Suitable Measures Research Articles

Sounds in intensive care units: Perspectives of patients and parents. A qualitative study

Sounds in intensive care units: Perspectives of patients and parents. A qualitative study Abstract: Background: Sound levels in intensive care units exceed internationally recommended limits. This can have negative effects on patients, relatives, and staff. There is a lack of evidence on noise-reducing measures. Aim: The aim of the study was the implementation and evaluation of ward-specific noise management in intensive care units. In the present article, the question of the noise and stress experience of intensive care patients and parents of neonatal intensive care patients was explored. Methods: 33 semi-structured interviews with intensive care patients and parents of neonatal intensive care patients in three intensive care units were conducted and analysed. Results: Sounds in intensive care units can be stressful (especially alarms) but also be interpreted as meaningful. This is not only related to the context of the ICU, but also to individual experiences and the social aspects of the sounds. In order to avoid or reduce stress, participants apply individual noise (stress) management. In contrast, ward-related noise management had no specific effect on the participants. Conclusions: The findings offer indications for suitable measures to reduce the noise exposure of intensive care patients and parents of neonatal intensive care patients. Research about measures such as concepts for supporting the attribution and differentiation of sounds could follow.

Application Of Spatial Analysis To Detect The Focal Density Of Drug Users In The Rusafa Side Of Baghdad City

The research aims to identify and analyze the concentration of drug users, pinpoint areas with high levels of criminal activities, understand the work environments of criminals, and determine their motivations. The study focused on the city of Baghdad, covering both the Karkh and Rusafa sides of the Tigris River, with a particular emphasis on the Rusafa side. Data from the ten months of 2022 was used to analyze drug dealers and users. The study utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to geographically locate the samples, and the GIS V10.4 software was employed for data storage, processing, and analysis, along with various statistical analysis tools. The research identified hotspots of drug user prevalence based on statistical methods and theories, distinguishing the most influential hotspots and the least influential cold spots. Notable hotspots included Sadr City, Al-Shaab, Al-Kifah, Al-Fadl, New Baghdad, Municipalities, and Al-Obeidi, predominantly in the Rusafa side, encompassing slum areas and transgressions. An important aspect of the study was the creation of various spatial analysis maps, aiding decision-makers in implementing suitable measures for controlling and detecting drug users early.

Human error probability in the emergency evacuation

This study aims to determine the human error probability during the emergency evacuation of offshore platforms with the HEART technique. In this study, after completing an emergency maneuver with a fire and explosion scenario, the HTA method was used to identify and segregate the emergency evacuation activities, and the HEART technique was utilized to estimate the human error probability. Lastly, suitable control measures were suggested based on the evaluation's findings. In the event of a fire and explosion, the safest means of evacuating people and leaving the platform include evacuation by lifeboat, evacuation by rescue floats and rescue ships nearby, and evacuation by helicopter. Due to the extreme risk, evacuating individuals via life rafts and jumping directly into the water is not recommended. It is advised to examine the safety state of the platform, organize specialized safety training and weekly maneuvers for personnel participating in the emergency evacuation procedures of the platform, and monitor the repair, maintenance, and inspection status of the employed equipment.

FIRST OUTBREAK OF LUMPY SKIN DISEASE IN CATTLE AT DISTRICT KHAIRPUR MIRS-SINDH

The research study was conducted to examine the Lumpy skin disease in Cattle, Bos taurus L. cloven-hooved herbivores. Capripox virus infection is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and circumscribed nodules particularly on hairless areas. The age-wise data of male and female (3 to 6) months weaning stage, (15 to 25) months bull/heifer (25 to above) months adults were kept under observation from April to September 2022 in all talukas of district Khairpur, Sindh-Pakistan. The maximum overall mean positive cases of LSD throughout the district level were reported from Kot Diji (73.63), followed by Kingri (66.53), Gambat (51.47), Thari Mirwah (45.65), Faiz Ganj (41.84), Sobho Dero (37.83), Naro (31.97) and Khairpur (29.17), talukas of district Khairpur. The age-wise specific data revealed that, the highest infection of lumpy skin diseases was recorded at the weaning stage in females (85.35) as compared to males (65.78), female heifer (47.67), bull (38.47), adults female (71.24) and male (57.00). The maximum number of cases was reported in females (67.57) and males (53.46), respectively. Both male and female cattle throughout the district of Khairpur were found with vigorous infestation. Generally, the clinical severity of LSD depends on immunological status, susceptibility, age of the host, and route of virus inoculation. Effective control measures against this economically divesting viral disease can be achieved through mass vaccination and separation of infected animals. Furthermore; it is recalling earlier understanding of the epidemiology, economic significance, and immediate control mechanisms of the disease is strongly needed to design suitable control measures.

