Extraordinary Threat Research Articles

Wojewoda jako organ właściwy w zakresie zwalczania zagrożeń bezpieczeństwa państwa

Security is ensured at different levels of governance in the field, as well as by various administrative authorities, including in the region by the provincial governor (Pol. wojewoda). The central-government administration also plays an important role in this regard. The provincial governor is no exception here, as the legislature has entrusted this body with an important mission in this sphere. The counteraction of special threats by the provincial governor is linked to the fact that he is a representative of the Council of Ministers in the region, equipped with important competences in the field of security. The governor implements his policy (including that relating to security) within the area of the province (Pol. województwo). His competence to prevent and remove specific risks concerns, i.a., emergencies, crisis management and the state of epidemic threat or the state of epidemic. When taking action in this area, the governor may exercise sovereign powers in certain situations requiring their addressee to conduct in a specific way, whether by act or omission. The purpose of this paper is to characterise the status of the provincial governor in the field of security, where the threat is of an aggravated nature. Due to such a defined research objective, it was necessary to analyse the provisions in the field of tasks and competences of the provincial governor when facing extraordinary threats (or the possibility of their emergence).

REHABILITASI BAGI PECANDU NARKOTIKA OLEH POLDA METRO JAYA UNTUK MENEKAN PEREDARAN GELAP NARKOTIKA DI JAKARTA

Narcotics become an extraordinary threat for human life. The development of drugs trafficking is very fast due to the increasing number of users or addicts. Nowadays, based on data from National Narcotics Agency (BNN), there are almost five million narcotics addicts in Indonesia. These narcotics addicts are mostly spread in big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar and Bandung. Jakarta as the capital city of Indonesia, center of economy, trade and business is the city with the largest population of narcotics addicts. There are so many narcotics dealers carry out their illicit actions in Jakarta. It can be confirmed that there are always narcotics dealers in every subdistrict. The narcotics dealers do not stop offering these illicit narcotics to buyers who come timeless. Even the law enforcement seems unable to suppress the narcotics traficking. In fact, it often happens that the narcotics users change their status to be narcotics dealers after the law enforcements are conducted by the law enforcement officials. Therefore,it is neccessary to find the right solutions to suppress the drugs trafficking so that it does not become a very dangerous threat anymore namely by decreasing the narcotics user, one of the right ways is rehabilitation for the narcotics users.

AD HOC HIDING PLACES AS PART OF COLLECTIVE PROTECTION

The overview article deals with the topical issue of how to protect the population under extraordinary threats which are natural disasters, but also the threat of war. There is a real threat of the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction in a local conflict from Russia. The article characterizes collective protection, as an element of protection at workplaces and as an element of protection of the population in case of extraordinary threats. On the basis of available legal acts, standardization and standardization documents, the means for collective protection were characterized. The application of the PSP for finding and classifying objects to serve as means of protection was analyzed, using examples. Examples of domestic solutions for the construction of so-called "home shelters" were presented.

Being in a Horror Movie

Abstract This article takes as its starting point a recurring complaint in the popular reception of horror movies: that the characters in them behave foolishly. I argue that such complaints fail to recognize that the horror genre exploits a fundamental tension in fiction, between the perspective on a fictional world offered to its audience and that available to its characters. This distinction is highlighted in horror, which often depicts characters with everyday expectations facing extraordinary threats. Horror characters are frequently taken by surprise, and even the better prepared can be thwarted by the malevolence of the generic world. The extent of characters’ misfortunes can resemble deliberate persecution, self-consciously flaunting authorial manipulation. I draw on Todorov’s notion of “pan-determinism” and suggest that a more sinister variant operates in horror. Occasionally, a character’s experiences can help equip them to survive; I argue that this can be inflected politically in films where the malevolent horror world is placed alongside forms of real-life persecution and abuse. Critical attention to the world of horror, and how it is understood from both the outside and within, can clarify the connections between different theoretical understandings of the genre and bring out important but overlooked generic conventions.

