Poor Communication Infrastructure Research Articles

Unraveling agricultural water pollution despite an ecological policy in the Ayeyarwady Basin

BackgroundThe Ayeyarwady Basin in Myanmar, a critical economic zone, faces severe ecological degradation due to unsustainable agricultural practices. These practices pose significant threats to human health and marine biodiversity. Environmental threats persist despite the Myanmar government’s efforts to implement biodiversity protection policies. This research explores the limited compliance with environmental protection policies among farmers in the Ayeyarwady Basin and its implications for sustainable agricultural practices and ecological conservation.MethodsThis research employs an exploratory phenomenological approach, utilizing semi-structured, in-depth interviews with government officials and farmers (N = 30). The data collected were subjected to thematic analysis using Atlas 23.ResultsPreliminary findings reveal a gap in farmers’ awareness and understanding of these policies, hindered by insufficient financing, poor communication infrastructure, and uncoordinated policy monitoring. These factors and existing unrest contribute to a top-down policy approach that neglects frontline stakeholders. The study suggests the need for clear stakeholder roles, adequate policy financing, and diverse communication strategies to effectively implement environmental policies and protect human and marine life.ConclusionsEnvironmental policy shortcomings in Myanmar are attributable to governmental oversight and insufficient stakeholder engagement. To mitigate pollution and safeguard river basin ecosystems, the government must delineate stakeholder responsibilities, allocate appropriate policy funding, and adopt varied communication approaches with farmers.Graphical

A virtual heart failure ward in a rural demography

Abstract Background Lincolnshire is a large rural county in the UK with wide economic variation, social deprivation, poor communication infrastructure and no large urban centre of population. As a result of these factors we have a significant incidence of heart failure and a variation in access to services. As part of a county wide initiative to improve the care of patients with heart failure and to reduce acute reduce admissions to hospital we introduced a virtual heart failure ward in January 2022. The ward is overseen by the community cardiology heart failure specialist nurses and led by a cardiology Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) - a multi-professional worker educated to Level 7 with the ability to prescribe and request procedures/ investigations. Governance is from the acute cardiology team via multi-disciplinary meetings. Patients who are decompensating that historically would have required admission can be 'admitted' to the ward and patients who have been admitted to the acute hospital can also be admitted/ stepped down to facilitate discharge. The ward is supported by a 7/7 (expanded from 5/7 to support the project) specialist nursing team, weekly ward rounds, telemedicine (multi-provider app), remote monitoring (oximetry/ weight/ BP), outpatient IV furosemide, specialist heart failure rehabilitation (F2F and remote) and supports a seamless service between primary, community and secondary care. Results In the first 13-months N=213 patients were treated via the virtual ward. N=137 (64%) 'step up, N=75 (35%) step down, N=1 (self-referral), see figure one. N=194 patients were discharged. N=25 (12%) were admitted for escalation of care, see figure two. In the first year, we estimate that the virtual ward released 1,147 acute bed days (1,033 admission prevention and 114 early discharge) and delivered a cost reduction of approximately to £1m. An external audit team has identified a 10% reduction in heart failure admissions to the acute hospital. PROMS (patient recorded outcome measures) show high patient satisfaction and staff have found the enhanced 7/7 service beneficial and rewarding. Discussion Our experience of implementing a virtual heart failure ward in a rural demography has been exceedingly positive. We have observed significant reductions in admissions, facilitated early discharged from hospital with high patient and staff satisfaction. this intervention has also delivered a substantial cost saving to the wider health economy.Step Up/ Step DownDischarge Destinations

MOVING TOWARDS DIGITALIZATION: UNVEILING CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF E-MARKETING IN LEAST DEVELOPED ECONOMIES – THE CASE OF YEMEN

This study aims to shed light on the challenges and potential opportunities for e-marketing in developing economies with particular reference to Yemen. Secondary data from relevant reports, research papers, books, and other Internet resources is used in the study. The current study indicated that e-marketing in Yemen confronts several challenges, including poor communication infrastructure, lack of e-marketing knowledge, limited Internet and social media users, an unstable power supply, lack of trust, and lack of government incentives. However, there are prospects for e-marketing to thrive in Yemen, such as the growing youthful population, the rise in mobile phone users, and the introduction of 4G technology. The study suggests investing in infrastructure, increasing digital literacy, resolving security concerns, and active collaboration among businesses, government entities, and other stakeholders. Implementing these suggestions can improve e-marketing effectiveness and contribute to the country's economic growth.

