High-impact floods and flash floods in Mediterranean countries: the FLASH preliminary database

Abstract. This paper contains a preliminary analysis of flood risk in Mediterranean countries, conducted within the framework of the FLASH European Project. All flood events recorded between 1990 and 2006 in the Mediterranean region have been included in the study. Results of previous international projects (STORM, SPHERE, AMPHORE, RINAMED and MEDEX), as well as information provided by FLASH Project partners and data included in scientific papers were the main source used in building this database. All the above information had been dispersed in various places, and an attempt was made here to create, for the first time, a verified and complete single database for the entire Mediterranean region. The work analyses the spatial and temporal distribution of flood events, as well as their social impact, with special attention to certain case studies that have been analysed in detail.

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Flash floods in Catalonia: a recurrent situation

Advances in Geosciences ◽

10.5194/adgeo-26-105-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 105-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

M. C. Llasat ◽

M. Llasat-Botija ◽

A. Rodriguez ◽

S. Lindbergh

Keyword(s):

Social Impact ◽

Flash Flood ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Flood Events ◽

The Social ◽

Flood Effects ◽

Data Flood ◽

Insurance Data

Abstract. This work focuses on the analysis and characterization of the flash flood events occurring during summer in Catalonia. To this aim, a database with information about the social impact produced by all flood events recorded in Catalonia between 1982 and 2007 has been built. The social impact was obtained systematically on the basis of news press data and, occasionally, on the basis of insurance data. Flood events have been classified into ordinary, extraordinary and catastrophic floods, following the proposal of Llasat et al.~(2005). However, bearing in mind flash flood effects, some new categories concerning casualties and car damage have also been introduced. The spatial and temporal distribution of these flood events has been analyzed and, in an effort to better estimate the social impact and vulnerability, some indicators have been defined and analyzed for a specific region. These indicators allow an analysis of spacial and temporal trends as well as characterization of the events. Results show a flash-flood increase in summer and early autumn, mainly due to inter-annual and intra-annual changes in population density.

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Towards a database on societal impact of Mediterranean floods within the framework of the HYMEX project

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-13-1337-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1337-1350 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

M. C. Llasat ◽

M. Llasat-Botija ◽

O. Petrucci ◽

A. A. Pasqua ◽

J. Rosselló ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Heavy Rainfall ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Balearic Islands ◽

Societal Impact ◽

Spatial And Temporal Distribution ◽

Flood Events ◽

Database Structure ◽

Nw Mediterranean ◽

The Common

Abstract. The NW Mediterranean region experiences every year heavy rainfall and flash floods that occasionally produce catastrophic damages. Less frequent are floods that affect large regions. Although a large number of databases devoted exclusively to floods or considering all kind of natural hazards do exist, usually they only record catastrophic flood events. This paper deals with the new flood database that is being developed within the framework of HYMEX project. Results are focused on four regions representative of the NW sector of Mediterranean Europe: Catalonia, Spain; the Balearic Islands, Spain; Calabria, Italy; and Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées and PACA, France. The common available 30-yr period starts in 1981 and ends in 2010. The paper shows the database structure and criteria, the comparison with other flood databases, some statistics on spatial and temporal distribution, and an identification of the most important events. The paper also provides a table that includes the date and affected region of all the catastrophic events identified in the regions of study, in order to make this information available for all audiences.

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Own-price and cross-price elasticities of demand for cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco in three Eastern Mediterranean countries: a volumetric choice experiment

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056616 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2021-056616

Author(s):

Ali Chalak ◽

Rima Nakkash ◽

Niveen M E Abu-Rmeileh ◽

Yousef S Khader ◽

Mohammed Jawad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Choice Experiment ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Demand Elasticity ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Price Elasticities ◽

Mediterranean Countries

BackgroundWaterpipe tobacco smoking rates in the Eastern Mediterranean region are among the highest worldwide, yet little evidence exists on its economics. Estimates of demand elasticities for tobacco products are largely limited to cigarettes. This study aimed to estimate own-price and cross-price elasticities of demand for cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco products in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.MethodsA volumetric choice experiment was conducted using nationally representative household surveys. The choice experiment elicited respondents’ stated purchases of eight cigarette and waterpipe tobacco product varieties by hypothetically varying prices. Data were analysed using zero-inflated Poisson models that yielded demand elasticity estimates of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco consumption.ResultsThe study included 1680 participants in Lebanon (50% female), 1925 in Jordan (44.6% female) and 1679 in Palestine (50% female). We found the demand for premium cigarettes to be price elastic (range, −1.0 to −1.2) across all three countries, whereas the demand for discount cigarettes was less elastic than premium cigarettes in Lebanon (−0.6) and Jordan (−0.7) and more elastic in Palestine (−1.2). The demand for premium waterpipe tobacco was highly elastic in Lebanon (−1.9), moderately elastic in Jordan (−0.6) and inelastic in Palestine (0.2). The cross-price elasticity between cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco was near zero, suggesting that the two products are not considered to be close substitutes by consumers.ConclusionsThese results serve as a strong evidence base for developing and implementing fiscal policies for tobacco control in the Eastern Mediterranean region that address cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco products.

