Crisis response information networks

In the past two decades, organizational scholars have focused significant attention on how organizations manage crises. While most of these studies concentrate on crisis prevention, there is a growing emphasis on crisis response. Because information that is critical to crisis response may become outdated as crisis conditions change, crisis response research recognizes that the management of information flows and networks is critical to crisis response. Yet despite its importance, little is known about the various types of crisis information networks and the role of IT in enabling these information networks. Employing concepts from information flow and social network theories, this paper contributes to crisis management research by developing four crisis response information network prototypes. These networks are based on two main dimensions: (1) information flow intensity and (2) network density. We describe how considerations of these two dimensions with supporting case evidence yield four prototypical crisis information response networks: Information Star, Information Pyramid, Information Forest, and Information Black-out. In addition, we examine the role of IT within each information network structure. We conclude with guidelines for managers to deploy appropriate information networks during crisis response and with suggestions for future research related to IT and crisis management

Ergodic Secrecy Rate of RIS-Assisted Communication Systems in the Presence of Discrete Phase Shifts and Multiple Eavesdroppers

This letter investigates the ergodic secrecy rate (ESR) of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted communication system in the presence multiple eavesdroppers (Eves), and by assuming discrete phase shifts at the RIS. In particular, a closed-form approximation of the ESR is derived for both non-colluding and colluding Eves. The analytical results are shown to be accurate when the number of reflecting elements of the RIS N is large. Asymptotic analysis is provided to investigate the impact of N on the ESR, and it is proved that the ESR scales with log2N for both non-colluding and colluding Eves. Numerical results are provided to verify the analytical results and the obtained scaling laws

Design and Evaluation of Buffer-Aided Cooperative NOMA with Direct Transmission in IoT

The high spectrum efficiency of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is attractive to solve the massive number of connections in the Internet of Things (IoT). This paper investigates a buffer-aided cooperative NOMA (C-NOMA) system in the IoT, where the intended users are equipped with buffers for cooperation. The direct transmission from the access point to the users and the buffer-aided cooperative transmission between the intended users are coordinated. In particular, a novel buffer-aided C-NOMA scheme is proposed to adaptively select a direct or cooperative transmission mode, based on the instantaneous channel state information and the buffer state. Then, the performance of the proposed scheme, in terms of the system outage probability and average delay, is theoretically derived with closed-form expressions. Furthermore, the full diversity order of three is demonstrated to be achieved for each user pair if the buffer size is not less than three, which is larger than conventional non-buffer-aided C-NOMA schemes whose diversity order is only two in the considered C-NOMA system in the IoT

Reconceptualizing vaccine nationalism: A multi-perspective analysis on security, technology, and global competition

In this perspective paper, we argue that the broader economic, political, and geo-strategic considerations leading to a nationalist approach in the development, deployment, and use of COVID-19 vaccines remain largely unexplored in the existing literature. We propose to expand and reframe the current discourse on vaccine nationalism (VN). This involves examining nationalist practices and policies beyond merely securing vaccine access during the global COVID-19 vaccine shortage. We seek to identify the core characteristics of this nationalist approach to COVID-19 vaccines by drawing on existing nationalism literature. We then examine the root causes of vaccine nationalism from three distinctive yet interrelated perspectives, each aimed at uncovering its root causes: national security, technological catch-up, and rising geo-strategic competition in technology and ideology. Notably, our analysis of VN draws extensively on the vaccine-related policies and practices observed in China. By considering these perspectives and their interplay, we contend that a more holistic and nuanced understanding of vaccine nationalism can be achieved.</p

The full carbon balance of a rewetted cropland fen and a conservation-managed fen

On a global scale, the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) from peatland drainage and cultivation are believed to account for ∼5% of estimated anthropogenic GHG emissions. Drainage generally leads to peat subsidence and extensive soil loss, resulting in a diminishing store of soil carbon (C). This is a challenge for maintaining drainage-based agriculture, as such practices will eventually lead to the loss of organic soils that arable cultivation depends on. The conversion of croplands on peat to semi-natural grasslands, alongside raising water tables, is one possible way to reduce the loss of these valuable C stores. Here, we report the net ecosystem carbon balances (NECB) of two lowland peatlands in East Anglia, south-east UK. One site is a relic conservation-managed fen on deep peat, subject to active hydrological management to maintain water levels, and dominated by Cladium and Phragmites sedge and reed beds, whilst the other is a former cropland that has been converted to seasonally-inundated grazed grassland. Despite occasionally experiencing severe water table drawdown, the conservation-managed fen was a strong C sink of -104 g C m−2 yr−1. In contrast, the grassland was a C source of 133 g C m−2 yr−1, with gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions being the main loss pathway, due to low water tables exposing the soil profile in summer. At each site, ditch emissions of CO2 were moderately large (22 and 37 g C m−2 yr−1), whilst ditch methane (CH4) emissions (0.2 and 1.8 g C m−2 yr−1) made a negligible contribution to the NECB, but are important when considering the ecosystem GHG balance in terms of CO2 equivalents. Excluding dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), fluvial C losses were 6 g C m−2 yr−1 for the conservation-managed fen and 12 g C m−2 yr−1 for the former cropland, and were dominated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The small fluvial C loss is the result of both sites being hydrologically isolated from the surrounding agricultural landscapes. Although the partially re-wetted cropland was still acting as a net C source, our estimates suggest that seasonal rewetting has reduced net annual C losses to ∼20% of their former cropland values. Maintaining high water tables year round would potentially further reduce C losses, and shallow inundation might allow the return of wetland species such as Phragmites and Typha, perhaps as floating rafts

Role of genetic susceptibility variants in predicting clinical course in multiple sclerosis: A cohort study

Background The genetic drivers of multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical course are essentially unknown with limited data arising from severity and clinical phenotype analyses in genome-wide association studies. Methods Prospective cohort study of 127 first demyelinating events with genotype data, where 116 MS risk-Associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assessed as predictors of conversion to MS, relapse and annualised disability progression (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) up to 5-year review (I "EDSS). Survival analysis was used to test for predictors of MS and relapse, and linear regression for disability progression. The top 7 SNPs predicting MS/relapse and disability progression were evaluated as a cumulative genetic risk score (CGRS). Results We identified 2 non-human leucocyte antigen (HLA; rs12599600 and rs1021156) and 1 HLA (rs9266773) SNP predicting both MS and relapse risk. Additionally, 3 non-HLA SNPs predicted only conversion to MS; 1 HLA and 2 non-HLA SNPs predicted only relapse; and 7 non-HLA SNPs predicted I "EDSS. The CGRS significantly predicted MS and relapse in a significant, dose-dependent manner: Those having ≥5 risk genotypes had a 6-fold greater risk of converting to MS and relapse compared with those with ≤2. The CGRS for I "EDSS was also significant: Those carrying ≥6 risk genotypes progressed at 0.48 EDSS points per year faster compared with those with ≤2, and the CGRS model explained 32% of the variance in disability in this study cohort. Conclusions These data strongly suggest that MS genetic risk variants significantly influence MS clinical course and that this effect is polygenic

SH 2010: Welcome message from workshop organizers: FutureTech 2010

SH 2010: Welcome message from workshop organizers: FutureTech 201