Conceptualization of Stress-Related Disorders and PTSD by Cognitive Behavior Therapists

Background: Many people experience stressful life events like social conflicts, accidents, or physical violence. Some develop post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) thereafter. A diagnostic problem is the differentiation between causal stressful events, occasional causes, pseudo-causes or retrospective reinterpretations. This study investigates how often the diagnosis PTSD is mentioned in outpatient behavioral therapy patients, and which causes, findings, and therapeutic measures are reported. Patients and Method: In 1,480 behavioral therapy case reports the assignment of the diagnosis PTSD was explored. Cases with PTSD (N = 106) were compared with other cases without PTSD (N = 95). Results: In 7.16% the diagnosis PTSD was given. In both groups 90% reported earlier stressful experiences. In only 17% of the PTSD cases an “extraordinary threat of catastrophic proportions” was reported. In a quarter, the trauma assumption was based only on therapist or patient suggestions. Dissociative symptoms or intrusion were described only in the PTSD cases. Discussion: The data suggest that (a) almost all patients report stressful experiences, (b) the diagnosis of PTSD is given only in a limited number of patients, (c) in PTSD cases, intrusion and dissociation are reported only in a minority of cases, and (d) in PTSD cases, the full spectrum of exposure techniques is mentioned. Conclusion: Stress-associated disorders need precise description and differentiation.

Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprisesin the German-Polish Border Area in Timesof Extraordinary Threats

Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprisesin the German-Polish Border Area in Timesof Extraordinary Threats

Emersberger, Joe and Podur, Justin (2021) Extraordinary Threat: The U.S. Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela, Monthly Review Press (New York), 327 pp. $25.00 pbk.

Emersberger, Joe and Podur, Justin (2021) <i>Extraordinary Threat: The U.S. Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela</i>, Monthly Review Press (New York), 327 pp. $25.00 pbk.

Modulating the Expression of Multiple Surface Receptors on Epithelial Cells and Promoting Lung Macrophage Anti-viral Functions by OM-85 Inhibits Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

The emergence of a new virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 triggered a global pandemic, forcing much of the world to adopt lockdown strategies and leading to extraordinary threats to the global healthcare system. The clinical manifestations of the disease, referred to as COVID-19, range from mild, self-limiting flu-like respiratory illness to life-threatening multi-organ failure and death. The rapid progress in our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis has led the development of effective vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and anti-viral agents. However, a major cause of concern is the continuous and rapid emergence of new mutations that can progressively decrease sensitivity to the existing anti-COVID-19 tools. Safe, affordable, and widely available treatments are therefore urgently needed to reduce the frequency and/or severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. OM-85 is a standardised lysate of bacterial strains widely used for the prophylaxis of airway recurrent infections in adults and children with an excellent safety profile. In experimental animal models and in clinical trials this compound was shown to possess anti-viral activities through immunomodulatory responses, but also by inhibiting infection. The positive results reported in models of common respiratory virus infection has recently encouraged researchers from three independent groups to evaluate whether OM-85 could also affect SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results of these studies are summarised in this review.

Recent Emergence and Re-Emergence of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Q Fever Zoonotic Diseases: Major yet Ignored Infectious Diseases Worldwide

The continuing emergence or re-emergence of vector-borne zoonotic Q fever (caused by Coxiella burnetii) and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF, caused by Orthonairovirus) include indispensable extraordinary threat around the world. Low infectious dose and long-term environmental residence are major risks. Wildlife and domestic livestock act as hosts or reservoirs of the CCHF virus and ticks are carriers. The disease also poses a threat to public health services owing to its epidemic potential, high case fatality ratio (up to 40%) as well as difficulties in treatment, prevention, and control. Q fever is another zoonotic febrile disease mainly affecting workers involved in farming livestock. The causative agent of Q fever causes abortion in livestock. The pathogen is shed in large numbers in the waste of infected animals (amniotic fluids and placenta during parturition) and is transmitted by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Vaccination is the most effective way of protecting against Q fever. The main way to prevent Q fever is to avoid contact with animals, especially while animals are giving birth, or consumption of unpasteurized milk and contaminated dairy products. Due to the increasing importation of livestock to meet the growing demand for dairy and meat products, new diseases are likely to be introduced. In our growing globalized world, where trade between countries increases, it is necessary to conduct more research on zoonotic diseases and to monitor any possible disease introduction to new areas. A continuing surveillance program and pathogen testing are important in tracking the emergence of new pathogens.

