scholarly journals Landslides and other damage to buildings and infrastructures following the April–May 2015 earthquake sequence, Solukhumbu District, Eastern Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 95-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Fort ◽  
Joëlle Smadja ◽  
Narendra Raj Khanal ◽  
Buddhi Raj Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Rock Falls ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Hydropower Plants ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cascading Processes ◽  
Land Sliding ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Significant Factors

The study focuses on the eastern margin of the zone affected by the April–May 2015 earthquakes, i.e. the Dudh Koshi River section between the Khari Khola and Monjo (Solukhumbu District). Visits before and after the earthquake sequence allowed us to assess the geomorphic changes caused by the earthquakes and the subsequent monsoon. These changes are characterized by land sliding (rock falls, rockslides, landslides, gullies and debris flows), and cascading processes, which supplied coarse debris into rivers (bed load).The impact of the earthquakes on buildings, trails and existing infrastructures (canals, hydropower plants) was also investigated. While the age and construction quality of buildings are of some import, other parameters such as the nature and depth of colluvial deposits appear to be significant factors likely to amplify the effects of ground shaking, as observed on large block fields south-west of the Khari Khola catchment, which might be inherited from former undated seismic events.  

Strategic Role of Zakat in Multidimensional Quality of Life in Sijunjung, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Status ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.

Effects of use of an eHealth platform e-Vita for COPD patients on disease specific quality of life domains

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Functional State ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Copd Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disease Specific

Background: Integrated disease management with self-management for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is effective to improve clinical outcomes. eHealth can improve patients’ involvement to be able to accept and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Eventhough there is mixed evidence of the impact of eHealth on quality of life (QoL) in different settings. Aim: The primary aim of the e-Vita-COPD-study was to investigate the effect of use of eHealth patient platforms on disease specific QoL of COPD patients. Methods: We evaluated the impact of an eHealth platform on disease specific QoL measured with the clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ), including subscales of symptoms, functional state and mental state. Interrupted time series (ITS) design was used to collect CCQ data at multiple time points. Multilevel linear regression modelling was used to compare trends in CCQ before and after the eHealth intervention. Results: Of 742 invited COPD patients, 244 signed informed consent. For the analyses, we only included patients who actually used the eHealth platform (n = 123). The decrease of CCQ-symptoms was 0,20% before the intervention and 0,27% after the intervention; this difference was statistically significant (P=0.027). The decrease of CCQ-mental was 0,97% before the intervention and after the intervention there was an increase of 0,017%; this difference was statistically significant (P=0,01). No significant difference was found in the slopes of CCQ (P=0,12) and CCQ-function (P=0,11) before and after the intervention. Conclusion: The e-Vita eHealth platform had a potential beneficial impact on the CCQ-symptoms of COPD patients, but not on functional state. The CCQ-mental state remained stable after the intervention, but this was a deterioration compared to the improving situation before the start of the eHealth platform. In conclusion, this study shows that after the introduction of the COPD platform, patients experienced fewer symptoms, but their mental state deteriorated slightly at the same time. Therefore, health care providers should be aware that, although symptoms improve, there might be a slight increase in anxiety and depression after introducing an eHealth intervention to support self-management.

Impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of patients operated on at the Hospital de Clínicas, Paraguay

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Carlos Mena Canata ◽  
Rebeca Noemí Ruiz Vallejos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of postoperative patients.The study is observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective. The files of all postoperative adenotonsillectomy patients in Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Clínicas, San Lorenzo Paraguay. The Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire (OSA 18) was applied, asking patients about symptoms before and after surgery. An effective sample of 143 postoperative patients was obtained. The average age was 6.05 ± 2.08 years, 55.10% (81) were male and 44.89% (66) were female, 65.30% (96) were from urban areas and 34.69% (51) from the rural areas. The t test was performed for means of two paired samples, comparing the results of the Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire surveys before and after surgery which presented a significant difference (p <0.05) with a tendency to improve the quality of life after surgery. It has been shown that there is a significant difference, a considerable improvement in the quality of life of patients after adenotonsillectomy.

scholarly journals Evaluasi Kebijakan Revitalisasi Pasar Tradisional : Studi Pasar Akau Potong Lembu Kota Tanjungpinang

