Cybersecurity Administration of China Issues Relaxed Rules for Cross-Border Data Transfers – The National Law Review
Cybersecurity Administration of China Issues Relaxed Rules for Cross-Border Data Transfers The National Law Review
Month: April 2024
A Theory of Knowledge Revision: the Development of the KReC Framework
Abstract
In this paper, I discuss the inspiration, development, and further refinement of the Knowledge Revision Components framework (KReC; Kendeou & O’Brien, 2014). In KReC, we theorize about the conditions that facilitate knowledge revision during reading, and thus successful learning in the presence of prior, often incorrect knowledge. I discuss how the inspiration and need for the framework arose, and how a systematic set of experimental studies and a shift in paradigm led to its initial development and further refinement. I also outline several virtues and contributions of this framework to the extant literature. I conclude with future directions for further development and applications of the framework in the current information ecosystem.
The relationship between benevolence and attitudes towards preventive behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
Abstract
Aim
The COVID–19 pandemic initially required sustainable behavioural changes to mitigate the spread of the infection. Thus, people were requested to comply with the recommendations given by the authorities. However, adherence to the recommendations varied considerably. Therefore, it is important to understand the driving forces behind such behavioural change. This study aims to investigate how people’s willingness to comply with preventive behaviour, including vaccination, during a pandemic is related to the prosocial emotion of benevolence, the inclination to do well.
Subject and methods
An online cross-sectional study was performed (N = 1014).
Result
The result showed a significant correlation for the whole study population between how well they followed the recommendations (M = 4.16, S = 0.92) and the levels of benevolence (M = 3.58, S = 0.74) r = 0.22, p = < 0.001.
Conclusion
Further, there was a significant correlation between altruistic motives and compliance with recommendations, including the view on taking the vaccine. Our findings add to the concept that prosocial orientation during the COVID-19 pandemic increases compliance with preventive behaviour.
Effect of climate change on the flooding of storm water networks under extreme rainfall events using SWMM simulations: a case study
Abstract
Urban areas are becoming more susceptible to severe storms, flash floods, and drainage system failures due to climate change, population growth, and urbanization. Flood modeling is a useful method for managing storm water drainage networks, predicting behavior, and evaluating effective solutions to structural and operational problems. This research describes the application of the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the rainwater network, identify flood-prone locations, and determine the extent of floods in the center of Kerbala Governorate, Iraq. Saif Saad neighborhood was chosen as a case study. The model's validity was confirmed using the occurrence of actual rainfall by the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.8952), normalized mean square error (NMSE = 0.0964), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE = 0.7152), and the model's performance was reasonably good. Simulation results indicated that the system works well under near-term rainfall events, except for some sites that require maintenance and the diversion of surplus water to nearby green spaces. Over time, in periods of medium and far future until the year 2100, the system showed an increase in manhole floods, exceeding 0.1 m3/s. The percentage of flooding in manholes was more than 13% in the worst case, and continued floods for longer periods could potentially negatively affect the current drainage infrastructure. The study provides technical support for decision-makers to address these issues. By providing a comprehensive view of flood-prone areas and sites, as well as the flood percentage for each under different climate change scenarios, with the help of the Geographic Information System (GIS) software to represent future rain events. It suggests increasing the depth of manholes most vulnerable (especially R18, R98, and R101A manholes) to flooding and correcting slopes to achieve sustainability and a good service rate for the storm drainage system.
Emergent neo-customary land tenure and non-indigene smallholders’ access to farmlands in peri-urban Ghana
Abstract
Land dispossession within the emerging neo-customary land tenure system is not a novel phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the landholding systems across SSA are as diverse as the societies themselves. In Ghana, research on peri-urban land dispossession primarily focuses on centralized areas and indigene landholders, neglecting acephalous and non-indigene smallholders. This gap in knowledge hinders our understanding of how neo-customary land tenure affects land access for non-indigenous smallholder farmers. This paper examines how non-indigene smallholders navigate neo-customary land tenure in peri-urban Wa, Ghana. The study employed a qualitative research design, conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 56 participants. The findings reveal that large-scale appropriation, covert land sales, and speculation are the primary drivers of land dispossession. The previously unconditional access to land for non-indigene smallholders, based on perpetual usufructuary interest, has also become temporary and conditional on their acceptance of roles as caretaker farmers or sharecroppers. The resulting dispossession and its consequences, such as inadequate subsistence food production, have led to socially undesirable outcomes. The study recommends that the Municipal Assembly and civil society organizations utilize Ghana's Land Act (Act 1036) to advocate for and safeguard the usufructuary interest of non-indigene individuals in land tenure.
