Private security companies and the state monopoly on violence: A case of norm change?

The proliferation of private security companies has received increasing public and academic attention in recent years. From the involvement of private security firms in Sierra Leone and Angola to the capture and killing of Blackwater security contractors in Iraq, the emergence of an international private security industry raises new questions with regard to the legitimacy of the private use of armed force. One aspect often missed in the public debate has been the pervasiveness of private security contractors. While most reports focus on the controversial actions of private security firms in international interventions, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq, domestic private security sectors in Europe and North America have been expanding since the 1970s. The emergence of a global private security industry thus appears to be part of a broader trend that suggests the growing acceptance and use of commercial security firms at the national and international levels. The recent signing of the Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed Conflict has been a further expression of the increased legitimacy of private security contractors. In the document, seventeen states - Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Iraq, Poland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States - have resisted pressures to strengthen the international regulation of private security firms by reiterating the applicability of existing international humanitarian and human rights law and by recommending that firms adopt a voluntary code of good practice

E-commerce fulfilment in the Gulf Cooperation Council

Paper delivered at the 21st Logistics Research Network annual conference 2016, 7th-9th September 2016, Hull. Abstract: Purpose: This paper reports on an exploratory study of electronic commerce fulfilment (ECF) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets based on three objectives: effective and efficient operations, a local and global purchase approach using reverse logistics processes, and consideration of cultural factors particular to the GCC countries including differences between small and large cities. Research Approach: There has not been much logistics and supply chain research in the Middle East in general, and the GCC countries in particular. Thus, this study used a qualitative approach to obtain respondent perspectives regarding e-commerce logistics, whether pure player and multi-channel, grocery or non-food, local or global third-party logistics companies (3PLs), or consumers to reflect a suitable model that could fit and help firms in GCC countries develop an online market. One of the cultural factors related to Arabic managers and owners preferring to speak rather than complete surveys or write, hence 55 interviews were conducted with 27 e-commerce firms, 10 3PLs and 18 consumers (men and women equally). Findings and Originality: This study found a lack of communication between e-commerce firms and 3PLs. However, despite this issue 3PLs were focussed more on business-to-business (B2B) activities and relationships rather than business to consumer (B2C). Local 3PLs firms have achieved some success by providing services regionally, with global 3PLs having an advantage in importing and then using local drivers for fast deliveries. Cash on delivery (COD), trust, policy and warehouse management emerged as major issues affecting e-fulfilment with a small scale of satisfaction in small countries like Bahrain and Kuwait and small cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Research Impact: This research enhances the logistics literature through presenting an in-depth study covering aspects of e-commerce in the GCC. Further, the study indicates that 3PLs will have to provide different types of services in these markets e.g. depending on whether they are working under global strategies in UAE or under agents in KSA. Finally, findings related to cultural factors in both business and consumer settings are important for e-commerce firms and 3PLs to consider in this marketplace. Practical Impact: This study investigated electronic commerce fulfilment (ECF) in the GCC, including pure-player and multi-channel e-retailers or Internet firms and global and local 3PL service providers, and provides guidance for all of them regarding the right factors for successful ECF in the GCC, including understanding policy regulation regarding global firms, helping local firms to become aware of the importance of logistic systems and their effectiveness, and dealing with consumer behaviours based on cultural factors

Conceptual planning of urban–rural green space from a multidimensional perspective: A case study of Zhengzhou, China

The structure and function of green-space system is an eternal subject of landscape architecture, especially due to limited land and a need for the coordinated development of PLEs (production, living, and ecological spaces). To make planning more scientific, this paper explored green-space structure planning via multidimensional perspectives and methods using a case study of Zhengzhou. The paper applies theories (from landscape architecture and landscape ecology) and technologies (like remote sensing, GIS—geographic information system, graph theory, and aerography) from different disciplines to analyze current green-space structure and relevant physical factors to identify and exemplify different green-space planning strategies. Overall, our analysis reveals that multiple green-space structures should be considered together and that planners and designers should have multidisciplinary knowledge. For specific strategies, the analysis finds (i) that green complexes enhance various public spaces and guide comprehensive development of urban spaces; (ii) that green ecological corridors play a critical role in regional ecological stability through maintaining good connectivity and high node degree (Dg) and betweenness centrality index (BC) green spaces; (iii) that greenway networks can integrate all landscape resources to provide more secured spaces for animals and beautiful public spaces for humans; (iv) that blue-green ecological networks can help rainwater and urban flooding disaster management; and (v) that green ventilation corridors provide air cleaning and urban cooling benefits, which can help ensure healthy and comfortable urban–rural environments. In our view, this integrated framework for planning and design green-space structure helps make the process scientific and relevant for guiding future regional green-space structure

Outreach to Student Support Services at the University of Alabama: Engaging While Including

