Integrated Seismic Risk Assessment in Nepal

As Nepal is at high risk of earthquakes, the district-wide (VDC/Municipality level) study has been performed for vulnerability assessment of seismic-hazard, and the hazard-risk study is incorporated with social conditions as it has become a crucial issue in recent years. There is an interrelationship between hazards, physical risk, and the social characteristics of populations which are significant for policy-makers and individuals. Mapping the spatial variability of average annual loss (seismic risk) and social vulnerability discretely does not reflect the true nature of parameters contributing to the earthquake risk, so when the integrated risk is mapped, such combined spatial distribution becomes more evident. The purpose of this paper is to compute the risk analysis from the exposure model of the country using OpenQuake and then integrate the results with socio-economic parameters. The methodology of seismic-risk assessment and the way of combining the results of the physical risk and socio-economic data to develop an integrated vulnerability score of the regions has been described. This study considers all 75 districts and corresponding VDC/Municipalities using the available census. The combined vulnerability score has been developed and presented by integrating earthquake risk and social vulnerability aspects of the country and represented in form of the map produced using ArcGIS 10. The knowledge and information of the relationship between earthquake hazards and the demographic characteristics of the population in the vulnerable area are imperative to mitigate the local impact of earthquakes. Therefore, we utilize social vulnerability study as part of a comprehensive risk management framework to recuperate and recover from natural disasters.

Tourism Reset: Reimagining South African Domestic Tourism in the Era Of Covid-19

Domestic tourism is increasingly being propagated as a primer for the global tourism industry’s resuscitation in the era of COVID-19. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge for African tourism destinations such as South Africa is predicting domestic tourists’ behavioral and demand responses. The article explores the mediating effect of perceived risk on the nexus between South African domestic tourists’ push and pull travel motives. Data were generated via a self-administered online survey and analyzed primarily utilizing factor and mediation analyses. From the sample (n = 427), the study identifies the heterogeneity in the push–pull travel motives nexus. Moreover, the findings also establish the susceptibility of experiential escape-seeking tourists to the negative mediating influence of COVID-19-induced perceived physical risk on their likelihood of engaging in leisure-oriented domestic tourism activity. The results also point to potential cognitive bias and subjective preference towards domestic tourism, potentially signaling a crisis-induced shift in tourist behavior. The managerial implications are also discussed.

PERSEPSI RISIKO ATAS IMBAUAN SOCIAL DISTANCING AKIBAT PANDEMI COVID-19

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan persepsi risiko masyarakat atas pandemi Covid-19 dan imbauan social distancing di Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap), Sulawesi Selatan. Temuan penelitian diharapkan memberi rekomendasi gagasan kepada pemangku kepentingan. Penelitian ini menggunakan data berupa data primer dengan menyebarkan kuesioner secara online. Jumlah sampel mempertimbangkan jumlah perumahan sebagai populasi yaitu 5.989. Jumlah responden penelitian adalah 105. Teknik sampling adalah purposive sampling. Teknik analisis data adalah deskriptif kuantitatif, menggunakan program SPSS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan dari keenam tipe persepsi risiko menunjukkan bahwa psychological risk (risiko psikologis) termasuk kategori sangat tinggi yakni 82.34%, Physical risk (risiko fisik) termasuk kategori tinggi yakni 71.45%, dan performance risk (risiko realitas informasi), finance risk (risiko keuangan), time-losss risk (risiko kehilangan waktu), social risk (risiko sosial) berada pada kategori sedang dengan masing-masing persentasi yakni 49.63%, 57.29%, 55.94%, 44.46%. Data ini bisa dipahami bahwa semakin tinggi persentase berarti semakin tinggi persepsi risiko masyarakat dan begitupun sebaliknya.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Work-Related Lower Back Pain among Radiographers in the State of Kuwait

Background. Work-related lower back pain (WrLBP) is a global health issue and a rising concern in the State of Kuwait. The prevalence and the risk factors of WrLBP among radiographers are not well documented. Objective. The purpose of the study was to determine the one-year prevalence, characteristics, impact, and physical risk factors of WrLBP among radiographers in the State of Kuwait. Methods. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 200 radiographers. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, physical risk factors, and the occurrence of WrLBP in the previous 12 months. Descriptive statistics, frequency calculations, and chi-square analyses were performed. Results. One hundred forty-six radiographers completed and returned the questionnaires with a response rate of 73% (146/200). The one-year prevalence of WrLBP was 16%. The prevalence of WrLBP was not significantly associated with the participants’ demographics. Although WrLBP was significantly associated with work demands, the overall impact of WrLBP on work duties was minimal. Conclusions. The occurrence of WrLBP among radiographers in Kuwait was low, particularly when compared to healthcare providers involved in more patient handling and direct contact. However, various physical risk factors were identified. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of a treatment and prevention program on the prevalence of WrLBP.

