Times Of Crisis Research Articles

Management of Patients Suffering Acute Traumatic Brain Injuries.

The objective of this literature review was to examine and summarize knowledge of best practices for the management of patients suffering traumatic brain injury based on studies using a variety of practices to improve outcomes published 2018 - 2021. From a clinical perspective, when a patient suffers an acute traumatic brain injury, providers and clinicians ask themselves and each other, "What else could we do? What could we have tried to improve the outcome with this patient?" Astute clinicians spend ample time reviewing contemporary studies to improve their patients' outcomes. This project aimed not to find all studies about a specific treatment, but to review all studies about a topic to evaluate the studies for rigor and results to improve bedside patient care in times of crisis. A quality assessment model was used in four domains: design, bias, synthesis, and dissemination with a Quality Assessment Score assigned for each of the four domains. Ten studies met the rigor of the quality assessment evaluation. The highest ranked studies indicate a common theme of prevention of extension of injury.

Elevational patterns and drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pteridophytes: A case study from the Himalaya

In recent times of global biodiversity crisis, documenting the distribution patterns of regional biodiversity and unravelling the drivers that shape these patterns has assumed urgent research priority. In mountains, understanding the distribution of biodiversity along elevational gradients is crucial to its conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. In the Himalaya – highest mountain range in the world – although studies focusing on the elevational distribution of higher plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms) are available, however such studies on lower plants such as pteridophytes are largely lacking. To fill this knowledge gap, here we investigate the elevational patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pteridophytes and their bioclimatic drivers in Jammu and Kashmir. We compiled a comprehensive dataset on 225 pteridophyte species of the study region. We divided the elevation gradient in the study region into 43 vertical bands, each with a width of 100 meters. We used regression analysis to assess the relationship of species richness (SR), standardized effect sizes of phylogenetic diversity (PDses), mean pairwise distance (MPDses), and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTDses) with the elevation. Our results revealed a mid-elevational peak in species richness and a half U-shaped curve in phylogenetic structure along the elevational gradient. We found phylogenetic clustering more or less at mid- and high-elevational bands and phylogenetic overdispersion at low-elevation bands. Taxonomic and phylogenetic ꞵ-diversity was mainly governed by species turnover component. Further, the precipitation-related climatic variables explained a greater proportion of the variation in SR compared to temperature-related variables; but converse was true for PDses, MPDses, and MNTDses, thereby indicating that niche conservatism and environmental filtering shape the composition of pteridophytes along the elevation in this Himalayan region. Overall, the findings of the present study advance our understanding about the elevational distribution patterns in pteridophytes with wide implications for ecology, evolution and biogeography of mountain biodiversity.

Street vending in times of crisis: exploring insecurity and spatial dynamics in Aizawl, Mizoram, India

Purpose This paper aims to explore the influence of spatial dynamics on street vendors and examines the insecurities and coping mechanisms they faced and adopted during the pandemic. It examines the precarious nature of street vending during a global economic shock, highlighting the vulnerabilities and resilience of this informal sector. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a case study approach, conducting semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 74 street vendors in two key markets: Bara Bazaar (natural market) and Treasury Square (non-natural). The authors use the Gioia method, renowned for its systematic rigour in exploring the challenges and adaptations of street vendors during periods of economic uncertainty and crisis. Findings This study reveals that COVID-19 lockdowns profoundly impacted the security of tribal street vendors operating in natural and non-natural markets. It sheds light on the mechanism of shadow security, observed as a form of diverse coping mechanisms adopted by vendors during the pandemic, such as collective fund pooling, poultry farming and adapting new business models – from changing the goods they sell to transitioning between regular and mobile vending or from retail shops to street vending. Social implications This study used the grounded theory framework of sustainable livelihood strategies and explores how street vendors can achieve sustainability through street vending. It further proposes recommendations for urban policies tailored across various dimensions. Originality/value This paper highlights indigenous mechanisms to secure livelihoods, which act as safety nets and facilitate a form of shadow security. The paper also determines how the spatial dynamics of a vending location can preferably change the security of the street vendors in times of crisis. This research challenges the oversimplified notion that the social security of street vendors cannot be neatly categorised as secure or insecure. Instead, it underscores vendors’ dynamic strategies and resilience to sustain their livelihoods amidst economic disruptions.

