Tactical Response Research Articles

Prudentes sicut serpentes: Dissimulation and Concealment in Japanese and Chinese Missions in the Seventeenth Century

This volume aims to explore the concepts of hypocrisy and dissimulation, conceived in the framework of the ‘tensions at the heart of Christian teaching and experience’. This tension primarily points towards a conflict between ideal and lived practice; however, in certain circumstances, dissimulation and deceit might be understood as legitimate responses to a given situation. This article examines significant aspects of dissimulation in the specific case of early modern missions in China and Japan at the end of the sixteenth and throughout the seventeenth century, where missionaries often had to resort to disguise and concealment. Many of them had to overcome immense difficulties just to enter the country; some had to evangelize in secret, living in constant fear and facing ongoing persecution. In these territories, the ‘policy of deceit’ therefore became a relevant part of the proselytizing enterprise. I examine these practices of dissimulation with regard to evangelization strategies, and relate them to the sincerity and the confession of the faith, two of the central problems of the Christian credo. I argue that dissimulation was perceived, by the missionaries, as a legitimate and tactical response to the challenging and complex circumstances of the Japanese and Chinese missions in this period.

Systematic Approach to the Construction of a Law-Making Strategy (Using the Example of Strategic Planning of Spatial Development in Russia)

Currently in Russia, lawmaking is carried out according to the model of tactical (ad hoc) response to changing situations, i.e. by introducing many local changes to legislation (for example, in 2023, 685 federal and 9 federal constitutional laws were adopted). At the same time, the speed and depth of transformations taking place in the world, as well as the increasing complexity of social relationships, require a transition to a strategic approach, i.e. to the purposeful construction of the future by legal means. The law-making strategy allows us to reduce the variability in the development of legal regulation, so its study is a matter of current interest. The article attempts to study the law-making strategy from the perspective of systemic methodology. This approach allows us to consider the strategy comprehensively, characterize its properties, functions, composition and structure, as well as relationships with the external environment. The theoretical conclusions are illustrated using the example of the formation of a spatial development strategy for Russia. This area of strategic planning is now especially relevant, since it is necessary to respond to new external (sanctions, reorientation of economic relations) and internal (increasing the number of subjects of the Federation, redistribution of logistics flows, the need to ensure technological sovereignty) challenges. In conclusion, the author draws conclusions about the need to institutionalize the law-making strategy and to ensure a systematic approach in its formation.

Addressing the Escalating Threat of Cybercrime in African Nations: Strategies for Legislation, Governance, and Capacity Building

This overall assessment considers the intricate terrain of cyber-threats in African countries in depth, showing how varied it is, what its economic consequences are, and why the appropriate countermeasures are needed. Cybercrime is a comprehensive threat that includes different types of activities, including hacking and phishing, right up to damaging intellectual property. The ripple effect goes far beyond immediate financials losses and is caused by service failures and reputational damage. The rising trends of cybercrime in Africa necessitate the urgency to fight it because, of its prevalence, with the annual losses running into billions. The article looks at the growth of cybercrime in Africa, especially the fact that cybercriminals are revolving into cybercriminal activities. As we’ve witnessed an internet population of over a billion people in the continent, the vulnerabilities become more widespread as there are insufficient cyber security laws and regulations in place. Mobile phone propagation aggravates weak security infrastructure that today are scaring Africa with a total cost of up to $4 billion yearly. Businesses and governments may fail to engage in cyber security which will increase their vulnerability since the commitment to the cyber security measures will be delayed, and timely and tactical response is needed. Legislation is a critical element in tackling cyber-attacks and this is a challenge many African countries face when it comes to enacting all-encompassing laws. The rules of Budapest Convention are used to create a guiding framework, which is aimed at supporting the harmonization with the international standards for the efficient cooperation. A coordinated effort culturally, as well as internationally, becomes evident to protect Africa’s digital future by lessening the economic and social implications of cyber threats. Keywords: Cybercrime, cybercrime strategies, internet security, cyber legislation, cyber governance, cyber capacity building and cyber threats.

