risk mitigation strategies
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2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Almaleh ◽  
David Tipper

Today, critical infrastructure is more interconnected, which allows more vulnerabilities in the case of disasters. In addition, the effect of one infrastructure can lead to one or more cascading failures in another infrastructure due to the dependency complexity between them. This article introduces a holistic approach using network indicators and machine learning to better understand the geographical representation of critical infrastructure. Previous work on a similar model was based on a single measure; such as in fashion, this paper introduces four measures utilized to identify the most vital geographic zone in the city. The model aims to increase resilience, focusing on the preparedness phase by assessing the essential nodes of infrastructure, which allows more space to adopt risk mitigation strategies before any disturbance event. Holding in-depth knowledge of the vital zones of small scales and accordingly ranking them will positively improve the overall system resilience.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Nevijo Zdolec ◽  
Tanja Bogdanović ◽  
Krešimir Severin ◽  
Vesna Dobranić ◽  
Snježana Kazazić ◽  
...  

Biogenic amines (BAs) are considered a potential microbiological toxicological hazard in aged cheese. Risk mitigation strategies include good hygiene practice measures, thermal treatment of milk and the use of competitive dairy cultures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of BAs—tryptamine, β-phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine and spermine—in the core and rind of cheeses ripened by bacteria (n = 61) and by mold cultures (n = 8). The microbial communities were counted, and the dominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were identified, corresponding to the BA concentrations. The total BA content was highest in the core of semi-hard cheeses (353.98 mg/kg), followed by mold cheeses (248.99 mg/kg) and lowest in hard cheeses (157.38 mg/kg). The highest number of BAs was present in the rind of cheeses with mold (240.52 mg/kg), followed by semi-hard (174.99 mg/kg) and hard cheeses (107.21 mg/kg). Tyramine was the most abundant BA, represented by 75.4% in mold cheeses, 41.3% in hard cheese and 35% of total BAs in semi-hard cheeses. Histamine was present above the defined European maximum level (ML) of 100 mg/kg in only two semi-hard and three hard cheeses. High amount of BAs (above 600 mg/kg) in cheeses, mainly tyramine, were associated with the presence of Enterococcus durans, while negligible BA concentrations were found in cheeses ripened with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis or Lacticaseibacillus paracasei cultures. This study has shown that retailed cheese varieties produced with commercial bacterial or mold cultures have acceptable levels of biogenic amines with respect to consumers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Miller ◽  
Guilherme Vieira da Silva ◽  
Darrell Strauss

Abstract Tropical Cyclones (TCs) with genesis in the Coral Sea, often near the east coast of Australia, present significant hazards to coastal regions in their surroundings. There has, therefore, been significant recent efforts to extract information from records of their historical tracks in order to help predict their future behaviour in the light of a changing climate. In this study, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) database of TC tracks over the last fifty years were grouped based on K-means clustering of the maximum wind-weighted centroids. Track shape variance and track curvature (sinuosity) were assessed. Three well defined clusters of TC tracks were identified, and the results showed predominant directions of TC movement by cluster. Track sinuosity was shown to increase from east to west. Only one cluster showed a statistically significant trend (decreasing) in TC frequency. The concept of TC power dissipation index (PDI) was introduced, revealing that two of the clusters have diverging trends for PDI post 2004. The location of cyclone maximum intensity (LMI) was trended, and only one cluster showed a statistically significant trend (towards the equator) for LMI. All these findings demonstrated a clear variance in risk between the clusters and suggests that this method of cluster analysis is a useful and productive complementary tool when establishing future impacts of TCs - the method identifies divergent TC characteristics and trends at a finer scale (cluster) level which then aids in assigning specific and differing TC risk mitigation strategies to different areas of the Australian east coast.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Ofori-Boateng ◽  
Williams Ohemeng ◽  
Elvis Kwame Agyapong ◽  
Ben Justice Bribinti

PurposeIn Ghana, even though scholars and experts in the field of economics and finance have expressed their opinions and perceptions on the effect of the pandemic on the Ghana Stock Exchange, there has been no study conducted to that effect. This study, therefore, aimed at examining the impact of COVID-19 on the stock returns on the Ghana stock exchange. This would help policy makers and investors in making efficient decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe outbreak of the novel COVID-19 has been a thorn in the flesh of the world in its entirety, affecting many aspects of life including the stock market. This study, therefore, examined the impact of the outbreak on the stock returns of the Ghana Stock Exchange. The study utilized data from the All Share Prices of the Ghana stock exchange, commonly known as the Ghana stoke exchange composite index (GSECI) for analysis. The data covered the period before the outbreak of COVID-19 and during the outbreak. It was revealed that the Ghana stock exchange experienced better returns on the market before the outbreak of the virus. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to wide variations in the market increasing the risk of investments. The exponential General Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) (1, 1) model also reveals that the outbreak of COVID-19 has a significant negative effect on the returns in the market. The market in these periods of COVID-19 is highly volatile. It is recommended that investors should carefully consider risk mitigation strategies to enable them diversify their investments effectively and efficiently against the high risk associated with the market in this COVID-19 era.FindingsIt was revealed that the Ghana stock exchange experienced better returns on the market before the outbreak of the virus. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to wide variations in the market increasing the risk of investments. The EGARCH (1, 1) model also revealed that the outbreak of COVID-19 had a significant negative effect on stock returns in the market. The market during these periods of COVID-19 was viewed as highly volatile.Research limitations/implicationsThe outbreak of COVID-19 is hence deduced to have a negative impact on the Ghana stock exchange. However, the knowledge of how the market has been affected by the disease, it is important that financial risk mitigation studies be undertaken. This goes beyond what this study has done. The study can further be expanded to include other important economic variables such as GDP, inflation, exchange rates and the likes in to the model.Practical implicationsInvestors should carefully consider risk mitigation strategies to enable them diversify their investments effectively and efficiently against the high risk associated with the market in this COVID-19 era.Social implicationsIt is also important that investors consider diversification of their investments in order to reduce the risk in their investments. It will be more appropriate for most investors to invest with companies such as banks and the telecommunications companies listed on the on the market. This is because most of the telecommunication companies in these times have taken advantage and are making good profit on their businesses. Likewise, some of the financial institutions are considered essential institution in these times. Investing in industries such as manufacturing and the oil and gas sector may be more risky.Originality/valueThe decline in economic and financial market indicators could be credited to the failure of most business entities, organizations and firms which are struggling to sustain their operations in these times of COVID-19. These also include firms listed on the Ghana stock exchange with whom investors transact their daily businesses. However, about 70% of the Ghanaian economy heavily depends on these business and firms found in the private and informal sector. According to the Ghana Statistics Service COVID-19 Business Tracker Survey, about 131,000 businesses expressed their uncertainties with the business environment and also faced the challenge of financial accessibility. The study is appropriate to unearth the true effect and offer policy interventions.


