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This paper presents a detailed analysis of embodied carbon (EC) in various case studies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Through comprehensive assessments, including modules A, B and C, the study evaluates EC across different stages of building life cycles. This study also considers the EC savings achievable through current end‐of‐life strategies in the UK context. As Module A accounts for the highest EC in the case studies, the majority of reduction strategies should focus on this stage. The most impactful strategy for reducing EC emissions involves incorporating Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a replacement for cement. This approach has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the EC of concrete within the buildings under investigation, ranging from 60% to 70%. The study reveals that specification strategy can lead to significant Whole Life Embodied Carbon (WLEC) reductions, with the residential building achieving a 30.59% reduction, the college building a 46.86% reduction, and the hotel building a reduction of 23.69%. Effective mitigation strategies, such as utilizing recycled and reclaimed materials, demonstrate promising results, showcasing significant reduction in WLEC emissions in the buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this meta-analysis was to quantify the potential of CH 4 -mitigating strategies in dairy cattle when accounting for the effects of treatment dose, dietary nutrient composition, and supplementation period. Data from 218 studies with dairy cattle published between 1963 to 2022 were reviewed. Individual CH 4 mitigation strategies selected for the analysis were algae (Asparagopsis spp.), 3-nitrooxypropanol, nitrate, lipids, plant secondary compounds, and direct-fed microbials (DFM). Response variables evaluated were daily CH 4 emission (g/d), CH 4 yield (g CH 4 /kg DMI), and CH 4 intensity (g CH 4 /kg milk yield [MY] and ECM). Relative mean difference between treatment and control means reported in the studies were calculated and used in the statistical analysis. Robust variance estimation method was used to analyze the effects of CH 4 mitigation strategies. Dose, forage-to-concentrate ratio (F:C), dietary concentrations of CP, ether extract (EE), NDF, ADF, and starch, and supplementation period were used as continuous explanatory variables. Data for algae supplementation were limited and responses to studied species were contrasting but, overall, Asparagopsis spp. effectively decreased daily CH 4 emission, CH 4 yield, and CH 4 intensities by 29.8 ± 4.6%, 23.0 ± 5.3%, 34.0 ± 4.3%, and 22.6 ± 7.3%, respectively. Supplementation of 3-nitrooxypropanol decreased daily CH 4 emission, yield, and intensity (per kg MY and ECM) by 28.2 ± 3.6%, 28.7 ± 2.8%, 29.2 ± 3.1%, and 31.8 ± 2.8%, respectively, compared with control. Decreasing dietary fiber (i.e., F:C, NDF, and ADF), whereas increasing dietary starch concentration increased the efficacy of 3-nitrooxypropanol at mitigating enteric CH 4 emission. Nitrate supplementation decreased CH 4 emission, yield, and intensity (per kg ECM) by 18.5% ± 1.9%, 17.6 ± 1.6%, and 13.0 ± 0.2%, respectively, compared with control. Efficacy of nitrate at mitigating enteric CH 4 yield and CH 4 intensity was positively associated with dose, and efficacy of nitrate at mitigating CH 4 yield was positively associated with dietary starch concentration. Lipid supplementation decreased CH 4 emission, yield, and intensities by up to 14.8 ± 2.3%, respectively, compared with control. Efficacy of lipids supplementation was positively associated with dietary EE, starch, and supplementation period, but negatively associated with dietary ADF concentration. Free oil supplementation tended to increase lipid efficacy by 31% at decreasing CH 4 emission, compared with control. Condensed tannins and plant-derived bioactive compounds decreased CH 4 yield by 11.3 ± 2.9% and 5.7 ± 2.5%, respectively, but oregano did not affect enteric CH 4 emission metrics in the current meta-analysis. Direct-fed microbials were not effective in mitigating enteric CH 4 emission variables. Data were limited to determine the effects of dietary nutrients and duration of supplementation on efficacy of Asparagopsis spp., plant secondary compounds and DFM. Overall, supplementation of the diet with Asparagopsis spp., 3-nitrooxypropanol, nitrate, and lipids were the most effective strategies for decreasing enteric CH 4 emission in dairy cattle. Variability in the efficacy of most CH 4 mitigation strategies can be partially explained by differences in treatment dose, dietary nutrient composition, and supplementation period. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close-hole roof-cutting technology (CHRCT, also called "dense drilling") has been widely applied in coal mines due to its economic and safety benefits. Inappropriate cutting parameters and support schemes can lead to dynamic pressure disturbances in self-forming roadways with thick and hard roofs. Moreover, fully characterizing the procedure and process of self-forming roadways using CHRCT in the field is difficult, resulting in unconvincing results. Therefore, this study aims to fill the gaps in theoretical knowledge and methodology. First, the dynamic pressure characteristics of the self-forming roadway using CHRCT were investigated, and the dynamic pressure types of the roadway were classified. There are three main types: roof cut off along the coal wall side of, severe deformation, and overhanging roof of a roadway after the second working face mining. The effects of different hole parameters (inclination angle, depth and spacing) on the roof cutting to form a roadway were also investigated. The optimal hole inclination, depth and spacing of 15°, 8 m, and 200 mm were determined through a series of experiments. Then, three support schemes embedded in the roadway were compared in terms of stress evolution, bolt and cable axial forces, roof displacement, and structure. Finally, this study proposes a dynamic pressure mitigation strategy through the optimization of parameters for close-hole roof-cutting and support schemes, monitoring and controlling ground pressure in roadways, and taking auxiliary measures for pressure relief. The results show that this strategy can effectively eliminate the dynamic pressure of the roadway and meet the stability requirements of the full mining cycle. This paper presents a methodology for analysing CHRCT via numerical simulation. Moreover, this approach is of great theoretical and practical importance for dynamic pressure control for self-forming roadways using CHRCT in thin coal seams with thick and hard roofs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have designed and developed nonwoven fabric supported electrospun polymeric nanofibrous‐based membrane for robust filtration system for ecological sustainability of clean water. The fabricated nanocomposites filters were tested for the removal of chromium (VI) toxic heavy metal ions from contaminated feedstock water. The interpenetrating network like morphological structure obtained from pure and composite nanofibers‐based