Low Risk Level Research Articles

Fate of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in the “Cambi® TH + AAD” of sludge in a WWTP in Beijing, China

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are emerging environmental pollutants that cause endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Sewage sludge is an important source of tri-OPFRs that are released into the environment. The occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk of OPFRs in the full-scale “Cambi® thermal hydrolysis (TH) + advanced anaerobic digestion (AAD) + plate-frame pressure filtration” sludge treatment process is closely related to the application of sewage sludge. We tested sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, China. Nine tri-OPFRs were detected in the sludge samples collected at different treatment units during four seasons. The ΣOPFRs decreased from 1,742.65–2,579.68 ng/g to 971.48–1,702.22 ng/g. The mass flow of tri-OPFRs in treated sludge decreased by 61.4%, 48.9%, 42.4%, and 63.9% in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, effectively reducing the corresponding ecological risk. The ecological risk of tri-OPFRs in sludge in forestland utilization mainly lies in chlorinated tri-OPFRs, especially TCPP and TCEP. No >42.20 t/hm2 of sludge could be used continuously for one year to prevent tri-OPFRs from exceeding the low ecological risk level, indicating that the current commonly applied proportion of sludge (1.6–30 t/hm2) will likely not raise the ecological risk of tri-OPFRs.

In five wastewater treatment plants in Xinjiang, China: Removal processes for illicit drugs, their occurrence in receiving river waters, and ecological risk assessment

Residues of illicit drugs are frequently detected in wastewater, but data on their removal efficiency by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the ecological risks to the aquatic environment are lacking in this study. The research evaluates the residues, mass load, drug removal efficiency, and risk assessment of illicit drugs in WWTPs and aquatic environments (lakes) in Xinjiang, China. Initially, the concentration (incidence) and mass load of 10 selected illicit drugs were analyzed through wastewater analysis. The detected substances included methamphetamine (METH), morphine (MOR), 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), methadone (MTD), cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE), ketamine (KET), and codeine (COD), with concentrations ranging from 0.11 ± 0.01 ng/L (methadone) to 48.26 ± 25.05 ng/L (morphine). Notably, morphine (59.74 ± 5.82 g/day) and methamphetamine (41.81 ± 4.91 g/day) contributed significantly to the WWTPs. Next, the drug removal efficiency by different sewage treatment processes was ranked as follows: Anaerobic-Oxic (A/O) combined Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) treatment process > Oxidation ditch treatment process > Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (A2/O) treatment process > Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic combined Membrane Bio-Reactor treatment process. Finally, the research reviewed the concentration and toxicity assessments of these substances in the aquatic environment (lakes). The results indicated that Lake1 presented a medium risk level concerning the impact of illicit drugs on the aquatic environment, whereas the other lakes exhibited a low risk level. As a result, it is recommended to conduct long-term monitoring and source analysis of illicit drugs, specifically in Lake1, for further investigation. In conclusion, to enhance the understanding of the effects of illicit drugs on the environment, future research should expand the list of target analytes.

Potential risk of soil erosion on the Tibetan Plateau during 1990–2020: Impact of climate change and human activities

With global warming and increasing anthropogenic activities, the ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau are becoming increasingly fragile, exacerbating the risk of soil erosion in the area. However, the interacting effects induced by numerous erosion processes occurring at different times and spaces on the Tibetan Plateau are challenging to quantify using the conventional single-process assessment models (e.g., water erosion, wind erosion, and freeze–thaw). Consequently, our understanding of the complicated state of the plateau with respect to the potential for soil erosion is limited. Therefore, we created a methodological framework using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to evaluate the potential risk of various soil erosion processes driven by climate change and human activity under current soil and topographical circumstances in this region. The results showed that the assessment model was reliable, and the estimated accuracy using the receiver operating characteristic curve for the training and validation datasets was 0.721. The majority of the areas of the plateau (60.69%) were at very-low or low-risk levels, while 17.55% of the plateau (mainly in the southeast and along the surrounding high mountains) was at high risk. In general, the average potential risk of soil erosion significantly increased during 1990–2020, and climate change exerted more pressure on the land surface than human activities did. The potential risk increased dramatically in 28.15% of the total plateau area, and was found to be concentrated in the plateau’s southern, eastern, central, and northern regions. The findings of this study provide a basis for local ecological environmental protection and land resource management on the Tibetan Plateau and propose a new protocol to forecast and prevent soil erosion worldwide.

