Vulnerability Classes Research Articles

Climate Anomalies of Maize Drought Level based on Land Water Balance in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Background: The complexity of the distribution patterns of drought and soil water balance across various regions raises questions about how the mechanism of drought events responds to climate anomalies. The research aims to determine the climate anomaly pattern of maize drought levels based on land water balance with FAO Penman Monteith evapotranspiration value estimates in Gorontalo district, Indonesia. This research was carried out from April to August 2020. Methods: The research location was in Limboto subdistrict, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. The material in this research is climate data from 1997 to 2016 (20 years) including rainfall, solar radiation, maximum and minimum air temperature, exposure time, air humidity and wind speed. The tools in this research are sample rings, Belgi drills, GPS, documentation tools. The method used is the drought index analysis method and the water adequacy index based on the FAO Penman Monteith evapotranspiration method. Result: El Nino and La Nina climate anomaly patterns occur every 5 to 7 year recurring period. The highest level of drought with strong drought status occurred during the El Nino anomaly in 1997-1998 for 8 months and this triggered a decrease in harvested area and corn production with a coefficient of reduction in vulnerable production category. La Niña climate anomaly years 1999 and 2007 had an impact on low accumulation potential of water loss with highest level of drought weak status and this triggered an increase in harvested area and corn production with a coefficient of reduction in very resistant production category.

Comparative analysis of groundwater vulnerability in the Oued Agrioun watershed, northeast Algeria: DRASTIC, GOD, and SINTACS approaches with ROC AUC validation

This study focuses on the Oued Agrioun watershed, a semi-arid region in northeastern Algeria, with the aim of mapping the vulnerability to pollution in order to improve groundwater management. To achieve this, a comprehensive database was compiled from a variety of sources, including geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, and climatic data, as well as satellite imagery. Three different methods are applied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): DRASTIC, SINTACS, and GOD. The GOD and SINTACS methods resulted in four main classes of vulnerability: low, medium, high, and very high. In contrast, the DRASTIC model identified three classes: low (2.04%), medium (45.04%) and high (52.93%). ROC curve validation using nitrate concentrations indicates that the SINTACS and GOD methods provide better predictive accuracy than DRASTIC, suggesting that a combination of these approaches provides a more robust assessment of the vulnerability of subterranean waters. This study provides valuable data to guide future policy decisions aimed at protecting groundwater resources in the Oued Agrioun watershed.This study focuses on the Oued Agrioun watershed, a semi-arid region in northeastern Algeria, with the aim of mapping vulnerability to pollution in order to improve groundwater management. To achieve this, a comprehensive database was compiled from a variety of sources, including geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, and climatic data, as well as satellite imagery. Three different methods are applied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): DRASTIC, SINTACS, and GOD. The GOD and SINTACS methods resulted in four main classes of vulnerability: low, medium, high, and very high. In contrast, the DRASTIC model identified three classes: low (2.04%), medium (45.04%), and high (52.93%). Validation by ROC curve using nitrate concentrations indicates that the SINTACS and GOD methods provide better predictive accuracy than DRASTIC, suggesting that a combination of these approaches provides a more robust assessment of the vulnerability of groundwater resources. This study provides valuable data to guide future policy decisions aimed at protecting groundwater resources in the Oued Agrioun watershed.

The intrinsic problems in EQ damage prognosis: the experience from a systematic evaluation of L’Aquila databases and different levels of data availability

AbstractWithin the European TURNkey project, a knowledge-based exposure-modelling framework was developed, enabling the consideration of different levels of investigation and data availability. In particular, the proposed framework recognizes various levels and origins of uncertainties, as well as the completeness of a building stock catalogue. Despite substantial efforts, the main question still needs to be answered: How reliable can the developed tools and instruments be if they are not tested and validated by actual events? The L’Aquila 2009 earthquake has been the subject of several analytical strategies to enrich earthquake engineering knowledge. In this study, the information provided by the Italian Observed Damage Database is analyzed, explicitly focusing on the seismic sequence of the L’Aquila 2009 earthquake within the delimited area of the city’s historical center. A second dataset, where the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) was used as a reference, is integrated into the study, and the results are compared. A methodology is implemented for a systematically evaluating the database based on the EMS-98. From the data analysis, a proposal is made to define a comparable EMS-98 building typology and to assign vulnerability classes considering optimistic, pessimistic and most likely criteria. The reliability of the sample is then explored using the knowledge-based exposure modelling framework established by the TURNkey Project. Accuracy is then evaluated through an empirical inspection of frontal (lateral) views available in Google Street View (2022). Images before and after the event are collected and compared with the available data. Intrinsic problems encountered during the process are then listed and discussed, particularly regarding the use of the database, the joint between the studied datasets, and the post-processing required to use the data for damage prognosis. This paper intends to demonstrate how reliable datasets for the building stock, including structural types and corresponding vulnerability classes, can be elaborated. Not least, exposure modelling has to transform the available data into a descriptive form that can be linked directly with the Fragility or Vulnerability Functions, expecting that these assignments are the best suited or representative ones. The data layers provided by the study enable the testing and training of exposure modelling techniques for the selected event and target region.