membranes have been thoroughly investigated to understand the structure–properties of highly entangled system. It has been found that incorporating functional moieties onto nanocomposite membranes significantly impacts the absorption efficiency of toxic metals. The pore sizes of the hierarchical geometries have been varied to insight into its impact on flow rate and efficiency of filtration. The strategy of interfacing the multifunctional composite polyethylene terephthalate nanofiber membrane supported on nonwoven fabric to generate heterostructures has found to provide mechanically stable platform for efficient metal ion removal. It has been found by BET surface area analysis that the nanofibers reinforced with functional nanomaterials has controlled pore geometry compared to pristine PET electrospun nanofibers which lead to higher absorption of metal ions. We have highlighted the importance of mechanically stable electrospun polymeric nanofibers membrane‐based mitigation strategies to meet the huge demand of potable water for long‐term environmental sustainability. Highlights: Mechanically toughened freestanding nanofibers mat supported on nonwoven fabric.Functionally upgrade nanofibers by incorporation of carbon based nanofillers.Controlled porosity by morphological optimization for removal of contaminates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review was to summarize current research findings and unify ideas regarding methods to reduce the health risks to consumers posed by toxic contaminants, such as chloropropanols, glycidols, and their esters, which are formed during food processing, particularly during the refining of vegetable oils and fats, thereby critically impacting food safety. The review describes various aspects related to the occurrence of foodborne toxicants, it covers hazard characterization, their formation mechanisms, and control and regulatory strategies developed in recent years by the World Health Organization, the European Union Commission, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Additionally, it concludes with an analysis of factors that favor the formation of toxic contaminants in food and discusses some methods for mitigating and monitoring the concentrations of precursors in raw materials. The material is also addressed to researchers, nutritionists and specialists in the domestic food industry, who should pay more attention to the health risk posed by oil and fat processing contaminants and methods of their removal from the raw material.

A large number of communities are impacted annually by the increasing frequency of tornado hazards resulting in damage to the infrastructure as well as disruption of community functions. The effect of the hazard geometry (center and angle of tornado path as well as the tornado width) is studied herein on how it influences the recovery of physical and social systems within the community. Given that pre-disaster preparedness including mitigation strategies (e.g., retrofits) and policies (e.g., insurance) is crucial for increasing the resilience of the community and facilitating a faster recovery process, in this study, the impact of various mitigation strategies and policies on the recovery trajectory and resilience of a typical US community subjected to a tornado is investigated considering different sources of uncertainties. The virtual testbed of Centerville is selected in this paper and is modeled by adopting the Agent-based modeling (ABM) approach which is a powerful tool for conducting community resilience analysis that simulates the behavior of different types of agents and their interactions to capture their interdependencies. The results are presented in the form of recovery time series as well as calculated resilience indices for various community systems (lifeline networks, schools, healthcare, businesses, and households). The results of this study can help deepen our understanding of how to efficiently expedite the recovery process of a community.

In recent years, the conflict between human activities and the natural environment has led to global warming and the emergence of extreme weather events, prompting reflection on the climate adaptability of buildings. Historical and cultural districts often reflect the design and construction strategies of their era, which were shaped by the prevailing social environments and natural conditions, so they typically embody construction techniques tailored to address local climatic characteristics. Consequently, in this paper, we focus on 33 historic and cultural districts within Beijing's old city, along with seven proposed historic and cultural districts, to retrieve land surface temperatures (LST) using Landsat remote sensing data and radiative transfer equations. A spatiotemporal analysis was conducted to investigate the variations in LST distribution across different historic and cultural districts and to characterize the internal temperature features within the historic and cultural districts of Beijing's old city. Research indicates the following: (1) The Dashilan area boasts the highest average LST, while the Huangcheng area records the lowest. (2) Over the past six years, most historic and cultural districts have experienced a decline in LST. Notably, the most significant reductions in average LST have been observed in the areas west of Xinjiekou, Dongsi South, and from the 3rd to the 8th Street in Dongsi. (3) Within the historic and cultural districts, hot spots of LST are primarily concentrated in the residential areas with one-story traditional houses, while cold spots are predominantly found around water, cultural relics, and modern architectural structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the digital transformation, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) have become crucial for operational efficiency and better healthcare. By the end of 2023, all Indonesian healthcare facilities are expected to implement EMR (Regulation No. 24, 2022). However, challenges with BPJS claims often arise post-EMR implementation. This study analyzes EMR's impact at RS A on BPJS claims and physician performance, aiming to identify mitigation strategies for these issues. Using mixed methods, this study combines primary data from 5 respondent interviews and secondary data on BPJS claims pre- and post-EMR implementation at RS A (Jan-Aug 2023). Secondary data analysis employs tables, graphs, and descriptive statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation) to detail BPJS claims patterns. The Chi-Square test is used to analyze the relationship between physician performance and BPJS claim document completeness. EMR implementation increased cases by 11.27% and nominal BPJS claims by 15.04%. Physician performance analysis showed no significant relationship between variables and BPJS claim document completeness (p > 0.05). Challenges post-EMR included data errors, lack of staff training, technical constraints, and incomplete integration of operational processes with EMR. Mitigation strategies include staff training, periodic monitoring, internal audits, process improvements, and management evaluation. Conclusion: EMR implementation at RS A