scholarly journals Terrorist Threat Mitigation Strategies for the Railways

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Luxton ◽  
Marin Marinov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Software Package ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Terrorist Threat ◽  
Railway Station ◽  
Infrastructure Protection ◽  
Rail Infrastructure ◽  
Threat Mitigation ◽  
Insight Into

Terrorism is an ever-present threat that is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. The railway has always been a favourable target for terrorists due to the high volume of people that utilise it, as well as the vital services it provides to the nation. The railway is expanding and this will likely result in it becoming increasingly vulnerable to attack, unless new mitigation solutions are devised. In this paper risk assessment analyses by a software package conducted on different sections of the railway station provided insight into the present vulnerabilities. Mitigation solutions were devised to abolish these weaknesses in the system, to avoid terrorist exploitation. They were then evaluated to establish a workable solution: a modified version of the Thales Smart Corridor. This workable solution should be implemented across the nation to ensure passenger and rail infrastructure protection.

A MODELING SYSTEM FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND HEDGING IN COASTAL AREAS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Sergei Soldatenko ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Genrikh Alekseev ◽  
Alexander Danilov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
System Structure ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Risk Modeling ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
The Impact

Every aspect of human operations faces a wide range of risks, some of which can cause serious consequences. By the start of 21st century, mankind has recognized a new class of risks posed by climate change. It is obvious, that the global climate is changing, and will continue to change, in ways that affect the planning and day to day operations of businesses, government agencies and other organizations and institutions. The manifestations of climate change include but not limited to rising sea levels, increasing temperature, flooding, melting polar sea ice, adverse weather events (e.g. heatwaves, drought, and storms) and a rise in related problems (e.g. health and environmental). Assessing and managing climate risks represent one of the most challenging issues of today and for the future. The purpose of the risk modeling system discussed in this paper is to provide a framework and methodology to quantify risks caused by climate change, to facilitate estimates of the impact of climate change on various spheres of human activities and to compare eventual adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. The system integrates both physical climate system and economic models together with knowledge-based subsystem, which can help support proactive risk management. System structure and its main components are considered. Special attention is paid to climate risk assessment, management and hedging in the Arctic coastal areas.

scholarly journals Gamblers’ Perception of the Playscan Risk Assessment: A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Forsström ◽  
Alexander Rozental ◽  
Emma Wiklund ◽  
Per Carlbring ◽  
Philip Lindner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Responsible Gambling ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
General View ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

AbstractResponsible gambling (RG) tools are globally widespread; they aim to prevent or decrease the harm caused by gambling. However, existing research suggests that several included features do not decrease gambling or significantly reduce the subsequent harm. Most of the previous studies have used gambling data to understand the changes in gambling behavior. However, the literature lacks research regarding gamblers’ experience and perception of RG tools, which may provide insight into increasing the usage and effectiveness of RG tools. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore gamblers’ perception of their risk assessment in the RG tool Playscan regarding developing harmful gambling problems. Overall, 757 participants rated the perceived accuracy of their risk assessment and their perception of the overall RG tool that conducted the assessment. Participants were also allowed to leave a comment providing feedback, which was analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using logistic regression and structural equation modeling. Qualitative analyses revealed that most of the participants were pleased with the risk assessment and found it helpful. Moderated mediation analysis showed that participants’ assessment agreement partially mediated the association between expressing a negative view and their general view of Playscan. These results highlight the need to decrease the level of disagreement for promoting a better general view of RG tools to potentially increase their usage and effectiveness.

scholarly journals Assessment of Glyphosate Impact on the Agrofood Ecosystem

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 405
Author(s):  
Yaxin Sang ◽  
Juan-Carlos Mejuto ◽  
Jianbo Xiao ◽  
Jesus Simal-Gandara
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
The Impact

Agro-industries should adopt effective strategies to use agrochemicals such as glyphosate herbicides cautiously in order to protect public health. This entails careful testing and risk assessment of available choices, and also educating farmers and users with mitigation strategies in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. The key to success in this endeavour is using scientific research on biological pest control, organic farming and regulatory control, etc., for new developments in food production and safety, and for environmental protection. Education and research is of paramount importance for food and nutrition security in the shadow of climate change, and their consequences in food production and consumption safety and sustainability. This review, therefore, diagnoses on the use of glyphosate and the associated development of glyphosate-resistant weeds. It also deals with the risk assessment on human health of glyphosate formulations through environment and dietary exposures based on the impact of glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA—(aminomethyl)phosphonic acid—on water and food. All this to setup further conclusions and recommendations on the regulated use of glyphosate and how to mitigate the adverse effects.

