Research from Nottingham University Business School is one step closer to helping to predict deaths from respiratory diseases by analysing the shopping habits of customers in local authority areas across England.

Newly published research in Nature Communications, funded by the UKRI/EPSRC, and supported by the NHS and a UK high street retailer, explored the connection between the purchase of non-prescription medications, from cough remedies to pain relief, that are used to treat respiratory illnesses, and registered deaths from those diseases.

Looking at over two billion records of sales from March 2016 to March 2020, supplied by the UK high street retailer, researchers at the University of Nottingham, led by Elizabeth Dolan and Dr James Goulding at NUBS, used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict the deaths in 314 local authority areas across England.

The team found that in using the shopping data from local authority areas, predictions were often a lot more accurate than models that relied primarily on seasonal trends and sociodemographic factors such as poverty, housing quality, age and the size of population.

Further to this, academics found that they could accurately predict deaths from respiratory diseases over 17 days in advance using the data they analysed.

Using these findings, it is hoped that future developments in this area could help identify those most at risk of death from respiratory conditions, support the NHS and help highlight the most at-risk communities and environmental changes that could exacerbate chronic lung conditions.

Elizabeth Dolan, a PhD candidate at the Horizon CDT and a member of Nottingham University Business School, said: “Our research shows that using sales data, such as rising cough medicine purchases, significantly improves predictions of deaths from respiratory disease. This highlights the urgent need to make this practical data source more accessible for medical research.

“It could provide healthcare providers an invaluable tool to better manage services and plan more effectively, especially as we now have COVID-19 to cope with alongside the other causes of respiratory disease.”

Source: Nottingham University

Escalation of Cyber Threats
The report paints a concerning picture, detailing that attacks against Australian assets occur with alarming frequency one every six minutes! Defense Minister Richard Marles highlighted this alarming trend on ABC Radio by noting a growing interest from state actors in targeting critical infrastructure.

Report Suggests Influence of AUKUS Defense Partnership
The report makes the connection between Australia’s increasing cyber activities and their recent defence agreement with Britain and the U.S. under the AUKUS partnership, featuring advanced military capabilities like nuclear submarines that may make Australia more appealing as a target of cyber adversaries.

Geopolitical Tensions with China The report expresses grave concern regarding state-sponsored Chinese hacking groups, citing techniques revealed earlier this year by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and Microsoft. Such hacking techniques pose a grave threat to Australia’s critical infrastructure – telecoms, energy supply and transportation among them.

Minister Marles acknowledged the complexities of Australia’s relationship with China, its largest trading partner. While emphasizing its value as an economic partner, he also expressed concerns that Beijing may pose security concerns and indicated the necessity of ongoing preparation efforts.

Government Response and Collaboration
In response to an unprecedented surge in cyber intrusions, Australia established an agency in February to coordinate responses. An overhaul of federal cyber laws due to be announced next week intends to make reporting ransomware incidents mandatory and emphasizes a closer partnership between industry and government as a way to address cybersecurity threats effectively.

Rising Costs and Vulnerabilities The report highlights a 14% rise in average costs associated with cybercrime to victims, underscoring their financial repercussions. Meanwhile, recent findings from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission indicate a concerning lack of risk management practices among companies; with many not properly addressing third-party risks or creating cyber incident response plans.

Future Outlook Security experts warn of increasing cyber attacks against Australia unless organizations prioritize security and improve risk management of their information assets. Recent incidents such as those targeting DP World Australia leading to their three-day closure only serve to further emphasize this reality.

With Australia preparing to unveil new cybersecurity regulations, collaboration between industry and government becomes even more essential to guard against evolving cyber threats and protect its digital infrastructure.

Standard Chartered’s new white paper Resetting Globalisation: Catalysts for Change reveals the sentiment of more than 3,000 global business leaders on the movement of capital, trade, technology, talent and culture and the impact on sustainability.

In partnership with Bloomberg Media Studios, the research surveyed business leaders across 20 markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, to understand the drivers of globalisation and assess overall sentiment.