Constitutionality and The Special Legal Order

The Covid 19 disease and its treatment in the national legal systems raised important questions of constitutionality. In this contribution to the anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, we will remember the importance of constitutionality even in situations of danger and extraordinary threats, natural or human attacks on the society, nature and economy. We are facing this situation now in times of the pandemic, the Covid19 virus that attack almost the entire globe. According to the Venice Commission, that made a comparative report about the situation of democracy, rule of law, the protection of human rights in times of the pandemic in Europe [CDL-PI (2005)005rev], the only legitimate aim and legitimate ground for adoption of emergency measures is to help the State overcome an exceptional situation. It is the nature, severity and duration of this exceptional situation which determines the type, extent and duration of the measures that the State may lawfully resort to. Emergency measures should respect certain general principles which aim to minimize the damage to fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law. The measures are thus subject to the triple, general conditions of necessity, proportionality and temporariness. We will fi rst share some basic information about the structure of the special legal orders and their history in Hungary including the Ninth Amendment to the Fundamental Law that will enter into force in January 2023 that aims to change the present structure of the special legal order. In the second part of the presentation, we will show the special legal orders in the Fundamental Law and highlight the relevance of constitutional guarantees.

Supply of Wood Biomass in Poland in Terms of Extraordinary Threat and Energy Transition

In this article, we present the possibility of applying the concept of elasticity in the system of sustainable energy development through the use of wood biomass. We used a dual (socio-ecological and economic) approach to sustainable energy development. The research was carried out using the methods of reduction reasoning, scientific observation, and examination of source documents. We identified crisis threats in the context of sustainable energy development. Then, we analyzed the supply of wood biomass in Poland, taking into account its geographical location. As a result, we identified and characterized the causal relationships between the assumptions of the concept of resistance and the sustainable development of energy with the use of wood biomass. We found that the concepts of resilience can be adapted to assessing energy sustainability. This adaptation is based on resilience, flexibility, and strategic ability to revitalize the country. We found that five key threats (extreme weather events, climate breakdown, pollution, infectious diseases, loss of biodiversity) affect both the energy-sustainability system and forest management, and the relationship is two-way. We show that the production of forest biomass is compatible with modern forest management and supports the implementation of sustainable energy development, which takes place under the concept of resilience.

Socioeconomic status and COVID-19-related cases and fatalities in the world: A cross-sectional ecological study.

Background and AimsThe COVID‐19 pandemic poses an extraordinary threat to global public health. We designed an ecological study to explore the association between socioeconomic factors and the COVID‐19 outcomes in 184 countries, using the geographic map and multilevel regression models.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional ecological study in 184 countries. We performed regression analysis to assess the association of various socioeconomic variables with COVID‐19 outcomes in 184 countries, using ordinary least squares and multilevel modeling analysis. We performed two‐level analyses with countries at Level 1 and geographical regions at Level 2 in multilevel modeling analysis, using the same set of predictor variables used in ordinary least squares.ResultsThere was a significant relationship between COVID‐19 cases rate (Log) per 100,000 inhabitants‐day at risk with human development index (HDI), percentage of the urban population, unemployment, and cardiovascular disease prevalence. The results displayed that the variances are varied between Level 1 (country level) and Level 2 (World Health Organization [WHO] regions), meaning that the geographic distribution represented a proportion of the changes in the COVID‐19 outcomes.ConclusionThe study suggests that in addition to the socioeconomic status affects the COVID‐19 outcomes, countries' geographical location makes a part of changes in outcomes of diseases. Therefore, health policy‐makers could overcome morbidity and mortality in COVID‐19 by controlling the socioeconomics factors.

