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Gaming as a medium for the expression of citizens' views on environmental dilemmas
No full textThe decline of traditional media and channels of communication has led to policymakers experiencing difficulty in understanding public sentiment. A case study was conducted to explore how games-based activities can be used to provide a link between citizens and policy makers. A system developed by PlanetPlay, and extended in the GREAT project, was used to embed a survey in the game SMITE. The intervention and survey questions were designed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Hi-Rez game studio. The effectiveness of the infrastructure and the collaborative approach were demonstrated. The results revealed some significant differences in views on climate change between different age groups, genders, and education level. However, the data was heavily skewed towards males in the 18-35 age group, and to respondents in the United States, which limited the generalizability of the findings. It was concluded that in-game placement in collaboration with games studios is more effective than paid placement, and that a wider variety of games is needed to ensure that a study has an adequate range of respondent profiles. Finally, reflections are offered on the possible role of AI in gathering such data
Detecting and Mitigating Anti-Forensic Techniques: A Comprehensive Framework for Digital Investigators
No full textThe main goal of anti-forensics tools and techniques are to " frustrate " not only the investigators but also the forensic tools used such as Sleuth Kit. Anti-forensics is quite exactly the opposite of Cyber Forensics. These tools affect an investigation negatively making it harder to reach a conclusion. Anti-forensic methods include operations such as deliberate deletion of data by means of overwriting it with new data by using anti-forensic tools, safely wiping out data that cannot be restored ever, altering the file properties to avoid being identified in timeline analysis and many other such methods. [1] While tools such as Autopsy, X-Ways, FTK, EnCase present the ability to detect some anti-forensic techniques if not all, these are not particularly dedicated for anti-forensic technique detection. To summarize, general forensic tools as mentioned above, perform several functions on the data source, of which anti-forensic is just one aspect. Though there exist tools like Timestomp Detector that are made for detecting altered file timestamps. Again, it is specific to only one feature and not many of the anti-forensic techniques. This dissertation aims to develop a dedicated framework that can help detect a few anti-forensic techniques based on user input. This will be integrated within a website format in order to make it easy for the users. This type of prototype could be very useful for investigators working on cases. Instead of going through the entire disk image, that could potentially take hours, investigators could separate any suspicious files and use this detection framework to identify if any of the files have been altered or managed using the anti-forensic techniques
Postural balance strategies during landing at the moment of return-to-sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
No full textMost athletes that return to sport (RTS) after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury undergo reconstruction (ACLR) to restore their knee stability. The major concern for RTS is for the patient to be able to perform chal-lenging dynamic tasks whilst adequately stabilizing the knee joint and maintaining their postural balance. Nevertheless, the interaction between knee protective mechanisms (such as knee unloading and knee stabilisa-tion) and postural balance strategies has not yet been comprehensively analyzed. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate landing balance strategies in ACLR athletes at time of RTS. Twenty-one athletes with a unilateral ACLR were tested at the time of RTS while performing a single leg hop for distance on both limbs. Three balance mechanisms that influence the GRF during the landing phase (foot placement, center of pressure (CoP) excursion, counter-rotation of segments) were investigated and compared between the ACL injured and uninjured limb. Interactions between knee protective mechanisms and postural balance strategies were tested using a statistical parametric mapping regression analysis. Results show that CoP excursions in the injured limb increased, as well as ankle joint moment contribution to anterior-posterior (A-P) GRF. Besides, patients presenting reduced knee joint contribution to A-P GRF had to compensate with higher hip joint contribution in order to maintain postural balance. In conclusion, ACLR athletes who at RTS still protect their reconstructed knee are forced to employ compensatory postural balance strategies. Therefore, there is a persistent trade-off between knee protection and postural balance at the moment of RTS
Introduction to leadership during a crisis
No full textWe live in uncertain times propelled by complex systems, climate change and the use of technology which possess various threats. Leaders are put to test, and people continue to look up to their leaders for solutions. Under this deep uncertainty conditions, timely, legitimate and effective response is expected from leaders.Leadership during crisis is a distinct area from daily leadership activities. At times of crisis, leadership that permits quick reactions to the changing business environment becomes necessary. Leaders provide a series of actions to effect immediate change in peoples’ attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and in accomplishing a set outcome. They are expected to rapidly recognise the impending danger and put in place the required procedures and infrastructure to manage the crisis. However, there have been limited studies that provide a road map of leading during a crisis. What is required of leaders during a crisis? How can you develop the required leadership expertise during such turbulent periods? What are the challenges leaders will have to combat? Through this book, these questions will be answered
Exploring the mediating role of metacognitions in the link between somatosensory amplification and health anxiety among college students