The Inhibin-B Level at Orchidopexy and Follow-up of 280 Boys With Non-syndromic Unilateral Cryptorchid Testes

PurposeAn impaired germ cell number per tubular cross-section (G/T) at orchidopexy indicates a high risk of infertility. A recent study in boys with bilateral cryptorchidism showed a very high predictive value for a low serum inhibin-B level, indicating bilateral impaired G/T. Several other studies have shown a fairly strong correlation between inhibin-B and G/T. We aimed to evaluate if inhibin-B levels at orchidopexy improved at follow-up in boys with unilateral cryptorchidism. MethodsWe included 280 boys with unilateral non-syndromic cryptorchidism at the median age of 1 year (4 months-9 years) who underwent orchidopexy. They were evaluated for serum FSH, LH and inhibin-B levels at surgery and at follow-up (median 16 months later), including multiple of the median (MoM) estimations of inhibin-B due to the age dependency of normal levels. ResultsThe inhibin-B MoM score improved significantly at follow-up. At orchidopexy, 59 (21%) boys had inhibin-B levels below the normal 2.5-percentile indicating impaired G/T bilaterally. At follow-up, 36% of the boys still had low inhibin-B. At orchidopexy, 221 (79%) boys had inhibin-B levels above normal 2.5-percentile and only 5% had low inhibin-B levels at follow-up. The risk of low inhibin-B levels at follow-up was significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.0001). At follow-up, totally, 32 (11%) boys had low inhibin-B levels, hereof only 3 patients with increased FSH. ConclusionsOrchidopexy benefits the fertility potential. About 10% of boys with unilateral non-syndromic cryptorchidism may have a bilateral testicular disease reducing their fertility potential. Insufficient gonadotropin stimulation may possibly be the cause.

Trophic transfer of heavy metals through aquatic food web in the largest mangrove reserve of China

Understanding the mechanism of trophic transfer of heavy metal through the aquatic food web is critical to ecological exposure risk assessments in mangrove ecosystems. Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve (ZMNNR) is the largest and biologically richest mangrove reserve in China, but has been exposed to heavy metal pollutants caused by the progressive industrialization and urbanization. We collected a variety of aquatic consumers, and primary producers, as well as sediments from the ZMNNR and analyzed them for heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) concentrations, and for both δ13C and δ15N values to establish the trophic levels.The trophic magnification factors (TMF) of Cd, Cu and Zn are 0.19 (p < 0.01), 0.07 (p < 0.01) and 0.33 (p < 0.05), respectively, indicating significant biodilution in a simplified food web composed of bivalves, crustaceans and fish. There are also potential tendencies of biodilution for Cr, Ni and Pb. Comparison of heavy metals in representative fish and shrimp in the ZMNNR with those in worldwide mangroves indicate a low risk level for aquatic consumers in our ecosystem. Quantitative source tracking is conducted based on principal component analysis and cluster analysis, which indicate that Cr, Ni and Pb are mainly originated from natural geological processes, Cu and Zn from shrimp farming and agriculture activities, and Cd from the deposition of aerosol released by regional metal smelting industry.

Adaptive forward collision warning system for hazmat truck drivers: Considering differential driving behavior and risk levels

The risky driving behavior of hazmat truck drivers is a crucial factor in many severe traffic accidents. In-vehicle Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), integrating vehicle active safety and driver assistance technology, has been installed into hazmat trucks aiming to reduce driving risks during emergencies. This paper presents an enhanced dynamic Forward Collision Warning (FCW) model tailored for hazmat truck drivers with different driving characteristics and risk levels. Our objective is to determine the optimal moment to alert drivers during risky situations. The novelty of our approach lies in analyzing the driver’s response mechanism to the warning by considering their characteristics and real-time driving risk levels. We employ a multi-objective optimization method that integrates real-time driving risk, driver acceptance, and driving comfort to calculate the optimal warning time. Our findings indicate that the appropriate warning time is similar for all drivers under high-level risks, while significant differentiation exists for different driver categories under mid-level and low-level risks. Additionally, aggressive drivers tend to follow leading vehicles closely and exhibit lower deceleration intentions when faced with dangers compared to normal and cautious drivers. Our research outcomes enable the development of user profiles for hazmat truck drivers based on extensive historical driving records, facilitating the analysis of driver response differences to FCWs. This enhances driving safety and improves driver trust in ADAS systems.

