Severe Conflicts Research Articles

The Possible Role of Apathy on Conflict Monitoring: Preliminary Findings of a Behavioral Study on Severe Acquired Brain Injury Patients Using Flanker Tasks

The diagnosis of apathy, one of the most common behavioral changes after acquired brain injury (ABI), is important for improving clinical understanding and treatment of persons with ABI. The main aim of this study was to determine the possible role of apathy in conflict monitoring, by using choice reaction time tasks. Methods: We examined behavioral responses of conflict monitoring during three different flanker tasks in 10 severe ABI patients with or without diagnosis of apathy (3 M, mean age = 56.60; 3 M, mean age ± SD = 58.60, respectively), and 15 healthy controls (9 M, mean age = 54.46) Reaction times (RTs), accuracy, and global index of performance (GIP) were analyzed for each task. Results: Only apathetic ABI patients showed a significant difference from healthy subjects (p-value ≤ 0.001), while the performance of patients without apathy was not significantly different from that of healthy controls (p-value = 0.351). Healthy participants had higher accuracy in comparison to both ABI patients with (p < 0.001) and without (p-value = 0.038) apathy, whilst slower RTs were shown by ABI patients without apathy in comparison to both healthy subjects (p-value = 0.045) and apathetic ABI patients (p-value = 0.022). Only patients with apathy exhibited a significantly higher number of missing trials (p-value = 0.001). Conclusions: Our results may suggest a potential link between apathy following severe ABI and conflict monitoring processes, even though further investigations with larger sample size are needed.

Bargaining and interdependence: Common parent‐offspring conflict resolution strategies among Chon Chuuk and their implications for suicidal behavior

AbstractThe anthropology of Pacific cultures spotlights social conflict as a proximate cause of suicide. Ethnographic accounts suggest that suicidal behaviors are high‐cost conflict‐resolution strategies. We investigate parent‐child conflicts and the strategies adolescents and young adults use to resolve them, using concepts from human behavioral ecology to interpret results from in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with 58 Chon Chuuk participants. One strategy for resolving conflicts in one's favor is to impose costs through the threat or use of violence, but an alternative strategy for those who lack social power or formidability involves social withdrawal, or withholding cooperation, until the interdependent parties reach an agreement. The Chuukese term amwunumwun refers to a spectrum of social withdrawal, including avoidance, running away, and suicide. Strategies involving withholding cooperation were the most reported child behavioral response. As predicted, low‐cost strategies, such as negotiation, were associated with nonsevere conflicts (e.g., playing with friends), whereas high‐cost withholding cooperation, such as running away, was associated with severe conflicts (e.g., labor exploitation). Importantly, withholding cooperation was often, but not always, associated with outcomes favoring the child. We propose that withholding cooperation is a culturally ubiquitous strategy, ranging from avoidance to suicidality, used by the powerless to achieve more favorable outcomes. [adolescence, parent‐offspring conflict, suicide, Micronesia]

Regional Differences in Chinese Female Demand for Childcare Services of 0-3 Years: The Moderating and Mediating Effects of Family Childcare Context.

There are multiple reasons to consider the use of formal childcare: parental employment, child development, fertility choices, elderly health, generational relations, etc. This study explores the relationship between regional differences (urban/rural; eastern/central/western) and demand for childcare services (quantity, price, quality) from birth to three years of age, moderated and mediated by the family childcare contexts among Chinese women. Altogether, 1770 mothers of children aged 0-3 were selected from a national survey and analyzed. There are three major findings: (1) Urban mothers show a willingness to spend on the higher monetary cost of center-based childcare compared to rural mothers, as a result of more severe work-child conflicts faced by urban women. Urban-rural gaps in individual and household income also contribute to the differences in affordability. (2) Mothers in eastern China have a more substantial need to place their infants or toddlers in nurseries before the age of three than their counterparts in central and western China, primarily due to a lack of grandparental and paternal childcare support and an expectation of higher quality programs. (3) There is no significant regional disparity in terms of care-related or education-related quality preferences. The paper proposes regional prioritized strategies and targeted services to address the "3A" problems of childcare provision.

