1. Multicriteria risk evaluation model : utilizing fuzzy logic for improved transparency and quality of risk evaluation in healthcareRok Drnovšek, Marija Milavec Kapun, Simona Šteblaj, Uroš Rajkovič, 2025, original scientific article Keywords: multi-criteria decision-making, risk management, fuzzy logic, decision support, patient care, DEX
Published in DiRROS: 20.04.2026; Views: 202; Downloads: 153
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2. Towards sustained and sustainable management of COVID-19 : an alternative to the simplified return to pre-pandemic normalityFrane Adam, Maruša Gorišek, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The article is focusing on current processes, models, and possible consequences of the easing or cancelling of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that we have seen by the end of July 2022. This is observed in the broader context of selected European countries, allowing us to detect differences, similarities, and, especially, the different ways in which these processes have been legitimized by politicians (governments) and experts. The authors agree with a group of biomedical and other experts, scientists, who consider the rapid abolishment of epidemiological measures as a strategy that is considered a too-simplified solution, so are searching for a more sustainable way of managing the pandemic and also “pandemic fatigue”. In the text, the authors advocate a strategy, based on the principles of calibration, combination, and continuity of measures, which is compatible with the sustainable organization of the healthcare system. However, the implementation must be viable and long-term oriented.
Keywords: risk society, pandemic preparedness, biomedical experts, sustainable management, second-order observation, meta-analysis, social epidemiology
Published in DiRROS: 21.01.2026; Views: 424; Downloads: 188
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3. Risk of anaphylaxis associated with cold urticariaMojca Bizjak-Šuran, Krzysztof Rutkowski, Ricardo Assero, 2024, review article Abstract: Purpose of review
Cold-induced anaphylaxis (ColdA) is a poorly understood form of anaphylaxis that occurs in patients with cold urticaria (ColdU). This comprehensive review aims to deepen the understanding of ColdA. It emphasizes the identification of high-risk ColdU patients susceptible to ColdA and provides recommendations for their effective management.
Recent findings
Recent studies, including the large international COLD-CE study, have identified clinical features of ColdU patients associated with increased ColdA risk. These individuals can now be recognized through routine clinical assessments. Key diagnostic indicators for assessing ColdU and the risk of ColdA include oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms and positive standard local cold provocation tests. ColdA has been defined as acute cold-induced involvement of the skin and/or visible mucosal tissue accompanied by cardiovascular manifestations, difficulty breathing, or gastrointestinal symptoms, but a universally accepted definition is lacking. Additionally, ColdA has recently been recognized as an indication for prescribing adrenaline (epinephrine) autoinjectors, marking a significant advancement in disease management.
Summary
ColdA is a major and potentially life-threatening concern for a subset of ColdU patients. Early recognition of high-risk patients, coupled with education and preparedness of both patients and healthcare providers, is crucial for effectively managing this challenging condition. Further research is needed to expand understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of ColdA, identify potential cofactors influencing ColdA, and improve disease-management strategies.
Keywords: adrenaline (epinephrine), autoinjector, cold-induced anaphylaxis, cold urticaria, management, risk factors
Published in DiRROS: 28.05.2025; Views: 747; Downloads: 538
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4. Localised multi-hazard risk assessment in Kyrgyz RepublicRuslan Umaraliev, Vitalii Zaginaev, Daurbek Sakyev, Dimitar Tockov, Madina Amanova, Zarangez Makhmudova, Kydyr Nazarkulov, Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, Abdurashit Nizamiev, Rui Moura, Kevin Blanchard, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: One of the key tasks in ensuring national security is the ability of the state and society to recognise and effectively assess the conditions for disasters, and to prevent them from threatening the sustainable development of the country. The Kyrgyz Republic is highly vulnerable to the influence of climate change, which in turn affects the frequency and intensity of disasters. The Kyrgyz Republic is exposed to almost all types of geological and man-made hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, debris flows, flash floods, outbursts of mountain lakes, dam failures, avalanches, droughts, extreme temperature, epidemics and releases of hazardous substances. Analysis of information on existing risks and their control systems used to reduce their negative impact makes it possible to assess the degree of probability, the expected consequences of threats, determine the degree of risk, the adaptive potential of communities and select appropriate protective measures. Therefore, this study is conducted to assess the hazard, vulnerability and exposure of Suzak district (Jalal-Abad oblast) in order to quantify the risk of the study area using multi-parameter holistic assessment with field collecting of primary data and utilizing Index-based Risk Assessment approach based on applying INFORM Risk model. Collected data was used to downscale subnational INFORM Risk model for municipal and district level using a multi-layered structure. A risk score is calculated by combining 72 indicators that measure three main dimensions: hazard & exposure, vulnerability, and lack of coping capacity. These findings provide an opportunity to develop a more effective disaster risk management at the local and national levels, by prioritizing relevant actions and investments for municipalities – districts which are demonstrated relatively highest risk scores. Also, the possibility of applying localized risk assessment procedures provides an opportunity to obtain more accurate sub-national (district/oblast based) and national levels with effective assessing dynamics of risk.
