Preparedness Measures Research Articles

In silico prediction of pathogen's pandemic potential using the viral trait assessment for pandemics (ViTAP) model

Abstract Our world is ever evolving and interconnected, creating constant opportunities for disease outbreaks and pandemics to occur, making pandemic preparedness and pathogen management crucial for global health security. Early pathogen identification and intervention play a key role in mitigating the impacts of disease outbreaks. In this perspective, we present the Viral Trait Assessment for Pandemics (ViTAP) model to aid in the early identification of high-risk viruses that have pandemic potential, which incorporates lessons from past pandemics, including which key viral characteristics are important such as genetic makeup, transmission modes, mutation rates, and symptom severity. This model serves as the foundation for the development of powerful, quantitative tools for the early prediction of pandemic pathogens. The use of such a tool, in conjunction with other pandemic preparedness measures, can allow for early intervention and containment of the virus. This proactive approach could enable timely interventions, guiding public health responses, and resource allocation to prevent widespread outbreaks and mitigate the impact of emerging pathogens.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Preanalytical Phase in Laboratory Medicine, Nephrology, Emergency Specialties, Visceral Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Neonatology Hospital Departments: In-Depth Insights derived from an analysis of practices at a Medical University Centre in Morocco

Background and Aims: The precision of biological examination results hinges on meticulous preparatory measures before analysis, known as the pre-analytical phase. This phase contributes significantly to error rates (48-68%). Our study assessed the pre-analytical phase in seven hospital departments at Mohammed VI University Hospital. The objective was to address key causes of pre-analytical nonconformities. Materials and Methods: During this investigation, we observed 331 samples from various departments: Central Laboratory, Nephrology, Internal Medicine, Visceral Surgery, Emergency Specialties, Paediatrics, and Neonatology. Our evaluation identified 4945 instances of pre-analytical nonconformities. These cases encompassed issues with the prescription sheet (501), patient preparation (848), equipment preparation (295), sampling process (1957), waste management (323), and sample transfer (422). Results: Our analysis highlighted a multitude of pre-analytical nonconformities within the surveyed hospital departments. These discrepancies illuminated the critical areas where corrective and preventive measures were imperative to adhere to the standards set by the International Standard ISO15189 and to optimize patient care. Conclusions: The findings from this study underscore the paramount importance of the pre-analytical phase in ensuring accurate biological examination results. By implementing a series of targeted actions in the concerned hospital departments, we addressed the identified nonconformities. These actions encompassed ongoing education, staff awareness and support, regular audits, provision of technical resources such as manuals and sample catalogues, as well as the utilization of appropriate equipment for sample collection and transportation. Continuous learning remains essential, encompassing proper sampling techniques, packaging and transportation requisites, as well as procedures for identifying and rectifying biological sample nonconformities

Seismic scenario simulation and ANN-based ground motion model development on the North Tabriz Fault in Northwest Iran

AbstractEarthquakes pose significant seismic hazards in urban regions, often causing extensive damage to the built environment. In regions lacking robust seismic monitoring networks or sufficient data from historical events, ground motion simulations are crucial for assessing potential earthquake impacts. Yet, validating these simulations is challenging, leading to notable predictive uncertainty. This study aims to simulate four scenario earthquakes with moment magnitudes of 6.8, 7.1, 7.4, and 7.7 in Iran, specifically investigating variations in fault plane rupture and earthquake hypocenter. The North Tabriz Fault (NTF), located within the seismic gap in northwest Iran, is selected as the case study due to the lack of well-recorded ground motions from severe earthquakes, despite historical evidence of large-magnitude events. Simulations are conducted using a stochastic finite-fault ground motion simulation methodology with a dynamic corner frequency. Validation of the simulations is performed by comparing estimated peak ground motions and pseudo-spectral ordinates with existing ground motion models (GMMs), supplemented by inter-period correlation analysis. Simulation results reveal high hazard levels, especially in the northeastern area near the fault plane. Intensity maps in terms of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale underscore the urgency for comprehensive preparedness measures. Finally, a region-specific GMM is developed using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to predict peak ground motion parameters with an online platform accessible to end-users.

