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Due to the growth of renewable energies, which requires cost reduction and efficiency in terms of structural health assessment, failure prevention, effective maintenance scheduling, and equipment lifespan optimization, in this paper, we propose an Ultra Wideband (UWB)-based accelerometer Sensor Node for low-power applications in offshore platforms. The proposed Sensor Node integrates a high-resolution accelerometer together with an Impulse Radio Ultra-Wideband (IR-UWB) transceiver. This approach enables effective remote monitoring of structural vibrations. This provides an easy-to-install, scalable, and flexible wireless solution without sacrificing robustness and low power consumption in marine environments. Additionally, due to the diverse and highly demanding applications of condition monitoring systems, we propose two modes of operation for the Sensor Node. It can be remotely configured to either transmit raw data for further analysis or process data at the edge. A hardware (HW) description of the proposed Sensor Node is provided. Moreover, we describe the power management strategies implemented in our system at the firmware (FW) level. We show detailed power consumption measurements, including power profiles and the battery-powered autonomy of the proposed Sensor Node. We compare data from a wired acquisition system and the proposed wireless Sensor Node in a laboratory environment.The wired sensor integrated into this acquisition system, fully characterized and tested, is our golden reference. Thus, we validate our proposal. Furthermore, this research work is within the scope of the SUREWAVE Project and is conducted in collaboration with the MARIN Institute, where wave basin tests are carried out to evaluate the behavior of a Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) system. These tests have provided a valuable opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the proposed Sensor Node for offshore platforms and to compare its performance with a wired system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a potentially traumatic event with long-term consequences. From a human resource development (HRD) perspective, COVID-19 poses significant challenges, especially in the case of foreign workers. Although expatriation can be highly stressful, an adequate level of adjustment can promote an experience of growth and development. Drawing from the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 related trauma and the level of cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) in a sample of 170 Italian short-term expatriates. Specifically, we hypothesise a moderated mediation model in which COVID-19-related posttraumatic stress is associated with a lower level of CCA both directly and indirectly through a deterioration in psychological health. Moreover, we investigate the influence of organisations by analysing the moderating role of perceived organisational support (POS). As expected, the results supported both the direct and mediation hypothesis, while the link between COVID-19 related trauma and psychological health and the indirect effect showed different shapes for varying levels of POS. These findings can hopefully offer useful insights for promoting psychological health and positive experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The tall forests of Victoria, Australia, which are available for logging, are foreshadowed to be converted from mature forest to hostile environments for mature-forest dependent species by 2030. This has occurred within a 60-year time-frame since the advent of industrial-scale logging in the region. In this light, Protection Areas (PAs) of approximately 100 ha have been implemented to protect habitat with high density populations of Yellow-bellied Gliders (Petaurus australis) and Southern Greater Gliders (Petauroides volans). Aims and methods. Ten considerations are provided to guide location and design of PAs, and to provide set asides and other forms of protection for mature-forest dependent species in the context of the temporal and spatial scale of logging activity. Key results. Considerations are grouped into Overall approach (precautionary), Survey records and habitat attributes (occurrence, habitat, vegetation types), Size and shape considerations (edge and fragmentation effects); Management history (logging and fire), and Boundary considerations (context and conditions). In addition, set asides encompassing home ranges; and high levels of basal area retention, are also required in the remainder of planned logging coupes. Conclusions. Addressing these considerations in PAs, in set asides and in retention will provide some protection for mature-forest dependent species, but will be insufficient without ecologically sustainable forest management at the coupe level, forthe sustained yield of all habitat components of these forests. Implications. The conservation of mature-forest dependentspeciesin the context of an ongoing timber industry requires logging return times well beyond current expectations, resulting in a substantial reduction in resource commitment to industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long bone fractures in hostile environments pose unique challenges due to limited resources, restricted access to healthcare facilities, and absence of surgical expertise. While external fixation has shown promise, the availability of trained surgeons is limited, and the procedure may frighten unexperienced personnel. Therefore, an easy-to-use external fixator (EZExFix) that can be performed by nonsurgeon individuals could provide timely and life-saving treatment in hostile environments; however, its efficacy and accuracy remain to be demonstrated. This study tested the learning curve and surgical performance of nonsurgeon analog astronauts (n = 6) in managing tibial shaft fractures by the EZExFix during a simulated Mars inhabited mission, at the Mars Desert Research Station (Hanksville, UT, USA). The reduction was achievable in the different 3D axis, although rotational reductions were more challenging. Astronauts reached similar bone-to-bone contact compared to the surgical control, indicating potential for successful fracture healing. The learning curve was not significant within the limited timeframe of the study (N = 4 surgeries lasting <1 h), but the performance was similar to surgical control. The results of this study could have important implications for fracture treatment in challenging or hostile conditions on Earth, such as war or natural disaster zones, developing countries, or settings with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students' challenging behaviour is a persisting problem in some primary schools. In South African primary schools, however, students' challenging behaviour is mainly understood as disruptive classroom behaviour. To establish how primary schools experience this phenomenon, interviews were held with twenty-one participants, purposively selected from three primary schools, to provide qualitative data. Opposing prior understandings, thematic analysis showed that students' challenging behaviour in primary schools is experienced through acts of violence, vandalism, and bullying. Social cognitive theory revealed how students growing up in hostile environments emulate and reproduce hostility. Education departments should consider these experiences to appraise and revise disciplinary policies to promote school safety, and more effective learning in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding a species use of space is important as it provides information about the potential resources available in its habitat. