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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
71

Zhodnocení havarijní připravenosti železniční stanice České Budějovice / Assessment of emergency preparedness at the railway station in České Budějovice

KLÍMA, Petr January 2011 (has links)
Emergency preparedness includes the ability to recognize the occurrence of extraordinary events and, in particular, planning, organizing and management of emergency measures to deal with them. The objective of this thesis is to assess planned measures to avert the consequences of accidents depending on selected extraordinary events in the premises of the railway station in České Budějovice. Another objective is to assess the overall emergency preparedness of the railway station in České Budějovice in this respect. In order to meet the objectives as well as possible I defined the following hypothesis: Planned measures to avert the consequences of accidents in the premises of the railway station in České Budějovice are adequate and in accordance with applicable legislation. The thesis includes basic general information on extraordinary events, emergency planning and the integrated rescue system, and then it describes securing emergency preparedness within the organizational structure of the entities involved. The thesis also includes the issue of rail freight transport and the related transport of dangerous substances. To achieve the objectives of the thesis and to verify the hypothesis, I used interviews with relevant experts from railway companies ČD as, ČD Cargo and SŽDC, and the study of available literature and legislation. Then, I used a document analysis aimed at assessing the adequacy and suitability of planned measures depending on the selected extraordinary events ? both associated with the normal operation of the railway station and the transport of hazardous substances in tanks. The analysis showed that the planned measures to avert the consequences of accidents in the premises of the railway station in České Budějovice are currently to a great extent adequate and in compliance with applicable national and international legislation. In the discussion section, I presented the problems that occurred in dealing with this issue. At the end of the thesis, I tried to propose some measures that would be suitable for adding into the documentation of emergency preparedness of the railway station in České Budějovice. I believe that this thesis will be used as a document monitoring an aggregate of measures to ensure emergency preparedness of the railway station in České Budějovice and, in the light of the thesis results, it will be possible to recommend further improvements in securing the preparation of these measures.
72

Krisberedskap - en angelägenhet för alla? : En kvantitativ studie om högskolestudenters självskattade kunskap och medvetenhet om kris och krisberedskap

Johansson, Frida January 2018 (has links)
Krisberedskap är ett aktuellt ämne som ur individperspektiv främst rör den egna förmågan att tillgodose sina grundläggande behov av vatten, värme, mat, kommunikation och medicin i minst 7 dygn om en kris inträffar. Detta ställer krav på individers medvetenhet och kunskap om kris och krisberedskap. Det saknas forskning på området och de studier som finns visar att medvetenheten och kunskapen är låg. Studiens syfte är att undersöka högskolestudenters oro för att en kris ska inträffa, deras kunskap och medvetenhet om kris och krisberedskap samt vilken beredskap studenter har att hantera en kris och eventuella samband mellan dessa. En kvantitativ enkätstudie genomfördes. Resultatet visar att studenternas medvetenhet och kunskap om kris och krisberedskap är låg. Studenterna har störst oro för att en terroristattack ska ske och anser det troligt att en terroristattack kan inträffa inom fem år. Generellt är dock studenternas oro för att en kris ska inträffa låg. T-test genomfördes för att undersöka eventuella samband och skillnader i krisberedskap utifrån grad av kunskap och medvetenhet. Inga signifikanta samband eller skillnader påvisades. Studiens resultat diskuteras i relation till teorierna Health belief model och Theory of planned behaviour. Då kris och krisberedskap är ett aktuellt men obeforskat ämne rekommenderas vidare studier.
73

Understanding Collaboration in the Context of Loosely- and Tightly-Coupled Complex Adaptive Systems

Leduc, Nathaniel January 2018 (has links)
Many of the technological and social systems our society has come to depend on can be classified as complex adaptive systems (CAS). These systems are made of many individual parts that self-organize to respond and adapt to changing outside and inside influences affecting the system and its actors. These CAS can be placed on a spectrum ranging from loosely- to tightly-coupled, depending on the degree of interrelatedness and interdependence between system components. This research has explored how the process of collaboration occurs in both a loosely- and tightly-coupled setting using one exemplar of each system. The loosely-coupled exemplar related to disaster risk reduction in two Canadian communities while the tightly-coupled one involved the implementation of a surgical information management system in a Canadian hospital. A list of core elements of collaboration that should be considered essential to the success of all collaborative endeavours was developed as a result: Engagement, Communication, Leadership, Role Clarity, Awareness, Time, and Technical Skills and Knowledge. Based on observing how the core elements of collaboration interacted with one another within each of these example systems, two models were created to represent their relationships. A list of considerations that collaborative tool designers should consider was also developed and the implications of these considerations were discussed. As businesses and other organizations increasingly incorporate team-based work models, they will come to depend more heavily on technology-based solutions to support collaboration. By incorporating collaborative technologies that properly support the activity of these teams—based on the specific type of complex adaptive system in which their organization exists—organizations can avoid wasting time and resources developing tools that hinder collaboration.
74

