Showing papers by "University of Westminster published in 2023"
TL;DR: In this article , an ontology for the activities of a process by analysing a text-based event log is proposed, and an interactive tool is implemented to generate process models based on this ontology and the text based event log.
Abstract: Process Mining typically requires event logs where each event is labelled with a process activity. That’s not always the case, as many process-aware information systems store process-related information in the form of text notes. An example are patient information systems (PIS), which store much information in the form of free-text patient notes. Labelling text-based events with their activity is not trivial, because of the amount of data involved, but also because the activity represented by a text note can be ambiguous. Depending on the requirements of a process analyst, we might need to label events with more or fewer unique activities: two similar events could represent the same activity (e.g. screen referral) or two different activities (e.g. screen adult ADHD referral and screen depression referral). We can therefore view activities as ontologies with an arbitrary number of entries. This paper proposes a method that produces an ontology for the activities of a process by analysing a text-based event log. We implemented an interactive tool that generates process models based on this ontology and the text-based event log. We demonstrate the proposed method’s usefulness by discovering a mental health referral process model from real-world data.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explored the use of yoga as a predictor of IBS-related quality of life (QoL) in relation to other physical and psychological factors, and identified significant relationships between yoga use in everyday life, physical and mental health, and IBSrelated QoL, and identifies the COM-B model as a useful framework for understanding yoga practice amongst people with IBS.
01 Jan 2023
TL;DR: The International Island Games (IIG) as discussed by the authors is a sports event that takes place every two years on 24 small islands around the world and has attracted millions of tourists over the last few decades.
Abstract: Small islands rely heavily on tourism as a way of an economic boost, as well as a way of growth for business development, in particular, hospitality. One of the ways that several islands around the world have excelled in this is through hosting sports events as a way of sustainable tourism and there are many examples of this such as Hawaii that have $200 million dollar source of revenue and 94% of inbound tourists coming to the island for this type of tourism. This is just one example that is discussed within the chapter along with others as such stakeholders as the International Island Games that takes place every two years on 24 small islands around the world. Key areas that will be discussed as how the community must be involved in any type of tourism development due to the number of potential tourists who may visit the island and its potential positive or negative impact that this might have.
23 Jun 2023
26 Jun 2023
TL;DR: The relationship between technology and politics is multivalent and in contrast to a technologically deterministic view, reality is messy as mentioned in this paper , which implies great contradictions and therefore requires a nuanced approach.
Abstract: In the years since the second intifada (2000-2005) we have seen digital technologies become a key tool for solidarity groups across the world. Mainstream media have come to function as gatekeepers by determining what stories are aired or properly contextualized. Thus, the internet has influenced Palestinian politics by disseminating textual, visual, and audio narratives beyond the confines of censorship of commercial media and political elites. More than a decade later, the Internet has by now grown into a counter-public space for Palestinian liberation politics. The relationship between technology and politics is multivalent and in contrast to a technologically deterministic view, reality is messy. Political change ultimately must emerge from human decisions and practices, themselves based on historical conditions. This implies great contradictions and therefore requires a nuanced approach. The Israeli state and its international supporters deploy the same technologies for instance. In fact, they have a far greater advantage than Palestinians. There are two sides to this, simply put the material and the immaterial. The immaterial is found for instance in the effort to mobilize pro-Israel sentiments. I have discussed this Israeli public diplomacy through social media as a form of Hasbara 2.0 . The material side has to do with the warfare and surveillance, the destruction and violence so to say, this is what I frame as Cybercide.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors integrate the empirical association between corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance into an investment strategy based on impact to identify firms that are socially responsible and tax-efficient.
Abstract: Abstract Impact investing is based on using the ESG framework as a tool to evaluate firms that engage in generating positive impact. Most impact investors and fund managers now integrate the ESG framework in their investment and stock-picking process. However, due to lack of standardisation of ESG reporting, it remains a challenge for investors and the public to identify the truly sustainable companies. We propose an additional measure of tax avoidance to identify firms that are socially responsible. When firms indulge in excessive tax avoidance behaviour, it may be viewed as unethical or socially irresponsible. We integrate the empirical association between corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance into an investment strategy based on impact. We adopt an investment strategy based on firm‐level ESG ratings and tax avoidance practices. In a pure impact investment strategy based on ESG and tax avoidance, we find that investing in high‐ESG rated firms and low tax avoidance firms yields a buy and hold abnormal return of 3.4% per annum and 11.4% in a 3 years investment horizon. Next, if impact investors were to combine traditional investment strategies based on risk with impact measures, we find that portfolios of high‐ESG and high price‐to‐book‐ratio firms earn a buy and hold abnormal return of 21.2%, while a portfolio of low tax avoidance and high price-to-book portfolios earns 29.8% in the long run. Collectively, our results suggest that, whilst impact investing does provide investors a return, it does not necessarily outperform traditional investment strategies. Our results are robust to other risk factors and the sector of the firm.
01 Jan 2023
TL;DR: In this article , the authors present a theoretical framework used to analyse the negotiating dynamics in the four case studies of development, trade, enlargement, and withdrawal negotiations, combining a two-level game approach with principal-agent analysis.
Abstract: This chapter provides an outline of the theoretical framework used to analyse the negotiating dynamics in the four case studies of development, trade, enlargement, and withdrawal negotiations. The framework combines a two-level game approach with principal–agent analysis. The main focus of the framework is on the actual negotiators—most often a team of Commission officials situated in a specific DG. It explains how these negotiators continuously engage with three or four sets of domestic constituents—the College of Commissioners, the Council, the European Parliament, and sometimes the European Council—while they negotiate international agreements. The framework outlines how the EU negotiators engage with their international counterparts, using a range of negotiating strategies to reach an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties, and which will be ratified by the domestic constituents.
TL;DR: In this article , the role of institutional environment quality (IEQ) in the relationship between national culture (NC) and tax evasion (TE) was examined, and the results indicated that IEQ has a mediating effect on the NC-TE nexus, suggesting that policymakers should aim at improving the quality of national institutions to diminish the undesirable influence of culture on tax evasion levels.
09 Jun 2023
TL;DR: In this article , the authors propose an interruption phenomenology as a processual method with which to navigate through/between the (inside-outside) shuttling processes of cultural translation as a means to decolonise the sign.
Abstract: In this essay I extend my reflections on the Arab cultural studies project and rehearse alternative critical spaces in which to engage with digital media, culture, and society in the Arab region. It proposes an ‘interrupted phenomenology’ as a processual method (and way of philosophising) with which to navigate through/between the (inside-outside) shuttling processes of cultural translation as a means to decolonise the sign. The essay also demonstrates, using examples from empirical research, how phenomenology can be a useful way to ask new questions about the media and digitality, as well as our ontological/ethical vulnerabilities and uncertainties as researchers. This essay locates digital media within the context of human existence and, therefore, within that of human communication (how humans communicate). It describes the condition of sharedness that comes with our being-with-in-the-world and highlights the kind of multi-sensorial forms of communication that humans derive from being digital.
01 Jan 2023
01 Jan 2023
TL;DR: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived lipid Vesicles in a size range of 20-1000 nm as discussed by the authors , often classified as smaller and larger EVs in the literature or also commonly called small EVs (exosomes) and medium/large EVs (microvesicles)
Abstract: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived lipid vesicles in a size range of 20–1000 nm; often, these are classified as smaller and larger EVs in the literature or also commonly called small EVs (“exosomes”) and medium/large EVs (“microvesicles”) [...]
30 May 2023
TL;DR: In this article , the authors provide a novel layered solution for cloud-based DDoS defence that makes use of Advanced Malware methods and a proactive method for identifying anomalies in traffic behaviour.
Abstract: The current range of technological and physical advances mostly rely on load dispersion as well as demand delays which modern security solutions are equipped to defend against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) threats. Clients and website visitors consequently encounter time delays, captchas, and delayed connectivity. In this chapter, we provide a novel layered solution for cloud-based DDoS defence that makes use of Advanced Malware methods and a proactive method for identifying anomalies in traffic behaviour. The model’s first level assesses the packet arrival frames’ starting origin IP address, while the second level looks at request speed and forecasts the threat speed threshold. The third tier, if necessary, minimises the traffic burden by redirecting the traffic towards the proxy. In case a specific web application is the target of the assault, the fifth layer decides whether port-hopping is necessary between the gateway and the destination website. Numerous studies demonstrate how well multilayer strategy can recognise and limit threats from such a diverse variety of known and undisclosed sources.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors track the major and recurring disinformation trends about SDGs on social media platforms and how COVID-19 exacerbated the trends of disinformation on SDGs, arguing that such disinformation is undermining the implementation of the SDGs.
Abstract: Mass awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is crucial to the successful attainment of the SDGs (Grover et al., Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 2021). While the traditional mass media have not done a very good job of communicating the SDGs (Janoušková et al., Sustainability (Switzerland), 11, 1–20, 2019), social media platforms have been hailed as veritable platforms to educate the public about the SDGs and thereby help achieve social and behavioural changes needed to attain the goals (ElAlfy et al., Sustainable Development, 28, 1418–1430, 2020). However, the ease of access to social media platforms, such that anyone can create just any message and share it with millions of people across the globe, has given rise to disinformation communities taking advantage of public ignorance and anxieties (Ha et al., American Behavioral Scientist, 65, 290–315, 2021; Kornbluh, SDGs: Building Back Better, 57–59, 2020; Meel & Vishwakarma, Expert Systems with Applications, 153, 1–26, 2020; Yusha’u & Servaes, The Palgrave handbook of international communication and sustainable development, Springer International Publishing, 2021c). Such disinformation is inhibiting effective communication aimed at behavioural changes needed to achieve the SDGs (Waszak et al., Health Policy and Technology, 7, 115–118, 2018). Indeed, the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020, and the subsequent widespread disinformation surrounding it, heightened the public vulnerability to become victims of disinformation, including on the SDGs (Mensah et al., The Palgrave handbook of international communication and sustainable development. Springer International Publishing, 2021). This chapter tracks the major and recurring disinformation trends about SDGs on social media platforms and how COVID-19 exacerbated the trends of disinformation on SDGs. Studies have shown that development issues, in particular those pertaining to SDG3 (Health) and SDG13 (Climate action), are prone to disinformation (Communications, N., Nature Communications, 8, 1–2, 2017; Ha et al., American Behavioral Scientist, 65, 290–315, 2021). Using sampled social media posts from Twitter, along with insights from documented cases around the world, this chapter highlights the impact of disinformation on the attainment of the SDGs, arguing that such disinformation is undermining the implementation of the SDGs. This chapter further makes recommendations on how effective communication by all stakeholders can help tackle the damage disinformation is doing to the journey towards attaining the SDGs.