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Pregnant women experience medical and psychological difficulties in their daily lives during disasters. Since the care provided to them in disaster situations is unclear, it is necessary to better understand their experiences. This study aims to identify the maternal experiences of pregnant women during natural disasters. This research employed a modified grounded theory approach. Twenty-three pregnant women, living in disaster-affected areas, were interviewed. The research methods were utilized and interpretive analysis was conducted, resulting in a diagram and storyline to describe the process. The characteristics of the maternal experiences fluctuated between "being unable to face pregnancy because of the disaster response" and "facing the fact of being pregnant." To maintain a fluctuation between their affected life and their pregnant life, it was necessary to control the weighting between "securing a safe and secure place," "encountering support based on pregnancy," and "signs from the fetus." Clarifying the maternal experiences of pregnant women living in disaster areas revealed a multilayered structure of categories and relationships. This study suggests that understanding the structure of fluctuations and control is critical for the nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This applied psychoanalytic paper explores the phenomenon of murder‐suicide in post‐Katrina New Orleans, focusing on the case of Zack Bowen and Addie Hall. The aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina often leads to increased mental health issues, including violence and suicide. The author, who lived and practiced psychiatry in the New Orleans French Quarter (FQ), was involved in a documentary about the couple, providing a unique perspective on their tragic story. Zack Bowen, a veteran of Iraq and Kosovo with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and Addie Hall, an artist with a history of abuse, were star‐crossed lovers in the post‐apocalyptic FQ. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, with the higher socioeconomic population evacuated, the city experienced lawlessness, but also a bond between subcultural groups seeking anarchy, freedom, escapism, and avoidance of past troubles. Drawing from excerpts of the documentary and material from a book about the couple entitled Shake the Devil Off, this paper utilizes an object relational framework to understand the multidetermined causes of the murder‐suicide. It highlights how disasters can bring individuals together in desperate situations, destabilize social connections, and exacerbate avoidant defenses through increased substance abuse. Furthermore, it reveals how such traumatic events can reopen past wounds, including PTSD and experiences of abuse, creating a mental health crisis that extends far beyond the initial impact of the storm. It also underscores the significance of interpersonal containment of toxic projections in the aftermath of a disaster, particularly for individuals with intrapsychic vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters can lead to decreased functionality in medical practice. This study aimed to quantitatively measure presenteeism and to determine the role of coping strategies among disaster‐victim doctors living in a city affected by the 2023‐Turkey earthquakes. This cross‐sectional study included 220 doctors reached through social media groups using the convenience sampling method. A weak negative relationship was found between presenteeism and positive re‐evaluation, one of the coping strategies with earthquake stress. A weak negative correlation was found between the Positive Reappraisal sub‐dimension score of the Coping with Earthquake Stress Scale (CESS) and presenteeism (r = −0.299, p < 0.001). In the linear regression analysis, the sub‐dimensions that contributed significantly to the model were found to be the Positive Reappraisal sub‐dimensions of CESS, whose increase resulted in a decrease in presenteeism and Seeking Social Support sub‐dimension, whose increase caused an increase in presenteeism. Presenteeism was higher in those who lost their loved ones, had damage in their workplace/home, and thought they were helpless or in danger. Both material and emotional factors decreased functionality at work after an earthquake. We recommend developing material and psychological support strategies to reduce presenteeism in post‐disaster periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study examines whether changes in physical activity (PA) during the first year after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011–2012) contributed to preventing the onset of future frailty among older survivors of the disaster. Methods: This study tracked 2561 physically active Japanese survivors aged ≥ 65 years (43.6% men; mean age 72.9 years) who had completed self‐administered questionnaires in 2011 and 2012. PA levels for participants were classified into four categories based on ≥23 and <23 metabolic equivalent hours/week in 2011 and 2012: "consistently low," "decreasing," "increasing," and "consistently high." Frailty was defined as a Kihon Checklist score ≥ 5, which is used in the long‐term care insurance system in Japan. Hazard ratios were calculated for the onset of frailty using a Cox proportional hazards model that fitted the proportional sub‐distribution hazards regression model with weights for competing risks of death. Results: From 2012 to 2018, 283 men and 490 women developed frailty. Men with consistently high or increasing PA during the first year after the disaster had a lower risk of frailty. Furthermore, even increasing PA by walking for just 30 min/day prevented future frailty in men; however, this association between a change in PA and the decreased risk of frailty was not observed in women. Conclusions: Older men who remained physically active or resumed PA at an early stage and at a low intensity, even after being physically inactive owing to the disaster, were able to prevent future frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 563–570. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the association between housing and psychological damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and modifiable risk factors (MRFs) of dementia for general population of older adults. Methods: This cross‐sectional study enrolled 29 039 community‐dwelling older adults (mean age 69.1 ± 2.9 years, 55.5% women). We evaluated disaster‐related damage (by complete or not complete housing damage) and psychological damage (by post‐traumatic stress reaction [PTSR]) after the GEJE using a self‐report questionnaire. MRFs encompassed the presence of depression, social isolation, physical inactivity, smoking, and diabetes. We examined the association between disaster‐related damage and MRFs using ordinary least squares and modified Poisson regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health status variables. Results: Complete housing damage and PTSR were identified in 2704 (10.0%) and 855 (3.2%) individuals, respectively. The number of MRFs was significantly larger for the individuals with complete housing damage (β = 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19–0.27) and PTSR (β = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.53–0.67). Prevalence ratios (PRs) for depression and physical inactivity were higher in individuals with complete housing damage. The PRs for all domains of the MRFs were significantly higher in individuals with PTSR. Conclusions: Housing and psychological damage caused by the GEJE were associated with an increased risk factor of dementia. To attenuate the risk of dementia, especially among older victims who have experienced housing and psychological damage after a disaster, multidimensional support across various aspects of MRFs is required. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 509–516. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article explores the impact of the 'Quadruple Whammy' consisting of Brexit, COVID‐19, Conflicts (Russia‐Ukraine and Israel‐Palestine) and Natural disasters on the food supply chain in Europe. This research adopted a two‐phase methodology comprised of the e‐Delphi technique followed by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) approach within the context of these four identified challenges. The objective of this article is to analyse the challenges faced by the European food supply chain due to these four factors. The article examines the impact of political isolationism such as Brexit on trade, cost and border controls, while also discussing the effects of COVID‐19 on labour, supply chains and the rise of e‐commerce. In addition, the article examines the impact of conflicts on food access and availability and the role of international aid and assistance. The effects of natural disasters, such as the Turkish and Moroccan earthquakes, floods in Spain and Portugal and the Moroccan drought, on food security are also analysed. The article offers several strategies for taming the quadruple whammy, such as investing in local food production and supply chains, diversifying supply chains and trade partnerships and strengthening food safety regulations and standards. The importance of building resilience and preparedness in the face of these challenges is emphasised and the article concludes with final thoughts and recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread occurrence of disasters in recent times has largely been attributed to climate change, with its long‐term consequences on the welfare and mental well‐being of individuals and communities. Increasingly, studies indicate that victims of disasters may experience a range of mental health issues, with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder ranking as the most common. Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) face unique challenges in providing proper rehabilitation and adequate mental health services after a disaster, due to poverty, lack of educational opportunities, lack of awareness and knowledge of disaster, and lack of resources and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, some LMICs have made efforts to address mental health needs in the aftermath of disasters. However, they are faced with the challenge of implementing formalised mental health support programmes. Moreover, immediate mental health support should be provided to victims of disasters to ameliorate the psychopathologies that may develop afterwards. The current approach of providing mostly physical and social relief neglects the psychosocial implications of disasters on victims. The biopsychosocial model of health, which is being advocated for, suggests that treatment should encompass all aspects of an individual's life, and thus, a team of mental health workers can provide holistic interventions to aid victims in their recovery process by making efforts to involve them in the emergency response teams usually employed during disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the experiences and psychosocial challenges encountered by volunteer nurses who provided care in the zones affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey in 2023. Methods: This qualitative study involved semistructured, in‐depth interviews with 15 volunteer nurses who were actively working in earthquake‐affected regions. The study was conducted between June 2023 and July 2023. Participants were selected from diverse provinces (Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya) affected by the earthquake, ensuring maximum variability. Individual online interviews were conducted using Google Meet, with data collection continuing until saturation was achieved. The study adhered to the COREQ checklist for reporting qualitative research. Results: Three main themes and eight subthemes were developed: (1) Management and Coordination (failure to meet basic needs, bureaucracy, duty, and authority issues, problems with supplies and equipment); (2) Professional Experiences (working conditions, education, perspective on the profession); and Psychosocial Problems and (3) Coping Methods (psychological problems, methods of coping with problems). Conclusions: The study showed that volunteer nurses encountered management and organizational obstacles, were profoundly impacted by the disaster's psychosocial aspects, and often struggled with inadequacies in handling psychological challenges. Despite these challenges, the nurses reported a sense of competence in delivering care services. The insights derived from this study hold valuable lessons for future disaster response strategies. For this reason, it is recommended to plan the necessary training and initiatives to professionally strengthen the field of disaster nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore young people's (YP) experiences of catastrophic flooding in the Northern Rivers area of northern NSW in 2017 and its effect on their mental health. Design: Content analysis of free‐text survey responses (written responses to open questions, rather than selecting a response option). Setting: Northern Rivers NSW. Participants: YP aged 16–25 years who were Northern Rivers residents at the time of the 2017 flood. Results: YP found their flood experience to be novel and challenging. They expressed worry, distress, anxiety, and worsened pre‐existing mental health issues as a result of the flood. YP reported a number of primary stressors (inadequate preparedness, warning and support during the flood) and secondary stressors (loss/damage of property and possessions, financial strain and disruptions to daily life) which potentially contributed to poor mental health. Some YP reported positive outcomes from their flood experience, notably increased community connectedness and personal resilience. However, they also expressed concern for the future, particularly potential reoccurrence of extreme floods as well as climate change. YP conveyed a desire for better community involvement to improve preparedness for future floods and a clear motivation to take action on climate change. Conclusion: The flood was a challenging experience for YP which was commonly described as negatively affecting their mental health. Understanding what YP view as significant events or issues arising from their personal flood experience may help target support mechanisms and services to maintain their mental. More focus on community‐based initiatives to improve disaster preparedness can support mental health in YP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Volunteering is a form of prosocial behaviour that has a been recognised as having positive benefits for medical students. However, there is a lack of research on what influences students to volunteer during and after weather‐related disasters. Our study (1) explores factors related to medical students' willingness and readiness to volunteer, and (2) describes mental health impacts of the flood events on students. Methods: We conducted a mixed‐methods study of medical students on rural clinical placements in a regional area of Australia, 2 to 6 weeks after two major flooding events in 2022. Data were collected through survey and focus groups. Summary statistics were generated from the survey data, and Fisher's exact test was used to determine associations between student experience of the flood and self‐rated well‐being. Qualitative data were deductively analysed using Byrne and colleagues' theory of prosocial behaviour during an emergency. Results: The 36 students who participated in focus groups (including the 34 who completed the survey) (response rates 84% and 79%, respectively) demonstrated high levels of prosocial behaviours and were willing to volunteer. A sense of moral obligation was the primary reason for volunteering, whereas concerns for their physical and psychological safety, and missing key aspects of their training, were the strongest reasons for not continuing to volunteer. Students reported personal stress, anxiety and trauma during this period, with significant associations between self‐rated impacts on their well‐being and feelings of being terrified, helpless and hopeless during the flooding events and of still being distressed weeks later (p <.05). Conclusions: This study expands on prosocial behaviour theory by applying Byrne and colleagues elaborated model in the context of medical student volunteering during the 2022 major flooding events in Australia. Modifiable barriers to prosocial behaviour are identified along with proposed strategies to address these barriers. As the climate warms, we can expect an increase in the intensity and frequency of weather‐related disasters. Here @JodieBailie1 et al. explore how medical students are well placed to support communities in their response to such events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that large‐scale events such as natural disasters, epidemics, and wars affect people all over the world through online news channels, it is inevitable to investigate the impact of following or avoiding negative news on well‐being. This study investigated the effect of doomscrolling on mental well‐being and the mediating role of mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress in social media users. A total of 400 Turkish adults completed scales to assess doomscrolling, mental well‐being, mindfulness, and secondary traumatic stress. The average age of the participants was 29.42 (SD = 8.38; ranged = 18−65). Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediating roles of mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress in the relationship between doomscrolling and mental well‐being. Mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress fully mediated the relationship between doomscrolling and mental well‐being. The results are discussed in light of existing knowledge of doomscrolling, mental well‐being, mindfulness, and secondary traumatic stress. High levels of doomscrolling, which is related to an individual's mental well‐being, can predict the individual's distraction from the here and now and fixation on negative news. This situation, in which mindfulness is low, is related to the individual's indirect traumatization and increased secondary traumatic stress symptoms in the face of the negative news he/she follows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although different social crises may eventually favor undemocratic and authoritarian forms of governance, at some point, such antidemocratic practices require the support of a significant part of the population to be implemented. The present research investigates how and whether the COVID‐19 pandemic might have favoured greater support for antidemocratic governmental practices, on the premise of regaining control and security. Using data from 17 countries (N = 4364) and national‐level indicators (i.e., real number of contagions and deaths, and sociopolitical indicators), we test how the risk of contagion and death from COVID‐19, along with personal orientations (i.e., social dominance orientation [SDO], right‐wing authoritarianism [RWA], and perceived anomie) motivate authoritarian and antidemocratic practices. Results from multilevel models indicate that risk perception and perceptions of political instability predict a wish for stronger leadership, agreement with martial law, and support for a controlling government especially when SDO and RWA are high, while more egalitarian and less conservative people agree less with these authoritarian measures in spite of the levels of risk perception. We discuss the implications for these findings for future research on similar but also dissimilar external events (natural disasters, war, or terror incidents) and the consequences for societies with higher authoritarian tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The impact of maternal stress on birth outcomes is well established in the scientific research. The sex ratio at birth (SRB), namely the ratio of male to female live births, shows significant alteration when mothers experience acute stress conditions, as proposed by the Trivers‐Willard Hypothesis. We aimed to synthetize the literature on the relationship between two exogenous and catastrophic stressful events (natural disasters and epidemics) and SRB. Methods: A systematic search was run in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, until March 9, 2023. The search produced 1336 articles and 25 articles met the inclusion criteria. We found seven case–control studies and 18 observational studies. Most of studies investigated the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Only seven studies examined the effect of epidemics or pandemics. Results: The results of the studies seem inconsistent, as 16 studies found a decline in SRB, three found a rise, four did not record any change and two studies gave contradictory results. The period and population analyzed, the source of information, the method of variance analysis in the SRB, and the failure to assess confounding variables may have influenced the incongruence of the results. Conclusion: Our findings contribute to improve the knowledge about the relationship between socio‐ecological factors and SRB. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms by which this relationship impacts public health, in particular the health of pregnant women and their newborn, through an accurate and consistent methodology that also includes confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the application of the 'one health' approach to address the mental health impacts of extreme weather events, particularly drought in rural Australia. Topics include the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health, the disproportionate impact of extreme weather events on rural communities, and the need for transdisciplinary collaboration to address threats to ecosystems and health.

