Privatization Research Articles

Coordinating uncertainty in the political economy of cyber threat intelligence.

Cyber threat intelligence firms play a powerful role in producing knowledge, uncertainty, and ignorance about threats to organizations and governments globally. Drawing on historical and ethnographic methods, we show how cyber threat intelligence analysts navigate distinctive types of uncertainty as they transform digital traces into marketable products and services. We make two related contributions and arguments. First, building on STS research on uncertainty and ignorance, we articulate two kinds of uncertainty and their potential to interact. Coordinative uncertainty emerges from socially and technologically distributed processes of producing, interpreting, and reporting data that emerges when analysts create standards to make data travel. However, standards can be exploited by intelligent adversaries behaving in deliberately unpredictable ways. We argue that efforts to reduce coordinative uncertainty through standardization can thus ironically increase opportunities for adversarial uncertainty, creating a potential tradeoff. Second, we aim to show how STS can deepen and integrate studies of international security and political economy, by providing an example of how the geopolitical structuring of private industry shapes the science and technology that industry produces. In particular, we argue that the political economy of the cyber threat intelligence industry tends to produce relatively little knowledge about cyber operations that are conducted by governments in the U.S. and its allies, and more about cyber operations conducted by adversaries of U.S. and allied governments. We conclude with a reflection on the broader significance of these findings for the ways that coordinative and adversarial uncertainties refract through the political economies of technoscience.

Challenges and Opportunities for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Latin America

This research addresses the challenges and opportunities for electric vehicle charging stations in Latin America. The transition to electric mobility is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, modernize the quality of life in urban areas, update public policies related to transportation, and promote economic development. However, this is not an easy task in this region; it faces several obstacles, such as a lack of liquidity in governments, a lack of adequate infrastructure, high implementation costs, the need for clear regulatory frameworks, and limited public awareness of the benefits of electric mobility. To this end, the current panorama of electric mobility in the region is analyzed, including current policies, the state of the charging infrastructure, and the prospects for growth regarding electric vehicles in Latin America. Factors that could lead to their successful implementation are promoted, highlighting the importance of public policies adapted to Latin American countries, collaboration between the public–private industry, the industry’s adoption of new technologies in this region, and the education of the population, and the benefits of these policies are considered. Successful case studies from the region are presented to provide us with an idea of practices that can be carried out in other countries. The implementation of a charging system in Latin America is also studied; the successful implementation of charging systems is found to depend largely on the existence of integrated public policies that address aspects other than the charging infrastructure. Finally, the value of the work and the research findings are presented to indicate what this study can help with. These strategies are key to overcoming the challenges and maximizing the benefits of electric mobility in Latin America.

A dynamic framework for calculating the biomass of fattening pigs with an application in estimating the burden of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in the Netherlands

Gaining insight into the size and composition of national pig populations can support decisions on disease control, welfare, and environmental sustainability. However, if one needs to draw meaningful comparisons between the performance of various production systems or countries, a method for standardization is required. One approach to achieve this is by means of biomass estimation. The objective of this study was to develop a biomass estimation framework that can provide detailed and reliable estimates of fattening pig biomass disaggregated by pig life stage (suckling, weaning and fattening), while accounting for the dynamic nature of pig populations. The framework was developed on publicly accessible data pertaining to pig production in the Netherlands, and we additionally assessed availability of required data for several other European countries (Spain, Germany, and Great Britain). Three distinct life stages—suckling piglets, weaning pigs, and fattening pigs—are considered in the framework. Demographic and movement data, including yearly imports, exports, and slaughter numbers, along with standing populations, were collected from official governmental sources. Required production parameters were sourced from representative surveys, with missing parameters supplemented by private industry reports or expert elicitation. The results from the framework for the Netherlands yield insights into the Dutch pig sector. In 2020, 156 million kg, 552 million kg, and 1654 million kg of biomass were produced in the suckling, weaning, and fattening stages, respectively. The evaluation against census data indicated the framework's reliability, with deviations mostly below 10 %. Data availability assessments for Spain, Germany and Great Britain reveal variations in data completeness and underscore the importance of local contacts and language expertise when extending the framework to other countries. The framework's relevance was further demonstrated through an illustrative application, assessing the impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome on pig biomass in the Netherlands. In the most severe disease scenario, the produced biomass decreased by 13 %, 17 %, and 66 % in the suckling, weaning, and fattening stages, respectively. Beyond disease burden estimation, the biomass estimates can be used as a denominator for various purposes to provide efficiency metrics, such as the amount of antibiotics used or the volume of greenhouse gases emitted per kilogram of pig biomass produced. While the framework could benefit from further refinement regarding resource use and economic values, its current iteration provides a robust and unique foundation for estimating biomass disaggregated by pig life stage, aiding decision-makers in the agricultural and veterinary sector.

