Safer Ones Research Articles

Modern aspects of the labor market functioning in Ukraine: problems and solutions

The article analyzes the main trends and problems of the labor market in the conditions of transformational processes taking place in the country's economy. In particular, attention is focused on the high level of unemployment, the uneven distribution of the labor force between regions, the outflow of qualified personnel abroad, and the imbalance between demand and supply in the labor market. The authors examine the impact of global crisis phenomena, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and war, on structural changes in employment and wages. The work identifies key problems that limit the effective functioning of the labor market, including low wages, insufficient adaptation of the education system to the needs of the market. Special attention was paid to the problem of increasing the level of employment of IDPs, encouraging IDPs to open their businesses or self-employment based on microcredit, grants, training in entrepreneurial skills and consulting, an analysis of key factors affecting the employment of IDPs was carried out, as well as state support programs that stimulate the relocation of enterprises from dangerous regions to safer ones, will allow saving jobs and avoiding the reduction of production capacities. The authors offer several ways to solve the outlined problems, including raising the level of social standards, stimulating small and medium-sized businesses, introducing effective state employment programs, etc. The need for retraining, training in new professions and adaptation to market requirements is indicated. The article examines the role of international cooperation in solving migration problems. The authors also drew attention in the article to the fact that employers are forced to offer comprehensive packages that satisfy both financial and non-financial needs. Although salary remains an important factor in today's conditions, candidates are increasingly paying attention to other aspects: opportunities for training, career growth, vacations, work environment, corporate culture. The authors proposed several strategic steps that can help stabilize and develop the labor market. Thus, the article highlights a comprehensive approach to the analysis of modern challenges in the labor market of Ukraine and offers recommendations for its stabilization and further development.

Anywhere but Here: Neighborhood Violence and Local School Preferences in Baltimore City

In this study, we examine whether students in violent neighborhoods actively avoid their local school as a form of social and physical protection. Specifically, we use 10 years of administrative data (2010–2020) from the high school choice open enrollment program in the Baltimore City Public School System to evaluate the interaction between neighborhood violence and geographic proximity when predicting choice behavior. We find that, adjusting for observed school characteristics and constant unobserved student characteristics, students from more violent neighborhoods are substantially less likely to choose their closest school than are students in safer neighborhoods; even when the closest school is listed, it is ranked lower for students from more violent neighborhoods than for students in safer ones. These findings have implications for how we think about the relationship between neighborhoods and educational opportunity in an era of choice.

Do earthquake survivors want to escape the threats of earthquakes and why?

Destructive earthquakes and the possibility of experiencing destructive earthquakes may cause people to move from their area to safer ones. However, despite high earthquake risk, people may not want to leave the area they reside for various reasons. The objective of this study was to investigate whether earthquake experience, earthquake insurance, satisfaction with city, self-efficacy, risk perception, social support, post-earthquake insecurity and price gouging was correlated with relocation willingness in an earthquake-prone area. Data were collected using a survey from 1114 people residing in Kocaeli (Türkiye), where a devastating earthquake occurred in 1999. 610 people who participated in the study were affected by this earthquake and 504 people were not affected. In order to better understand the impact of earthquake exposure on relocation willingness, ordinal logistic regression analyzes were performed separately for the earthquake affected and unaffected sample. The result showed that the relocation willingness of the unaffected participants was higher than the relocation willingness of the affected participants. People who were psychologically affected by the earthquake were more likely to relocate. Satisfaction with the city reduced the participants' relocation willingness mostly. The fear of earthquakes and perceived insecurity after a future earthquake increased all participants' relocation willingness. It is hoped that this study will guide scientists and disaster managers working in regions where destructive disasters may occur to improve strategies related to relocation policy and earthquake risk reduction.

