1,722,806 research outputs found
Rise of the Nerd: Knowledge, Power and International Relations in a Digital World
Full text linkThis chapter addresses the rise of the ‘computer nerd’ – a powerful yet under-researched actor in International Relations (IR). Software programmers, algorithm writers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) designers, digital network engineers, computer system administrators and other ‘computer nerds’ have tremendous power in the global information society. These types of experts and epistemic communities design, build, develop, monitor, augment and analyse computer networks, algorithms and ‘Big Data’ upon which contemporary politics, civil society and economies depend. We contend that the computer nerd stereotype – variously anchored to some degree in empirics, reputation and celebration as stereotypes typically are – has significant power in shaping global information society, something which begs scrutiny of this type of actor in IR. The type of expert power maintained by computer nerds is primarily of a system-shaping rather than relational kind. This system-shaping power consists of three subsets of nerd power: ‘design power’ that shapes the digital platforms and applications used by individuals and organisations; ‘connecting power’ that shapes the networks which allow real-time communication and digitalisation of infrastructure; and ‘analytical power’ which controls and produces knowledge of the digital world, including the increasing use of ‘Big Data’
Digital reconstructions of picture galleries as art historical method: The virtual museum at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
No full textWe are now witnessing a wave of research using digital tools to create 3D reconstructions of buildings, exhibitions, and objects. We would therefore like to critically discuss the scholarly value of reconstructions. What are we learning? Which problems are solved? What new knowledge can be gained? These are questions posed from a background of history of display and a pilot study in which we are reconstructing two hangings in a gallery at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. We conclude that an immersive 3D reconstruction can give new insights into narratives and hierarchies of art displays. Our model, made with the game engine Unity and the software Virtual Museum, allows us to show and analyze historical changes and developments as well as aspects as eye-lines, visibility and visitors flow to a comparably low cost. This way an immersive 3D-reconstruction can be used not only for pedagogical visualizations, but become an effective research tool
Content Analysis in the Digital Age: Tools, Functions and Implications for Security
No full textContent analysis is an established and effective method for research in the social science and, despite what many think, it has been around for quite some time. It has also tremendously benefited from ICT and the growth of computing power, as computers have proved to excel in the dull routine of scanning texts for keywords. But content analysis has become ubiquitous with the advent of the Internet, particularly emails and Web sites. Keyword search, a pivotal element of content analysis, is the most widespread feature of many Internet applications, from search engines to password-cracking programs. Consequently, it has become a central concern for cybersecurity. This chapter investigates some of the most important applications of content analysis on the Net and discusses its increasing essential position in many areas of cybersecurit
Nonconscious information can be identified as task-relevant but not prioritized in working memory
No full textTwo critical features of working memory are the identification and appropriate use of task-relevant information while avoiding distraction. Here, in 3 experiments, we explored if these features can be achieved also for nonconscious stimuli. Participants performed a delayed match-to-sample task in which task relevance of 2 competing stimuli was indicated by a cue, and continuous flash suppression was used to manipulate the conscious/nonconscious visual experience. Experiment 1 revealed better-than-chance performance with nonconscious stimuli, demonstrating goal-directed use of nonconscious task-relevant information. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the cue that defined task relevance must be conscious to allow such goal-directed use. In Experiment 3, multi-voxel pattern analyses of brain activity revealed that only the target was prioritized and maintained during conscious trials. Conversely, during nonconscious trials, both target and distractor were maintained. However, decoding of task relevance during the probe/test phase demonstrated identification of both target and distractor information. These results show that identification of task-relevant information can operate also on nonconscious material. However, they do not support the prioritization of nonconscious task-relevant information, thus suggesting a mismatch in the attentional mechanisms involved during conscious and nonconscious working memory
The Invisible Hand? : Critical Information Infrastructures, Commercialisation and National Security