Unexpected and unpredictable earthquakes may have a negative impact on people's mental health. The earthquake fear experienced by individuals causes psychological problems. This article is made up of three different studies that look at earthquake fear. The seven item Earthquake Fear Scale (EFS) was confirmed in Study I (N = 407) utilising confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, Item Response Analysis was done, and it was found that all of the items showed a good degree of discrimination. The reliability of the EFS has been proven with different reliability coefficients. In Study II (N = 505), both correlation and network analysis were carried out, and earthquake fear was found to be significantly associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and mental wellbeing. Moreover, neuroticism and conscientiousness, two of the big five personality traits, are significantly associated with earthquake fear. In Study III (N = 382), it was revealed that psychological distress and harmony in life play a serial and fully mediating role in the link between earthquake fear and mental wellbeing. The psychological influence of earthquake fear is emphasised in this pioneering and comprehensive study on earthquake fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are a prevalent geologic phenomenon that substantially threatens human life and infrastructure, resulting in considerable loss and destruction. The practice of landslide susceptibility mapping is crucial for the mitigation of risks connected with this natural disaster. This work aims at investigating the influence of varying sample sizes on the precision of landslide susceptibility modelling using a case study conducted in the Alamout basin, Iran. The researchers used a machine learning methodology based on tree algorithms to construct a model for predicting the likelihood of landslides. Additionally, they adopted a multi‐scenario strategy to address the inherent uncertainty associated with the input data. The integration of the naive Bayes tree (NBTree), random forest (RF), logistic model tree (LMT) and J48 algorithms was performed. The modelling process included using 20 predictive parameters across four distinct scenarios. Four models, labelled S1, S2, S3 and S4, were used in this study. These models utilized 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the available inventory data. The research presented in this study is distinguished by using a tree‐based methodology for landslide susceptibility modelling and incorporating a multi‐scenario strategy to address the inherent uncertainty associated with the input data. The findings indicated that the augmentation of the sample size improved the precision of the models. The efficacy of using a multi‐scenario strategy in enhancing the dependability of the model is also underscored. Among the 20 input elements used in the modelling process, it was seen that slope angle accounted for the highest relative significance, constituting 25.60% of the overall influence. Following more closely, distance to fault contributed significantly, with a relative importance of 23.40%. Additionally, rainfall and elevation exhibited notable contributions, with relative volumes of 7.91% and 5.50%, respectively. All four landslide models showed adequate learning and forecasting ability throughout the training and testing phases. During the testing phase, the true skill score (TSS) values exhibited a range of 0.631–0.804, while the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values showed a range of 0.745–0.921. The susceptibility maps indicated that a significant portion of the region exhibits moderate to very high susceptibility zones, with the northern and eastern sectors displaying greater landslide values than the western region. The model's performance showed improvement from S1 to S4 in both the training and testing phases. The performance of the models exhibited the following trend: in scenario 1, the RF model outperformed the J48, LMT and NBTree models; in scenario 2, the RF model surpassed the NBTree and LMT models, while being on par with the J48 model; in scenarios 3 and 4, the RF model showed superior performance compared to the NBTree, J48 and LMT models. Therefore, the RF model proved to be the most effective among the models evaluated. The findings derived from this research have the potential to serve as valuable references for the purposes of land‐use planning and catastrophe risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current pandemic and future public health emergencies highlight the importance of evaluating a telehealth care model. Previous studies have reached mixed conclusions about the effectiveness of remote monitoring on glycemic control and maternal and infant outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Objectives: This meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of remote blood glucose monitoring for women with gestational diabetes mellitus and to provide evidence‐based guidance on the management of women with gestational diabetes mellitus for policymakers and healthcare providers during situations such as pandemics or natural disasters. Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, Medline, CINAHL databases, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from their inception to July 10, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English with respect to remote blood glucose monitoring in women with GDM were included in the meta‐analysis. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed the quality of the studies. Risk ratios, mean differences, 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity were calculated. Results: A total of 1265 participants were included in the 11 RCTs. There were no significant differences in glycemic control and maternal–fetal outcomes between the remote monitoring group and a standard care group, which included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, mean 2‐h postprandial blood glucose, caesarean birth, gestational weight gain, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, and other outcomes. Conclusion: This meta‐analysis reveals that it is unclear if remote glucose monitoring is preferable to standard of care glucose monitoring. To improve glycemic control and maternal–fetal outcomes during the current epidemic or other natural disasters, the implementation of double‐blind RCTs in the context of simulating similar disasters remains to be studied in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 6, 2023, earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck southern and central Turkey. The disaster caused severe damage to buildings and resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, leaving many children injured, traumatized, and without basic needs. One of the most sensitive issues was the news stories about children rescued from the rubble. These news stories were highly emotional and sensational, frequently describing the children as miracles. However, they often disregarded the reasons and negligence that caused their victimization. The journalism ethics related to the representation of children, disaster coverage, and interviewing victims are also ignored. This study uses a multimodal critical discourse analysis method to explore the discursive strategies employed in the media coverage of this topic. Three salient common themes were included in the study: "Miracles and hope", "patriarchal state", and "sensational/dramatic elements. The analysis shows that media representations of earthquake victim children in Turkey aestheticize their pain and suffering, reducing them to objects of pity or spectacle. By examining these representations critically, the study aims to raise awareness about the importance of ethical and responsible media practices in reporting on natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of video modeling to teach safety skills during earthquakes and postearthquake evacuation to children with autism. Three male children with autism, aged 9–10 years, participated in the study. The results indicate that video modeling was effective at promoting the acquisition of "drop, cover, and hold on" and evacuation skills for all three students. Furthermore, the skills generalized to a new setting for all three participants and maintained up to 4 weeks after video modeling for the two participants for whom maintenance was evaluated. Social‐validity data were also collected from participants, their parents, and a teacher, and the findings were positive overall. Implications for instruction and future research are discussed based on the results of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I discuss how the earthquake risk is exploited by 'disaster capitalism', in order to convert Istanbul to a massive construction site. The shock of the 1999 Marmara Earthquake has been effectively used by the neoliberal market and government as 'a shock therapy' to implement a construction‐led development model for Turkey and to favour the construction sector by introducing new incentives, exceptional rights and interventions, which otherwise might be challenged. The current Turkish government justify the ongoing massive urban transformation and new mass housing projects as an improvement of the housing stock to make residential buildings stronger and more resilient to earthquakes. However, areas actually under earthquake risk do not match the areas that are officially declared under disaster risk by the government. The Disaster Law #6306 that granted the government the absolute right to expropriate land based on the justification of 'protecting residents against earthquakes and other natural disasters' was applied in a selective way to seize valuable land in Istanbul. In the paper I explore how the disaster was quickly converted to an opportunity for economic growth. To do that I introduce stories of three