509 research outputs found

    Assessing the Role and Regulatory Impact of Digital Assets in Decentralizing Finance

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    This project will explore the development of decentralized financial (DeFi) markets since the first introduction of digital assets created through the application of a form of distributed ledger technology (DLT), known as blockchain, in 2008. More specifically, a qualitative inquiry of the role of digital assets in relation to traditional financial markets infrastructure will be conducted in order to answer the following questions: (i) can the digital asset and decentralized financial markets examined in this thesis co-exist with traditional assets and financial markets, and, if so, (ii) are traditional or novel forms of regulation (whether financial or otherwise) needed or desirable for the digital asset and decentralized financial markets examined herein? The aim of this project will be to challenge a preliminary hypothesis that traditional and decentralized finance can be compatible; provided, that governments and other centralized authorities approach market innovations as an opportunity to improve existing monetary infrastructure and delivery of financial services (both in the public and private sector), rather than as an existential threat. Thus, this thesis seeks to establish that, through collaborating with private markets to identify the public good to which DeFi markets contribute, the public sector can foster an appropriate environment which is both promotive and protective of the public interest without unduly stifling innovation and progress

    University bulletin 2023-2024

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    This catalog for the University of South Carolina at Beaufort lists information about the college, the academic calendar, admission policies, degree programs, faculty and course descriptions

    Assessing compounding risks across multiple systems and sectors: a socio-environmental systems risk-triage approach

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    Physical and societal risks across the natural, managed, and built environments are becoming increasingly complex, multi-faceted, and compounding. Such risks stem from socio-economic and environmental stresses that co-evolve and force tipping points and instabilities. Robust decision-making necessitates extensive analyses and model assessments for insights toward solutions. However, these exercises are consumptive in terms of computational and investigative resources. In practical terms, such exercises cannot be performed extensively—but selectively in terms of priority and scale. Therefore, an efficient analysis platform is needed through which the variety of multi-systems/sector observational and simulated data can be readily incorporated, combined, diagnosed, visualized, and in doing so, identifies “hotspots” of salient compounding threats. In view of this, we have constructed a “triage-based” visualization and data-sharing platform—the System for the Triage of Risks from Environmental and Socio-Economic Stressors (STRESS)—that brings together data across socio-environmental systems, economics, demographics, health, biodiversity, and infrastructure. Through the STRESS website, users can display risk indices that result from weighted combinations of risk metrics they can select. Currently, these risk metrics include land-, water-, and energy systems, biodiversity, as well as demographics, environmental equity, and transportation networks. We highlight the utility of the STRESS platform through several demonstrative analyses over the United States from the national to county level. The STRESS is an open-science tool and available to the community-at-large. We will continue to develop it with an open, accessible, and interactive approach, including academics, researchers, industry, and the general public

    Church technological growth and sustainability: insight from system dynamics

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    Religious organisations that have realised the importance of ICTs are increasingly adopting and using various technologies to spread evangelism while seeking to grow membership. Currently, a few studies evaluating the use of ICTs in religious organisations through systems dynamics approach to focus primarily on sustainability and a growth perspective. Very little is said in such studies about the use of the adopted ICTs and their impact on these religious organisations. This study addresses the knowledge gap identified by assessing the impact of ICTs on the sustainability and growth of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches across South Africa. Data collection involved interviews with church leaders, a questionnaire survey of church members, a document analysis of the Book of Acts, and Facebook posts from the SDA churches. The qualitative data were analysed thematically using Atlas-ti 8. The questionnaire survey data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25, while data from Facebook were analysed using sentiment analysis. The findings showed a high level of ICT usage among church leaders and members. The study found that church leaders use ICTs to create online communities for their congregations, which were essential in addressing the communication and informational needs of church leaders. However, there were reports of misuse of ICT, such as the circulation of inappropriate content, and scams. Nonetheless, the gains to the church were more worth it than the concerns as the church leaders managed to come up with corrective measures. The study further found that lack of proper data integration from distributed departments and poor consolidation of reports from the church departments caused church leaders to make wrong decisions that affected the operations of the church. For improved decision making, the study proposed the development of a pastoral analytics-based dashboard that uses a single screen for data consolidation and reporting. The study contributes to scientific knowledge by addressing the existing gap in the impact of ICT on the sustainability and growth of modern churches by developing a pastoral dashboard for church leaders. This study recommends further data collection from other religious organisations.Information SciencePh. D. (Information Systems

    Towards a Peaceful Development of Cyberspace - Challenges and Technical Measures for the De-escalation of State-led Cyberconflicts and Arms Control of Cyberweapons