Life After the HSIF: Lessons From Diffusion of Innovation for Sustaining the Impact of Embeddedness Comment on "Early Career Outcomes of Embedded Research Fellows: An Analysis of the Health System Impact Fellowship Program".

Kasaai and colleagues examine the career outcomes of alumni from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's (CIHR's) Health System Impact Fellowship (HSIF), which embeds emerging scholars in health system organizations. The study of the 2017-2019 cohort shows all alumni are employed, with 92% working in Canada, and highlights their presence in academia, public service, healthcare, and private industry. Notably, 37% hold "hybrid" roles, blending academic and other sector work. While the fellowship effectively prepares fellows for impactful careers, the prevalence of hybrid roles raises concerns about sustaining academic partnerships post-fellowship. This commentary explores risks to embedded scholars, such as decentralization, competing innovations, and limited ongoing training, using the Diffusion of Innovations framework. It suggests strategies like strengthening network connectivity, focusing on high-impact innovations, increasing organizational embeddedness, and maintaining adaptability to ensure the long-term success of embedded scholars and the integration of evidence-based innovations in health systems.

Do green investments impact corporate green innovation?empirical evidence from Chinese-listed companies

The rapid expansion of the global economy has exacerbated environmental concerns, thereby prompting a shift in resource allocation from polluting industries to green sectors. This transition is pivotal for sustainable development, with capital playing a central role in mobilizing resources to foster green innovation. This study examines data from Chinese-listed companies between 2012 and 2022 to evaluate the impact of green investment on corporate green innovation. The analysis incorporates a comprehensive review of financial records and innovation metrics to establish a correlation between investment and innovation outcomes. The findings reveal a positive correlation between increased green investment and enhanced green innovation, with a more pronounced effect observed in private enterprises and industries characterized by high competition. Green investment primarily stimulates innovation by alleviating financial constraints. These results emphasize the crucial role of green investment in promoting sustainable corporate practices. Furthermore, they provide valuable insights for policymakers in formulating effective green investment strategies, which are essential for China’s transition toward a green economy.

Challenges and Approaches to Establishing Multi-Pathogen Serosurveillance: Findings from the 2023 Serosurveillance Summit.

Multiplex-based serological surveillance is a valuable but underutilized tool to understand gaps in population-level exposure, susceptibility, and immunity to infectious diseases. Assays for which blood samples can be tested for antibodies against several pathogens simultaneously, such as multiplex bead immunoassays, can more efficiently integrate public health surveillance in low- and middle-income countries. On March 7-8, 2023 a group of experts representing research institutions, multilateral organizations, private industry, and country partners met to discuss experiences, identify challenges and solutions, and create a community of practice for integrated, multi-pathogen serosurveillance using multiplex bead assay technologies. Participants were divided into six working groups: 1) supply chain; 2) laboratory assays; 3) seroepidemiology; 4) data analytics; 5) sustainable implementation; and 6) use case scenarios. These working groups discussed experiences, challenges, solutions, and research needs to facilitate integrated, multi-pathogen serosurveillance for public health. Several solutions were proposed to address challenges that cut across working groups.

Nothing to hide: How governments justify the adoption of ag-gag laws.

Mainstream practices for producing meat, eggs, and dairy raise numerous concerns regarding public health, animal welfare, and environmental integrity. However, governments worldwide have expanded anti-whistleblower legislation that constrains informed public debate. Since 2019, several Canadian provinces have adopted so-called "ag-gag" laws designed to prevent hidden-camera investigations on farms and meat processing facilities. How do governments across Canada justify ag-gag laws as serving the public interest? To what extent do agricultural industry interests shape government adoption of ag-gag laws? Using Freedom of Information requests and debate records from provincial legislatures, we find that biosecurity is the most prominent justification for ag-gag laws, and that governments exhibit a close, collaborative relationship with industry actors. This case demonstrates that when it comes to contested sites of capital accumulation, governments are drawing on new spatial-legal tools to protect the status quo interests of private industry by dissuading dissent, debate, and public scrutiny.

Pandemic Exercises: Lessons for a New Era in Pandemic Preparedness.