increased cases and BPJS claims. However, challenges persist postimplementation. Effective mitigation strategies can enhance efficiency and BPJS claim quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are primary plasticizers and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are extensively used in numerous everyday consumer products. Although the adverse effects of single PAEs have been studied, our understanding of the effect of multiple phthalate exposure on male germ cell vitality remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the collective effects of a mixture of PAEs (MP) comprising diethyl-, bis (2-ethylhexyl)-, dibutyl-, diisononyl-, diisobutyl-, and benzyl butyl-phthalates in the proportions of 35, 21, 15, 15, 8, and 5%, respectively, on differentiated male germ cells using GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells. As a mixture, MP substantially hindered GC-1 spg cell proliferation at 3.13 µg/mL, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 16.9 µg/mL. Treatment with 25 µg/mL MP significantly induced reactive oxygen species generation and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, MP activated autophagy and suppressed phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase B, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The triple inhibitor combination treatment comprising parthenolide, N-acetylcysteine, and 3-methyladenine effectively reversed MP-induced GC-1 spg cell proliferation inhibition, mitigated apoptosis and autophagy, and restored mTOR phosphorylation. This study is the first to elucidate the mechanism underlying MP-induced male germ cell toxicity and the restoration of male germ cell proliferation mediated by chemical inhibitors. Therefore, it provides valuable insights into the existing literature by proposing a combinatorial toxicity mitigation strategy to counteract male germ cell toxicity induced by various EDCs exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metro stray currents flowing into neutral-point-grounded transformers can cause serious direct current (DC) bias. Affected by both metro train and urban power grid operations, transformer neutral-point DC caused by metro stray current is complex, dynamic, and time-varying, which changes the DC bias risk level of transformers. Thus, just installing blocking devices (BDs) at transformer neutral points with high instantaneous DC may make it difficult to comprehensively mitigate DC bias and lead to increased BD installation. To solve this, through optimizing BD installation placements, a mitigation method for transformer DC bias is proposed. In the proposed method, the DC bias risk level and BD installation number are included in the constraint and objective functions. To evaluate the risk level of transformer DC bias, four indicators are proposed considering the distribution characteristics of neutral DC. To optimize the BD installation placements, the effects of both the metro train dynamic operation and the operation topology of the urban power grid on neutral DCs are considered. The Monte Carlo method is used to sample the train operation conditions and a relation matrix among transformers is established. Applying the method to a certain power system, the result of BD installation placements shows that the transformers supplying the metro system must have BDs installed at their neutral points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The production of apple fruits in orchards or plants in tree nurseries is negatively affected by apple replant disease (ARD), worldwide. Our objective was to develop a method to counteract ARD without applying chemical soil disinfection. We tested if an addition of clays with high release of plant available silicon reduces ARD symptoms and a biochemical effect of silicon on the plant defence reaction occurs. Methods: In a greenhouse experiment, apple rootstocks 'M26' were grown for 8 weeks in a sandy replant soil, a heat disinfected control and a grassland soil (Grass) with and without amendment by bentonite and the clay blend Florisol®TM Profi (6 and 18%). The micromorphology of silica bodies (phytoliths) in roots and the phytoalexin concentration as a measure of the defence reaction of roots were analysed. In a second approach, the gene expression of ARD biomarkers involved in phytoalexin biosynthesis was determined after two weeks. Results: Normalised gene expression was significantly higher for the ARD soil with clay amendments compared to the ARD variant whereas phytoalexin concentrations were similar. Significantly lower phytoalexin levels were found in the heat disinfected and Grass variant, indicating less defence reaction than in the ARD variant. Clay amendment increased soluble silicon in the substrates and consequently silicon in the epidermis and vascular bundles, indicating high silicon accumulation. Plants grown in ARD and Grass with amendments showed improved growth compared to plants grown in the respective soils without amendments. Conclusion: The amendment of soil by clays rich in plant available silicon may counteract ARD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the seismic performance of shallow foundations located on liquefiable soil during seismic shaking and post-liquefaction using numerical analyses. Numerical simulations are performed using the UBCSAND constitutive model in FLAC software with validation against prior centrifuge tests conducted by the last author. The numerical analyses carried out in this study emphasize the post-seismic-liquefaction settlement of foundations which has not been addressed adequately compared with the co-seismic settlements. The effect of the foundation surcharge type, embedment depth, relative density, compaction depth, and foundation width are studied by a series of numerical parametric studies. The results show that soil densification and embedment depth can significantly affect the post-liquefaction-induced settlement of shallow foundations compared to the other simulated mitigation strategies. The results indicate that simultaneously considering both the relative density and the compaction depth ratio can significantly contribute to reducing post-liquefaction foundation settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary exclusion fencing is used around development and remediation sites to protect amphibians. However, by focusing so closely on mitigating potential for harm to individuals, managers may not see the "forest for the trees" and inadvertently cause more harm than good for the populations they are trying to protect. Land developments are necessary, and managers need to be capable of selecting the most appropriate solution that does not impede work activities or animal welfare. Yet, we suggest that adapted fencing solutions or non‐fencing alternatives are not being explored that may reduce impacts on amphibians. Our focus is on project managers so that an open discussion can be had on the extent of fencing that is selected for each project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the mankind counters the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), it simultaneously witnesses the emergence of mpox virus (MPXV) that signals at global spread and could potentially lead to another pandemic. Although MPXV has existed for more than 50 years now with most of the human cases being reported from the endemic West and Central African regions, the disease is recently being reported in non‐endemic regions too that affect more than 50 countries. Controlling the spread of MPXV is important due to its potential danger of a global spread, causing severe morbidity and mortality. The article highlights the transmission dynamics, zoonosis potential, complication and mitigation strategies for MPXV infection, and concludes with suggested 'one health' approach for better management, control and prevention. Bibliometric analyses of the data extend the understanding and provide leads on the research trends, the global spread, and the need to revamp the critical research and healthcare interventions. Globally published mpox‐related literature does not align well with endemic areas/regions of occurrence which should ideally have been the scenario. Such demographic and geographic gaps between the location of the research work and the endemic epicentres of the disease need to be bridged for greater and effective translation of the research outputs to pubic healthcare systems, it is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) pollution is a focus of the international community due to its health and environmental impacts. Organic peroxyl (RO2) radicals play a significant role in O3 initiation processes, which has implications for O3 mitigation. RO2 generated from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sources contribute substantially to O3 formation. However, quantifying the RO2 from diverse sources is a great challenge. For the first time, we proposed a new hybrid Receptor‐Kinetic model to quantify sources contributions to RO2 from the perspective of molecular level and functional groups of VOCs. We revealed that 3‐Hydroxy‐2‐butylperoxy (BUT2OLO2), 4‐Hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐butene‐3‐ylperoxy (ISOPBO2) and 1‐Hydroxypropane‐2‐ylperoxy (HYPROPO2) radicals were the dominant RO2, which were driven by reactions of cis/trans‐2‐butene (from Biogenic Emissions and Solvent Usage), isoprene (from Biogenic Emissions), and propylene (from Liquid Petroleum Gas Evaporation), respectively. The three dominant RO2 radicals contributed significantly to O3 production (28%, 10% and 14%), comparing with other 16 RO2. Sensitivity studies indicated that O3 production can be decreased effectively by reducing the dominant RO2 species for each source. Quantitative evidence suggested that targeting dominant RO2 sources can be a novel direction for O3 control. Plain Language Summary: Severe ozone (O3) pollution occurs frequently despite the strict air pollution control policies have been implemented in China. As a secondary pollutant, O3 formation is related to various photochemistry of radicals. However, it is a great challenge to quantify radicals due to the difficulty in measure. Here, we developed a new model to investigate the impacts of source on O3 from the perspective of organic peroxyl radicals (RO2). We found that VOCs sources emit a diverse variety of VOCs species to form various RO2 radicals, which are crucial for O3 formation. Sensitivity studies showed that O3 production can be decreased effectively by dominant RO2 reduction for each source. Therefore, foucusing on dominant RO2 sources can be a new direction for future O3 control. Key Points: A new hybrid Receptor‐Kinetic model was proposed to quantify sources contributions to O3 through photochemistry of RO2Sources emit a diverse variety of VOCs species to form various RO2 radicals, which are crucial for O3 formationO3 production can be decreased effectively by reducing the dominant RO2 species for each source [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat island effects and climate change are climatic phenomena responsible for periods of extreme heat in summer which severely impact citizens' well-being and health. In this alarming context which questions the livability of our cities, Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) are considered an unavoidable component of the complex strategy in diminishing urban temperatures. The present work aims to show the relevance of NBSs in urban temperature regulation through the estimation of their potential to improve outdoor thermal comfort of the heritage site Matadero Madrid. To this end, this article evaluates the effects of a scenario combining different solutions including NBSs and identifies which solutions are the most effective. The results show that this scenario has an impact on direct solar radiation and wind speed but does not affect air temperature and relative humidity. Furthermore, even if this scenario combining a fabric canopy, tree canopy, and green area significantly improves thermal conditions, it does not allow us to reach an optimal level of thermal comfort for visitors. To consider the implementation of more meaningful interventions, existing legal, administrative, and cultural limitations of the case study should be omitted. This would enable us to identify which restrictions could be adapted, thus unlocking the adaptation potential of Matadero Madrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous sudden water pollution (SWP) incidents have occurred frequently in recent years, constituting a potential risk to human, socio‐economic, and ecological health. This paper systematically reviews the current literature, with the view to establishing a management framework for SWP incidents. Only 39 of the 327 downloaded articles were selected, and the ROSES protocol was utilized in this review. The results indicated industries, mining sites, and sewage treatment plants as key SWP contributors through accidental leakages, traffic accidents, illegal discharge, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. These processes also presented five consequences, including the contamination of drinking water sources, disruption of drinking water supply, ecological damage, loss of human life, and agricultural water pollution. Meanwhile, five mitigation strategies included reservoir operation, real‐time monitoring, early warning, and chemical and biological treatments. Although an advancement in mitigation strategies against SWP was observed in this review, previous studies reported only a few prevention strategies. Considering that this review provided an SWP‐based management framework and a hydrodynamic model selection guideline, which provide a foundation for implementing proactive measures against the SWP. These guidelines and the SWP‐based management framework require practical field trials for future studies. Practitioner Points: Sudden water pollution increases with industrial growth but decrease with awareness.Human and ecosystem health and social economy are the endpoint receptacles.Mitigation strategies include reservoir dispatch, early warning, and treatments.DPSIR model forms the basis for proving proactive measures against sudden pollution.This review provides a guideline for the selection hydrodynamic models application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to