Rescue Activities Research Articles

Rescue Conversations from Dead-ends: Efficient Exploration for Task-oriented Dialogue Policy Optimization

Abstract Training a task-oriented dialogue policy using deep reinforcement learning is promising but requires extensive environment exploration. The amount of wasted invalid exploration makes policy learning inefficient. In this paper, we define and argue that dead-end states are important reasons for invalid exploration. When a conversation enters a dead-end state, regardless of the actions taken afterward, it will continue in a dead-end trajectory until the agent reaches a termination state or maximum turn. We propose a Dead-end Detection and Resurrection (DDR) method that detects dead-end states in an efficient manner and provides a rescue action to guide and correct the exploration direction. To prevent dialogue policies from repeating errors, DDR also performs dialogue data augmentation by adding relevant experiences that include dead-end states and penalties into the experience pool. We first validate the dead-end detection reliability and then demonstrate the effectiveness and generality of the method across various domains through experiments on four public dialogue datasets.

Bank Lending and Policy Interactions—A Comprehensive Assessment for the G20 Countries

ABSTRACTThis study examines the joint impact from supervisory requirements, monetary policies and rescue packages on the supply of bank loans. Evidence is obtained from conceptual considerations and the empirical investigation of G20 banks over the period 1995–2021. To prepare the analysis of interactions, we first address modelling concepts and consistently identify the effects on bank lending that come from each of the regulatory approaches in isolation. Second, we empirically assess the effects that result from the parallel application of policy actions. Short‐term liquidity ratios in combination with further variables mostly associate with positive interaction effects. In contrast, the joint assessment of long‐term liquidity ratios as well as leverage ratios with other policy actions usually provides negative effects. Overall, the results suggest that unconventional monetary policy and rescue actions can stimulate bank lending only after the institutions have restored their own stability. Interactions of policy actions matter, and both regulatory authorities and bank management should consider them.

CNSC-69. GLIOBLASTOMA-NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IS REGULATED THROUGH ALTERATIONS IN CHLORIDE HOMEOSTASIS AND GABAERGIC SIGNALING

Abstract The specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying glioma-related epilepsy, which presents an unfavorable clinical course, are still not well explored. To identify the candidate pathways involved in glioblastoma-induced neuronal hyperexcitability, we used high-density electrode arrays in vivo in humans to record local field potentials from cortically projecting gliomas and identified hyperexcitable intratumoral regions with elevated functional connectivity to the brain. Single-cell RNA sequencing (13,730 cells analyzed) of the functionally connected intratumoral regions identified several circuit assembly and GABAergic signaling genes elevated in glioma-intrinsic neurons, including the sodium-potassium-chloride co-transporter 1 (NKCC1), which accumulates chloride in the cells. We hypothesized that the hyperexcitable behavior of glioma-intrinsic neurons in glioblastoma is mediated by elevated NKCC1 and chloride dysregulation and that inhibiting NKCC1 would reinforce the inhibitory action of GABA and rescue the neuronal hyperresponsive phenotype. Single-nucleus (sNuc-seq) sequencing was performed on neuron-glioblastoma co-cultures (54,000 cells analyzed) to determine NKCC1-facilitated GABAergic signaling in glioblastoma-mediated neuronal responses. Mechanistic and functional studies using perforated whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, multielectrode array, calcium, and chloride imaging for validating therapeutic vulnerabilities to NKCC1 silencing by shRNA knockdown and by the FDA-approved drug bumetanide were performed using in vitro and organotypic mouse slice culture models. sNuc-seq revealed an upregulation of neuronal NKCC1 and GABAA receptors when co-cultured with NKCC1-high-expressing glioblastoma cells, indicating the strong association between neuronal NKCC1 and GABAergic signaling. Electrophysiological analysis of glioblastoma-neuron co-cultures demonstrated increased network burst synchrony and a positive shift in the GABA reversal potential (EGABA). This increase was eliminated in the presence of NKCC1 inhibition using bumetanide and shRNA knockdown, which correlated with a significant decrease in intracellular neuronal chloride. Mechanistically, glioma NKCC1 downregulation significantly decreased GAP43-mediated tumor microtube (TMT) formation. Whether this reduced TMT formation also results in decreased chloride release by glioma cells, thereby altering neuronal chloride equilibrium, is currently under investigation. Collectively, these findings aim to identify a new mechanism of glioma-associated epilepsy, which may provide a novel approach to treatment.