The research aims to identify catalysts for change to enable a new model for globalisation based on more inclusivity for smaller businesses and developing markets, a higher level of transparency and more sustainable development.

A connected world has delivered many decades of economic growth, higher living standards and valuable exchange of culture and innovation. However, scepticism around the future role of globalisation has grown due to increased geopolitical tensions, the global energy crisis, supply-chain issues and a decline in foreign investment.

Despite concerns, 88% of business leaders agree that globalisation is succeeding across five underlying pillars of trade, capital, technology, talent and sustainability. The role of trade in driving economic growth saw most support – 86% of leaders said global trade allows for more sustainable development, and 83% believe globalisation helps make supply chains more resilient. Leaders also called for a more collaborative and transparent approach to international trade agreements, coupled with complementary domestic policies.

On sustainability, there was a widespread recognition among business leaders of the need for both local and global solutions. Although 70% of leaders were positive about the effectiveness of global governance mechanisms, only 56% believe solutions for climate change require global efforts. Respondents identified trade as a way of accelerating the adoption of low-carbon technologies, as well as the transfer of skills and knowledge. Leaders also recognise that there is a need to accelerate the transition to a net-zero future.

Respondents emphasised the importance of three key aspects of capital – almost all respondents (95%) believed that capital should be able to flow freely across the world, and leaders agreed on the benefits financial markets bring to developed and developing markets, and the need for governments to get behind foreign investment.

Technology emerged as a strong theme, with 75% of leaders stating the free flow of data globally has had a positive outcome. Leaders also called for ensuring the digital future of finance is safe and secure for everyone, and when addressing talent and culture, 74% of business leaders agree it’s good for businesses to be able to hire talent from anywhere in the world.

Findings from a market perspective include:

• Compared to those in other markets, business leaders in China were the most positive on the role of digital assets in solving challenges around moving money.
• Business leaders in India were more positive about the role of trade than the other pillars, and most likely to say that global trade allows for more sustainable development.
• UK business leaders were the most likely to say that globalised services have created significant opportunities where they reside.

Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, said: “Globalisation needs a reset, and the next chapter must be fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable. Despite complex issues, business leaders are overwhelmingly in favour of globalisation – more resilient and inclusive trade, greater capital flows to bridge funding gaps in growing markets, and for more people to benefit from technological progress. Importantly, we need to enable a just transition to achieve our collective sustainability goals and ensure continued economic development. The solutions to our shared challenges can only be found in collaboration and connection, not in fragmentation and isolation.”

Source: Standard Chartered

New research from the University of Nottingham has shown that those placed out of area by their local authority are negatively impacted with mental health and a loss of support networks.

Out of Area housing is a practice where local authorities discharge their duty to accommodate homeless households by placing them in other local authority areas.

Researchers from the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham found that communication and support from local authorities was lacking once placed out of area and that moving out of area negatively affects children’s education and emotional wellbeing.

Households also found that GPs and other services, including internet services, were difficult to access, furthering their isolation and vulnerability.

The research, conducted by Dr Steve Iafrati, Dr Nick Clare and Helen Lawrence, found that more than 36,000 households were placed out of area in 2022/23.

Black households were also found to be disproportionately placed out of area, whilst some local authorities fail to record ethnicity data of the people being placed out of area.

Dr Steve Iafrati, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at the University of Nottingham, who led the research said: “Both the statistics from FOI requests and information from interviews we have conducted are deeply troubling. We clearly have a rapidly escalating problem with ‘out of area’ housing and the impact which it is having on those placed often a significant distance from their original authority.

“There is a clear and deepening issue of supply of affordable housing with a lack of transparent national housing strategy and societies most vulnerable are feeling the brunt. The fact that such a large proportion of local authorities do not record data relating to ethnicity is alarming and demonstrates that they are not able to investigate the impact of the housing crisis in terms of disproportionate impact on Black and minoritised ethnic households. Without such data, inequalities risk being hidden and out of sight only serving to further systemic disparities.”