'We're More Prepared than Before when we're hit': Understanding the Strategies Used by a Non-governmental Organization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on populations worldwide, particularly on older adults residing in low - and middle-income countries. Due to these negative impacts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provided extensive support, which affected their operations. Using the social resilience framework, the purpose of this study was to better understand what strategies NGOs used to support vulnerable populations and how they are building back stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2022, 26 (virtual) in-depth interviews were conducted with staff and volunteers from an NGO supporting older adults in Uganda. Several key themes emerged including using existing resources to better support older adults and staff and the importance of having multiple sources of revenue to support organizational operations. The key lessons learned by NGO staff and volunteers can be utilized to enact policy and practice change to help strengthen NGOs' social resilience. This would allow them to continue implementing innovative strategies to support vulnerable populations during times of crisis.

The Pivotal Role of Management Control in Times of Crisis: Enhancing Organizational Resilience and Strategic Adaptation

The Pivotal Role of Management Control in Times of Crisis: Enhancing Organizational Resilience and Strategic Adaptation

Reconfiguring education in times of pandemic: a visual analysis of pedagogical practices and school spaces

ABSTRACT This article offers a comprehensive examination of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, focusing on pedagogical practices and school spaces in primary schools in the community of Castilla y León, Spain. Through a visual analysis of student drawings and the reconfiguration of educational spaces, the study explores the profound changes that have occurred in educational settings during the pandemic. The research highlights the shift from traditional classroom methodologies to virtual and remote learning environments, emphasising the role of technology and digital tools in facilitating education during times of crisis. Additionally, the study investigates the evolving perceptions of students towards school, considering how the reconfiguration of physical spaces has influenced their learning experiences and social interactions. By examining the ‘new normal’ of education, the study sheds light on the challenges and opportunities faced by educators in adapting their pedagogical practices to meet the changing needs of students in a post-pandemic world. Overall, the analysis provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between pedagogy, space, and technology in reimagining education in times of crisis.

Logbook of a researcher in sociology in times of crisis: Investigating Jews and Muslims after the 7th of October and the following days

This article examines the profound impact of the 7 October 2023 events and their aftermath, particularly in the context of Jewish-Muslim relations in Europe. Drawing on personal reflections and academic research, it explores the sense of rupture experienced by individuals and organizations engaged in interfaith dialogue, emphasizing the emotional and political challenges of navigating a polarized geopolitical and intercommunal climate. The events are framed as a moment of heightened tension, intensifying long-standing narratives of conflict, particularly around antisemitism and its intersection with perceptions of Muslim communities. While these developments amplify existing dynamics, the article questions whether they represent a rupture, continuation or repetition of historical patterns. Situating this analysis within broader sociological frameworks, the article advocates for reflexive and engaged scholarship to address the complexities of identity, political discourse and social boundaries in times of crisis.

Program Design to Ease Administrative Burden in Times of Crisis: An Evaluation of Two Emergency Aid Programs in Los Angeles

ABSTRACTWith students increasingly struggling to afford basic needs, emergency aid (EA) programs seek to prevent crises from derailing college students' educational trajectories. To do so, they provide small grants to help students overcome short‐term financial hardships and improve longer‐term academic success. However, EA programs often face trade‐offs between streamlining application processes and targeting limited resources to the highest‐need students. Drawing on the theoretical framing of administrative burden, we analyse the nuances of these trade‐offs by investigating the learning, psychological, and compliance costs that students can face when applying for EA. Using data from two EA programs drawn from 85 interviews, 893 applications, and 153 survey responses, we find that the programs were able to ease burdens, especially compliance costs. Further, the vast majority of EA went to high‐need students, although nearly 20% of recipients had family incomes above $100,000 K.