Foreign institutional investment horizon and earnings management: Evidence from around the world

This paper investigates whether and how the investment horizon relates to foreign institutional monitoring in constraining the self-interested managerial use of earnings management for a sample of firms from 29 countries. We find that equity ownership by long-term foreign institutional investors, irrespective of the strength of institutional controls in their home countries, is associated with lesser earnings management. Accounting for the significance of information asymmetry in earnings management and the ability of long-term foreign institutional investors to mitigate the information disadvantage associated with cross-border equity investments, we find that the constraining effect is stronger in firms with weaker information environments. Finally, using multiple proxies for the country- and firm-level agency, we find that monitoring by long-term, rather than short-term, foreign institutional investors is significantly effective in limiting earnings management in environments of severe agency conflicts. Overall, our findings draw attention to the heterogeneity in the monitoring role played by foreign institutional investors in influencing the financial reporting quality.

Managerial litigation risk and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from universal demand laws

AbstractWe examine the effect of managerial litigation risk on corporate investment efficiency. Exploiting the staggered adoption of universal demand (UD) laws in the United States and employing a stacked regression approach, we find that the exogenous reduction in litigation risk induced by UD laws leads to lower investment efficiency. Our results are robust to the use of alternative partitioning variables and variations in sample composition. We also find that the decrease in investment sensitivity and excessive risk‐taking are channels through which the reduced litigation rights lead to less efficient investments. Our results support the notion that weakened shareholder litigation rights lead to more severe agency conflicts and thus less efficient investment decisions.

Challenges Facing Kenya-United States America Partnership Counterterrorism in Kenya

This reflection is an attempt to understand interstate partnership in bid to thwart global terrorism as a challenge in the post-cold war era. Terrorism attacks seem to have attracted global attention in the aftermath of 9/11 twin tower of the world trade center attack in the New York city. Global war on terror is a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted war led by USA with the main objective of protecting its interests globally. The horn of Africa is considered one of the safe haven for training and executing these attacks globally due to inherent prevailing circumstances in this region. Kenya has been a terrorist targetdue to its perceived closeness with the USA. The study adopted a mixed approach to reach its logical conclusion. It was found that; unemployment, USA coordination from Nairobi, internal politics, prolonged and severe inter-state conflicts in the region, geography and proximity to the gulf are the main challenges facing these partners in counterterrorism. The study concludes that for counterterrorism to succeed there is need to address the challenges and forge a close partnership among all stakeholders for a safer region.

The effectiveness of paradoxical therapy on relational practical obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Background and Aim: Previous studies have shown that compared to the general population, patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder often have disorders in relational functioning, including interpersonal problems, mistrust, and unhappiness in interpersonal relationships, and the probability of marriage is lower and increased. Marital problems, ambivalence, severe interpersonal conflicts, revenge, and sexual problems are common. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of paradoxical therapy on relational practical obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Methods: In terms of the practical purpose and data collection method, the current research design was a single-case experiment of the multiple baseline type, sometimes called a single-subject experiment or a time series experiment. It is an experiment that consists of intensive research on a person or several people who are considered a single group. Among the single-subject designs, the baseline-intervention-follow-up (A-B-C) design was used in this study. The research community included all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students aged 20 to 45 years in Tehran. For sampling, six people were selected from the available sampling method and completed the treatment sessions. The clinical interview was used to diagnose the relational obsessive-compulsive disorder and its differential diagnoses. Quantitative data was collected by completing questionnaires and research scales in three phases: baseline, intervention, and follow-up. Results: The statistical analysis of the research data showed that the hypothesis of the research entitled "Paradoxical psychotherapy improves ego strength in relational obsessive-compulsive patients" was confirmed with 56.5% overall improvement. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the visual analysis of six participants and the results of the strong effect size and the improvement rate of relational obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, the results of the paradox treatment can be considered very effective.

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКАЯ ПРЕСТУПНОСТЬ В СИСТЕМЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ: СПЕЦИФИКА И ВЛИЯНИЕ НА БЕЗОПАСНОСТЬ

Economic crime in the system of public administration of the Russian Federation in the context of the special military operation and confrontation with the NATO bloc is becoming a critical factor determining the state security of the country, as it affects not only the efficiency of economic processes, but also political stability in general. The purpose of the article is to analyze the phenomenon of official crime in the field of public service. The main hypothesis: malfeasance causes not only material damage to the state, undermining its state power and disorganizing the system of public administration, but also reputational damage, undermining the legitimacy of state power. A crisis of legitimacy is dangerous because it can lead to severe internal political conflicts. Results of the work: the dynamics of official crime for 2000–2022 was studied and it was concluded that only after 2012 it was possible to reverse the negative trend toward an increase in its level, which occurred thanks to the introduction of more effective countermeasures.