Developing Multifunctional/Smart Civil Engineering Materials to Fight Viruses

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed an extraordinary threat to global public health, wealth, and well-being. As the carriers of human life and production, infrastructures need to be upgraded to mitigate and prevent the spread of viral diseases. Developing multifunctional/smart civil engineering materials to fight viruses is a promising approach to achieving this goal. In this Perspective, a basic introduction on viruses and their structure is provided. Then, the current design principles of antiviral materials and structures are examined. Subsequently, the possibility of developing active/passive antiviral civil engineering materials (including cementitious composites, ceramics, polymers, and coatings) is proposed and envisioned. Finally, future research needs and potential challenges to develop antiviral civil engineering materials are put forward. The proposed strategies to develop multifunctional/smart antiviral civil engineering materials will aid in the construction of smart infrastructures to prevent the spread of viruses, thus improving human life and health as well as the sustainability of human society.

Diabetes Prediction Using Derived Features and Ensembling of燘oosting燙lassifiers

Diabetes is increasing commonly in people’s daily life and represents an extraordinary threat to human well-being. Machine Learning (ML) in the healthcare industry has recently made headlines. Several ML models are developed around different datasets for diabetic prediction. It is essential for ML models to predict diabetes accurately. Highly informative features of the dataset are vital to determine the capability factors of the model in the prediction of diabetes. Feature engineering (FE) is the way of taking forward in yielding highly informative features. Pima Indian Diabetes Dataset (PIDD) is used in this work, and the impact of informative features in ML models is experimented with and analyzed for the prediction of diabetes. Missing values (MV) and the effect of the imputation process in the data distribution of each feature are analyzed. Permutation importance and partial dependence are carried out extensively and the results revealed that Glucose (GLUC), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Insulin (INS) are highly informative features. Derived features are obtained for BMI and INS to add more information with its raw form. The ensemble classifier with an ensemble of AdaBoost (AB) and XGBoost (XB) is considered for the impact analysis of the proposed FE approach. The ensemble model performs well for the inclusion of derived features provided the high Diagnostics Odds Ratio (DOR) of 117.694. This shows a high margin of 8.2% when compared with the ensemble model with no derived features (DOR = 96.306) included in the experiment. The inclusion of derived features with the FE approach of the current state-of-the-art made the ensemble model performs well with Sensitivity (0.793), Specificity (0.945), DOR (79.517), and False Omission Rate (0.090) which further improves the state-of-the-art results.

Influence of the moscow patriarchate on the National Identity in the Context of the russian War against Ukraine

The factors of ethnicity and religion are the foundation of the national identity as seen across the peoples of our planet. Amid the russian war against Ukraine, the factors behind the formation and reinforcement of national identity have gained particular importance. Among those, religion occupies a distinct role; hence, in the modern age of cutting-edge scientific and technological advances of humanity, religion continues to have a colossal impact on virtually every facet of the functioning of society. Therefore, national identity also constitutes a potent driving force behind all social processes: politics, economy, culture, and, ultimately, warfare. That is why the national identity of the Ukrainian people as a whole and every individual Ukrainian is so vital and valuable. Ukraine faces an extraordinary threat emanating from religious organisations with headquarters in the territory of the aggressor state, russia. It is especially true in the case of the moscow patriarchate (MP), functioning in Ukraine under the designation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was one of the first to appeal to the international community and world religious leaders to help stop russian armed aggression. The OCU also disseminates truthful information about Ukraine, primarily abroad, through the channels of church diplomacy. Strengthening the identity of the Ukrainian nation and elimination of the imperial religious and ideological influence of the MP and russian eurasianism should be one of the priorities of the state security policy of Ukraine. Keywords: Ukraine, russian aggression, OCU, tomos, UOC.

Challenges and Opportunities of Mass Vaccination Centers in COVID-19 Times: A Rapid Review of Literature.

A mass vaccination center is a location, normally used for nonhealthcare activities, set up for high-volume and high-speed vaccinations during infectious disease emergencies. The high contagiousness and mortality of COVID-19 and the complete lack of population immunity posed an extraordinary threat for global health. The aim of our research was to collect and review previous experiences on mass vaccination centers. On 4 April 2021, we developed a rapid review searching four electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Google Scholar and medRxiv. From a total of 2312 papers, 15 of them were included in the current review. Among them, only one article described a COVID-19 vaccination center; all of the others referred to other vaccinations, in particular influenza. The majority were conducted in the United States, and were simulations or single-day experiences to practice a mass vaccination after bioterrorist attacks. Indeed, all of them were published after September 11 attacks. Regarding staff, timing and performance, the data were highly heterogenous. Several studies used as a model the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Results highlighted the differences around the definition, layout and management of a mass vaccination center, but some aspects can be considered as a core aspect. In light of this, we suggested a potential definition. The current review answers to the urgency of organizing a mass vaccination center during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the most important organizational aspects that should be considered in the planning.

Can Resveratrol-Inhaled Formulations Be Considered Potential Adjunct Treatments for COVID-19?

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an extraordinary threat to the global healthcare system. This infection disease, named COVID-19, is characterized by a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic or mild upper respiratory tract illness to severe viral pneumonia with fulminant cytokine storm, which leads to respiratory failure. To improve patient outcomes, both the inhibition of viral replication and of the unwarranted excessive inflammatory response are crucial. Since no specific antiviral drug has been proven effective for the treatment of patients and the only upcoming promising agents are monoclonal antibodies, inexpensive, safe, and widely available treatments are urgently needed. A potential anti-inflammatory molecule to be evaluated, which possesses antiviral activities in several experimental models, is the polyphenol resveratrol. This compound has been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in human primary bronchial epithelial cell cultures and to downregulate several pathogenetic mechanisms involved in COVID-19 severity. The use of resveratrol in clinical practice is limited by the low bioavailability following oral administration, due to the pharmacokinetic and metabolic characteristics of the molecule. Therefore, topical administration through inhaled formulations could allow us to achieve sufficiently high concentrations of the compound in the airways, the entry route of SARS-CoV-2.

Genetic correlations between COVID-19 and a variety of traits and diseases

Genetic correlations between COVID-19 and a variety of traits and diseases

GIS-Based Analysis Framework to Identify the Determinants of COVID-19 Incidence and Fatality in Africa.

Corona virus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an extraordinary threat with significant implications in all aspects of human life; therefore, it represents the most immediate challenge for the countries all over the world. This study, hence, is intended to identify the best GIS-based model that can explore, quantify, and model the determinants of COVID-19 incidence and fatality. For this purpose, geospatial models were developed to estimate COVID-19 incidence and fatality rates in Africa, up to 16th of August 2020 at the national level. The models involved Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis using ArcGIS. Spatial autocorrelation analysis recorded a positive spatial autocorrelation in COVID-19 incidence (Moran index 0.16, P = 0.1) and fatality (Moran index 0.26, P = 0.01) rates within different African countries. GWR model had higher R2 than OLS for prediction of incidence and mortality (58% vs 45% and 55% vs 53%). The main predictors of COVID-19 incidence rate were overcrowding, health expenditure, HIV infections, air pollution, and BCG vaccination (mean β = 3.10, 1.66, 0.01, 3.79, and −66.60 respectively, P < 0.05). The main determinants of COVID-19 fatality were prevalence of bronchial asthma, tobacco use, poverty, aging, and cardiovascular diseases fatality (mean β = 0.00162, 0.00004, −0.00025, −0.00144, and −0.00027 respectively, P < 0.05). Application of the suggested model can assist in guiding intervention strategies, particularly at the local and community level whenever the data on COVID-19 cases and predictors variables are available.

Constitutional Courts in Defective Democracies

Constitutional courts exercising the power to invalidate the outputs of elected bodies can strengthen the liberal democratic character of the polities they serve in three main ways: by reinforcing representation; protecting human rights, particularly those of members of socially disadvantaged groups; and promoting the political system’s stability over time. These functions may be especially important in defective democracies. This Essay expounds the utility of constitutional review through the example of the United States, which has a democracy that is defective in various respects, including its allocation of disproportionate political power to a racially identifiable elite. Even so, constitutional review is no panacea. In the face of the extraordinary threats unleashed by a former President and his authoritarian movement, jurists in the United States will need to display great courage to have a chance of preserving the nation’s democratic order.