Information Management in Disaster and Humanitarian Response: A Case in United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

To guarantee a unified response to disasters, humanitarian organizations work together via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Although the OCHA has made great strides to improve its information management and increase the availability of accurate, real-time data for disaster and humanitarian response teams, significant gaps persist. There are inefficiencies in the emergency management of data at every stage of its lifecycle: collection, processing, analysis, distribution, storage, and retrieval. Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management are the two main tenets of the United Nations’ worldwide plan for disaster management. Information systems are crucial because of the crucial roles they play in capturing, processing, and transmitting data. The management of information is seldom discussed in published works. The goal of this study is to employ qualitative research methods to provide insight by facilitating an expanded comprehension of relevant contexts, phenomena, and individual experiences. Humanitarian workers and OCHA staffers will take part in the research. The study subjects will be chosen using a random selection procedure. Online surveys with both closed- and open-ended questions will be used to compile the data. UN OCHA offers a structure for the handling of information via which all humanitarian actors may contribute to the overall response. This research will enable the UN Office for OCHA better gather, process, analyze, disseminate, store, and retrieve data in the event of a catastrophe or humanitarian crisis.

Assessment of Wet Season Precipitation in the Central United States by the Regional Climate Simulation of the WRFG Member in NARCCAP and Its Relationship with Large-Scale Circulation Biases

Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss possible causes of biases in a WRF-based RCM with a grid spacing of 50 km,named WRFG,from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program(NARCCAP)in simulating wet season precipitation over the Central United States for a period when observational data are available.The RCM reproduces key features of the precipitation distribution characteristics during late spring to early summer,although it tends to underestimate the magnitude of precipitation.This dry bias is partially due to the model’s lack of skill in simulating nocturnal precipitation related to the lack of eastward propagating convective systems in the simulation.Inaccuracy in reproducing large-scale circulation and environmental conditions is another contributing factor.The too weak simulated pressure gradient between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico results in weaker southerly winds in between,leading to a reduction of warm moist air transport from the Gulf to the Central Great Plains.The simulated low-level horizontal convergence fields are less favorable for upward motion than in the NARR and hence,for the development of moist convection as well.Therefore,a careful examination of an RCM’s deficiencies and the identification of the source of errors are important when using the RCM to project precipitation changes in future climate scenarios.

The Enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health Requirements in Public and Private Sectors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates

Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsiveness toward enforcement measures and a lack of self-regulatory approaches within companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation methods practised in Abu Dhabi with those in developed countries with established OSH regulatory bodies. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to gather primary research data. Workers from various industries in Abu Dhabi were sampled on purpose and asked to respond to questionnaires and interviews on OSH protocol awareness and implementation, and circumstances of workplace incidence. Results: The findings of this study showed that the enforcement of OSH requirements in UAE positively correlated to a reduction in the rate of work-related injury and improved business performance. The quantitative research data showed that the energy sector had the highest score (15) while the tourism sector had the lowest score (5.3) in occupational health systems and improvements in business efficiency and productivity. Implications: The outcomes of this study shed light on the importance of implementing OSH Guidelines for companies to empower their safety managers to fully enforce OSH requirements in their organisations. In conclusion, effective OSH enforcement requires cooperation between general workers and OSH managers and facilitation from business owners.

Characteristics of patients with Wilson disease in the United States: An insurance claims database study

BACKGROUND Wilson disease(WD)is a progressive,potentially fatal degenerative disease affecting the liver and central nervous system.Given its low prevalence,collecting data on large cohorts of patients with WD is challenging.Comprehensive insur-ance claims databases provide powerful tools to collect retrospective data on large numbers of patients with rare diseases.AIM To describe patients with WD in the United States,their treatment and clinical outcome,using a large insurance claims database.METHODS This retrospective,longitudinal study was performed in the Clarivate Real-World Data Product database.All patients with≥2 claims associated with an Interna-tional Classification of Diseases 10(ICD-10)diagnostic code for WD(E83.01)between 2016 and 2021 were included and followed until death or study end.Patients were divided into two groups by whether or not they were documented to have received a specific treatment for WD.Clinical manifestations,hospital-isations,liver transplantation and death were documented.RESULTS Overall,5376 patients with an ICD-10 diagnostic code for WD were identified.The mean age at inclusion was 41.2 years and 52.0%were men.A specific WD treatment was documented for 885 patients(15.1%),although the number of patients taking zinc salts may be underestimated due to over the counter purchase.At inclusion,the mean age of patients with a documented treatment was 36.6±17.8 years vs 42.2±19.6 years in those without a documented treatment.During follow-up,273 patients(5.1%)died.Compared with the American general population,the standardised mortality ratio was 2.19.The proportion of patients with a documented WD-specific treatment who died during follow-up was 4.0%and the mean age at death 52.7 years.CONCLUSION Patients treated for WD in the United States had an excess early mortality compared with the American population.These findings indicate that there is a significant unmet need for effective treatment for WD in the United States.