summarize the health system response to COVID-19 in four East Asian countries, analyze the effectiveness of their health system response, and provide lessons for other countries to control the epidemic and optimize their health system response.MethodsThis study investigated and summarized COVID-19 data and health system response in four East Asian countries, China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea from national governments and ministries of health, WHO country offices, and official websites of international organizations, to assess the effectiveness of health system measures.ResultAs of June 30, 2022, all four countries are in a declining portion of COVID-19. China has two waves, and new cases increased slowly, with the total cases per million remaining within 4, indicating a low level. Japan has experienced six waves, with case growth at an all-time high, total cases per million of 250.994. Mongolia started the epidemic later, but also experienced four waves, with total cases per million of 632.658, the highest of the four countries. South Korea has seen an increasing number of new cases per wave, with a total case per million of 473.759.ConclusionIn containment strategies adopted by China and Mongolia, and mitigation strategies adopted by Japan and South Korea, health systems have played important roles in COVID-19 prevention and control. While promoting vaccination, countries should pay attention to non-pharmaceutical health system measures, as evidenced by: focusing on public information campaigns to lead public minds; strengthening detection capabilities for early detection and identification; using technical ways to participate in contact tracing, and promoting precise judging isolation.

Indonesian rubber plantations have the largest area in the world at 3,776.49 thousand hectares, yet they cannot be the largest producer of natural rubber. PTPN IX Balong is a state-owned company that processes latex into RSS. The production often experiences fluctuations which indicate the production risks faced by the company. The study aimed to examine the agents of production risk that are considered priorities, as well as effective mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of production risk. The research was conducted from November to December 2022 at PTPN IX Balong, Bumiharjo Village, Keling District, Jepara Regency. The research was a case study method with primary data collected by observation and distributing questionnaires to specific key persons. The secondary data were obtained from RSS production records. Data were analyzed using a quantitative method, namely House of Risk (HOR), to answer research purposes. The results showed that there are 8 priority risk agents that will be mitigated, namely high rainfall, long-tapping and picking-up times, errors made by the officers of the smoke room, broken grinding machine, dirty post-harvest tools, improper latex dilution, an excess dosage of antacid, and late application of ammonia. The mitigation strategy used to minimize the priority risk agent (source) consists of 7 risk mitigation strategies. Tightening inspections at the factory is the top priority to be implemented.

Warm air infiltration is a hidden phenomenon that can go unnoticed for weeks, months, or even years in cold storage envelopes. It is a common source of energy wastage that can be explored to achieve significant energy and cost savings. This research assesses warm air infiltration into fruit cold storages using a case study approach for an international fruit exporter based in Kenya, covering baseline study, root cause analysis, and developing a risk-based mitigation strategy to minimize the infiltration rates. Thermal graphic measurements, electricity bills, and on-site observation of the operation patterns provided source data. An Ishikawa diagram and a risk-based Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) were used to identify and prioritize root causes, respectively, and a modified decision tree was then utilized to structure the mitigation strategy. The study established a lack of awareness of cold storage operations, irregular and untimed maintenance of components, broken door seals, and inconsistency in the frequency of cold storage door openings as the critical root causes for the warm air-infiltration challenge. It was further revealed that cold storage facilities need to take advantage of the available sensory and operational data to introduce maintenance management systems, temperature-airflow monitoring systems, and environmental control devices to complement the functionality of cold storage components. To operate fruit cold storages optimally and efficiently, facilities management must comprehensively understand the sources of temperature variations and adopt mitigation strategies that minimize warm air infiltration. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to reducing warm air infiltration; thus, both systemic and behavioral approaches must be adopted and integrated into cold storage operations.

This paper investigates the value of the flexibility created by the transportation options in mitigating supply chain transportation risks. We accomplish this aim by developing an innovative computational model which uses the Real Option Valuation method to model the inner flexibility mechanism of the transportation options to choose between the Safety Net carrier and the spot market carrier on the basis of the actual conditions of the spot market (price, service level, and required transportation capacity), which is the foundation of the mitigation capability of transportation options. Through the case of a real supply chain of a large Fortune 100 multinational leader in the Fast Mover Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, we also investigate the implications of a transportation options response in case of several sources of uncertainties, namely transportation capacity shortage, price volatility and service level reliability. Findings of the application support the understanding of which conditions increase the value of flexibility of the transportation options and how much flexibility is attractive given the initial sunk cost to acquire it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, orthopedic surgical robots have rapidly advanced, presenting good prospects for their applications in the medical field. Prior to the clinical application of this novel medical device, ensuring high reliability is crucial to safeguarding patient safety and surgical quality. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the types of failures and associated risks is essential during both the development and clinical application phases. From the perspectives of both the research and development companies and clinical users, this article comprehensively elucidates the types of failures and their associated risks in orthopedic surgical robots. Furthermore, strategies for addressing high-risk failures are proposed, with the aim of providing guidance for the development and clinical application of orthopedic surgical robot devices, thereby contributing to the high-quality advancement of this field.