PHARMACOTHERAPY OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN LOCOMOTIVE CREW WORKERS

Cardiovascular pathology is considered one of the leading reasons for the professional unfitness of locomotive crew workers (LCW). Cardiac arrhythmias and elevated blood pressure numbers create prerequisites for the occurrence of cardiovascular catastrophes. Therefore, it seems relevant to investigate the structure of cardiovascular pathology and its pharmacotherapy in LCW from the standpoint of the safety of the use of various drugs among this group of patients. In the course of the study, a retrospective analysis of 100 medical records (machinists and their assistant) of the cardiology department of the Private healthcare institution Clinical Hospital "Russian Railways-medicine" Voronezh" was carried out. The results obtained indicate that various specified rhythm disturbances (41%) and hypertension (30%) in LCW. Holter ECG monitoring detects various types of rhythm and conduction disturbances in almost all the examined patients (supraventricular extrasystole in 94%, ventricular 51%). Analysis of the lipid spectrum confirms the presence of hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia. Among the drugs used there are those that belong to class I or II of the list "Medicines and traffic safety", but at the time of separation of the driver / assistant driver from work, their appointment is possible. There is a tendency to replace medications at discharge with safer ones (class III).

Evaluation of Process Wise ZDHC MRSL Conformance Status of Bangladesh RMG Sector

The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Program is a coalition of fashion brands, value chain affiliates and associates empowering the global textile, leather, apparel, and footwear value chain to substitute hazardous chemicals for safer ones in the production process. ZDHC takes a holistic, open approach, supporting safer chemical management practices across the entire value chain. By collaborating with ZDHC, organizations can mitigate risk, respond to changing customer demands, cut costs, and preserve valuable resources. Tools like CleanChain, BHIVE, BVE3 help to reduce costs and the administrative burden of collecting supply chain data by performing qualitative & quantitative analysis of chemicals. CleanChain, an ADEC Innovation, helps to automate the complex tasks of tracking, managing, and reporting compliance with Manufacturing Restricted Substance Lists (MRSLs) and Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs). In this research my objective is to identify the qualitative & quantitative analysis for the following groups of chemicals used in the different process like Alkylphenol (AP) and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEOs): Including All Isomers, Anti- Microbials & Biocides, Chlorinated Paraffins, Chlorobenzenes and Chlorotoluene, Chlorophenols, Dimethyl Formamide (DMFa), Dyes – Carcinogenic or Equivalent Concern, Dyes – Disperse (Sensitizing), Dyes – Navy Blue Colorants, Flame Retardants, Glycols / Glycol Ethers, Halogenated Solvents, Organotin Compounds, Other/Miscellaneous Chemicals, Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs), Phthalates – including all other esters of ortho-phthalic acid, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Restricted Aromatic Amines (Cleavable from Azo-colorants), UV Absorbers, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) & the impact of the un evaluated chemical which may have the following impact like Skin irritant/skin sensitizer/eye irritant Carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic Endocrine disruptors, Persistent, bio accumulative, toxic to aquatic life, Specific target organ toxic, Respiratory sensitizer, Acute toxic through oral, dermal or inhalation route, Developmental toxin/neurotoxin/impact on the central nervous system.

Acute poisoning among children and adolescents: a narrative review

Background: Acute poisoning is a frequent emergency and a significant health concern in the pediatric population. The pattern of acute intoxication differs between countries and within each country. Poisoning depends on many factors. It can be divided into two categories (accidental and intentional), and each one has its own characteristics. Aim of the study: This study aimed to analyze and discuss the overall patterns of accidental and intentional poisoning among children and adolescents. Material and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, Elsevier, and the PubMed database. The following keywords were used: “acute poisoning”, “pediatric poisoning”, “intentional poisonings”, “unintentional poisonings”, and “suicide attempts”. Results: A total of 38 articles were included in the review. Half had been published in the last five years. The analysis focused on the characteristics of the materials and methods, results, and conclusions sections of each study. Conclusions: Unintentional poisonings dominate among younger children, with a slight male predominance. They usually occur at home and occasionally lead to severe harm or even death. The most common causes of intoxication in this population are medications and household products. The majority of poisonings among adolescents are intentional suicide attempts. Among older children, over-the-counter analgesics are the most common cause of acute poisoning. Accidental poisoning can be avoided by providing preventive educational programs to guardians and replacing potentially toxic household products with safer ones. The prevention of intentional poisoning should be based on a community support system and behavioral programs. Healthcare professionals should be familiar with poisoning and be aware of the different patterns of intoxication according to age and gender.