“Teachers think the kids around here, don't really want to learn”: Street‐identified black men and women's attitudes toward teachers and schooling

AbstractThis street participatory action research project explored the reflective schooling experiences of street identified Black men and women (ages 18–35) in two small low‐income neighborhoods. Secondary analysis of survey (N = 520) and interview (N = 46) data examined: (1) How are attitudes toward schooling and teachers affected by race, gender and age?; and (2) How do students utilize a street‐identity as a site of resilience inside schools? Overall, street‐identified study participants held positive attitudes toward schooling, but generally performed poorly in schools and had negative experiences with educators. No significance was found as a function of gender and age regarding attitudes toward schooling and attitudes toward teachers. Also, interview results, across gender and age, suggest school‐related structural challenges and poor teacher‐student relationships contributed to severe conflict between students and teachers; and between students. Interviewees argued some Black students internalized a street identity or became disruptive and even engaged in school violence as a protective mechanism to endure hostile schooling environments. Moreover, Street PAR is discussed as a method and intervention to improve student performance and resolve concerns between students and educators.

THE STRATEGY OF HOUTHIS TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YEMEN'S TERRITORY: DISTORTION OF SOCIAL NORMS IN CONFLICT

&lt;p&gt;The Houthis' attempt at seizing control of Yemeni territory initially seemed like a protest against the presence of power. However, the Houthi rebellion grew louder and bolder until it crossed the boundaries of social norms. The Houthi group's efforts experienced increasing strong power dynamics, leading to a rising severe conflict. In line with the background, the researchers formulated three problem formulations: (1) How did the Houthis begin their efforts to seize control of Yemen's territory? (2) What are the factors that make the strategy of the Houthis a distortion of social norms in the conflict? (3) How do the dynamics of the Houthi power over Yemen play out in the distortion of social norms? This research is based on the argument that the Houthis are trying to distort social norms in Yemen. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. The technique used in data collection is reading and taking notes. The data analysis techniques in this study are data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. This research indicates that the conflict between the Houthis and Yemen is an organized conflict of interest.&lt;/p&gt;

Sequence Calculation and Automatic Discrimination of Vehicle Merging Conflicts in Freeway Merging Areas

The freeway is a continuous flow facility that improves the accessibility and operational efficiency of the road network. However; freeway merging areas are accident-prone areas. In order to investigate the reasons for the high occurrence of accidents in merging areas, this paper considers the dynamic nature of traffic conflicts, constructs a sequence model of merging conflicts with Time Difference to Collision (TDTC) as the index, and implements automatic identification of merging conflicts based on the LightGBM algorithm. A UAV was used to collect vehicle trajectory data at the Guanghe Freeway in Guangzhou to verify the accuracy of automatic identification, with an accuracy rate of 91%. The results show that the most important feature of severe conflicts is the choice of the merging position. In addition, the most important feature of general conflicts is the standard deviation of speed before merging. Lastly, the most important feature of minor conflicts is the longitudinal speed difference between the ramp and mainline vehicles.

Assessing the Impact of Increasing Tractor-Trailer Speed Limit on the Safety and Mobility of Three-Lane Highways in Egypt

Currently, the speed limit for tractor-trailers (TTs) on Egyptian highways is 30 km/h lower than the speed limit for passenger cars (PCs). The main purpose of this article is therefore to evaluate the effects of an increase in TT speed limit on both the traffic safety and mobility of Egyptian three-lane highways, with speed limits of 90 and 100 km/h for PCs. A SUMO simulation model was used in this analysis. Average vehicle delay was used as a measure of mobility, while the simulated conflict ratio based on time to collision (TTC) and deceleration rate required to avoid crash (DRAC) surrogate safety measures were used as performance indicators of safety. All simulated vehicles were equipped with surrogate safety measurement (SSM) devices to extract traffic conflicts, with TTC ≤ 2.50 representing less sever conflicts; TTC ≤ 1.50 s and DRAC ≥ 3.35 m/s2 representing potential conflicts; and TTC ≤ 0.50 s and DRAC ≥ 6.0 m/s2 representing severe conflicts. The results show that increasing the speed limit for TTs would significantly reduce the average delay by approximately 27–76% for traffic volumes 500–2000 vehicle/hr/lane, with TTs comprising 2.5–15% of total traffic volume. Furthermore, in most cases, when comparing the situation after the speed limit increase for TTs with the base case (i.e., TTs with a speed limit of 60 km/h and 70 km/h for highways, and a speed limit of 90 km/h and 100 km/h for PCs), the results show no statistically significant change in the conflict ratio more than 1.0, suggesting that there is no safety change. Furthermore, due to the increase in speed limit for TTs, in some cases and for different thresholds, there is a statistically significant reduction in the conflict ratio, indicating improvements in terms of safety.