The potential for egg-guarding care in females of the damselfish, Dascyllus reticulatus, in the absence of uniparental male care.

Male damselfish typically demonstrate uniparental egg-guarding care in nature. Potential plasticity in sexual behavior has recently been reported in various teleost fish. To examine behavioral plasticity in parental care, we conducted aquarium experiments to explore the potential for egg-guarding care in the female damselfish, Dascyllus reticulatus. After initial caretaking, males were removed from the mating nests, and cohabiting females frequently exhibited egg predation on the same day. However, we confirmed that females showed significantly decreased egg-predation frequencies on the following day and showed egg-caring behaviors. All experimental females guarded their eggs until they hatched. Females subsequently spawned eggs as females even after performing parental care behaviors, indicating no progression of sex change into males. Molecular analysis of select pituitary gland hormones indicated that egg-caring females and males showed high expression levels of prolactin, suggesting its involvement in the development of parental care behaviors. The cryptic possession of caretaking ability in females may be a tactical response to the need for temporary replacement of the care roles in cases where caretaking males are removed, for example, through predation, in damselfish species living in sexually cohabiting groups.

Spillover Effects of Sanctions on Airlines

To counter the escalating threat of direct conflict with rogue nations, the use of sanctions packages has become a preferred tactical response. However, although targeted, there are significantly elevated spillover effects that can generate sectoral damage. While the literature on sanctions has focused on analyzing the effectiveness and the impact on the sanctioned and sanctioning country, spillover effects have not been addressed in the tourism and travel industry. Based on behavioral decision theory and modern portfolio theory, this study states hypotheses and confronts two potential results derived from each theory regarding the way negative consequences of sanctions spill over into airlines. Using the aviation sanctions packages derived from the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 in different regions worldwide, the results indicate greater spillovers flow into airlines than other aviation-related corporations, into big firms than small firms, and with significant differential effects on each analyzed region.

Analysis of Physiological, Physical, and Tactical Responses in Small-Sided Games in Women’s Soccer: The Effect of Numerical Superiority

Small-sided and conditioned games (SSGs) are pedagogical tools that help in soccer training, being used to solve tactical problems with the specific demands of the game. In this context, this study aimed to compare physical, physiological, and tactical responses in elite women’s soccer in SSGs with numerical equality (3-a-side) and superiority (3-a-side + 1) in the offensive phase. The sample consisted of 16 female athletes participating in official national competitions. Two consecutive days of data collection were conducted, and a 4 min duration series was carried out. The variables analysed were the total distance covered, the distance covered at different speeds, maximum heart rate (HRmáx), mean heart rate, the spatial exploration index, the stretching index, length, width, and LpWratio. The results showed an increase in distance covered at speeds of 7.20–14.29 km/h (m) (effect size: medium) and a decrease in HRmáx (effect size: small) in the numerical superiority. Regarding tactical response, there was a decrease in the spatial exploration index (effect size: large), length (effect size: medium), and stretching index (effect size: large) for games played in the numerical superiority. Thus, it was observed that SSGs with numerical superiority in women’s soccer suggest more clustered, less exploratory, and more positional behaviour of the athletes.

Risk Factors of Clonally Related, Multi, and Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients.

The secondary infection of multi and extensively drug-resistant "Acinetobacter baumannii" in severely ill COVID-19 individuals is usually associated with extended hospitalisation and a high mortality rate. The current study aimed to assess the exact incidence rate of A. baumannii coinfection in severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICUs), to identify the possible mechanism of A. baumannii transfer to COVID-19 patients and to find out their resistance rate against different antibiotics. Fifty severely ill "COVID-19" individuals on respiratory support were selected with samples being collected from the pharynx. In addition, another 60 samples were collected from the surrounding environment. Bacterial isolates were diagnosed by microbiological cultures and confirmed by "Vitek 2 system" and real-time PCR. The "Vitek 2 Compact system" was used to evaluate these isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility. The recovered isolates' DNA fingerprints and genetic similarities were performed using ERIC-PCR. Twenty-six samples were tested positive for A. baumannii (20 out of 50 samples taken from patients, 40%; 6 out of 60 swabs from a nosocomial setting, 10%). All A. baumannii strains isolated from the nosocomial sites were clonally related (have the same genetic lineage) to some strains isolated from patients. However, the majority of the patients' strains were categorised as belonging to the same genetic lineage. Furthermore, "the multi and extensively drug" resistance patterns were seen in all isolates. In addition, total isolates showed resistance to the most commonly tested antibiotics, while none of them was found to be resistant to tigecycline. Secondary "A. baumannii" infection in severely ill "COVID-19" patients is a serious matter, especially when it has one spot of transmission in the ICU as well as when it is extensively drug-resistant, necessitating an immediate and tactical response to secure the issue.