Investigation of Ti-Zr-Fe-N-H system properties for marine applications

The study investigated the possibility of improving the properties of titanium alloy, specifically, Ti–6Al–4V, by replacing its toxic element with safer ones while maintaining its functionality for marine applications. The suggested system is the Ti–2Zr–1.5N–0.04H–XFe (X: 0–1.5) system, where two alloys have been synthesized by field‐assisted sintering technology and investigated. The alloys are iron-free alloy and one alloy has 1.5 wt% iron in it. The CALPHAD approach was utilized for experimental parameters that were validated through experiments. The microstructure reveals that the addition of iron improves sintering by Joule heating, creating a localized heat concentration that achieves a uniform distribution of Widmanstätten microstructure while maintaining full density. The characterization of the sample by XRD analysis has matched CALPHAD pseudo-binary phase diagrams and showed that intermetallic TiFe phase formation is prevented. Moreover, adding iron improved corrosion resistance compared with the iron-free sample.

Geographical diversification using ETFs: Multinational evidence from COVID-19 pandemic

We examine the relations between dollar flows of U.S. listed ETFs with exposure to the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world following an emergency like the COVID-19 crisis. Using a Markov Switching Model (MSVAR), we find evidence that investors use ETFs to gain exposure to foreign markets and swiftly adjust their portfolio's allocation in response to the change in the number of COVID-19 infected people in every location. We further extend our study to ETFs listed in the U.S., Europe, and Asia and investigate the change in foreign and domestic money flow, before and after the pandemic. We show that investors around the world rebalance their portfolios by monitoring the countries’ performance in controlling the pandemic. Our findings show that while investors in the U.S. and Asian countries direct their money to domestic funds and reduce their foreign investment following the pandemic, European investors increase foreign investment and reduce home bias. This is consistent with the flight-to-safety effect when investors shift their asset allocation away from riskier investments (here riskier locations) and into safer ones during the adverse economic shock.

Legislation Supports Autonomous Vehicles But Not Connected Ones [Connected and Automated Vehicles

It is inspiring to notice that legislation that helps incorporate autonomous vehicles on our roads in the near future is moving forward. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDoT), has integrated automated vehicles into the existing safety standards such that the text in the standards do not rely on the existence of steering wheels and driver’s seats, which may not exist in fully autonomous vehicles. In addition, the NHTSA has incorporated lane-keeping support, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, and blind spot intervention into its Five-Star Safety Ratings program. Such driver-assistance technologies are the first steps toward fully autonomous vehicles but, more importantly, toward safer ones. Developing safer vehicles requires significant investments, so it is important that the legislation provide a framework that is predictable, reducing the risk of long-term commitment.

Technologies for Biological and Bioelectrochemical Removal of Inorganic Nitrogen from Wastewater: A Review

Water contamination due to various nitrogenous pollutants generated from wastewater treatment plants is a crucial and ubiquitous environmental problem now-a-days. Nitrogen contaminated water has manifold detrimental effects on human health as well as aquatic life. Consequently, various biological treatment processes are employed to transform the undesirable forms of nitrogen in wastewater to safer ones for subsequent discharge. In this review, an overview of various conventional biological treatment processes (viz. nitrification, denitrification, and anammox) have been presented along with recent novel bioelectrochemical methods (viz. microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells). Additionally, nitrogen is an indispensable nutrient necessary to produce artificial fertilizers by fixing dinitrogen gas from the atmosphere. Thus, this study also explored the potential capability of various nitrogen recovery processes from wastewater (like microalgae, cyanobacteria, struvite precipitation, stripping, and zeolites) that are used in industries. Further, the trade-offs, challenges posed by these processes have been dwelt on along with other biological processes like CANON, SHARON, OLAND, and others.