Depositional facies and palynofacies provenance reconstruction of the Danian Nsukka Formation, Southeastern Nigeria
Abstract
A combined detailed palynofacies and lithofacies analysis was carried out on the Nsukka Formation outcropping Danian (Palaeocene) lithostratigraphic units in the Ikpankwu domain (SE Nigeria) for the first time. Lithological characteristics of grain size textural attributes, sedimentary structure and microflora palynofacies elements were instrumental in deciphering eight lithofacies: carbonaceous shale facies (Shfc), claystone facies (Csf), mudstone facies (Mfm), cross-bedded sandstone facies (Spt), siltstone facies (Fmt), heterolith facies (Fls), structureless sandstone facies (Smc), plane parallel laminated sandstones facies (Pls) and seven sub-facies deposited within low- to high-energy environment. These lithofacies and palynofacies-induced sedimentary attributes were grouped into three facies association (FA1, FA2 and FA3) and palynofacies types to delineate the principle palaeoenvironments, palynofacies provenance and depositional mechanisms triggered by hydrodynamic antics of the Nsukka Formation. The palynomaceral elements display superiority of large to medium-sized well-preserved brown to dark brown Palynomaceral 2 phytoclasts and terrestrial sporomorphs, Palynomaceral 4 and limited number of Palynomaceral 1 and Palynomaceral 3. The lithofacies and palynomaceral hydrodynamic array indicate that the mudrock facies of shale, mudstone and siltstone are deposits of lower deltaic plains or Lagoon with high terrestrial microflora input, while the sandstone facies depicts sediment of the upper deltaic plain (upper shoreface) or coastal tidal settings with overall effective oscillation tendency from tidal flat, lagoon to nearshore with open marine-influenced setting. The lithofacies and palynomaceral provenance prototype suggest terrestrially dominated shallow marine and tidally influenced outer neritic environment signalled from the quality and quantity of land-derived palynofacies components in association with few AOM and Kenleyia spp. and Spiniferites ramosus dinocysts, foraminifera test lining along with Laevigatosporites sp., Longerpertites group and other pollen and spore microflora. Lithofacies and palynomaceral organic matter in fluvial and inner neritic deep marine-influenced paralic strata of the study exhibit a perfect model for appreciating the lithological changes associated with a larger diversity of palynomaceral elements in marine and non-marine settings along with those of fluctuating salinity in the water realm.
Making Big Business Everybody’s Business: Aboriginal leaders’ perspectives on commercial activities influencing aboriginal health in Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Background
The commercial determinants of health is a rapidly expanding field of research; however Indigenous perspectives remain notably underrepresented. For Indigenous peoples the intersection of globalisation, colonialism and capitalism may amplify commercially-driven health inequities. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of Aboriginal leaders regarding the influence of commercial activities on Aboriginal health and wellbeing in Victoria, Australia.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews with 23 Aboriginal leaders from across five sectors (n = 15 urban, n = 8 rural/regional) were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Three overarching themes were identified encompassing (i) harmful commercial practices and processes, (ii) improving corporate engagement and (iii) opportunities for self-determination through business. Participants expressed concern over aggressive marketing by the gambling industry, commercial exploitation of Aboriginal culture, the privatisation of public services, and lack of oversignt of corporate social responsibility strategies. Simultaneously, Aboriginal-led businesses were viewed as opportunities for cultural connection, and financial empowerment and self-determination.
Conclusion
Numerous commercial entities and activities are perceived to influence Aboriginal health and wellbeing. This study highlights the need for stronger policy and regulation to mitigate harmful industry practices while incentivising the potential positive impacts of the commercial activities on Aboriginal health and wellbeing.