Is the country’s preparedness for epidemics and pandemics an FDI location factor? An empirical analysis using panel data

Purpose This study aims to validate the hypothesis that a country’s preparedness for epidemics and pandemics, as measured by the GHS Index, significantly influences inward FDI inflows. By examining panel data from 2019 to 2021, the research seeks to elucidate the impact of heightened epidemic and pandemic preparedness on investment behavior, thereby highlighting the importance of health resilience and preparedness in attracting foreign investment and fostering economic growth and development. Design/methodology/approach The study uses panel data spanning 181 countries from 2019 to 2021 and uses logarithmic regression models to analyze the impact of a country’s preparedness for epidemics and pandemics, as measured by the Global Health Security (GHS) Index, on inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Auxiliary variables including GDP, labor supply, openness rate, inflation rate and political stability are incorporated. Robust weighted least squares estimation techniques are used to account for potential heterogeneity and panel data characteristics. Findings The study reveals a consistent and statistically significant positive relationship between a country’s GHS score and inward FDI, indicating that destinations with robust health systems are more attractive to investors. Higher GHS scores correlate with reduced investment risk, improved business continuity during health crises and enhanced health-care infrastructure, leading to a healthier and more productive workforce. Research limitations/implications While the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between epidemic and pandemic preparedness and inward FDI inflows, several limitations exist. The analysis relies on cross-sectional data from a relatively short timeframe (2019–2021), limiting the ability to capture long-term effects. Additionally, the study focuses on the GHS Index as a measure of preparedness, overlooking other potential determinants of FDI attractiveness. Future research could explore a broader range of health security indicators and incorporate longer-term data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by examining the previously underexplored relationship between a country’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness, as measured by the GHS Index and inward FDI inflows. By using panel data analysis and robust econometric techniques, the research provides empirical evidence supporting the positive impact of robust health systems on FDI attractiveness. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing public health initiatives and epidemic preparedness as integral components of attracting and retaining foreign investment, thereby fostering economic resilience and sustainable development in host countries.

The need for general adaptive capacity-Discussing resilience with complex adaptive systems theory.

The concept of resilience intrinsically links with both complexity and adaptive capacity. Scholars from different fields agree on this. Still, the detailed relations between resilience, complexity, and adaptive capacity need a more thorough theoretical analysis. This article analyses resilience with the help of assumptions from complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory to answer two questions in more detail: What is the relation between resilience and complexity? How can adaptive capacity contribute to resilience? By applying basic ideas from CAS theory to the resilience discourse, the article deduces that complexity of a system is a necessary condition for resilience because complex systems consist of agents that possess adaptive capacity, whereas simple systems consist of mere elements that cannot adapt to unexpected disruptions. The relation between complexity and resilience is multidimensional. Growing complexity leads to a growing need for resilience because the chances for severe, unexpected disruptions increase. The analysis of adaptive capacities revealed that systems and the agents they consist of can possess of specialized and general adaptive capacity. General adaptive capacity is the core feature of resilience because it enables systems to cope with unexpected disruptions. System design principles such as diversity within functional groups and redundancy help to increase general adaptive capacity. The same is true on the community level for social capital and on the individual level for disaster preparedness measures because they increase coping capacities independent of specific hazards.

Awareness and preparedness of health systems and emergency medicine systems to the climate change challenges and threats: an international survey.

Climate change is widely recognised as a critical public health challenge. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness, preparedness and mitigation plans for climate change threats. A cross-sectional observational study targeting emergency medical societies in different countries was conducted between 15 February and 15 March 2024. The survey featured 16 closed questions on climate change awareness, preparedness and risks. Focus groups of 4-6 members were organised by country. Results were correlated to income levels, United Nations (UN) regional classification and the World Risk Index. The questions were ranked using a Likert-like scale from 0 to 9 (9 being the highest). Descriptive statistics used central tendency estimators, and inferential analysis used chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with the significance level set at P < 0.05. Forty-two focus groups responded, representing 36 countries: 21 (50%) high-income, seven (16.7%) low-income, five (11.9%) lower middle-income and nine (21.4%) upper middle-income countries, representing 31 of the 22 UN regions. According to the World Risk Index, the respondent countries belonged to the different categories as follows: very low risk, 6 (14%); low risk, 8 (19%); medium risk, 5 (12%); high risk, 8 (19%) and very high risk, 14 (34%). The estimated impact of climate change on national health systems had a mean score of 6.75 (SD = 2.16), while on Emergency Medical Systems was 6.96 (SD = 2.05). Overall, assessment and preparedness measures were reported by just 21.4 and 37.6% of respondents, respectively. Analysis by income did not show significant differences, with the exception of food supply. The main differences in the analysis by region were the risks of extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases and wildfires, whereas the World Risk Index was food and chain of supplies. Education and integration of health services were indicated by all as the main mitigation actions. Geographical position and country risk index influence risk perception among focus groups more than income economy, with vector-borne diseases, extreme weather events and food shortages being the threats with the most variability. The most important actions identified to mitigate Climate Change effects are educational and strategic plans.

