scholarly journals Immune Responses to SARS-CoV2 Mirror Societal Responses to COVID-19: Identifying Factors Underlying a Successful Viral Response

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
Shahar Lev-Ari ◽  
Benjamin Rolnik ◽  
Ilan Volovitz
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Self Similarity ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
The Individual

The adaptive immune system was sculpted to protect individuals, societies, and species since its inception, developing effective strategies to cope with emerging pathogens. Here, we show that similar successful or failed dynamics govern personal and societal responses to a pathogen as SARS-CoV2. Understanding the self-similarity between the health-protective measures taken to protect the individual or the society, help identify critical factors underlying the effectiveness of societal response to a pathogenic challenge. These include (1) the quick employment of adaptive-like, pathogen-specific strategies to cope with the threat including the development of “memory-like responses”; (2) enabling productive coaction and interaction within the society by employing effective decision-making processes; and (3) the quick inhibition of positive feedback loops generated by hazardous or false information. Learning from adaptive anti-pathogen immune responses, policymakers and scientists could reduce the direct damages associated with COVID-19 and avert an avoidable “social cytokine storm” with its ensuing socioeconomic damage.

scholarly journals Reflections on the Importance of Cost of Illness Analysis in Rare Diseases: A Proposal

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1101
Author(s):  
Patrizio Armeni ◽  
Marianna Cavazza ◽  
Entela Xoxi ◽  
Domenica Taruscio ◽  
Yllka Kodra
Keyword(s):  
Rare Diseases ◽  
Cost Of Illness ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Effective Decision Making

In the field of rare diseases (RDs), the evidence standard is often lower than that required by health technology assessment (HTA) and payer authorities. In this commentary, we propose that appropriate economic evaluation for rare disease treatments should be initially informed by cost-of-illness (COI) studies conducted using a societal perspective. Such an approach contributes to improving countries’ understanding of RDs in their entirety as societal and not merely clinical, or product-specific issues. In order to exemplify how the disease burden’s distribution has changed over the last fifteen years, key COI studies for Hemophilia, Fragile X Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis are examined. Evidence shows that, besides methodological variability and cross-country differences, the disease burden’s share represented by direct costs generally grows over time as novel treatments become available. Hence, to support effective decision-making processes, it seems necessary to assess the re-allocation of the burden produced by new medicinal products, and this approach requires identifying cost drivers through COI studies with robust design and standardized methodology.

PERFORMANCE OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS IN COLDER CLIMATES

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 131-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Gorgolewski ◽  
Craig Brown ◽  
Anne-Mareike Chu ◽  
Adrian Turcato ◽  
Karen Bartlett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Design Teams ◽  
Building Management ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Occupant Satisfaction

Building performance evaluations (BPEs) were carried out for nine Canadian green buildings using a standardised assessment framework. The aim was to explore and measure the discrepancies between the operational performance of the buildings and their predicted performance, as well as to identify lessons for their owners, design teams and the construction industry. The objective of this paper is not to report individual buildings in detail (we refer the reader to the individual building reports) but to report on some general lessons that came from doing this study. Overall these buildings performed well compared to benchmarks. However, the findings suggest that occupancy is not well understood and often incorrectly predicted during design, and that this affects various aspects of performance, including energy and water use. Also energy and water use modelling is often undertaken principally for building code/green rating compliance purposes and does not necessarily represent an accurate prediction of likely operational use. Combined with variations in occupancy this can lead to considerable discrepancies in performance from the modelled values. This may be understood by experts but is often misleading to building owners and others. Water use is often not well predicted and also not carefully managed in buildings and there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes good water performance. Overall, it is important to recognise that each building has its own individual “story” that provides necessary context for effective management and improvement of the building during its ongoing life. It is proposed that a BPE process allows that context to be better understood, and enables more effective decision making about building management, improvements, occupant satisfaction, energy use, etc.

Impact of Fidelity in 3D Space Visualisation Across the Construction Asset Lifecycle

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Noha Saleeb
Keyword(s):  
Human Perception ◽  
Virtual Spaces ◽  
3D Space ◽  
Building Models ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Physical Spaces ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Published Research

3D virtual building models are used to help clients reach decisions during concept and detailed design phases. However, previously published research provides evidence for discrepancies between human perception of virtual and physical spaces; thus perceiving each virtual dimension (height, width, depth) differently from its physical counterpart, with varying percentages. This can affect clients' effective decision-making during coordination if 3D virtual representations are not perceived identical to their physical equivalent. This paper discusses the impact of these discrepancies beyond the design phases and into the whole lifecycle, construction and operations. Moreover, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis provides evidence of relationships between the physical and virtual perception differences in dimension, discussing possible factors contributing to perception discrepancies affecting the individual viewer, in 2 main areas 1) 3D authoring software 2) psychophysical factors. Possible solutions are also proposed to accommodate for the discrepancy between physical and virtual spaces.

Effective Decision Making for Knowledge Development in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
pp. 382-399
Author(s):  
Nwachukwu Prince Ololube ◽  
Erebagha Theophilus Ingiabuna ◽  
Undutimi Johnny Dudafa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
University Leaders

Making decisions is the most important task of university leaders or managers and it is often the most difficult task. This chapter offers a step-by-step decision-making procedure for solving complex problems. It outlines the concept of decision-making and processes for both public and private decision-making agendas, using different decision criteria and different types of information. This chapter also describes barriers to effective decision making and decisions that must be made in conditions of certainty and uncertainty. Using a descriptive and suggestive research design, multiple statistical procedures; the results revealed that the types, styles and barrier to decision making processes are significantly related to the poor quality management of higher education in Nigeria? It is therefore imperative that institutional leaders are thoughtful and precise decision makers. This study recommends that the process of decision making ought not to be reactionary, but systematically planned and swift as well as planning for the unanticipated and unintentional situations as they arise.