Risk Analysis of Occupational Hazards Using HIRADC Approach in the Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Management System

The high construction intensity can increase the risk of construction work accidents if not supported by good work method planning, risk management, and supervision. Indonesian National Social Security Agency for Employment (BPJS) noted that in 2017 the number of work accidents reported reached 123,041 cases, while throughout 2018, it reached 173,105 cases. Furthermore, in 2019 it was 114,000 cases and experienced an increase in claims by 55.2% to 177,000 cases in 2020. Then, from January to September 2021, there were 82,000 work accidents and 179 occupational diseases, 65 percent of which were caused by Covid-19 [1]. One approach to risk management is Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Determining Control (HIRADC) to identify hazards, assess whether the risks on the job fall into the category of danger or very dangerous, and control the hazards that will happen. The study's objectives include identifying jobs at risk of occupational accidents during construction, analyzing the level of risk of occupational accidents to implement the occupational safety and health management system during construction, and providing control measures to reduce the risk of accidents. The results of the study stated that from a total of 49 hazard identification in the project construction work, there are 142 accident risks, with a percentage of 14% of the risks included in the high-level risk criteria, 86% included in the medium-level risk criteria, and there are no risks in the low-level risk criteria.

Pengaruh harga minyak, inflasi, suku bunga, dan kurs terhadap indeks saham sektoral IDXEnergy

Since 2020, energy commodity prices have shown recovery after falling due to the impact of COVID-19. However, during this recovery period, the Russia-Ukraine war occurred. Russia was sanctioned by an energy embargo which further pushed the price of energy commodities, including oil. On the other hand, the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war also caused turmoil in macroeconomic factors such as inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. This study examines the effect of oil prices and macroeconomic factors on the energy sector stock index. The independent variables used in this study are oil prices and macroeconomic factors such as inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. The period used in this study is the period from 2020 to 2022. The sampling technique used is a saturated sample where the entire population will be sampled. The data analysis technique used is multiple linear regression. The results showed that partial oil prices and exchange rates had no significant effect. In contrast, the inflation variable had a significant positive effect, and interest rates had a significant negative effect. An increase in inflation will reduce the value of wealth, so investors should invest in stocks in the energy sector when there is an increase in inflation. Conversely, an increase in interest rates makes investment alternatives in deposits more attractive with a lower level of risk than stocks.

Quality by Design: Development of Safe and Efficacious Full-Thickness Acellular Dermal Matrix Based on EuroGTPII Methodologies.

The activities of tissue establishments are constantly and rapidly evolving. The development of a new type of allograft, full-thickness acellular dermal matrix, with high mechanical properties to be used in tendon repair surgeries and abdominal wall reconstruction, has determined the need for quality by design process in order to assess evidence of quality, safety and efficacy. The EuroGTPII methodologies were specifically tailored to perform the risk assessment, identify and suggest tests in order to mitigate the potential risk consequences of a novel tissue preparation implementation. The new allograft and associated preparation processes were assessed using the EuroGTP methodologies and characterized to properly evaluate the novelty (Step 1), identify and quantify the potential risks and risk consequences (Step 2), and define the extent of pre-clinical and clinical assessments required to mitigate the risks identified in the assessment (Step 3). Four risk consequences associated with the preparation process were identified: (i) implant failure related with tissue procurement and the reagents used during the decellularization protocol; (ii) unwanted immunogenicity related with the processing; (iii) disease transmission linked with the processing, reagents used, reduction in the reliability of microbiology testing and the storage conditions; and (iv) toxicity related to the reagents used and handling of the tissue during clinical application. The outcome of the risk assessment was a low level of risk. Nevertheless, it determined the need for a series of risk mitigation strategies proposed to reduce each individual risk and to provide additional evidence of the safety and efficacy of full-thickness acellular dermal matrix grafts. EuroGTPII methodologies allow us to identify the risks and ensure the correct definition of pre-clinical assessments required to address and mitigate the potential risk consequences, before proceeding with clinical use of the new allografts in patients.