The assessment of physical risk taking: Preliminary construct validation of a new behavioral measure

Risk taking is a complex heterogeneous construct that has proven difficult to assess, especially when using behavioral tasks. We present an exploratory investigation of new measure–the Assessment of Physical Risk Taking (APRT). APRT produces a variety of different outcome scores and is designed as a comprehensive assessment of the probability of success and failure, and magnitude of reward and punishment of different types of simulated physically risky behaviors. Effects observed on the simulated behaviors are hypothesized to reflect similar effects on real world physical risks. Participants (N = 224) completed APRT in a laboratory setting, half of whom had a 1.5 s delay interposed between button presses. Exploratory analyses utilizing generalized estimating equations examined the main effects and two-way interactions among five within-subject factors, as well as two-way interactions between the within-subject factors and Delay across four APRT outcome scores. Results indicated that Injury Magnitude and Injury Probability exerted stronger effects than any of the other independent variables. Participants also completed several self-report measures of risk taking and associated constructs (e.g., sensation seeking), which were correlated with APRT scores to assess the preliminary convergent and divergent validity of the new measure. After correcting for multiple comparisons, APRT scores correlated with self-reported risk taking in thrilling, physically dangerous activities specifically, but only for those who did not have a delay between APRT responses. This promising exploratory investigation highlights the need for future studies comparing APRT to other behavioral risk taking tasks, examining the robustness of the observed APRT effects, and investigating how APRT may predict real-world physical risk taking.

Proposing a Method to Analyze Slope Displacement Using the Distance Image Data of Depth Camera

Sediment disasters have occurred with higher frequencies in recent years because of local heavy rains caused by line-shaped precipitation systems and torrential rains accompanying large typhoons. Since rescue operators are constantly under physical risk at disaster sites, there is a need for technologies to predict the occurrence of secondary disasters. The authors research the measurement of slope displacements by focusing on a depth camera that is readily deployable, can be easily set up, and enables monitoring of an extensive area but does not require expert knowledge to carry out measurements. In this process, we confirmed the difficulty of measuring slope changes preceding failure when the depth camera (DC) is set at a distance because of the large measurement errors caused by the limited depth resolution and poor measurement conditions under rainfall. In this study, we propose a new method for analyzing depth image data obtained by a depth camera and verify its validity for displacement measurements. After comparing the previous and proposed methods, we could confirm that the latter enables one to detect slope changes from minute deformations. When compared with the results of extensometers that directly measured the slope, we found that the results displayed similar tendencies of increase. Therefore, by measuring displacements preceding a slope failure using a depth camera and analyzing the depth image data acquired using the proposed method, we found that it is possible to detect minute changes that precede slope failures.

Women’s Lives Matter—The Critical Need for Women to Prioritize Optimal Physical Activity to Reduce COVID-19 Illness Risk and Severity

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for the health and wellness of individuals and societies. During an infectious disease pandemic, such as the one caused by COVID-19, social distancing, quarantines, and lockdowns are used to reduce community spread of the disease. Unfortunately, such nonpharmacological interventions or physical risk mitigation measures also make it challenging to engage in PA. Reduced PA could then trigger physiological changes that affect both mental and physical health. In this regard, women are more likely to experience physical and psychological distress. PA is a safe and effective nonpharmacological modality that can help prevent and manage several mental and physical health problems when performed correctly. PA might even confer benefits that are directly related to decreasing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in women. In this review, we summarize why optimal PA must be a priority for women during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then discuss chronic COVID-19 illness and its impact on women, which further underscores the need for worldwide preventive health strategies that include PA. Finally, we discuss the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 for women, as part of prioritizing preventive healthcare and an active lifestyle.

Determinants of the Fatigue Life of Musculoskeletal Tissues

While the effects of physical risk factors on MSD development have been a primary focus of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) research, it is clear that psychological stressors and certain personal characteristics (e.g., aging, sex, and obesity) are also associated with increased MSD risk. The psychological and personal characteristics listed above share a common characteristic: all are associated with disruption of the body’s neuroendocrine and immune responses resulting in an impaired healing process. An impaired healing response may result in reduced fatigue life of musculoskeletal tissues due to a diminished ability to keep pace with accumulating damage (perhaps reparable under normal circumstances), and increased vulnerability of damaged tissue to further trauma owing to the prolonged healing process. Research in engineered self-healing materials suggests that decreased healing kinetics in the presence of mechanical loading can substantially reduce the fatigue life of materials. A model of factors influencing damage accrual and healing will be presented.