different neighbourhoods in Istanbul, namely Moda, Tozkoparan and Fikirtepe, each of which experience the ongoing massive urban transformation differently based on the land value of the neighbourhoods, class position of the residents, and residents' capacity to organise in order to protect their rights. I describe, how disaster capitalism is lived and experienced differently in these three neighbourhoods. Although the massive construction projects are indifferent to life's sustainability, those projects are justified as interventions in terms of public health and safety through making housing resilient to earthquakes. I critically discuss how in each case biopolitics presents disaster capitalism's massive urban transformation projects as a manifestation of liveliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of natural disasters has led to an alarming increase in power interruptions, with severe impacts. Compounding this problem is the uncertain nature of data, which presents significant challenges in enhancing the resiliency of power distribution systems following such events. To tackle these issues, this paper introduces a robust optimization approach for improving the resiliency of power distribution systems. The approach encompasses crew teams for switching actions as part of the restoration process, along with demand response programs and mobile generators (MGs). By simultaneously leveraging these elements and considering the uncertainty associated with electrical load and electrical price, the resiliency of the system is enhanced. The objective function is tri‐level, comprising minimum, maximum, and minimum functions. At the first level, the approach minimizes the cost of commitment of combined heat and power plants (CHPs) by taking into account the location of MGs and the reconfiguration structure in power distribution systems. The second level aims to identify the worst‐case scenario for the uncertainty variables. Finally, the third level focuses on minimizing the total operation cost under the worst‐case scenario using demand response programs. The proposed algorithm is implemented on an IEEE 33‐bus test distribution system, with four different cases investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After major adversity, some people rely on their religious faith and networks for comfort, support, and material goods and services. Consistent with this behavior are findings that adversity has a positive causal effect on the importance of religion in people's lives. Using a large high‐frequency US dataset, we estimate the causal effects of natural disasters on stated religious importance and attendance at religious services. Effects are identified by comparing changes in outcomes over time within counties affected by a natural disaster with changes over time in other counties from the same state. We find that most estimates are near‐zero in magnitude; for the full sample, for subgroups defined by religious affiliation, demographics, and income, and for different disaster types. However, significant negative effects are found immediately postdisaster, suggesting a short‐term crowding‐out effect in which recovery activities limit time for worship. This explanation is supported by a finding that people are less "well rested" in the first weeks postdisaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on urging global recognition of climate change and biodiversity loss as an interconnected health crisis, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions. Topics discussed include the detrimental health impacts of environmental degradation, the importance of restoring ecosystems for human well-being, and the call for urgent action from political leaders and health professionals to address the crisis.

Introduction: This study examines the impact of funding provided to support the well‐being of rural health practitioners and their practice staff following the 2019–2022 bushfires. Objective: To assess the benefits and implications of grant funding for rural practices to aid recovery following bushfires in NSW, Australia. Design: An explanatory sequential mixed method design consisted of a survey and a thematic analysis of semi‐structured Interviews. Findings: Five key themes emerged from analysis: (1) the disasters altered the role of the practice and therapeutic relationships; (2) the funding had a positive impact on access to professional development; (3) the training had a positive impact on staff well‐being and resilience; (4) the professional development had a positive impact on rural practitioner's sense of capability; and (5) important elements of future grant opportunities. Discussion: The findings indicate the importance of recovering funding to facilitate access to professional development for rural health practioners during natural disasters which improved their mental health and wellbeing, capability and support to clients. Conclusion: Recovery funding facilitated improvement in workforce capability, professional resilience, mental health and well‐being in the face of natural disasters and emergencies. There was a link between training and maintaining the capability of rural health care practitioners and their practice staff. Capability was an important factor in the well‐being and resilience of the health workforce and their ability to support clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters affect economic activities and welfare of small‐scale producers in developing countries, but may also offer opportunities to reinvest in productive asset, economic capital, and new technologies for future economic prospects. This paper investigates the impacts of a livelihood recovery project that provided access to finance and rehabilitated communal infrastructures in the coastal communities of Tamil Nadu, India which were severely affected by the 2004 tsunami. We replicate the project's eligibility criteria to build the counterfactual to identify control households based on the validation of secondary data and administrative records. Using data from a carefully designed primary survey, we estimate the impacts of providing access to finance and rehabilitating communal infrastructures on economic and livelihood outcomes. Results indicate positive and significant impacts on income, asset and food security. These impacts are mainly driven by improved access to finance provided and participation in groups. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring access to finance for sustainable economic recovery among small‐scale producers, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems: This study was conducted to examine the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mental health status of adolescents exposed to the worst disaster of the century. Methods: This study was descriptive, cross‐sectional, and correlational. This research was conducted between March 31 and July 1, 2023. The study was conducted with earthquake survivors who migrated from Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the earthquake, and Adıyaman and Hatay, the other two cities where it was most effective, to Şanlıurfa. The study was conducted with a total of 947 adolescents. "Personal Information Form," "Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index," and "Symptom Distress Check List‐ (SCL‐90)" were used to collect data. Linear regression method was used in the analysis of the research. Path analysis was performed using PATH analysis. Findings: The mean age of the adolescents participating in the study was 16.69 ± 1.41 years. It was found that the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the adolescents was at the pathological level with a mean of 2.36 ± 0.68. Posttraumatic stress reactions of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake was found to explain 97.2% of their mental symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, anger‐hostility, obsession‐compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychotic symptoms, other problems, and GSI) (p < 0.001). It was found that the age of the adolescents, total number of losses in the earthquake, the time they stayed under the rubble, the time they waited for siblings to be pulled from under the rubble and the state of having loss due to the earthquake explained 74.4% of the posttraumatic stress reactions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: As a conclusion, it was found that the adolescents who experienced the earthquake experienced severe posttraumatic stress symptoms. It was also found that adolescents who experienced high levels of trauma symptoms showed pathological mental symptoms. After the earthquake, adolescents should be evaluated periodically in terms of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In the evaluations to be made, it is important to determine how adolescents are affected especially mentally. In this context, interventions should be implemented for the identified mental symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, etc.). Highlights: The first strength of the study was that the adolescents who experienced the earthquake had severe trauma symptoms.The second strength of the study was that the general mental symptom level mean scores of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake were at the pathological level.The third strength of the study is that the posttraumatic stress reactions of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake were related to the psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, somatization, anger‐hostility, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid thoughts, psychotic symptoms, other problems, and general mental symptom levels) revealed that it explained 97.2%.It was seen that the most important predictor of the psychological symptoms of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake was the trauma symptoms.The fourth strongest aspect of