Long short-term memory autoencoder based network of financial indices

We present a novel approach for analyzing financial time series data using a Long Short-Term Memory Autoencoder (LSTMAE), a deep learning method. Our primary objective is to uncover intricate relationships among different stock indices, leading to the extraction of stock networks. We examine time series data spanning from 2000 to 2022, encompassing multiple financial crises within the S&P 500 stock indices. By training a modified LSTMAE with normalized stock index returns, we extract the inherent correlations embedded in the model weights. We create directional threshold networks by applying a fixed threshold, calculated as the sum of the mean and standard deviation of matrices from various years. Our investigation explores the topological characteristics of these threshold networks across different years. Notably, the observed network properties exhibit unique responses to the various financial crises that occurred between 2000 and 2022. Furthermore, our sector analysis reveals substantial sectoral influences during times of crisis. For example, during global financial crises, the financial sector assumes a prominent role, exerting significant influence on other sectors, particularly during the European Sovereign Debt (ESD) crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health care and consumer discretionary sectors are predominantly impacted by other sectors. Our proposed method effectively captures the underlying network structure of financial markets and is validated by a comprehensive analysis of network metrics, demonstrating its ability to identify significant financial crises over time.

Cognitive and Affective Irritation During Times of Crisis

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic can be understood as a crisis accompanied by both primary and secondary stressors, such as threats to physiological health (primary), uncertainty (primary), and changes to work environments (secondary). In a longitudinal study during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (Summer 2020 to Spring 2021), we investigated changes in subjective well-being (health, sleep, satisfaction, and cognitive and affective irritation) among a sample of 99 employees. We found that subjective well-being decreased over time: Health, sleep quality, and satisfaction decreased between Summer 2020 and Spring 2021, while affective irritation increased. Moreover, we found that the increase in affective irritation was associated with the decline in satisfaction, while increases in cognitive irritation were associated with decreases in sleep quality and satisfaction. The results highlight the unique predictive value of these distinct concepts of work-related rumination and the relevance of distinguishing between cognitive and affective irritation.

Parental Stress and Mental Health Outcomes Following the October 7th Events: Insights from Israeli Families of Children with Special Needs

The October 7th events precipitated an unprecedented psychological crisis for Israeli families, particularly affecting parents of children with special needs. This empirical study aimed to investigate the psychological factors contributing to parental stress and mental health outcomes in a community sample of 2097 parents, comparing those with children with special needs (n = 540) to those with typically developing children (n = 1557). Findings revealed that parents of children with special needs exhibited significantly higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance, parental stress, and intolerance of uncertainty, while reporting lower levels of parental competence, perceived social support, and mental health. Notably, meaning in life did not significantly differ between the groups. Correlational analyses indicated that attachment anxiety and avoidance were negatively correlated with parental competence, social support, meaning in life, and mental health while positively correlating with parental stress and intolerance of uncertainty. Mediation analyses showed that attachment anxiety and avoidance significantly predicted increased parental stress and reduced mental health, with these effects mediated by lower parental competence and diminished meaning in life. Moreover, intolerance of uncertainty mediated the effect of attachment anxiety on mental health. However, the mediating role of perceived social support on parental stress was absent among parents of children with special needs. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that bolster parental resilience, particularly for families of children with special needs during times of crisis.

Interaction in a time of crisis: buyer-supplier adaptation in public healthcare

Purpose This paper aims to examine adaptation in buyer–seller relationships in a time of crisis and to explore what consequences adaptation has for the actors involved. The authors are particularly interested in examining how suppliers and public buyers adapt in turbulent situations where public policy opens for interaction in a mode represented by studies in the industrial marketing and purchasing research approach. The COVID-19 pandemic represents such a unique research setting, as it opens up insights into how buyers and suppliers had to adapt in a matter of days in response to rapid and turbulent changes in their business environment. In this paper, the authors seek insights into the following research questions: What role do the actors’ interpretation of the situation play in the adaptation process? How do adaptation processes unfold in a time of national crisis? What are the actor and relationship-specific outcomes from adaptation in such a situation? Design/methodology/approach To answer these questions, the authors present data from an exploratory case study of intra- and interfirm adaptation processes between public buyers and private suppliers in the health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic opened for access to a unique data from personal interviews and secondary data, from public reports and newspaper/media coverage at intervals during the outbreak and at the aftermath of the pandemic. Findings The authors find that the actors’ interpretation of the situation and their motivation to engage in adaptations play an important role in the adaptation processes. In particular, a normative commitment based on a moral duty to contribute to dealing with the turbulent situation of society is found to be a main driver. In these situations, shared sensemaking and alignment of mental models help to mobilise actors, resources and activities into new interaction patterns. At the same time, mutual affective commitment between the buyer and suppliers is not significant over time, thus constraining and eventually terminating the adaptation processes. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of interaction between public buyers and suppliers during turbulent situations. Changes in the adaptation context opens for extensive interaction, thus enabling actors to combine and exploit resources of value, but temporary adaptations do not create long-term effects on the ability to develop buyer–supplier interaction in public markets.

