scholarly journals Perspectives on the Risk in Military Capabilities Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-248
Author(s):  
Dumitru Iancu ◽  
Anca Dinicu ◽  
Gabriel Mănescu
Keyword(s):  
Primary Objective ◽  
Quantitative Approach ◽  
Security Environment ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Societal Challenges

Abstract The need for efficient management of defense-related resources has become a primary objective for every nation, regardless of whether it belongs to an alliance or not. Current societal challenges generate a series of redrafts of how these resources are managed. Only a quantitative approach to defense resources is no longer a solution, but an integrated medium and long-term approach is an appropriate solution to the new security environment. The risk, as a component of military capabilities management, should be carefully analyzed, localized and treated in order not to jeopardize the effectiveness of the use of defense resources.

scholarly journals The Infrared Absolute Radiance Interferometer (ARI) for CLARREO

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1915
Author(s):  
Joe K. Taylor ◽  
Henry E. Revercomb ◽  
Fred A. Best ◽  
David C. Tobin ◽  
P. Jonathan Gero
Keyword(s):  
Brightness Temperature ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
Uncertainty Estimates ◽  
Infrared Spectrometer ◽  
Global Coverage

The Absolute Radiance Interferometer (ARI) is an infrared spectrometer designed to serve as an on-orbit radiometric reference with the ultra-high accuracy (better than 0.1 K 3‑σ or k = 3 brightness temperature at scene brightness temperature) needed to optimize measurement of the long-term changes of Earth’s atmosphere and surface. If flown in an orbit that frequently crosses sun-synchronous orbits, ARI could be used to inter-calibrate the international fleet of infrared (IR) hyperspectral sounders to similar measurement accuracy, thereby establishing an observing system capable of achieving sampling biases on high-information-content spectral radiance products that are also < 0.1 K 3‑σ. It has been shown that such a climate observing system with <0.1 K 2‑σ overall accuracy would make it possible to realize times to detect subtle trends of temperature and water vapor distributions that closely match those of an ideal system, given the limit set by the natural variability of the atmosphere. This paper presents the ARI sensor's overall design, the new technologies developed to allow on-orbit verification and test of its accuracy, and the laboratory results that demonstrate its capability. In addition, we describe the techniques and uncertainty estimates for transferring ARI accuracy to operational sounders, providing economical global coverage. Societal challenges posed by climate change suggest that a Pathfinder ARI should be deployed as soon as possible.

Economic conditions and perceptions of immigrants as an economic threat in Europe: Temporal dynamics and mediating processes

2021 ◽  
pp. 002071522199352
Author(s):  
Boris Heizmann ◽  
Nora Huth
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Economic Threat ◽  
Party Positions

This article addresses the extent to which economic downturns influence the perception of immigrants as an economic threat and through which channels this occurs. Our primary objective is an investigation of the specific mechanisms that connect economic conditions to the perception of immigrants as a threat. We therefore also contribute to theoretical discussions based on group threat and realistic group conflict theory by exposing the dominant source of competition relevant to these relationships. Furthermore, we investigate whether people react more sensitive to short-term economic dynamics within countries than to the long-term economic circumstances. Our database comprises all waves of the European Social Survey from 2002 to 2017. The macro-economic indicators we use include GDP per capita, unemployment, and national debt levels, covering the most salient economic dimensions. We furthermore control for the country’s migration situation and aggregate party positions toward cultural diversity. Our results show that the dynamic short-term developments of the economy and migration within countries are of greater relevance for perceived immigrant threat than the long-term situation. In contrast, the long-term political climate appears to be more important than short-term changes in the aggregate party positions. Further mediation analyses show that objective economic conditions influence anti-immigrant attitudes primarily through individual perceptions of the country’s economic performance and that unemployment rates are of primary importance.

scholarly journals Primary Prevention of Dementia: An Ethical Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Dorothee Horstkötter ◽  
Kay Deckers ◽  
Sebastian Köhler
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Medical Risk ◽  
Medical Risk Factors ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Dementia Prevention ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Personal Level

Dementia poses important medical and societal challenges, and of all health risks people face in life, dementia is one of the most feared. Recent research indicates that up to about 40% of all cases of dementia might be preventable. A series of environmental, social, and medical risk-factors have been identified and that should be targeted from midlife onwards when people are still cognitively healthy. At first glance, this seems not merely advisable, but even imperative. However, these new developments trigger a series of new ethical questions and concerns which have hardly been addressed to date. Pro-active ethical reflection, however, is crucial to ensure that the interests and well-being of those affected, ultimately all of us, are adequately respected. This is the goal of the current contribution. Against the background of a concrete case in primary dementia prevention, it provides a systematic overview of the current ethical literature and sketches an ethical research agenda. First, possible benefits of increased well-being must be balanced with the burdens of being engaged in particularly long-term interventions for which it is unclear whether they will ever pay out on a personal level. Second, while knowledge about one’s options to maintain brain health might empower people, it might also undermine autonomy, put high social pressure on people, medicalize healthy adults, and stigmatize those who still develop dementia. Third, while synergistic effects might occur, the ideals of dementia prevention might also conflict with other health and non-health related values people hold in life.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health disorders associate with greater decreases in physical capability in older women