It’s Time for Dinner, a Particular and Seasonal Feeding Habit of a Threatened Troglobitic Catfish from Brazil, Rhamdiopsis krugi Bockmann & Castro 2010 (Ostaryophysi, Siluriformes)

Rhamdiopsis krugi is a highly specialized troglobitic (exclusively subterranean) catfish endemic to the phreatic water bodies of twelve caves located within two separated metasedimentary basins in the region of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state, Brazil. This species is included in the List of Endangered Fauna of Brazil, under the Vulnerable category—VU. In general, troglobites have different strategies for searching for food and reproductive partners, as well as unique behaviors. Knowledge of the reproductive periods, as well as its feeding habits, provides fundamental data for effective protection and species conservation. Biological aspects related to feeding habits and reproduction of R. krugi were addressed across six annual cycles, considering both dry and rainy seasons. For this, stomach content analysis, using the frequency of occurrence and volumetric index methods, as well as observation of the sex ratio and stage of maturation of the gonads were carried out for 148 individuals of R. krugi sampled in eight caves in Chapada Diamantina. Stomach volumes correlated with reproduction aspects across the dry and rainy seasons. These populations showed opportunistic carnivorous feeding habits, consuming both autochthonous and allochthonous items, with a preference for foraging in submerged guano deposits, which demonstrates the catfish’s strong dependence on bats. Regarding sex ratios, there was no marked seasonality; however, in rainy seasons, there was a higher proportion of maturing females, showing a reproductive tendency. During these periods, there was also a significantly higher number of stomachs with contents, showing seasonality in the diet. Specialized diet and dependence on rainy periods, especially in diet, corroborate the fragility of R. krugi, especially considering the changes in rainfall regimes in Brazil, with dry seasons exceeding eight months per year in the last ten years.

Spatial-Based Flood Susceptibility Mapping Using Analytical Hierarchy Process Techniques (Case Study : Gresik Regency)

Abstract Over the past four years, Gresik Regency has frequently been hit by floods. In 2019, there were 17 occurrences, followed by 13 occurrences in 2020, 19 occurrences in 2021, and a rise to 33 occurrences in 2022. To support the 11th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on sustainable cities and communities, especially in the mitigation of water-related disasters, research on flood-prone areas in Gresik Regency is needed. This study analyzes flood-prone areas in the Gresik Regency using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and weighted overlay methods to provide information to the community and agencies to be used as a reference in disaster mitigation. The data utilized include the Digital Elevation Model, river network data, Sentinel image data, soil type data, rainfall data, and questionnaire results. The criteria used in this research are land elevation, slope, land cover, river distance, soil type, rainfall, and flood extent. Results show that rainfall criteria have the highest weight at 25%, followed by elevation at 17%, flood extent at 17%, land cover at 15%, river distance at 10%, slope at 9%, and soil type at 7%. The area of Gresik Regency classified as low vulnerability is 8.79 km2 or 0.82% of the total area, the medium vulnerability category is 936.13 km2 or 87.60% of the total area, and the high vulnerability category is 123.66 km2 or 11.57% of the total area. The most flood-prone sub-districts are Driyorejo with 28.46 km2 of highly vulnerable flood-prone area, followed by Wringinanom with 13.17 km2 Benjeng with 12.50 km2.