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-309
Author(s):  
Jamhur Poti ◽  
Mahadiansar Mahadiansar
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Traditional Markets ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Physical Form ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Revitalizing traditional markets is a form of improving the quality of public space as a policy of the regional government in cooperation with local communities. The purpose of revitalizing traditional markets is not merely to improve the physical form of traditional markets but also to manage these traditional markets. The researcher raised a case study on the policy after revitalizing the Lembu Market, Tanjungpinang City, to what extent the policies that have been implemented before and after the market revitalization match the public's expectations, it is necessary to evaluate the programs that have been implemented. Researchers used policy evaluation techniques with a formal evaluation approach using Dunn 2018 theory. The research method used by researchers used library research, by carrying out a search of several library sources such as e-books, journals, websites, organizational reports, and other good documents. print and online relevant to the topic being evaluated. The results showed that the evaluation of the revitalization program for the beef slaughter market in the city of Tanjungpinang had not found the value of cross-impact analysis and discounting on the program so that the revitalization of traditional markets was only in the form of target mapping, value clarification and mapping of barriers that had become the impact of the revitalization policy of the traditional cattle slaughter market in Tanjungpinang City. The researcher also did not find Urgency in realizing the traditional market revitalization policy in order to change the characteristics of the market for the better.

scholarly journals Improving the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s Disease through Virtual Communities of Practice: A Quasiexperimental Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Montse Romero-Mas ◽  
Anna Ramon-Aribau ◽  
Dyego Leandro Bezerra de Souza ◽  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
Beni Gómez-Zúñiga
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ambiguous Result ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
The Impact

Caring for a person with dementia burdens family caregivers, and there is a close negative relationship between this burden and their quality of life (QoL). Research suggests that caregivers’ main needs are information and training about the disease and support from others experiencing the same situation, and Internet interventions hold considerable promise for meeting these needs. Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) are Internet frameworks to share knowledge where members collaborate and achieve a sense of trust in the community. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of participating in a VCoP (developed through an App) on the QoL of caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s. Results show QoL before and after the intervention changed significantly. The impact of VCoP on caregivers’ overall QoL is moderated by age and relation with the person with Alzheimer’s, specifically those over 65, and spouses. VCoPs allow interaction and knowledge sharing among caregivers which provide them mainly with information and support from peers helping them to meet their needs. Furthermore, caregivers’ QoL did not decrease when their relative deteriorated functionally, which could be due to the participation in VCoP. Although we found significant pre- and post differences in caregivers’ health literacy, we must report the ambiguous result that this variable only impacts on QoL’s physical domain. Participants also reported that they had a positive experience because the App was perceived to be a useful tool, because they could manage their own participation and they met peers and felt less lonely. Results suggest that participation in a VCoP impacts positively on caregivers’ QoL.

scholarly journals Impact of treated sewage on meiobenthic nematodes: a case study from the Tunisian Refining Industries Company

2022 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hedfi ◽  
M. Ben Ali ◽  
A. Noureldeen ◽  
H. Darwish ◽  
T. Saif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
The Other ◽  
Treated Sewage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bizerte Bay ◽  
De Man ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The main objective of the current study was to assess the impact of the water taken from the ‘Tunisian Refining Industries Company’ on meiobenthic nematodes, before and after a series of treatments in decantation basins followed by its discharge in Bizerte bay, Tunisia. The comparison of environmental parameters of the two types of water was clearly indicative of an improvement in the quality of treated waters after a significant reduction in their loads in hydrocarbons. Overall, the water retained a good quality after being treated by ‘Tunisian Refining Industries Company’ before discharge in the sea. At the end of the experiment, differential responses were observed according to the richness of sediment in organic matter and hydrocarbons. Thus, it was apparent that the nematode assemblage exposed to the treated waters was closer to controls and associated to higher values of abundance, than that under untreated ones. It was also assumed that the species Microlaimus honestus De Man, 1922, Paramonohystera proteus Wieser, 1956 and Cyartonema germanicum Juario, 1972 are sensitive bioindicators of bad environmental statues and of hydrocarbon presence in the environment. On the other hand, Metoncholaimus pristiurus (Zur Strassen, 1894) Filipjev, 1918 would rather be classified as a positive bioindicative species of this type of pollutants.

scholarly journals Energy conservation by retrofitting of dwellings

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 03010
Author(s):  
Imrich Sánka ◽  
Dušan Petráš
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Air Exchange Rate ◽  
Energy Auditing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

This article investigates the impact of energy renovation on the indoor environmental quality of apartment building during heating season. The study was performed in one residential building before and after its renovation. Energy auditing and classification of the selected building into energy classes were carried out. Additionally, evaluation of indoor air quality was performed using objective measurements and subjective survey. Thermal environment and concentration of CO2 was measured in bedrooms. Higher concentrations of CO2 was observed in the residential building after its renovation. The concentrations of CO2, in some cases exceeded the recommended maximum limits, especially after implementing of energy saving measures on the building. The average air exchange rate was visible higher before renovation of the building. The current study indicates that large-scale of renovations may reduce the quality of the indoor environment in many apartments, especially in the winter season.

scholarly journals Impact Analysis of Parking Price Adjustment on the Quality of Service of Airport Parking Lots for Light Vehicles

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Cheng Cheng ◽  
Peng Qi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Parking Lot ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Parking Demand

Pricing is a common measure for parking demand management that has been implemented worldwide. However, the impact of parking price on a parking lot’s quality of service is seldom discussed. This study investigated the impacts of a ladder daily maximum fee charging strategy on the quality of service of the Hongqiao International Airport parking lot based on automatic transaction data before and after the strategy was implemented. An evaluation framework considering managers’ and users’ perspectives was designed. The estimation results show that the new price regulation method largely discouraged long-term parking demand and improved the availability of airport parking facilities, especially during long holidays. As a consequence, throughput and income largely increased in the airport, and there were extra time costs during vehicle departures. The price elasticity of parkers with different parking durations was further estimated. The results showed that price sensitivity is relatively inelastic but varies based on parking duration.