Rapid-response RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay platform for coronavirus antiviral high-throughput screening

Over the past 25 years, the global community has faced challenges posed by three distinct outbreaks of coronaviruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The identification of a novel alphacoronavirus canine CoV (CCoV-HuPn2018) in human patients in Malaysia underscores the potential for crossover infections to humans. The threat of the ever-evolving nature of viral infections as well as the lingering health and socioeconomic effects of the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emphasize the urgent need for advanced antiviral drug screening tools that can be quickly implemented to strengthen preparedness and preventive measures against future outbreaks. Here, we present the development and validation of a novel RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging assay as a 384-well, high-throughput rapid response platform for antiviral drug discovery. RNA-FISH is a powerful tool to visualize specific mRNA in cultured cells using a high-content imaging platform. The flexibility of RNA-FISH probe sets allows for the rapid design of viral genome-specific probes, enabling in vitro assay development to test for inhibition of viral replication by either biologic or small molecule inhibitors. Screening of 170 antiviral compounds in concentration-response demonstrates a strong correlation between the RNA-FISH assay and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for both human coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E. Additionally, we successfully applied this methodology in the context of CCoV strain 1–71, proving rapid development and deployment, opening new avenues for the evaluation of antiviral drugs to potential future emerging threats.

Risk factors threatening children’s safety in the school environment

School safety encompasses risk reduction efforts to ensure that children act in an environment that is safe and promotes the well-being of the students to achieve their full potential. Therefore, a safe and secure environment is a prerequisite for effective teaching and learning. This scoping review aims to address a range of school safety risk factors and introduce the complexity of school safety. School is believed to be a safe learning and growing environment; however, various conditions can threaten children’s safety in a school setting and lead to injuries caused by accidents, risky or/ aggressive behavior, or environmental exposure. In addition to the physical, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of children that make them particularly vulnerable to accidents, there are several unpredictable risks associated with natural or man-made conditions or disasters that can also put children at extreme risk. A balance between safety, surveillance, and emergency preparedness measures may be beneficial to create a safety culture in schools that will enable student behavioral and intervention support.

A scenario study on disaster preparedness behaviours

Abstract Europe has faced several crises over recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the climate crisis has led to an increase in the occurrence of extreme weather events and natural disasters. Getting citizens on board when it comes to being prepared for the changing risk landscape in the EU is essential in building societal resilience. The importance of the population’s preparedness to deal with disasters has also been underlined by the Commission’s identification of the Union Disaster Resilience Goals (2023/C 56/01). One of these goals focuses on increasing risk awareness and the adoption of risk prevention and preparedness measures among the population. Research has shown that simply advising people of potential risks in their region is not necessarily sufficient to motivate them to prepare. Yet, preparation is key to an adequate responses in emergency situations and improving preparedness may thus be a powerful tool to support the population’s ability to respond in times of crisis. The EC JRC’s Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights will present a study conducted in five member states (N = ∼1000 per country), which investigates the effect of envisioning a disaster situation, and therefore explicitly eliciting personal affectedness, on individuals’ self-reported preparedness intentions and preparedness behaviours. The study uses multiple measures for intentions and preparedness behaviours, including click-through to external information and an incentivised preparedness game.

5.C. Scientific session: Strengthen resilience against emerging vector-borne diseases through the ECDC Fellowship Programmes