Analysis of Safety Distances in Fire Explosions at Indoor Tank Storage Facilities Containing Flammable Liquids in Neighborhood Living Facilities

This study analyzed the minimum safe distance required for rescue activities in a flammable liquid fire explosion in an indoor tank storage facility within a neighborhood living facility. The safe distance was derived using guidelines, accident data, and simulations of accident cases. The considered chemicals were acetone, which was used as the refined oil, and N-dodecane, which was used as the diesel. The Busan bathhouse fire explosion in 2023 was selected as the accident case. The results indicated that the safe distance in the guidelines was 50 m, and the safe distance for accident cases considering only thermal radiation was 30 m. The simulation results showed that the radiation heat and overpressure of refined oil were in the ranges of 17~52 m and 26~129 m, respectively, whereas the radiation heat of diesel oil was in the range of 19~47 m. Hence, it is reasonable to apply a minimum safety distance of 50 m, as set by the fire brigade, upon the initial arrival of a flammable liquid leak accident. To provide relief activities for a chemical rescue team arriving in the middle of an accident, it is necessary to create and provide data that can be used to set appropriate safety distances based on the characteristics of the material and environment.

Proposal of an Effective Way of Rescuing People from a Cable Car

This study presents a proposal for procedures and recommendations for the evacuation of people from cable cars. The proposals and procedures were carried out in a specific facility located in the east of Slovakia. Cable cars represent a certain risk of endangering the lives and health of people. This threat can be caused by technical failures, meteorological conditions, or human factors. Despite the existing safety measures, which are at a high level today, extraordinary events occur on cable cars that require the intervention of the integrated rescue system. The rescue services themselves have their own specific rescue procedures and equipment for rescuing people from heights, and in this paper the most frequently used rescue procedures and methods performed by members of the Fire and Rescue Service will be presented. This paper summarizes individual rescue actions, activities, and technical equipment used in rescuing people from cable cars, as well as an analysis of individual rescue and evacuation techniques from the Skipark Erika cable car. The result of the contribution is a proposal for coordination and an evaluation of the best and most suitable method of rescue in terms of time and safety.

Italian Search and Rescue Seaplanes From the 50s to the 70s: A Brave People and Mighty Aircraft Story

Following a previous article that described the early days of Italian air rescue and that reached up to the immediate postwar period (World War II), this article describes the search and rescue activity carried out by the Italian Grumman Albatross HU-16A from the postwar period until the end of the 70s.

Howler Monkey Die-Off in Southern Mexico.

In May and June 2024, a die-off of Mexican mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) occurred in southern Mexico. This commentary documents the event, attributing it to extreme heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and habitat impoverishment. Despite their reported resilience to habitat disturbances, mantled howler monkey mortality rate in some areas reached 31%. Key evidence points to heatstroke as the primary cause of death, exacerbated by limited hydration and reduced dietary diversity in disturbed habitats. Immediate responses included community-led rescues (e.g., hydrating the monkeys), coordination of rescue activities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) (e.g., managing donations), involvement of scientists (e.g., monitoring of primate populations), and assistance from government officials (e.g., providing legal support for animal management). This event underscores the urgency of developing action plans to prevent and attend future crises. Among other actions, we highlight (i) establishing primate care infrastructure with medical and rehabilitation centers; (ii) developing protocols and training programs to ensure rapid crisis response; (iii) fostering collaboration among government, NGOs, and academic institutions for effective crisis management; and (iv) developing targeted research on climate change impacts, predictive models, and long-term health monitoring. We emphasize the critical need for coordinated conservation efforts to protect wild primates and maintain natural ecosystem resilience in the face of escalating climate challenges.

Administrative Lawfare at the European Union’s External Borders: Some Perspectives on Administrative Regulation of NGO Search and Rescue Activities in Italy and the Situation at the Polish-Belarusian Border

Abstract Violations of the rights of migrants by state actors at the EU’s external borders, including through the use of pushbacks and indiscriminate violence, both on land and sea, have resulted in NGOs, lawyers and citizen activists engaging in forms of humanitarian action and legal mobilization aimed at contesting inhumane state policies. State actors can similarly rely on various legal tools to create a chilling effect and a hostile environment for migrants’ rights activism. Such practices can be considered to constitute a form of lawfare against migrants’ rights activism, an instrumental and hegemonic use of the law in order to weaken support for migrants. The use of criminal law has been a common tool of lawfare at the European Union’s external borders. However, administrative law is increasingly being used to bring activists into compliance with states’ interests, creating compliant environments through the use of regulatory instruments and administrative sanctions. To critically assess the instrumental use of administrative law as a form of lawfare, it makes sense to review their application at the EU’s external borders. A good opportunity for such a review is being provided by looking at the administrative regulation of search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean creating a hostile environment for SAR NGOs in the case of Italy, and the instrumental use of administrative regulations to limit access for activists to the Polish-Belarusian border in the case of Poland.

