Rescue Project Research Articles

A bayesian approach for the continuous monitoring of the prediction of the physiological evolution of a crisis victim: A decision support system

Catastrophic events like earthquakes demand innovative tools for crisis management. Mathematical modeling and decision support systems (DSSs) have proved crucial for understanding, predicting and mitigating disaster impact. The quantification of complex phenomena through probabilistic models, to estimate the likelihood of events, provides actionable insights that are essential for disaster risk reduction (DRR).The present work stems from research conducted within the framework of the Search & Rescue (S&R) project (H2020-SU-SEC-2019), in particular from the development of the PHYSIO DSS module, the medical component of the S&R Decision Support System (DSS). The PHYSIO DSS focuses on predicting the physiological evolution of crisis victims: using a Bayesian approach, it incorporates real-time field observations to forecast patient conditions. This enables the prediction of the evolution of physiological compensation, allowing efficient resource allocation and timely interventions. By providing real-time insights into victim severity, PHYSIO DSS empowers medical personnel to prioritize treatment, potentially saving lives. Its adaptability allows integration into different platforms, from crisis management systems to apps to personal health devices.This tool has the potential to substantially enhance emergency response capability and overall disaster resilience by offering real-time, data-driven decision support.

Risky Business: Data-At-Risk in a Dynamic and Evolving Multidisciplinary Research Environment

At-risk data is an unfortunate research reality and can be present in all data formats in a range of research disciplines. This is defined as data that are at risk of loss due to various factors, including deterioration of the media, lack of accompanying documentation and data that exists in non-digital formats, which are often irreplaceable. Continued access to older data has a range of benefits. The factors that place valuable data at risk are therefore a cause for concern. This paper reports on a multi-method case study, comprising a survey and interviews. A web-based questionnaire was distributed to all research group leaders based at a leading South African research institute. This was followed by one-on-one interviews that were held with a sub-section of the same group of researchers. The combined findings of the two methods enabled a picture to be formed regarding factors that jeopardise research data, data rescue obstacles that the researchers encountered and the state of data rescue at the institute. Several recommendations and strategies are put forward to address identified risk factors and challenges. Suggestions include the launch of a data rescue project, awareness training around data at risk, involving the institute’s library and information services (LIS) section in data rescue and launching continued efforts to acquire a dedicated institutional data repository. It is also important to ensure that the scope of project risk management includes data considerations. The combined implementation of recommendations is anticipated to ensure the accessibility and usability of older at-risk data and reduce the chances of current and future data becoming compromised.

Genome-wide neonatal epigenetic changes associated with maternal exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring gestation, stressors to the fetus, including viral exposure or maternal psychological distress, can fundamentally alter the neonatal epigenome, and may be associated with long-term impaired developmental outcomes. The impact of in utero exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn epigenome has yet to be described.MethodsThis study aimed to determine whether there are unique epigenetic signatures in newborns who experienced otherwise healthy pregnancies that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (Project RESCUE). The pre-pandemic control and pandemic cohorts (Project RESCUE) included in this study are part of a prospective observational and longitudinal cohort study that evaluates the impact of elevated prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood neurodevelopment.Using buccal swabs collected at birth, differential DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and linear regression analysis. Pathway analysis and gene ontology enrichment were performed on resultant gene lists.ResultsWidespread differential methylation was found between neonates exposed in utero to the pandemic and pre-pandemic neonates. In contrast, there were no apparent epigenetic differences associated with maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Differential methylation was observed among genomic sites that underpin important neurological pathways that have been previously reported in the literature to be differentially methylated because of prenatal stress, such as NR3C1.ConclusionsThe present study reveals potential associations between exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy and subsequent changes in the newborn epigenome. While this finding warrants further investigation, it is a point that should be considered in any study assessing newborn DNA methylation studies obtained during this period, even in otherwise healthy pregnancies.

