scholarly journals How Do Illicit Drugs Move Across Countries? A Network Analysis of the Heroin Supply to Europe

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Giommoni ◽  
Alberto Aziani ◽  
Giulia Berlusconi
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Geographical Proximity ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Contradictory Evidence ◽  
Specific Factors

Illicit drugs are trafficked across manifold borders before ultimately reaching consumers. Consequently, interdiction of cross-border drug trafficking forms a critical component of the European Union’s initiative to reduce drug supplies. However, there is contradictory evidence about its effectiveness, which is due, in part, to a paucity of information about how drugs flow across borders. This study uses a network approach to analyze international drug trafficking both to and within Europe, drawing on several perspectives to delineate the factors that affect how drug shipments move across borders. The analysis explicates how drug trafficking is concentrated along specific routes; moreover, we demonstrate that its structure is not random but, rather, driven by specific factors. In particular, corruption and social and geographical proximity are key factors explaining the configuration of heroin supply to European countries. This study also provides essential insights into the disruption of traffickers’ illicit activities.

scholarly journals Interdicting International Drug Trafficking: a Network Approach for Coordinated and Targeted Interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Giommoni ◽  
Giulia Berlusconi ◽  
Alberto Aziani
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Edge Betweenness ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Social Network Approach ◽  
The Impact ◽  
International Trafficking

AbstractThere is a relative dearth of literature on both the effects of cross-border interdictions and the impact of different types of interventions on international drug trafficking. This study identifies the main trafficking routes for cocaine and heroin, along with comparing the disruptive effects induced by targeted and non-coordinated interventions. It adopts a social network approach to identify the routes along which cocaine and heroin are trafficked, and then simulates the impact of different interdiction strategies on these two trafficking networks. The findings indicate that targeting countries based on their respective positions in the networks, as opposed to on the basis of the quantity of drugs exchanged, is more likely to disrupt drug flows. More specifically, concentrating law enforcement resources on countries with several incoming or outgoing trafficking connections, or those countries that mediate between producer, transit and consumer countries, would appear to be particularly effective in this regard. Interventions focused on specific trafficking routes are also likely to be effective if these routes have high edge betweenness centrality scores. This study contributes to extant understanding on the vulnerability of cocaine and heroin international trafficking networks, and, moreover, demonstrates that empirically-driven strategies are potentially more effective at interdicting international trafficking than non-strategic and non-coordinated interventions.

scholarly journals Time to Intervene: A Continuous-Time Approach to Network Analysis and Centrality

Psychometrika ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oisín Ryan ◽  
Ellen L. Hamaker
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Continuous Time ◽  
Centrality Measures ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Var Models ◽  
Auto Regressive ◽  
Conceptual Shift

AbstractNetwork analysis of ESM data has become popular in clinical psychology. In this approach, discrete-time (DT) vector auto-regressive (VAR) models define the network structure with centrality measures used to identify intervention targets. However, VAR models suffer from time-interval dependency. Continuous-time (CT) models have been suggested as an alternative but require a conceptual shift, implying that DT-VAR parameters reflect total rather than direct effects. In this paper, we propose and illustrate a CT network approach using CT-VAR models. We define a new network representation and develop centrality measures which inform intervention targeting. This methodology is illustrated with an ESM dataset.

scholarly journals Usage of Terms “Science” and “Scientific Knowledge” in Nature of Science (NOS): Do Their Lexicons in Different Accounts Indicate Shared Conceptions?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Ismo T. Koponen
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Nature Of Science ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Social Embeddedness ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Basic Vocabulary ◽  
Common Understanding

Nature of science (NOS) has been a central theme in science education and research on it for nearly three decades, but there is still debate on its proper focus and underpinnings. The focal points of these debates revolve around different ways of understanding the terms “science” and “scientific knowledge”. It is suggested here that the lack of agreement is at least partially related to and reflected as a lack of common vocabulary and terminology that would provide a shared basis for finding consensus. Consequently, the present study seeks motivation from the notions of centrality of lexicons in recognizing the identity of disciplinary communities and different schools of thought within NOS. Here, by using a network approach, we investigate how lexicons used by different authors to discuss NOS are confluent or divergent. The lexicons used in these texts are investigated on the basis of a network analysis. The results of the analysis reveal clear differences in the lexicons that are partially related to differences in views, as evident from the debates surrounding the consensus NOS. The most divergent views are related to epistemology, while regarding the practices and social embeddedness of science the lexicons overlap significantly. This suggests that, in consensus NOS, one can find much basis for converging views, with common understanding, where constructive communication may be possible. The basic vocabulary, in the form of a lexicon, can reveal much about the different stances and the differences and similarities between various disciplinary schools. The advantage of such an approach is its neutrality and how it keeps a distance from preferred epistemological positions and views of nature of knowledge.

