement has caused educators strife and fear nationally. In these current socio-political times, faculty are navigating unprecedented experiences of racism as they teach and research critical race theory. Through our work, we examined 40 faculty experiences challenging legislation at a national, state, and institutional level. We present recommendations for practice and policy that resist the surveillance experienced during this socio-political backlash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forensic odontology plays an important role in mass disasters, house fires, criminal deaths, identification of missing persons, and child abuse cases. Teeth are the most stable part of the human body and are resistant to thermal, mechanical, and chemical insults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mandibular intercanine distance and mesiodistal width of mandibular first molar in gender determination. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 100 participants (50 males and 50 females) in the age group of 18-23 years. The mandibular impressions were made, and casts were prepared using dental stone. The intercanine distance and mesiodistal width of the right mandibular first molar were measured using digital vernier callipers. The data obtained was statistically analysed using SPSS software version 23. Results: The mean mandibular intercanine distance was found to be 27.2 ± 2.3 in males and 25.94 ± 1.76 in females (P = 0.03). There was no statistical difference in the mesiodistal width of the mandibular molar between males and females (P = 0.166). However, the mean mesiodistal width of males was higher when compared to females. Conclusion: Males have a greater intercanine width and mesiodistal dimension when compared to females. This result will be helpful in forensic medicine, anthropology, orthodontic treatments, and clinical dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of chemical industrial parks has resulted in the accumulation of a significant amount of hazardous substances, thereby increasing the demand for enhanced firefighting security, which directly relates to fire stations. This article presents a method for the layout evaluation of fire stations within chemical industrial parks. A practical technique for conducting fire risk assessments of each point to be rescued (PTBR) is proposed. The PTBRs are categorized according to their levels of fire risk. The required rescue time for each PTBR is determined based on the fire risk assessment. The estimated rescue times from each PTBR to each fire station are evaluated based on the actual road network and the speed of the fire engines. The adequacy of the fire stations is assessed through comparing the required and estimated rescue times. The working process of this method is illustrated using an engineering instance. The evaluation results of this engineering instance indicate its feasibility. This method takes into account the impact of irregular road paths and the influence of PTBR fire risks on the layouts of fire stations, which results in a more objective evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In impoverished rural areas, natural disasters, notably earthquakes, have a substantial impact, necessitating the identification of vulnerable regions and the development of comprehensive disaster mitigation strategies. This study conducted a spatial analysis of earthquake-prone rural areas in Abhar, Iran, to assess their seismic status and the preparedness of residents. The study comprised two segments, the first utilized the VIKOR (VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Model within ArcGIS, incorporating 10 factors. The second phase entailed a survey in which 379 questionnaires were gathered from residents and subsequently subjected to analysis using SPSS software. The spatial analysis categorized rural areas into three groups, distinguishing between high, low, and moderate seismic risks, with 39 locations falling into the moderate and high-risk categories. Among the factors analyzed, certain elements, such as access to health centers in rural and nearby urban areas, as well as the availability of emergency centers like fire stations, emerged as neglected areas, necessitating immediate reinforcement or establishment. Moreover, the outcomes regarding local preparedness revealed deficiencies across all domains, encompassing individual, physical, economic, and accessibility aspects. Furthermore, the research findings underscored a pronounced economic fragility, with accessibility factors exerting direct or indirect influence on the overall susceptibility of the situation. This research provides a holistic understanding by integrating natural and man-made factors with the current preparedness status of residents to reveal a pressing need for optimizing the spatial allocation of essential services, such as health and emergency facilities. Additionally, enhancing economic conditions and implementing training initiatives are imperative for bolstering community preparedness. These findings have significant implications for managers, decision-makers, and government authorities committed to enhancing public safety and mitigating earthquake hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of wildland firefighters' occupational exposure must consider different exposures, including those at the fire station. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure of 172 Northern Portuguese wildland firefighters in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season of 2021. The biological impact of estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (indoor/outdoor) was accessed through a buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells of a subgroup of 80 firefighters. No significant association was found between estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (mean 1.73 ± 0.43 µg kg−1 and 0.53 ± 0.21 µg kg−1, respectively) and biological endpoints. However, increased frequencies of cell death parameters were found among subjects of the Permanent Intervention Teams (full-time firefighters). The intake of nutritional supplements was associated with a significant decrease in micronucleus frequencies (i.e., DNA damage or chromosome breakage). In addition, our findings showed a significantly increased frequency of cell death endpoints (i.e., nuclear fragmentation) with coffee consumption, while daily consumption of vegetables significantly decreased it (i.e., nuclear shrinkage). Our results provide data on the occupational exposure of wildland firefighters while working in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season, providing the essential baseline for further studies throughout the wildfire season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of urbanization in China, the gap between urban and rural areas is decreasing. The traditional approach of constructing fire stations based on urban built-up areas is no longer suitable for the needs of modern fire rescue. Therefore, a comprehensive fire station location model is proposed based on fire risk assessment. This method divides the protected area units based on the urban road network. By evaluating different regions based on spatial position, land attributes, population density, floor area ratio, and fire incident indicators, the fire rescue risk levels and categorize regions into four risk