Does inadequate sleep predispose to weight gain? A cross-sectional analysis among medical undergraduates

Background: Adequate sleep is essential for optimal health. Sleep deprivation has been shown to be associated with adverse health outcomes, including weight gain and obesity. Medical students represent one of the at-risk populations for sleep deprivation. Aims and Objectives: This study was aimed at exploring the relationship between inadequate sleep and weight gain in the medical student population. Materials and Methods: The present analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 126 undergraduate medical students (95 males and 31 females) within the age range 18–25 years at an institute in Southern Haryana, India. Sociodemographic and usual sleep-wake habits during the preceding month information about the participants were gathered through self-administration of a structured pro forma compiled as Google Forms. Height and weight of each subject were measured reliably using standard instruments and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Data were expressed using suitable statistical measures and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Our study revealed a significant association between subjective sleep quality and weight gain with those perceiving their sleep as poor being much more likely to be overweight (Crude Odd’s ratio; 95% confidence interval: 3.45; 1.33–8.95). Students reporting usually getting inadequate sleep and difficulty in falling asleep were also found to have a higher frequency of being overweight (76.9% vs. 23.1%, 61.5% vs. 38.5%, respectively). A small, though statistically insignificant, difference in mean BMI was also seen; students who reported getting insufficient sleep (<7 h), taking ≥30 min to fall asleep, and rated their sleep quality as poor outweighed their counterparts. Conclusion: The findings of our study suggest that inadequate sleep might predispose to weight gain and obesity, though the same needs to be explored through a longitudinal approach controlling for potential confounders to arrive at a definitive conclusion.

Examining the psychometric properties of the headspace Youth (mental health) Service Satisfaction Scale in a mental health service in Ireland.

Evaluating service quality and satisfaction is central to the provision of accessible and developmentally appropriate youth mental health services. However, there are limited suitable measures and a lack of published evidence on the psychometric properties of measures to assess young people's satisfaction with youth mental health services. The headspace Youth (Mental Health) Service Satisfaction Scale (YSSS) was designed and implemented to assess young people's satisfaction with headspace mental health services in Australia. This study examined the reliability and factor structure of the YSSS in a youth mental health service in Ireland. The sample comprised 1449 young people (66.2% female) aged 12-25 years (M = 16.48, SD = 2.97). Participants completed the YSSS after their final brief intervention session through Jigsaw-The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on one- and four-factor models to test findings from previous studies. Reliability was also examined. CFA supported a single-factor structure of the YSSS, and all items were suitable for inclusion. The internal consistency of the measure was deemed acceptable (α = 0.89). Findings suggest that the YSSS is a reliable measure for monitoring satisfaction with youth mental health services in an Irish context. The measure demonstrated a unidimensional construct of satisfaction. These findings support the broader application of the YSSS and add to existing knowledge on measuring satisfaction within youth mental health services.

보건계열 대학생의 학과 간 연계교육(IPE) 프로그램 적용 효과 연구

Objective : The purpose of this study is to validate the effectiveness of an Interprofessional Education (IPE) program developed and implemented within an informal educational setting among health science students. This will be achieved by setting up an experimental group and a control group among the students, comparing and analyzing them to assess the program's impact. The aim is to utilize these findings as evidence supporting the necessity and significance of integrating such programs into formal curricula. Methods : The homogeneity of the two groups in terms of the general characteristics of the subjects was assessed using the χ2-test and presented in terms of frequencies and percentages. To compare the differences in effectiveness between the experimental and control groups, means, standard deviations, and t-tests were employed. The validation of research hypotheses was conducted using t-tests. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software. Results : This study is a non-equivalent post-test research paper that validates the effects of an Interprofessional Education (IPE) program by comparing an experimental group, consisting of
 students from three departments in the health science field who participated in the IPE, with a control group who did not. The results of the program's effectiveness verification supported Teamwork Roles and Responsibilities, Experts Biases. However, Patient-centeredness, Diversity and Ethics, Community-centeredness, and Experts Communication were rejected. Conclusion : Students from three departments in the health science field developed an Interprofessional Education (IPE) intervention program, aiming to provide an understanding of theoretical and practical education courses in other departments and offer experiential opportunities in each department. Critical thinking processes among professionals and communication are necessary for problem-solving among participants. Future research requires the development of suitable measurement tools for interprofessional aspects among health science students and intervention research for program development.