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat as it relates to availability for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The work was carried out at Quebrada de La Puerta in the province of San Juan and data recorded for the species included microhabitat use and availability according to established categories. To assess microhabitat selection, we applied a design of usage vs availability and calculated the Manly index to obtain a function of resource selection. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability, and in lesser measure utilised shrub and bare soil, whereas it rejected the use of cactus and dead leaves substrate. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits, though it is necessary to be aware of other aspects of its natural history to truly understand how its microhabitat selection relates to feeding or reproduction in hostile environments like the Puna. In this way we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology and we provide an information basis for the creation of future priority areas for conservation and for habitat management plans in Puna environments. We evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits and we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential key factor in standardizing safety within the workplace. Harsh working environments with long working hours can cause stress on the human body that may lead to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). MSD refers to injuries that impact the muscles, nerves, joints, and many other human body areas. Most work-related MSD results from hazardous manual tasks involving repetitive, sustained force, or repetitive movements in awkward postures. This paper presents collaborative research from the School of Electrical Engineering and School of Allied Health at Curtin University. The main objective was to develop a framework for posture correction exercises for workers in hostile environments, utilizing inertial measurement units (IMU). The developed system uses IMUs to record the head, back, and pelvis movements of a healthy participant without MSD and determine the range of motion of each joint. A simulation was developed to analyze the participant's posture to determine whether the posture present would pose an increased risk of MSD with limits to a range of movement set based on the literature. When compared to measurements made by a goniometer, the body movement recorded 94% accuracy and the wrist movement recorded 96% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global social movements for justice have called for better legal responses to the harms of inequality. These inequalities have traditionally been dealt with in the political sphere and legal measures to address them have taken little account of emerging knowledge about the biological impact of unequal treatment. We use the concept 'bioinequalities' to foreground the relationship increasingly articulated in studies that show that social stress and trauma associated with unequal treatment have a significant epigenetic and intergenerational impact on the body. This article proposes a way to address the health harms that result from inequality by drawing on the existing concept of the 'hostile environment' in sexual harassment jurisprudence in Australia. Our 'bioinequality' approach focuses on the way that inequality operates in and as a hostile and harmful environment for the embodied and embedded beings that live in it. We examine the possibilities of using the concept of a hostile environment to more effectively address discriminatory harms alongside a positive duty to create non-hostile environments. In so doing we offer a broader, bioscientifically informed approach that can inform equality laws in other jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel ERP model of survivability design using natural analogies. Management theories frequently emerge from biological metaphors. Every entity seeks to continue existence, to survive. Firms, governments, and individuals balance survivability factors of efficiency, resilience, and prominence (ERP) to stay alive. The researchers employ a comparative analysis methodology between squids, military ships, startup firms in the defense industry, and strategic supply chains using these analogies and a novel ERP model as an analytical framework. Comparing the cases yields general principles of strategic design that potentially extend to other entities that function in hostile environments. These principles primarily relate to the relative significance of threats, the importance of ERP factors, the nature of interrelationships among the ERP factors, and the tradeoffs involved while taking actions to improve survivability. The paper offers insights into the use of ERP analogical case analysis as a means for interdependent entities to co-create strategies to plan for and overcome dilemmas in hostile environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distant Voices is an ongoing, interdisciplinary collaborative action research project, drawing on criminology, community development, politics, practice-led research and songwriting to explore crime, punishment and reintegration through creative conversations that aim to challenge and unsettle understandings of and approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration. In this paper, we discuss some of the thinking behind the project and we reflect on our experiences to date as a community of enquiry. Specifically, we explore the extent to which certain practices of hospitality that we have experienced in processes of collaborative songwriting and song-sharing might mediate and resist the ‘hostile environment’ that faces people leaving prison in many contemporary societies. Drawing on our experience, we argue that hospitality is often disruptive; that creating and sustaining hospitable environments is extremely challenging; and that to do so requires careful thought and planning, including in relation to problems created by the power dynamics intrinsic to criminal justice. The paper includes links to and discussion of one song written in the project – ‘An Open Door’ -- which engages with and illustrates these themes.