No full textPurposeHealth anxiety is a multidimensional trait characterized by a predominant fear of having a serious illness. This study aims to examine the impact of somatosensory amplification on health anxiety and explores the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs.Design/methodology/approachParticipants (n = 307) were recruited online from university students to complete the measures of health anxiety (C-HAQ), metacognitive beliefs (MCQ-HA) and somatosensory amplification (SSAS).FindingsThe results suggest that somatosensory amplification is a significant predictor of health anxiety. Each of the three dimensions of metacognition partially mediated the effect of somatosensory amplification on health anxiety. In the parallel mediation model, two metacognitive beliefs partially mediated the relationship between somatosensory amplification and health anxiety, while the mediation effect of biased thinking beliefs did not reach significance. In summary, individuals with a higher tendency toward somatosensory amplification exhibit more health anxiety-related metacognitions and subsequently experience higher levels of health anxiety, supporting the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model.Originality/valueThis study validates the importance of metacognition in the maintenance and development of health anxiety, demonstrating the utility of metacognitive therapy for individuals experiencing health anxiety
Investigating Advanced Persistent Threat Tactics in Cloud Environments: A Forensic Study of AWS CloudTrail Log Data
No full textThe focus of this study is to identify and reduce Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in the cloud environment of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Popular security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, Cyber-Kill Chain and Pyramid of Pain were employed to improve effectiveness of forensic investigation in cloud environments. Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) using Cloud Trail log data were analyzed in order to discover the efficiency of these frameworks in attack patterns identification. Findings from the study reveals that logs are crucial for identifying attack trends such as lateral movement, exfiltration of data, escalation of privileges in order to help improve understanding and analysis of APT activities in AWS environment, and the integration of frameworks such as MITRE ATT & CK, Cyber-Kill Pains and Pyramid of Pain provides strategies that are proactive to quelling advanced cyber adversarie
Risk Assessment And Management Of Sustainable Construction Projects Using Artificial Neural Networks
No full textIn recent years, significant attention has been paid to the use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques in the construction sector due to their ability to handle big data, predict risks, results accuracy, make reliable assessments, and solve complex nonlinear problems. This paper introduces a comprehensive sustainable methodology for risk assessment that is supported by artificial intelligence (AI). The methodology consists of four phases; phases one and two determine the risk factors impacting sustainable construction (SC) by collecting data from projects in Iraq (phase one) and conducting semi-structured interviews (phase two). Phase three applies a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis method to identify the risk factor values and apply an ANN model. Phase 4 uses the Absolute Percentage Deviation method to verify the proposed model. The study findings indicate that the ANN-based model provides more accurate and reliable risk assessments for SC projects than traditional methods. The model effectively integrates and analyses multiple variables and factors across the project life cycle, providing a comprehensive and dynamic view of risks and their potential impact
Misclassifying and differentiating metacognitive therapy: conceptual and methodological issues in Stenzel et al
No full text“Shut that door!” Individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for sexual minorities.
No full textThis collection of papers presents an all-encompassing purpose to reduce bothindividual and systemic barriers to mental health care for sexual minorities. The aimof this thesis is to appraise and critically evaluate my contribution to this body of workvia a critical and queer theorist lens and offer practical insights. Central to my researchis the cultural psychiatric lens used to understand the intersections of sexual minorities.Here, I introduce my original contribution and update the knowledge by conducting acritical literature review covering a health-equity framework. My critical commentarycovers theoretical and applied case study research and commentaries. Mycontributions to knowledge include an understanding of the juxtaposition of sexualminority men living across cultures and the negative impact on women’s health whenforced to marry a sexual minority man. Breaking down the misguided notion of one sizefits in psychological therapies, encouraging sexuality identity self-disclosure forimproving the therapeutic alliance, and that straight men who occasionally sleep withother men (MSM) is a category and should not be conflated with other sexual minoritydata like gay and bisexual/pansexual men. I am not the first to engage deeply in thisknowledge, but I stand equally with others as one emerging in the field. I bring a utilityand further expand and collaborate with others to reduce the barriers on theinternational circuit. Citations of my work are not just within the UK but in other partsof the world, notwithstanding other forms of knowledge exchange I am committed to,which satisfy the criteria for the award of a doctorate
Reducing Landfill Solid Waste To Mitigate The Greenhouse Gases Emissions Towards Environmental Sustainability: A Case Study From Ajman-UAE
No full textLandfills have significant environmental and social impacts due to their associated greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. This paper examines solid waste management using Ajman-United Arab Emirates as a case study. It emphasises the necessity of having waste assessment integrated with air quality assessment to monitor and regulate waste disposal procedures The paper examines waste accumulation, previous treatments & services provided at the Ajman landfill. Forecasts of waste accumulated at the landfill indicate a serious issue that needs immediate action from Ajman Municipality despite the low percentage of treatments currently performed. It was found that GHGs increased between 2017 and 2023, with a decrease in 2020 due to COVID-19. Additionally, the paper proposes an integrated waste management model that can reduce landfill-associated GHG emissions and their negative impact on the environment. Moreover, the research predicted that by 2035, Ajman will be able to handle 250,000 tons of waste per year. Moreover, it was indicated that Ajman's environmental trajectory can be improved significantly by capping the landfill