The Impact of Stock Market Listing on the Financial Performance of Companies within the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE)

The study, titled Stock Market Listing and Company Performance in Rwanda aimed to explore the connection between a company's stock market listing and its performance. Examined within were firms listed in the Rwanda Stock Exchange, specifically Bralirwa, KCB, and BK. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study relied solely on secondary data, primarily the financial statements of the three companies that operated in Rwanda between 2008 and 2015. The scope included BK, Bralirwa, and KCB. Data gathered from 2010 to 2012 was structured in tables, with financial ratios computed and subsequent analysis conducted using SPSS to ascertain the relationship between stock listing and financial performance. The results demonstrated a positive yet statistically insignificant relationship between stock listing and the financial performance of the listed firms. Notably, the correlation between financial leverage and financial performance lacked statistical significance (R = 0.303, P > 0.01) and showed a negative correlation with market ratio (0.582, P > 0.01). Recommendations included a call for improved liquidity management, especially in working capital for firms like BK, to address the impact on liquidity levels while maintaining financial stability. Stakeholders were encouraged to recognize the linkage between stock listing and financial performance and adopt suitable measures to assess and analyze the financial status of companies. Moreover, the study revealed that companies in Rwanda tend to rely more on short-term debt than long-term debt, potentially due to the underdeveloped bonds market in the country. Liquidity ratios exhibited a negative relationship with financial leverage, indicating that highly profitable and well-performing companies in Rwanda tend to have less debt and rely more on internal financing sources, aligning with the pecking order theory. Furthermore, the study emphasized considering the market value of capital structure in evaluating stock listing, given its stronger connection to financial performance compared to the book value. Keywords: Stock Market, Listing, Performance of Companies, Rwanda Stock Exchange, Liquidity.

The Choroid Plexus as an Alternative Locus for the Identification of the Arterial Input Function for Calculating Cerebral Perfusion Metrics Using MRI.

MR imaging-based cerebral perfusion metrics can be obtained by tracing the passage of a bolus of contrast through the microvasculature of the brain parenchyma. Thus, the temporal signal pattern of the contrast agent is typically measured over a large artery such as the MCA to generate the arterial input function. The largest intracranial arteries in the brain may not always be suitable for selecting the arterial input function due to skull base susceptibility artifacts or reduced size from steno-occlusive disease. Therefore, a suitable alternative arterial input function window would be useful. The choroid plexus is a highly vascular tissue composed essentially of arterialized blood vessels and acellular stroma with low metabolic requirements relative to its blood flow and may be a suitable alternative to identify the arterial input function. We studied 8 healthy participants and 7 patients with gliomas who were administered a bolus of gadolinium. We selected an arterial input function from both the left and right M1 segments of the MCA and both lateral ventricles of the choroid plexus for each participant. We compared the changes in the T2* signal and the calculated resting perfusion metrics using the arterial input functions selected from the MCA and choroid plexus. We found no systematic difference between resting perfusion metrics in GM and WM when calculated using an arterial input function from the MCA or choroid plexus in the same participant. The choroid plexus provides an alternative location from which an arterial input function may be sampled when a suitable measure over an MCA is not available.

Genetic footprints of Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the endangered Tuco-tuco-das-dunas (Ctenomys flamarioni)

Abstract The biogeographic history of a species results from responses to past and current processes, and understanding those responses at both temporal scales is essential. We explored phylogeographic and current genetic variation structure in Ctenomys flamarioni—a subterranean rodent that inhabits a small region of the coastal plain of Brazil—and contrasted the roles of “present-day niche suitability” versus “historical climate stability” to understand current and past intraspecific genetic diversity. We used both mitochondrial DNA sequences (concatenated Cytb and D-loop, n = 78) and nuclear DNA (9 microsatellites loci, n = 154) molecular markers for individuals across the entire distribution of the species. We used phylogeographic trees, Bayesian clustering, and haplotype networks to explore genetic variation and diversity. We correlated genetic diversity with measures of current niche suitability and potential areas of Late Quaternary paleostability. Phylogeographic patterns confirmed low levels of genetic diversity structured at different hierarchical levels. We also found a weak but significant pattern of isolation by distance, indicating that geographical distance partially modulates genetic differences among populations. We also observed a positive correlation between genetic diversity and climate paleostability for microsatellites at local and regional scales. However, we found no significant association between genetic diversity and niche suitability for microsatellites at local or regional scales. We observed several signatures of bottleneck and population expansion at different geographic scales. Our results suggest that Quaternary climatic fluctuations—acting together with habitat suitability and other contemporary factors—played a fundamental role in elucidating the evolutionary history of the species—including patterns of historical dispersal, and current patterns of habitat occupation and genetic structure. In addition, based on our molecular and environmental data sets from the across the range of the species and considering the restricted endemism of C. flamarioni, we emphasize the urgency of conservation actions to protect this endangered species.