Risk Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety Using Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) Method (Case Study in PT Barokah Galangan Perkasa)

PT Barokah Galangan Perkasa is a company located in East Kalimantan that is engaged in the manufacturing, repair, and maintenance of ships. The welding activity is the most dominant in shipbuilding, but the implementation of the occupational health and safety (OHS) system is not optimal. There have been several work accidents in the upper accommodation and cargo oil tank areas, such as falling from a height, being hit by welding sparks, and an electrical short circuit. The working conditions in this area are quite risky. Therefore, research on risk analysis is needed. HIRARC is a method for identifying a problem that is assessed at risk based on the likelihood and severity where the results of the assessment can determine the level of risk and give risk control for each work activity. Research results show that there were 40 potential hazards in the upper accommodation area with 77% low risk level, 12% moderate risk level, 8% high risk level, and 3% very high risk level. While in the cargo oil tank area there was 37 potentials hazard with 84% low risk level, 13% moderate risk level, and 3% high risk level. By knowing the risk level, companies can identify work activities that require prioritized improvement. They can also determine appropriate control to prevent the occurrence of such risks. Risk control in the upper accommodation area can be achieved through the implementation of administrative controls, utilization of PPE, and technical engineering controls.

MATHEMATICAL APPROACH TO THE FORMATION OF A METHODOLOGICAL BASIS OF ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF INTERACTION OF ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM OF LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE

The field of managing the logistics of agricultural products under significant dynamic changes in today's conditions requires the formation of new approaches using the possibilities of modern information tools. The article presents a systematic mathematical approach to logistics management in agriculture for conditions with an insignificant level of risk and under conditions of significant threats to the logistics processes of the agricultural industry. The presented study also examines the issue of analyzing the effectiveness of management actions in the logistics process, both operationally and strategically.The developed mathematical approach takes into account a wide range of conditions for carrying out logistics activities - both at a low level of risk in the implementation of the logistics process, and in circumstances of significant threats that lead to the minimization of the reliability of logistics in the agricultural sector. This is especially important today, given the significant level of negative impacts on logistics processes due to military threats. The growth of these influences even leads to the destabilization of the world food market, and the threat of famine in some regions of the world.The proposed mathematical approach takes into account both the emergence of new risks, the significantly increased dynamic nature of the effects on logistics activities in the agricultural sector of the economy, and the traditional specificity of the conditions for the implementation of logistics processes in the agricultural sector. The specificity of logistics management in the agricultural sector is due to the peculiarities of the agricultural production process; properties inherent in agricultural products, conditions of distribution of these products. This determines a wide range of tasks that must be performed by the logistics of the agricultural sector. This, in turn, creates a need for a highly adaptive dynamic approach when forming a set and combination of logistics tasks and goals. Algorithms, tools and methods were specially developed to implement this approach. In particular: the unification of target functions; the approach of flexible adaptive changes in the ranks of target functions to ensure the appropriate level of rationality of logistics process management; a compromise approach in the case of the need to simultaneously achieve a group of set goals or a group of goals; the approach of assessing the strategic impact of a management decision for operating not with static values of parameters, but with their trends over time. In general, this makes it possible to achieve the appropriate level of economic efficiency of agricultural logistics management even with dynamic changes in the conditions of its implementation and to ensure a high level of reliability of the logistics process even with an increase in the level of threats.

Hazard Identification And Risk Assesment (HIRA) Pada Proses Riksa Uji Mesin Crimping Semi-Otomatis

Every phase of work activities in a workplace is inevitably associated with potential hazards and risks that can lead to both workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. To mitigate these hazards effectively, the identification and assessment of risks are imperative, providing a foundation for offering constructive recommendations to the respective companies. The process of hazard identification and risk assessment adheres to the risk management stages, aligned with the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard on Risk Management, encompassing the determination of consequences (severity) and probability levels (likelihood) to ascertain the risk levels within each work process phase. Upon establishing these risk levels, comprehensive recommendations for control programs can be devised, aimed at averting workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Data acquisition is carried out through surveys/observations involving workers and document reviews. The observations were conducted within the production area, specifically focusing on the semi-automatic crimping machine inspection process at PT. SWS in December 2022. The research findings reveal that within the crimping machine inspection process, the risk percentages are distributed as follows: 0% at the extreme risk level, 65% at the high risk level, 35% at the moderate risk level, and 0% at the low risk level. Effective control and supervision measures are essential to prevent the occurrence of workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. These measures offer significant benefits, encompassing enhanced work productivity, improved work morale, and a fortified corporate reputation. The researcher proposes a range of control measures, spanning substitution, engineering, administrative adjustments, and personal protective equipment provisioning.