Effective Decision Making for Knowledge Development in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 546-563
Author(s):  
Nwachukwu Prince Ololube ◽  
Erebagha Theophilus Ingiabuna ◽  
Undutimi Johnny Dudafa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
University Leaders

Making decisions is the most important task of university leaders or managers and it is often the most difficult task. This chapter offers a step-by-step decision-making procedure for solving complex problems. It outlines the concept of decision-making and processes for both public and private decision-making agendas, using different decision criteria and different types of information. This chapter also describes barriers to effective decision making and decisions that must be made in conditions of certainty and uncertainty. Using a descriptive and suggestive research design, multiple statistical procedures; the results revealed that the types, styles and barrier to decision making processes are significantly related to the poor quality management of higher education in Nigeria? It is therefore imperative that institutional leaders are thoughtful and precise decision makers. This study recommends that the process of decision making ought not to be reactionary, but systematically planned and swift as well as planning for the unanticipated and unintentional situations as they arise.

Teachers' Decision-Making Process

2019 ◽  
pp. 79-100
Author(s):  
Britt Tatman Ferguson ◽  
Suzanne Evans ◽  
Nilsa J. Thorsos
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Individual

This chapter examines teachers' decision-making processes of selecting and implementing inclusive literature, especially in relation to children with disabilities, in their teaching practices. Inclusive literature celebrates diversity helping the individual see himself as well as others. Inclusive literature educates everybody about everyone, and books can help reduce prejudice. Diversity in literature impacts how children view disability and allows them to understand society. Realistic portrayals of a character with a disability can have positive impact on attitudes of students without disabilities towards peers with disabilities. The chapter will address effective strategies for selecting relevant and appropriate stories and books. In addition, the chapter will address effective strategies for using inclusive literature.

scholarly journals The Market as a Decision-Making Mechanism in a Democracy

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Evangelopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Majority Rule ◽  
The Other ◽  
Modern Democracy ◽  
Effective Protection ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level ◽  
Voting Mechanism

In my paper I attempt to show that the market is an effective decision-making mechanism in a modern democracy. On the other hand, in a contemporary democratic society, the state must have a limited role, only on the formation of the collective choice through the majority rule. The majority rule is required for the proper functioning of social organization, with the voting mechanism within a framework of strict limitations imposed by individuals with high-level constitutional backing for the effective protection of the individual rights.

Human Resource Analytics as a Life-Jacket for Organizations Amid Crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 51-71
Author(s):  
Alper Ertürk ◽  
Razan Alkhayyat
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Business Partnership ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making

With the advancement of information technology and the substantial increase in the production and usage of data, analytics has become an important new tool for effective decision-making processes in the organizations. The evolution of management to a digital and data-driven orientation has also caused a significant shift in the position of HRM from a more operational role to a strategic business partnership. With expeditious digitalization, along with the inevitable influence of globalization, human resource analytics (HRA) has rapidly become a crucial tool for organizations in all industries. Recent examples and catastrophic experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have proven the vital role of HR analytics for organizations to survive in times of crisis. This chapter aims to summarize what HR analytics is, how it should be implemented and utilized, and how it will be effective and play a crucial role for organizations in order to be able to survive in a crisis situation.

scholarly journals Can mindfulness be helpful in team decision-making? A framework for understanding how to mitigate false consensus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Selart ◽  
Vidar Schei ◽  
Rune Lines ◽  
Synnøve Nesse
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Team Processes ◽  
Team Decision Making ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
False Consensus ◽  
Team Decision ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
The Individual

Mindfulness has recently attracted a great deal of interest in the field of management. However, even though mindfulness – broadly viewed as a state of active awareness – has been described mainly at the individual level, it may also have important effects at aggregated levels. In this article, we adopt a team-based conceptualization of mindfulness, and develop a framework that represents the powerful effect of team mindfulness on facilitating effective decision-making. We further discuss how a conceptualization of team mindfulness may mitigate the process of false consensus by interacting positively with the following five central team processes: open-mindedness, participation, empowerment, conflict management, and value and ambiguity tolerance. A false consensus constitutes a cognitive bias, leading to the perception of a consensus that does not exist. In essence, we argue that, although a conceptualization of team mindfulness does not guarantee effective decision-making in itself, it may successfully reduce false consensus when coupled with these five team processes. Accordingly, this article contributes to the theory and practice of team decision-making by demonstrating how a conceptualization of team mindfulness can be helpful in the increasingly complex and ambiguous situations faced by contemporary teams.

scholarly journals Review of studies of blockchain technology effects on the shipping industry

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Gerakoudi-Ventouri
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Shipping Industry ◽  
Digital Evolution ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making

AbstractDecision-making is a prolific research area in the internet era, which has propelled globalization and the virtual elimination of many country border barriers. However, effective decision-making in the shipping industry is a time consuming and often complicated process. Digital evolution has provided new innovative organizational operation methods. Blockchain technology—a basic component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—is one such innovation that promises to alter the process of decision-making. However, only a few academic studies have explored the decision-making aspect of blockchain technology. Moreover, there is a dearth of comprehensive research on how blockchain affects decisions in the shipping industry. This study explored how this novice technology can address issues, such as vast documentation and information asymmetry in the shipping industry. Specifically, grounded theory was used to qualitatively investigate extant practices and examine the potential impact of blockchain technology on decision-making in the shipping industry and the potential of using blockchain technology to emancipate decision-making. The study results indicate that the instant and reliable data-sharing capability of blockchain can significantly impact the shipping industry, while transforming its decision-making processes.

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