Lean approach in the application of new technologies: integration of risk, situational awareness, and resilience by a prehospital emergency medical service

After an earthquake or an industrial chemical release, a timely and effective response is crucial and can prevent or significantly reduce the risk of casualties. To this end, first responders and rescue teams have been equipped with state-of-the-art tools and specialised instruments to improve their capabilities in terms of accuracy, rapid location, and reduction of false alarms. The European Union-funded Search and Rescue project (Emerging technologies for the Early location of Entrapped victims under Collapsed Structures and Advanced Wearables for risk assessment and First Responders Safety in SAR operations) has designed, implemented and tested a highly compatible open architecture platform for first responders in a pilot case study of a chemical incident. An analysis of major chemical accidents classified by the eMars database (Major Accident Reporting System, established by the European Seveso Directive) was carried out; it has determined the types of companies that have suffered chemical accidents with the highest number of injuries and fatalities. Based on this previous analysis, a chemical spill pilot study was devised to test advanced user equipment systems and backup applications, improving first responders’ decision-making and providing a common, dynamic operational perspective of the disaster. The Lean Method was used to evaluate processes, identify waste, test new solutions and, finally, increase the value of the product and service produced.

Emerging Technologies for the Early Location of Entrapped Victims Under Collapsed Structures and Advanced Wearables for Risk Assessment and First Responders Safety in SAR Operations, Search and Rescue Project

Introduction:Natural disasters and catastrophes are challenges faced by emergency services. These are dangerous environments in which there are life-threatening victims as in other CBRN incidents, which can add great risks for nearby populations and the environment. The main objective of this project is the development and testing of new technologies that increase the safety and efficiency of the work of first responders in disasters.Method:The SnR consortium, with 28 partners, has designed, implemented, and tested new technologies, with an advanced communication and monitoring system for professionals, victims, and other first responders, with innovative positioning and assistance ICT that facilitate the exploration and evaluation of disaster areas.These technological advances are validated and evaluated with performance, efficiency, and usability indicators, in laboratories and in real working conditions, through a total of seven case studies, in seven different countries, covering a wide range of representative disaster scenarios.Results:The development of a new communication and monitoring system for professionals and victims, coordinated on the Concorde platform, together with chemical alert sensors, synchronized with smartwatches, smart uniforms, and pediatric immobilizers, are some of the tools tested. The pilots carried out to confirm the usefulness of the 26 technological tools designed and tested in the field, which have helped to reduce the damage and casualties that can occur in S&R operations.Conclusion:In conclusion, the H2020 European Search and Rescue project (S&R), through the development of new technologies, offers a holistic approach to the effective response to emergencies and provides increased capabilities and resources to first responders in the field, increasing their effectiveness and safety. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement (No. 882897).

Amphibian protection and rescue project grants

Corporate Philanthropy ReportVolume 38, Issue 2 p. 13-13 Grant Alerts Amphibian protection and rescue project grants First published: 17 January 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/cprt.31511Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume38, Issue2February 2023Pages 13-13 RelatedInformation

Meteorological data rescue: Citizen science lessons learned from Southern Weather Discovery

SummaryDaily weather reconstructions (called “reanalyses”) can help improve our understanding of meteorology and long-term climate changes. Adding undigitized historical weather observations to the datasets that underpin reanalyses is desirable; however, time requirements to capture those data from a range of archives is usually limited. Southern Weather Discovery is a citizen science data rescue project that recovered tabulated handwritten meteorological observations from ship log books and land-based stations spanning New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica. We describe the Zooniverse-hosted Southern Weather Discovery campaign, highlight promotion tactics, and replicate keying levels needed to obtain 100% complete transcribed datasets with minimal type 1 and type 2 transcription errors. Rescued weather observations can augment optical character recognition (OCR) text recognition libraries. Closer links between citizen science data rescue and OCR-based scientific data capture will accelerate weather reconstruction improvements, which can be harnessed to mitigate impacts on communities and infrastructure from weather extremes.