The Examination of the User Engagement Scale (UES) in Small Medium Enterprise Social Media Usage: A Survey-Based Quantitative Study

Social networks have proven to be an essential marketing tool for the success of any product, service, or business. User participation affects the increase in revenue gain and creates long-term profit. The User Engagement Scale (UES) is one of the tools developed to measure user engagement and has been used in various digital domains. The UES intends to compute six dimensions of engagement: aesthetic appeal, perceived usability, focused attention, novelty, felt involvement, and endurability. This study investigates and verifies the three-factor structure of the UES. We used PCA to perform the analysis. The original data will be reanalyzed using UES, which consists of 220 valid responses. The result shows that the UES examination indicates good reliability in three factors. Factor 1 encompasses the feeling of involvement (FI), aesthetic appeal (AE), novelty (NO), and endurability (EN). Factor 2 aggregates the perceived usability (PU) elements. Factor 3 pertains to focused attention (FA) items. Our findings indicate that the User Engagement Scale is a valuable and suitable measurement tool for assessing user engagement in the context of social media within small and medium enterprises.

Use of Intrinsic Entropy to Assess the Instantaneous Complexity of Thoracoabdominal Movement Patterns to Indicate the Effect of the Iso-Volume Maneuver Trial on the Performance of the Step Test.

The recent surge in interest surrounds the analysis of physiological signals with a non-linear dynamic approach. The measurement of entropy serves as a renowned method for indicating the complexity of a signal. However, there is a dearth of research concerning the non-linear dynamic analysis of respiratory signals. Therefore, this study employs a novel method known as intrinsic entropy (IE) to assess the short-term dynamic changes in thoracoabdominal movement patterns, as measured by respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP), during various states such as resting, step test, recovery, and iso-volume maneuver (IVM) trials. The findings reveal a decrease in IE of thoracic wall movement (TWM) and an increase in IE of abdominal wall movement (AWM) following the IVM trial. This suggests that AWM may dominate the breathing exercise after the IVM trial. Moreover, due to the high temporal resolution of IE, it proves to be a suitable measure for assessing the complexity of thoracoabdominal movement patterns under non-stationary states such as the step test and recovery. The results also demonstrate that the instantaneous complexity of TWM and AWM can effectively capture instantaneous changes during non-stationary states, which may prove valuable in understanding the respiratory mechanism for healthcare purposes in daily life.

Reducing nitrogen application by 20% under the condition of multiple cropping using green manure after wheat harvesting can mitigate carbon emission without sacrificing maize yield in arid areas

ContextAt the agro-ecosystem scale, a combination of green manure and chemical nitrogen fertilizer improves crop yield but also exacerbates soil CO2 emissions. However, it is unclear whether reducing nitrogen by reapplying green manure to fields can achieve high crop yields and improve carbon mitigation. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of carbon emissions in maize fields under green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen. MethodsA field experiment comprising five treatments (green manure reapplication combined with traditional nitrogen application (N100), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 10% (N90), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 20% (N80), green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 30% (N70), and green manure reapplication combined with a reduction in nitrogen of 40% (N60)) was conducted at an arid oasis region in northwestern China from 2020 to 2022. This study investigated the effects of reducing nitrogen application while reapplying green manure to the field on maize grain yield, soil respiration rate, and carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and analyzed the relationship between soil respiration rate and soil temperature (Ts), soil water content (SWC), and crop biomass accumulation (BA). ResultsThe N80 treatment significantly reduced soil carbon emissions (CE) but did not reduce maize grain yield, and it showed a significant increase in CEE of 7.7% compared with the N100 treatment. In addition, this system can ensure no reduction in net primary production (NPP), net ecosystem production (NEP), and carbon sequestration (CS) potential compared with N100 and significantly improves the NPP/CE value. Soil temperature and crop biomass significantly correlated with soil respiration, which explained 68.4–72.9% and 84.4–88.8% of the seasonal variation of soil respiration, respectively. However, there was no correlation between soil moisture and soil respiration. ConclusionTherefore, reducing nitrogen application by 20% while multiple cropping with green manure application after wheat was a suitable nitrogen fertilizer management measure for improving carbon mitigation in arid areas without sacrificing maize yield. ImplicationsThe results of this study provide valuable insights into long-term agricultural management strategies for achieving high agricultural production and environmental friendliness.