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juopperi Samuli ◽  
Sund Reijo ◽  
Rikkonen Toni ◽  
Kröger Heikki ◽  
Sirola Joonas
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Baseline Body Mass Index ◽  
Functional Tests ◽  
Physical Capability ◽  
Study Population

Abstract Background Good physical capability is an important part of healthy biological ageing. Several factors influencing physical capability have previously been reported. Long-term reports on physical capability and the onset of clinical disorders and chronic diseases are lacking. Decrease in physical capacity has been shown to increase mortality. This study focuses on the prevalence of chronic diseases. The primary objective of the study was to reveal the association between physical capability and morbidity. Secondary objectives included the validity of self-reported physical capability and the association between baseline physical capability and mortality. Methods The OSTPRE (Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Study) prospective cohort involved all women aged 47–56 years residing in the Kuopio Province, Finland in 1989. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed at five-year intervals. Physical capability questions were first presented in 1994. From these women, we included only completely physically capable subjects at our baseline, in 1994. Physical capability was evaluated with five scale self-reports at baseline and in 2014 as follows: completely physically capable, able to walk but not run, can walk up to 1000 m, can walk up to 100 m and temporarily severely incapable. The prevalences of selected chronic diseases, with a minimum prevalence of 10% in 2014, were compared with the change in self-reported physical capability. Additionally, associations between long-term mortality and baseline physical capability of the whole 1994 study population sample were examined with logistic regression. The correlation of self-reported physical capability with functional tests was studied cross-sectionally at the baseline for a random subsample. Results Our study population consisted of 6219 Finnish women with a mean baseline age of 57.0 years. Self-reported physical capability showed statistically significant correlation with functional tests. Cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders show the greatest correlation with decrease of physical capability. Prevalence of hypertension increased from 48.7% in the full physical capability group to 74.5% in the “able to walk up to 100 metres” group (p < 0.001). Rheumatoid arthritis showed a similar increase from 2.1 to 7.4% between these groups. Higher baseline body mass index (BMI) decreases long-term capability (P < 0.001). Women reporting full physical capability at baseline had a mortality rate of 15.1%, in comparison to 48.5% in women within the “able to walk up to 100 m” group (p = 0.357). Mortality increased steadily with worsening baseline physical capability. Conclusions The results of this study show that chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, correlate with faster degradation of physical capability in the elderly. Similar results are shown for increase in BMI. We also demonstrate that the risk of mortality over a 20-year period is higher in individuals with poor baseline physical capability.

scholarly journals Long-term efficient management of diabetic foot ulcer using simultaneous foot ulcer closure and surgical off-loading

JPRAS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Terabe ◽  
Nobuhito Kaneko ◽  
Keisuke Nakabayashi ◽  
Akihiro Matsui ◽  
Hiroshi Ando
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Foot ◽  
Foot Ulcer ◽  
Diabetic Foot Ulcer ◽  
Efficient Management

Immunoadsorption for Recurrent Primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis on Kidney Allografts: A Single-Center Experience and Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Naciri Bennani ◽  
Juste Yérémandé Bonzi ◽  
Johan Noble ◽  
Florian Terrec ◽  
Lionel Motte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Objective ◽  
Allograft Survival ◽  
Frequent Adverse Event ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Cytomegalovirus Reactivation ◽  
Segmental Glomerulosclerosis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Allograft Loss

Introduction: Primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) frequently reoccurs on kidney transplants and may lead to premature allograft loss. There are no guidelines for treating FSGS recurrence on allografts; treatment is based on apheresis (plasma exchange plasmapheresis [PP], semi-specific immunoadsorption [IA] with reusable columns) plus rituximab. Objective: We aimed to assess the efficacy of IA to treat recurrent FSGS. Methods: We report on 7 patients with recurrent FSGS on kidney allograft (proteinuria ≥3 g/g of urinary creatinine or ≥3 g/day); they all received IA. Our primary objective was to reduce proteinuria by >50%. Patients’ mean age was 45 ± 10 years. Postoperative immunosuppression relied on steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, with an induction therapy of basiliximab or antithymocyte globulins. Prophylaxis to prevent FSGS recurrence was either rituximab alone (n = 3), rituximab plus either PP or IA (n = 3), or no treatment (n = 1). Mean follow-up was 20 ± 13 months. There was a median of 72 (14–101) IA sessions per patient, that is, a mean of 14 ± 1 sessions per IA column. Results: At 12 months after starting IA, all patients had partial (n = 6) or complete (n = 1) remission, and allograft survival was 100%. The mean reduction in proteinuria within an IA session was 45 ± 15%. At last follow-up, 2 patients are in remission without IA, 3 patients are in partial remission that is IA dependent, and 2 patients lost their allograft due to FSGS recurrence. The most frequent adverse event was cytomegalovirus reactivation (n = 13), which subsided after valganciclovir therapy. Conclusions: We show that recurrence of FSGS can be controlled long term with IA plus rituximab. However, some patients remained dependent on IA.