Conservation and Development: Reassessing the Florida 2070 Planning Project with Spatial Conservation Prioritization

The state of Florida is renowned for its globally recognized biodiversity richness, but it currently suffers from an ongoing population boom and corresponding urban sprawl resulting in the emergence of severe conservation conflicts, especially in southern parts of Florida. To mitigate the intense competing land use situation and comprehend the dynamic complex relationship between conservation and development, this study argues that both ecological and social dimensions should be taken into account for spatial analysis and underpin zoning decisions empirically in the phase of landscape planning. Choosing South Florida as the study site, we implemented focal-species-based spatial conservation prioritization analysis using Zonation software to identify the highest priority areas and accordingly evaluate two varying land use scenarios provided by the Florida 2070 Project. From a novel perspective of impact avoidance, the inverse prioritization method was applied in this study, intended to minimize negative human impacts and examine the effectiveness and suitability of Florida’s future land use projections. After comparing and integrating social-ecological data through mapping, the study uncovered a holistic view of conservation conflicts in Florida and articulated trade-offs for all parties of the local ecosystem striving to reconcile human–wildlife conflicts in Florida and imply a sustainable win-win strategy in the stage of regional landscape planning.

Severe environmental conditions create severe conflicts: A novel ecological pathway to extreme coyote attacks on humans

Abstract Identifying the circumstances and causes of carnivore attacks on humans is important for prevention of future incidents as well as employing effective wildlife management strategies. Cape Breton Highlands National Park (CBHNP) in Nova Scotia has experienced multiple attacks by coyotes Canis latrans on humans, including a fatal attack on an adult in 2009. Here we use a combination of data on space use and diet collected from 2011 to 2013 to reveal that limited resources and a reliance on a large ungulate (moose, Alces americanus) as the mechanism leading to aggression by coyotes in CBHNP. Resident coyotes exhibited large home range sizes (mean = 77.5 km2) indicative of limited resources and spatiotemporal avoidance of human activity. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values of sub‐sampled coyote whiskers (n = 32), which provide a longitudinal record of diet over the months before collection, revealed little intra‐ and inter‐individual variation with nearly all individuals specializing on moose, a pattern that agrees with indices of natural resource availability. Specifically, stable isotope mixing models show that moose was the most important prey for most coyotes (25/32), representing between 41% and 78% of dietary inputs. Only four coyotes exhibited use of anthropogenic resources (human foods), and only one of seven coyotes involved in attacks on people had been consuming human foods before the attacks. Synthesis and Applications: We have described a unique ecological system in which a generalist carnivore has expanded its niche to specialize on a large prey species, with the unfortunate consequence of also expanding pathways to conflicts with people. Our results suggest extreme unprovoked predatory attacks by coyotes on people are likely to be quite rare and associated with unique ecological characteristics. Extreme management actions such as bounties are unnecessary, but managers may need to employ hazing or lethal removal earlier in the conflict process than under normal circumstances. Also, users of these areas should be made aware of the risks coyotes pose and encouraged to take precautions.

Tax and tariff planning through transfer prices: The role of the head office and business unit

We study the roles of the head office (HO) and the business units (BUs) of a multinational corporation (MNC) in reducing income tax and tariff payments through internal transfer prices in international trades. Using confidential transfer price data of a large MNC, we analyze how the different elements of internal transfer prices set by the HO and BUs vary differently from external prices with income tax rates, tariff rates, and the tradeoff between the two. Absent severe agency conflicts, we find that the BUs contribute more to tax planning than the HO, despite that explicit incentives to do so are not included in the compensation schemes. The roles of the HO and BUs vary with product market competition, the risk of conflicts with tax and customs authorities, and agency problems within the firm. Moreover, we provide evidence of strategic trade cost allocations among BUs to reduce income taxes.

EMERGING MARKET FIRMS AND DUAL BUSINESS MODELS

Managers in organizations face severe challenges and conflicts that arise from pursuing dual business models. Documented studies are available on how Western Multinationals operate in emerging markets, however, little evidence is available about how home-grown emerging market firms pursue this challenge in their home markets. With an ambidexterity perspective and activity systems approach, this study aims to offer novel insights into how Indian firms carry out organizational integration and separation—they focus on domains of expertise in organizational activities such as sales and marketing rather than on business units—as they pursue the challenges of dual business models, in contrast to the multinational corporation (MNC) approach.