Coping with the Impact of Climate Change: A Dive into Precision Agriculture in the United States

With the continued increase in the number of people that are food insecure globally, which could be increasing because of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, leading to reduction in international agribusinesses, coupled with drastic climate change exacerbating the problem of food insecurity, there is a constant need to come up with innovative approaches to solve this global issue. In this article, we articulated how precision agriculture can be a tool for ensuring food security in the United States. This study aims to reiterate the significance of precision agriculture in solving global food insecurity.

The 2 ℃ Global Temperature Target and the Evolution of the Long-TermGoal of Addressing Climate Change-From the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change to the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement proposed to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 ℃ abovepre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 ℃ above pre-industriallevels. It was thus the first international treaty to endow the 2 ℃ global temperature target with legal effect.The qualitative expression of the ultimate objective in Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Conventionon Climate Change （UNFCCC） has now evolved into the numerical temperature rise target in Article 2 of theParis Agreement. Starting with the Second Assessment Report （SAR） of the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli-mate Change （IPCC）, an important task for subsequent assessments has been to provide scientific informa-tion to help determine the quantified long-term goal for UNFCCC negotiation. However, due to involvementin the value judgment within the scope of non-scientific assessment, the IPCC has never scientifically af-firmed the unacceptable extent of global temperature rise. The setting of the long-term goal for addressingclimate change has been a long process, and the 2 ℃ global temperature target is the political consensuson the basis of scientific assessment. This article analyzes the evolution of the long-term global goal foraddressing climate change and its impact on scientific assessment, negotiation processes, and global low-carbon development, from aspects of the origin of the target, the series of assessments carried out by the 1PCCfocusing on Article 2 of the UNFCCC, and the promotion of the global temperature goal at the political level.

Liver Transplantation Outcomes of HBV-,HCV-,and Alcohol-induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States:Analysis of National Inpatient Samples

Objective Liver transplantation is a current treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).The United States National Inpatient Sample database was utilized to identify risk factors that influence the outcome of liver transplantation,including locoregional recurrence,distant metastasis,and in-hospital mortality,in HCC patients with concurrent hepatitis B infection,hepatitis C infection,or alcoholic cirrhosis.Methods This retrospective cohort study included HCC patients(n=2391)from the National Inpatient Sample database who underwent liver transplantation and were diagnosed with hepatitis B or C virus infection,co-infection with hepatitis B and C,or alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver between 2005 and 2014.Associations between HCC etiology and post-transplant outcomes were examined with multivariate analysis models.Results Liver cirrhosis was due to alcohol in 10.5%of patients,hepatitis B in 6.6%,hepatitis C in 10.8%,and combined hepatitis B and C infection in 24.3%.Distant metastasis was found in 16.7%of patients infected with hepatitis B and 9%of hepatitis C patients.Local recurrence of HCC was significantly more likely to occur in patients with hepatitis B than in those with alcohol-induced disease.Conclusion After liver transplantation,patients with hepatitis B infection have a higher risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis.Postoperative care and patient tracking are essential for liver transplant patients with hepatitis B infection.

Following the Charter of the United Nations: The Basic Guarantee for the Realization of the Right to Development——From the Perspective of Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This study discusses the basic guarantee of the Charter of the United Nations to realize the right to development from the angle of Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The concepts regarding the people as the focal point, the dignity, the worth of the human being, as well as larger aspects of freedom, and other basic concepts within the Charter of the United Nations, guide the right direction of action for the realization of the right to development. The purpose and principles of the United Nations establishment in the Charter constitute the basic legal protection of the right to development. Values of peace, international dialogue, and international cooperation show the right path to the realization of the right to development.

The United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service(UN-NGLS)

Civil society is the'third sector'of society,along with government and business.It comprises civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations.The UN recognizes the importance of par tnering with civil society,because it advances the Organization’s ideals,and helps support its work.