Source: University of Nottingham

South Korea and Japan: Reluctance to Take Sick Leave

In South Korea, a surprising trend emerged – over half of the respondents (approximately 55 percent) claimed they hadn’t taken a single sick day in the past 12 months. This peculiar phenomenon can be attributed to the country’s policy, where employers are not obligated to provide time off for non-work-related illnesses or injuries. This policy appears to influence the cultural approach to sick leave, encouraging employees to prioritize work over personal health.

Japan, another Asian nation, displayed a similar trend, with 45 percent of respondents reporting an absence-free year. While not as extreme as South Korea, this still represents a substantial portion of the workforce choosing not to take sick leave.

Australia: A Different Perspective

In stark contrast, Australian respondents showcased a remarkably different perspective on sick leave. Only 14 percent reported an absence-free year, indicating a more balanced approach to prioritizing health over work commitments. This suggests that in Australia, employees feel more comfortable taking the necessary time off when facing non-work-related health issues.

Europe and North America: Moderation in Sick Leave Practices

In Germany, Sweden, Canada, and the United States, the survey results displayed a moderate approach to sick leave. Approximately 20 to 23 percent of respondents reported an absence-free year, reflecting a more balanced attitude towards personal health and work commitments.

The survey conducted by Statista’s Consumer Insights highlights the diverse perspectives on sick leave across different countries. While South Korea and Japan demonstrate a reluctance to take sick days, Australia embraces a healthier balance between work and personal well-being. Meanwhile, European and North American nations exhibit a more measured approach. These findings shed light on the cultural nuances that influence how individuals prioritize their health in the workplace.

Source: Statista

Experts from the University of Nottingham’s School of Computer Science have been awarded almost £700,000 funding from EPSRC to lead a project to enhance understanding of SMEs’ cyber security support needs and their ability to address them.

The research aims to establish pilot Cyber Security Communities of Support (CyCOS), bringing together SMEs and advisory sources for practical help and support.  The UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey indicates that half of small and a third of micro businesses experienced breaches or attacks in the last year. Whilst they do seek external guidance in relation to cyber security, they do so via a huge range of sources, and often find themselves overwhelmed with information and unable to understand the advice.

The research team includes Dr Maria Bada from Queen Mary University of London and Dr Jason Nurse from the University of Kent and is led by Steven Furnell, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Nottingham.

Businesses know there is a need to protect themselves from cyber attacks, but knowing just how to do this and where to go for trusted help can be a minefield. We want to make the process of accessing help easier and more targeted. Our research will improve understanding of SME needs and the perspective of those that they turn to for support. We will then use these insights as a foundation for the design and evaluation of a new and more accessible model for support with the Communities of Support pilots.

Steven Furnell, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Nottingham

The research will investigate the support needs of small businesses, to establish their current understanding and confidence around cyber security, and their awareness and perceptions of available support. The investigation will seek to determine the scenarios in which cyber security advice is sought (e.g. during product evaluation, at point of purchase, in response to threats and incidents), and whether it is deemed effective.

The project will also analyse support routes available to these businesses, focusing on the coverage and consistency of advice, as well as the confidence and capacity of those providing it.

Research findings will be used to establish three pilot CyCOS which will include the creation of an online Support Broker, enabling the SMEs to identify support needs and contact advisory sources positioned to help them (which, as the community develops and grows in experience, may include peer support from other SMEs). The project offers upskilling opportunities for advisors and interested SMEs, via foundational cyber security certification to increase their related knowledge and capability.

The research is supported by strong industry collaboration, with partners including the Home Office, (ISC)2, IASME, the Chartered Institute of Information Security, the Centre for the New Midlands, and three regional Cyber Resilience Centres.

Professor Furnell adds: “This project is an exciting opportunity to plug a gap that exists in cyber security for SME’s. We hope that if successful the CyCOS model could be rolled out nationally and become a vital tool in the fight against cyber attacks.”

Source: University of Nottingham

Levels of grey matter in two parts of the brain may be linked to a desire to start smoking during adolescence and the strengthening of nicotine addiction, a new study has shown.