Investigating the Ergonomic Work Posture on Traditional Fishing Boats Manufacturing in Lhokseumawe City, Aceh Province, Indonesia

The Sailing ships in Aceh are usually conventional; this shipbuilder usually requires 3 people. Sailing ships in Aceh are usually made conventionally. Shipbuilders need 3 workers. Construction time for ships weighing 1 to 3 gross tons (GT) takes 1 - 2 months. Strategies and improvements in shipbuilding methods have been well-studied in the shipbuilding literature. The location and process of making the ship are in the Banda Sakti sub-district, Lhokseumawe City. It has multiple workstations, such as measuring and cutting stations and assembly stations. Operators must work 8 hours daily in various postures, including standing, bending, and lifting heavy objects. On the basis of the preamble of the Nordic Body Map (NBM), intense exercise damages the musculoskeletal system by comparing the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and Rapid Entire Body Assessment for workers' assessment of their working posture. In the process of making fishing boats. Results of REBA Labor Calculation: Worker 1 gets a score of 9, Worker 2 gets a score of 11, and Worker 3 gets a score of 5. In RULA, Workers 1 and 2 get the same score of 6, and Worker 3 gets the same score of one score out of 4. REBA received a final score of 2 at low-risk level 1, and REBA 2 workers received a final score of 2 at level 1, low-risk, and performance level 1. Working conditions at lifting stations must be improved to prevent musculoskeletal system diseases in the timber lifting station employees.

Counterfeit Luxury Businesses in China: The Impacts of Counterfeit Consumption on Global Economy

Today, counterfeiting is growing prevalent all over the world due to enormous returns on investment and low levels of risk. Despite of all the intellectual and ethical issues proposed by criminologists and policy makers, the issue of counterfeit products has been addressed in the economic sector. It is conspicuous that global businesses are raising awareness in problems caused by counterfeit products. The purpose of this study is to investigate Chinese consumer’s purchasing behaviours in counterfeit luxury products and discuss how they will potentially influence the global luxury market.

Three-Month Complication Rate of Ultrasound-Guided Soft Tissue Surgical Procedures Across Six Sports Medicine Clinics.

To 1) determine the types and frequency of complications within 3 months following ultrasound-guided surgical procedures, and 2) identify any patient demographics, co-morbidities, or procedural characteristics that were associated with an increased risk of complications. A retrospective chart review was performed at six Sports Medicine clinics across the United States. The Clavien-Dindo classification was used to categorize procedural complications on a 5-point scale from 1, representing any deviation in post-procedure care without requiring pharmacological or invasive treatment to 5, representing death. Generalized Estimating Equations for binomial outcomes with a logit link were used to estimate the overall and procedure-specific 3-month complication rates. Among 1902 patients, 8.1% (n = 154) had diabetes and 6.3% (n = 119) were current smokers. The analysis included 2,369 procedures, which were performed in either the upper extremity (44.1%, n = 1045) or lower extremity (55.2%, n = 1308) regions. The most common procedure was ultrasound-guided tenotomy (69.9%, n = 1655). Additional procedures included, trigger finger release (13.1%, n = 310), tendon scraping (8.0%, n = 189), carpal tunnel release (5.4%, n = 128), soft tissue release (2.1%, n = 50), and compartment fasciotomy (1.6%, n = 37). Overall, there was a complication rate of 1.2% (n = 29 complications; 95% CI: 0.8-1.7%). Individual procedures had complication rates that ranged from 0 to 2.7%. There were 13 Grade I complications in 13 patients, 12 Grade II complications in 10 patients, 4 Grade III complications in 4 patients, and 0 Grade IV or V complications. No associations between complication risk and any patient demographics (age, sex, BMI), co-morbidities (diabetes, smoker), or procedure characteristics (type, region) were identified. This retrospective review provides an evidence-based estimate supporting the low level of risk associated with ultrasound-guided surgical procedures for patients from a variety of geographical settings who are seeking care at private and academic-affiliated clinics.