Optimized Solutions for Deploying a Militarized 4G/LTE Network With Maximum Coverage and Minimum Interference

This work proposes to solve the maximal covering location problem of the Mobile Operations Coordination Center (CCOp Mv), which aims to support the operational command of the Brazilian Army. This problem consists of selecting, in a limited region and with poor communication infrastructure to the ground troops’s operating area, the positions of vehicles equipped with Base Transceiver Station (BTS), the amount needed, and theirs transmission power to be set that maximizes the coverage area and reduce the interference due to the overlap of signals. For this reason, analytical modeling based on the mixed-integer linear problem was proposed that guided two optimization solutions: (i) E-ALLOCATOR – Exact ALLOCATiOn seRvice; and (ii) M-ALLOCATOR – Metaheuristic ALLOCATiOn seRvice. The solutions were evaluated in a scenario that employs CCOp Mv to support a rescue operation based on the tragedy in January 2019 in Brumadinho-MG and compared with a heuristic. The performance evaluation results show evidence of efficiencies in terms of quality and resource savings of the proposed solutions. Furthermore, E-ALLOCATOR has been proven to be suitable for a low workload on the network. At the same time, M-ALLOCATOR is suitable for scenarios with a high workload providing almost optimal solutions within the adequate computational time for all problem instances.

A Distributed MPC to Exploit Reactive Power V2G for Real-Time Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks

It has been demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) enabled electric vehicle (EV) charger is of a reactive power compensation ability with a battery or capacitor connected. To exploit the aggregated reactive power V2G abilities of massively dispersed EV chargers, a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) strategy applying to both balanced and unbalanced distribution networks (DNs) is proposed to integrate them into real-time DN voltage regulation. Firstly, based on the instantaneous power theory and voltage sensitivity matrices, a voltage regulation model considering the reactive response of EV chargers is established without violating the normal EV active charging demands. Then, a completely distributed framework is achieved by DMPC, in which prediction information and calculation results are shared in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) way to realize the asynchronous broadcast. The proposed model and techniques are validated by numerical results obtained from the IEEE European low voltage test feeder system. The case studies indicate that the proposed DMPC is robust to communication latency (CML) and works effectively in both balanced and unbalanced DNs without any control center, which is a significant advantage for the promotion of real-time reactive power V2G in DNs with irregular user integration and relatively poor communication infrastructure.

Utilization of Social Media Platform Instagram as Participatory Design Tools in Indonesia

Indonesia as the biggest archipelago country in the world has problem for the implementation of participatory design, especially due to the poor communication infrastructure and the distance between host and users. On the other hand, Indonesia has more than 100 million of internet users. In addition, Indonesian also social media savvy with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter serve as the top 3 social media platform in Indonesia. This study explores the potential of Instagram to serve as Participatory Design tools through experimentation method. The outcome of this study is conclusion that will serve as guideline for any Participatory Design initiative in the future.

Setting up a Newborn Hearing Screening Programme in a Low-Income Country: Initial Findings from Malawi

Establishing a newborn hearing screening programme in a low-income country with poor communication infrastructure has unique challenges. Data from 195 infants in three different patient populations in Malawi who underwent hearing screening using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) testing were analysed to investigate the feasibility of a long-term screening programme. There were 65 infants in each group: infants from Group A were born in a private maternity unit, Group B attended a free community vaccination clinic, and Group C were receiving special care at a government hospital. 75% of infants requiring follow-up from the special-care baby unit were uncontactable following hospital discharge, and screening was discontinued there. Lost to follow-up rates after the first screen were lower from the private maternity unit (14%) and the community vaccination clinic (36%), and these screening programmes continue. A successful hearing screening programme requires extensive support services to manage infants requiring further testing and habilitation, this is not currently possible on a large scale in Malawi due to the small number of Audiology departments and trained staff.