FC 127: Acute Kidney Injury and Exposure to Nephrotoxic Drugs in Critically Ill Patients: A Report From the Multicenter Rescue Project in the Netherlands

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common problem in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Nephrotoxic drugs play a causal role in 14–28% of the ICU AKI cases and are one of the few preventable AKI causes. The Dutch multicenter project ‘Towards a leaRning mEdication Safety system in a national network of Intensive Care Units—timely detection of adverse drug Events’ (RESCUE) aims to improve medication safety in ICU patients with respect to drug-induced AKI. This requires knowledge on which drugs may cause AKI and the strength of their effects. Obtaining such knowledge is challenging due to confounding. Especially in the ICU, where patients often have multiple comorbidities, AKI risk factors may also be indications or contraindications for drugs. We aimed to estimate the independent associations between nephrotoxic drug groups and AKI in ICU patients by adjusting for drug group-specific confounders. METHOD We used a detailed electronic health record database of ICU patients admitted to 13 different ICUs between 2010 and 2019 in the Netherlands. The database contains admission characteristics, (chronic) comorbidities, physiology measurements, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV admission diagnoses and predicted mortality probabilities, serum creatinine (SCr), drug administrations, arterial blood pressure and renal replacement therapy (RRT) treatments. We included admissions with at least two SCr values and excluded admissions with one or more missing AKI risk factor values. Using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury, we diagnosed and staged AKI according to the SCr and RRT criteria. We recorded exposure to eight drug groups widely regarded as acutely nephrotoxic [1] until AKI onset, discharge or death. Multilevel logistic regression models were applied to estimate the independent association between each drug group and AKI. The estimates were adjusted for drug group-specific confounders: we registered which AKI risk factors were indications or contraindications for each drug group. RESULTS We included 98 391 ICU admissions, of which 14 074 (14%) were diagnosed with AKI, ranging between 6 and 21% across the ICUs. Of all admissions with AKI, 8962 (64%), 1283 (9%) and 3829 (27%) developed AKI stage 1, stage 2 or stage 3, respectively (Figure 1). The percentage of admissions exposed to nephrotoxic drug groups was 7% for aminoglycosides, 6% for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 6% for penicillin combinations, 5% for glycopeptide antibiotics, 2% for sulfonamides, 2% for antivirals for herpes infections, 1% for immunosuppressants and 1% for antimycotic antibiotics. All drug groups were associated with a higher odds of AKI except NSAIDs and penicillin combinations (Table 1). While penicillin combinations were not associated with AKI, NSAIDs were associated with a lower odds of AKI. The drug groups with the highest odds of AKI were immunosuppressants [odds ratio (OR) 2.26, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.97–2.60; P < 0.001), sulfonamides (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.65–2.04; P < 0.001) and aminoglycosides (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.59–1.81; P < 0.001). The NSAID group was the only group that showed a higher OR after adjustment. CONCLUSION We estimated the independent associations between nephrotoxic drug groups and AKI by adjusting for drug-group specific confounders. Our results provide new estimates of the strengths of the associations. Surprisingly, NSAIDs were associated with a lower odds of AKI. This association might be biased due to residual confounding by contraindication. Future studies may investigate strategies to avoid drug-induced AKI.