Real-time safety analysis using autonomous vehicle data: a Bayesian hierarchical extreme value model

This study proposes an approach for real-time road network safety analysis using autonomous vehicles (AVs) generated data. The approach utilises a Bayesian hierarchical spatial random parameter extreme value model (BHSRP). The model simultaneously addresses the scarcity and non-stationarity of conflict extremes and unobserved spatial heterogeneity. Two real-time safety metrics are estimated: the risk of crash (RC) and return level (RL). The RC and RL were applied to three months AVs data for evaluating the real-time safety level of an urban corridor in Palo Alto, California. The indicator time to collision (TTC) was used to characterise traffic conflicts. The conflict extreme was defined as the maxima of negated TTC in a 20-min interval (block). The results show that RC can differentiate the block-level risk level, while RL can reflect safety levels among blocks. For the RC, the hot (crash risk prone) segments and intersections are associated with more severe conflict frequency.

Climate Change Adaption between Governance and Government—Collaborative Arrangements in the City of Munich

Growing cities face severe land use conflicts. Urban expansion and the densification of existing built areas are increasing the pressure on green spaces, which are key for climate change adaptation. Planning procedures embroiled in these land use conflicts are often complicated and slow. This is due to the increasing complexity in planning processes, which involve a multitude of stakeholders and decision-makers, whose responsibilities are not always entirely clear. Governance-oriented forms of decision making with horizontal structures are often required, but these also entail challenges. In our study, we ask how climate adaptation through urban green spaces can be integrated into planning processes. The study is based on a methodological combination, including document analysis and qualitative interviews with administrative staff. The City of Munich, a rapidly growing German city, serves as a case study. The results show different collaborative arrangements in four planning arenas and demonstrate how these structures support or hinder climate change adaptation mainstreaming. We conclude that hierarchical structures impede horizontal collaborative arrangements and shed lights on mechanisms reinforcing these structures. For large administrations, informal meetings and coordinating units are effective in fostering interdepartmental cooperation.

Exact Eco-Efficiency Measurement in the Yellow River Basin: A New Non-Parametric Approach

Frontier-based approaches to eco-efficiency measures have long been controversial because no normative definition is provided. Previous studies have used technical efficiency, environmental efficiency, and other variables as a proxy. To standardize its definition, we propose a formal eco-efficiency indicator, the ratio of actual gross domestic product (GDP) to environmental impact to potential GDP to environmental impact. To quantify it, we develop the biennial meta-frontier non-radial directional distance function (BMNDDF), which addresses the potential threats of technology heterogeneity, the slack variable, and linear programming infeasibility. Using this new indicator, we assess the city-level eco-efficiency in the Yellow River Basin from 2008 to 2017 to identify the harmonious relationship between ecological protection and economic development. The empirical results show a 5.73% increase in eco-efficiency per year, with the technology leadership effect as the main contributor. Because the central region is defined by heavy emissions and many underdeveloped cities, it suffers from more severe conflicts between outputs and emissions than other regions.

How yielding cameras affect consecutive pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at non-signalized crosswalks? A mixed bivariate generalized ordered approach

Yielding cameras are considered to be an effective means of preventing drivers’ non-yielding behavior. Notably, as pedestrians’ perceived risk and behavior change dynamically during the crossing, the safety effectiveness of such facility could also vary across the consecutive conflicts. This study contributes to the literature by assessing the safety effectiveness of yielding camera from a novel perspective, focusing on the consecutive pedestrian-vehicle conflicts (primary conflict and secondary conflict), using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and roadside camera data. Another key contribution lies in the consideration of primary conflict related factors in the secondary conflict analysis, providing new insights into conflict analysis.The mixed bivariate generalized ordered probit model is proposed to analyze the consecutive conflicts simultaneously. The model results indicate that the yielding camera could decrease both slight and severe conflict probability in primary conflict. However, in secondary conflict, the yielding camera would lower severe conflict probability but increase slight conflict probability. Moreover, several primary conflict related factors reveal significant effects on the secondary conflict severity. Specifically, higher pedestrian speed and driver’s yielding behavior in primary conflict could lead to higher crossing risks in the secondary conflict. Conversely, more unsuccessful attempts before primary conflict could decrease the severity level of secondary conflict. Based on the results, several practical implications are provided to improve the effectiveness of yielding camera and enhance pedestrian safety.