The Trump Administration's Policy toward the United Nations

Sinternational institutions, saying that "we can only realize the promSince Donald Trump took office, a far-reaching revision of US policy instruments toward the United Nations has been underway, replacing the "assertive multilateralism"1 approach of the Obama era. On the one hand, the Trump administration has taken a series of drastic measures against international institutions, especially the UN.

On the Parliament Participation in the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights

Whether, and if so how, parliaments should participate in the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council is emerging. Due to their unique contributions to human rights protection and promotion, parliaments should participate in the process. Furthermore, some parliaments are already involved in this mechanism, including drafting national reports, engaging in interactive dialogues, and the implementation of review recommendations. In the past two rounds of reviews, China’s National People’s Congress has a positive record in this regard, but it should play a more active role in ratifying or acceding to international human rights conventions.

Five Points on the Participation of Social Organizations in the activities of the United Nations

On June 30,2019,on behalf of the Beijing Zhicheng Migrant Workers Legal Aid and Research Center(hereinafter referred to as the Center),I went to Geneva to attend the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council.This is my third time to participate in the activities of the UN Human Rights System.

Village Elementary School Affecting the United Nations

EDITOR＇S NOTE： ＂Left-behind children＂ are children who have one parent or both parents working in another city while the children stay in the village. These children usually live with either one of their parents, relatives or family friends. Research shows that there are over 58 million left-behind children in China; 57.2 percent of them have one parent working in another city, 42,8 percent of the children have both parents working in another city,

The Analysis of Human Development Index (HDI) for Categorizing the Member States of the United Nations (UN)

To categorize the nations to reflect the development status, to date, there are many conceptual frameworks. The Human Development index (HDI) that is published by the United Nations Development Programme is widely accepted and practiced by many people such as academicians, politicians, and donor organizations. However, though the development of HDI has gone through many revisions since its formulation in 1990, even the current version of the index formulation published in 2016 needs research to better understand and to gap-fill the knowledge base that can enhance the index formulation to facilitate the direction of attention such as release of funds. Therefore, in this paper, based on principal component analysis and K-means clustering algorithm, the data that reflect the measures of life expectancy index (LEI), education index (EI), and income index (II) are analyzed to categorize and to rank the member states of the UN using R statistical software package, an open source extensible programming language for statistical computing and graphics. The outcome of the study shows that the proportion of total eigen value (i.e., proportion of total variance) explained by PCA-1 (i.e., first principal component) accounts for more than 85% of the total variation. Moreover, the proportion of total eigen value explained by PCA-1 increases with time (i.e., yearly) though the amount of increase with time is not significant. However, the proportions of total eigen value explained by PCA-2 and PCA-3 decrease with time. Therefore, the loss of information in choosing PCA-1 to represent the chosen explanatory variables (i.e., LEI, EI, and II) may diminish with time if the trend of increasing pattern of proportion of total eigen value explained by PCA-1 with time continues in the future as well. On the other hand, the correlation between EI and PCA-1 increases with time although the magnitude of increase is not that significant. This same trend is observed in II as well. However, in contrast to these observations, the correlation between PCA-1 and LEI decreases with time. These findings imply that the contributions of EI and II to PCA-1 increase with time, but the contribution of LEI to PCA-1 decreases with time. On top of these, as per Hopkins statistic, the clusterability of the information conveyed by PCA-1 alone is far better than the clusterability of the information conveyed by PCA scores (i.e., PCA-1, PCA-2, and PCA-3) and the explanatory variables. Therefore, choosing PCA-1 to represent the chosen explanatory variables is becoming more concrete.

Du Yuzhou Art Exhibition Will Open in the United Nations

From June 5th to 15th 2007,the headquarters of the United Nations will enjoy a show time of Du Yuzhou works,where works of photograph and painting will be exhibited. Mr.Yuzhou Du,President of the China

Human Rights NGOs and the United Nations Human Rights Council——Participation by the China Society for Human Rights Studies in the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism

Since its founding in 1993, the China Society for Human Rights Studies （CSHRS） has extensively participated inthe human rights work of the United Nations （UN） and has actively carried out international exchange and cooperation. In May 2012, the UN Human Rights Council （UNHRC） initiated the second round of country reviews on human rights.

Work in Cooperation for A New Chapter in the Cause of International Human Rights——Speech by Yang Jiechi,Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China at the Inaugural Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Mr Chairman, I would like to start by congratulating you, on behalf of the Chinese Govern- ment, on your assumption of the Chair of the inaugural session of the Human Rights Council. I have every confidence that under your able leadership this session will be successful.