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Postmoney theory: value function in the domain of postmoney

foresight ◽

10.1108/fs-06-2018-0069 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 554-570

Author(s):

Boyan Christov Ivantchev

Keyword(s):

Social Impact ◽

Value Function ◽

Human Life ◽

Intrinsic Value ◽

Panel Study ◽

Economic Research ◽

Strong Base ◽

Content Type ◽

A Value ◽

First Time

Purpose The purpose of this study is to research the latest quantitative and qualitative transformations of money and its interaction with the market economy and societies in terms of their influence on the inner nature of money and its transformation from a simple tool to an aim per se, i.e. postmoney. Transforming the perception of the intrinsic value and “soul” of the money into the postmoney, influenced by the rising longevity and wide expectation for the ability to scientifically prolong the human life, will be discussed. This transformation will be confirmed by analysing the results from a national representative sociological survey (panel study with sample size n = 1,000). Design/methodology/approach The author uses the following philosophical methodological approaches – comparative-constructive, phenomenological, cognitive and deconstructive analysis. Findings The objective and qualitative reasons offered by the postmoney theory (PMT) for the transformation of money into postmoney, are related to the being of temporality, as well as to technologization and the sixth factor of production, scientific exponentiality and mental changes in the human being. A current postmoney survey gives a strong base to believe that the perception of an intrinsic value of postmoney changes the shape of a value function – from logarithmic to linear or even stochastic. This is the reason to believe that increasing of a postmoney quantity will lead to a qualitative transformation and psychological increase of postmoney sensitivity. Research limitations/implications The author intends to expand the postmoney survey on the international level so to confirm local findings. Practical implications Postmoney survey might be used as a powerful tool in creating and legalizing non-monistic money based on blockchain technologies and philosophical and socio-economic research of the postmoney issue. Social implications The future of money is of great importance for the exponentiality of the socio-economic environment and societies. Social impact of the money will be inevitably rising in the domain of postmoney perception. Originality/value The author of the current paper coined for the first-time notion of postmoney and now is expanding research developing PMT. As per the best knowledge of the author, shape of the curve of value function was not questioned and believes it might be of help to better understand the money phenomenon.

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EXPERIENCE WITH THE BRAZILIAN NETWORK FOR STUDIES IN REPRODUCTIVE AND PERINATAL HEALTH: THE POWER OF COLLABORATION IN POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões ◽

10.1590/0100-69912015s01027 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. 89-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

José G Cecatti ◽

Carla Silveira ◽

Renato T Souza ◽

Karayna G Fernandes ◽

Fernanda G Surita

Keyword(s):

Scientific Collaboration ◽

Social Impact ◽

Positive Impact ◽

High Impact ◽

Perinatal Health ◽

Knowledge Dissemination ◽

Scientific Cooperation ◽

National Network ◽

The University ◽

Peer Researchers

The scientific collaboration in networks may be developed among countries, academic institutions and among peer researchers. Once established, they contribute for knowledge dissemination and a strong structure for research in health. Several advantages are attributed to working in networks: the inclusion of a higher number of subjects in the studies; generation of stronger evidence with a higher representativeness of the population (secondary generalization and external validity); higher likelihood of articles derived from these studies to be accepted in high impact journals with a wide coverage; a higher likelihood of obtaining budgets for sponsorship; easier data collection on rare conditions; inclusions of subjects from different ethnic groups and cultures, among others. In Brazil, the Brazilian Network for Studies on Reproductive and Perinatal Health was created in 2008 with the initial purpose of developing a national network of scientific cooperation for the surveillance of severe maternal morbidity. Since the establishment of this Network, five studies were developed, some of them already finished and others almost being completed, and two new ones being implemented. Results of the activities in this Network have been very productive and with a positive impact on not only the Postgraduate Program of Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Campinas, its coordinating center, but also on other participating centers. A considerable number of scientific articles was published, master´s dissertations and PhD theses were presented, and post-doctorate programs were performed, including students from several areas of health, from distinct regions and from several institutions of the whole country. This represents a high social impact taking into account the relevance of the studied topics for the country.