A Framework for Analyzing and Optimizing Regional Bio-Emergency Response Plans

Schneider, Tamara 12 1900 (has links)
The presence of naturally occurring and man-made public health threats necessitate the design and implementation of mitigation strategies, such that adequate response is provided in a timely manner. Since multiple variables, such as geographic properties, resource constraints, and government mandated time-frames must be accounted for, computational methods provide the necessary tools to develop contingency response plans while respecting underlying data and assumptions. A typical response scenario involves the placement of points of dispensing (PODs) in the affected geographic region to supply vaccines or medications to the general public. Computational tools aid in the analysis of such response plans, as well as in the strategic placement of PODs, such that feasible response scenarios can be developed. Due to the sensitivity of bio-emergency response plans, geographic information, such as POD locations, must be kept confidential. The generation of synthetic geographic regions allows for the development of emergency response plans on non-sensitive data, as well as for the study of the effects of single geographic parameters. Further, synthetic representations of geographic regions allow for results to be published and evaluated by the scientific community. This dissertation presents methodology for the analysis of bio-emergency response plans, methods for plan optimization, as well as methodology for the generation of synthetic geographic regions.
75

Investigating inclusive risk communication in the context of influenza outbreaks : Insights from South Korea and Vietnam

Nygren, Stina, Zeidlitz, Moa January 2020 (has links)
Outbreaks of novel influenza viruses are continually occurring on many places on our planet, with the ultimate and most extreme consequence being a full-scale pandemic. Modern communication technology is widely used for risk communication regarding recommended change in behavior patterns and other precautions in order to mitigate the transmission. However, the assumption and bias that modern communication technology constitutes the norm causes vulnerable groups to be at possible risk of systematic exclusion to correct and updated information. Through conducting a literature- and case analysis, the aim of this study is to identify insufficient or inadequate risk communication efforts in South Korea and Vietnam during influenza outbreaks, especially with concern of vulnerable groups. Further, to analyze how national influenza preparedness plans observe or ignore these insufficiencies. Results show that vulnerable groups are explicitly recognized in the preparedness plan of Vietnam. However, the South Korean preparedness plan show a more homogenous approach. Both South Korea and Vietnam showed a broad variety of channels used in their risk communication strategies which could be positive in terms of a broad outreach to a heterogenous population, including vulnerable groups. Four key factors that moderate the outcomes of risk communication were identified: Channels, Messages, Transparency and Trust.
76

"En kugge i krigsapparaten" : Bibliotekens roll i svensk kris- och krigsberedskap / "A cog in the war machine" : The role of public libraries in the Swedish total defense

Wallin Lämsä, Camilla, Joyce, Marie-Louise January 2020 (has links)
In this thesis we explore the idea presented in the Swedish National Library Strategy (2019) to tie the public libraries closer to the nation’s total defense system. The purpose of the study has been to understand which problem this idea was formulated as a solution to and how the suggestion is problematized by information science professionals, using critical discourse analysis methods developed by Carol Bacchi. Our material consists of the finalized National Library Strategy, its first draft from 2018, and the referral responses by various interested parties, as well as interviews with 15 public librarians, library directors, and scholars of information science. We discuss how the psychological defense relates to the librarian’s statutory duty to facilitate citizen participation in deliberative democracy and to counteract misinformation. We also ask how the library professions might be affected by an active involvement in future civil defense efforts. Our results show that the National Library Strategy construes the idea as a security problem by portraying our society as affected by growing political tensions, rapidly spread misinformation, and chaos, making the total defense suggestion into a meaningful solution. In our interviews with information professionals, some respondents viewed the total defense as an extension of their work to advocate democracy and intellectual freedom, whereas others perceived ethical tensions and incongruity between the two missions, referring to traditional library ideals of political neutrality and independence. All respondents based their reflections of the total defense idea on the importance of deliberative democracy and the library’s prominent place in promoting it, but with differing perspectives of its relationship to the total defense system as either problematic or emblematic. Drawing on these results, we argue that a total defense mission is compatible with librarians’ professional ethics and statutory democracy advocacy, as long as libraries can continue to foster free opinion formation and unbiased information evaluation independent from state interests during wartime and times of crisis. This is a two years master's thesis in library and information science.
77

"Bli inte lurad" : En retorisk analys av en statlig kampanj om att möta informationspåverkan / "Don't be fooled" : A Rethorical Analysis of a Govermental Campaign to Counter Information Influence