Abstract Over the past decade, climate change has impacted the transmission of a wide range of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Europe, where locally transmitted outbreaks have occurred. It has been implicated in the observed expansion of competent disease vectors in Europe such as Aedes albopictus, which transmits diseases such as Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya. Climate may influence the life cycle of vectors, and the reproduction rate of viral particles inside vectors and human hosts, which means that upsurges in temperature can reduce the incubation period of these pathogens and the life cycle of vectors, thus boosting transmission risk through elevated vector populations. Moreover, globalization and international air travel contribute to pathogen and vector dispersion internationally. Risk mapping suggests further expansion of the species in northern Europe due to climate change. The above underscores the necessity for more proactive measures, such as developing an effective vector control program by monitoring the density and distribution of hosts and pathogens at urban, national, and cross-border levels. Additionally, establishing early warning systems based on integrated human and zoonotic and entomological surveillance is crucial to detect alerts promptly and comprehend where and when infections may emerge or spread. Furthermore, cross-border collaboration and harmonization of vector-borne surveillance systems across European countries may improve preparedness, control and response to mosquito-borne diseases. Preparedness and response require significant efforts from EU Member States and neighbouring countries. Only through a multidisciplinary approach, involving multiple sectors, can we truly prepare to address public health threats. To contribute to strengthening resilience against cross-border public health and emerging health threats in EU Member States and neighbouring countries, the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has established three fellowship training programmes. These programmes aim to create and maintain a network of highly qualified epidemiologists, microbiologists and public health professionals and strengthen the public health epidemiology workforce at EU and neighbor countries. This workshop will offer attendees a comprehensive overview of the ECDC’s fellowship programmes, describe how they function and explain their role in preparing for health threats. It will provide examples of three projects carried out by fellows on the implementation of preparedness, response and control measures for emerging vector-borne diseases in European countries at local, national and multinational levels. Those will set the scene for an in-depth analysis of the key challenges faced and can help promote awareness that integrated, multidisciplinary interventions are both feasible and effective in reducing the threat of vector-borne infectious diseases spreading in Europe and neighboring countries. Key messages • ECDC fellowship programmes aim to strengthen resilience against emerging public health threats in EU Member States and neighboring countries. • Fellows are engaged in national and cross-border integrated and multidisciplinary interventions to strengthen preparedness and mitigate the spread of emerging vector-borne diseases.

The Preparedness Paradox in Climate Attitudes: Democrats Worry, Republicans Prepare

ABSTRACT Political partisanship is one of the strongest correlates of climate change attitudes in the United States, with Democrats expressing greater concern than Republicans. As the climate crisis progresses, surveys increasingly examine preparedness for environmental emergencies, instead of climate attitudes alone. Does partisan identification associate with environmental preparedness actions as it does other climate attitude measures? We find a paradox: Republicans are more likely to say they have taken preparedness actions than Democrats. We replicate this finding in three survey samples (n = 1,053; n = 1,201; n = 2,318) and provide two sociological explanations. Theoretically, a culture of emergency preparedness integrated with conservative belief systems could strengthen the partisanship association, especially if preparedness is not closely tied to other climate attitudes. Empirically, household income is associated with specific types of preparedness actions, possibly introducing bias based on social class. We discuss the importance of measuring climate preparedness for the future of climate opinion research and climate policy and call for preparedness measures that are applicable to the general population.

Emergency Preparedness for Waterborne Diseases in the Wake of Floods in Northern Cameroon: A Call for Immediate Action

Severe flooding in Northern Regions of Cameroon (Far North, North and Adamawa Regions), triggered by torrential rains, has led to widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and significant disruptions in essential services, particularly water, sanitation, and healthcare. This article, issued by public health researchers from Science For Life Foundation and Pinnacle University Institute, highlights the heightened risk of waterborne diseases following the recent floods and underscores the urgent need for enhanced emergency preparedness and response measures. Floods create conditions conducive to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and viral hepatitis by contaminating drinking water supplies with sewage and waste. Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are at increased risk. Overcrowding in temporary shelters further exacerbates the potential for disease outbreaks. The impact of climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such flooding events, making timely and effective intervention critical. This article reviews best practices for preventing and mitigating waterborne disease outbreaks, offering guidance to government authorities, health agencies, humanitarian organizations, and local communities. It aims to catalyze immediate action to safeguard public health and prevent a major crisis in the aftermath of the flooding Keywords: Waterborne Diseases, Flooding, Emergency Preparedness.

Embracing mortality: psychological preparation on death in the guidance of stoic philosophy