Public opinions on social media: how to become a trustworthy leader in times of crisis

PurposeThe study compares public opinions toward several heads of state in times of crisis across countries, especially during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Although recent studies have primarily addressed public sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic, critical international conflicts continue to impact economic and political dynamics that need warrant examination.Design/methodology/approachUsing social media data, this study utilizes content and sentiment analysis to assess public perceptions of leaders’ actions and communication strategies.FindingsFindings indicate that most leaders elicited predominantly negative sentiment, with only two leaders viewed favorably.Originality/valueA notable contribution of this study is the identification of communication patterns as pivotal in shaping public trust; leaders who failed to articulate a clear shared vision faced heightened negative sentiment, as ineffective communication fostered public distrust and anxiety. Although principles of ethical political leadership were observed in some responses, this study underscores that ethical leadership alone is insufficient. Transparent and strategic communication, particularly during crises, emerges as essential to aligning public perception and fostering trust, highlighting its importance as a core component of effective leadership in international conflicts.

Translations in a time of crisis: the role of translators of Nietzsche, Sorel, and Bergson in addressing Edwardian political fragmentation, 1907–1915

ABSTRACT This article examines the role of British translators of European philosophers from 1907 to 1915 in addressing Edwardian political crises. In an age of fragmentation between the main parties as well as crises within political groups, cultural and political magazines were a ‘counter public sphere’ in which intellectuals could discuss the conflicts of public life. This article will show how translators of Friedrich Nietzsche, Georges Sorel, and Henri Bergson opened up debate between intellectuals across the political spectrum in the avant-garde magazine The New Age through the worship of intellectual heroes not bound to any tradition. The translators Oscar Levy, Millicent Murby, and T. E. Hulme all sought to create cultural icons to overcome splits in their different political projects. Whilst Edwardian intellectuals played with tropes of British insularity and philistinism, scholarship has neglected how the geographical concept of insularity was projected onto a reality that was ideological disintegration.

Fragile ties: exploring city diplomacy in times of crises

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the resilience of city diplomacy versus traditional state diplomacy during crises, focusing on COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine's impact on Polish-Chinese paradiplomatic relations. The hypothesis posits that city diplomacy is less durable in facing external shocks than traditional diplomacy. The article analyses bilateral relations at subnational, national, and supranational levels using a multi-level governance framework. Empirical evidence from surveys and interviews reveals the nuanced dynamics amid crises. Findings indicate a general deterioration of Polish-Chinese city-to-city relationships, highlighting the fragility of the paradiplomatic links. The paper contributes to understanding diplomatic resilience, emphasising the increasing role of local governments in international relations.

INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS OF UKRAINE AND EU SUPPORT DURING CRISIS PERIODS

The study of Ukraine’s investment attractiveness during periods of crisis highlights the significant influence of external factors on the investment situation in the country, particularly regarding the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In the context of global and local crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s military invasion, Ukraine’s economic situation has experienced significant fluctuations, which have reflected on the investment climate. European Union countries play a key role in providing financial support, which is an important factor in stabilizing Ukraine’s economy during this period. The aim of this research is to assess investment flows from EU countries and the investment attractiveness of Ukraine during crisis times. One of the key aspects of the study is analyzing the dynamics of FDI from EU countries. During the analyzed period, the volume of investments fluctuated significantly, indicating the instability of the investment environment. The largest investments in Ukraine come from the Netherlands and Germany, indicating the long-term interest of these countries in the Ukrainian market despite the crisis periods. Despite difficulties, 57% of companies already operating in Ukraine plan to continue their investments, and 79% are ready to contribute to the country’s reconstruction after the war. This emphasizes the potential for economic recovery in the future, particularly due to international support. The methodology of the research includes both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis, particularly statistical and comparative analysis. The practical value of the article lies in identifying the main factors affecting changes in the investment situation in Ukraine during crisis periods, as well as in developing recommendations to improve the investment climate. To enhance investment attractiveness and stabilize Ukraine’s economy, it is crucial to continue reforms in the legal system, combat corruption, and improve the business climate through deregulation and simplification of administrative procedures. Additionally, Ukraine needs to actively work on infrastructure recovery plans, which will create new investment opportunities. The success of these measures depends on achieving stability and security, which form the basis for Ukraine’s economic development in the future.