Questions related to managing people in hostile environments have become more central on the agenda of business leaders and HR professionals in MNCs. This is due to developments such as the increase of terrorism or the political instability in many regions. In consequence, research on the role of HR in hostile environments has increased as well, though it can still be considered in its early stages. We would like to review the current state of research on managing people in hostile environment. In particular, with this article we contribute to the literature by developing a conceptual framework that distinguishes between micro-, meso- and marco-level research and charts progress, mechanisms and results. We call this the Situation – Response – Outcome (SRO) Framework of HRM in hostile environments. Depending on the level of analysis, the framework further differentiates between a pre-crises, acute-crisis, and post-crises phases of HRM in hostile environments. As a result, it serves as the basis to cluster existing literature around it and to show avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the books, the inclusiveness of the Italian framework regulating healthcare access for migrants is indisputable. However, we might wonder how access takes shape on the front-line of the healthcare system, particularly in times of increasingly hostile institutional and discursive environments. By focusing on Italian migration and healthcare policies and the practices of health workers during their encounters with migrants in an irregular situation, this contribution analyses how health workers deal with institutional tensions in the field and how these, in turn, shape their narratives and actions. It suggests that individual positioning plays a major role in favouring the adoption of discretional practices of care or control. Nonetheless, practices are also mediated by the wider institutional and discursive landscape, which has been exponentially characterized by a tension between a medical-humanitarian logic that legitimates providing healthcare to vulnerable migrants, and a control-oriented logic targeting immigration and health expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores best practice in the preparation and protection of strategic HRs deployed by Multinational corporations (MNCs) in hostile environments. By building on the literature from the areas of strategic and IHRM, expatriation, as well as risk and crisis management, the limitations and gaps of the extant research are highlighted. This provides a foundation for our investigation through a series of in-depth interviews with corporate executives, and insurers and relocation specialists with professional expertise in protecting and supporting HRs. This represents the first time such a detailed picture of the partnerships between MNCs and the specialists, required to deliver preparation and protection in hostile environments, has been depicted in the IHRM literature. The findings identify the challenges MNCs face when protecting their HRs and highlights the importance of specialist expertise, knowledge, and management. A framework for managing HRs within international hostile environments is subsequently developed offering an opportunity to systematically consider some of the ethical and strategic issues associated with the contemporary challenges of international mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurs can and do play an important role in promoting community recovery after disasters. Research, however, has not adequately explored the behavior and practices of post-disaster entrepreneurs or acknowledged the role of entrepreneurs in overall disaster recovery. We attempt to fill this gap by highlighting the behavior and practices of entrepreneurs who contribute to recovery, specifically, we argue that post-disaster entrepreneurs: (a) supply needed resources to disaster victims, (b) leverage social capital to navigate extreme uncertainty, (c) are motivated by high place attachment, and (d) exhibit both commercial and social goals. They are able to successfully perform these functions because of the embedded nature of entrepreneurship. We offer evidence based on fieldwork conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina and following the tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Joplin, Missouri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Monotonic and fatigue behaviour of notched GFRP subjected to seawater is studied. • Seawater has a detrimental effect on both monotonic and fatigue performance. • The stress–strain response was simulated through a progressive failure damage model. • Fatigue life for different immersion times was successfully predicted. This paper studies the monotonic and fatigue behaviour of notched glass fibre-reinforced polymers after long-term exposure in seawater. Uniaxial quasi-static tensile tests and uniaxial stress-controlled cyclic tests were carried out for different immersion times, ranging from 0 days to 910 days, using rectangular cross-section specimens with a central hole. The geometric discontinuity was monitored, via digital image correlation, to better understand the damage accumulation process and the fracture mechanisms. A three-dimensional progressive damage model was also implemented, using the finite element method, to simulate the stress–strain response and the failure pattern. Fatigue life of the immersed laminates was predicted from the S-N curve of the dry laminates along with the three-dimensional progressive damage model. Overall, the proposed predictive approach captured well the detrimental effect of seawater on fatigue lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many garment applications where protection is needed against hostile environments, part of the requirement is for