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Kelley expert: Olympics could be targeted by hacktivists, others seeking to embarrass Beijing
Scott Shackelford, associate professor of business law and ethics at Kelley, IU Cybersecurity Risk Management Program chair and director of the Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, said the high-profile diplomatic breach leading up to the games — including the boycott led by the United States – “means that the games could be targeted by hacktivists and other groups seeking to embarrass or otherwise harass Beijing.” Scott Shackelford “There are always issues associated with the Olympics given that they are a target-rich environment for criminals seeking to target athletes and spectators alike,” Shackelford said. “Beijing’s harsh data localization, cybersecurity, and cyber sovereignty laws also raises human rights concerns for athletes and reporters attending the games.” He also noted that ironically while the Olympic games generally often coincide with a peaceful break from ongoing geopolitical tensions, this might not last long. “Witness the Russian invasion of Crimea three days after the 2014 Sochi games concluded,” he said. Shackelford can be reached at sjshacke@indiana.edu.
State-sponsored computational propaganda is a potential threat during the 2022 Winter Olympics
Sagar Samtani, assistant professor and Grant Thornton Scholar, whose research centers on AI for cybersecurity and cyber threat intelligence, is particularly watching two major cybersecurity issues during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing Feb. 4-20. “The Olympics are an international, global event. As such, there are often political undertones and agendas that may drive how countries present themselves. Disinformation, misinformation, and computational propaganda that are state-sponsored or provided by individual threat actors could pose a significant threat,” Samtani said. Samtani noted that this will be biggest Olympics for streaming services. For example, NBC Universal will present Winter Olympics record of over 2,800 hours of coverage. But this move away from network reliance on broadcast channels could present a tantalizing target for hackers. “The Olympics are a widely covered, highly publicized TV event. In recent years, streaming services have grown in popularity, while conventional satellite and cable services have declined. As such, the concerns around denial-of-service attacks against prevailing streaming services as it pertains to viewing the Olympics is a very real concern,” he said. Samtani can be reached at ssamtani@iu.edu
Free masks are coming - here's what you need to know
As stores across America prepare to receive "the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history," UConn epidemiologist Dr. David Banach is answering the questions about N95 respirators, how they work, and how to use them properly in a new interview with Buzzfeed news: There are several different types and shapes of N95s; some look like duck bills, others like domes, and several have three panels. The main difference between nonsurgical and surgical N95s is that the latter are also fluid resistant to protect doctors and nurses from blood and other bodily fluid sprays, Dr. David Banach, an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at UConn Health of the University of Connecticut, told BuzzFeed News. ****** N95 respirators are regulated by the US with standards set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), while KN95s (and KF94s and others) follow international standards, meaning they also should screen out about 95% of germs and particles, but their effectiveness can vary between brands sold in the US. That’s why Banach advises extra caution if you choose to wear these masks. ****** N95 respirators do expire, Banach said, but it’s usually several years after they are made. As long as you store your N95s according to its box instructions, you’ll be fine — unless you’re saving them for the next inevitable pandemic. Dr. David Banach is an expert on infectious diseases and epidemiology and is a leading expert on COVID-19 in America. To book an interview with Dr. Banach, click on his icon today.
The world's gone crazy for Wordle - Our expert explains why
You can't avoid it these days - Wordle is everywhere. Social media is peppered with people's results, it's the topic of talk shows, and even SNL did a parody of it - essentially baptizing Wordle as a part of American culture. It's a phenomenon that has caught fire - and media everywhere are trying to figure out why. That's why when the Washington Post was trying to spell out just what makes Wordle so enticing - the reporter contacted Dimitris Xygalatas from UConn to get to the source of this five-letter craze. In the beginning, Americans created sourdough starters. As people looked for rituals to cope with the early uncertainties of the pandemic, many bought Peloton bikes, built gardens and watched “Tiger King.” And in Brooklyn, a software engineer said: “Let there be Wordle!” And there was Wordle. Big-time. In recent weeks, the online game has become a kind of ritual for its players, who pilgrimage daily to a website to solve a five-letter puzzle. After completing the game, many share their score with their friends, along with the grid of yellow and green squares that show how many tries it took them to solve the puzzle. The game with no ads was created in late 2021 by Josh Wardle for his partner as a way to kill time during the pandemic. Humans’ brains are designed for pattern-seeking in order to help us make sense of the world, said Dimitris Xygalatas, an anthropologist and cognitive scientist at the University of Connecticut. When humans aren’t able to find patterns, we can experience stress, he said. Something like doing Wordle daily can give people a sense of regularity and a sense of control. Xygalatas’s studies have found that people who participate in collective rituals have lower levels of cortisol that correspond with lower stress and are often able to build social-support networks. This is why, he said, communal rituals — such as cheering for health-care workers from apartment balconies — took off in the early months of the pandemic. “Our mind craves regularity,” he said. “It’s one of the main ways we try to fight anxieties.” Professor Xygalatas is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist at the University of Connecticut who specializes in some of the things that make us human, including ritual, sports, music, cooperation, and the interaction between cognition and culture. He is available to speak with media, answering all your Wordle questions. Click on his icon to arrange an interview today.