Regional variation in growth and survival responses to atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur deposition for 140 tree species across the United States

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) alter tree demographic processes via changes in nutrient pools, soil acidification, and biotic interactions. Previous work established tree growth and survival response to atmospheric N and S deposition in the conterminous United States (CONUS) data by species; however, it was not possible to evaluate regional variation in response using that approach. In this study, we develop species- and region-specific relationships for growth and survival responses to N and S deposition for roughly 140 species within spatially demarcated regions of the U.S. We calculated responses to N and S deposition separately for 11 United States Forest Service (USFS) Divisions resulting in a total of 241 and 268 species × Division combinations for growth and survival, respectively. We then assigned these relationships into broad categories of vulnerability and used ordinal logistic regressions to explore the covariates associated with vulnerability in growth and survival to N and S deposition. As with earlier studies, we found growth and survival responses to air pollution differed by species; but new to this study, we found 45%−70% of species responses also varied spatially across regions. The regional variation in species responses was not simply related to atmospheric N and S deposition, but was also associated with regional effects from precipitation, soil pH, mycorrhizal association, and deciduousness. A large amount of the variance remained unexplained (total variation explained ranged from 6.8%−13.8%), suggesting that these or additional factors may operate at finer spatial scales. Taken together, our results demonstrate that regional variation in tree species' response has significant implications for setting critical load targets, as critical loads can now be tailored for specific species at management-relevant scales.

A Comparative Evaluation of Deep Learning Techniques for Smart Contract Vulnerability Classification

A Comparative Evaluation of Deep Learning Techniques for Smart Contract Vulnerability Classification

Assessment of socio-economic strategies for managing regional flood risk in an urban coastal catchment

With the cascading flooding events over the past decades, several structural and non-structural measures have been effectively implemented for improved flood management. However, the uneven impacts of the flooding events have highlighted that socio-economic inequality amongst the community needs to be addressed along with hazards to devise long term and sustainable flood management strategies. This study aims to evaluate the impact of socio-economic adaptive scenarios over an urban coastal catchment for reduction in flood risk. Flood risk is estimated utilizing socio-economic aspects (vulnerability) and flood inundation (hazard), for the highly flood-prone coastal city of Mumbai, India. A multivariate approach is used for assessing socio-economic vulnerability, starting with Principal Component Analysis followed by Data Envelopment Analysis, for various socio-economic scenarios, i.e., by reducing percentage of certain feasible socio-economic sensitivity indicators, to identify the key indicators, which contribute to significant change in vulnerability. The flood hazard is assessed through a comprehensive hydrodynamic flood modelling approach to quantify the flood inundation depth and extent. The flood risk is, thereafter, evaluated by combining socio-economic vulnerability and flood hazard using bivariate risk mapping approach. The results indicate that, with the decrease in alteration percentage of certain feasible socio-economic sensitivity indicators, the overall vulnerability and flood risk may be reduced. The areas under very high and high vulnerability classes reduce gradually for all scenarios as the percentage reduction for various indicators is varied from 5 % to 15 %, total illiteracy being the most significant indicator. This study marks the first effort to discern socio-economic vulnerability indicators that have the potential to significantly diminish flood risk, thereby constituting a viable long-term flood risk mitigation strategy. This novel framework is generic and applicable to any flood prone catchments, to devise appropriate long-term flood management measures.

Assessment of Bleaching Stress Vulnerability of Lakshadweep Islands using Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Coral reefs, among the Earth’s most diverse and valuable ecosystems, face unprecedented challenges due to climate change. Coral bleaching is a phenomenon wherein corals lose their symbiotic zooxanthellae owing to various stressors, leading to a whitening effect of the coral tissues. In recent decades, climate change has intensified coral bleaching events. Multiple stressors, including elevated Sea Surface Temperature (SST), extreme irradiance levels, and various biotic and abiotic factors trigger bleaching events. Coral bleaching is primarily driven by thermal stress caused by elevated SSTs. Climate change has worsened bleaching’s frequency and intensity. Global bleaching events are often linked to planetary ocean-atmospheric circulation processes such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). This study focused on assessing the vulnerability of coral reefs in the Lakshadweep region of India from 2016 to 2023 using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Data Record Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (NOAA CDR OISST) daily data. GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE (GEE) is a cloud computing platform which is used to collect and generate the base data for this study. The vulnerability assessment utilized two bleaching indices: SST anomaly and Degree Heating Week (DHW). Analysis of DHW data reveals that 2020 experienced the highest SST anomaly residence time due to IOD event of 2019, as compared to 2016 and 2023 which are known El Niño years. All Lakshadweep islands exhibited vulnerability, although in varying degrees across different areas. Based on the magnitude, intensity, and frequency of bleaching stress, the islands are categorized into different categories of vulnerability. This study identifies Baliyapaniyam, Cheriyam-Kalpeni and Suhelipar reefs as very highly vulnerable reefs in Lakshadweep. This study highlights the urgent need for monitoring and management measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems using spatial vulnerability patterns.

