scholarly journals Rapid Multi-Dimensional Impact Assessment of Floods

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4246 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pastor-Escuredo ◽  
Yolanda Torres ◽  
María Martínez-Torres ◽  
Pedro J. Zufiria
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Heterogeneous Data ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Mobile Phone Data ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
The Impact

Natural disasters affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide every year. The impact assessment of a disaster is key to improve the response and mitigate how a natural hazard turns into a social disaster. An actionable quantification of impact must be integratively multi-dimensional. We propose a rapid impact assessment framework that comprises detailed geographical and temporal landmarks as well as the potential socio-economic magnitude of the disaster based on heterogeneous data sources: Environment sensor data, social media, remote sensing, digital topography, and mobile phone data. As dynamics of floods greatly vary depending on their causes, the framework may support different phases of decision-making during the disaster management cycle. To evaluate its usability and scope, we explored four flooding cases with variable conditions. The results show that social media proxies provide a robust identification with daily granularity even when rainfall detectors fail. The detection also provides information of the magnitude of the flood, which is potentially useful for planning. Network analysis was applied to the social media to extract patterns of social effects after the flood. This analysis showed significant variability in the obtained proxies, which encourages the scaling of schemes to comparatively characterize patterns across many floods with different contexts and cultural factors. This framework is presented as a module of a larger data-driven system designed to be the basis for responsive and more resilient systems in urban and rural areas. The impact-driven approach presented may facilitate public–private collaboration and data sharing by providing real-time evidence with aggregated data to support the requests of private data with higher granularity, which is the current most important limitation in implementing fully data-driven systems for disaster response from both local and international actors.

Social Response to the FDA Authorization of Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-29
Author(s):  
Jungmi Jun
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Semantic Networks ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sales of heated tobacco products (HTPs) on April 30, 2019. In this paper, I provide a preliminary analysis of social media conversations regarding HTPs and the FDA authorization in the first 60 days. Methods: I examined 574 tweets regarding HTPs to assess tweet characteristics and semantic networks of HTPs. Results: Tweets were more likely to be neutral or anti-HTPs than pro-HTPs regardless of the author type (except for tobacco industry) or genre of the post. There was a small gap (6.4%) between the proportion of pro-HTPs and anti-HTPs among personal tweets. The proportion of pro-HTPs was larger in tweets posted by men (vs women and no sex specified) and from rural areas (vs urban). Nearly one-third of the sample mentioned cigarettes or e-cigarettes, even though the size of posts making claims on inferiority/superiority of HTPs was small. Conclusions: Social media conversations on risks of HTPs as well as surveillance on young consumer target marketing is occurring, and it will be important to assess the impact of tobacco companies' launch of HTP sales in the US to assess public perceptions on HTPs. Continuing surveillance of HTP marketing and risk perceptions will inform tobacco regulations.

Care ethics and the responsible management of power and privacy in digitally enhanced disaster response

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Hayes ◽  
Damian Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Care Ethics ◽  
Ethics Of Care ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digitally Enhanced ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to argue that traditional ethical theories used in disaster response may be inadequate and particularly strained by the emergence of new technologies and social media, particularly with regard to privacy. The paper suggests incorporation of care ethics into the disaster ethics nexus to better include the perspectives of disaster affected communities. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a theoretical examination of privacy and care ethics in the context of social media/digitally enhanced disaster response. Findings The paper proposes an ethics of care can fruitfully by used by public and private agents in disaster management. Its relational ontology restores the priority of fostering good relationships between stakeholders, thus giving central importance to values such as transparency and trust and the situated knowledge of disaster-affected communities. Research limitations/implications This paper presents theoretical research and is limited by the availability of empirical data. There is opportunity for future research to evaluate the impact of a conscious adoption of an ethics of care by disaster management agents. Practical implications An ethos of care ethics needs to be mainstreamed into disaster management organisations and digital initiatives. Social implications This paper argues that power asymmetry in disaster response renders the public vulnerable to abuse, and that the adoption of care ethics can support disaster management agents in recognising this power imbalance and wielding power responsibly. Originality/value This paper examines the applicability of an alternative ethical framework to novel circumstances.

scholarly journals The Effects of Mobile Advertising Alerts and Perceived Value on Continuance Intention for Branded Mobile Apps

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6753
Author(s):  
Miluska Murillo-Zegarra ◽  
Carla Ruiz-Mafe ◽  
Silvia Sanz-Blas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Mobile Advertising ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines consumers’ behaviours towards mobile advertising alerts offered by branded mobile apps in the fashion industry. While consumer-driven factors have attracted much attention, little research has examined the impact of data-driven mobile advertising alerts on consumer continuance intention for branded mobile apps. This paper analyses the combined influence of consumer beliefs, data-driven mobile advertising alerts, and perceived value on mobile advertising acceptance, intention to repurchase, and recommendation behaviour towards branded mobile apps on social media. In total, 340 valid responses from Spanish customers of an online fashion outlet, all social media users, who make their purchases from the company exclusively through its branded mobile application, were analysed to test the hypotheses, using structural equation modelling. The results showed that mobile advertising acceptance, intention to repurchase, and recommendation behaviour are driven by the perceived value of the branded mobile app. Perceived value is determined by the usefulness of the branded mobile app, attitudes towards mobile advertising alerts, and irritation. Mobile advertising content (informativeness and credibility) improves attitudes towards mobile advertising alerts. Ease of use increases perceived usefulness, while perceived control decreases irritation. Managerial implications are provided.