Remotely supported prehospital ultrasound: A feasibility study of real-time image transmission and expert guidance to aid diagnosis in remote and rural communities

Introduction Our aim is to expedite prehospital assessment of remote and rural patients using remotely-supported ultrasound and satellite/cellular communications. In this paradigm, paramedics are remotely-supported ultrasound operators, guided by hospital-based specialists, to record images before receiving diagnostic advice. Technology can support users in areas with little access to medical imaging and suboptimal communications coverage by connecting to multiple cellular networks and/or satellites to stream live ultrasound and audio-video. Methods An ambulance-based demonstrator system captured standard trauma and novel transcranial ultrasound scans from 10 healthy volunteers at 16 locations across the Scottish Highlands. Volunteers underwent brief scanning training before receiving expert guidance via the communications link. Ultrasound images were streamed with an audio/video feed to reviewers for interpretation. Two sessions were transmitted via satellite and 21 used cellular networks. Reviewers rated image and communication quality, and their utility for diagnosis. Transmission latency and bandwidth were recorded, and effects of scanner and reviewer experience were assessed. Results Appropriate views were provided in 94% of the simulated trauma scans. The mean upload rate was 835/150 kbps and mean latency was 114/2072 ms for cellular and satellite networks, respectively. Scanning experience had a significant impact on time to achieve a diagnostic image, and review of offline scans required significantly less time than live-streamed scans. Discussion This prehospital ultrasound system could facilitate early diagnosis and streamlining of treatment pathways for remote emergency patients, being particularly applicable in rural areas worldwide with poor communications infrastructure and extensive transport times.

Coastal Georgia Is Not Immune: Hurricane History, 1851–2012

Coastal Georgia Is Not ImmuneHurricane History, 1851–2012 Brian H. Bossak (bio), Sarah S. Keihany (bio), Mark R. Welford (bio), and Ethan J. Gibney (bio) introduction Atlantic hurricanes, documented since the voyages of Christopher Columbus (Chenoweth 2006), present the greatest annual meteorological hazards of the southern and eastern shores of the U.S. Weather records, ship logs, diaries, and newspapers describe historical hurricanes from the early 18th century, but the official North Atlantic Basin hurricane database (HURDAT2) dates back only to 1851 and is currently being reanalyzed for accuracy and storm additions (Landsea et al. 2012). Hurricanes generally have the greatest physical impact at landfall. Among the southeastern states of the U.S., Georgia has experienced infrequent hurricane landfalls in recent decades. However, HURDAT2 data indicate temporal variability in Georgia’s hurricane activity, which could influence hurricane preparedness efforts among coastal and near-coastal Georgia residents. In order to better characterize the risk of hurricane landfall along Georgia’s shoreline, we utilize HURDAT2 data. Prior research has utilized historical records to regionally examine hurricane landfalls along the U.S. coast. For example, Mock has conducted studies for South Carolina (2004) and Louisiana (2008). Fraser (2006) has noted historic Georgia hurricanes as described in newspapers and other written documentation, but a focus on coastal Georgia’s HURDAT2 data is novel. We analyze the frequency trends, intensity over time, seasonality, zone of formation, time from formation to landfall, and spatial distribution for Georgia’s fourteen recorded hurricane landfalls in HURDAT2. background This analysis was motivated by the infrequency of modern Georgia hurricane landfalls, increasing coastal population, concomitant property development, and changes in the socioeconomic strata along and near Georgia’s coast. Disasters are a composite of social, political, [End Page 323] and economic environmental variables extending beyond the natural event that caused them (Forthergill and Peek 2004). Georgia exhibits both physical and social vulnerabilities (Ashley 2007) and/or marginalized populations (Tobin and Montz 1997; Quinn 2006). High rates of poverty, functional illiteracy, and mobile home occupancy are increasing across rural areas in the southern U.S. and Georgia, with coexistent poor communication infrastructure (Ashley et al. 2008; Hall and Ashley 2008). Georgia also has a growing immigrant population that does not speak English at home (Blumenfeld 2008). Moreover, temporary or mobile housing is especially vulnerable to damage from weather-related wind events (Ashley et al. 2008). For example, all but nine of the 6,600 mobile homes in the path of Hurricane Andrew’s traverse across south Florida were destroyed in 1992 (Metro Dade Planning Department 1992). Approximately 10 percent of Georgia residents live in mobile homes (U.S. Census Bureau 2008). Research also illustrates that hazard preparedness increases with income, while increased educational-attainment counteracts fatalism and fosters preparedness (Turner et al. 1986). Recent statistics suggest that between 6 and 23 percent of people in the United States are functionally illiterate (National Center for Education Statistics 2003); one of the highest rates of functional illiteracy (between 1950–2010) occurs in Georgia (17 percent). Georgia has witnessed the largest percentage increase (164.1 percent) by state in the population of people that do not speak English in their homes (1990–2000) (National Center for Education Statistics 2003). This presents its own risk for minority communities, which typically rely on kin and social networks for information, thus frequently delaying risk-aversion behavior (Mejer 1994). For instance, research demonstrates that Mexican-Americans accept a warning as credible only after confirming it among familial and social networks (Fothergill et al. 1999; Lindell and Perry 2004; Perry and Mushkatel 1986). Anecdotal statements suggesting that the Georgia coastline is protected from hurricane landfalls due to its geographic orientation and proximity to the Atlantic Bight have been associated with Georgia’s infrequent hurricane landfalls in the modern record. This is a geographic coincidence—the shape of the Georgia coastline is not protectively oriented; rather, atmospheric processes tend to steer hurricanes either parallel but offshore to Georgia’s coastline (e.g., Hurricane Floyd in 1999) or turn hurricanes away from the Georgia coastline and back out into the Atlantic (McCloskey et al. 2013). Hurricanes approaching the North American Atlantic seaboard have two common tracks: either they approach from...