We led the last large-scale exercise conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite COVID-19, pandemic exercises are more necessary than ever to prevent the loss of hard-fought gains achieved during COVID-19, keep policymakers from assuming all pandemics will be like COVID-19, and encourage continued engagement from policymakers in strengthening health resilience rather than returning to a cycle of panic and neglect. Pandemic exercises can also advance new solutions necessary to effectively meet the challenge of a future pandemic. Over 2 decades, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has developed and conducted 6 large-scale, high-level tabletop pandemic exercises. These exercises and others were designed to increase policy focus on the most critical needs in pandemic preparedness and heighten the urgency for making these changes in the near future. Pandemic experts and policymakers alike have highlighted the importance of exercises to ensure that all key actors involved in pandemic response-including the government, healthcare, public health, emergency response, and private business and industry sectors-understand both the best practices and policies to pursue before a pandemic and what to do once a pandemic occurs. These advance efforts can enhance planning, resource allocation, and coordination ahead of time and identify unique gaps and barriers. This commentary describes the approach we have developed to create and conduct such exercises and highlights key considerations that were important to successful outcomes.

The evaluation of competition effect on rail fares using the difference-in-difference method through symmetric and lagged spans

Long-distance railway markets in Europe have become more competitive since the EU liberalisation packages. Countries like Austria, Czechia, Sweden, and Italy have experienced sustained competition, providing valuable insights into how open-access competition works. Italy's non-subsidised high-speed competition is especially interesting to study. While some researchers have studied the minimum price changes before and after a newcomer enters a route, more is needed about the duration of the effect and the impact on all fare types. Our paper estimates the competition's impact by observing the price dynamics of the incumbent company (Trenitalia) for different fare types over an extended period. We examine the Turin-Milan-Venice route where the competitor (Italo) entered the market during observation. We distinguish between different fare types through detailed descriptive analyses of the incumbent company's price behaviour. Using the difference-in-difference method, we obtain estimates of the effect for different time spans and check their robustness.Two methods are used to design difference-in-difference models: a “classical approach” that compares symmetrical intervals before and after entry and another approach based on the comparison of lagged intervals. The second method compares the specific span with the corresponding one, a year before to exclude the seasonal component. Our findings reveal significant price-reduction effects compared to the price dynamics in other market routes where competition had been introduced.

Business continuity management deployment, community resilience, and organisational resilience in private industry response to 2011 Ayutthaya flooding

AbstractThis research aims to investigate the role of community resilience in the relationship between business continuity management and organisational resilience, the focus on a real‐world event (flooding) and its impact on a community provides a concrete context that adds relevance to the study. To complete this research, a quantitative research design was used. A firm‐level survey of private industrial firms in Ayutthaya Province (n = 211) was conducted. Variables included three clusters of business continuity management practices, community resilience, and organisational resilience. The data were then analysed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. The results showed that business continuity management practices contributed to organisational resilience. There were also interaction effects between community resilience and business continuity management practices, indicating that community resilience moderated the effect of business continuity management practices on organisational resilience following the floods. The study is the first to test the role of community resilience in the effectiveness of business continuity management practices on organisational resilience. This contributes to the research by providing a better explanation of how communities and organisations interact in organisational disaster response. The study only investigated a single context of disaster response (firms previously affected by the 2011 Ayutthaya flooding). The research focuses on industrial manufacturing and service firms and does not include retail firms. The research was conducted in historic perspective. Development of organisational resilience is affected by community resilience. Therefore, supporting community resilience through infrastructure, institutions, and other mechanisms is key for post‐disaster economic recovery. This provides a further reason for developing community resilience.

Small Public Exponent Brings More: Improved Partial Key Exposure Attacks against RSA

Let (N,e) be a public key of the RSA cryptosystem, and d be the corresponding private key. In practice, we usually choose a small e for quick encryption. In this paper, we improve partial private key exposure attacks against RSA with a small public exponent e. The key idea is that under such a setting we can usually obtain more information about the prime factor of N and then by solving a univariate modular polynomial with Coppersmith's method, N can be factored in polynomial time. Compared to previous results, we reduce the number of d's leaked bits needed to mount the attack by log_2 (e) bits. Furthermore, our experiments show that for 1024-bit N, our attack can achieve the theoretical bound on a personal computer, which verified our attack.

Ocean acoustics education in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Program (JP) is a five-year doctoral program conferring a PhD degree awarded by both institutions. It is organized in five disciplines: Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (AOSE), Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology and Geophysics, and Physical Oceanography. Because the MIT-WHOI JP is so broad in scope, it is an ideal place for advanced studies in acoustical oceanography. The MIT-WHOI acoustic curriculum falls mostly under the AOSE umbrella. Students can take classes both at WHOI and MIT and can do research on a variety of topics covering acoustic propagation and scattering, undersea navigation/communication, remote sensing and environmental inversion, bioacoustics, robotics, and high latitude acoustics. JP students have access to courses, programs and resources at one of the top oceanographic research institutions in the world (WHOI) and one of the top research universities in the world (MIT). By benefiting from the best of these two institutions theoretical and sea going strengths, JP students can become part of the next generation of ocean science leaders, allowing them to pursue careers all over the world in diverse areas including universities, research institutions, government, private industry or NGOs.