Humanity's greatest fear is the inevitability of death, the ultimate fate that all strive to evade. This collective dread of mortality stems from its perceived malevolence. Across the ages, from religious rituals promising salvation to scientific efforts to delay death, human attempts to confront mortality vary widely. Yet death remains inescapable, a natural consequence of life. While religious doctrines offer comfort through ideas of an afterlife, and science views death as a biological challenge to be postponed. Conversely, philosophy advocates for an intellectual acceptance of death's inevitability. The Stoic Philosophy, in particular, advocate for the joyful acceptance of death as an integral part of life. This philosophical stance fosters a positive perspective on death, encouraging individuals to live life to its fullest potential. Embracing death with joy entails psychological reassurance and preparatory measures for life's inevitable end. This qualitative study explores psychological preparation for death using primary and secondary data sources. Primary sources include the philosophical texts by Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, specifically "Letters to Lucilius," "On the Shortness of Life," and "Meditations." Secondary data is collected from peer-reviewed journals, books, and reports that contextualize these works within modern psychological frameworks. The primary audience includes individuals preparing for death due to age or illness and those grieving loved ones, offering a pathway to peace and understanding through Stoic wisdom. Moreover, this will be a guidance to those who work with the terminally ill people to get psychological resilience. By embracing death, Stoicism encourages both the dying and the bereaved to find psychological reassurance and encourage all to live a meaningful life in the given time frame.

Developing Training in Response to High-Consequence Infectious Diseases and Preparedness Measures for the Future.

In recent history, outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) have raised health security concerns among the global community. As HCIDs continue to emerge, public health systems around the world experience the burden of implementing adequate preparedness and response measures to ensure the safety and security of their populations. HCID outbreak response efforts have highlighted the need for specialized training in safety and infection prevention and control for frontline workers who may encounter ill patients. The COVID-19 Mission Prep program for National Disaster Medical System personnel and the Deployment Safety Academy for Field Experiences (D-SAFE) program for US Public Health Service officers are 2 examples of virtual training programs that successfully provided foundational education on infection prevention and control and safety as well as deployable just-in-time training during HCID outbreak response efforts. The methods used to develop these training programs can be adopted by other countries to enhance the global outbreak response infrastructure for the next HCID event. The global outbreak response infrastructure demands investments in training as a preparedness measure, which will ultimately lead to safer, more coordinated outbreak response efforts with competent responders.

The Potentials of Strong Earthquakes in Sub-Sahara Africa and the Neighbouring Regions: A Concept Study

This review article provides an overview of the potential locations of strong earthquakes in Sub-Saharan Africa and its neighboring regions. The study examines the geological factors contributing to seismic activity in the region and discusses the potential impact of earthquakes on the local population and infrastructure. Statistical analysis shows that the East African Rift Zone has experienced the highest seismic activity over the last two decades, with an average earthquake magnitude of 5.2 and 350 recorded seismic events of magnitude greater than 4, leading to an estimated economic loss of $850 million. Cities like Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, with urban infrastructure preparedness indices of 4.2 and 5.1 respectively, are at high risk due to their proximity to seismic zones and high population densities. The paper highlights the need for further research and preparedness measures to mitigate these risks and foster seismic resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Crisis preparedness exercise on food and feed safety for IPA beneficiaries 2024.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) within the framework of the Preparatory measures for the participation of IPA beneficiaries in the European Food Safety Authority 2023-2026 will organize a total of 3 crisis preparedness training events for the IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,* Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye). For 2024, EFSA requested to organise a simulation exercise focused on a multi-country incident related to biological risks in products of animal origin. The overall objectives of the training were: 1) to increase IPA countries' knowledge and understanding of crisis handling concepts and of EFSA's crisis handling procedures; 2) to improve preparedness and response planning for crisis situations in the domain of biological hazards; 3) to improve coherence, interoperability and coordination, to be prepared for communication and decision-making challenges in crisis situations. Working with the contractor Opera srl, EFSA organised a 2-day training on 26-27 June 2024 in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), attended by 24 participants (3 online) from 7 IPA countries, 2 representatives from EFSA and 1 representative from the hosting competent authority from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants were briefed on the IPA crisis preparedness training scheme, EFSA's crisis handling procedures, principles of crisis communication (remote mode), EFSA - ECDC Rapid Outbreak Assessment (remote mode), food safety risk assessment structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Most of the workshop was dedicated to the simulation exercise, that was organized in a tabletop format, with injects describing an evolving food safety incident and a debriefing after each inject. During the exercise, 1 audio-conference meeting and a TV debate were simulated. The exercise was concluded with a brainstorming session between the tutors and participants. Three recommendations were done to improve the organization of future events. Six recommendations were given for the improvement of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication in IPA countries. The objectives were achieved, based on the results of the knowledge test and on the feedback provided by participants in the course evaluation questionnaire.

Raising the Flag of Vigilance on Mpox Outbreak in Indonesia: Are We Prepared?