Keywords: natural hazard, risk, exposure, vulnerability, disaster risk reduction, disaster risk management, Suzak district
Published in DiRROS: 21.05.2025; Views: 931; Downloads: 357
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5. Effects of governmental data governance on urban fire risk : a city-wide analysis in ChinaZhao-Ge Liu, Xiang-Yang Li, Grunde Jomaas, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The effects of data governance (as a means to maximize big data value creation in fire risk management) performance on fire risk was analyzed based on multi-source statistical data of 105 cities in China from 2016 to 2018. Specifically, data governance was first quantified with ten detailed indicators, which were then selected for explaining urban fire risk through correlation analysis. Next, the sample cities were clustered in terms of major socio-economic characteristics, and then the effects of data governance were examined by constructing multivariate regression models for each city cluster with ordinary least squares (OLS). The results showed that the constructed regression models produced good interpretation of fire risk in different types of cities, with coefficient of determination (R2) in each model exceeding 0.65. Among the indicators, the development of infrastructures (e.g. data collection devices and data analysis platforms), the level of data use, and the updating of fire risk related data were proved to produce significant effects on the reduction of fire frequency and fire consequence. Moreover, the organizational maturity of data governance was proved to be helpful in reducing fire frequency. For the cities with large population, the cross-department sharing of high-value data was found to be another important determinant of urban fire frequency. In comparison with existing statistical models which interpreted fire risk with general social factors (with the highest R2 = 0.60), these new regression models presented a better statistical performance (with the average R2 = 0.72). These findings are expected to provide decision support for the local governments of China and other jurisdictions to facilitate big data projects in improving fire risk management.
Keywords: urban fire risk, fire risk management, big data technologies, data governance, socio-economic factors, city-wide analysis
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2024; Views: 1421; Downloads: 995
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7. Documenting metrological traceability as intended by ISO 15189:2012 : a consensus statement about the practice of the implementation and auditing of this norm elementMarc H. M. Thelen, Florent Vanstapel, Pika Meško-Brguljan, Bernard Gouget, Guilaine Boursier, Edward Barrett, Christos Kroupis, Maria Lohmander, Luděk Šprongl, Tatjana Vodnik, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: ISO15189:2012 requires medical laboratories to document metrological traceability of their results. While the ISO17511:2003 standard on metrological traceability in laboratory medicine requires the use of the highest available level in the traceability chain, it recognizes that for many measurands there is no reference above the manufacturer's selected measurement procedure and the manufacturer's working calibrator. Some immunoassays, although they intend to measure the same quantity and may even refer to the same reference material, unfortunately produce different results because of differences in analytical selectivity as manufacturers select different epitopes and antibodies for the same analyte. In other cases, the cause is the use of reference materials, which are not commutable. The uncertainty associated with the result is another important aspect in metrological traceability implementation. As the measurement uncertainty on the clinical samples is influenced by the uncertainty of all steps higher in the traceability chain, laboratories should be provided with adequate and appropriate information on the uncertainty of the value assignment to the commercial calibrators that they use. Although the between-lot variation in value assignment will manifest itself as part of the long-term imprecision as estimated by the end-user, information on worst-case to be expected lot-lot variation has to be communicated to the end-user by the IVD provider. When laboratories use ancillary equipment that potentially could have a critical contribution to the reported results, such equipment needs verification of its proper calibration and criticality to the result uncertainty could be assessed by an approach based on risk analysis, which is a key element of ISO15189:2012 anyway. This paper discusses how the requirement for metrological traceability as stated in ISO15189 should be met by the medical laboratory and how this should be assessed by accreditation bodies.
Keywords: laboratories, medical laboratory science, risk management, quality control, quality improvement, health care quality assurance, metrological traceability
Published in DiRROS: 22.10.2020; Views: 3637; Downloads: 776
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8. Consistency of impact assessment protocols for non-native speciesPablo González-Moreno, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Montserrat Vila, Cristina Preda, Tim Adriaens, Sven Bacher, Giuseppe Brundu, Gordon H. Copp, Franz Essl, Nikica Ogris, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Standardized tools are needed to identify and prioritize the most harmful non-native species (NNS). A plethora of assessment protocols have been developed to evaluate the current and potential impacts of non-native species, but consistency among them has received limited attention. To estimate the consistency across impact assessment protocols, 89 specialists in biological invasions used 11 protocols to screen 57 NNS (2614 assessments). We tested if the consistency in the impact scoring across assessors, quantified as the coefficient of variation (CV), was dependent on the characteristics of the protocol, the taxonomic group and the expertise of the assessor. Mean CV across assessors was 40%, with a maximum of 223%. CV was lower for protocols with a low number of score levels, which demanded high levels of expertise, and when the assessors had greater expertise on the assessed species. The similarity among protocols with respect to the final scores was higher when the protocols considered the same impact types. We conclude that all protocols led to considerable inconsistency among assessors. In order to improve consistency, we highlight the importance of selecting assessors with high expertise, providing clear guidelines and adequate training but also deriving final decisions collaboratively by consensus.
Keywords: environmental impact, expert judgement, invasive alien species policy, management prioritization, risk assessment, socio-economic impact
Published in DiRROS: 03.04.2019; Views: 3533; Downloads: 2160
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