the study is the age of the adolescents who experienced the earthquake, the total number of losses they experienced in the earthquake, the number of losses they experienced in the nuclear family, the hours they were buried under the rubble, the time they waited for their father to come out under the rubble, the time they waited for their mother to come out under the rubble, It was determined that the duration of waiting time, injury status and loss due to earthquake explained 74.4% of posttraumatic stress response states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of post‐traumatic stress, caused by a strong earthquake, on the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) and autonomous nervous system activity (ANS). Activities of the HPA (as salivary cortisol) and ANS (as heart‐rate variability [HRV]) were measured following the 2020 Elazig (Türkiye) earthquake (6.8 Richter Scale, classified as strong). A total of 227 participants (103 men (45%) and 124 women (%55)) provided saliva samples twice, namely, 1 week and 6 weeks after the earthquake. Of these participants, HRV was measured in 51 participants by 5 min continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. Frequency‐ and time‐domain parameters of the HRV were calculated to assess the activity of ANS and low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio was used as surrogate for sympathovagal balance. Salivary cortisol levels decreased from week 1 towards week 6 (17.40 ± 1.48 and 15.32 ± 1.37 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.05). There were no gender differences (17.99 ± 2.63 and 16.90 ± 1.60 ng/mL, respectively for females and males, p > 0.05) for salivary cortisol levels. There were no differences in time‐ and frequency domain parameters of the HRV including LF/HF ratio (2.95 ± 0.38 ms2 and 3.60 ± 0.70 ms2, respectively for week 1 and 6, p > 0.05). The data show that HPA axis activity, but not that of the ANS, remains higher 1 week after the earthquake but decreases afterwards towards the sixth week, suggesting that the HPA axis might be responsible for the long‐term effects of a traumatic event like a strong earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation exerts far‐reaching impacts on both socio‐economic fabric and individual well‐being, necessitating concerted efforts in accurate forecasting. Deep learning (DL) models have increasingly demonstrated their prowess in forecasting meteorological elements. However, traditional DL prediction models often grapple with heavy rainfall forecasting. In this study, we propose physics‐informed localized graph neural network models called ω‐GNN and ω‐EGNN, constrained by the coupling of physical variables and climatological background to predict precipitation in China. These models exhibit notable and robust improvements in identifying heavy rainfall while maintaining excellent performance in forecasting light rain by comparing to numerical weather prediction (NWP) and other DL models with multiple perturbation experiments in different data sets. Surprisingly, within a certain range, even when a DL model utilizes more input variables, GNN can still maintain its advantage. The methods to fuse physics into DL model demonstrated in this study may be promising and call for future studies. Plain Language Summary: We need accurate precipitation forecast for the preparedness of daily life, business and natural disaster and so on. In recent years, deep learning (DL) has been a hot topic in many sectors, including meteorological and climatological forecasting. Here we propose two DL models called ω‐GNN and ω‐EGNN, respectively, which integrate physical knowledge into DL methods, to predict precipitation in China. The two models show better behavior than today's operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) and other proven effective DL architectures in critical metrics, even with less input information. This indicates that our methods of physics‐informed DL models are practicable. Key Points: Traditional deep learning (DL) models often grapple with heavy rainfall forecastingNew physical‐informed DL models are proposed to address the problem of precipitation forecastingThe new ω‐GNN and ω‐EGNN models outperform the NWP and other DL models, especially in forecasting heavy rainfall [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars of disaster politics debate how far natural hazards cause or catalyse political change. This paper builds on recent scholarship on tipping points and social contracts to argue that two case studies of historical earthquakes in 1930s British‐colonised India invite a focus on the dynamics of cooperation and conflict between state and non‐state actors. Officials of the colonial state and its nationalist rivals cooperated after one earthquake even though they otherwise bitterly opposed each other. Cooperation broke down after the second event, just one year later. Yet, in both cases, officials and nationalist leaders shared a broad vision for Indian society, which pushed both sides actively to seek to recover the social and economic status quo ante, preventing potential tipping points from crystallising. These case studies reveal how and why highly fraught social contracts can survive major disasters. The colonial state's transient and reactive approach to disaster governance continued to impact on post‐independence India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine the disaster preparedness perceptions, psychological resilences and empathy levels of nurses after 2023 Great Turkiye Earthquake. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in 2023 using with E‐Anket. This study was carried out with voluntary participation of 464 nurses living in different geographical regions of Turkiye. The data of the study were obtained utilizing Nurses' Disasters Prepardeness Perception Scale (NDPPS), Pyschological Resileince Scale (PRS) and Empathy Scale (ES). Results: In this study, the disaster preparedness perception of the nurses was found to be at medium level. More than half of the nurses (65.1%) reported that they did not received any disaster training before. A meaningful was found between the nurses' disaster preparedness perceptions and their empathy levels and psychological resilence. Conclusions: As in many countries, it is possible to state that also in Turkiye, the training of nurses for disasters are inadequate and that the studies on this subject are limited. This study will provide a theoretical platform to develop nurses' awareness of disaster preparedness and pyschological resilience and empathic approach programs to increase disaster resilience, and to conduct future research on disaster nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference emphasised the need to modify practices that negatively impact biodiversity and food security in the context of global change. Following Madagascar's drought‐induced famine, our systematic review supports the theory that grasslands of the Malagasy Central Highland that are subjected to human‐lit fires are anthropogenically derived. Furthermore, these overly frequent fires that characterise much of the Malagasy Central Highland grasslands select poorly palatable grasses. Given the reliance on pastoralism as insurance against crop failure in Madagascar, fire‐dependent practices that degrade rangeland emerge as a threat to food security and biodiversity. Education can mitigate against future humanitarian crises. Summary: Food insecurity is greatest in countries where impacts of global change are predicted to be severe. Many, like Madagascar, rely on livestock‐based pastoralism (and consequently palatable rangelands) for insurance against natural disasters and crop failure. It is recognised that derived grasslands can impact climate and biodiversity. Furthermore, the well‐established palatability‐flammability trade‐off predicts that overly‐frequent fires select increasingly unpalatable, fire‐adapted grassland. The drought‐induced Malagasy famine of 2021 highlights the need to identify factors that threaten food security. Given the ubiquitous practice of rangeland preparation through annual, landscape‐scale human‐lit fires, we evaluate whether Malagasy grasslands are derived and then test for fire‐driven selection of increasingly degraded and unpalatable rangelands across Madagascar's largest grassland system, the Malagasy Central Highland (MCH). We conducted a systematic literature review, evaluating for a palatability‐flammability trade‐off, by determining dominant Malagasy grass species, and then applying functional traits, and palatability ratings to these species. Data were extracted using a suite of relevant search terms, and of 1977 studies identified, 145 were directly relevant to the questions posed. Evidence from the review is compelling for much of the Malagasy highland grassland being derived. Furthermore, Malagasy dominant grass species are fire‐adapted with poor forage‐value, suggesting current burning practices negatively impact both biodiversity and pastoralism. Decreasing rangeland palatability caused by human‐lit fires in a society suffering food insecurity emphasises the need to re‐evaluate pastoralist burning practices. Identifying optimal fire frequencies can avert breaching fire‐induced tipping points to rangeland palatability and the humanitarian crises that may follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article urges for the treatment of climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency. It calls for the restoration of subsystems like forest regeneration and replenishing soil. It discusses the health impact of climate and nature crisis such as spread of infectious diseases, water pollution, loss of genetic diversity in the food system, reduced seafood quality and quantity, and increase in noncommunicable, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases linked to biodiversity loss.