All eyes on Virginia as parents and school systems sue over mask-optional orders
Virginia has become the center of attention for lawmakers as seven school boards are taking Gov. Glenn Youngkin to court over mask-optional orders for students. A group of parents are also suing the new governor, who campaigned on ending mask mandates in public schools, and made it one of his first executive orders. It’s a complicated and no doubt controversial stance – and to fully comprehend what’s going on and the political implications for both sides, media organizations like The Washington Post are contacting experts like UMW’s Stephen Farnsworth to help break it all down. Fairfax School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky said in an interview Sunday that the lawsuit boils down to an issue of local control: “Can we make policies for our school system, or does the governor get to come and do that for us?” Youngkin, Pekarsky added, “does not tell us what to do.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said the twin lawsuits place significant pressure on Virginia’s court system to step in quickly to resolve the debate. “In situations like this, where there is no middle ground and where neither side has any interest in backing down, only judges can be the necessary umpires,” Farnsworth said. “The sooner they do so, the better for all concerned.” But nobody knows when that will happen. This is a hot button topic, and the result of the lawsuits may have national implications. Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a sought-after political commentator on presidential politics. He has been widely featured in national media, including The Washington Post, Reuters, The Chicago Tribune and MSNBC. If you are a reporter covering the midterms and especially Virginia politics, simple click on his icon to arrange an interview today.
Tune In and Learn from our Experts - The Science of Decision Making
Did you know the average adult makes more than 35,000 decisions each day? The Science of Decision Making is the most recent episode available on The Goizueta Effect podcast. Emory University's Goizueta Business School Professor Ryan Hamilton shares how a better understanding of the human mind can help you make the best decisions in your own life – and position your products, services, and teams for growth. On the podcast you’ll find out more about: Grounding Tenets: The 4R’s of Decision Making How Cognitive Resources Impact the Decision-Making Process The Mental Load of COVID Importance of Reference Points for Businesses Halo Effects: Impact on Perceived Prices and Satisfaction Levels Impact on Satisfaction Levels Impact on Individual Perception Does Hamilton’s Research Influence His Behavior? The link to the podcast is attached below and if you are a reporter interested in learning more about Ryan Hamilton’s research – we’re here to help. Ryan Hamilton, associate professor of marketing at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. He is available to speak with media regarding brands and brand reputation – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Tension are rising in Eastern Europe as troops, tanks and weapons are piling up on both sides of the border separating Russia and Ukraine. And with each passing day, the invasion of Ukraine and the possibility of outright war seems to be increasing. Is war inevitable? How did this situation escalate so quickly? Is this a power-play but Vladimir Putin? Should other neighboring countries be worried? And what is the strategic and historical significance of Ukraine when it comes to Russia wanting to invade? How could this affect the U.S.? There's a lot of questions to be answered - and if you are a reporter covering this escalating news story, then let our experts help. Jacek Lubecki, Ph.D., is an associate professor of political science and international studies at Georgia Southern University. He is also expert in Polish and European military history. Lubecki is available to speak with media regarding this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Across America it seems deliveries are delayed; shelves are looking increasingly bare and there’s an elevated sense of anxiety when it comes to what lies ahead for America’s economy. All of these important topics are forefront in the minds of many and reporters are covering these stories locally and nationally on a daily basis. It's making news, and that’s why we’ve asked Dr. Richard M. Franza, the Dean of the James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University, a few quick questions that we’re seeing pop up in media coverage across Georgia. Q 1 - What is causing shortages here at home, especially in grocery stores? “Like most things, it is complicated, not a lot of easy answers, but there are clearly a few things in play here. First, companies have been having a hard time finding workers throughout the supply chain. It starts at the producer level, whether it is meat processing plants or producers of other foods and sundry items, production levels are down due to limitations on workers. Then, there have also been worker issues at the transportation/logistics part of the supply chain. Particularly in the area of trucking. So, even when producers have enough supply, they are having difficulty getting it to the stores. Finally, there are issues at the grocery stores themselves. Both at their distribution locations and the store themselves, they have been short on labor unloading and picking items, again delaying products from getting on the shelves. The problem has gotten worse in the past few weeks due to the COVID spikes due to omicron. While omicron is causing less serious results, it appears to be easier to catch. So, lots of people are getting it, making people have to miss work for five days, putting a further crunch on the labor force.” Q 2 - Is this a problem we are likely to see continue through the first quarter or half of the year? “I am optimistic that we can get past the omicron crunch in the coming weeks (by mid to late February, if not sooner). So, things should get better this quarter. However, this will just put us back to where we were pre-omicron, with still some lingering issues. I am hopeful that as the pandemic evolves into an endemic, things will resemble a more normal environment. While this virus has been unpredictable, I am hopeful that we can return to more normal environment no later than the end of the second quarter.” Q 3 - What we can we expect once the pandemic finally subsides? “I am extremely optimistic concerning our economy post-COVID. We have been pretty resilient to date, so I think if COVID transitions to endemic, I think we will see more spending and more people going to work.” If you’ve got more questions to be answered, or if you’d like to speak with him one on one – then let us help. Dr. Richard M. Franza is available to speak with media about important issues like America’s supply chain and the economy – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Antimicrobial resistance now causes more deaths than HIV/AIDS and malaria worldwide – new study