Forced evacuation as a mechanism of special protection measures for children during armed conflict

The article examines the compulsory evacuation of children by force (hereinafter - forced evacuation) as one of the preventive mechanisms for the implementation of special protection of children during armed conflict. This is a new mechanism introduced by the Ukrainian government in March 2023 with the aim of protecting children in the area of hostilities and armed conflicts under martial law. The authors of the article examine the procedure for making a decision on the forced evacuation of children from a particular settlement in an area where hostilities are taking place and the mechanism of its implementation. It is established that evacuation of children during armed conflicts has been implemented before. However, such evacuations were exclusively voluntary and often involved children unaccompanied by legal representatives. The ‘Ukrainian mechanism’ provides for the forced evacuation of children and must be accompanied by one of their legal representatives. The authors note that this mechanism has been approved at the level of the Ukrainian government (the Parliament has not yet adopted any legislative acts). A comparative analysis of the peculiarities of the legal status of a child under international and national legal acts is carried out to take into account the scope of the child's rights and obligations during evacuation. The article concludes that the forced evacuation of children during armed conflict is a necessary preventive mechanism to provide protection to the most vulnerable category of civilians. At the same time, the authors focus on the existing shortcomings which require further regulatory regulation. The purpose of the article is to provide a legal analysis of the evacuation of children during armed conflict at the level of international legal instruments and at the national level, and its specific features established in Ukrainian legislation. The methodological basis of the study are the method of systematic approach, the method of descriptive analysis, the formal legal method and the method of comparative forecasting.

Impact of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional study.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare access for cardiovascular patients, potentially worsening their health outcomes and quality of life through both medical and psychological impacts. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The work was conducted from January 9 to April 28, 2023, in Almaty city and the Almaty region. 3026 outpatients with cardiovascular pathology participated in the survey using a standardised European Quality of Life Questionnaire. The study utilized cluster, frequency analysis, and discrete statistics to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on quality of life parameters, revealing significant changes in anxiety and depression among cardiovascular patients, resulting in reduced quality of life (from 0.3% to 5.5% and 0.4; to 7.5% in the categories of extremely severe and severe manifestations, respectively). An analysis of the nosological structure of cardiovascular diseases in the study group was performed and revealed that coronary heart disease occurred in 51.6% of cases, arterial hypertension in 88%, and diabetes mellitus in 34.6%. The availability of both outpatient and inpatient medical services in Almaty region and Almaty city was also assessed, and their comparative analysis was conducted, during which it was found that the need for these services in the district settlements is 10% and 12% higher, respectively, than in the city, which is particularly important for understanding the effectiveness of the public health system in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, both at the regional and republican levels. This study is of practical importance for health care workers, as it allows assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases, which provides an opportunity to develop effective rehabilitation protocols and psychological support for this vulnerable category.

Understanding and monitoring vulnerability during pregnancy at population-level

Abstract Background Detecting and addressing vulnerability during pregnancy is important to optimize the first thousands days of children’s lives and prevent health inequities. We aimed to gain insight into vulnerability during pregnancy and determine the best data to predict vulnerability. Methods In the Netherlands, two studies were done using nationwide routinely collected data and self-reported Public Health Monitor-data. The first study utilized all data to identify classes of vulnerability among 4172 pregnant women through Latent Class Analysis. The second study predicted multidimensional vulnerability at population-level using solely routinely collected data first, and step-by-step incorporating self-reported data. Random Forest (RF) analysis was employed, and model performance was assessed using Area Under the Curve (AUC) and F1-measure. Results Five vulnerability-classes were found: ‘healthy and socioeconomically stable’, ‘high care utilization’, ‘socioeconomic vulnerability’, ‘psychosocial vulnerability’, and ‘multidimensional vulnerability’. Women in the ‘multidimensional vulnerability’-class shared multiple risk factors across domains and lacked protective factors. They more often had adverse outcomes such as premature birth. In the next study, the initial RF-model achieved an AUC of 0.98 in distinguishing multidimensional vulnerability, with an F1-measure of 0.70. Adding self-reported data improved model performance. Strong predictors were self-reported health, socioeconomic characteristics and healthcare utilization. Conclusions Several vulnerability classes can be distinguished among pregnant women. The co-existence of risk factors and lack of protective factors leads to more adverse outcomes. Effective public health strategies should include both medical and social care and support. Next, it seems possible to predict multidimensional vulnerability using data that is readily available, providing a foundation for longitudinal monitoring and policy formulation. Key messages • Considering the combination of both social risk and protective factors related to vulnerability during pregnancy is necessary. • Routinely collected data could provide insight in the prevalence, geographical distribution and trends in multidimensional vulnerability during pregnancy at population-level.