Firms’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic requires firms to adequately respond. In this study, we first explore in our empirical data how firms responded to the COVID-19 crisis and identify five tactical response types, operational, digitalization, financial, supportive, and organizational responses. Furthermore, our findings indicate that responses vary in scope; Some firms act on their own, while others engage in collaborations. Finally, we find that the response angle is different across firms, as some firms leverage potential and others primarily mitigate risk. Second, we follow an event study design to measure the financial implications of these responses. We find that responses to the COVID-19 pandemic generally entail a positive stock market reaction. Financial and digitalization responses, as well as risk mitigation responses, are consistently evaluated positively. We discuss our findings in context of different theoretical lenses, substantiating the emerging literature on the COVID-19 crisis, and the established literature on crisis response management.

Teacher Absenteeism and Poor Learning Outcome in Tanzania: Rethinking an Incentive Scheme as a Strategic Solution to the Problem

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the best strategically sound tactical response to teacher absenteeism that would enhance teacher effectiveness and learning outcomes in Tanzania. The study was guided by two theories; self-determination theory (2000) and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory (1943). A qualitative case study design was used to obtain the results. The study used a sample size of ten research participants comprising of eight habitually absent teachers and two primary school heads. Interviews, focus group discussions and an extensive review of literature that cites studies with similar characteristics were used. The study discovered that the issue of teacher absenteeism and poor learning outcomes can be resolved by providing extrinsic motivation, such as a financial incentive for teachers based on their teaching effort, and appreciating the intrinsic motivation at the same time. The study recommends that the government should prioritize teacher motivation as suggested by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.

A qualitative exploration of actors’ power resources and relations in Swiss transit station district planning

ABSTRACT Cross-sectoral collaboration between actors is essential when planning station districts for transit-oriented development. However, power relations and the resulting dominance of selected actors complicate collaborative processes and the necessary integration between transportation and urban planning. Despite the previous problematization of power in planning, dedicated research is lacking on station districts. This article aims to tackle this literature gap through qualitative case studies of two station districts in Switzerland. The findings suggest that municipalities and public transport providers use power resources to assume institutional roles outside their traditional planning domains, partly as a tactical response to initiatives that they contest. For planning practice, the article proposes that process organizers grasp actors’ power potentials early and, if mobilized, integrate them in favor of broadly supported station district development.

An Empirical Assessment of Firm Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented crisis environment. To mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis or to ensure survival, firms across all industries attempt to adequately respond. Yet, it remains largely unclear how firms respond to the COVID-19 crisis, and how effective these responses are. In this empirical study, we address these issues. In a first step, exploring how firms respond to the COVID-19 crisis, we identify five distinct tactical response types, namely operational, digitalization, financial, supportive, and organizational responses. We also find that responses vary in their scope, as some firms take action on their own, while others collaborate on an inter-organizational level. Eventually, we observe different response angles, manifesting in firms that leverage upside potential during the pandemic and firms that focus on the mitigation of downside risk. In a second step, we measure the effectiveness of the different responses, conducting an event study to estimate the financial value that investors attribute to the announced COVID-19 responses. Our results indicate that firm responses to the COVID-19 crisis are generally associated with an increase in firm value, and that financial and digitalization responses are valued particularly positive. In contrast to solo efforts, collaborative responses are also associated with a higher increase in firm value. Collectively, our empirical findings extend the emerging, yet mainly conceptual, literature on the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the more established general literature on crisis response management.