INFORMATION SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT DESIGN OF SUPERVISION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AT XYZ MINISTRY USING NIST SP 800-30

SIMWAS is an information system at the XYZ Ministry that is used to manage supervisory activities and follow up on supervisory results. SIMWAS is an important asset that contains all internal control business processes, but in practice, SIMWAS information security risks have not been managed properly. To overcome these problems, information security risk management is needed at SIMWAS. This study aims to design and analyze SIMWAS information security risk management using the NIST SP 800-30 framework. NIST SP 800-30 focuses on a particular infrastructure and its boundaries. Since the purpose is to perform a technical risk analysis of the core IT infrastructure, it is highly prescriptive. It has nine primary steps to conduct risk assessment. The NIST SP 800-30 framework is used to design and analyze SIMWAS information security risks by identifying threats, vulnerabilities, impacts, likelihoods, and recommendations for controls. SIMWAS information security risk assessment is carried out by analyzing data obtained from the results of interviews, observations, and document reviews. The results of this study show that SIMWAS information security has four low-level risks, eight moderate-level risks, and five high-level risks. Very low and low risk levels are acceptable according to the risk appetite of the business owner, but moderate, high, and very high-risk levels require risk avoidance, risk transfer and risk reduction. The XYZ Ministry need to carry out residual risk analysis and cost-benefit analysis from implementing controls in each risk scenarios.

Assessment of the Spatial Variability and Uncertainty of Shreddable Pruning Biomass in an Olive Grove Based on Canopy Volume and Tree Projected Area

Olive pruning residues are a by-product that can be applied to soil or used for energy production in a circular economy model. Its benefits depend on the amount of pruning, which varies greatly within farms. This study aimed to investigate the spatial variability of shreddable olive pruning in a traditional olive grove in Córdoba (Spain) with an area of 15 ha and trees distanced 12.5 m from each other. To model the spatial variability of shreddable olive pruning, geostatistical methods of stochastic simulation were applied to three correlated variables measured on sampled trees: the crown projected area (n = 928 trees), the crown volume (n = 167) and the amount of shreddable pruning (n = 59). Pearson’s correlation between pairs of variables varied from 0.71 to 0.76. The amount of pruning showed great variability, ranging from 7.6 to 76 kg tree−1, with a mean value of 37 kg tree−1. Using exponential and spherical variogram models, the spatial continuity of the variables under study was established. Shreddable dry pruning weight values showed spatial autocorrelation up to 180 m. The spatial uncertainty of the estimation was obtained using sequential simulation algorithms. Stochastic simulation algorithms provided 150 possible images of the amount of shreddable pruning on the farm, using tree projected area and crown volume as secondary information. The interquartile range and 90% prediction interval were used as indicators of the uncertainty around the mean value. Uncertainty validation was performed using accuracy plots and the associated G-statistic. Results indicate with high confidence (i.e., low uncertainty) that shreddable dry pruning weight in the mid-western area of the farm will be much lower than the rest of the farm. In the same way, results show with high confidence that dry pruning weight will be much higher in a small area in the middle east of the farm. The values of the G-statistic ranged between 0.89 and 0.90 in the tests performed. The joint use of crown volume and projected areas is valuable in estimating the spatial variability of the amount of pruning. The study shows that the use of prediction intervals enables the evaluation of farm areas and informed management decisions with a low level of risk. The methodology proposed in this work can be extrapolated to other 3D crops without requiring modifications. On a larger scale, it can be useful for predicting optimal locations for biomass plants, areas with high potential as carbon sinks or areas requiring special soil protection measures.