scholarly journals Contaminant organisms recorded on plant product imports to South Africa 1994–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davina L. Saccaggi ◽  
Melanie Arendse ◽  
John R. U. Wilson ◽  
John S. Terblanche
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
International Trade ◽  
South African ◽  
Plant Products ◽  
Important Resource ◽  
Plant Product ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Multiple Contaminants ◽  
Propagation Material

AbstractBiosecurity interception records are crucial data underlying efforts to predict and manage pest and pathogen introductions. Here we present a dataset containing information on imported plant products inspected by the South African Department of Agriculture’s laboratories between 1994 and 2019 and the contaminant organisms found on them. Samples were received from border inspectors as either propagation material (e.g. plants) or material for immediate use (e.g. fruit). Material for immediate use was further divided into two sample categories, depending on if contaminants were seen/suspected by the border official or not: intervention or audit samples. The final dataset consists of 25,279 records, of which 30% tested positive (i.e. had at least one contaminant) and 13% had multiple contaminants. Of the 13,731 recorded contaminants, fungi (41%), mites (37%) and insects (19%) were most common. This dataset provides insight into the suite of taxa transported along the plant import pathway and provides an important resource for analyses of contaminant organisms in international trade, which can inform strategies for risk assessment, pathway management and biosecurity protocols.

scholarly journals Factors affecting aerosol size distribution during various dental procedures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruti Choudhary ◽  
Michael J Durkin ◽  
Daniel C Stoeckel ◽  
Heidi M Steinkamp ◽  
Martin H Thornhill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
High Speed ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Dental Clinic ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Dental Procedures ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: To determine the impact of various aerosol mitigation interventions and establish duration of aerosol persistence in a variety of dental clinic configurations. Methods: We performed aerosol measurement studies in endodontic, orthodontic, periodontic, pediatric, and general dentistry clinics. We used an optical aerosol spectrometer and wearable particulate matter sensors to measure real-time aerosol concentration from the vantage point of the dentist during routine care in a variety of clinic configurations (e.g, open bay, single room, partitioned operatories). We compared the impact of aerosol mitigation strategies [ventilation and high-volume evacuation (HVE)] and prevalence of particulate matter in the dental clinic environment before, during and after high-speed drilling, slow speed drilling and ultrasonic scaling procedures. Results: Conical and ISOVAC HVE were superior to standard tip evacuation for aerosol-generating procedures. When aerosols were detected in the environment, they were rapidly dispersed within minutes of completing the aerosol-generating procedure. Few aerosols were detected in dental clinics, regardless of configuration, when conical and ISOVAC HVE were used. Conclusions: Dentists should consider using conical or ISOVAC HVE rather than standard tip evacuators to reduce aerosols generated during routine clinical practice. Furthermore, when such effective aerosol mitigation strategies are employed, dentists need not leave dental chairs fallow between patients as aerosols are rapidly dispersed. Clinical Significance: ISOVAC HVE is highly effective in reducing aerosol emissions. With adequate ventilation and HVE use, dental fallow time can be reduced to 5 minutes.

Guidance for Human Action Evaluations for External Flood Risk Assessment

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond E. Schneider ◽  
Srinivasa Visweswaran ◽  
John Fluehr ◽  
H. Alan Hackerott
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Flood Mitigation ◽  
Human Reliability Analysis ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Investment Protection ◽  
Performance Shaping Factors ◽  
Flooding Hazards

For many years external flooding hazards have been recognized as significant contributors to plant risk. However, it was not until the events at Fukushima that there was a concerted effort on the part of the utilities to reassess the plant external flood design basis, identify external flood vulnerabilities and take actions to address them. For many plants, resolution of low probability high consequence floods will likely be addressed by a combination of actions involving enhancements to flood protection and hazard mitigation strategies. Over time, as plants decide on which strategies to apply there is an expectation that the most effective way to develop and justify these strategies will involve probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) concepts. The PRA framework is well suited for performing a human reliability analysis (HRA). Within that framework, HRA evaluations focus on operator and plant staff actions taken in response to plant initiating events (e.g., loss of offsite power, etc.). For many external floods, advance warning of an impending external flood event provides the trigger for pre-emptive manual actions to potentially reconfigure the plant through temporary installation of flood barriers. Unlike the post-initiator actions which tend to be more narrowly focused, these pre-emptive actions are taken in a less controlled environment, may be ad hoc, and may potentially be in competition with site investment protection activities, site evacuation, etc. The purpose of this paper is to define the challenges in defining an approach for treating external flood actions, identifying external flood timelines, identifying the manual actions/organizational environment during external flooding scenarios and proposing an integrated strategy for quantifying those actions. The proposed quantification process is rooted in management science concepts for evaluating project reliability. The overall methodology identifies flood significant performance shaping factors, and identifies three (3) factors, namely time available for flood mitigation, proper access to plant site following flood and environmental factors, as having an overarching impact on the performance shaping factors affecting each of the flood mitigation tasks.

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