The authors issue a call to action to the medical education research community, encouraging each of us to lean into the important role we play in addressing the climate and health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh summer monsoon rainfall (BSMR), typically from June through September (JJAS), represents the main source of water for multiple sectors. However, its high spatial and interannual variability makes the seasonal prediction of BSMR crucial for building resilience to natural disasters and for food security in a climate‐risk‐prone country. This study describes the development and implementation of an objective system for the seasonal forecasting of BSMR, recently adopted by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The approach is based on the use of a calibrated multi‐model ensemble (CMME) of seven state‐of‐the‐art general circulation models (GCMs) from the North American Multi‐Model Ensemble project. The lead‐1 (initial conditions of May for forecasting JJAS total rainfall) hindcasts (spanning 1982–2010) and forecasts (spanning 2011–2018) of seasonal total rainfall for the JJAS season from these seven GCMs were used. A canonical correlation analysis (CCA) regression is used to calibrate the raw GCMs outputs against observations, which are then combined with equal weight to generate final CMME predictions. Results show, compared to individual calibrated GCMs and uncalibrated MME, that the CCA‐based calibration generates significant improvements over individual raw GCM in terms of the magnitude of systematic errors, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and generalised discrimination scores over most of Bangladesh areas, especially in the northern part of the country. Since October 2019, the BMD has been issuing real‐time seasonal rainfall forecasts using this new forecast system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods Results Conclusion Implications for nursing and health policy Individual and social concerns can negatively affect nurses’ mental health during a large‐scale earthquake's early stages, making it challenging to perform their professional responsibilities.This cross‐sectional correlational study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress levels Turkish nurses experienced during an earthquake's early period. The nurses participating in this study were not directly present in the earthquake‐affected area.The study was conducted on 232 nurses between February 10 and 25, 2023. The data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress‐21 Scale and the Job Performance Evaluation Form developed by the researchers through a literature review. These were used to investigate nurses’ work motivation changes due to the earthquake. The study followed the STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies.The participants’ depression levels were severe, anxiety levels were extremely severe, and stress levels were moderate following the earthquake. Nurses who felt exhausted experienced reduced energy levels toward their work and reported a decrease in their desire, effort, and work motivation to perform well. In addition, they had higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p < 0.005).Psychological difficulties, including depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by nurses not directly present in an earthquake‐affected area, reduced their professional efforts and motivation and negatively affected the patient care process. Further studies should focus on conducting comparative studies in different cultures affected by natural disasters on the longitudinal analysis of the impacts of nurses' psychological distress on their job performance.Nursing policymakers should be aware of the negative psychological effects experienced by nurses during the early post‐earthquake period, even if they are not directly present in the earthquake‐affected area. The study recommended that nurses should be provided with psychological support to deal with the negative effects of natural disasters and maintain job performance, including the nursing care process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of abstracts from various articles and presentations that explore the psychological and emotional impacts of natural disasters and traumatic events. The articles cover a range of topics, including the effects of hurricanes on the health of Puerto Rican children, innovative models of support for traumatized children, psychological preparedness for disasters in Indonesia, the influence of resilience and coping on mental health in earthquake-affected individuals in the Philippines, the role of emergency psychologists in earthquake response, the effectiveness of flood response training in Indonesia, the increase in sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic, lessons learned from a mass shooting at a hospital in the Czech Republic, and the activities of psychologists in the fire rescue service during disasters in the Ustecky Region. These articles provide valuable insights into the psychological impacts of traumatic events and offer recommendations for interventions and support. The collection focuses on the psychological impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, examining topics such as psychosocial support, the effects of relocation, changes in lifestyle, and the sense of loss experienced by those affected. The studies emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing the psychological well-being of individuals and communities in the aftermath of a disaster. [Extracted from the article]

The focus of this study is to examine the short‐ and long‐term causal effects of natural disaster shocks on the stock market and business confidence level in the time‐frequency domain by studying the co‐movements between earthquake data and the Istanbul Stock Index closing prices, using the Wavelet Coherence and Phase Difference analyses. The empirical findings reveal that the relationship between earthquake events and financial markets is not stable over time and across different time horizons. The linkage becomes stronger in the long term when the impact of the earthquake event coincides with a financial crisis reflecting a combined effect. This nexus is also strong during the years 2007–2011 reflecting a similar combined effect of both an earthquake event and the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, co‐movement between the earthquake and the financial market index implies a negative effect in the period 2011–2012, indicating short‐run effects of stock market shocks. Differentiating these short‐term and long‐term effects has implications for risk management and policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)‐assisted communication is a promising technique for enabling ground users in a non‐functional area (NFA) or disaster area to communicate. All the base stations in the disaster area may be partially or fully damaged due to the natural calamity. Device‐to‐device (D2D) communication can be a viable solution for immediate connection between users in an NFA. We propose a UAV‐assisted multi‐hop D2D communication following a hybrid power‐time switching (PTS) in this paper. Moreover, a D2D user of a cluster can communicate with another D2D user in a different cluster through UAVs. However, D2D users can harvest energy from their respective ad hoc energy stations and forward the information to the nearby D2D user following a hybrid PTS‐based strategy. We propose a time frame for the same and show a node‐based energy harvesting strategy. The expressions of outage probability, throughput, end‐to‐end energy consumption, and energy efficiency are developed for the Rician and Nakagami‐m faded channel. The impact of several network parameters such as energy harvesting factor, energy harvesting efficiency, and fading parameter on the network performance is also indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated anxiety, depression, and stress and their influencing factors among nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic and after the flood in Henan Province, China. It aimed to provide the theoretical foundation for the management of relevant hospital departments, improvement of nursing quality, implementation of antiepidemic work, and other relevant studies. Background: In December 2019, COVID‐19 was reported in Wuhan, China and became a global pandemic. In July 2021, unprecedented flooding occurred in Henan Province, China. Under the dual pressure of COVID‐19 and the flood, nurses' mental health problems deteriorated. Methods: In August 2021, 1229 nurses from various departments of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University in Xinxiang City, Henan Province,China were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey using a general condition questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the status of nurses' anxiety, depression, and stress. Analysis of variance, t‐test, and multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing anxiety, depression, and stress among nurses. Results: Of the participants, 36.1%, 10.1%, and 15.5% had moderate to high levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, respectively. Moreover, 