Continuous low serum levels of advanced glycation end products and low risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular events. Previous studies have reported that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were related to cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes. However, data on associations between long-term AGEs and cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes are lacking. This study aimed to determine whether a long-time shift in the levels of serum AGEs is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.MethodsTwo-time serum methyl-glyoxal-hydroimidazoline (MG-H1) levels were measured in 138 patients with type 2 diabetes whose mean glycated hemoglobin level was 10.1%. We categorized patients whose serum MG-H1 levels were < 2.8 µg/mL at both times as the continuous low MG-H1 group. The primary endpoints of this study were combined cardiovascular events, which were defined as heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, and all-cause death. Hazard ratios (HRs) for combined cardiovascular events with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard models to compare the outcomes between the continuous low MG-H1 group and others.ResultsThe continuous low MG-H1 group was associated with a significantly lower risk than others in combined cardiovascular events after adjusting for possible confounders (HR: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.28–0.87; P = 0.02). Furthermore, the same relationship was observed in patients without a history of cardiovascular events.ConclusionsContinuous low serum MG-H1 levels are associated with a low frequency of diabetes-related complications in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

A Bayesian network-GIS probabilistic model for addressing human disturbance risk to ecological conservation redline areas

Population growth and associated ecological space occupation are posing great risks to regional ecological security and social stability. In China, “Ecological Conservation Redline” (ECR) that prohibited urbanization and industrial construction has been proposed as a national policy to resolve spatial mismatches and management contradictions. However, unfriendly human disturbance activities (e.g., cultivation, mining, and infrastructure construction) still exist within the ECR, posing a great threat to ecological stability and safety. In this article, a Bayesian network (BN)-GIS probabilistic model is proposed to spatially and quantitatively address the human disturbance risk to the ECR at the regional scale. The Bayesian models integrate multiple human activities, ecological receptors of the ECR, and their exposure relationships for calculating the human disturbance risk. The case learning method geographic information systems (GIS) is then introduced to train BN models based on the spatial attribute of variables to evaluate the spatial distribution and correlation of risks. This approach was applied to the human disturbance risk assessment for the ECR that was delineated in 2018 in Jiangsu Province, China. The results indicated that most of the ECRs were at a low or medium human disturbance risk level, while some drinking water sources and forest parks in Lianyungang City possessed the highest risk. The sensitivity analysis result showed the ECR vulnerability, especially for cropland, that contributed most to the human disturbance risk. This spatially probabilistic method can not only enhance model's prediction precision, but also help decision-makers to determine how to establish priorities for policy design and conservation interventions. Overall, it presents a foundation for later ECR adjustments as well as for human disturbance risk supervision and management at the regional scale.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Self-Risk Assessment Tool for Infection Prevention among Working-Age Population

Background: Given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, self-risk assessment tools are crucial for individuals, particularly the working-age group, to evaluate their infection risk. There is a lack of such tools as of early 2021. Objective: To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the self-assessment test application named Thai Save Thai (TST) for determining individuals’ risk level of COVID-19 infection before entering premises. Materials and Methods: The present research consisted of two phases between April 2021 and July 2022. In the first phase, factory workers from all regions of the country were recruited using population allocation sampling. TST was used for self-assessment three times within two-week period to determine risk levels. The second phase evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of TST among 320 subjects underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Results: TST showed varying percentages for each risk level: normal, 44.4%, 38.8%, 29.2%; low, 54.3%, 60.8%, 70.5%; high, 0.2%, 0.02%, 0.1%; very high, 1.1%, 0.36%, 0.21%; and infection results, 0.02%, 0%, 0.05%. TST indicated a sensitivity of 95.7% (95% CI 87.3 to 104.0), a specificity of 75.0% (95% CI 63.2 to 86.8) for detecting infection. Sensitivity for very high-risk level was 85.7% (95% CI 59.8 to 111.6) with 63.9% specificity (95% CI 51.9 to 76.0). The high-risk level had a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI 32.6 to 117) with specificity of 28.1% (95% CI 20.6 to 35.5), while the low-risk level had sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 71.4 to 109.0) with specificity of 27.1% (95% CI 19.8 to 34.3). The negative predictive value (NPV) were the same value as 97.5% at all results. Conclusion: TST application is a self-risk screening tool that effectively discriminates between different risk levels and provides sensitivity for detecting infection with NPV for all assessment results. This application can enable individuals to assess their risk level of COVID-19 infection before entering any premises. Keywords: Self-risk assessment; COVID-19; Infection; Verify of entry; Working-age