Entrepreneurial Growth Intention and New Venture Performance in Times of Crisis: A Conceptual Model

We argue that the severity of the crisis a firm is exposed to acts as a positive contingency for the performance level of the new venture. Despite numerous investigations into new venture perfor-mance, our comprehension of the factors impacting such performance during a crisis remains in-complete. This paper seeks to construct a comprehensive model encompassing these factors and provide the proposed conceptual model and propositions. Employing a methodology that includes an exhaustive review of empirical and conceptual articles related to the subject, the suggested framework was developed through a diverse integration of available research. According to the study's theoretical underpinnings, there is a direct relationship between entrepreneurial growth in-tention and new venture performance and an indirect relationship mediated by entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Strategic agility is proposed as the moderator, and when strategic agility is higher, the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and the new venture performance is greater. The study contributes to extending the framework's application within the ontological realms of entre-preneurship and crisis literature. In conclusion, this study not only advances our understanding of the dynamics of new venture performance during crises but also opens avenues for future explo-rations in our conceptualization.

Empathy During Crises: Investigating Attitudes, Tolerance, and Ingroup-Outgroup Dynamics in Response to Refugee Movements.

In times of societal crises, it is pivotal to understand and share others' feelings. Yet, the role of empathy in fostering prosocial responses during societal crises has not gained enough attention. Our study uses the onset of Russia's war on Ukraine to examine three key questions: (1) Is empathy related to attitudes toward pro-refugee policies? (2) Does empathy correlate with a higher tolerance for diverse opinions on refugee policies? (3) Is empathy linked to perceived interpersonal closeness toward social in- and outgroups, including refugees? Using observational data from online surveys conducted with a largely representative quota sample from Germany (N = 1199-1631) during the initial months of the war, we found that empathy was associated with significantly higher support of pro-refugee policies, driven primarily by empathic concern. Additionally, more empathetic individuals exhibited greater opinion diversity and showed smaller distinctions in perceived interpersonal closeness between in- and outgroups. These findings underscore the critical role of empathy in fostering solidarity and social cohesion during societal crises.

Unlocking Employee Potential: Exploring the Influence of Identity Fu-sion and Pro-group Motivation on Productivity

This study observes the potential of identity fusion and pro-group motivation to improve employees’ productivity in the textile manufacturing industry in a time of health crisis. This follows explicitly to observe whether the identity-fused employees are pro-group motivated and exert more effort than non-identity-fused employees. The mode of inquiry of this study is a real effort experiment with pre-determined incentives and conducted as an online ex-periment for 152 employees selected randomly from one of the major Sri Lankan apparel industry networks. The findings from the experimental survey revealed that the majority of employees with fused identities are more pro-social, and pro-group motivated and those who are pro-group motivated exerted more effort than the subjects who are not motivated. Also, identity-fused subjects exert more effort than non-identity-fused subjects. Thus, the outcomes prove that identity fusion and pro-group motivation are effective in improving the productivity of employees.

‘This starving island’: plenty, paucity, and providence on Norfolk Island, 1790

In 1790, five hundred British colonists were stranded for five months due to a shipwreck on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean with limited provisions. The colonists harvested in excess of 170,000 wild seabirds, Pterodroma solandri, which ensured their survival. While the colonists’ reliance on these ‘Providence petrels’ is well documented in ornithological and ecological studies, this study provides new data and analyses of the birds’ contribution to the colonists’ food security in this time of crisis. It assesses the petrels’ contribution to the colonists’ diet in quantitative and qualitative bases, and their social impact, across the tiered social strata. It critically examines chroniclers’ references to starvation despite the abundance of birds and their eggs, and reframes the colonists’ notions of deprivation on ‘this starving island’.