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has become acutely aware of the devastating impact of infectious diseases on public health, economies, and societies. As we gradually recover from the aftermath of COVID-19, another potential threat looms on the horizon, mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. The recent surge in mpox cases worldwide has prompted health authorities to sound an alarm, and Indonesia, as a populous nation with a complex healthcare system, must ask itself: Are we prepared for this emerging challenge?. The question "Are we prepared?" may not have a simple yes or no answer. Instead, it should serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance, adaptation, and continuous improvement in public health systems. As we navigate this new health challenge, the true measure of Indonesia's preparedness is its ability to respond swiftly, effectively, and equitably to protect the health and well-being of all citizens.

Adverse health effects of climate change and air pollution in people with disabilities: a systematic review.

Global warming and air pollution adversely affect the health of the entire human population, particularly older adults, people with disabilities (PWDs), and children. In this systematic review, we investigated the adverse health effects of climate change and air pollution in PWDs. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed database using the terms "disab*," "air pollution," and "climate change" on July 4, 2023, and August 8, 2023 and searched the Web of Science (WOS) database on December 28, 2023. We identified 425 and 1169 studies on climate change cited in PubMed and WOS, respectively, as well as 333 studies on air pollution in PubMed and 495 studies on air pollution in WOS. The studies were classified by type of exposure, and full-text screening was conducted to confirm that the population, intervention or exposure, comparator, outcome statement, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were met. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included cohort and case-control studies and for data analysis. In extreme temperatures, PWDs experienced higher rates of injury, heat-related illness, functional impairment, heart disease, mental disorders, and mortality than people who were nondisabled (ND). Exposure to air pollution resulted in higher rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, poststroke neurological and functional disability, and mortality in PWDs than in people who were ND. Therefore, because PWDs were more affected by climate change and air pollution than people who were ND, sensitive policies and preparedness measures should be developed for PWDs.

Analysis of methods and algorithms for image filtering and quality enhancement

This paper addresses the prevalent issue of image noise and presents methods for its mitigation. The paper describes, analyses and tests a variety of image filtering techniques, with specific reference to their use in different contexts. The filtering methods can be classified into two principal categories: linear filters, which include the Gaussian and mean filters, and non-linear filters, which comprise the median filter, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the Non-Local Means (NLM) filter, and the anisotropic diffusion filter. The efficacy of each filter is mathematically described and evaluated on RGB images using the Python programming language. The study delineates the evaluation metrics and their respective advantages and disadvantages. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) are employed as criteria for the analysis of algorithm efficiency. Furthermore, the mean execution time for each algorithm is also monitored. The experimental data suggests that linear filters are relatively fast but produce inferior results and are best employed as preparatory measures. Non-linear filters have been demonstrated to be more robust and applicable to a variety of noise types, although it has been established that they require parameter fine-tuning. The study demonstrates that anisotropic diffusion is suitable for both manual image processing and real-time applications, offering an optimal balance between processing speed and denoised image quality. NLM is optimal for high-quality single image processing due to its superior results, despite a slower processing speed. FFT is noted for its efficiency in eliminating periodic noise. Further research will be conducted on advancing filtering techniques for different real-world scenarios and autonomous systems.

&lt;b&gt;PEMBAKARAN LAHAN UNTUK PEMBUKAAN LAHAN PERKEBUNAN (STUDI PUTUSAN NOMOR 468/PID.B/LH/2021/PN RHL)&lt;/b&gt;

Forest and land burning incidents are a phenomenon that often occurs in Indonesia. Most people still carry out actions to clear land by burning land. The formulation of the problem is about the suitability of District Court Decision Number 468/Pid.B/Lh/2021/Pn Rhl regarding the case of land burning to clear plantation land with the provisions of UUPPLH and the efforts that must be made by the regional government of Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province to overcome land fires plantations in the Rokan Hilir Regency area, Riau Province. This type of research uses normative law which is descriptive analytical and uses secondary data which is analyzed qualitatively by drawing deductive conclusions. Research results and discussion and hhe conclusion is that the District Court Decision Number 468/Pid.B/Lh/2021/Pn Rhl is in accordance with the provisions of Article 99 paragraph (1) UUPPLH but according to the author this decision can add Article 69 paragraph (1) letter a as a strengthening article for Article 99 paragraph (1) and Article 69 paragraph (1) letter h UUPPLH. With the Riau Province Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2019, the Riau Regional Government is not prepared enough to monitor technical preparedness measures, other efforts include extinguishing and rehabilitation