Antimicrobial resistance is spreading rapidly worldwide, and has even been likened to the next pandemic – one that many people may not even be aware is happening. A recent paper, published in Lancet, has revealed that antimicrobial resistant infections caused 1.27 millions deaths and were associated with 4.95 million deaths in 2019. This is greater than the number of people who died from HIV/AIDS and malaria that year combined. Antimicobial resistance happens when infection-causing microbes (such as bacteria, viruses or fungi) evolve to become resistant to the drug designed to kill them. This means than an antibiotic will no longer work to treat that infection anymore. The new findings makes it clear that antimicrobial resistance is progressing faster than the previous worst-case scenario estimates – which is of concern for everyone. The simple fact is that we’re running out of antibiotics that work. This could mean everyday bacterial infections become life-threatening again. While antimicrobial resistance has been a problem since penicillin was discovered in 1928, our continued exposure to antibiotics has enabled bacteria and other pathogens to evolve powerful resistance. In some cases, these microbes are resistant even to multiple different drugs. This latest study now shows the current scale of this problem globally – and the harm it’s causing. Global problem The study involved 204 countries around the world, looking at data from 471 million individual patient records. By looking at deaths due to and associated with antimicrobial resistance, the team was then able to estimate the impact antimicrobial resistance had in each country. Antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide and was associated with an estimated 4.95 millions deaths. In comparison, HIV/AIDS and malaria were estimated to have caused 860,000 and 640,000 deaths respectively the same year. The researchers also found that low- and middle-income countries were worst hit by antimicrobial resistance – although higher income countries also face alarmingly high levels. They also found that of the 23 different types of bacteria studied, drug resistance in only six types of bacteria contributed to 3.57 million deaths. The report also shows that 70% of deaths that resulted from antimicrobial resistance were caused by resistance to antibiotics often considered the first line of defence against severe infections. These included beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones, which are commonly prescribed for many infections, such as urinary tract, upper- and lower-respiratory and bone and joint infections. This study highlights a very clear message that global antimicrobial resistance could make everyday bacterial infections untreatable. By some estimates, antimicrobial resistance could cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050. This would overtake cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide. Next pandemic Bacteria can develop antimicrobial resistance in a number of ways. First, bacteria develop antimicrobial resistance naturally. It’s part of the normal push and pull observed throughout the natural world. As we get stronger, bacteria will get stronger too. It’s part of our co-evolution with bacteria – they’re just quicker at evolving than we are, partly because they replicate faster and get more genetic mutations than we do. But the way we use antibiotics can also cause resistance. For example, one common cause is if people fail to complete a course of antibiotics. Although people may feel better a few days after starting antibiotics, not all bacteria are made equal. Some may be slower to be affected by the antibiotic than others. This means that if you stop taking the antibiotic early, the bacteria that were initially able to avoid the effect of the antibiotics will be able to multiply, thus passing their resistance on.
Aston University and Alpharmaxim unite to revolutionise healthcare communications campaigns
Aston University has teamed up with Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications to apply the latest behavioural psychology research to develop a unique prescribing behaviour tool for healthcare professionals. At present there is a growing recognition in the healthcare sector that measuring belief change and/or intent to change behaviour can determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. The Healthcare Belief-Barrier Identification Tool (H-BIT)will identify beliefs and barriers in prescribing behaviour of EU healthcare professionals in specific disease areas, enabling targeted communication strategies that maximise the reach of treatments. Alpharmaxim is a long-established specialist marketing communications agency in the healthcare sector that helps pharmaceutical companies create effective communication plans for their products or services. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified graduate, known as a KTP associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is the leading KTP provider within the Midlands. This KTP will combine Alpharmaxim’s rich history of harnessing behavioural psychology through their Belief Continuum® (BC) model with Aston University’s expertise in Nominal Group Technique (NGT), a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone and facilitates quick agreement on the relative importance of issues, problems, or solutions. Applying NGT to objectively evaluate beliefs and behaviours that underpin behavioural change in a defined disease area will be unique in this field. The academic team from Aston University will be led by Dr Carl Senior, reader in psychology at Aston University. Dr Senior is a behavioural scientist with 20 years’ experience working at the interface between social psychology and organisational behaviour and was one of the first to develop a framework for applying NGT to understanding effective behaviour change. Commenting on the project, Dr Senior said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Alpharmaxim in this strategic relationship to lead change that is both focused and relevant to modern day health care.” Dr Senior will be joined by Dr Jason Thomas, senior lecturer in psychology at Aston University. Dr Thomas has spent the last ten years investigating novel approaches to encourage behavioural change, working with companies such as Direct Line and Starbucks to encourage their employees and customers to eat more healthily. William Hind, founder, controlling director and agency principal at Alpharmaxim, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this innovative KTP and hope the partnership will change the face of healthcare communications, ultimately improving the lives of patients with hard-to-treat diseases.”