Responsive Interior: Tactics for Adaptation and Resilience

Design disciplines continuously face challenges to demonstrate resilience in responding to rapid changes and complex issues in our contemporary world. The idea of responsive interior highlights the ability to respond appropriately to a particular context through various tactics to ensure its relevance and resilience for the present and future. Interior practices deal with intervention, adaptation, and alteration of existing conditions, as well as finding new uses and programmes that can be added to existing spaces. Behind such attempts, a series of responsive tactics has become necessary to gather knowledge and understanding of the existing qualities, which should be an important basis for appropriate interior programming as a tactical response. This issue of Interiority presents a collection of ideas and explorations that demonstrate various acts of adaptation performed in different interior contexts, as well as various tactical interior approaches to reuse and repurpose the existing. While the world is changing quickly, the interior design discipline must strengthen its capability to respond and adapt. Finding more tactics for new interior programming, reading thoroughly into the existing, exploring various forms of adaptability, and establishing more creative design thinking become crucial steps towards interior resilience in a constantly changing world.

Machine Learning White-Hat Worm Launcher for Tactical Response by Zoning in Botnet Defense System.

Malicious botnets such as Mirai are a major threat to IoT networks regarding cyber security. The Botnet Defense System (BDS) is a network security system based on the concept of “fight fire with fire”, and it uses white-hat botnets to fight against malicious botnets. However, the existing white-hat Worm Launcher of the BDS decides the number of white-hat worms, but it does not consider the white-hat worms’ placement. This paper proposes a novel machine learning (ML)-based white-hat Worm Launcher for tactical response by zoning in the BDS. The concept of zoning is introduced to grasp the malicious botnet spread with bias over the IoT network. This enables the Launcher to divide the network into zones and make tactical responses for each zone. Three tactics for tactical responses for each zone are also proposed. Then, the BDS with the Launcher is modeled by using agent-oriented Petri nets, and the effect of the proposed Launcher is evaluated. The result shows that the proposed Launcher can reduce the number of infected IoT devices by about 30%.

A tactical scheduling framework for wind farm‐integrated multi‐energy systems to take part in natural gas and wholesale electricity markets as a price setter

The wind integrated multi-energy systems (MES) have gained significant momentum in recent years on account of their self-sufficiency and attractive clean attributes. This study puts forward a bi-level multi-follower optimization framework to study the tactical response of a wind integrated MES in the wholesale electricity market (WEM) and the natural gas market (NGM) as a price setter. At the upper level, the MES endeavors to minimize the overall operational costs by giving the best offer/bid in WEM/NGM, and by utilizing thermal energy storage (TES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), and natural gas storage (NGS). When the MES submits offers/bids in WEM and NGM, the NGM and WEM operators, as individual followers, clear their respective markets to maximize public welfare and announce the ultimate market-clearing price (MCP). Additionally, risk-averse and risk-seeker information gap decision theory (IGDT) have been deployed to provide various decision-making options for MES operators considering wind underproduction and overproduction scenarios. Standard 6-node natural gas network (NGN) and 6-bus transmission system (TS) have been deployed to model WEM and NGM, respectively. The results testify to the capabilities of the MES in influencing the decisions of WEM and NGM.