Formal Modelling and Model Checking of a Flood Monitoring and Rescue System: A Case Study of Safety-Critical System

The flood incidents are becoming more often and severe, thus extreme events require efficient and effective means of controlling and saving lives and property. The reason for this paper is to use Formal Modelling and Model Checking to analyse a new safety critical Flood Monitoring and Rescue System (FMRS) that shall form the basis for the efficient response to floods. Employing the TLA+ analysis, which outlines the FMRS’s dynamic behavior and operational specifications comprehensively. It is important to stress that in our work we address one of the most exciting directions of applying formal methods for the first time in collaboration with real-world safety-critical system designers and offer a powerful and transparent systematic approach to verifying safety-critical systems’ correctness, safety, and reliability. The TLA+ specifications are very carefully designed to represent multiple aspects of the FMRS, such as sensor systems, communication interfaces, as well as the rescue activity itself. To this end, we use model checking methodologies in order to assess the system’s compliance with the required safety properties, including timely detection of floods, correct delivery of data, and synchronization of rescue operations. The performed model checking demonstrates the presence of essential information about the system’s potential failure and weaknesses, which can be used for FMRS architecture improvement and development. Thus, this case shows that the best use of formal methods exist not as ad hoc methods for resolving some issues in the development of safety-critical systems, but a structured template that could be applied in other domains where high degree of assurance in the reliability of a system is needed. Besides the novel method for the better future of the field of formal verification, the proposal also sketches functional relevance of integrating the effective and efficient approaches for monitoring floods and emergency rescue operations in real-world contexts.

Bystanders’ willingness to assist using automated external defibrillators during cardiac arrest

The “bystander effect,” in which the presence of others inhibits rescue actions, has not been specifically examined in the context of cardiac arrest; understanding this effect in relation to rescue with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is important. This study aims to identify the presence of others as a factor inhibiting rescue actions using an AED, from a social psychology perspective. We collected data through a web-based questionnaire involving registered residents in all 47 prefectures of Japan. The participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios of witnessing cardiac arrest events at train stations, under sparse or crowded conditions, and with or without the presence of competent parties (e.g., station staff or security guards). Their willingness to intervene was assessed across three levels of rescue behavior: (1) running and calling for help, (2) retrieving an AED, and (3) using an AED. This study found evidence of the bystander effect, indicating that the presence of competent others reduced behavioral interventions by bystanders during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) events. Moreover, the perceived presence of competent parties at the scene of a cardiac arrest reduced bystanders’ willingness to initiate rescue under certain circumstances. While many bystanders were willing to initiate rescue efforts in response to calls for help, they resisted rescues involving an AED. This study observes that a bystander effect occurs among bystanders witnessing OHCA, explores the inhibiting effects of identifying competent parties on the initiation of rescue efforts, and suggests that there are significant invisible barriers to using AEDs in rescuing patients with OHCA.

PENGARUH PELATIHAN PERTOLONGAN PERTAMA KECELAKAAN TERHADAP PENGETAHUAN SISWA KELAS 11

School students frequently experience emergency situations due to accidents, such as fainting, poisoning, bleeding, fractures, and sudden animal bites/stings. Students, teachers, or educational staff often encounter these issues at school. When faced with such an emergency situation, most of them can only panic, unable to do much in providing first aid, leaving the victim lying there and at risk of losing their life without any rescue actions, even just standing by and becoming spectators to the critically ill person who is dying.This study wants to find out what eleventh-grade students at Miftahul Ulum Anggana Private Madrasah Aliyah knew before and after getting first aid training for accidents. It will do this by using a pre-experimental method, a one-group pretest-posttest design, and the Wilcoxon test and the dependent T-test. The results indicate a significant effect (?<0.05) of the first aid training for accidents on the knowledge of eleventh-grade students at Miftahul Ulum Anggana Private Madrasah Aliyah.

Research on rescue priority based on high spatiotemporal resolution mobile positioning data

Estimate the key rescue areas of earthquake accurately, which is of great significance for deploying rescue forces and implementing rescue activities in post-earthquake scientifically.This paper based on the idea of first zoning, then classification, and then prioritizing rescue, taking the core area of Tangshan City as the study area, based on urban road data and mobile positioning data, combined with GIS methods to achieve street level rescue zoning, k-means clustering analysis is used to classify rescue sectors, and personnel burial model is used to conduct rescue priority classification.The results indicate that rescue priority is closely related to the time of earthquake occurrence. When the earthquake occurs between 18pm and 7pm in the next day, the number of priority rescue sector at level I and II is the highest. When the earthquake occurs between 8am and 11am on weekends, the number of priority rescue sector in residential areas increases, while the number of priority rescue zone decreases in workspace areas. This study provides refined rescue zoning and priority grading in the early stages of disaster relief with the absence of disaster information, which will help to assist in decision-making for professional force dispatch.