ABSTRACT: The increasing demand for cage-free (CF) poultry farming raises concern regarding air pollutant emissions in these housing systems. Previous studies have indicated that air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3) pose substantial risks to the health of birds and workers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) technology with different lengths of ion precipitators in reducing air pollutants and investigate the relationship between PM reduction and electricity consumption. Four identical CF rooms were utilized, each accommodating 175 hens of 77 wk of age (WOA). A Latin Square Design method was employed, with 4 treatment lengths: T1 = control (0 m), T2 = 12 ft (3.7 m), T3 = 24 ft (7.3 m), and T4 = 36 ft (11.0 m), where room and WOA are considered as blocking factors. Daily PM concentrations, temperature, and humidity measurements were conducted over 24 h, while NH3 levels, litter moisture content (LMC), and ventilation were measured twice a week in each treatment room. Statistical analysis involved ANOVA, and mean comparisons were performed using the Tukey HSD method with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. This study found that the EPI system with longer wires reduced PM2.5 concentrations (P ≤ 0.01). Treatment T2, T3, and T4 led to reductions in PM2.5 by 12.1%, 19.3%, and 31.7%, respectively, and in small particle concentrations (particle size >0.5 μm) by 18.0%, 21.1%, and 32.4%, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed for PM10 and large particles (particle size >2.5 μm) (P < 0.10), though the data suggests potential reductions in PM10 (32.7%) and large particles (33.3%) by the T4 treatment. Similarly, there was no significant impact of treatment on NH3 reduction (P = 0.712), possibly due to low NH3 concentration (

Changes in climate are influencing the quality of wine grapes worldwide. The impact of extreme climate events over short periods is increasingly recognised as a serious risk to grape quality and yield quantity. In this study, the mitigation effects of a pulsed water spray treatment on vine canopy during heatwave (HW) events were evaluated in relation to vine condition during the growing season and grape quality. In the UNCuyo experimental vineyard, vines of the three cultivars Malbec (ML), Bonarda (BO) and Syrah (SY) were treated with an overhead pulsed water spray. Heatwaves were defined as days with a minimum temperature of 21 °C and a maximum temperature of 35 °C. Two heat waves were identified during the growing season. Samples were collected at weekly intervals from veraison to harvest. On five sample dates, Leaf and Stem Water Potential (LWP, SWP), Stomatal Conductance (gs), Leaf Temperature (LT), Berry Temperature (BT), Chlorophyll Content (CC), Fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and Performance Index (PI) were recorded at several time points during the day to evaluate the physiological responses of the vine. Berries were collected on each sample date and at harvest. Berry weight, soluble solid content and pH were recorded. In the treated vines (Trt), LWP, SWP, Fv/Fm, PI and gs were significantly higher and LT was lower than in the control vines (Ctl) during the second heatwave, which was longer and more intense than the first one. One week after the more severe heatwave, LWP, SWP and gs remained significantly higher in Trt than in Ctl, displaying reduced physiological stress in Trt. At harvest, the anthocyanin profile, total polyphenol index (TPI), fruit yield, number of bunches and their average weight, berry weight, soluble solid content and pH were also recorded. Bunch weight was significantly higher in Trt for all cultivars. No differences were found in total anthocyanin concentration. These findings indicate that the vines subjected to targeted overhead water treatment during heatwaves underwent less physiological stress and yielded higher grape production, without increasing the risk of potential fungus diseases, in the Mendoza climate. Consequently, this practice could serve as a valuable strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of heatwaves.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health concern for the past 3 years. Scientific evidence on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and indoor air quality still needs to be demonstrated. This scoping review aims to study the association between air quality indoors and COVID-19. Methods: A scoping review analyzing the association between indoor air quality and epidemiological outcomes was conducted. Papers published between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2022 were included. Hospital settings were excluded from the study. Results: Eight relevant articles met the inclusion criteria. Indoor settings included workplaces, schools, restaurants, and public transport. Types of ventilation used to improve indoor air quality were dilution methods (opening windows) and mechanical systems with or without filtration or purifier. CO2 sensors were employed in one study. All the studies showed a positive association between indoor air quality and its improvement and epidemiological indicators. Conclusion: The findings of this scoping review indicate that indoor air quality, which can be improved with ventilation methods, may reduce the risk of developing COVID-19. Ventilation could thus be viewed as a possible effective mitigating method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of digital transformation, EMR has become an important step towards operational efficiency and better care. Through Permenkes No.24 of 2022, all health facilities in Indonesia are expected to have implemented the EMR system by the end of 2023. This is a mixed-methods study that combines primary data from interviews with 5 respondents and secondary data regarding BPJS claims during the period before and after EMR implementation, from January to August 2023. Secondary data analysis will be conducted using tables, graphs, and descriptive statistics such as mean, median, and standard deviation to detail and explain changes in BPJS claims patterns before and after EMR implementation. Qualitative data will be analysed. The results showed that EMR implementation increased the number of cases (11.27%) and the nominal amount of BPJS claims (15.04%). In addition, this study identified several factors that became challenges after the change to EMR. These factors include data errors, lack of staff training, technical constraints, and changes in operational processes that have not been fully integrated with the EMR system. Mitigation strategies include staff training, periodic monitoring and evaluation, internal claim audits, improvement of claim business processes, and monitoring and evaluation from management. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the change to electronic medical records (EMR) at Sultan Agung Islamic Hospital has increased starting from the number of patients, the number of cases and the nominal amount of BPJS claims. Despite the increase in the nominal amount of BPJS claims, there are still challenges and problems that need to be overcome after the implementation of EMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive paper conducts an in-depth review of personal exposure and air pollutant levels within the microenvironments of Asian city transportation. Our methodology involved a systematic analysis of an extensive body of literature from diverse sources, encompassing a substantial quantity of studies conducted across multiple Asian cities. The investigation scrutinizes exposure to various pollutants, including particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1), carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde (CH2O), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), during transportation modes such as car travel, bus commuting, walking, and train rides. Notably, our review reveals a predominant focus on PM2.5, followed by PM10, PM1, CO2, and TVOC, with limited attention given to CH2O exposure. Across the spectrum of Asian cities and transportation modes, exposure concentrations exhibited considerable variability, a phenomenon attributed to a multitude of factors. Primary sources of exposure encompass motor vehicle emissions, traffic dynamics, road dust, and open bus doors. Furthermore, our findings illuminate the influence of external environments, particularly in proximity to train stations, on pollutant levels inside trains. Crucial factors affecting exposure encompass ventilation conditions, travel-specific variables, seat locations, vehicle types, and meteorological influences. The culmination of this rigorous review underscores the need for standardized measurements, enhanced ventilation systems, air filtration mechanisms, the adoption of clean energy sources, and comprehensive public education initiatives aimed at reducing pollutant exposure within city transportation microenvironments. Importantly, our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding this subject, offering valuable insights for policymakers and researchers dedicated to advancing air quality standards and safeguarding public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social dynamics and lighting conditions influence floor egg-laying behavior (FELB) in hens. Hens prefer to lay eggs in darker areas, leading to mislaid eggs in cage-free systems. Consistent lighting is crucial to prevent mislaid eggs, but equipment obstructions can result in a dark floor area. These dark areas entice hens to lay their eggs outside the designated nesting area, which can lead to potential losses, damage, or contamination, creating hygiene problems and increasing the risk of bacterial growth, resulting in foodborne illnesses. Therefore, additional lighting in dark areas can be a potential solution. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of providing additional light in darker areas in reducing the number of mislaid eggs and FELB. Approximately 720 Hy-Line W-36 hens were housed in four cage-free experimental rooms (180 hens per room), and 6 focal hens from each room were randomly selected and provided with numbered harnesses (1–6) to identify which hens were performing FELB and identify the effect of illuminating solutions. Eggs laid on the floor and in nests were collected and recorded daily for two weeks before and after the light treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests for mislaid eggs and logistic regression for FELB in R Studio (p < 0.05). This study found that additional lighting in darker areas reduced the number of mislaid eggs by 23.8%. Similarly, the number of focal hens performing FELB decreased by 33.3%. This research also unveiled a noteworthy disparity in FELB, with approximately one-third of hens preferring designated nesting areas, while others opted for the floor, which was influenced by social dynamics. Additionally, egg-laying times varied significantly, ranging from 21.3 to 108.03 min, indicating that environmental factors and disturbances played a substantial role in this behavior. These findings suggest that introducing additional lighting in darker areas changes FELB in hens, reducing mislaid eggs and improving egg quality in cage-free systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology to evaluate the direct and general equilibrium losses for a testbed community subjected to a megathrust earthquake and tsunami hazard originating in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The testbed community studied consists of buildings for all residential and commercial sectors in the economy. A fragility analysis and functionality model are applied to estimate the direct damage and losses of these buildings at the parcel level. The process relies on Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) that propagate uncertainties from the hazards through to the damage and loss models. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is used to assess aggregated general equilibrium losses to the community. As an important mitigation strategy, seismic retrofit reduces the direct loss to building functionality and general equilibrium losses. Results show that the vulnerability of economic sectors depends on the hazard type, hazard intensity, economic zone, and building type, and the risks vary with the recurrence interval. The highest risks are associated with 500-year and 1,000-year mean recurrence intervals for joint seismic–tsunami hazards, respectively. Results from assessing different design alternatives show that whereas retrofitting all buildings to the highest code level considered results in the lowest losses, retrofitting only commercial buildings can be an efficient retrofit option for enhancing community resilience when controlling for costs. Last, a sensitivity analysis shows that losses and associated risks are sensitive to the definition of building functionality, which highlights the necessity for a common definition of building functionality when performing vulnerability analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon footprint of pork production is a pressing concern due to the industry's significant greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial to achieve low-carbon development and carbon neutrality in pork production. Thus, this paper reviewed the recent studies about various sources of carbon emissions throughout the current pork production chain; feed production, processing, and manure management are the major sources of carbon emissions. The carbon footprint of the pork production chain varies from 0.6 to 6.75 kg CO2e·kg−1 pig live weight, and the carbon footprint of 1 kg of pork cuts is equivalent to 2.25 to 4.52 kg CO2e. A large reduction in carbon emissions could be achieved simultaneously if combining strategies of reducing transportation distances, optimizing farmland