Joby, Martin January 2023 (has links)
I en tid av minskande tilltro till objektiv sanning och expertis blir konsten att övertala och kontrollera information avgörande i samhällsdebatten och en utmaning för demokratin. Inom den retoriska traditionen gör man dock en etisk distinktion mellan påverkan med den ömsesidiga nyttan som mål (argumentation) respektive påverkan med syfte att manipulera (propaganda). Retoriken utger sig också ha potential att vitalisera det demokratiska samtalet. Det finns i dagsläget begränsad forskning om hur samhället kan arbeta mot informationspåverkan och forskningen är tämligen frikopplad från den retoriska traditionen. Samtidigt finns ett retoriskt intresse för beredskapsretorik och för politisk retorik som med moderna medier når oss i det privata. Mot denna bakgrund kommer denna uppsats att studera kampanjen Bli inte lurad framtagen av Myndigheten för psykologiskt försvar, som är en beredskapskampanj om att möta informationspåverkan. För att synliggöra retoriken som präglar denna folkbildningskampanj används en retorisk analysmetod. Genom analysen och den teoretiska bakgrunden i klassisk retorik och modern visuell retorik kunde argumentationen, det publika tilltalet och den ickeverbala kommunikationen synliggöras. Argumentationen som analysen synliggör är informativ och söker vinna tillit genom ett starkt pathos som uppmålar en hotfull situation och genom ett starkt ethos som framställer myndigheten som folklig, men argumenterar mindre utifrån logos, utan underminerar motståndarnas trovärdighet. Det publika tilltalet som analysen synliggör framhäver medborgarnas demokratiska ansvar och hävdar rationalitet och social sammanhållning som gemensamma värderingar. Medborgarna uppmuntras både till källkritik och källtillit med anspelningar på samvetet och solidaritet. Den ickeverbala kommunikation som synliggörs i analysen förtydligar känslor och attityder i symboliska illustrationer samt kopplar problematiken till vardagliga upplevelser. Illustrationer och layout skapar en viss distans till problematiken och förmedlar trygghet. Att kampanjen på hemsidan presenteras i samarbete med magikerna Brynolf och Ljung skapar intresse, men kan förstärka en ogrundad misstänksamhet mot främmande perspektiv av rädsla att bli lurad. / In an era of decreased trust towards objective truth and expertise the art of convincing and controlling information becomes paramount to the public debate and to the democracy. Within the rhetorical tradition there is an ethical distinction between influence towards the common good (argumentation) and influence with the intent to manipulate (propaganda). The rhetorical tradition also claims potential to invigorate the democratic discourse. There is today limited research on how society can counter information influence and the research is quite disconnected from the rhetorical tradition. Meanwhile there is a rhetorical interest in emergency preparedness and for political rhetoric that through modern media reach us in our privet life. Against this background this essay will study the campaign Don’t be fooled, created by the Swedish Psychological Defense Agency, which is an emergency preparedness campaign about countering information influence. To make visible the rhetoric that marks this popular education campaign a rhetorical method of analysis is applied. Through the analysis and the theoretical framework of classical rhetoric and modern visual rhetoric the argumentation, the public appeal and the nonverbal communication could be made visible. The argumentation that the analysis show is informative and seeks to gain trust through a strong pathos which describes a threatening situation and through a strong ethos that depicts the agency as affable, though argue less from logos, but undermine the credibility of the opponent. The public appeal that the analysis show holds up the citizens democratic responsibility and claim rationality and social cohesion as common values. The citizens are encouraged to both source criticism and source trust with reference to the conscience and solidarity. The nonverbal communication that the analysis shows illustrates feelings and attitudes through symbolic illustrations and connect the problems to everyday situations. Illustrations and layout create somewhat of a distance to the problems and mediate safety. The choice to present the campaign through the website with the magicians Brynolf and Ljung creates interest but can also reinforce an ill-founded suspicion towards different perspectives by fear to be fooled.
78

Att leda socialt arbete i skymningsläge och krig : En kvantitativ studie om enhetchefers perspektiv på krisberedskap på vård- och omsorgsboenden / Leading social work in grayzone and war : A quantitative study on first line managers' perspectives on crises preparedness in elder care facilities

Rasmusson, Amalia, Rasmusson, Sigrid January 2024 (has links)
The aim of this study was to examine the level of crisis readiness within the eldercare sector. Because of the worsened security landscape in the world, crisis readiness has become a focal point on the political agenda. The crisis we explore are the types of crisis that could follow a war or the grayzone between war and peace which in Swedish is called “skymningsläge”. The crisis we focus on in the study are power failure, crisis regarding water supply, food and medicin distribution and cyber-attacks. Our survey aimed to explore the new institutional theory to gain insights into the dynamics of social work within the context of crisis management,focusing on organizations' adaptability to new security challenges. By examining the responses of frontline managers, we sought to understand the impact the organizations have on the elder care facilities. Our findings showed discrepancies between municipal and private sectors with front line managers within the private sector demonstrating a culture of greater openness to make changes for improved crisis readiness. However, in terms of crisis readiness, no significant advantage was found for private facilities. By exploring the perspectives of the first line managers we could also understand what impact the organizations have on the managers situation. Our study also showed a correlation between training in crisis management and confidence in leading during crises. The survey also showed that the organizations has taken measures to develop crisis readiness after the pandemic to be more resilient.
79