Optimal system loading and aborting in additive multi-attempt missions

Despite considerable research efforts devoted to the mission aborting policies for diverse systems, little work considered the effects of loading and the existing models assumed single-attempt missions only. In practice, loading may affect mission work progress and system loss risk. This paper contributes by modeling and optimizing the mission aborting and loading policy (MALP) for a mission system that must accomplish a specified amount of work through multiple attempts. A successful attempt includes an operation phase (OP) that completes a portion of required work dependent on the loading level, followed by a return phase (RP). The OP in an attempt may also be aborted followed by a rescue action (RA) to survive the system. The system undergoes different, loading-dependent shock processes during OP, RP, and RA. A new numerical method is proposed to evaluate the expected mission losses (EML), encompassing costs associated with uncompleted work and system losses. The optimal MALP problem is then solved to minimize the EML. The case study of an aerial vehicle performing a goods delivery mission is conducted to illustrate the proposed model. Managerial insights are also derived through investigating impacts of different model parameters on the EML and optimal MALP solutions.

Medical Activities used by the EMT from Zywiec under 18 years of age in 2022-2023

Aim: To analyze the interventions carried out by the Medical Rescue Teams in patients under the age of 18 in the operational area of the Medical Rescue Company in Zywiec in the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Material and methods: The medical documentation of Specialist and Basic Medical Rescue Teams of the Medical Rescue Company in Zywiec in the period from 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2023 (n=23 983) was subject to retrospective analysis. The study included those in which the intervention of the Medical Rescue Teams concerned a patient under the age of 18 (n=1658). The entire analysis was divided into 4 age groups: 0-1, 1-8, 8-13, 13-18 years. In the group division, cards of medical rescue activities were analyzed and divided into the so-called non-traumatic and trauma patient. In the examined medical documentation, an additional division was made into the so-called non-traumatic and traumatic patients. This division was made on the basis of the diagnosis categorized in ICD-10. Results: On the basis of the date of birth, visits to patients under the age of 18 by Medical Rescue Teams were selected, which accounted for 6,91% of the total interventions in the analyzed period. Conclusions: Patients under the age of 18 constitute a challenge for Medical Rescue Teams due to a very small number of interventions, which results in the lack of experience in performing examinations and implementing medical rescue activities.

Combining extinction probability and functional or phylogenetic distinctiveness to define conservation priorities

Given the current accelerating extinction rates, an increasing number of species-based conservation strategies have emerged because of the public interest in helping save particular species by funding rescue actions. Although public interest has focused mainly on well-studied, charismatic species, conservation scientists have developed tools to help prioritize species conservation from a more objective perspective, preserving ecosystem functioning and human well-being for future generations. For that purpose, species-centered biodiversity indicators that account not only for the extinction risk of a species but also for its evolutionary and/or functional distinctiveness have been developed. A species is considered irreplaceable and distinctive if it is isolated on the phylogenetic tree and/or if it has distinct traits, especially functional traits that determine the species' effects on ecosystems. The quantitative values representing extinction risk and distinctiveness of species have often been multiplied to define a quantitative conservation priority score. However, there is a plethora of ways to combine several conservation criteria into a single quantitative priority score, and the product of this multiplication is one such possibility. Each possible way of combining extinction risk and distinctiveness provides a different point of view on which of these should prevail to set conservation priorities. We set up an axiomatic framework on how a species' distinctiveness could be combined with its extinction risk via a tool used to define conservation priorities. By doing so, we show that further work is still needed to better communicate biodiversity indicators to the public and ensure an informed choice of indicators.

Legal nature of the firefighter’s equivalent

The article concerns the legal nature of the cash equivalent as a benefit paid to firefighters of the Volunteer FireDepartment for participating in a rescue operation, rescue operation, training or exercise. This benefit was grantedto members for rescue activities in order to show gratitude for risking life and health to save other people,property and the environment by performing work identical to that of professional firefighters without receivingremuneration. This article presents legal regulations regarding the concept and conditions of payment of thebenefit in question, as well as regulations regarding exemptions from the collection of public law liabilities, compensationfor lost earnings and waiver of the right to obtain an equivalent. Due to the multi-faceted nature of thebenefit in question and the narrow regulation, it is necessary to supplement the knowledge with developed thesesof case law, in particular regarding the calculation of compensation for breaks in training, remaining in combatreadiness, the time of arming the vehicle and securing mass eve nts.