Effect of Teleconnection Patterns on the Formation of Potential Ecological Flow Variables in Lowland Rivers

Climate is probably the most important factor affecting river discharge and flow dynamics. Low flows in rivers during the warm period cause stress to aquatic ecosystems and pose a challenge to sustainable water management. Previous research has shown that the average minimum discharge of the 30 driest continuous days, known as Q30, is a suitable measure for ecological flow estimation in Lithuania. This study aims to examine whether large-scale atmospheric processes, so-called teleconnections, can have an impact on Q30 during the warm period. Hydrological data for 1961–2020 from 25 water gauging stations were used to search for hydrological response signals with five selected climate indices (NAO, SCA, POL, EA/WR, and EA). Pearson correlation and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test approaches were applied. The results suggested that the EA/WR and NAO had the strongest influence on Q30 in the studied region during the warm period. The positive phases of the indices tended to cause a greater decrease in Q30 values due to the prevailing easterly edge of the anticyclonic circulation over the studied region determined by the EA/WR and NAO indices, while the negative phases of the mentioned indices caused an increase and greater dispersion of Q30.

The Impact of Land Use and Biological Invasions on Ecological Service Values of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems: A Case Study in Jiangsu Province, China

Land use/land cover changes (LULCCs) and biological invasions significantly impact coastal wetlands (CWs) and their ecosystem services and functions. The exact impacts, however, are difficult to quantify and are often neglected in policymaking. The evaluation of ecological service value (ESV) is conducive to clarifying the ecological and environmental changes caused by LULCCs and biological invasions. The objective of this study was to investigate their impact on CWs in Jiangsu Province, China, and provide useful information and advice for policymakers concerned with sustainable development. In this paper, basic data were obtained through geographic information system technology, and CW ecosystems’ services were calculated via the ESV coefficients per unit area of different wetland types. Accordingly, this study found the current land use methods responsible for significant ecosystem disruption and reductions in the area of natural vegetation. Currently, the area of natural vegetation only accounts for 43% of the total area recorded in 1987. In 2018, the total ESV of wetland vegetation (Spartina, Phragmites, and Suaeda) was estimated to be USD 14.10 million, while that of farmland was USD 8.58 million, and that of forests was USD 2.09 million. Natural vegetation only covered 9% of the total land area but produced 60% of the total ESV. Spartina alterniflora exhibited the highest ESV per unit area, with USD 1.35 million. However, the CWs of Jiangsu Province have recently shown a shift in vegetation composition due to the invasion of Spartina alterniflora. Currently, the dominant species in these CWs are Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis, while the local population of Suaeda salsa has significantly declined. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the preservation and restoration of wetland vegetation, control the invasive potential of Spartina alterniflora, and consider the implementation of suitable protective measures for native plants.

Estimating Sediment Yield at Sungai Pusu Watershed using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Model

Sediment yield is the net result of soil erosion and sediment deposition processes. In the watershed, sediment yields are dominantly determined by stream flow, drainage area, and channel size. Land-use activity conducted by human is one of the major contributions to the sediment yield in the watershed. The study area covered in this study is the Sungai Pusu which flows through International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Significant amount of sediments is deposited in Sungai Pusu due to the improper land clearing activities that are taking place along the river’s main tributaries. As a result, the water quality of Sungai Pusu is rapidly deteriorating. Sediment yield estimation is crucial in order to design suitable measure to rehabilitate the river. The aim of this study is to estimate sediment yield at Sungai Pusu watershed using SWAT model. Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to evaluate sedimentation over time in the Sungai Pusu watershed. The SWAT model was performed to simulate water balance, stream flow, and sediment yield. The annual sediment yield obtained by the model is 427-ton ha-1 year-1.

Nutritional needs and dietary disease prevention measures of the elderly

In recent years, the phenomenon of population aging has become increasingly severe, and population aging and chronic diseases in the elderly have become a serious global challenge that must be addressed immediately. Due to deteriorating physiological functions, the elderly's metabolic rate has slowed, their ability to absorb and digest nutrients is poor, and their resistance to disease has progressively diminished. Therefore, the elderly should adhere to a rational and scientific diet to supplement the various nutrients their bodies require for optimal health. In this paper, the author examines the nutritional requirements of the geriatric and the diseases associated with nutritional deficiencies, such as osteoporosis, hyperglycemia, stomach diseases, intestinal diseases, and dental diseases, among others. Suitable preventative measures are also proposed, which can strengthen the dietary structure of senior citizens in China, improve their health, and reduce their risk of chronic diseases to a certain degree.