Revocable and Fog-Enabled Proxy Re-Encryption Scheme for IoT Environments.

As technology advances rapidly, a diverse array of Internet of Things (IoT) devices finds widespread application across numerous fields. The intelligent nature of these devices not only gives people more convenience, but also introduces new challenges especially in security when transmitting data in fog-based cloud environments. In fog computing environments, data need to be transmitted across multiple devices, increasing the risk of data being intercepted or tampered with during transmission. To securely share cloud ciphertexts, an alleged proxy re-encryption approach is a commonly adopted solution. Without decrypting the original ciphertext, such a mechanism permits a ciphertext intended for user A to be easily converted into the one intended for user B. However, to revoke the decryption privilege of data users usually relies on the system authority to maintain a user revocation list which inevitably increases the storage space. In this research, the authors come up with a fog-based proxy re-encryption system with revocable identity. Without maintaining the traditional user revocation list, the proposed scheme introduces a time-updated key mechanism. The time-update key could be viewed as a partial private key and should be renewed with different time periods. A revoked user is unable to obtain the renewed time-update key and hence cannot share or decrypt cloud ciphertexts. We formally demonstrate that the introduced scheme satisfies the security of indistinguishability against adaptively chosen identity and chosen plaintext attacks (IND-PrID-CPA) assuming the hardness of the Decisional Bilinear Diffie-Hellman (DBDH) problem in the random oracle model. Furthermore, compared with similar systems, the proposed one also has lower computational complexity as a whole.

Prevalence and factors associated with neck pain among research and development department staff in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNeck pain is the most common musculoskeletal complexity with a high prevalence, especially in adults and the elderly.ObjectivesThe objective of our study is to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of neck pain in research and development department staff in Bangladesh.MethodologyData were collected through questionnaire-assisted interviews to investigate the prevalence and related factors of neck pain among 384 R&D employees aged 18–55 years in Bangladesh. We performed regression analysis on neck pain and associated risk factors to uncover its sociodemographic and occupational correlates.ResultsThe neck pain prevalence was high in this investigation, which is 35.7%, and of these, 27.6% affected the general working ability of the employees. The results indicated that people aged 40 to above years were more significantly to have neck pain, with an OR of 6.148 (p = 0.046), and BMI results indicated that those who were underweight were slightly significantly to have pain (p < 0.001). Again, educational qualification especially HSC or diploma OR 15.600 (p = 0.020) and those who often work on the computer were more significantly to have neck pain, with OR 8.801 (p = 0.078).ConclusionsThis study showed that the prevalence of neck pain was high among R&D workers in private industry. In this investigation, several factors associated with neck pain were found through logistic regression evaluation. The results of this study indicated that age, BMI, educational qualification, and those who frequently worked on computers had higher neck pain.

Examining the Smart-Prepaid Metering Systems in Ghana: Implications for Policy Reform

This study examined Smart-Prepaid Metering System deployed by ECG and NEDCo from the technical point of view. The analysis revealed that smart meters are far advantageous compared to traditional postpaid meters that are error prone- reading errors, generate a lot of system losses, and can be bypassed by power theft. The high losses that utility companies make because of non- payment of bills could be reduced to the barest minimum. The resistance to smart-prepaid meter adoption is due to the high bills consumers are experiencing. The rising bills were caused by the use of energy consuming appliances like electric stove, dryers, washers coupled with rise in tariff. The study recommends mass education using various fora like community engagement and electronic media to teach consumers the added values of the new meters and how to use them efficiently. Also, these meters should installed at all government institutions and private industries that have been persistently defaulting in bill payment.

Partial privatization and the degree of corporate social responsibility of private investors

A significant issue for study is what type of private investor governments should sell public firms to: those who care about corporate social responsibility (CSR) or those who are profit-maximizers. To analyze this issue we measure CSR concern through consumer surplus and consider a market in which a private and a public firm compete. We find that the decision taken by the government crucially depends on the social concern of the rival private firm. When that firm cares about CSR, selling part of the public firm to socially concerned private investors is no worse than selling to profit-maximizing investors. However, when the private firm maximizes profits the opposite result is obtained. In addition, from a social welfare viewpoint, when social concern is not high it is desirable for all private investors to engage in CSR. Otherwise, it is preferable for them not to care about society.

Effects of temperature and storage duration on quality of an insect artificial diet.