Mobile Interfaced Crops Diagnosis Expert System (MICDES): a case for rural Kenyan farmers

This paper describes a prototype case-based reasoning expert system that enables farmers to get assistance with crop diagnostics and other extension services through the web via a dynamic website or through mobile phones. It is also voice enabled to support visually impaired people. Mobile Interfaced Crops Diagnosis Expert System (MICDES) was motivated by the lack of extension services to farmers in the rural areas of Kenya, a situation compounded by poor communication infrastructure. The system conceptualisation, design and development were based on contextual inquiry putting the user and culture at the centre. The design, implementation and testing was done based on studies carried out on two rural agricultural self-help groups and schools in Kenya. The diagnoses currently performed are major tropical diseases and pests affecting rice, tomatoes, bananas and sweet potatoes. The system automatically alerts a human expert via SMS in cases where it fails to diagnose a case presented by the user.

ITIKI: bridge between African indigenous knowledge and modern science of drought prediction

Droughts are the most common type of natural disaster in Africa and the problem is compounded by their complexity. The agriculture sector still forms the backbone of most economies in Africa, with 70% of output being derived from rain-fed small-scale farming; this sector is the first casualty of droughts. Accurate, timely and relevant drought predication information enables a community to anticipate and prepare for droughts and hence minimize the negative impacts. Current weather forecasts are still alien to African farmers, most of whom live in rural areas and struggle with illiteracy and poor communications infrastructure. However, these farmers hold indigenous knowledge not only on how to predict droughts, but also on unique coping strategies. Adoption of wireless sensor networks and mobile phones to provide a bridge between scientific and indigenous knowledge of weather forecasting methods is one way of ensuring that the content of forecasts and the dissemination formats meet local needs. A framework ...

Development of a Mental Health Policy and System in Tanzania: An Integrated Approach to Achieve Equity

Development of a Mental Health Policy and System in Tanzania: An Integrated Approach to Achieve Equity

Handheld computers for survey and trial data collection in resource-poor settings: Development and evaluation of PDACT, a Palm™ Pilot interviewing system