42 (3.4%) participants experienced high to severe levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The scores showed significant differences based on gender, harmonious family relationships, department position, work intensity, sleep quality, physical exercise, participation in leisure activities, health status, involvement in emotion management‐related training, and attending self‐care‐related training (all P < 0.05). Gender, work intensity, harmonious family relationships, health condition, sleep quality, and participation in leisure activities influenced stress, anxiety, and depression scores. Department position influenced anxiety and stress scores, and average monthly earnings influenced anxiety scores. Conclusion: All the nurses experienced various levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Related departments should pay special attention to male nurses and nurses with high work intensity, unharmonious family relationships, poor health, and sleep quality, and who engage in fewer leisure activities. Implications for nursing and health policy: It is recommended that departments allocate human resources and arrange schedules reasonably, encourage nurses to participate in more recreational activities, and implement emotion management and self‐care‐related training to relieve emotional distress, and ultimately maintain nurses' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper emerged from discussions between the authors about our shared and different perspectives of climate change and its impact on the social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Aboriginal Peoples and mental health services in a rural region, heavily impacted in recent years by bushfires and floods. Here we discuss, from the lead authors personal perspective as a Gamilaraay Woman, the experience of Solastalgia as a critical impact of climate change on wellbeing. Specifically, we discuss the relationship of a connection to country from a Gamilaraay, first person perspective through a series of diary entries from the lead author. Authors are researchers from different cultural backgrounds, connected through a medical research futures fund research project, to promote resilience within Aboriginal communities and the health services sector in the New England, North West region. The lead author has cultural connections to some of the communities we work with and our work is informed by these connections. While this paper was written to express an Aboriginal perspective on climate change and wellbeing, it reflects our shared perspectives of how disasters such as bushfires impact the wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples. We also explore the connection between the impact of localised, recurring natural disasters and the increasing demands on mental health services in regional and rural areas and discuss what this means with Aboriginal and non‐Indigenous mental health nurses and researchers working in regional and rural areas where access to mental health services often poses considerable challenges. From our perspective, mental health research and nursing play an important role in walking alongside Aboriginal Peoples as we explore, respond and create resilience to the ever‐present influence that climate change is having on our lives, communities, country and workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall is one of the primary triggers for many geological and hydrological natural disasters. While the geological events are related to mass movements in land collapse due to waterlogging, the hydrological ones are usually assigned to runoff or flooding. Studies in the literature propose predicting mass movement events as a function of accumulated rainfall levels recorded at distinct periods. According to these approaches, a two‐dimensional rainfall levels feature space is segmented into the occurrence and non‐occurrence decision regions by an empirical critical curve (CC). Although this scheme may easily be extended to other purposes and applications, studies in the literature need to discuss its use for flooding prediction. In light of this motivation, the present study is unfolded in (1) verifying that defining CCs in the rainfall levels feature space is a practical approach for flooding prediction and (2) analyzing how geospatial components interact with rainfall levels and flooding prediction. A database containing the rainfall levels recorded for flooding and non‐flooding events in São Paulo city, Brazil, regarding the period 2015–2016, was considered in this study. The results indicate good accuracy for flooding prediction using only partial rain, which can be improved by adding physical characteristics of the flooding locations, demonstrating a direct correlation with spatial interactions, and rainfall levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters, including earthquakes, can have a traumatic impact on children's psychological wellbeing and development. The efficacy of interventions aimed at enhancing children's socio‐emotional learning has been documented in the literature. At the same time, these techniques are the key for training children for possible future disasters by enhancing their knowledge about behavioural preparedness and emotional competence. However, research on evidence‐based training programs on earthquakes combining digital and traditional activities is scarce. We tested the efficacy of a 10‐unit training program for primary school children, developed within the Emotional Prevention and Earthquakes in Primary School (PrEmT) project. The program aimed at increasing knowledge of and metacognition about earthquakes, safety behaviours, emotions, and coping strategies, through digital (using the web‐application HEMOT®, Helmet for EMOTions, developed ad‐hoc) and traditional activities (completing paper‐and‐pencil tasks). The participants were 548 second and fourth‐graders from Italian schools. They were divided into an experimental group (participating in the training program) and a control group. Both groups participated in pretests and posttests to evaluate changes in their knowledge of training‐related contents. For ethical reasons, we also measured children's wellbeing. Generalized linear mixed models indicated an improvement in the experimental group's knowledge and metacognition about earthquakes, safety behaviours, emotions, and coping strategies after the training program, compared to the control group. Children's general wellbeing did not deteriorate during participation in the project. The results documented the efficacy of the evidence‐based training program developed within the PrEmT project. The program provides a preventive method for enhancing earthquake‐related resilience that could be generalized to other kinds of disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) following traumatic events is a dynamic and transformational process. However, its dynamic structure is currently unknown. The study aimed to estimate the dynamic structure of PTG at the nuance level based on PTG measurement items using network analysis. A three‐wave longitudinal study was conducted from July 20, 2021, to January 30, 2022, among the victims experiencing the 2021 Henan floods. The final sample (n = 297) completed reports of PTG after 0, 3, and 6 months of the disaster. We employed the graphical vector autoregressive model approach to estimate extended network models. Contemporaneous network results revealed strong positive associations between domains of PTG in the same measurement window, especially between new possibilities and personal strength. Moreover, temporal network results—the internal interplays among PTG items across measurement windows—revealed that the domain of relating to others plays a central role in the dynamics of PTG. Although other domains predicted an increase in relating to others, relating to others inhibited the development of other domains, especially new possibilities and personal strength. Our study identifies the culture‐specific process of PTG and provides empirical evidence on the explanatory models of PTG and the Janus–Face model of PTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land managers in Cape York Peninsula, far northeast Australia, hold different ideas around the causes of climate variability. Understandings of changes in climate are underpinned by particular environmental knowledges, values, and practices. These understandings are articulated in the context of the wet season, when land managers must adapt to the changing duration and intensity of the rainfall each year. The wet and dry seasons function as cyclical agents that precipitate different modes of living and working among different groups of people in Cape York. Where settler‐descended cattle graziers tend to frame climate variability as 'natural cycles', Aboriginal rangers link climate variability to anthropogenic climate change. The tendency among Aboriginal rangers to link these changes to anthropogenic climate change is a result of the interpenetration of a Western scientific land management model with an Aboriginal land management model in the formal co‐management of protected areas. From this context, a 'spatial