Social media, diffusion of innovations, morale and digital inequality

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-495
Author(s):  
Marion Lucille Williams ◽  
Alexander Dhoest ◽  
Ian Saunderson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore social media usage in an academic library in South Africa and the factors influencing its use. The primary goal of the study was to examine perceptions surrounding the impact of non-adoption of social media on morale, and to explore the consequences of digital inequality. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative method, in-depth interviews were conducted with a small sample comprising six key informants at the University of Limpopo Libraries. Findings The findings suggest that non-adoption of social media has a negative influence on morale, and that it is a very necessary tool required for interaction with students as well as promotion and marketing of the library’s resources. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to one academic library in South Africa situated in a rural area. The research suggests that more academic libraries in rural areas be studied to ascertain if geographical location and finance are barriers to social media adoption. Originality/value This study addresses non-adoption of social media and suggests ways to improve employee morale and retention. The research contributes to current research.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Digital Infrastructure Transformation on Livestock System Sustainability in Rural Communities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon Gwaka ◽  
Julian May ◽  
William Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
System Sustainability ◽  
Societal Problems ◽  
The Impact

Investments in digital infrastructure in marginalised communities are set to increase in the next decade. These are premised on the potential of digital technologies to contribute towards solving societal problems, including the fragility of food value chains in rural areas. Although there are mixed empirical findings on the impact of these digital infrastructure investments, huge investments are continuing amid changing ICT policies in most developing countries. This paper, using a case study of a local livestock value chain in a rural community in Zimbabwe, argues for the application of non-conventional approaches towards digital infrastructure transformation impact assessment. Using selected theories and frameworks (socio-ecological systems framework, choice framework and technology affordances theory) as well as empirical data from a project in a rural community, the paper shows that real-time impact assessment using context-specific metrics may reveal hidden digital infrastructure transformation impacts, positive and negative, that are often overlooked when traditional impact assessment approaches are employed. The findings of this study contribute towards improving approaches towards ICT impact assessment. Practitioners engaging in impact assessment are challenged to move beyond dependence on traditional metrics (e.g. access) to the adoption of participatory processes to decipher context-appropriate metrics.

scholarly journals IMPRESSION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND MORAL VALUES OF STUDENTS: A CASE OF THE COLLEGES LOCATED IN AREA OF OMERGA, SUB-DISTRICT

2020 ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Sushil R. Mathapati ◽  
Nitin R. Hulsure ◽  
Ankush V. Takale ◽  
Sachin S. Rajmane
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Present Generation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The Impact

In this technical world, young youth of India enjoyed to spend their foremost time on social media. Not only in cities but also in rural areas, it found that the present generation has attraction towards social media. In today’s world, life cannot be imagined without social media like WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts etc. In the present work, we have study the impact of use of social media on academic performance and moral values of students located in omerga sub-district. This expressive, investigative study surveyed the types of social media platforms students commonly use, the amount of time students spend on social media, the purposes for which students use the social media and the influence of social media use on students’ academic as well as social life. The study also found that majority of students agreed that their educational performance is influenced due to the massive use of social media. Additionally, near about 50% students from these colleges think them self as they are addicted to use of social media. Keywords: Social media, Students life, Academic performance, Molar values.

scholarly journals Impactful Social Media on Family Living with Mentally Disordered Members in Rural Areas

2019 ◽  
pp. 1551-1554
Author(s):  
Sugeng Mashudi ◽  
Ah Yusuf ◽  
Rika Subarniati Triyoga
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Family Stress ◽  
P Value ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Psychological Training ◽  
The Social ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
The Impact

Objective: This study explores the impact of social media on family who live with mentally disordered members in rural areas of Ponorogo, East Java Province. Various efforts have been made to determine whether or not social media can help families in rural areas deal with serious stress because of living with their mentally disordered members. Method: This study involves 160 members with mental disorder and their family. Stress is measured based on Lazarus and Folkman theory. Data are analyzed using the Sperman test with SPSS software. Results: Using Beck criteria, it was found that 60% (N = 160) of families feel stressed. Interestingly, there was a significance difference of stress experienced by the social media users and non-social media users (p value= 0.002). There are 31.3% of social media users who are less stressed while 68.7% non-social media users felt more stressed. Conclusion: This study verifies the stress experienced by familes who live with mentally disordered members. It can be concluded that the families who use social media are less stressed even though they live with mentally disordered members. It means social media can prevent stress. In addition, it is recommended that counseling and psychological training should be designed by considering participants’ gender and level of education.