THE INTEGRATION OF THE MULTI-TEMPORAL CONSERVATION WORKS AND NON-INVASIVE MEASUREMENTS

Abstract. Heritage sites are affected by many factors that cause degradation and decay over time, such as soil deformation, changes in weather conditions, or excess moisture, which can cause damages to historical sites. For this reason, restoration works are planned and carried out to preserve the object's existing condition, renovate and repair the damaged parts, or restore the original condition of the object. The Rescue Project was undertaken in the Blessed Ladislas’ chapel in St. Anna's Church in Warsaw, Poland. The main goal of the planned work was to restore the original rococo character of the dome paintings. The aim of this article was to present the integration of the multi-temporal conservation work and non-invasive measurements for changes analysis during conservation works. For this purpose, point clouds acquired with a Z+F 5006h ground-based scanner and images captured via Structure-from-Motion and MultiView Stereo method implemented in Agisoft Metashape software were used. The proposed conservation analysis method was a multi-stage process that involved: (1) automatic data integration using a feature-based approach based on 2D detectors and point clouds converted to spherical images, (2) generalisation and harmonisation of source data, and (3) analysis of deviations between point clouds. Having registered point clouds with each other, it was possible to analyse changes that occurred during conservation work. Calculated distances between both point clouds show the localisation of cracks and damages and enable measure of the size and depth of crevices on the dome wall.

John Ellis Jones and Ourania Kouka, Elis 1969. The Peneios Valley Rescue Excavation Project / Effie Photos-Jones and Alan J Hall, ros, mercator and the cultural landscape of Melos in antiquity

Both of these books represent much belated publications of older fieldwork. Appropriately perhaps, since we could not find suitable or willing reviewers, your Editor has undertaken to review these books, also considerably belatedly. But they remain little known and so well worth recognition.
 The Elis Survey was a British contribution to a rescue project shared out amongst several foreign archaeological schools in Athens, to document a landscape in Elis about to be drowned by a new dam and reservoir.

Paleoanthropological sites of the upper Awash River basin: Fanta, Gemeda and Koche, preliminary results

Ethiopia has well known paleontological and archaeological sites within the Rift Valley, but relatively little is known of the potential within the surrounding highlands. Here, we present three underexplored sites within and nearby Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital city: Fanta, Gemeda, and Koche. These sites were originally mapped in 2008 as part of a rescue project carried out in advance of construction at the Fanta site. As observed in surface contexts and within the modern stream cutbank, Fanta is rich in fossil and archaeological materials. The abundance of hippopotamids at this site (both on the surface and in situ) indicates the presence of a large body of water across the paleolandscape. The site is rich in alcelaphine bovids and equids, and thus likely represents a highland grassland environment. The surface of the site is also rich in artifacts that demonstrate morphologies of the Acheulean technological complex but the relationship of the stone tools to the fauna has yet to be determined. The other sites, Gemeda and Koche are not as rich as Fanta, but may represent other important highland sites.Since discovery, the sites remain underexplored apart from a large-area ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey at the Fanta site which revealed a vertical succession of reflection packages that have been used to interpret the nature of sedimentary deposits at and away from the exposures. We present the interpretation of previously unpublished GPR data from this survey nearest to the stream cutbank.Finally, all three sites, but especially Fanta, are under threat of destruction from urban development and encroachment, where some of the site has undergone damages and continues to face ongoing destruction. Despite this, the sites offer the opportunity to develop a center of research, education, and tourism with easy access of Ethiopia's growing and dynamic capital city.

Sighting of Leith’s sand snake, Psammophis leithii (Gunther, 1896) with first photographic evidence at Jawai Bandh, District Pali, Rajasthan, India

A snake rescue project, named Sarpa Sathi, has been running around Jawai dam area, Rajasthan, India since 2019, where during a rescue operation of snake, we sighted and recorded the rare Leith’s Sand Snake (Psammophis leithii). Previous documentation of this particular species has been reported from other parts of Rajasthan but proper photographic evidence with identification of the same has been possible for the first time.