A team of scientists, led by the universities of Cambridge and Warwick in the UK and Fudan University in China, analysed brain imaging and behavioural data of over 800 young people at the ages of 14, 19 and 23.

They found that, on average, teenagers who started smoking by 14 years of age had markedly less grey matter in a section of the left frontal lobe linked to decision-making and rule-breaking.

Grey matter is the brain tissue that processes information, and contains all of the organ’s neurons. While brain development continues into adulthood, grey matter growth peaks before adolescence.

Low grey matter volume in the left side of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex may be an “inheritable biomarker” for nicotine addiction, say researchers – with implications for prevention and treatment.

In addition, the scientists found that the opposite, right part of the same brain region also had less grey matter in smokers.

Importantly, loss of grey matter in the right prefrontal cortex appears to speed up only after someone has started smoking. This region is linked to the seeking of sensations.

The team argue that less grey matter in the left forebrain could lower cognitive function and lead to “disinhibition”: impulsive, rule-breaking behaviour arising from a limited ability to consider consequences. This may increase the chances of smoking at a young age.

Once a nicotine habit takes hold, grey matter in the right frontal lobe shrinks, which may weaken control over smoking by affecting “hedonic motivation”: the way pleasure is sought and managed. Excessive loss of grey matter in the right brain was also linked to binge drinking and marijuana use.

Taken together, the findings point to a damaged “neurobehavioural mechanism” that can lead to nicotine use starting early and becoming locked into long-term addiction, say researchers. The study used data from the IMAGEN project and is published in the journal Nature Communications.

“Smoking is perhaps the most common addictive behaviour in the world, and a leading cause of adult mortality,” said Prof Trevor Robbins, co-senior author from Cambridge’s Department of Psychology.

“The initiation of a smoking habit is most likely to occur during adolescence. Any way of detecting an increased chance of this, so we can target interventions, could help save millions of lives.”

Annual deaths from cigarettes are expected to reach eight million worldwide by the end of the decade. Currently, one in five adult deaths each year are attributed to smoking in the US alone.

“In our study, reduced grey matter in the left prefrontal cortex is associated with increased rule-breaking behaviour as well as early smoking experiences. It could be that this rule-breaking leads to the violation of anti-smoking norms,” said Robbins.

Co-author Prof Barbara Sahakian from Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry said: “The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is a key region for dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical. As well as a role in rewarding experiences, dopamine has long been believed to affect self-control.

“Less grey matter across this brain region may limit cognitive function, leading to lower self-control and a propensity for risky behaviour, such as smoking.”

The study used data gathered by the IMAGEN project from sites in four European countries: UK, Germany, France and Ireland. The researchers compared brain imaging data for those who had smoked by age 14 with those who had not, and repeated this for the same participants at ages 19 and 23.

Those with smoking experience by 14 years of age had significantly less grey matter in the left prefrontal cortex, on average. Additionally, those who started smoking by age 19 also had less grey matter in their left prefrontal cortex at 14, indicating a potential causal influence.

The scientists also looked at the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Grey matter loss occurs in everyone as they age. However, those who smoked from age 14 as well as those smoking from age 19 both ended up with excessive grey matter loss in the right frontal lobe.

For the right prefrontal cortex, 19-year-old smokers who did not start during adolescence had similar grey matter levels at age 14 to those who never smoked at all. This suggests a rapid reduction in the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex only begins with the onset of smoking.

Data at age 23 showed that grey matter volume in the right prefrontal cortex shrank at a faster pace in those who continued to smoke, suggesting an influence of smoking itself on prefrontal function.

Researchers also analysed data from two questionnaires completed by participants to investigate the personality traits of novelty seeking and sensation seeking.

“Both questionnaires examine the pursuit of thrilling experiences, but they measure distinct behaviours,” said Robbins. “The sensation seeking scale focuses on pleasurable experiences, while the novelty seeking questionnaire includes items on impulsiveness and rule-breaking.”

Less grey matter in the left prefrontal cortex was associated with novelty seeking, particularly disorderly and rule-breaking behaviour, while reduced grey matter volume in the right prefrontal cortex was linked to sensation seeking only.