Процесс объединения Германии 1989-1990 гг. И реакция советской общественности

Based on the methodology of studying historical memory, the author analyzes personal and social reactions that the resolution of the German question and the unification of Germany in 1990 caused in the Soviet society of the perestroika era. The special attention is paid to the phenomenon of the GDR that for several generations of Soviet people was associated with the process when a part of the German nation has learnt the lesson from the tragedy of National Socialism. The author traces the connection between Gorbachev`s reforms and his foreign policy initiatives with the transformation of the FRG image in the public consciousness, filling it with positive content. The article shows it from the author's personal experience who was in Bonn in the fall of 1989. This experience is compared with the dynamics of the German question assessments that dominated in the Soviet press at that time. While conservative newspapers continued to insist on the “threat of the GDR mergence”, the liberal press saw in those events the prospect of an early reunification of the German nation. The event that became a watershed of the considered period was the opening of the Berlin Wall. Its symbolism went beyond the intra-German discourse, became a factor in revising the established dogmas about the “real socialism advantages” in the public opinion of the Soviet Union. This event could have become a mobilizing factor for Gorbachev`s foreign policy but after 1989 his policy lost its offensive nature, it is limited to tactical response to external challenges, without using the opening chances to consolidate the USSR`s new place in the international arena. The proof of the parallelism of the internal political processes in the USSR and the GDR that became the basis, on the one hand, for the collapse of the Soviet Union, and on the other hand, for the reunification of all Germans in one state, took the central place in the article.

Evaluation of crime pattern in Khanna local government using geographic information system

Sustainable development can only take place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The state of insecurity in Rivers State and Nigeria at large has been on the rise over the past decade. The Nigerian security agencies have not been able to effectively tackle and nib crime activities in the bud. This has led to the loss of lives, businesses, and other attendant socio-economic effects. The distribution of crime across the landscape is geographically random since crime is a human phenomenon, hence geography plays an important role in law enforcement and criminal justice. Geographic information system (GIS) can help the security agency in tactical planning and response; allocating resources quickly and more effectively, determine mitigation priorities, analyze historical events, and predict future trends and patterns. The main aim of this paper is crime modeling and analysis using the Geo-information system. This paper uses GIS to visualize, analyze, and explain criminal activities within Khanna local government in a spatial context. To achieve this, crime data and records covering over seven years were obtained from the Nigerian Police Force in Bori. Supplementary and attribute data were collected through fieldwork using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide the coordinates of crime points and scenes in the local government and other associated data. A spatial database was created using ArcGIS software. The crime hotspot map and crime density map of the study area was produced using the ArcGIS pro tool- Gi-Bin fixed 234-FDR at 99%,95%, and 90% confidence level respectively for the hot spots and cold spots respectively. The maps and results from the spatial analysis performed can help the police to carry out patterns and trends analysis across multiple jurisdictions; enlist community action, enhancing implementation of various policies to reduce crime in the study area. It can also provide tools and techniques to capture, forecast future crime occurrence in the area and reduce crime incidences.

Reconnecting reef recovery in a world of coral bleaching

AbstractCoral bleaching can have widespread impacts on reefs leaving many areas in need of coral recovery. While the long‐term mitigation of bleaching requires transitioning to a low carbon economy, local management has focused on approaches that seek refugia from or tolerance to bleaching stressors, reduce additional stressors, or facilitate coral recovery. Here, we describe a tactical response to coral bleaching events that seeks to identify the most important reefs for driving imminent recovery. A bleaching recovery algorithm is described that identifies those reefs that provide the most important sources of coral larvae that supply many reefs in the early stages of post‐bleaching recovery (i.e., reefs in need of coral larval supply). We describe the algorithm with a simple toy example and then apply it to the Great Barrier Reef, which has experienced three mass bleaching events in the last 5 yr. Once such reefs have been identified it makes practical sense to undertake a vulnerability assessment and if necessary reduce manageable stressors, such as outbreaks of crown‐of‐thorns starfish or anchor damage, so that critical sources of coral recovery are not depleted further. In short, algorithms like this can help managers target finite management resources, including restoration, to where they might be most effective in facilitating natural processes of recovery.