“A Great Investment in Our Communities”: Strengthening Nunavut’s Whole-of-Society Search and Rescue Capabilities

Community-based organizations along with territorial, provincial, and federal agencies are responsible for search and rescue (SAR) in the Canadian Arctic. In delivering response capabilities at all hours of the day and for 365 days a year, the community-based organizations face a wide array of challenges. Using the data collected through the Kitikmeot Search and Rescue Project and the Kitikmeot Roundtable on SAR, coupled with academic and non-government organization literature, this article explores the major challenges facing community SAR organizations in Nunavut and builds a case for how targeted investment can best bolster community-based capabilities. We suggest novel, practical, and holistic solutions that have been proposed by or co-devised with community partners, are rooted in the unique context of Nunavut’s communities, and are reflective of a community resilience-building approach. One set of recommendations involves strengthening current programming, including the expansion of Nunavut Emergency Management’s inReach program, continued support for the enlargement of the CCGA, streamlining the process to activate Canadian Ranger patrols, and encouraging greater cooperation in the provision of training by federal and territorial agencies. We also propose new approaches, including a whole-of-society preventative SAR program centred on educational and youth programming, the adoption of a SAR equipment usage rate model, and the launch of a Community Public Safety Officer program in Nunavut. Finally, to justify greater investment at the community level, we argue that policymakers must change how they conceptualize community-based SAR capabilities in Nunavut. An effective SAR system is about more than the ability to respond to emergency events. It is a critical enabler to broader objectives and goals prioritized in the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and other federal, territorial, and Inuit strategies.

Saving the Last Unicorns: The Genetic Rescue of Florida’s Pillar Corals

As stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) swept through the Florida Reef Tract, one of the most severely impacted species was the iconic pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus. As the species’ population experienced a precipitous decline, a collaborative rescue project collected colony fragments for safekeeping at onshore and offshore nursery facilities. Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 574 fragments representing 128 genotypes were collected. These are currently dispersed among five facilities where they continue to provide opportunities to (1) refine best husbandry practices for D. cylindrus, (2) develop treatment options for SCTLD that have been adapted for use on other species, (3) maximize growth and fragmentation to provide the live tissue needed for eventual restoration, and (4) provide a source of parent colonies for assisted sexual reproduction and new genetic diversity. With the wild pillar coral population in Florida at the end of 2020 at less than 6% of its known 2014 population and continuing to decline, the rescued ex situ colonies represent the entirety of the restoration potential for this species in Florida.

Search and Rescue, Climate Change, and the Expansion of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Inuit Nunangat / the Canadian Arctic

In Canada’s maritime spaces, members of the all-volunteer Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) provide essential marine search and rescue (SAR) services and promote boating safety. By 2015, however, only nine communities North of 55 possessed Auxiliary units and three of these struggled to remain operational. In 2020, the CCGA counted 20 units in the Coast Guard’s new Arctic Region, with 333 members and 31 vessels—the majority of which are located in Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland in Canada) and comprised of Inuit members—and plans for future expansion.
 Based on stakeholder engagement, government documents, and media analysis, this article assesses the Coast Guard’s Arctic Search and Rescue Project and the concomitant programming under the Oceans Protection Plan that has facilitated the Auxiliary’s expansion in the Arctic. Our analysis asks two overarching questions: Why has this program been able to expand the Auxiliary after previous efforts failed? How has this expansion improved the SAR system and marine safety in Canada’s Arctic, and are there areas for improvement?
 The article makes four primary arguments:
 
 The success of the project has been fueled by strong community engagement and relationship-building efforts, effective data collection that has fostered a better understanding of the marine risks facing Arctic communities, and consistent access to the training and equipment required to safely conduct marine SAR operations
 Members of Arctic Auxiliary units strengthen SAR operations by improving response times, serving as SAR detectives, contributing to marine safety, and, most importantly, by integrating their local and traditional knowledge and skills into the broader search and rescue system.
 Training and organizational gaps exist that should be addressed as the Coast Guard continues to bolster existing units and establish new ones.
 The Arctic SAR Project has provided several best practices and lessons that should guide the implementation of additional resilience-building measures in the North and in other Indigenous communities.