Lead author Prof Tianye Jia from Fudan University added: “Less grey matter in the left frontal lobes is linked to behaviours that increase the likelihood of smoking in adolescence.

“Smokers then experience excessive loss of grey matter in the right frontal lobes, which is linked to behaviours that reinforce substance use. This may provide a causal account of how smoking is initiated in young people, and how it turns into dependence.”

Source: University of Cambridge

The Cisco Broadband Survey, released, finds that evolving consumer expectations will reshape the needs and economics of the internet. People in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and South Africa) are rethinking what they rely on the internet for, balancing classic demands for speed and reliability, with the intensifying needs of rising eco-consciousness, secure cloud infrastructure, and the consumerisation of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) connecting our devices, from smart cars to home appliances. This has led to 79% of survey participants ranking broadband as critical national infrastructure, escalating the need for the technology industry to respond to these asks and accelerate the journey towards a more sustainable, secure internet for the future.

Consumers Want to Invest in Sustainable Broadband

The carbon-cost of broadband connectivity is a top priority for consumers. Cisco’s Broadband Survey revealed that 65% of consumers in EMEA are now concerned about the carbon footprint of their broadband, with young people aged 18-24 the most concerned (73%). In addition, 77% said they would be willing to pay more for sustainable broadband, with around a quarter prepared to pay a price premium of more than 20%. This supports a wider market trend, shown in a 2019 survey by Nielsen and a 2022 survey by Globescan, revealing widespread consumer awareness around the environmental impact of the products they use and a demand for companies to step up and mitigate negative impacts on the planet. sharing and faster decision making.

Security Is a Priority as More Move Online

In parallel to growing environmental concerns, the emergence of hybrid work and the ever-increasing blur between the professional and personal lives of employees brings new risks into the home. Despite most consumers using their broadband for tasks like banking and work, passwords are still the most popular way (53%) that survey respondents protect home networks and devices; only a quarter have switched on their router’s firewall. This is despite previous Cisco research revealing that 57% of consumers worry about cybercriminals hacking their devices. While speed is still the main priority among those planning to upgrade their broadband in the next year (selected by 40%), security is now a close second, ranked by 38% of consumers as a top priority when choosing their broadband package.

Connection to Increase as Consumers Expand their Digital Lives

As the number of IoT devices online grows from billions to trillions, so does the demand for bandwidth and processing power to analyse all the data produced. According to the Cisco Broadband Survey, there’s no sign of this slowing down. Consumers are instead embracing the shift toward a ‘smarter’ digital life. A majority already have, or expect to have, their cars (67%), lights (74%), appliances (71%), energy (76%) and water (64%) connected. Indeed, more than half of consumers surveyed (54%) indicated feeling positive about new ways to connect their homes and lives to the internet. This is despite a majority (63%) saying that the cost-of-living crisis has changed the way they spend money on digital services: 21% have reported moving to a lower cost broadband package and 16% have cancelled streaming services.

“The carbon footprint of the information and communications technology sector is estimated to account for around 2.1 – 3.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and more than half of that comes from networks and data centers. Cisco is on a mission to transform the economics and sustainability of the Internet for the Future. That means designing products with energy efficiency and security in mind, adopting circular economy principles in product development and business operations, and taking a smart and sustainable approach to lifecycle management. In addition to the cybersecurity threat landscape constantly evolving and expanding, we have to deal with the increasing threat of climate change. Prioritizing sustainability and security in broadband infrastructure is therefore crucial to enable lasting and resilient digital transformation,” said Gordon Thomson, Vice President Service Provider – EMEA, Cisco.

“The old technology adage of ‘faster, cheaper, better’ has not been relevant for a long time. It’s now about simplifying solutions and building networks that can fuel global connectivity and economic growth, facilitating and protecting the digitalization and automation of everyday activities, all without losing sight of our impact on the future,” he continued.