Living conditions in Italian administrative detention centres for migrants: a scoping review

Abstract Since 2011, Italy has experienced a growing flow of migrants, despite the implementation of restrictive and detention-oriented procedures. Detention facilities for migrants must provide health protection and general assistance to the person. Considering the critical state of the centres reported by various sources, this study gives an overview of the conditions in Italian detention facilities for migrants from a public health perspective. A scoping search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature was performed to investigate the public health standards currently in force in Italian detention facilities for migrants and refugees (Hotspot and CPR-Pre-removal Detention Centres). Articles published from 2009 to 2021 in English and Italian were included and qualitatively described in five categories: provision of healthcare, living conditions, protection of vulnerable detainees, access to legal advice, and the Covid-19 pandemic. 11 peer-reviewed studies and 24 grey documents were included. Guidelines on screening procedures for infectious diseases or vaccines appeared to be hastily followed; chronic and mental diseases were not appropriately addressed. The facilities were described as run-down, with scarce and poor-quality meals, and lacking of educational activities. A lack of protection for vulnerable categories was reported, including unaccompanied minors. The Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated pre-existing issues, highlighting systemic weaknesses in preparedness and response. Life conditions within the centres for migrants in Italy fall significantly short of acceptable standards. The main problems are the unavailability of cultural mediation services and the insufficient protection of mental health. The overall conditions appeared to be not dignifying and violations of the law are, if not frequent, present and well recognised. Urgent reforms are warranted to address these shortcomings and ensure the humane treatment and protection of migrants within these facilities. Key messages • Italy is responding to the recent inflow of migrants with policies oriented to detention and repatriation. To this, it established de-facto detention centres for migrants, namely Hotspot and CPRs. • The public health standards of migrants’ repatriation centres are poorly followed and life inside the centres appears misereble.

The Effect of Residential Vulnerable Class Type on Residential Environment Satisfaction- Mediating Effect of Residential Factor -

The Effect of Residential Vulnerable Class Type on Residential Environment Satisfaction- Mediating Effect of Residential Factor -

Vulnerability assessment of elasmobranch species to fisheries in coastal Kenya: Implications for conservation and management policies

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of species is useful for making informed management decisions based on relative vulnerability of species to fisheries. Understanding the vulnerability of species to fishing gears is important for targeted management measures especially for species known to have delicate life-history strategies such as the elasmobranchs. Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA), an ERA approach, was applied to 61 elasmobranch species (32 shark and 29 ray species) to assess their relative vulnerability (low, medium and high) to fishing by artisanal, prawn trawl and tuna longline fisheries in Kenya’s coastal waters. Overall, results showed 28 % of rays and 31 % of sharks were highly vulnerable to the fisheries, with the pelagic longline tuna fishery having the largest proportions of rays (50 %) and sharks (54 %) being highly vulnerable. Most of the species were in the medium vulnerability category. Among the artisanal gears, only gillnets had species that were highly vulnerable to the fishery, while relatively fewer species (n = 9) of both sharks and rays were highly vulnerable to the prawn trawlers compared to those in the medium vulnerability category (n = 25). Seventeen species classified as High Vulnerability Species Assemblage (HVSA), were assessed to be at high risk of overfishing by different gears, and are recommended for management as a complex. Of the HVSA group, two species; Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum and Rhina ancylostoma are classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered (CR), while another four; Rhinoptera jayakari, Mobula birostris, Stegostoma tigrinum and Carcharhinus plumbeus are Endangered (EN), with the rest being either Vulnerable (Gymnura poecilura, Pastinachus ater, Pateobatis jenkinsii, Taeniurops meyeni, Triaenodon obsesus, Carcharhinus falciformis, and Carcharhinus carcharias), Near Threatened (Maculabatis ambigua, Mustelus mosis, Prionace glauca) or classified as Data Deficient (Pliotrema warreni). Although majority of the species have been placed in the medium vulnerability category, some of them are those that are threatened with extinction globally, calling for a more precautionary management approach. A validation approach has been used to mitigate the problems of PSAs associated with data quality and uncertainty around estimated vulnerability indices. More robust application of PSA will require continuous updating of life-history attributes to improve on sensitivity. A precautionary Shark and Ray Management Plan (SRMP) that takes into account the outputs of the PSA is recommended for management and conservation of the elasmobranch stocks in Kenya’s marine waters.