Author(s):  
Agustina Shinta Hartati Wahyuningtyas ◽  
Novi Haryati ◽  
Destyana Ellingga Pratiwi ◽  
Luisa Maliny Situmeang

Rice is the main consumption food for Indonesians. The demand for food increased from 114.6 kg per capita in 2016 to 124.89 kg in 2017. However, rice farmers and supply chain actors in rice agribusiness have experienced high challenges, such as production, transportation, price, product quality, and the environment. This research aimed to understand actors involved in the supply chain, their perception of occurring risks, and evaluation and risk mitigation in the supply chain. This was a quantitative descriptive study done purposively in Watugede Village, Singosari Sub-District, Malang Regency. Non-probability sampling was taken to gather primary data. The respondent of this research was 16 involved actors, from on-farm actors to consumers. The data were analyzed using the Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) to provide descriptive risk mitigation strategies. The results show that six involved actors are suppliers, farmers, grinders, traders, and buyers. Each actor faces different risks, and thus, the recommended mitigation strategies are adjusted to their risks. Sharing information, optimizing the level of supply availability, measuring supply chain performance, and building more coordination with the government are the best strategies to mitigate risks.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e051902
Author(s):  
Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera ◽  
Markus Waldén ◽  
Hanna Lindblom ◽  
Ida Åkerlund ◽  
Sofi Sonesson ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo describe weekly illness prevalence and illness symptoms by sex in youth floorball players during one season.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPlayers who were registered to play community level floorball during the 2017–2018 season (26 weeks) in two provinces in southern Sweden.Participants471 youth players aged 12–17 years. Mean (SD) age for 329 male players 13.3 (1.0) years and 142 female players 13.7 (1.5) years.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWeekly self-reported illness prevalence and illness symptoms according to the 2020 International Olympic Committee’s consensus recommendations.Results61% of youth floorball players reported at least one illness week during the season, with an average weekly illness prevalence of 12% (95% CI 10.8% to 12.3%). The prevalence was slightly higher among females (13%, 95% CI 11.6% to 14.3%) than males (11%, 95% CI 9.9% to 11.7%), prevalence rate ratio 1.20 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.37, p=0.009). In total, 49% (53% male, 43% female) of illness reports indicated that the player could not participate in floorball (time loss), with a mean (SD) absence of 2.0 (1.7) days per illness week. Fever (30%), sore throat (16%) and cough (14%) were the most common symptoms. Female players more often reported difficulty in breathing/tight airways and fainting, and male players more often reported coughing, feeling tired/feverish and headache. Illness prevalence was highest in the peak winter months (late January/February) reaching 15%–18% during this period.ConclusionsOur novel findings of the illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball may help direct prevention strategies. Athletes, coaches, parents and support personnel need to be educated about risk mitigation strategies.Trial registration numberNCT03309904.


Author(s):  
Atul Jha ◽  
Manish Bhartiya ◽  
Vijay R. Kumar ◽  
Vimal Upreti ◽  
Parag Deshmukh ◽  
...  

Background: Healthcare workers are front line workers in management of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The higher risk of acquiring the infection due to increased contact and exposures has prompted multiple risk mitigation strategies. To assess the role of hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst HCWs.Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed the effect of HCQS prophylaxis amongst HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in the north-eastern part of India. All HCWs, involved in management of SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled. The subjects were retrospectively divided in two groups on HCQ prophylaxis. Group I (51.8%, n=116) taking HCQ prophylaxis and group II (48.2%, n=108) not taking the prophylaxis. The demographic characteristics, use of PPE, HCQ prophylaxis and side effect profile were noted. Results: Of the whole cohort, 22.8% (n=51) subjects tested positive. In group I (n=116), 24 subjects (20.7%) tested positive, whereas in Group II (n=108), 27 subjects (25.0%) tested positive. Further analysis of the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst the two groups demonstrated that the although the rate of infection was lower (20.7% vs 25%) in Group I as compared to group II [X2 (1, N=224)=0.371, p=0.5] but it was statistically insignificant.Conclusions: Our study involving HCWs, does not show a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of infection with pre-exposure prophylaxis. Based on our findings and published literature, a prophylaxis of HCQS against the SARS-CoV-2 infection cannot be recommended.


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