Outreach programs on university campuses are crucial to reducing anxiety in students from diverse backgrounds who may not have been introduced to an academic library environment, its resources, and its role in their academic success. Traditional liaison programs are geared towards students within their majors; as the campus evolves, so must the role of the liaison. At the University of Alabama Libraries we have partnered with the Student Support Services (SSS) TRiO program, a grant-funded program through the U. S. Department of Education that works to increase the retention and graduation rates of first generation college students, students with limited family income, and students with disabilities. Boasting a 91% average retention rate, the program works with a broad spectrum of students. By the numbers, the students in the program are 65% female, 74% are low income and first generation, and 62% are Black or African American. The presenters, working in conjunction with the Academic Counselors in SSS, have created a comprehensive outreach program through which they are able to engage with the students on multiple levels while remaining cognizant of the pressures and needs of the individual students in the program. In addition to open houses, instruction, and Libguides, the presenters have also secured spaces within the Student Support Services building during high traffic periods for visibility and ease of interaction. Meeting with students in familiar spaces provides them a comfortable way to interact and learn research skills, website navigation, and other services that the library provides. Once the student has established a relationship with the librarian, they are more likely to visit the library and utilize more library services, which contributes to the student’s overall academic success.https://ir.una.edu/libfacpresentation/1004/thumbnail.jp

Friends of the Hilton M. Briggs Library, Fall 2021

Features: Playing the Long Game: 1970s Football Media Digitally PreservedNotes From the Dean of the LibraryALA Grant Gets Students TalkingNational Conference Includes Session With SDSU LibrariansJackrabbit Gallery Proposed for Study SpaceBriggs Library Wish ListExplore Briggs Online! A Highlight From the Digital Library of South Dakotahttps://openprairie.sdstate.edu/library_news/1015/thumbnail.jp

Advances in Arts and Aesthetics: Paradigm of Michael Olusegun Fajuyigbe’s Pottery Sculpture

Through the ages, artists have explored art and aesthetics to interpret issues, beautify environment, and document history and social advancements. This paper examines the evolvement of forms, including the content, context and meanings, in the pottery sculpture created by Michael Olusegun Fajuyigbe. It also discusses the relationship between the formal characteristics of art objects and their significance as rooted in the Yoruba philosophy and aesthetics. Interviews and relevant literature are employed in data collection, while analysis of works follows the descriptive method in art historical studies. Seven works are purposively selected and analysed to gain a better insight into the aesthetics of his art forms. The study reveals that art often speaks the language of its creator, and that every artist reflects his age and cultural environment while the average observer finds it difficult to construe the intricacies entrenched within the art forms produced by the artist. However, the analysis of selected works conveys pottery sculpture as carriers of values and information; thereby drawing viewers’ attention to inherent aesthetic pleasure and meanings. The paper concludes that art is a window to the artist’s world; and is interpretative of the environment and experiences the artist has lived. It submits therefore that like Fajuyigbe, contemporary academic potters should strive towards achieving a balance between aesthetics and form for a sustained relevance of pottery in contemporary Nigerian art. Keywords: Art; Pottery Sculpture; Aesthetics; Yoruba Values; Symbolism

Physical layer security against eavesdropping in the internet of drones (IoD) based communication systems

rones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) communication technology, which has recently been thoroughly studied and adopted by 3GPP standard (Release 15) due to its dynamic, flexible, and flying nature, is expected to be an integral part of future wireless communications and Internet of drones (IoD) applications. However, due to the unique transmission characteristics and nature of UAV systems including broadcasting, dominant line of site and poor scattering, providing confidentiality for legitimate receivers against unintended ones (eavesdroppers) appears to be a challenging goal to achieve in such scenarios. Besides, the special features of UAVs represented by having limited power (battery-operated) and precessing (light RAM and CPU capabilities), makes applying complex cryptography approaches very challenging and inefficient for such systems. This motives the utilization of alternative approaches enabled by physical layer security (PLS) concept for securing UAV-based systems. Techniques based on PLS are deemed to be promising due to their ability to provide inherent secrecy that is complexity independent, where no matter what computational processing power the eavesdropper may have, there is no way to decrypt the PLS algorithms. This work is dedicated to highlight and overview the latest advances and state of art researches on the field of applying PLS to UAV systems in a unified and structured manner. Particularity, it discusses and explains the different, possible PLS scenarios and use cases of UAVs, which are categorized based on how the drone is utilized and employed in the communication system setup. The main classified categories include the deployment of the flying, mobile UAV as a 1) base station (BS), 2) user equipment (UE), 2) relay, or 4) jammer. Then, recommendations and future open research issues are stated and discussed.No sponso

Private security companies and the state monopoly on violence: a case of norm change?

Private Sicherheitsfirmen verzeichnen seit vielen Jahren enorme Zuwachsraten. Sie übernehmen unterschiedliche Schutz- und Sicherheitsaufgaben im Inland, werden aber auch vermehrt in internationalen Interventionen eingesetzt. Ist das staatliche Gewaltmonopol durch die Zunahme privater Sicherheitsanbieter gefährdet? In dem vorliegenden Beitrag stellt die Autorin einen Normenwandel in der Versorgung mit Sicherheit fest und fordert eine öffentliche Debatte darüber, ob der nicht-staatliche Gebrauch von Waffengewalt legitim und politisch erwünscht ist. Zunächst wird die Bedeutung des staatlichen Gewaltmonopols im Kontext nationaler und internationaler Sicherheit dargestellt. Im Anschluss daran wird die Theorie des Normwandels vorgestellt und Probleme, die sich bei dessen ergeben, diskutiert. Der nächste Abschnitt untersucht die empirische Bedeutung dieses Normwandels für das staatliche Gewaltenmonopol und das Aufkommen kommerzieller Anwendung von Gewalt durch private Sicherheitsfirmen. Abschließend werden die Konsequenzen anhand einiger ausgewählter Beispiele dargestellt. (ICD