Occupation and stress: professional burnout of GPs depending on the profile of the medical institution in situations of high epidemic risk

Introduction. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical workers turned out to be the most vulnerable category of the population in terms of the risk of developing psycho-emotional disorders. Objective. To establish the characteristics of the psycho-emotional state among general practitioners of COVID hospitals, multidisciplinary hospitals, and polyclinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The study included: group 1 – general practitioners of COVID hos pitals (n=111); group 2 – internists of multidisciplinary hospitals (n=106); group 3 – GPs working in polyclinics (n=102); group 4 – control group (healthy) (n=190). The assess ment of professional burnout was carried out by means of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, developed by American psychologists C. Maslach and S.E. Jackson, in adaptation by N.E. Vodopyanova and E.S. Starchenkova, as well as using V.V. Boyko’s questionnaire. The study utilized an integrative anxiety test to investigate the formation of psycho-emotional disorders in internists during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection. The quality of life was determined by means of the SF-36 questionnaire. The processing of the ob tained data was carried out using the Statistica package from StatSof t (USA). Results. It has been established that the work of general practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with the impact of occupational stress related to caring for in fected patients on medical workers, as well as with significant changes in work regarding aspects of organization and safety, which contributed to an increase in the levels of oc cupational stress, professional burnout, and anxiety, and a decrease in the quality of life. Limitations of the study. The study has regional (Samara Region) and professional (in terms of detailing the working conditions in the studied comparison groups) limitations. Conclusions. The work of general practitioners of specialized COVID hospitals, internists of multidisciplinary hospitals, and GPs of polyclinics is associated with an increase in the levels of occupational stress, professional burnout, and anxiety, and a decrease in the quality of life. Notably, psychological changes are most pronounced in employees of specialized COVID hospitals. It is necessary to continue research on the emotional state of medical personnel in order to timely carry out preventive treatment to preserve the health of medical workers.

Effect of slope on water run-off and soil vulnerability in an unglaciated sub-watershed: a case study of conservation practice siting

For maximization of soil and water quality benefits, the right agricultural conservation practices (CPs) should be practiced for the right place. The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) is a tool that helps decision makers achieve precise conservation within a target watershed using rapid, low-cost Geographic Information System-based tools. ACPF takes the information on landscape characteristics and combines it with user input to identify locations susceptible to soil loss and water run-off and suggest potential CP locations. Suggested CPs may further be analyzed for urgency, installation cost, and effectiveness. In this study, ACPF was applied to analyze soil and water vulnerability within a small unglaciated sub-watershed in southwest Wisconsin and identify potential CP practices and recommended placement sites. To promote environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector, land managers are tasked with implementing CPs, but often lack adequate information on the most effective practice and placement strategy. Field-scale siting of CPs was achieved using high-resolution terrain derivatives and accurate simulation of the stream network. Slope disaggregation among soil loss vulnerability categories was also conducted. Greatest sources of vulnerability were associated with slope and erodibility factors, with average slope within cropped fields being 6% and erodibility being as high as 43%. Fields classified as critical for conservation had a mean slope of 7.4%. Suggested contour buffer strip (CBS) placement per field varied with slope, with steeper fields having denser placement. The results suggested that 3% of cropland could be removed from production if the recommended placement of CBS was implemented. A further 0.2% of the sub-watershed area would go to grassed waterways. The results support implementation of effective CPs based on local conditions and act as a tool to help reveal if existing practices in the sub-watershed are of a size and extent comparable to the predicted potential.