Full text linkCorporatisation of critical information infrastructure (CII) is rooted in the ‘privatisation wave’ of the 1980s-90s, when the ground was laid for outsourcing public utilities. Despite well-known risks relating to reliability, resilience, and accountability, commitment to efficiency imperatives have driven governments to outsource key public services and infrastructures. A recent illustrative case with enormous implications is the 2017 Swedish ICT scandal, where outsourcing of CII caused major security breaches. With the transfer of the Swedish Transport Agency’s ICT system to IBM and subcontractors, classified data and protected identities were made accessible to non-vetted foreign private employees – sensitive data could thus now be in anyone’s hands. This case clearly demonstrates accountability gaps that can arise in public-private governance of CII
Growth and living conditions in childhood and hypertension in adult life: a longitudinal study
No full textObjectives : To examine the interplay between childhood growth and living conditions in the development of hypertension.Design : A longitudinal study of people whose growth between birth and 12 years, and social circumstances during childhood and adult life, were recorded.Setting : Helsinki, Finland.Participants : Eight thousand seven hundred and sixty men and women born in Helsinki University Central Hospital during 1934-44, who attended child welfare clinics in the city and were still resident in Finland in 1971.Main outcome measures : Incidence of hypertension defined by prescription of medication.Results : The 1404 children who later developed hypertension grew differently to other children. Low birthweight and shortness or thinness at birth were followed by rapid compensatory growth in weight and height, and an above-average body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) from the age of 8 years onwards. Some 25% of children with low birthweight but high BMI at 12 years subsequently developed hypertension, compared to 9% of those with high birthweight but low BMI. Growth had large effects on the risk of later hypertension in children living in poor social conditions, but only small effects in children in good living conditions. Living conditions in adult life did not affect the risk of hypertension.Conclusions : Hypertension originates in slow fetal growth followed by rapid compensatory growth in childhood. This path of growth has a greater effect on the risk of disease among children who live in poor social conditions. Living conditions in adult life do not seem to be important.<br/
Growth and chronic disease: findings in the Helsinki Birth Cohort
No full textThere is now clear evidence that the pace and pathway of early growth is a major risk factor for the development of a group of chronic diseases that include coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. This has led to a new ‘developmental’ model for these disorders. The so-called
‘fetal origins hypothesis’ proposes that the disorders originate through developmental plasticity, whereby malnutrition during fetal life, infancy and early childhood permanently change the structure and function of the body, a phenomenon known as ‘programming’. This paper reviews recent findings in the Helsinki Birth Cohort, which comprises 13 345 men and women born in the city during 1934 - 944. There is also an older cohort comprising 7086 people born during 1924-1933. We review the
paths of pre- and postnatal growth that lead to later disease. Children who later develop coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes grow slowly during fetal life and infancy but thereafter increase their body mass indices rapidly. Those who later develop stroke grow slowly in fetal life, infancy and during
childhood. We also review how the growth of girls during infancy, childhood and at puberty influences chronic disease in the next generation
The intrauterine origins of Hodgkin's lymphoma
No full textBackground: Both small and large body size at birth are now known to predict a range of chronic disorders in adult life, including certain cancers. These associations are thought to reflect "fetal programming." This may lead to impairment of a small number of key systems including the immune system. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a disease of the immune system. We have therefore examined the association between Hodgkin's lymphoma and early development. Our hypothesis was that the disease would be associated with markers of poor fetal growth, specifically small body size or small placental size at birth. Methods: Using the Finnish Cancer Registry we identified patients with Hodgkin's disease in a cohort of 20,431 people born in Helsinki during 1924-44. Each person has a detailed birth record. Results: There were 12 patients with Hodgkin's disease, giving an incidence comparable to international rates. The disease was associated with prolonged gestation. For every additional week of gestation the hazard ratio was 1.37 (95% CI 1.00-1.87; p=0.05). The disease was also associated with a short placental surface. After allowing for gestation, for each centimetre increase in surface length, the hazard ratio was 0.70 (0.53-0.92; p=0.01). The disease was not associated with birth weight or length or maternal body size. Conclusions: We have shown that Hodgkin's lymphoma is associated with prolonged gestation and a short length of the placental surface. We speculate that Hodgkin's lymphoma is initiated by two events in fetal life. One, which is an immune event, is associated with prolonged gestation, while the other is associated with growth faltering
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