Robotic chemotherapy compounding: A multicenter productivity approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 107815522199284
Author(s):  
Ana C Riestra ◽  
Carmen López-Cabezas ◽  
Marion Jobard ◽  
Mertxe Campo ◽  
María J Tamés ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Hospital Pharmacy ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Automated Process ◽  
Productivity Indicators ◽  
The Mathematical Model

Introduction The aim of this study is to compare productivity of the KIRO Oncology compounding robot in three hospital pharmacy departments and identify the key factors to predict and optimize automatic compounding time. Methods The study was conducted in three hospitals. Each hospital compounding workload and workflow were analyzed. Data from the robotic compounding cycles from August 2017 to July 2018 were retrospectively obtained. Nine cycle specific parameters and five productivity indicators were analysed in each site. One-to-one differences between hospitals were evaluated. Next, a correlation analysis between cycle specific factors and productivity indicators was conducted; the factors presenting a highest correlation to automatic compounding time were used to develop a multiple regression model (afterwards validated) to predict the automatic compounding time. Results A total of 2795 cycles (16367 preparations) were analysed. Automatic compounding time showed a relevant positive correlation (ǀrs|>0.40) with the number of preparations, number of vials and total volume per cycle. Therefore, these cycle specific parameters were chosen as independent variables for the mathematical model. Considering cycles lasting 40 minutes or less, predictability of the model was high for all three hospitals (R2:0.81; 0.79; 0.72). Conclusion Workflow differences have a remarkable incidence in the global productivity of the automated process. Total volume dosed for all preparations in a cycle is one of the variables with greater influence in automatic compounding time. Algorithms to predict automatic compounding time can be useful to help users in order to plan the cycles launched in KIRO Oncology.

scholarly journals European Banking Network in Light of the Single Supervisory Mechanism from the Network Analysis Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Širaňová
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Topological Properties ◽  
Economic Space ◽  
Single Supervisory Mechanism ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
European Banking ◽  
Positive Step ◽  
Over Time

In this paper we discuss the topological properties of the European banking network and its evolution over time based on the BIS consolidated banking statistics data exploiting information from complex network analysis. Our conclusions are discussed in light of the soon-to-be-launched Single Supervisory Mechanism that takes into account, among other things, the significance of cross-border activity as a precondition for specifying the systemically important European credit institutions. According to our results, the banking network of the EU13 economic space can be characterized as highly asymmetric with a tendency to create clusters based on geographic distance and cultural and social similarities. Additionally, the highly exposed countries are usually dependent on a small number of major creditors while creditor countries tend to spread their power over dependent countries more equally. We advocate that the presence of heterogeneity and asymmetry in the network and a decrease in the level of foreign banking across Europe could be mitigated by the introduction of SSM, and from this perspective it should be viewed as a positive step towards greater financial stability.

scholarly journals Eastern Borderland of the European Union in the Process of Networking, as Exemplified by the Polish-Belarusian Cross-Border Cooperation

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-50
Author(s):  
Sławomir Partycki ◽  
Dawid Błaszczak
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
International Relations ◽  
The Other ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Cooperation Network ◽  
State Projects ◽  
Cross Border Cooperation ◽  
Key Nodes

Abstract Summary Subject and purpose of work: The purpose of the study is to analyse the structure and the relation of the Polish-Belarusian cross-border cooperation network, to identify the key nodes in the network, to analyse the dynamics of connections between the actors, and to identify the most important changes in the structure of the network. Materials and methods: The article quotes the results of analyses of cross-border projects from 2004- 2017. The analysis includes projects completed, applicants, and partners of projects. The network analysis was carried out using Ucinet and NetDraw software. Results: The structure of the Polish-Belarusian cooperation is dominated by several large nodes, on the other hand there are many micronetworks - of three or four nodes, which are connected with each other. Conclusions: The Polish-Belarusian cooperation is of great importance for the international relations of the Polish state. Projects carried out by entities located at the border strengthen the cooperation, bringing a number of measurable benefits (hard and soft), depending on nature of the projects, as well as frequency and scale of the undertaken activities.

Cultural and organizational integration in cross-border M&A deals

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1109-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Panibratov
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Organizational Integration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify key factors that influence the integration process in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals of emerging multinational enterprises (EMNEs). The research questions are: how national and organizational culture coupled with other organizational characteristics influence M&A deals of EMNEs? Which factors influence the process of cultural and organizational integration in cross-border M&A deals, initiated by EMNEs? What is the effect and consequences that different integration factors have on cross-border M&A deals by EMNEs? Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a multiple case study research, considering cross-border deals of Chinese and Russian firms separately. Each block consists of two cases, describing M&A integration of companies operating in two sectors: high technology and finance. The authors obtained the data for case studies from companies’ official websites, annual reports, press releases, other official documents where companies were mentioned, business-media sources (newspapers and magazines), published interviews, documented speeches, letters, laws, as well as through blogs and social networks. The authors have also used the published information from articles, books, databases, and previously conducted case studies. Findings The authors have identified the factors influencing deals’ results of Chinese and Russian MNEs, with explanation based on case studies’ analysis. The full list of factors is presented in Table IV in the manuscript. The authors have also identified the set of elements that were derived from the case studies’ analysis only, without having any strong support in the literature, such as changes at a senior management level, educational and business exchanges, CSR policy, and the government involvement. Originality/value The authors have identified the key factors that influence integration of emerging market firms in cross-border M&A deal. The list of factors was adjusted and actualized in accordance with the results of four cases of cross-border M&A deals of Chinese or Russian companies. As a result, the authors founded the combination of characteristics of cultural and organizational integration process of firms from China and Russia.

Jim Crow Organized Crime

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Cooley
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
African American ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Jim Crow ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Underground Economy ◽  
Street Gangs ◽  
Historical Evolution ◽  
Games Of Chance

This chapter examines the historical evolution of Chicago’s African American underground economy. During the first decades of the twentieth-century games of chance associated with cards and dice were the primary source of gambling revenue in black Chicago. By the early 1930s, this facet of the underground economy had been surpassed by policy, also referred to as “the numbers game.” An important linkage between these two periods was that gambling proprietors funneled some of their profits back into the larger community. Later in the twentieth century, gang-controlled drug trafficking became the primary manifestation of black Chicago’s underground economy. Unlike the earlier period’s relatively violence-free focus on games of chance, the selling of illicit drugs by street gangs turned black Chicago into a battleground.

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