WEBSITE SECURITY ANALYSIS CURUG VILLAGE GOVERNMENT USING OPEN WEB APPLICATION SECURITY PROJECT (OWASP)

Cybersecurity has become a crucial issue in the current digital era, especially for government websites that are often targeted by attacks. According to the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), government websites are vulnerable to hacking. This study aims to analyze the security of the Curug Village Government website using the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). The analysis was conducted on the ten main categories of web application security vulnerabilities listed in OWASP Top 10 2021, including Broken Access Control, Cryptographic Failures, Injection, Insecure Design, Security Misconfiguration, Vulnerable and Outdated Components, Identification and Authentication Failures, Software and Data Integrity Failures, Security Logging and Monitoring Failures, and Server-side Request Forgery. The results of the testing showed that 4 out of 8 vulnerabilities fall into the OWASP TOP 10 for 2021, particularly in the categories of Injection and Security Misconfiguration. Recommendations for improvements are provided based on these findings, which are expected to help the Curug Village Government strengthen their cybersecurity.

Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution in the Metro Hilir Watershed Using the SINTACS Method

Abstract Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in the Metro Hilir watershed is necessary because most people use well water to meet basic needs. Identification and spatial analysis are the first steps to determine the potential for groundwater pollution in the area. The SINTACS method was used to assess the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater using the parameters of groundwater table depth, effective infiltration, material in the unsaturated zone, soil texture type, aquifer media, hydraulic conductivity, and slope. Data processing was carried out by using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Weight scenarios was used based on the hydrological conditions of the study area, namely “Normal Impact” and “Drainage/seepage”. The SINTACS index results was classified into several levels of vulnerability. The high vulnerability class is spread across the east to the south side, while the low vulnerability class is more dominant in the western area. The results of Sensitivity Analysis using the Map Removal technique showed that in both scenarios, soil texture parameters have the highest variation index value of 1.73% in the “Normal Impact” scenario and 2.13% in the “Drainage/Seepage” scenario. Parameters with high variation index values have a sensitive influence on vulnerability class values.

Journey towards equity: Unveiling the relationship between patient travel distance and social vulnerability among patients with cancer.

158 Background: Patient travel distance is a significant barrier to accessing high-quality cancer care, impacting patient outcomes. Factors such as geographic location, transportation infrastructure, and socio-economic status contribute to variations in patient travel distance. The relationship between patient travel distance and the area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of socioeconomic disadvantage (based on income, education, employment, and housing quality) and social vulnerability of neighborhoods developed by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), remains largely unexplored. This abstract seeks to unveil the intricate relationship between patient travel distance and ADI, shedding light on the impact of social vulnerability on cancer care access. Methods: Using patient ZIP code data and practice location data from April 2023 to March 2024, we calculated the straight-line, one-way, patient-clinic travel distance (travel distance). We then derived the ADI for patient ZIP codes using geospatial mapping techniques and compared travel distances by area deprivation vulnerability categories. Results: While analyzing geographic data for 20,000 patients at 5 locations, we observed that 89% of patients traveled 15 miles or less one-way to reach the practice location, with a median travel distance of 5 miles. Median travel distance in miles for patients within 15 miles of each practice location by ADI vulnerability category is provided (Table). Median travel distances between ADI categories were statistically significant (Kruskal Wallis H-test, p <0.001). Patients from the most disadvantaged neighborhoods generally travel longer distances to access cancer care. Conclusions: Patients in socially vulnerable locales generally travel longer distances to access cancer care. By considering the ADI alongside patient travel distance, healthcare providers and policymakers can understand barriers faced by disadvantaged populations and allocate resources to reduce disparities in access to care. Targeted interventions and policies, like improving transportation services/infrastructure, empowering community-based care locations, and expanding telehealth, are necessary to address travel distance disparities for vulnerable populations. The effects of increased travel distance on timely access to care, treatment adherence, health outcomes, finances, caregivers, and patient satisfaction warrant further investigation. Location Site Category Within 15 miles of the practice location % of patients Median travel distance (in miles) by overall ADI vulnerability Highest (8, 9, 10 ADI Rank) Mid High (5, 6, 7 ADI Rank) Low (1, 2, 3, 4 ADI Rank) A Suburban Metro 89.8% 13.5 2.2 4.7 B Suburban Small Town 86.7% 12.5 13.03 8.5 C Suburban Metro 85.1% 14.9 9.4 5.9 D Suburban Metro 90.9% 12.9 9.6 4.7 E Urban Metro 93.6% 12.9 4.8 2.7 ALL 89% 12.5 6.3 5.0