Strategies to improve the challenges of classic dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for determination of the parabens in personal care products-One step closer to green analytical chemistry

Gas flow-assisted dispersive liquid-phase microextraction based on deep eutectic solvent was used to determine parabens in personal care products such as mouthwash, lidocaine gel, aloe vera gel, and skin tonic. A homemade extraction device was innovated, in which by passing the stream of gas bubbles through the deep eutectic solvent a thin layer of the extraction phase is coated on the surface of the bubbles. The extraction is finally achieved when the bubbles are going up through the sample. The single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were applied to optimize the independent variables. The linear range of the method was 0.5 to 1000 µg L−1, the coefficient of determination for the goal analytes was higher than 0.9989, the instrumental limit of detections were in the range 0.2–0.3 μg L−1, and the instrumental limit of quantifications were in the range 0.5–1.1 μg L−1, the relative standard deviations were <5.2% for repeatability and <11.2% for intermediate precision, and the enrichment factors were 66 to 87 obtained under the optimized conditions. A spiking approach by means of standard material was used to estimate accuracy. The relative recoveries were in the range 95.8–105.2%. By using mentioned strategies, the organic waste and energy consumption reduced, toxic reagents replaced with safer ones, and operator safety enhanced. Accordingly, these benefits have been simultaneously attained and, the proposed method was one step closer to automation and sustainable analytical chemistry.

Preventive vaccination compliance among medical students and pediatricians during the COVID-19 pandemic

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a strength test for the national healthcare systems and medical professional communities. The pandemic gave a revealing insight into the provision of resuscitation care, a shortage of personnel and protective equipment, and the lack of effective drugs to treat a novel, poorly studied infection. Objective. To identify the attitude towards immunoprophylaxis in general and against the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in particular among medical students and pediatricians and to assess the dynamics of compliance to vaccination in these groups. Materials and methods. The survey was conducted among the 5-6-year students of the medical and pediatric faculties of the Ryazan State Medical University (RSMU) of the Ministry of Health of Russia in 2017 and 2021, the groups of students included 250 and 225 people, respectively. The children’s polyclinic pediatrician groups included 45 and 60 people in 2017 and 2021, respectively. The survey was conducted anonymously, face-to-face, and without compulsion. The identical questionnaires asked students 13 questions and pediatricians 10 questions with suggested response options. Results and discussion. The percentage of students who correctly named the number of vaccine preventable diseases in the National Immunisation Schedule has significantly decreased; the number of students who were not aware of the availability of the chickenpox vaccine has increased by 1.9 times. In 2021, the number of students giving priority to domestic vaccines decreased by 2.3 times, and the number of those choosing imported drugs as better and safer ones has increased by 1.5 times. In 2021, the number of senior students who were vaccinated against influenza doubled as compared to 2017. At the same time, the students agreed to recommend their patients to be vaccinated against influenza 1.4 times more often. During the 2021 pediatrician survey, the number of respondents, who preferred imported vaccines as better and safer ones, increased by 4 times, and the number of domestic vaccine advocates decreased by 1.8 times. In addition, the number of pediatricians who did not decide on this issue has increased by 9.8 times. Сonclusion. The results of the survey showed that there is still a lack of compliance to vaccine prophylaxis in certain groups of the professional medical community. The student cohort showed a decrease in knowledge and confidence in the vaccine prophylaxis. Among practitioners, there has been a positive trend towards an increase in the percentage of pediatricians, who considered it expedient to vaccinate children with chronic pathology.