Neuroplasticity in honey bee brains: An enhanced micro-computed tomography protocol for precise mushroom body volume measurement

BackgroundIn insect brains, mushroom bodies are associated with memory and learning behavior. It has been demonstrated that the volume of the mushroom bodies in the brain of a worker honey bee changes during the adult stage. Changes in mushroom body volume imply high neuroplasticity in the brains and may be related to the age polyethism of honey bees. A suitable volume measurement method is needed to understand the correlation between behavioral changes and mushroom body volume changes in honey bees. New methodWe developed a new protocol for insect micro-computed tomography by modifying a previously reported method. Permount™ mounting medium was used as the embedding medium for micro-computed tomography scanning. ResultsThis protocol can generate images with high contrast inside the brain and reduce the marked shape changes during specimen processing. From the resulting high-contrast images, we used freeware to generate a three-dimensional model and calculate the volumes of the mushroom bodies in honey bees. The measured volumes of the mushroom bodies were larger than the values reported in most previous studies. There was no significant difference between the left and right mushroom body volumes, but the volumes of honey bee mushroom bodies significantly increased with age. Comparison with existing methodsPrevious protocols for micro-computed tomography using dried samples would cause brain shrinkage; protocols using ethanol-preserved or resin-embedded samples generated images with lower contrast. ConclusionsThe embedding protocol for micro-computed tomography is suitable for calculating volume of the mushroom bodies in honey bee brains.

Modelling and simulation of low-risk energy retrofit measures for Traditional Listed Dwellings in the UK

The UK owns the oldest dwellings in Europe. Most of them have special historic and/or architectural value but low energy performance and are responsible for high operational carbon emissions. Energy retrofit of this part of the stock is much needed but problematic, due to the risks associated with altering their complex thermo-hygrometric behavior and their heritage features, which limit the range of suitable interventions. This study aimed to propose a range of suitable energy retrofit measures for Traditional Listed Dwellings (TLDs) in the South-East of England. It used representative case studies, selected in the city of Brighton and Hove, and devised a mixed-methods approach to model their energy performance and carbon emissions, before and after the application of interventions; the results obtained from dynamic energy simulation were assessed by means of parametric and sensitivity analysis. Providing an overview of the methodology adopted in the study, this paper presents the results of its first stage, aimed at addressing low-risk interventions. The discussion shows that the range of energy and carbon savings potential of the investigated measures is strictly intertwined with the range of baseline conditions of the dwellings investigated; the simulation of the retrofit interventions - individually and combined - highlighted the major effectiveness of draught-proofing amongst the low-risk retrofit measures for this part of the stock. The main novelty of this paper lays in the rigorous, layered, and systemic approach taken to assess low-risk energy retrofit solutions for TLDs by applying and testing them on multiple representative case studies.

Catastrophic risk perceptions and attitudes in aquaculture: Evidence from flood prone areas of Bangladesh

Aquaculture is still an emerging industry that is highly dependent on the environment and more unstable than other conventional agricultural operations. Diverse environmental and production hazards must be managed by aquaculture farmers for sustainability. Farmers' decisions on farm operations and risk management are significantly influenced by their risk attitudes and perceptions of risk. However, few empirical studies on risk management have been done, but literature on aquaculture is scarce. In light of this knowledge vacuum, the current study investigated how farmers perceive catastrophic risk and their attitudes toward various sources. The information was gathered using a stratified random sample method, with 300 aquaculture farmers interviewed from two major flood-prone regions in Bangladesh. A cubic utility function and the Equally Likely Certainty Equivalent (ELCE) approach were used to quantify farmers' risk aversion. The risk matrix technique was used to assess farmers' perceptions of risk. The effects of socioeconomic factors on farmers' risk attitudes were examined using a Logit model. Floods, strong rains, and pest and diseases all posed potential productivity hazards and most farmers were risk averse in nature. Age, educational position, income, and land proprietorship were the most important predictors of risk attitude, while social and agricultural characteristics had little influence on farmers' risk perceptions. The study's findings will eventually allow policymakers to forecast the suitable risk management measures for the aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh.