Long-Term Power Outage and Preparedness of the Population of a Region in the Czech Republic—A Case Study

The power outages that have occurred in recent years around the world point to widespread problems with consequences for the lives and health of the population, but also material damage. This is a case study that focuses on the evaluation of the preparedness of the population of a selected region in the Czech Republic for a long-term power outage. This article deals with a case study that focuses on the evaluation of the preparedness of the population of the Karlovy Vary region in the field of emergency survival. Part of the study is the evaluation of the respondents’ answers, which provides an overview of the actual state of preparedness for power outages on a sample group of respondents in the Karlovy Vary region. The research method used was a survey using questionnaires. The obtained information was subsequently statistically evaluated by nonparametric correlation using Kendall’s taub. From the presented results of the survey, it is clear that the inhabitants of smaller municipalities are better prepared for a power outage and can create basic conditions for emergency survival.

The effects of internal stickiness on the success of projects

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of internal stickiness (IS) on the success of projects through the perception of managers involved in projects.Design/methodology/approach This study collected 253 valid responses from project managers, using a validated IS scale and project success scale. The results were analyzed using nonparametric correlation due to the nature of the data.Findings The dimensions of success are interrelated, and IS, considering the barriers to knowledge transfer, is negatively related to all of these dimensions. This confirms the importance of the behavior of the individual and the team, rather than only formal processes to avoid IS and positively impact the success of projects.Practical implications The tacit and behavioral component of knowledge management needs to be further explored in practice. Project management activities need to pay greater attention to knowledge development, knowledge transfer and learning between those involved in the project and within a company.Originality/value The study provides a better understanding of knowledge transfer barriers, represented by the IS construct, to the success of projects. The success of projects depends on the relationship with teams that include members of organizational sectors not related to the existence of permanent project management teams. The relationship contributes to the successful transfer of knowledge between the recipient and the source of knowledge according to the recipient's needs.

A Mathematical Model for the Take-Off in Platform Diving

In platform diving the take-off phase is of outstanding importance in order to achieve both a high level of performing quality and a high degree of difficulty. The diver has to produce the right forces and direction of the center of mass (COM) in order to attain the required angular momentum and dive height. To support the development of an optimum take-off technique, the Institute for Applied Training Science designed a dryland measuring and feedback system. Using the example of the dive back 1¼ somersault tucked in preparation for the dive back 3½ somersault tucked (207 C) from the 10-m-platform, kinematic and kinetic reference values for key positions were determined. Therefore, we developed a mathematical model using a multi-step examination plan with the following parts: (1) variables defined using nonparametric correlation analyses rs of the motion parameters, (2) statistical modelling to predict values of the parameters, (3) stochastic modelling. The model is based on a selection of 18 dives from 10 different elite divers of the German Swimming Federation (DSV). The approach presented provides helpful insights into the mechanisms of an optimal take-off, enables a target-performance comparison with objective motion parameters and therefore, enables individualized feedback to guide the training process more efficiently.

SOME FEATURES OF DIFFERENTIATION OF CONCENTRATION OF DIENE CONJUGATES IN BLOOD SERUM AND TISSUE OF RATS

One of the mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis in the body is lipid peroxidation (LPO). The influence of external and internal factors affecting the body can change the dynamics of LPO processes, causing numerous disorders in the functioning of organ systems. The dynamics of LPO processes in the early stages can be estimated from the change in the concentration of intermediate oxidation products - diene conjugates (DC). The purpose of our study was to identify the features of the differentiation of the distribution of the concentration of diene conjugates in the blood serum and tissues of white outbred rats. New results of nonparametric correlation analysis are presented to assess the relationship of the distribution of the concentration of diene conjugates in the blood serum and tissues of white outbred rats.

Mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults with coronary microvascular dysfunction

Introduction Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) may be a manifestation of systemic small vessel disease, including the brain. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in CMD patients is poorly understood. Purpose To assess the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with CMD. Methods Between April 2018-March 2020, we enrolled patients with chest discomfort who were admitted to a chest pain observation unit and underwent 3D cardiac positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Exclusions included myocardial infarction, hypertensive urgency, and heart failure. Patients were categorized as 1) Normal: coronary flow reserve (CFR) ≥2.5 without perfusion defect or calcification, 2) Possible CMD: CFR 2–2.5 without perfusion defects or calcification, 3) CMD: CFR <2 without perfusion defects or calcification and 4) coronary artery disease (CAD/CALC): any CFR with perfusion defects or calcifications. We assessed cognitive function with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and used <23 as the cutoff for impaired cognition. We added 1 point to the total score for those with 12 years of education or less. Odds ratios of cognitive impairment in each group were calculated with the normal group as reference, adjusting for age, sex, and race. Results Of 111 patients consented, 109 patients had complete data for analysis. (Table 1) Mean age was 57 years (± 11), 68% were female, and 49% were non-White. All 11 patients with CMD were females, with a mean age of 59 years (±12). The majority (72%) of CMD patients had cognitive impairment on the MoCA compared to 25% of patients with normal flows (unadjusted OR: 8.00 [95% CI 1.70–37.67]), even after adjustment for age, sex, and race (OR: 37.23 (95% CI 2.01–677.05). MoCA scores did not differ significantly between the normal and the CAD/CALC group (unadjusted OR: 0.95 [95% CI 0.30–3.070]), or the possible CMD group (1.44 [95% CI 0.50–4.14]). Additionally, non-White patients were more likely to demonstrate cognitive impairment on MoCA than White patients (OR: 9.47 [95% CI 3.48–25.81]). There was no significant nonparametric correlation between CFR and the MoCA score (r=0.05, p=0.6). Conclusion Patients with CMD are more likely to have cognitive impairment, supporting the need to further investigate the heart-brain connection in systemic small vessel disease. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Vegetation Response to Climate and Climatic Extremes in Northwest Bangladesh: A Quantile Regression Approach

The present study assessed the vegetation response to climate in the water-stressed northwest Bangladesh (NWB). The quantile regression analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of climate and climatic extremes on vegetation. The nonparametric correlation analysis was used to assess the climatic influence on vegetation for various time lags. Besides, the modified Mann-Kendall (MMK) test was conducted to understand the changes in climate and vegetation to anticipate the climate change impacts on vegetation. Satellite estimation of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and observed rainfall and temperature data collected from five locations of the study area for the period 1982-2018 was used for this purpose. The results revealed a negative effect of rainfall, a positive impact of maximum temperature on vegetation in monsoon and a positive influence on minimum temperature on vegetation in winter. Quantile regression analysis revealed a significant negative influence of extreme rainfall and a positive impact of maximum temperature on vegetation for the whole NWB. Overall, the study revealed a greater influence of temperature than rainfall on vegetation change in the region. The trend analysis revealed a reduction in rainfall (-2.56 mm/decade) and a rise in temperature (0.176ºC/decade), and thus, an increase in vegetation (0.014 per decade). The results indicate the positive effect of climate change on vegetation, positively impacting the environment and water resources in the study area.

Blood pressure level and laboratory indicators of disease severity in patients with arterial hypertension and COVID-19

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background. Many patients with COVID-19 suffer from arterial hypertension and have marked variations in blood pressure (BP) during the acute period of infection. The reasons for such changes are poorly understood. Purpose. To assess the relationship between the level of BP and the severity of changes in the main clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with arterial hypertension and with a moderate course of COVID-19 at the stage of the height of the disease. Materials and methods. The study included 86 hospitalized patients with verified coronavirus disease of moderate severity: 46 of them were male, the median age was 65 years. Patients received adequate hypertension therapy for a long time. After hospitalization, treatment was adjusted if necessary. The level of laboratory parameters in the acute period of the disease was determined, including the electrolytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, ferritin, general blood test, etc. BP measured daily. The relationship between laboratory parameters and BP level was evaluated by nonparametric correlation using the Spearman coefficient and multivariate analysis based on the "generalized nonlinear model". Results. In 67.44% of patients with hypertension, an elevated BP level (>140/90) was observed against the background of moderate COVID-19. There was a significant negative correlation between the levels of CRP and BP throughout the stay in the hospital, the most significant is the 5th day of hospitalization. At the same time, a slightly stronger relationship is observed with diastolic BP (r = -0.4425) than with systolic BP (r = -0.3525). A similar trend is observed in all BP measurements. Besides, a negative correlation was found between potassium levels and BP values. The strongest association of potassium levels is with systolic BP on the day of hospitalization (r = -0.4850) and diastolic pressure on the 1st day of hospitalization (r = -0.3561). Multivariate analysis confirmed independent and reliable "influence" of CRP (p = 0.00018) and potassium (p = 0.03921) as independent predictors of diastolic pressure. Conclusions. Most patients with hypertension and moderate COVID-19 have elevated BP levels. There is a statistically significant negative relationship between the values of BP and levels of CRP and potassium. The obtained data may correspond to the existing hypothesis about the significant role of the kinin–kallikrein system in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Are Cities Truly Dispersed? A Long-Term Analysis of Vertical Profile of Settlements in Athens’ Metropolitan Region