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It Is Not Your Parents’ Long-Term Services System: Nursing Homes in a Changing World

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464818818050 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (8) ◽

pp. 898-901

Author(s):

Robert Applebaum ◽

Shahla Mehdizadeh ◽

Diane Berish

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Older Person ◽

Home Practice ◽

Data Set ◽

Study Results ◽

Utilization Data ◽

First Time

The long-term services system has changed substantially since the mid-1970s, when the landmark book Last Home for the Aged argued that the move to the nursing home was the last move an older person would make until death. Using detailed nursing home utilization data from the Minimum Data Set, this study tracks three cohorts of first-time nursing home admissions in Ohio from 1994 through 2014. Each cohort was followed for a 3-year period. Study results report dramatic reductions in nursing home length of stay between the 1994 and 2011 cohorts. Reduction in length of stay has important implications for nursing home practice and quality monitoring. The article argues that administrative and regulatory practices have not kept pace with the dramatic changes in how nursing homes are now being used in the long-term services system.

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Modeling the process of future social workers training considering the goals of sustainable development

SHS Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/shsconf/202111101007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 01007

Author(s):

Nadiia Pavlyk ◽

Nataliia Seiko ◽

Svitlana Sytniakivska

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Social Workers ◽

Professional Training ◽

Formal Education ◽

Theoretical Development ◽

Social Sphere ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Scientific Papers ◽

International Projects

The aim of the article is the theoretical development of non-formal, fundraising and bilingual models of future social sphere specialists training on the basis of the goals of sustainable development in education. The study is based on preliminary processing of European and Ukrainian documents on sustainable development, numerous scientific papers on the problem of sustainable development, theoretical developments and experimental research in the field of social sphere specialists training. Each of the developed models has passed the corresponding approbation and is supported by the author’s experience of practical professional training of future social sphere specialists at the Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University. The model of future social workers non-formal education ensures the integration of professional competencies of future social workers. Fundraising training of future social workers on the basis of sustainable development involves the use of the necessary fundraising tools to ensure the development of social capital, the formation of a society of social justice, the deployment of numerous non-governmental organizations at the global and local levels. The bilingual model provides empowerment of social workers to study, do internships, work, borrow positive experiences, participate in international projects, and collaborate with professionals in their field from around the world.

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Does the Tax System Reduce Tax Evasion in Light of the Governance Mechanisms? Evidence From Jordan

Research in World Economy ◽

10.5430/rwe.v12n2p99 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 99

Author(s):

Ashraf Bataineh

Keyword(s):

Tax Evasion ◽

Income Tax ◽

Social Impact ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Governance Mechanisms ◽

Official Statistics ◽

Tax System ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact ◽

Awareness Level

This study aims to measure the impact of tax system elements on reducing the tax evasion, in light of the governance mechanisms in Jordan. The study sample consists of (140) tax auditors at the Jordanian Income tax and sales department, and to achieve the study objectives the researcher designed a questionnaire and distributed it on the study sample members. Study results show that elements of the tax system (tax legislations, tax administration, and Taxpayer) have a positive impact on reducing the tax evasion, in light of governance mechanisms. study recommends the need to raise the tax awareness level among members of the Taxpayer, work to reduce the continuation of making adjustments on tax laws and legislation, and give a sufficient period of time to ensure that desired economic and social impact being achieved from these adjustments, with the need to announce the official statistics of tax evasion’s figures and ratios, because the unofficial statistics on tax evasion have been tarnished by some exaggeration where work should concentrate on increasing penalties of tax evaders.

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Distribución espacial y temporal del fitoplancton en el golfo de Cariaco, estado Sucre, Venezuela, febrero 2014 – enero 2015

Bulletin of Marine and Coastal Research ◽

10.25268/bimc.invemar.2018.47.2.747 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Asdrúbal Calvo-Trujillo ◽

Karla Rincones-Reyes ◽

José Rafael Díaz-Ramos ◽

Brightdoom Márquez-García ◽

Sonia Subero-Pino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phytoplankton Community ◽

Transition Period ◽

Chlorophyll Concentration ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Nonparametric Analysis ◽