Multimorbidity, Consumer-Directed Care, and Drug-Related Harm

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-126
Author(s):  
Chris Alderman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
Related Harm

People from developed countries around the world now routinely live into their 80s and beyond, and this is associated with a range of medical and societal challenges that must be addressed. It is relatively rare to encounter older people who are not affected by one or more chronic diseases, including conditions such as osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and depression. The concurrence of a number of medical and/or psychiatric conditions in the same patient has come to be referred to as multimorbidity, and it is a particularly familiar phenomenon observed by health care providers in settings such as the Emergency Department (ED), primary care practice, and long-term care facilities. Given that life expectancy continues to increase, and that there is considerable further investment in research for the development of new treatments, which will achieve adoption and be promoted to consumers, it is clear that multimorbidity is likely to be a driver for problems arising from medications that are vigorously promoted to consumers.

Symptomatic Iliofemoral and Iliocaval Venous Thrombosis in Patients With Cancer: Endovascular Treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 602-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Rabellino ◽  
Pedro Moltini ◽  
Vanesa Di Caro ◽  
Ricardo García-Mónaco
Keyword(s):  
Primary Objective ◽  
Primary Patency ◽  
Postthrombotic Syndrome ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Secondary Patency ◽  
Technical Success ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Introduction: Proximal (iliocaval and iliofemoral) deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism are the second cause of death in patients with cancer. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 35 patients with cancer treated with endovascular therapy for proximal DVT. The primary objective was to evaluate the technical success of the procedure and the 30-day and long-term symptom improvement. Results: Thirty-five patients with a mean age of 57.7 years were treated. In 27 patients, DVT was due to tumor compression and/or invasion of the iliocaval venous axis, and in the remaining 8, it was secondary to their hypercoagulability state. The revascularization techniques used were manual catheter-directed aspiration of the thrombus plus angioplasty and stenting. Technical success was achieved in 33 patients. No complications occurred. Twenty-seven patients were followed up at 30 days posttreatment: 21 were free of postthrombotic syndrome, 4 (14.8%) had mild symptoms, and 2 (7.4%) had moderate symptoms. The mean long-term follow-up was 27.3 months, with a primary patency of 68.8% and assisted and secondary patency rates of 100%. Conclusion: Endovascular revascularization in patients with cancer with extensive and symptomatic proximal DVT is safe and efficient, with a low rate of complications. We consider that this therapy should be offered to patients with cancer with an average or long life expectancy.

scholarly journals Measuring fisheries performance using the “Goldilocks plot”

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Hilborn
Keyword(s):  
Primary Objective ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Stock Status ◽  
Realistic Information ◽  
Rate Threshold ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Most reporting of stock status accumulated at a national or regional level gives statistics on what proportion of the stocks are below some abundance threshold or above some fishing mortality rate threshold. This approach does not convey useful information on the performance of the fisheries management system in maximizing long-term sustainable yield, which is the primary objective of most national and international fisheries legislation. In this paper, I present a graphical approach for representing how much yield is being lost as a consequence of current suboptimal abundance and fishing pressure. Using the EU stocks assessed by ICES as an example, I show how traditional criteria for overfished and overfishing fail to display realistic information about the performance of the fishery. This approach provides much more useful information for the public and policy makers.

scholarly journals Climate Change Controls Phosphorus Transport from the Watershed into Lake Kinneret (Israel)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Gophen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Lake Kinneret ◽  
Phosphorus Transport ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Hula Valley ◽  
Reclamation Project ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPart of the Kinneret watershed, the Hula Valley, was modified from wetlands – shallow lake for agricultural cultivation. Enhancement of nutrient fluxes into Lake Kinneret was predicted. Therefore, a reclamation project was implemented and eco-tourism partly replaced agriculture. Since the mid-1980s, regional climate change has been documented. Statistical evaluation of long-term records of TP (Total Phosphorus) concentrations in headwaters and potential resources in the Hula Valley was carried out to identify efficient management design targets. Significant correlation between major headwater river discharge and TP concentration was indicated, whilst the impact of external fertilizer loads and 50,000 winter migratory cranes was probably negligible. Nevertheless, confirmed severe bdamage to agricultural crops carried out by cranes led to their maximal deportation and optimization of their feeding policy. Consequently, the continuation of the present management is recommended.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document