Computational Methods to Optimize High-Consequence Variants of the Vehicle Routing Problem for Relief Networks in Humanitarian Logistics

Urbanovsky, Joshua C. 08 1900 (has links)
Optimization of relief networks in humanitarian logistics often exemplifies the need for solutions that are feasible given a hard constraint on time. For instance, the distribution of medical countermeasures immediately following a biological disaster event must be completed within a short time-frame. When these supplies are not distributed within the maximum time allowed, the severity of the disaster is quickly exacerbated. Therefore emergency response plans that fail to facilitate the transportation of these supplies in the time allowed are simply not acceptable. As a result, all optimization solutions that fail to satisfy this criterion would be deemed infeasible. This creates a conflict with the priority optimization objective in most variants of the generic vehicle routing problem (VRP). Instead of efficiently maximizing usage of vehicle resources available to construct a feasible solution, these variants ordinarily prioritize the construction of a minimum cost set of vehicle routes. Research presented in this dissertation focuses on the design and analysis of efficient computational methods for optimizing high-consequence variants of the VRP for relief networks. The conflict between prioritizing the minimization of the number of vehicles required or the minimization of total travel time is demonstrated. The optimization of the time and capacity constraints in the context of minimizing the required vehicles are independently examined. An efficient meta-heuristic algorithm based on a continuous spatial partitioning scheme is presented for constructing a minimized set of vehicle routes in practical instances of the VRP that include critically high-cost penalties. Multiple optimization priority strategies that extend this algorithm are examined and compared in a large-scale bio-emergency case study. The algorithms designed from this research are implemented and integrated into an existing computational framework that is currently used by public health officials. These computational tools enhance an emergency response planner's ability to derive a set of vehicle routes specifically optimized for the delivery of resources to dispensing facilities in the event of a bio-emergency.
80

The German Red Cross(es) and Humanitarianism in Divided Germany, 1945-1965

Heyden, Ryan Walter January 2024 (has links)
This dissertation studies the history of the German Red Cross of the German Democratic Republic and the German Red Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany. The dissertation begins with Germany’s defeat and capitulation in the Second World War into the occupation period, situating the pre-1945 German Red Cross in the chaos of the war’s end and its dissolution and ban by the Allied Powers. It investigates the aid work of new regional Red Cross societies in the Western occupation zones and the political debate about the Red Cross’s place in a socialist East Germany. The dissertation also analyzes the new national Red Crosses’ formation in 1952 and their domestic activities. These are two parallel histories of states with many similarities, while existing separately from one another and with differing ideological visions for the future. The German Red Crosses remained linked by their pasts and the circumstances of the present. This reality is reflected in their efforts to join the International Red Cross from 1952 to 1956, and in their collaboration to reunify families separated by the inter-German border. The dissertation argues that the histories of the German Red Crosses and humanitarianism contributes to our understanding of the fundamental predicaments faced by divided Germany in the early-Cold War. The Red Crosses shaped the responses to the challenges facing the region, whether they be the immediate suffering and long-lasting aftereffects wrought by total war, new anxieties about a nuclear future, or the need for modern disaster response and public health infrastructures. And humanitarianism was never purely altruistic. It was a useful political tool for East and West Germany and their peoples, who sought stability and peace and the successful completion of their ideological projects: creating socialism in the East and a liberal capitalist order in the West. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / On September 19, 1945, the Soviet Military Administration in Germany disbanded the German Red Cross and labelled it a Nazi organization, and the American, British, and French occupation governments followed suit. By 1952, two new national Red Cross organizations formed in divided Germany, the German Red Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Red Cross of the German Democratic Republic. This dissertation explores the history of the German Red Cross in West and East Germany from 1945 to 1965 and asks fundamental questions about the role of humanitarianism in Germany’s postwar recovery and reconstruction, in the daily life of two distinct but connected societies, and in the international relations of the Cold War. The dissertation argues that humanitarianism and humanitarian organizations are not immune to politics; indeed, humanitarianism was a useful tool for those on both sides of the ideological divide. It helped legitimize and sustain communism in East Germany, and it did the same for liberal capitalism in West Germany. In the first postwar decades, the German Red Crosses faced head on the manifest problems of East and West Germany, as both societies recovered from the influence of Nazism, the perpetration of genocide, and the destruction of war and set out to find security and peace under the weight of the Cold War. The two organizations were uniquely positioned to face those problems as their leaders were well connected and their aid workers were both humanitarian subject and humanitarian.

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