Quality of labor epidural analgesia at a high-volume tertiary care obstetric unit: a before-and-after study

2020 ◽  
pp. rapm-2020-101873
Author(s):  
Robert G Easther ◽  
Kristi Downey ◽  
Nancy Watts ◽  
Xiang Y Ye ◽  
Jose C A Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Labor Analgesia ◽  
Continuous Epidural Infusion ◽  
Second Stage Of Labor ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Labor Epidural ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionWe wanted to better understand the quality of our labor epidural practice at a large urban academic medical center. Several practice changes were implemented between 2011 and 2017, namely a more uniform epidural loading dose of local anesthetic that includes fentanyl, an increase in both the hourly baseline offer and maximum allowed hourly amount of bupivacaine, and the change from a continuous epidural infusion to a programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) regimen. We aimed to assess the impact of those changes on the quality of labor analgesia.MethodsWe performed two separate audits representing before-and-after groups. The audits were performed in November 2011 (before group) and November–December 2017 (after group). The data for 2011 were extracted from a previously published study. Hence, we conducted a similar audit in 2017, including only outcomes that were included in the previous audit. The primary outcome was the presence of pain >3 (Numerical Rating Scale 0–10) at any time during first or second stage of labor. Secondary outcomes included top-up requirements, and women’s pain perception during the first and second stage of labor according to a postpartum questionnaire.ResultsWe studied 294 and 247 women in the before-and-after groups, respectively. The proportion of women reporting pain >3/10 at any time during labor and delivery significantly decreased in the after group (30% vs 41%; p<0.01). In an adjusted analysis, there was a 35% reduction in the likelihood of pain scores>3 for the after group (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46, 0.94). Women in the after group received fewer top-ups by nurses (3% vs 24%, p<0.001). Most women in both cohorts (85% before and 87% after) were satisfied with the overall quality of analgesia.DiscussionA bundle of practice changes implemented in our clinical practice, including the PIEB regimen, has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of labor analgesia. However, despite all the implemented changes, 30% of women still experience pain during labor and further optimization of our practice is warranted.

scholarly journals 2016–2017 Central Italy Earthquake Sequence: Seismic Retrofit Policy and Effectiveness

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 1671-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Mazzoni ◽  
Giulio Castori ◽  
Carmine Galasso ◽  
Paolo Calvi ◽  
Richard Dreyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Engineering ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Earthquake Sequence ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Central Italy Earthquake ◽  
Critical Facilities ◽  
The Impact

The 2016–2017 Central Italy earthquake sequence consisted of several moderately high-magnitude earthquakes, between M5.5 and M6.5, each centered in a different location and with its own sequences of aftershocks spanning several months. To study the effects of this earthquake sequence on the built environment and the impact on the communities, a collaborative reconnaissance effort was organized by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), the Eucentre Foundation, the European Centre for Training and Research in Earthquake Engineering (EUCentre), and the Rete dei Laboratori Universitari di Ingegneria Sismica (ReLuis). The effort consisted of two reconnaissance missions: one following the Amatrice Earthquake of 24 August 2016 and one after the end of the earthquake sequence, in May 2017. One objective of the reconnaissance effort was to evaluate existing strengthening methodologies and assess their effectiveness in mitigating the damaging effects of ground shaking. Parallel studies by the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, presented in a companion paper, demonstrate that variations in-ground motions due to topographic site effects had a significant impact on damage distribution in the affected area. This paper presents that, in addition to these ground motion variations, variations in the vulnerability of residential and critical facilities were observed to have a significant impact on the level of damage in the region. The damage to the historical centers of Amatrice and Norcia will be used in this evaluation: the historical center of Amatrice was devastated by the sequence of earthquakes; the significant damage in Norcia was localized to individual buildings. Amatrice has not experienced the same number of devastating earthquakes as Norcia in the last 150 years. As a result, its building stock is much older than that of Norcia and there appeared to be little visual evidence of strengthening of the buildings. The distribution of damage observed throughout the region was found to be indicative of the effectiveness of strengthening and of the need for a comprehensive implementation of retrofit policies.

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