vernacular' of interculturally produced climate‐related knowledge emerges. The explanatory models different land managers draw on to understand climate variation in relation to seasonal water, changes to the wet season, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events are linked to their livelihoods, lifeways, and the forms of environmental knowledge they value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme rainfall events are a major cause of natural disasters and have been projected to increase in frequency and intensity under future climate change scenarios. Previous studies have used outputs of climate model simulations to evaluate changes in future extreme rainfall, but results have been uncertain due to the use of only a limited number of climate simulations. To address this issue, this study aims to evaluate the applicability of the d4PDF database (Database for Policy Decision‐Making for Future Climate Change), produced through large‐scale climate ensemble simulations, for analysing changes in extreme rainfall values between historical and future climatic conditions. A large‐scale sample size of the d4PDF allows the investigation of high‐magnitude rainfalls with long return periods. To utilize the d4PDF as a large‐scale sample for estimating extreme rainfall, the homogeneity between ensembles was assessed using the t test and Mann–Whitney U test, and the historical extreme rainfall with the d4PDF dataset was validated through comparison with observed data and using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. It was confirmed that the d4PDF ensembles could be used as a large‐scale sample, and the historical rainfall series of the d4PDF showed a similar distribution pattern to the observed rainfall series. Subsequent investigation of extreme rainfall for future ensembles during 2051–2110 indicated an increase by 20%–30% compared to historical climatic conditions in South Korea due to climate change. The results demonstrate the applicability of large‐scale climate ensemble simulations, such as d4PDF, for analysing changes in extreme rainfall and suggest that such information can be used to counter future extreme rainfall‐related disasters. Therefore, this study contributes to the knowledge gap in this area and highlights the need for further assessment and utilization of large‐scale climate ensemble simulations for future climate change research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For much of the 21st century, Australia has endured the most prolonged and severe drought since records began. This drought has been found to have negative and long‐lasting consequences upon both the physical and mental well‐being of farmers and their families. To date, however, no research has examined the experience of drought from an occupational perspective. Objective: This study aims to explore the way in which drought impacts upon the lived experience of the farming role and the way in which the occupational identity of farmers influences the meanings attributed, and response to, drought. Methods: Narrative inquiry and thematic analysis were used to explore the experiences of drought among six farming men and four farming women from Northern Queensland. Findings: Four inter‐related themes were identified. These being: 'Becoming a farmer – Rites of passage on entry to the farming role'; 'Farmers as guardians over the land'; 'Drought as siege' and; 'Leisure occupations as temporary bridges to a world beyond drought'. Each of these themes offer insights into the way in which drought comes to be understood by farmers and, in turn, experienced and responded to. Conclusion: By better understanding the occupational experiences of farmers during drought, resources can be more effectively targeted towards promoting occupational balance and well‐being. Interventions aimed at reframing the way in which the farming role is conceptualised from a young age and supporting occupations beyond farming as bridges to the outside world may be effective in achieving positive outcomes during drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents damage assessment using a hierarchical transformer architecture (DAHiTrA), a novel deep‐learning model with hierarchical transformers to classify building damages based on satellite images in the aftermath of natural disasters. Satellite imagery provides real‐time and high‐coverage information and offers opportunities to inform large‐scale postdisaster building damage assessment, which is critical for rapid emergency response. In this work, a novel transformer‐based network is proposed for assessing building damage. This network leverages hierarchical spatial features of multiple resolutions and captures the temporal differences in the feature domain after applying a transformer encoder to the spatial features. The proposed network achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance when tested on a large‐scale disaster damage data set (xBD) for building localization and damage classification, as well as on LEVIR‐CD data set for change detection tasks. In addition, this work introduces a new high‐resolution satellite imagery data set, Ida‐BD (related to 2021 Hurricane Ida in Louisiana) for domain adaptation. Further, it demonstrates an approach of using this data set by adapting the model with limited fine‐tuning and hence applying the model to newly damaged areas with scarce data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine how an exogenous supply shock affects product availability, prices, and price‐setting behavior, we analyzed a unique dataset representing a natural experiment concerning the 2011 flood in Thailand, which affected the production facilities of Western Digital, the world's largest producer of hard drives. The natural disaster impacted the overseas inventory of hard drives in the United States, where availability declined by more than 40% and price indexes increased by as much as 38%. However, our findings suggest that such supply shocks, when transmitted to either substitute or complementary products, are likely to be absorbed within production networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper and insufficient treatment of infectious hospital wastewater could seriously endanger public health and the environment. Ferrate(VI), a strong oxidizing, disinfecting, and coagulating agent, has the potential as a green solution for decontamination of water and wastewater. In this paper, electrochemically prepared potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) with high purity was successfully encapsulated and applied to the water contaminated by SARS‐CoV‐2. Natural zeolite was chosen as an appropriate ecological material for ferrate encapsulation. The stability of encapsulated ferrate (in tablet form) was monitored for an extended time period (290 days) and has significantly increased in contrast with free potassium ferrate by almost 30%. Subsequently, the K2FeO4 encapsulated with zeolite in tablet form was applied to the water and municipal water samples containing the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. The removal efficiency reached up to 98.5% and 86.7%, respectively, under natural conditions. Combination of environmentally friendly oxidizing agent and natural excellent adsorbent leads to the creation of very effective water treatment matter. These findings are essentially immediate and especially important for immediate water treatment in urgent situations such as natural disasters or military conflict. Practitioner Points: Electrochemical preparation of oxidizing agent, K2FeO4, in high purity by own constructed electrolyzer.Encapsulation of ferrate(VI) to natural zeolite threefold improving the stability during 9 months.SARS‐CoV‐2 virus was successfully removed from various contaminated types of water.High degradation efficiency of virus fragments by Fe(VI) was achieved without additional water adjustment, in natural pH range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe damage was experienced in 10 provinces in Turkey, and the north of Syria, with the earthquakes that hit Kahramanmaraş at midnight and afternoon on February 6, 2023. Aim: The authors aimed to give brief information to the international nursing community about the situation related to earthquakes in the aspects of nurses. Conclusion: These earthquakes caused traumatic processes in the affected regions. Many people, including nurses and other healthcare professionals, died or were injured. The results demonstrated that the required preparedness had not been applied. Nurses went to these areas voluntarily or on assignment and cared for individuals with injured. The universities in the country passed to distance education because of the shortage of safe places for victims. This situation also negatively influenced nursing education and clinical practice by interrupting in‐person education one more time after the COVID‐19 pandemic. Implications for nursing and nursing policy: Since the outcomes show a need for well‐organized health and nursing care, policymakers may consider getting nurses' contributions to the disaster preparedness and management policy‐making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]