Factors determining the clinical significance of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in the treatment of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Elderly patients with diabetes type 2 represent complex and heterogeneous group with different diabetes complications and comorbidity, polypharmacy, functional and cognitive state. Each of those factors should be taken into account to choose the best glycemic targets as well as the most tailored treatment so that it is necessary for endocrinologist to perform geriatric assessment. The most favorable antidiabetic drugs for elderly are safe in terms of hypoglycemia and cardiovascular risks, can be used irrespective of kidney function, do not affect weight or bone mineral density, and are available in fixed combinations with other drugs. Dipeptidyl pepti-dase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors meet all these requirements with low adverse events rate. Interdisciplinary approach, close interaction with patient and his relatives and considerations for both intensification and deprescribing are keys to successful treatment in this patient subgroup. Cardiovascular events are the most common cause of death and hypoglycemia is highly unfavorable in elderly because it can lead to falls, life-threatening arrhythmias, and cognitive impairment. So deprescribing in elderly with diabetes should be primarily aimed at minimizing of cardiovascular events and severe hypoglycemia risks. For this purpose, it is considered to the reject use of sulfonylureas, glinides, insulins in favor of safer ones (metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors).

Ambiguity in dynamic contracts

We study a continuous-time principal-agent model in which the principal is ambiguity averse about the agent's effort cost. The robust contract generates a seemingly excessive pay-performance sensitivity. The worst-case effort cost is high after good performance, but low after bad performance, which leads to overcompensation and undercompensation respectively and provides a new rationale for performance-sensitive debt. We also characterize the agent's incentives when the contract is misspecified, i.e., he is offered the robust contract, but his true effort cost differs from the worst case. Then, termination can induce shirking, the strength of incentives is hump-shaped, and agents close to firing prefer riskier projects, while those close to getting paid prefer safer ones. This feature resembles careers in organizations, most notably risk-shifting and the quiet life.

Экологические инновации как фактор развития нефтехимической промышленности в России

Problem statement (Relevance): the article reflects the current directions of improving the environmental safety of petrochemical production through the development and implementation of environmental innovations that meet the requirements of new technological methods of production. Objective: development of methodological tools for assessing resource efficiency and analysis of the processes of introducing environmental innovations in the petrochemical complex. Methods applied: general scientific methods are used — system analysis, causeand-effect relationships, description and generalization; as well as special methods — graphical analysis, component analysis, factor analysis, descriptive statistics. Informational and analytical materials of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Rosstat, the Oslo Guide, government programs are used as an information base for the study. Originality: the factors of environmental innovations in the petrochemical industry are systematized, the coefficients of elasticity between the costs and the resulting indicators of eco-innovations in the petrochemical industry are calculated. Result: the article shows that among the main types of environmental innovations introduced in the petrochemical industry are the reduction of material and energy costs, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the reduction of the negative impact on the environment, the replacement of petrochemical materials with safer ones, recycling of petrochemical waste; it is revealed that the primary factor influencing the intensification of the introduction of environmental innovations in the petrochemical industry is the result of the introduction of eco-innovations at industrial petrochemical enterprises, which is reduced from the intensity of costs for environmental innovations in this industry. Practical relevance: the conclusions and results presented in the article can be applied in the development of strategies and programs to improve environmental safety in the production of petrochemical products along the entire value chain in this industry. In addition, the toolkit proposed in the article may be a prospect for further development and improvement of the methodology for studying the impact of eco-innovation on increasing the efficiency of the petrochemical complex.

Bank Leverage Limits and Regulatory Arbitrage: Old Question‐New Evidence

AbstractBanks are regulated more than most firms, making them good subjects to study regulatory arbitrage (avoidance). Their latest arbitrage opportunity may be the new leverage rule covering the largest U.S. banks; leverage rules require equal capital against assets with unequal risks, so banks can effectively relax the leverage constraint by increasing asset risk. Consistent with that conjecture, we find that banks covered by the new rule shifted to riskier, higher yielding securities relative to control banks. The shift began almost precisely when the rule was finalized in 2014, well before it took effect in 2018. Security level analysis suggests banks actively added riskier securities, rather than merely shedding safer ones. Despite the risk shifting, overall bank risk did not increase, evidently because the banks most constrained by the new leverage rule significantly increased leverage capital ratios.