Swedish Archaeology in Perspective and the Possibility of Reflexivity

In exploring the possibilities of reflexivity in the Cultural Resource Management archaeology in Sweden, a comparison is made between the excavation at Çatalhöyük in Turkey and an excavation at Burlöv in Malmö, Sweden. The former, a large-scale research project that aims at implementing post-processual ideas, differs in many ways from the latter, which is part of a large-scale rescue project, Öresundsförbindelsen. There are also similarities, and in different ways reflexivity seems to be achieved in both cases.

Application of prefabricated building in emergency rescue project construction Taking — Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital Project as an example

In recent years, various natural disasters and health events have caused huge losses of people’s lives and properties. Because these events have the characteristics of force majeure, it is necessary to focus on the emergency relief after the disaster, with the development of industrialization of construction industry, the modular building provides strong technical support for the construction of emergency rescue projects. In late 2019, the super-efficient construction of Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital became an example of the application of Modular Assembly building in the rescue of the new coronavirus epidemic in Hubei Province, it provides a new idea for building industrialization and sustainable development

O vocabulário fiscal e suas práticas: um estudo sobre as possibilidades de análise das dinâmicas tributárias e seus desvios (América portuguesa, séculos XVII e XVIII)

O presente artigo busca identificar a ocorrência de diversas práticas lícitas e ilícitas na América portuguesa entre os séculos XVII e XVIII relacionadas à administração fiscal com o objetivo de identificar em que medida a Coroa portuguesa buscava ou não coibir as ações ilícitas, bem como, mapear alguns dos seus significados naquela época. A pesquisa revelou uma Coroa atenta às ilicitudes. Todavia, essa atenção, no geral, tinha sentidos e significados distintos dos nossos. A pesquisa tomou como ponto de partida os documentos publicados na Coleção Documentos Históricos da Biblioteca Nacional, passando para uma análise complementar a partir dos documentos do Conselho Ultramarino disponíveis através do Projeto Resgate. A investigação também identificou que as rendas régias eram comumente associadas a tributo ou a imposto. Contudo, em certos momentos distinções mais específicas eram feitas de modo a proteger ou garantir direitos e privilégios.

SOCIABILIDADES NEGRAS NA PARAÍBA OITOCENTISTA: SOCIEDADE, ECONOMIA E RESISTÊNCIAS

This article aims to present a synthesis of how the slave society in Paraiba was organized between the 18th and 19th centuries. Recent slavery studies have expanded and allowed to identify some aspects related to trafficking in enslaved people, to the experiences of forming captive families and to communities formed by fugitives and fugitives from captivity. In this work, we highlight socio-demographic and economic traits, as well as some experiences of life and resistance built by Africans and their descendants in the territory that, from the 16th century on, became known as Paraiba. For this, we used several sources, such as separate documents from the Overseas Historical Archive (AHU/PT/BR) digitized by the Rescue Project, baptism records from the parish of Nossa Senhora das Neves, wills and inventories in the Note Book of the city of Paraiba, in addition to the data systematized by the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database (TSTD) and the bibliography on the topic. Thus, we exposed some cracks of freedom of this social group and its social relations in an adverse context.

Análisis arqueológico de un conjunto doméstico en el sitio Las Palomas, Hidalgo, México

This research is the result of an archaeological rescue project that was developed between 2006 and 2007, prior to the construction of the Arco Norte highway that currently links the cities of Tula and Ciudad Sahagun in the state of Hidalgo, and which concluded with the preparation of the author's degree thesis. The work was carried out at the request of the Ministry of Communications and Transport. Several sites from the Epiclassic, Post-Classic and Colonial periods were registered in the region, as well as with different functions: civic-ceremonial, domestic, concentration of materials, etc. This paper deals with the archaeological analysis of a housing unit at the Las Palomas site. The results were used to infer the activities, areas of activity, work and way of life that the inhabitants of the domestic complex had during the Early Colonial period (1521-1603 AD). This paper presents a synthesis of the analyses developed in the thesis corresponding to the theoretical-methodological approaches, as well as the results, conclusions and new research questions.