Objective Handheld computers (personal digital assistant, PDA) have the potential to reduce the logistic burden, cost, and error rate of paper-based health research data collection, but there is a lack of appropriate software. The present work describes the development and evaluation of PDACT, a Personal Data Collection Toolset ( www.healthware.org/pdact/index.htm) for the Palm™ Pilot handheld computer for interviewer-administered and respondent-administered data collection. Methods We developed Personal Data Collection Toolkit (PDACT) software to enable questionnaires developed in QDS™ Design Studio, a Windows™ application, to be compiled and completed on Palm™ Pilot devices and evaluated in several representative field survey settings. Results The software has been used in seven separate studies and in over 90,000 interviews. Five interviewer-administered studies were completed in rural settings with poor communications infrastructure, following one day of interviewer training. Two respondent-administered questionnaire studies were completed by learners, in urban secondary schools, after 15 min training. Questionnaires were available on each handheld in up to 11 languages, ranged from 20 to 580 questions, and took between 15 and 90 min to complete. Up to 200 Palm™ Pilot devices were in use on a single day and, in about 50 device-years of use, very few technical problems were found. Compared with paper-based collection, data validation and cleaning times were reduced, and fewer errors were found. PDA data collection is easy to use and preferred by interviewers and respondents (both respondent-administered and interviewer-administered) over paper. Data are compiled and available within hours of collection facilitating data quality assurance. Although hardware increases the setup cost of the first study, the cumulative cost falls thereafter, and converges on the cumulative cost of paper-based studies (four, in the case of our interviewer-administered studies). Conclusion Handheld data collection is an appropriate, affordable and convenient technology for health data collection, in diverse settings.

Sensor web enables rapid response to volcanic activity

Rapid response to the onset of volcanic activity allows for the early assessment of hazard and risk [Tilling, 1989]. Data from remote volcanoes and volcanoes in countries with poor communication infrastructure can only be obtained via remote sensing [Harris et al., 2000]. By linking notifications of activity from ground‐based and spacebased systems, these volcanoes can be monitored when they erupt.Over the last 18 months, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has implemented a Volcano Sensor Web (VSW) in which data from ground‐based and space‐based sensors that detect current volcanic activity are used to automatically trigger the NASA Earth Observing 1 (EO‐1) spacecraft to make highspatial‐resolution observations of these volcanoes.

War and reconstruction in northern Mozambique

The article discusses some of the economic effects of war in northern Mozambique. It indicates how the historical and structural features of the economy of northern Mozambique restricted post-war reconstruction and post-war poverty alleviation. These features include the dominance of only a few cash crops for export, the absence of much rural trading, poor communication infrastructure, and weak political and state institutions. The specific nature of the internal war further weakened the state through the collapse of tax revenue and export earnings and the massive growth of debt and aid, of which little reached rural northern Mozambique. The article also summarizes key aspects of the geography, climate, markets, and social institutions of northern Mozambique, which define the potential production opportunities for peasant households. Finally, the article suggests how post-war reconstruction could have been more effective in achieving faster post-war poverty alleviation in northern Mozambique.

Reducing the Digital Divide: A Critical Focus

This paper examines the developmental divide manifested in the digital divide between the North and the South and indeed within regions and countries. We suggest that the most fundamental problem preventing a reversal of the divide is access, exacerbated by the widespread low levels of skills and knowledge in poor countries. In addition, industry stands to lose considerable benefit from the poor communication infrastructure that characterizes developing countries. The paper suggests a number of policy and institutional directions for bridging the digital divide.

Electronic Retailing: Indian Scenario

Electronic retailing or e-tailing has grown over the years and is expected to grow further in the coming years. The major challenges to the e-tailers worldwide are how to attract and retain customers, and how to streamline operations to become profitable. In India, e-tailing is a relatively new phenomenon, which is yet to pick up any significant volume. The major impediments to growth in e-tailing in India are lack of computer literacy, poor communications infrastructure and customer preference to shop in physical stores. It is expected that the government will take quick actions to improve infrastructure and remove legal and regulatory barriers to facilitate the growth of e-tailing. E-tailers, on the other hand, have to develop innovative strategies to increase their customer base, and streamline supply chain operations to turn a profit.

HIS priorities in developing countries

Looking for a solution to fulfill the requirements that the new global economical system demands, developing countries face a reality of poor communications infrastructure, a delay in applying information technology to the organizations, and a semi-closed political system avoiding the necessary reforms. HIS technology has been developed more for transactional purposes on mini and mainframe platforms. Administrative modules are the most frequently observed and physicians are now requiring more support for their activities. The second information systems generation will take advantage of PC technology, client-server models and telecommunications to achieve integration. International organizations, academic and industrial, public and private, will play a major role to transfer technology and to develop this area.