Clustering model responses in the frequency space for improved simulation‐based flood risk studies: The role of a cluster number

AbstractCentral to policies relating to risk governance at the regional and local levels is the interaction between the public and private sectors also referred to as networked governance. At the same time, the role of political actors in general and policy entrepreneurs in particular, in terms of policy change, has gained considerable traction in recent policy scholarship. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in governance arrangements resulting in the formation of a coordination network in regional flood risk management-the first of its kind in Sweden. Our research is guided by the following questions: first, would the policy change (the establishment of the networks)have taken place if a policy entrepreneur were not part of the policy transfer process? Second, what is the role of policy entrepreneurship in the implementation of the policy after its nationwide adoption? Third, what other factors played a role in the variation of the results in the implemented policy that is, the enforced networks? We find the role of a policy entrepreneur key in the policy transfer from the regional to the national level. In order to investigate the resultant networks, we draw from B. Guy Peters (1998) and his conceptualization of factors which affect the politics of coordination. In addition to the presence of a policy entrepreneur, we compare: (i) pluriformity of network members;(ii) member interdependence; (iii) redundancy of structures, and (iv) degree of formality (in terms of meetings). Our findings suggest that entrepreneurs contribute to the variation in the functionality of the enforced river groups, though other factors play a significant role as well.Most importantly, perhaps, we did not identify entrepreneurs in any of the river groups which were not functional.

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Medical students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of integrated clinical skills sessions using different simulation adjuncts

AJP Advances in Physiology Education ◽

10.1152/advan.00097.2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 514-521 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Zafar

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Medical Students ◽

Response Rate ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Medical Curricula ◽

Effective Implementation ◽

Simulation Based

Simulation-based integrated clinical skills sessions have great potential for use in medical curricula. Integration is central to simulation efficacy. The aim of this study was to obtain medical students' perceptions toward effectiveness of integrated clinical skills sessions by using different simulation adjuncts and to know the challenges/obstacles encountered toward the implementation of such sessions. A study was conducted to obtain anonymous feedback from male ( n = 156) and female ( n = 179) medical students in years 2 and 3 during the 2014–2015 academic sessions at Alfaisal University about their perceptions of the effectiveness of integrated clinical skills sessions, uses of simulation adjuncts, and obstacles encountered toward the effective implementation of such sessions. The response rate was 93.4. Factor analysis showed data being valid and reliable. Cronbach’s α-values for effectiveness of sessions, use of simulation adjunct, and obstacles encountered were 0.97, 0.95, and 0.95, respectively. We conclude that students perceived positively the effectiveness of integrated clinical skills sessions as well as the use of simulation adjuncts, especially SPs. They suggested overcoming the obstacles and limitations of simulation. They highly valued the role of the facilitators in achieving effective sessions.

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Role of dams and levees in the flood risk management in Romania

Sustainable and Safe Dams Around the World ◽

10.1201/9780429319778-232 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 2603-2612

Author(s):

A. Abdulamit

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Flood Risk Management

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The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2104642118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (48) ◽

pp. e2104642118

Author(s):

Marty Kardos ◽

Ellie E. Armstrong ◽

Sarah W. Fitzpatrick ◽

Samantha Hauser ◽

Philip W. Hedrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Population Viability ◽

Adaptive Potential ◽

Biodiversity Crisis ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Simulation Based ◽

Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

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Role of cytokines in leukemic type growth of myelodysplastic CD34+ cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v88.1.319.319 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 319-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

K Sawada ◽

M Ieko ◽

A Notoya ◽

T Tarumi ◽

K Koizumi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progenitor Cells ◽

Clonal Growth ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Leukemic Cells ◽

Human Macrophage ◽

Cluster Number ◽

Gm Csf ◽

Cd34 Cells

Abstract The clonal growth of progenitor cells from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can be subdivided into four growth patterns: (1) normal, (2) no growth or low plating efficiency, (3) low colony and high cluster number, and (4) normal or high colony number with a large number of clusters. The former two (1 and 2) can be referred to as nonleukemic patterns and latter two (3 and 4) as leukemic. In a search for a role for cytokines in leukemic-type growth of MDS progenitor cells, marrow CD34+ cells were purified up to 94% for 8 normal individuals and 88% for 12 MDS patients, using monoclonal antibodies and immunomagnetic microspheres (MDS CD34+ cells). The purified CD34+ cells were cultured for 14 days with various combinations of cytokines, including recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rM-CSF), granulocyte-CSF (rG-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (rGM-CSF), interleukin-3 (rIL-3), and stem cell factor (SCF; a ligand for c-kit) in serum-free medium. The clonal growth of MDS CD34+ cells supported by a combination of all of the above cytokines was subdivided into the two patterns of leukemic or nonleukemic, and then the role of individual or combined cytokines in proliferation and differentiation of MDS CD34+ cells was analyzed in each group. Evidence we obtained showed that SCF plays a central role in the leukemic-type growth of MDS CD34+ cells and that G-CSF, GM-CSF; and/or IL-3 synergize with SCF to increase undifferentiated blast cell colonies and clusters over that seen in normal CD34+ cells. SCF is present in either normal or MDS plasma at a level of nanograms per milliliter, and this physiologic concentration of SCF can stimulate progenitor cells. This means that progenitor cells are continuously exposed to stimulation by SCF in vivo and that MDS leukemic cells have a growth advantage over normal blast cells. This depends, at least in part, on cytokines such as G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3, and SCF.

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How awareness and confidence affect flood-risk precautionary behavior of Greek citizens: the role of perceptual and emotional mechanisms

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-19-1329-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (7) ◽

pp. 1329-1346 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Katerina Papagiannaki ◽

Vassiliki Kotroni ◽

Kostas Lagouvardos ◽

Giorgos Papagiannakis

Keyword(s):

Flood Risk ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Emotional Processes ◽

Precautionary Behavior ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Precautionary Measures ◽

Flood Experience

Abstract. This study examines the mechanisms of flood-risk precautionary behavior among Greek citizens. To that end, we specify and test a mediation model in which awareness-raising factors and confidence attitudes influence the citizens' current flood preparedness and preparedness intention through perceptual and emotional processes. Raw data were obtained via an online survey that received 1855 responses. Causal relations were tested by means of structural equation modeling (SEM). Overall, results indicate that risk perception and worry are significant drivers of preparedness intention. In particular, they act as mediating variables, explaining how flood experience, access to more risk information, vulnerability awareness, and trust in authorities affect citizens' intention to invest in precautionary measures. Especially trust was found to have a negative effect on worry, leading to lower preparedness levels. Worry was also found to have a significant role in explaining the current preparedness levels. Interestingly, citizens who had already undertaken precautionary measures in the past appear to be more willing to invest in more measures. Implications for improving flood-risk management in Greece are discussed.

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