insulation to shield the wearer from extremes of temperature. For an insulating garment to be fully effective, it needs to allow the wearer to move freely so that they can carry out their intended activity efficiently. Traditional materials achieve their insulation by trapping air within the structure thereby not only limiting heat loss by convection but also making good use of the low thermal conductivity of air to cocoon the wearer within a comfortable environment. To achieve effective protection with conventional textiles, it is usually necessary to have a thick fibrous layer, or series of layers, to trap a sufficient quantity of air to provide the required level of insulation. Several disadvantages arise as a result. For example, thick layers of insulating textile materials reduce the ability of the wearer to move in a normal manner so that the conduct of detailed manual tasks can become very difficult; the layers lose their insulating capacity when the trapped air is lost as they are compressed; the insulating capacity falls rapidly as moisture collects within the fibrous insulator – it does not have to become sensibly wet for this to happen; just 15% moisture regain can give a dramatic reduction in insulating capacity. Not surprisingly therefore, there has been continued interest in developing insulators that might be able to overcome the disadvantages of conventional textile materials and improve the mobility of the wearer by allowing the use of only a very thin layer of extremely-high insulating performance to provide the required thermal protection. One class of materials from which suitable candidates might be drawn is aerogels; their attractiveness derives from the fact that they show the highest thermal insulation capacity of any materials developed so far. Despite sporadic high levels of interest, commercialisation has been slow. Aerogels have been found to possess their own set of disadvantages such as fragility; rigidity; dust formation during working and cumbersome, expensive, batch-wise manufacturing processes. They may well have been destined to become a product of minor interest, confined to very specialist applications where cost was of little concern. However, methods have been developed to combine aerogels and fibres in composite structures which maintain extremely high insulating capacity whilst demonstrating sufficient flexibility for use in garments. Ways have been found to prevent the formation of powder as aerogel composite fabrics are worked. Most significant though, is the achievement, arising from a project supported by the Korean Government, of a simplified one-step production process developed with the express aim of providing a substantial reduction in the cost of aerogels. Suitably-priced aerogel is now available and this should provide fresh stimulus for research and development teams to engage in new product development work utilising aerogels in textiles and garments for thermal insulation. The mechanisms through which aerogels achieve their outstanding thermal insulating ability is unconventional, at least in terms of materials used in textiles. This issue ofTextile Progresstherefore includes detail about thermal transport in aerogels before reviewing the various forms in which aerogels can now be made, some of their applications and the research priorities that are now beginning to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Air mission planning in hostile environments requires that multiple dependent objectives are taken into account. For example, the aircraft must be unharmed in order to perform reconnaissance in an area of interest. Moreover, the risk that the aircraft gets hit depends on the probability that the enemy’s sensors are tracking the aircraft. This paper suggests and analyses an expected cost model for mission routes. It is shown that only a few parameters need to be adjusted for combining different objectives, such as maximizing the survivability, maximizing the probability of performing mission task(s) and minimizing the time in air. The route planning problem is formulated as the optimization problem of finding the route with minimum expected cost. An implemented route planner utilizing particle swarm optimization is used for demonstrating the method with simulations. It is shown that the route planner is able to take dependencies between objectives into account. The conclusion is that the method is useful for planning air missions in hostile environments with multiple objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This issue ofTextile Progressreviews research and development into electromagnetic shielding materials for blocking a wide range of frequencies. Different shielding materials such as metals, metal-coated materials, polymer-coated materials, conductive filler-reinforced polymers, conductive fabrics and their composites are reviewed in detail, as are hybrid shielding materials prepared by applying a ferrite or polymer coating to conventional shields and using single-layer or multilayer coatings. Research work carried out on hybrid shields is elaborated in this review as is the development of shields with various functionalities; shields possessing high mechanical strength, water repellency and other properties to enhance their robustness have been developed by researchers for outdoor applications and hostile environments. Different testing methods, standards and the limitations of tests used for assessing the shielding effectiveness of materials are discussed. The directions currently being taken in research into electromagnetic shielding and the future scope for textile materials as effective screens for blocking electromagnetic radiation emissions are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a new protocol for Voice over IP (VoIP) transmissions in wireless ad-hoc networks is proposed. Distributed architecture is necessary when dealing with dynamic environments, such as ports or battlefields, where creating infrastructures becomes expensive or impossible. Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) are based on a peer-to-peer approach and each node participates in the organization of the whole network. VoIP over MANETs is a challenging issue due to the intrinsic distributed nature of the existing peer-to-peer paradigm. This paper proposes a new protocol, capable of ensuring a quality of service (QoS) level for VoIP calls over a MANET and to manage a large number of calls in the system. Novel metric and utility functions are proposed to perform the best path selection from source to destination nodes, respecting the QoS parameters for VoIP quality. In particular, an objective metric such as R-factor is considered, and a flexibility index is defined in order to maximize the number of acceptable VoIP calls. Performance evaluation shows that the proposed approach led to better network management in terms of admitted calls and respected QoS constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What should be considered ‘adequate’ preparation and support for journalists and media workers in difficult, remote and hostile environments? One would assume there would be numerous sources of feedback and contributions measuring the suitability of the training, as well as providing information regarding what improvements are necessary to ensure journalists are provided the best possible pre-deployment preparation. However, after working and observing developments in this area over several years, three main issues have presented themselves. First, there is little investigation or analysis being conducted into these training programmes. Second, there are few independent organisations working to standardise the training and support provided to journalists. Finally, the extent of training and support to the local correspondents, fixers and stringers in developing countries, that most international media organisation depend on in these locations, has become an unfortunate casualty of shrinking international news budgets.

What should be considered 'adequate' preparation and support for journalists and media workers in difficult, remote and hostile environments? One would assume there would be numerous sources of feedback and contributions measuring the suitability of the training, as well as providing information regarding what improvements are necessary to ensure journalists are provided the best possible pre-deployment preparation. However, after working and observing developments in this area over several years, three main issues have presented themselves. First, there is little investigation or analysis being conducted into these training programmes. Second, there are few independent organisations working to standardise the training and support provided to journalists. Finally, the extent of training and support to the local correspondents, fixers and stringers in developing countries, that most international media organisation depend on in these locations, has become an unfortunate casualty of shrinking international news budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine has developed around certain assumptions about connectivity and format. From the pioneer work of Kenneth Bird in the 1970's medical events separated by distance were connected for videoconference interaction [1]. The connection implied well developed telecommunications tools at both ends of the interaction. Telemedicine in its most common manifestations relies upon electronic and professional familiarity plus training with proper technical support. This is true even with Internet telemedicine at the low end of bandwidth. A workable Internet service provider and intact telecommunication services are required at both ends. The assumption of intact, robust telecommunications fails when there is any significant disruption of services, power, or trained people to initiate a telemedicine request. The very nature of disasters whether made by nature, made by fellow humans or in war declarations implies a rupture of the social fabric, a failure of infrastructure. This loss of infrastructure and connection happens at a cruel time when the need for services in health matters is generally very much exacerbated. Extreme remote sites have never had infrastructure and therefore fit into this chapter. Is telemedicine incompatible with support and relief in disasters of remote places? Certainly not. However, telemedicine must adapt to the situation in ways not generally associated with standard telemedicine. New solutions can meet the expectation of being wherever services are need whenever the need arises. This chapter looks at the experiences, successes and failures of telemedicine in natural disaster, war, and extreme remote sites. The presentation is concluded with recommendations to make telemedicine integral to any disaster response and a natural tool for any human endeavor that requires sending people to remote and hostile environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long-term durability of polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) in hostile environments is described. Characteristics of a stress-corrosion crack in glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), creep fracture in unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and predictions of a variable loading fatigue life in CFRP laminates are the main topics of this paper. To enhance the performance of the PMCs as structural materials, many improvements are achieved so far. Characterization of mechanical properties under the hostile environments is still need for the studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]