scholarly journals Characteristics and Outcomes of a Sample of Patients With COVID-19 Identified Through Social Media in Wuhan, China: Observational Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Liu ◽  
Yuyan Wang ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Jue Liu ◽  
Yongjie Yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Diffuse Distribution

BACKGROUND The number of deaths worldwide caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is increasing rapidly. Information about the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 who were not admitted to hospital is limited. Some risk factors of mortality associated with COVID-19 are controversial (eg, smoking). Moreover, the impact of city closure on mortality and admission rates is unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors of mortality associated with COVID-19 infection among a sample of patients in Wuhan whose conditions were reported on social media. METHODS We enrolled 599 patients with COVID-19 from 67 hospitals in Wuhan in the study; 117 of the participants (19.5%) were not admitted to hospital. The demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features of the patients were extracted from their social media posts and coded. Telephone follow-up was conducted 1 month later (between March 15 and 23, 2020) to check the clinical outcomes of the patients and acquire other relevant information. RESULTS The median age of patients with COVID-19 who died (72 years, IQR 66.5-82.0) was significantly higher than that of patients who recovered (61 years, IQR 53-69, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). We found that lack of admission to hospital (odds ratio [OR] 5.82, 95% CI 3.36-10.1; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), older age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.1; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), diffuse distribution (OR 11.09, 95% CI 0.93-132.9; <i>P</i>=.058), and hypoxemia (odds ratio 2.94, 95% CI 1.32-6.6; <i>P</i>=.009) were associated with increasing odds of death. Smoking was not significantly associated with mortality risk (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.44-1.85; <i>P</i>=.78). CONCLUSIONS Older age, diffuse distribution, and hypoxemia are factors that can help clinicians identify patients with COVID-19 who have poor prognosis. Our study suggests that aggregated data from social media can also be comprehensive, immediate, and informative in disease prognosis.

scholarly journals Data-Driven Real-Time Strategic Placement of Mobile Vaccine Distribution Sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakaria Mehrab ◽  
Mandy L. Wilson ◽  
Serina Y Chang ◽  
Galen Harrison ◽  
Bryan Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Heterogeneous Data ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Vaccination Site ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Us Census

The deployment of vaccines across the US provides significant defense against serious illness and death from COVID-19. Over 70% of vaccine-eligible Americans are at least partially vaccinated, but there are pockets of the population that are under-vaccinated, such as in rural areas and some demographic groups (e.g. age, race, ethnicity). These unvaccinated pockets are extremely susceptible to the Delta variant, exacerbating the healthcare crisis and increasing the risk of new variants. In this paper, we describe a data-driven model that provides real-time support to Virginia public health officials by recommending mobile vaccination site placement in order to target under-vaccinated populations. Our strategy uses fine-grained mobility data, along with US Census and vaccination uptake data, to identify locations that are most likely to be visited by unvaccinated individuals. We further extend our model to choose locations that maximize vaccine uptake among hesitant groups. We show that the top recommended sites vary substantially across some demographics, demonstrating the value of developing customized recommendation models that integrate fine-grained, heterogeneous data sources. In addition, we used a statistically equivalent Synthetic Population to study the effect of combined demographics (eg, people of a particular race and age), which is not possible using US Census data alone. We validate our recommendations by analyzing the success rates of deployed vaccine sites, and show that sites placed closer to our recommended areas administered higher numbers of doses. Our model is the first of its kind to consider evolving mobility patterns in real-time for suggesting placement strategies customized for different targeted demographic groups. Our results will be presented at IAAI-22, but given the critical nature of the pandemic, we offer this extended version of that paper for more timely consideration of our approach and to cover additional findings.

scholarly journals Analysing the impact of electrification on rural attractiveness in Senegal with mobile phone data

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadrien Salat ◽  
Markus Schläpfer ◽  
Zbigniew Smoreda ◽  
Stefania Rubrichi
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mobile Phone Data ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Centrality Measures ◽  
Planning Strategy ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Food Education ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
The Impact

Reliable and affordable access to electricity has become one of the basic needs for humans and is, as such, at the top of the development agenda. It contributes to socio-economic development by transforming the whole spectrum of people’s lives—food, education, healthcare. It spurs new economic opportunities, thus improving livelihoods. Using a comprehensive dataset of pseudonymized mobile phone records, we analyse the impact of electrification on attractiveness for rural areas in Senegal. We extract communication and mobility flows from call detail records and show that electrification is positively and specifically correlated with centrality measures within the communication network and with the volume of incoming visitors. This increased influence is however circumscribed to a limited spatial extent, creating a complex competition with nearby areas. Nevertheless, we found that the volume of visitors between any two sites could be well predicted from the level of electrification at the destination and the living standard at the origin. In view of these results, we discuss how to obtain the best outcomes from a rural electrification planning strategy. We determine that electrifying clusters of rural sites is a better solution than centralizing electricity supplies to maximize the development of specifically targeted sites.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document