Using nonparametric, exploratory statistics, the spatial structure of the city’s vertical profile was investigated at the municipal scale in Athens’ metropolitan region (Greece), evaluating changes over a sufficiently long time interval (1983–2019) that encompasses different phases of the urban cycle in Greece. Assuming the vertical profile of cities as an honest indicator of urban form, the study was aimed to test the intensity and spatial direction of the (supposed) change in settlement models toward sprawl. Transitioning slowly from a dense to a more dispersed settlement structure, Athens’ dynamics revealed a quite representative model for cities expanding significantly but remaining substantially compact and dense, while responding similarly to different (external) economic stimuli. Nonparametric correlation between the average (vertical) profile of each municipality and the distance from downtown Athens revealed a substantially stable mono-centric structure over time, with small changes over time still responding to factors dependent on the urban gradient. The inherent shift towards “horizontal” urban expansion was relatively modest and characteristic of few periurban contexts. The empirical results of this study can be envisaged as a practical tool of regional planning, allowing continuous monitoring of urban sprawl and land take in complex systems under rapid socioeconomic changes.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Translated Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation Score

Introduction The purpose of this study is to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the translated Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score exclusively for pathologies of the wrist. Materials and Methods A methodological study of cross-cultural validation of clinical scores was performed through a test–retest reliability analysis, internal consistency, response to change, and criterion validity assessment. Results The test was applied to 57 patients with 139 surveys. Stability evaluated through Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was 0.98, with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97–0.99; Cronbach's alpha was > 0.91; the difference in score was 24.26 (standard deviation: 26.59); the standardized response mean was 0.912; the effect size was 0.924; the Spearman's coefficient between the differences of PRWE and DASH—Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand—scores was r = 0.899, with 95% CI = 0.811–0.947; Spearman's nonparametric correlation test between PRWE and DASH was 0.82, with 95% CI = 0.711–0.890. Conclusions We successfully validated the Spanish translation of the PRWE scale. It showed valid and reliable interpretation of functional status and response to treatment after distal radius fracture, for Colombian population. Level of Evidence This is a level II, methodological study for scale validation.

X-RAY OSTEOMETRY OF SOME LINE PARAMETERS OF THE MIDDLE PHALANGES OF THE HAND IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN TERM OF DIFFERENT AGE AND ETHNICITY

The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of the linear parameters of the length and width of the diaphysis of the middle phalanges in children and adolescents of Tajikistan and Western India, and also the possibility of using these linear parameters to establish the age of children of the compared ethnic groups. On 325 radiographs of the right hand in male children and adolescents of the Kanibadam region of the Republic of Tajikistan and the city of Mumbai (Western India) at the age of 6-17 years, the length of the middle phalanges and the width of their diaphysis were determined. To determine the relationship between the age of children of the compared ethnic groups and the linear parameters of the length and width of the shaft of the phalanges, Spearman's nonparametric correlation coefficient was used. Comparative assessment of the values ​​of indicators by age was carried out by the method of parametric and non-parametric analysis. In boys of Tajikistan, the closest correlation was established between the age of children and the length of the middle phalanx of the third finger, while in their Indian peers this ratio was determined evenly for the II-IV fingers of the hand. The width of the diaphysis of the phalanges of the fourth finger increased most significantly with age in boys of Tajikistan, and in the Indians, the width of the third finger, the smallest increase in the width of the diaphysis in the compared groups was determined for the phalanges of the second finger. The linear parameters of the middle phalanges of the hand can be used to identify the age of children and adolescents in Tajikistan and Western India at the age of 6-17 years. For Tajik children, the best predictor of age is the linear parameter of the length of the middle phalanx of the index, and for their Indian peers, the length of the middle phalanx of the II-IV fingers is equally.