levels are assessed. Corresponding response times were determined, and an objective model was developed to maximize the coverage area for fire response. The Baidu API was utilized to accurately calculate driving distances and times, and Gurobi optimization software was used to solve the model. Taking Shanghai as an example, the fire station location and layout from two perspectives—re-planning based on overall station placement and re-planning based on existing stations—were analyzed. The results suggest that constructing around 150 fire stations in Shanghai would effectively meet the fire rescue needs, which aligns with the actual situation in Shanghai and demonstrates the strong applicability of this model. This approach enables the meeting of new demand for fire station construction due to the significant increase in the coverage area while effectively utilizing firefighting resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Firefighters face elevated risks of common mental health issues, with distress rates estimated at around 30%, surpassing those of many other occupational groups. While exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) is a well-recognized risk factor, existing research acknowledges the need for a broader perspective encompassing multidimensional factors within the realm of occupational stress. Furthermore, this body of evidence heavily relies on crosssectional studies. This study adopts an intensive longitudinal approach to assess psychological distress and its determinants among firefighters. Methods: Participants were recruited from 67 fire stations in Montreal, Canada, meeting specific criteria: full-time employment, smartphone ownership, and recent exposure to at least one PTE, or first responder status. Subjects underwent a telephone interview and were directed to use an app to report depressive, post-traumatic, and generalized anxiety symptoms every 2 weeks, along with work-related stressors, social support, and coping styles. Analyses involved 274 participants, distinguishing between those exceeding clinical thresholds in at least one distress measure (the "distressed" subgroup) and those deemed "resilient." The duration and onset of distress were computed for the distressed group, and linear mixed models were employed to evaluate determinants for each psychological distress variable. Results: Clinical psychological distress was observed in 20.7% of participants, marked by depressive, post-traumatic, and anxiety symptoms, often within the first 4-week reference period. Contextual factors (operational climate, social support, solitude) and individual factors (coping style, solitude and lifetime traumatic events in private life) exhibited more significant impacts on psychological distress than professional pressures within the firefighters' work environment. Discussion: This study reports lower rates of psychological distress than previous research, possibly attributable to sample differences. It highlights that reported symptoms often represent a combined and transient layer of distress rather than diagnosable mental disorders. Additionally, determinants analysis underscores the importance of interpersonal relationships and coping mechanisms for mental health prevention interventions within this worker group. The findings carry implications for the development of prevention and support programs for firefighters and similar emergency workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-earthquake fire is considered as a catastrophic secondary disaster to personal and property safety, especially in complex rail transit station. This is primarily attributed to intricate infrastructure, densely populated floors, and the unrestricted layout of these areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate the evacuation capacity of complex railway stations under post-earthquake fires, and provide sustainable recommendations for building design. In this article, an evacuation assessment of a complex rail transit station under the post-earthquake fire for sustainable buildings was conducted from the internal environment and external rescue based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Fire Dynamic Simulation (FDS). The internal environment evacuation assessment simulation experiments were conducted in six hypothetical high-risk scenarios. In addition, the external rescue assessment was based on investigation of the route and the required rescue time during different periods of holidays and workdays. The results show that (1) The influence caused by different sizes of fire area in the power distribution room is smaller than those in the train at the platform floor. (2) In fire scenarios with the same fire area but different fire locations, the temperature is more affected than the CO concentration in the power distribution room. (3) It shows slight differences between single-floor fire and double-floor fire on evacuation of small area fire in power distribution room. Meanwhile, optimized design recommendations are proposed to reduce the risk of emergency evacuation in both internal and external environments of rail transit stations for sustainable future buildings, which include strategically locating the power distribution room away from public areas, installing fire-resistant doors around the room, increasing the quantity of smoke detectors and alarms with regular maintenance, minimizing the size of the power distribution room, developing specific emergency plans for train fires, and incorporating small fire stations in urban planning near complex public buildings to mitigate post-earthquake road obstruction challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although accessibility has been widely studied from a variety of perspectives, it is rare to analyze accessibility resilience under the long-term threat of different natural hazards which emerge more frequently in recent years. Most existing transportation resilience studies focus on the transportation infrastructure's ability to function mainly in terms of connectivity during or after a disaster, neglecting the facility allocation which also affects transportation accessibility. We develop an analytical research framework to investigate the resilience of accessibility to emergency and lifesaving (E&L) facilities (including parks, schools, hospitals, roads, and fire stations) considering the impacts of the seismic and wildfire hazards in the San Fernando Valley, CA. Using the cumulative-opportunity approach, pre-accessibility to E&L facilities without the impact of a hazard is calculated by counting the number or area/length of each type of E&L facilities via driving within a specified travel threshold for each census tract in the study region. With the same approach, post-accessibility to E&L facilities is calculated for each hazard under certain simulations and then statistically compared to identify hotspots which are most likely to receive statistically significant damage. The hotspots are further analyzed by a normalized difference accessibility index (NDAI) to suggest whether decision makers should invest in facilities or the transportation network to improve accessibility resilience. This analytic framework will allow planners and decision makers to efficiently identify their most vulnerable locations and identify needed mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]