management, minimizing chemical fertilizer usage, promoting organic farming, increasing renewable energy adoption, and improving production efficiency. In summary, these mitigation strategies could effectively decrease carbon emissions by 6.5% to 50% in each sector. Therefore, a proper combination of mitigation strategies is essential to alleviate greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing pork supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities across the globe are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging their local wisdom, and the Buddhist Kampong in Sodong Hamlet is no exception. Buddhist Kampong has experienced minimal COVID-19 exposure, demonstrating a proficient response to the pandemic. However, this success story remains largely unknown to various stakeholders, necessitating comprehensive research to delineate and elucidate the intrinsic value of local wisdom and its assimilation process. Using an ethnographic approach, this two-year research project was carried out in Sodong Hamlet, Gelangkulon, Sampung Ponorogo, East Java, Indonesia. Primary and secondary sources were tapped, with research informants identified as traditional, religious, and community leaders. Data collection encompassed interviews, observations, and document recordings, all analyzed using an interactive model. The findings revealed a distinct value system within the Buddhist Kampong, shaping their approach to COVID-19 mitigation. This value system revolves around the principles of Memayu Hayuning Kulawarga, Memayu Hayuning Sasama, and Memayu Hayuning Bawana, influencing the community’s engagement in check-in rituals, care for sasomo and cooperation, and the restoration of padasan and diyang. The figures embodying this local wisdom guide community members in internalizing customs, religion, and parental teachings. The internalization process unfolds through exemplary habituation, socialization, and the cultivation of moral motivation, empowering citizens to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.

Background and Aim: Severe viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is caused by Marburg virus which is a member of the Filoviridae (filovirus) family. Many Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks are reported in five decades. A major notable outbreak with substantial reported cases of infections and deaths was in 2022 in Uganda. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported MVD outbreak in Ghana in July 2022 following the detection of two probable VHF patients there. Further, the virus was reported from two other African countries, the Equatorial Guinea (February 2023) and Tanzania (March 2023). There have been 35 deaths out of 40 reported cases in Equatorial Guinea, and six of the nine confirmed cases in Tanzania so far. Methods: Data particularly on the several MVD outbreaks as reported from the African countries were searched on various databases including the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web‐of‐science. Also, the primary data and reports from health agencies like the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) were evaluated and the efficacy reviewed. Results: Chiroptera in general and bat species like Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hipposideros caffer in particular are natural reservoirs of the Marburg virus. MVD‐infected nonhuman primate African fruit‐bat and the MVD‐infected humans pose significant risk in human infections. Cross‐border viral transmission and its potential further international ramification concerns raise the risk of its rapid spread and a potential outbreak. Occurrence of MVD is becoming more frequent in Africa with higher case fatality rates. Effective prophylactic and therapeutic interventions to counter this deadly virus are suggested. Conclusion: In the face of the lack of effective therapeutics and preventives against MVD, supportive care is the only available option which contributes to the growing concern and disease severity. In view of the preventive approaches involving effective surveillance and monitoring system following the "One Health" model is extremely beneficial to ensure a healthy world for all, this article aims at emphasizing several MVD outbreaks, epidemiology, zoonosis of the virus, current treatment strategies, risk assessments, and the mitigation strategies against MVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2021, Emergency Intake Sites (EIS) were created to address capacity shortfalls during a surge of Unaccompanied Children at the Mexico-United States land border. The COVID-19 Zone Plan (ZP) was developed to decrease COVID-19 transmission. COVID-19 cumulative percent (%) positivity was analyzed to evaluate the impact of the ZP, venue type and bed capacity across EIS from April 1–May 31, 2021. Results: Of 11 EIS sites analyzed, 54% implemented the recommended ZP. The overall % positivity was 2.47% (95% CI 2.39–2.55). The % positivity at EIS with the ZP, 1.83% (95% CI 1.71–1.95), was lower than that at EIS without the ZP, 2.83%, (95% CI 2.72–2.93), and showed a lower 7-day moving average of % positivity. Conclusion: Results showed a possible effect of the ZP on % positivity when controlling for venue type and bed capacity in a specific EIS group comparison, indicating that all three variables could have had effect on % positivity. They also showed that smaller intake facilities may be recommendable during public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of research conducted over the past decade on urban heat islands and its mitigation strategies reflects the new approaches of scientists, researchers, and government agencies on urban design and planning about the intensity of urban heat islands and their impact on urban texture. This study aims to analyze the trend of research on urban heat islands and strategies to reduce them during the last decade (2010–2020). This review has prepared from 91 research studies and evaluated the main measures to reduce the urban heat island that is commonly used today. In addition, the distribution based on the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, the review of different methodologies, and the funding of research has also been evaluated. Analysis has revealed that studies in humid subtropical (Cfa), hot summer Mediterranean (Csa), and temperate oceanic (Cfb) climates have the largest share among other climatic regions that some measures (urban parks, urban trees, green roofs) have played a critical role for researchers and policy makers more than other influential factors in reducing urban heat islands. It is also noticeable that the relative share of research provided in the four main groups of mitigation measures is almost the same; this similarity can be interpreted to support the argument that lack of funding does not have a significant effect on some mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]