Artificial diets are widely used to produce insects for research and education programs. Completed diets, in which the diets are fully made from individual ingredients and ready to use, often have high water activity, making them vulnerable to degradation. Proper storage is critical to maintaining diet quality, yet the storage conditions are not well investigated. In this study, we characterized the effects of storage conditions (temperatures and storage duration) on the quality of a diet capable of rearing both specialist and generalist insect species. The completed diet, produced by both private industry and a USDA-Agricultural Research Service laboratory, was exposed to varying temperatures during a 24-hour transit over 1600km. After transit, it was stored at 4°C for a total storage period of 28 days. In a separate experiment, the completed diet was stored immediately after diet production at five fixed temperatures (-20, 4, 22, 25, and 33°C) for up to 28 days. For both experiments, at 5 intervals after storage (1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days), diet quality was accessed by life history parameters (survival, molting, and weight) of western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) larvae, the most serious maize pest in the United States. Our results showed that exposure to varying temperatures between -2°C and 27°C for 24 hours had no significant impact on diet quality. However, extended storage (beyond 24 hours) at any of the fixed temperatures negatively affected diet quality. Insects reared on diets stored for over 24 hours at fixed temperatures ranging from -20°C to 33°C had significant declines in performance. Among the tested temperatures, -20°C and 4°C were found to be the most effective for preserving diet quality. At these low temperatures, there were no significant changes in insect weight and survival for diets stored within 21 and 28 days, respectively, though molting was significantly reduced within 7 days of storage. These findings provide the base of information on the storage conditions for completed diets, supporting the production of healthy insects.

Possibilities of violation of ethical principles in sponsored research: analysis, consequences, and prevention measures

&amp;lt;p style=&amp;quot;text-align: justify;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The growing trend of securing private industry funding for biomedical research, particularly from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, has raised significant ethical concerns. Since the 1980s, private industry has become the primary funder of biomedical research, surpassing government funding in the U.S. and other developed countries. This shift introduces potential ethical violations, including hidden conflicts of interest, data manipulation, disregard for ethical guidelines, non-disclosure of negative results, and compromised research independence. These issues can undermine research integrity, compromise patient safety, and erode public trust in scientific findings. Effective measures to prevent ethical violations include strengthening transparency, enhancing research independence, promoting ethical education, and reinforcing regulatory frameworks. By fostering open dialogue, implementing stringent disclosure requirements, and ensuring independent oversight, participants can uphold ethical standards in sponsored research. Addressing these challenges is essential to maintaining the credibility of biomedical research, protecting participant rights, and ensuring that research outcomes reliably contribute to evidence-based medicine and public health.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Space Security and the Law of International Space Cooperation: The Need for Leadership and Coordination

In recent times space exploration and technological advancements hold prominent importance, the merger of space security and international collaboration must be paid attention too. Whereby, during the recent advancements in space technologies which include the proliferation of satellite and emergence of various space programs, the non-commercial and sustainable utilization of space must be taken care of. This paper explores and access the methodologies adopted and put into motion by nation having a well-established space program to address the difficulties faced while maintaining the space security along with ongoing space explorations. This research study will also pay emphasis towards analysing the already existing legal framework which directly governs various outer space activities, international organizations, role of governments and private industry players towards shaping of governance in outer space. In order to build trust and furthering the shared objectives in outer space and resolution of disputes among nation states, emphasis on how significant and valued international cooperation and diplomacy can prove to be. The various risks factors such as deliberate actions which are testing of anti-satellite weapons and dispersion of space debris in high volumes that the assets in space encounter are explored in this research. This study also discusses about case studies that have impacted the outer space and space explorations and other space missions positively as well as negatively in past instances. This study concludes the necessity of proactive leadership and teamwork in addressing the issue of space security and the legislation of international space cooperation. Roles of significant stakeholders, implementation of future course of actions with necessary changes to guide and provide policymakers in understanding the complexity of space reforms for peaceful utilization of outer space for both current and future human race.

Legitimation work in privatized criminal justice: Softening, shrinking, and signaling

How do private companies justify taking on criminal justice functions? Building on writing on legitimacy and privatization, this article describes three rhetorical practices intended to increase the legitimacy of private companies carrying out criminal justice functions: softening (obscuring the use of force); shrinking (demonstrating deference to the state); and signaling (proclaiming alignment with pro-social values). The article demonstrates the analytic utility of these categories by considering public-facing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports produced by one prominent company in the private corrections industry (CoreCivic). The conceptual typology of legitimation work brings together several dynamics that are common in privatized criminal justice and provides an analytic toolkit for future study. A discussion considers how researchers can use this typology to examine legitimation work by other private firms and industries that engage the criminal justice system.