Source: Cisco

A new global study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value found that nearly half of CEOs surveyed identify productivity as their highest business priority—up from sixth place in 2022. They recognize technology modernization is key to achieving their productivity goals, ranking it as second highest priority. Yet, CEOs can face key barriers as they race to modernize and adopt new technologies like generative AI.

The annual CEO study*, CEO decision-making in the age of AI, Act with intention, found three-quarters of CEO respondents believe that competitive advantage will depend on who has the most advanced generative AI. However, executives are also weighing potential risks or barriers of the technology such as bias, ethics and security. More than half (57%) of CEOs surveyed are concerned about data security and 48% worry about bias or data accuracy.

There is also a disconnect between CEOs and their teams when it comes to AI readiness. Half (50%) of CEOs surveyed report they are already integrating generative AI into products and services, and 43% say they are using generative AI to inform strategic decisions. Yet, just 29% of their executive teams agree they have the in-house expertise to adopt generative AI; only 30% of non-CEO senior executives surveyed say that their organization is ready to adopt generative AI responsibly.

“Generative AI can reduce the barriers to AI adoption and half of CEOs interviewed are actively exploring it to drive a new wave of  productivity, efficiency and quality of service across industries,” said Jesus Mantas, Global Managing Partner, IBM Consulting. “CEOs need to assess their company requirements around data privacy, intellectual property protection, security, algorithmic accountability and governance in order to plan their deployment of emerging use cases of generative AI at scale.”

Key study findings include:

CEOs say productivity – and the technology that will help deliver it  – is a pressing priority

• Almost half (48%) of CEOs surveyed pinpoint productivity as a top priority for their organization – up from sixth place in 2022; technology modernization follows as their second highest priority (45%) but CEOs also indicate this is among their top challenges.
• For the fourth consecutive year, CEOs surveyed say technology factors remain the top external force impacting their organization over the next three years.

CEOs are increasingly looking toward operational, technology and data leaders as strategic decision makers

Additional data gathered during the survey indicates the following:

• When asked which C-Suite members will make the most crucial decisions over the next three years, CEO respondents identify COOs (62%) and CFOs (52%).
• The influence of technology leaders on decision making is growing – 38% of surveyed CEOs point to CIOs (up from 19% a year ago), followed by Chief Technology or Chief Digital Officer (30%) as making the most crucial decisions in their organization.

CEOs indicate they are ready to adopt generative AI, but other executives have reservations

• Three out of four (75%) CEOs surveyed believe the organization with the most advanced generative AI will have competitive advantage.
• Half (50%) of CEOs report they are already integrating generative AI into products and services; 43% say they are using generative AI to inform strategic decisions, with 36% using the technology for operational decisions.
• While 69% of CEO respondents see broad benefits of generative AI across their organization, just 29% of their executive teams agree they have the in-house expertise to adopt generative AI.
• Only 30% of non-CEO senior executives surveyed say that their organization is ready to adopt generative AI responsibly.

Generative AI is fueling workforce changes, but broader assessments of its impact on the workforce are lagging

• About 43% of surveyed CEOs say they have reduced or redeployed their workforce due to generative AI, with an additional 28% indicating they plan to do so in the next 12 months.
• At the same time, 46% of CEOs surveyed have hired additional workers because of generative AI, with 26% saying they have plans for more hiring ahead.
• Yet, fewer than one in three CEOs (28%) surveyed have assessed the potential impact of generative AI on their workforces, and 36% say they plan to do so in the next 12 months.

To view the full study, visit: https://ibm.co/c-suite-study-ceo.

To learn more about the top trends and strategic bets business leaders are making to boost productivity, visit https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/seven-bets.

*Study Methodology

The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, interviewed 3,000 CEOs from over 30 countries and 24 industries as part of the 28th edition of the IBM C-Suite Study series. These conversations focused on executives’ perspectives on leadership and business; their changing roles and responsibilities; and CEO decision making today, including key challenges and opportunities, their use of technology, data and metrics, and their visions for the future. The IBM Institute for Business Value also conducted a survey of 200 CEOs in the United States on their responses to generative AI.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM’s thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: http://www.ibm.com/ibv.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit http://www.ibm.com