The increasing risk of mortality in breast cancer: A socioeconomic analysis between countries

Abstract. The risk of mortality in breast cancer among women is a critical health issue worldwide. Scholars argue that breast cancer mortality rates have decreased in many advanced countries overall. However, about 50% of world population in 2017 was in poor and developing countries (more than 3,652 million with 50.24% female) and breast cancer mortality rates differ among nations also because of socioeconomic factors. This study investigates, at global level, breast cancer mortality in association with breast cancer incidence and some factors of socioeconomic ecosystem between poor and rich countries, to explain trends that can be used to gain insights into country-level “best practices” for health improvement. Global data regarding breast cancer incidence and mortality as the age standardized rate per 100,000 population in 78low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), 50 upper-to-middle-income countries (UMICs) and 63 high income countries (HCIs) were obtained from IARC/WHO for 2012 and 2018. Data regarding GDP per capita, population and mammography (MMG) were obtained from World Bank, United Nations and WHO. Data, transformed in log scale to have normal distribution, were analyzed with descriptive statistics, partial correlation, regression analyses and paired-Samples T Test procedure to assess the statistical significance of increase or decrease of mortality and incidence in breast cancer from 2012 to 2018.Results reveal that a 1% higher level of breast cancer incidence, increases the expected mortality by 0.79% (p-value < .001) in LMICs, by 0.50% (p-value <.001) in UMICs and by 0.31% (p-value < .008) in HICs. These results, confirmed by other analyses here, seem to suggest that breast cancer mortality is increasing over time worldwide in rich and in particular developing countries. The global analysis here reveals that though an improvement of wealth and wellbeing worldwide, the risk of incidence and mortality in breast cancer is increasing. This result suggests that situational factors in the ecosystem of countries support the growing increase and mortality of breast cancer that improvement in healthcare and medicine of the last 40 years are not been sufficient to slowdown. These conclusions need for much more detailed research to investigate into the interaction between factors of socioeconomic systems, health improvement, and breast cancer causes.Keywords. Breast cancer, Wealth of nations, Epidemiology.JEL. I14, I15, I18, I39, O10, O3, O55, Q50

Theories of the evolution of technology based on processes of competitive substitution and multi-mode interaction between technologies

Abstract. Evolution of technology is a stepwise advancement of a complex system of artifact, driven by interaction with sub-systems and other systems, considering technical choices, technical requirements and science advances, which generate new and/or improved products or processes for use or consumption to satisfy increasing needs and/or to solve complex problems of people in society. This study explains evolution of technology with two different approaches: theories based on processes of competitive substitution of a new technology for the old one and theories considering a multi-mode interaction between technologies, such as the theory of technological parasitism. These theories described here can encourage further theoretical and empirical exploration in the terra incognita of the evolution of technology to explain economic and social change in human society.Keywords. Evolution of technology, Technological evolution, Technological change, Technological progress, Technological advances, Technological parasitism.JEL. F34, F43, F63, C01

An introduction to the methods of inquiry in social sciences

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is an introduction to methods for conducting inquiries in social sciences. A method of inquiry is an organized and systematic scientific approaches used by scholars for controlled investigations and experiments to efficiently solve theoretical and practical problems, generating discoveries and/or science advances. The paper here presents, briefly, the development of models of inquiry in the philosophy of science. After that, it introduces general methods of inquiry (deduction, induction, abduction and hypothetical-deductive approaches) and specific models of scientific inquiry in social sciences, such as multiple working hypotheses. In general, modern scientific research is multifaceted and requires different approaches for generating new concepts, new hypothesis and theories. Different methods of inquiry directed to solve problems in science can be complementary approaches that foster knowledge creation within and between research fields.Keywords. Methods of inquiry, Philosophy of science, Models of inquiry, Scientific research, Conduct of inquiry.JEL. A20, A29, B40, B49

Multiple working hypotheses for technology analysis

Abstract. Technology analysis focuses on technology that is a complex system formed by different elements given by incremental and radical innovations to satisfy needs, achieve goals and/or solve problems of users to take advantage of important opportunities or to cope with consequential environmental threats. This study suggests a methods of inquiry, called multiple working hypotheses (MWHs), for technology analysis that consider the development, prior to research, of different hypotheses concerning the origin and evolution of technology, which are likely due to several causes, not just one. The MWHs presented here are categorized in traditional hypotheses, such as demand for technology hypothesis, Induced-innovation hypothesis, learning by doing hypothesis, learning via diffusion hypothesis, specialization via scale hypothesis, disadvantage of beginning hypothesis, path-dependence hypothesis, competitive substitution hypothesis, predator-prey hypothesis, and modern hypotheses such as killer technology hypothesis, parasite technologies hypothesis. Scholars of technology studies should consider all suggested hypotheses for technology analysis, also considering the possibility that none of them are correct and that some new explanations may emerge in more and more complex and turbulent environment.Keywords. Technology, Technological innovation, Technology analysis, Induced innovation, Learning by doing, Technological evolution, Nature of technology, Path dependence, Technological change, Technological progress, Technological parasitism, Technological advances, Killer technology, Evolution of technology, Multiple working hypotheses.JEL. O30, O31, O33