[formula omitted]-LB: Software-defined IDS with UAV Resource Aware Load-Balancing in FANET disaster scenarios

In critical scenarios like natural disasters, the physical infrastructure of the network may be heavily damaged or completely torn down making difficult communications and rescue activities. In such cases, due to their nature, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are usually employed to provide a temporary support network by forming a Flying Ad-Hoc Network (FANET). However, this network should be carefully monitored and safeguarded to guarantee its stability by deploying network security appliances, like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs). In the wake of these considerations, this paper delves into the utilization of IDS functions deployed on UAVs, named IDS-enabled UAVs, in emergencies leveraging the modern Software-Defined Network (SDN) paradigm. Specifically, the study proposes a dynamic approach to promptly activate IDS-enabled UAVs, in an SDN-FANET, responding to network traffic increasing and/or malicious activities taking place within the network. In order to achieve this objective, a Software-defined IDS with UAV Resource Aware Load Balancing strategy – SURA-LB – is proposed and implemented within the SDN controller, leveraging its programmable nature and its holistic view of the network. The SURA-LB strategy equally distributes the load among the set of IDS-enabled UAVs by considering their resources and energy utilization along with the experienced network traffic conditions. Finally, an extensive experimental campaign shows the benefits of the proposed load-balancing strategy in reducing and fairly distributing the workload among the IDS-enabled UAVs outperforming naive and baseline load-balancing strategies like Random and Round-Robin and, therefore, bolstering the resilience and the reliability of the set of IDS-enabled UAVs while the traffic to be monitored and analyzed increases.

Multi-objective Vehicle Routing Optimization Model for Emergency Logistics Considering Aftershock Effects

Earthquake is a kind of common and terrible sudden natural disaster. Frequent earthquake disasters bring inestimable loss of people and property to human society. Based on the earthquake background and considering the impact of aftershocks on emergency rescue activities, this paper constructs a multi-objective vehicle routing optimization model with the objectives of time, risk, fairness of material distribution and minimum cost. Through simulation examples, conclusions are drawn: Decision makers should first consider risk and time, when considering time, focus on considering the time window to meet the fairness of material distribution, and finally consider the cost.

The naval Operation Irini of the European Union: a step backwards of the csdp in the fight against the illegal immigration and search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean

Operation Irini is a new EU naval operation, in the framework of CSDP, to address violations of the arms embargo and illicit export of petroleum products in Libya, imposed by the United Nations Security Council. As a second objective, the Operation contributes to the training of Libyan coastguards in their fight against illegal immigration, as well as combating the mafias involved in the smuggling of migrants in the Central Mediterranean. From the outset, the naval operation has had scant resources and, unsurprisingly, its results have been poor in these first three years. In short, this new Operation, in the wake of Sophia’s poor results in the last months of its activity, represents a new setback for the CSDP and for the EU’s ambition to become a relevant actor in contemporary international society. Unfortunately, moreover, allegations of significant violations of migrants’ human rights by Libyan coast guard forces cast a shadow over the EU, which is assisting and training these security forces. Received: 04 September 2023Accepted: 24 January 2024

МЕЖДУНАРОДНО-ПРАВОВОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ СПАСАТЕЛЬНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ НА МОРЕ В СОВРЕМЕННЫЙ ПЕРИОД

This publication provides a detailed analysis of the international legal regulation of rescue activities at sea. International legal norms and agreements regulating the above activities have been researched. These norms and documents indicate the readiness of most states of the modern world, parties to relevant international treaties, to jointly confront emergency situations at sea, eliminate their consequences and jointly carry out rescue activities, regardless of geopolitical and other interests. 
 The legal relations that develop in the process of implementation and compliance with international legal norms and agreements in the framework of rescue activities, which is a dynamic and multifaceted area that requires constant adaptation and development in accordance with changing conditions and challenges, are considered. Given the global nature of maritime activities and the universality of maritime safety issues, it is necessary to continue research, improve regulations and strengthen international cooperation to ensure effective and timely maritime rescue. 
 The conclusion is formulated that the development of international maritime law and maritime security contributes to the establishment and improvement of international cooperation in the field of search and rescue, which is important for protecting the lives and health of people, prevention emergency situations, as well as maintaining and strengthening global maritime security.