Drug Utilization Study on Oral Contraceptives provided from Social Security, Buenos Aires-Argentina: Risk and cost analysis according to the type of combination used

Oral contraceptive pill is the most prescribed option to avoid birth-rate around the world. It is a combination of estrogens/progestin. Unfortunately, new combinations raise the risk of thrombosis. To determine the prescription profile and the incidence of thrombotic events associated to oral contraceptive use, we developed the present study. Method: It is a drug utilization study among beneficiaries of Buenos Aires Social Security Organization. Variables studied were age, sex, combination consumed, doses, co-morbidities, thrombotic events.Results: 69,653 women were enrolled in the study. 66,043 of them (94.84%) used new progestogen generation combination (desogestrel, gestodene, drospirenone,) while 3610 (5.18%) used either levonorgestrel or norgestrel as progestin. The number of thrombotic events (either depth vein thrombosis of lower limbs, thromboembolism or arterial thrombosis) was 77 (75 with new progestin and 2 using 1st/2nd generation options). Adjusting these values to 100,000 users; the occurrence of thrombotic events were doubled with new generation progestins when compared to older options. The price of the new generation combinations were 10.2 times more expensive that the safer ones. Conclusion: Among the beneficiaries of Buenos Aires State Social Security, the users of oral contraceptives with new generation progestin denote a greater risk of thrombotic events when compared with users of levonorgestrel or norgestrel. Public reproductive health policies that provide contraceptives to the population are crucial in guaranteeing rights such as avoiding unwanted pregnancies and reproductive planning. However, the combinations provided should not expose population to additional and unnecessary risks.&#x0D; Keywords: oral contraceptives, thrombosis, progestin, risk, public health

Computational Approaches to Anesthetic Drug Discovery

All currently available general anesthetics produce potentially deadly side effects. Unfortunately, few approaches have been developed to design safer ones, despite important advances in anesthetic mechanisms research. Cayla and colleagues recently showed that computational methods can be used to identify anesthetic lead compounds devoid of specific side effects.

Stress tests and small business lending

Post-crisis stress tests have altered banks’ credit supply to small business. Banks most affected by stress tests reallocate credit away from riskier markets and toward safer ones. They also raise interest rates on small loans. Quantities fall most in high-risk markets where stress-tested banks own no branches, and prices rise mainly where they do. The results suggest that banks price the stress-test induced increase in capital requirements where they have local knowledge, and exit where they do not. Stress tests do not, however, reduce aggregate credit. Small banks seem to increase their share in geographies formerly reliant on stress-tested lenders.

Pre-cooling Intensity Effects on Cooling Efficiency in Cryogenic Turning

The requirement for utilization of safe lubricants is rising in all parts of the industry due to human and environmental concerns. Therefore, complete omission or replacement of the mineral-based cutting fluids by safer ones is deemed to be very important in today’s machining operations. In the present study, the effect of pre-cooling in cryogenic machining using liquid nitrogen was compared with dry machining. Tool temperature, workpiece surface quality and tool wear were studied as the output response parameters. The results showed that the tool temperature had no sensitivity to the cutting parameters when liquid nitrogen was employed. However, in dry machining as the cutting parameters (i.e., cutting speed and feed rate) increased, the cutting temperature rose. Pre-cooling by liquid nitrogen led to reduction of the tool temperature by 73–86% compared with the dry method. Also, surface quality in terms of defective zones such as adhered materials, removed regions, and scratch marks was evaluated. It was observed that many defects were formed on the workpiece surface in dry machining, whereas it was completely defect free in cryogenic machining. Concerning the tool wear, the SEM images of tool rake face showed that the tool wear under the mechanisms of adhesion and breakage was observed in a vast area of the tool surface in dry machining, enhancing the creation of defects on the workpiece surface.