Multivariate Methods ◽

Phytoplankton Abundance ◽

Relaxation Period ◽

Coastal Phytoplankton ◽

First Time

Coastal phytoplankton is affected by natural and anthropic processes. To analyze the influence of some of these processes, the spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton in the Gulf of Cariaco, Sucre state, was evaluated. Samples (0-10 m) were collected with Niskinbottles (5 L) in seven stations between February 2014 and January 2015. Transparency (m), salinity (UPS), temperature (° C), chlorophyll concentration a (mg m-3), and phytoplankton abundance (org mL-1) were measured. A nonparametric analysis of variance and multivariate methods (PCA, CCA, and nMDS) were used to analyze the results. The 0 - 10 m stratum was homogeneous with respect to all variables except temperature which ranged from 20.1 to 29.1 °C (March and October, respectively). Temporally, the variables were heterogeneous. Biomass fluctuated between undetectable (ND) and 17.5 mg m-3 (December and March). While microalgal abundance oscillated between 0.24 and 1.85 x 103 org mL-1 (April andFebruary). The community was dominated by diatoms, nanoflagellates, and coccolithophorids. The first two groups were associated with turbulent, nutrient-rich waters. The nMDS separated the community into the three periods previously described for the region. Likewise, the CCA detected that wind speed and temperature were the most influential variables on the phytoplankton community during upwelling and relaxation period, respectively. In the transition period, none of the variables studied affected the community. This is the first time that coccolithophores are reported as part of the dominant flora in the Gulf of Cariaco. This change suggests modifications in the oceanographic conditions of the study area.

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INFLUENCE OF SURGICAL INTERVENTION ON PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN APOPLEXY IN THE ASPECT OF OVARIAN RESERVE PRESERVATION

World Science ◽

10.31435/rsglobal_ws/31052019/6512 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (5(45)) ◽

pp. 7-10

Author(s):

O. M. Ishchak

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Ovarian Reserve ◽

Antral Follicle ◽

Disease Recurrence ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Hemodynamic Parameters ◽

Bipolar Coagulation ◽

Study Results ◽

Duration Of Surgery ◽

First Time

Ovarian apoplexy is the women’s disease of reproductive age, 75% of which are under the age of 30 years old, about 30% undergo surgery, and 40-62% of them are subjected to repeated surgeries because of disease recurrence [3, 10]. Goal of study: improvement of surgical treatment of the patients with ovarian apoplexy for maximal preservation of ovarian reserve.Materials and methods. A total of 120 women were included in the study. These include 55 patients with ovarian apoplexy, who underwent laparoscopic surgery for the first time. These patients were included in the prospective study and divided into two groups, depending on the hemostasis method used during the surgery. Group 1 included 30 patients with hemostasis, which was carried out using bipolar coagulation, group 2 included 25 patients, whose bleeding from the ovary was stopped by applying sutures. In each group, the patients were selected with the “blind” method. The study included patients with stable hemodynamic parameters before surgery and duration of hospitalization of not more than 24 hours. The comparison group consisted of 45 patients with laparoscopic confirmation of pain form of the ovarian apoplexy, who underwent conservative treatment. Study results and their discussion. Patients with ovarian apoplexy with stable hemodynamic parameters should undergo surgery using laparoscopic access, which allows to clarify the diagnosis, stop bleeding, prevent development of sexually transmitted infections and carry out surgical correction of the associated pathological processes of the internal genital organs. Stop of bleeding at the patients with ovarian apoplexy with bipolar electrosurgery is faster (shorter duration of surgery by 13 minutes), but this leads to more significant decrease in ovarian reserve (Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) by 30%, antral follicle count (AFC) by 10%) than use of hemostatic sutures (AMH by 22%, PAF by 8%) (p <0.05). In order to maximize the maintenance of the ovarian reserve at surgeries by women with ovarian apoplexy, it is always better to carry out hemostasis by enucleating the cyst capsule within healthy tissues and saturation with absorbable synthetic areactive sutures on the ovarian wound following by intracorporal knot tying. Regardless of the hemostasis, used during surgical treatment of ovarian apoplexy by patients of the age of 36 years old and older, there is a greater decrease in ovarian reserve (AMH by 30%, AFC by 20%) than at patients whose age is less than 35 years old (AMH by 20%, AFC by 12%) (p <0.05). By patients with implemented fertility function regardless of age and by all patients under the age of 35, undergoing surgery because of ovarian apoplexy for the first time, bipolar coagulation is permissible to stop bleeding. At implementation of bipolar hemostasis of patients with ovarian apoplexy, point coagulation of bleeding vessels should be performed, avoiding damage to surrounding tissues.

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