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    Cyberspace, already a few decades old, has become a matter of course for most of us, part of our everyday life. At the same time, this space and the global infrastructure behind it are essential for our civilizations, the economy and administration, and thus an essential expression and lifeline of a globalized world. However, these developments also create vulnerabilities and thus, cyberspace is increasingly developing into an intelligence and military operational area – for the defense and security of states but also as a component of offensive military planning, visible in the creation of military cyber-departments and the integration of cyberspace into states' security and defense strategies. In order to contain and regulate the conflict and escalation potential of technology used by military forces, over the last decades, a complex tool set of transparency, de-escalation and arms control measures has been developed and proof-tested. Unfortunately, many of these established measures do not work for cyberspace due to its specific technical characteristics. Even more, the concept of what constitutes a weapon – an essential requirement for regulation – starts to blur for this domain. Against this background, this thesis aims to answer how measures for the de-escalation of state-led conflicts in cyberspace and arms control of cyberweapons can be developed. In order to answer this question, the dissertation takes a specifically technical perspective on these problems and the underlying political challenges of state behavior and international humanitarian law in cyberspace to identify starting points for technical measures of transparency, arms control and verification. Based on this approach of adopting already existing technical measures from other fields of computer science, the thesis will provide proof of concepts approaches for some mentioned challenges like a classification system for cyberweapons that is based on technical measurable features, an approach for the mutual reduction of vulnerability stockpiles and an approach to plausibly assure the non-involvement in a cyberconflict as a measure for de-escalation. All these initial approaches and the questions of how and by which measures arms control and conflict reduction can work for cyberspace are still quite new and subject to not too many debates. Indeed, the approach of deliberately self-restricting the capabilities of technology in order to serve a bigger goal, like the reduction of its destructive usage, is yet not very common for the engineering thinking of computer science. Therefore, this dissertation also aims to provide some impulses regarding the responsibility and creative options of computer science with a view to the peaceful development and use of cyberspace

    An Empirical Study on the Influence of ICT-Based Tools on Team Effectiveness in Virtual Software Teams Operating Remotely During the COVID-19 Lockdown

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    Aim: The research aims to examine the impact of the usage of Information-and-Communication Technology tools on Software Team Effectiveness, especially the virtual teams, during work from home because of the Covid-19 outbreak. Variables: The research has considered the Salas et al. (2005) model with eight constructs (adaptability, mutual performance monitoring, mutual trust, team orientation, closed-loop communication, leadership skills, shared mental models, and backing-up behavior) for measuring team effectiveness. The usage of ICT tools has been measured using the instrument developed by Nagi and Habok (2018). In addition, the moderating effects of the variables ‘age’ and ‘gender’ have also been tested in this research. Methodology: This study employed quantitative research methods. Cluster sampling was used to collect data from 279 software professionals who worked at home during the pandemic. In order to analyze the primary data, SPSS software is used. In order to test hypotheses, the research uses ANOVA, regression, simple percentages, and principal component analysis. Findings: The findings showed that using ICT tools impacts all 8 constructs of the variable team effectiveness. Among the most used ICT tool, project management tools, and social media were mostly used by the employees. Similarly, mutual team trust, backup behavior, and shared mental models were found to be more impactful than other constructs

    Topics and institutions in the reproduction of intersectional inequalities in science

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    Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and bystander response: Awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and training in multi-ethnic communities

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    Prompt bystander response more than doubles the odds of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Previous training is a significant factor in bystander willingness to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or use a defibrillator. This thesis contributes to an understanding of barriers to training uptake and willingness to respond to OHCA in multi-ethnic communities of New South Wales (NSW) and discusses strategies to address the barriers. Registry data analysis found bystander CPR provision in NSW was lower for females, older adults, in residential locations and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. A community-based intervention (FirstCPR cluster randomised study) was developed to increase community-wide training and willingness to respond to OHCA. It was designed to be delivered digitally and in-person and emphasised the use of material that included localised features and references. Process evaluation of FirstCPR highlighted that access to laypersons via their community organisations while feasible, can be challenging and resource-intensive. Uptake varied and was greater in social organisations compared with sports clubs. Contextual factors such as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic limited participation. Factors such as time, interest, ability to congregate, capacity and commitment of organisation leaders to engage with the program and foster its facilitation played a significant role. Those who engaged highly valued in-person sessions and opportunities to practise skills on a manikin. CPR training was significantly lower among immigrants. Willingness to perform CPR was also lower but was mediated by previous training. Improved access to training that addresses barriers of language, cost and commonly-held fears is likely to have a positive impact. An intervention like FirstCPR is unlikely to be the “magic bullet” and concerted efforts in public campaigns are needed accompanied by messaging that addresses cultural sensitivities
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