Theoretical Aspects of Professional Competence of Police Officers from the Tactical and Operative Response Unit

In this article the author has made a theoretical analysis of law enforcement officials’ professional competence and has defined the meaning of professional competence of the police officer in the tactical-operational respond unit (TOR) of the National Police of Ukraine. Taking into consideration specific official tasks and professional activity the author describes the main abilities of the police unit (TOR). Among the structural components of professional competence of the police unit TOR: personal, active, social competence is separated. It is shown the intentional filling of structural ingredients of the professional competence of the police unit TOR. It is underlined that the actuality of the research of the development of police officers’ professional competence in this tactical-operational respond unit is connected with the increasing of citizens’ “close” looks at the police actions on the whole and a new-organized unit of the patrol police especially.
 Social-economic and political changes which are taking place in the lives of modern Ukrainians are characterized by the considerable increase of their civil activity and are expressed by their participation in public events of the different types: political, economic, social, sports, cultural, gendered, religious, ecological and so on. Considering Ukrainians’ high political activity, the urgent necessity of security guaranteeing and holding the public order were formed by the National Police Bodies during public events with participation of a great number of people. That’s why on purpose of providing civil security and law-and-order guard of the public events in 2017 the new unit of patrol police of tactical-operational respond TOR was organized. The new challenges have arisen before the new-organized police unit [3, 6]: to minimize the risks which may appear during public events; to decrease tense in the crowd without demonstrating force; to prevent and to resist street criminality; to be on patrol in the city for the operational support of the patrol police crews in the case of calls with the higher degree of the risk; to react on the situations where there is a real threat of using the weapon or another threat to people’s life; to detain people who are hiding from justice or are wanted and can be dangerous. “We need the units of the civil guard with a new mentality, and absolutely a new approach”, said the assistant of the minister of MIA of Ukraine S. Yarovyi in his interview [3].
 The fulfillment of the mentioned tasks demands from the policemen a high level of preparation and professional competence, which is expressed according to O. Tsylmak in the person’s possibility to use the set of acquired knowledge, skills and abilities in practical professional activity effectively [11]. The actuality of the research of the development of professional competence of a police officer in the tactical –operational respond unit is connected with the increasing of people’s “close” looks at the policemen in general and the new-organized patrol police unit in particular. The question of the policeman’s professional competence is a central one because nowadays in the communication with the policemen people use technical means of fixation (such as photo-, video-fixation), somebody to protect themselves against the police misconduct, somebody to show policemen “in not the most flattering light”.

Oil Spill Combat Strategy & Lesson Learnt of Balikpapan Spill

Among many discussions on effective response strategies during oil spill response operations at sea, this paper elaborates comprehensive information on oil spill combat strategy and lesson learnt from Balikpapan Spill incident. The author tries to shown the effectiveness of assessment and surveillance prior to oil spill response operation, oil spill response strategies and monitoring after oil spill response operation. The paper point out strategies used by OSCT Indonesia as National Oil Spill Response Organization on responding the oil spill incident. Focusing on taking tactical response according to experience gained from previous oil spill incident, the paper also mentions the importance of unified command between local authorities and company for easier coordination. Other than strategies and effective response, wildlife response become one of the difficulties faced onsite the field due to diverse wildlife and lack of wildlife response knowledge and trained experts. Learn from this recent oil spill experience, may enrich the knowledge on responding to such oil spill incident at similar condition and area.

Tactical Combat Casualty Care Scenario: Management of a Gunshot Wound to the Chest in a Combat Swimmer.

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) has always emphasized the need to consider the tactical setting in developing a plan to care for wounded unit members while still on the battlefield. The TCCC Guidelines provide an evidence-based trauma care approach to specific injuries that may occur in combat. However, they do not address what modifications might need to be made to the basic TCCC guidelines due to the specific tactical setting in which the scenario occurs. The scenario presented below depicts a combat swimmer operation in which a unit member is shot while in the water. The unit casualty response plan for a combat swimmer who sustains a gunshot wound to the chest while on a mission is complicated by the inability to perform indicated medical interventions for the casualty while he is in the water. It is also complicated by the potential for ballistic damage to his underwater breathing apparatus and the need to remain submerged after wounding for at least for a period of time to avoid further hostile fire. Additionally, there is a potential for a cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) and/or a tension pneumothorax to develop while surfacing because of the decreasing ambient pressure on ascent. The tactical response may be complicated by limited communications between the mission personnel while submerged and by the vulnerability of the mission personnel to antiswimmer measures if their presence is compromised.