Critical decision in crisis management: Rational strategies of decision making

Abstract. Turbulent environment can create crises that management has to soles in a limited time with critical decisions. Critical decisions are an attempt to apply efficient modes of cognition and action to enable the organization to cope with consequential environmental threats or take advantage of important opportunities in the presence of highly restricted time in turbulent markets and/or specific situations. Critical decisions involve a process of the organization’s leadership to think, consult, act, gain acceptance for optimal solutions to complex problems in the presence of highly restricted time in crisis given by scarce resources, uncertain factors, aversive environment, environmental difficulties, ambiguous circumstances, unclear and volatile situations, or a combination of these factors. This study presents the endogenous and exogenous types of crises for organizations and vital factors for critical decisions that can be categorized in responsitive, proactive and recovery critical decisions. After that, the study shows strategic operations and steps of critical decisions in a perspective of reductionism, and a rational structure based on tree diagram to systematize the process of decision making. The study here also suggests strategies for critical decisions in different environments based on theory of rational choice, such as max-min, max-max and min-max approaches, described with a vital example.  Final part of this study shows how a complex problem can be treated in different ways in a wider perspective of ecological rationality by approaches of resolution, solution and dissolution. The implications of strategic management are that the approach of dissolution of a complex problem requires design of a critical decision that may incorporate research and trial and error activities. Overall, then, this paper suggests one of the most effective way of solving systemic and complex problems by private and public organizations operating in, more and more, turbulent markets and volatile environments.Keywords. Strategic management, Decision making, Critical decision, Crisis management, Competitive advantage, Strategies, Strategic change, Business Strategy, Operational excellence, Problem solving, Bounded rationality, Decision rule, Decision theory, Natural disasters, Risk management, Bounded rationality, Environmental threats, Ecological rationality, Theory of rational choice.JEL. C44, D70, D81, D91, H12, M51, Q54

Competition between basic and applied research in the organizational behaviour of public research labs

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the competition between basic and applied research within public research organizations. International publications are considered here a proxy of basic research, whereas self-financing deriving from technology transfer activities is an indicator of applied research. Results suggest, within one of the largest European research organizations an increasing competition between basic and applied research, both in human and natural sciences, due to shrinking of public research lab budgets. In particular, institutes and scientists pay more attention to applied research activities, which are capable of attracting market funds for economic survival of public research labs but this organizational behaviour reduces basic research activity in the long run. Managerial and organizational behaviour of public research organizations are also discussed.Keywords. Applied research, Basic research, Public research organization, Public lab, Science policy, Organizational behaviour, Public management.JEL. B50, B59, I23, L20, L29, O33

Critical decisions for crisis management: An introduction

In the presence of crisis, such as global COVID-19 pandemic crisis, governments have more and more take critical decisions to cope with consequential environmental threats in the presence of highly restricted time. This chapter provides a simple description of techniques of decision making in different environments/conditionsof crisis management and how that process is influenced by manifold social, economic and/or technical factors; ultimately it is presented how the approach of improvisation can support the process of decision-makingto cope with unforeseen and new events, rapid changes, turbulent environment and/or specific situations of emergency.Keywords. Critical decision, Decision making, Decision support, Uncertainty, COVID-19, Crisis management, Problem solving, Bounded rationality, Improvisation.JEL. F21, F68, O53, K23

How does atmospheric circulation affect the diffusion of Covid-19 in polluted cities?

Abstract. This paper endeavors to explain how wind speed can affect the diffusion of COVID-19. The statistical analysis, based on data from Italy, suggests that high wind speed can reduce air pollution commingled with viral agents and as a consequence reduce infected individuals of COVID-19; moreover, results reveal that polluted cities with low wind speed have a greater number of infected individuals and total deaths also because of bad air quality. This study suggests the important role of atmospheric pollution and atmospheric circulation in the transmission dynamics of the novel Coronavirus to support appropriate environmental policy to reduce concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, improving air quality and human health.Keywords. COVID-19, Air pollution, Environmental pollution, Wind speed, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Public health, Air quality, Environmental science.JEL. D81, D91, E71, G01, G41, H11, I18, Z18