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Coupled Models of Structured Ecological Systems: Patch Dynamics, Population Demography, and Stochastic Interactions
No full textIn order to study their temporal dynamics, the size, density or abundance of populations are
often monitored over discrete time steps. Many of these populations tend to have internal
structure or interconnections that affect individuals at various spatiotemporal scales, such
as developmental stages, resource preferences, group interactions and movement. In this
thesiswe are mainly concerned with modelling the dynamics of such structured populations
in discrete-time, from both deterministic and stochastic perspectives. In Chapter 1 we
motivate the problems we are interested in throughout this thesis. In Chapter 2 we give
some technical background needed in order for this thesis to be reasonably self-contained.
In Chapter 3we discuss various existing frameworks and results within the literature related
to structured population models, while also demonstrating how matrix stability plays an
important role in understanding such systems. In Chapter 4 we propose a costless, densitydependent
invasion model, where a population moves between two resources. We explore
some of the properties of this model, both theoretically and numerically, in the context of
a species expanding its habitat or range. We then apply this model to an pest case study in
order to further understand how host switching can affect long-term population viability.
In Chapter 5 we propose a model of costly, density-dependent dispersal between a finite
number of regions. We study its stability and persistence properties, and numerically show
howit relates to various source-sink scenarios. In Chapter 6we focus on deriving sufficient
conditions for the stability of the extinction equilibrium for coupled linear time-invariant
systems, which is robust under diffusive couplings, so-called robust diffusive stability
(RDS). This model corresponds to demographically-structured populations diffusively
dispersing between habitats, such as species migration for example. We discuss the role
of the existence/nonexistence of copositive, quadratic and diagonal Lyapunov functions in
determining RDS. We then discuss the anithesis of RDS, diffusive growth. Throughout,
we apply our results to some commonly used matrix population models. In Chapter
7 we propose a stochastic model that aims to capture the interactions between animal
groups within a social population. We conduct simulation scenarios and fit this model to
real-world data, to show its applicability. We then discuss the findings of this model fit
in the context of ecological theory. We derive an approximation to the marginal group
correlation for a simpler model, which describes their net interactions over an observation
period. We then theoretically discuss its interpretation in multiple predator-prey scenarios.
Finally, in Chapter 8, we conclude by discussing various extensions and open questions
suggested by the results presented throughout this thesis
User-Generated Content Shapes Judicial Reasoning: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial on Wikipedia
No full textLegal professionals have access to many different sources of knowledge, including user-generated Wikipedia articles that summarize previous judicial decisions (i.e., precedents). Although these Wikipedia articles are easily accessible, they have unknown provenance and reliability, and therefore using them in professional settings is problematic. Nevertheless, Wikipedia articles influence legal judgments, as we show using a first-of-its-kind randomized control trial on judicial decision making. We find that the presence of a Wikipedia article about Irish Supreme Court decisions makes it meaningfully more likely that the corresponding case will be cited as a precedent by judges in subsequent decisions. The language used in the Wikipedia article also influences the language used in judgments. These effects are only present for citations by the High Court and not for the higher levels of the judiciary (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court). The High Court faces larger caseloads, so this may indicate that settings with greater time pressures encourage greater reliance on Wikipedia. Our results add to the growing recognition that Wikipedia and other frequently accessed sources of user-generated content have profound effects on important social outcomes and that these effects extend farther than previously seen—into high-stakes settings where norms are supposed to restrict their use.
History: Rajiv Kohli, Senior Editor; Gordon Burtch, Associate Editor.
Funding: The authors thank the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Maynooth University for research funding.
Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2023.0034
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape of Voluntary Sustainability Standards in International Food Trade: A Multilateral Interplay
No full textVoluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) are non-mandatory criteria designed to foster sustainable practices throughout the global supply chain. These standards are particularly prevalent in the agri-food sector, where they aim to support wider public policy objectives such as sustainable food production, animal welfare, healthy lifestyle, and labour conditions. Significant challenges arises from the fact that VSSs, despite their voluntary nature, they often impose mandatory effect in the global supply chain. They also often lack easily-identifiable features of the product themselves. These creates systematic problems for the global food trade system, where conventional regulation address governmental measures on goods with specific inherent characteristics that can be clearly identified in the final product. This article explored the interrelationship among private VSSs, national regulations and international treaties within the agri-food industry. It highlights ambiguity surrounding the regulatory framework for VSSs under the WTO law, noting the absence of a consensus on how relevant provisions should be interpreted. Despite the diversity among various VSSs, VSSs, this article argues for the potential for harmonization and equivalence among VSSs. By aligning various VSSs and with technical regulations, it is possible to strike a balance between trade liberalization and promotion of sustainable practices
Screening race, streaming Frenchness: Women of colour on French Netflix
No full textThis article builds on the emerging scholarship on Netflix productions and French series to analyse questions of racial visibility and feminine representation in two series: Dix pour cent/Call My Agent!(France Télévisions/Netflix, 2015–2020) and Plan cœur/The Hook-Up Plan (Netflix, 2018–2022). The first section focuses on Dix pour cent’s Sofia Leprince, a mixed-race receptionist and aspiring actress, andthe ways in which she serves to highlight the lack of Black actors in French cinema. The second section analyses Plan cœur’s Charlotte Ben Smires, a young woman at a career crossroads who offers a paradoxical perspective on the place of Maghrebi descendants in – and their relationship with – France. Overall, the author sexamine how Dix pour cent and Plan cœur, two series featuring strong women of colour, navigate racial visibility in universalist French contexts. These series speak back to a striking historical absence of actors of colour – especially women – from French television screens, yet they are nonetheless circumscribed in persis-tent norms of republican universalism and thus racial colour-blindness. This article examines this paradox to determine whether these successful contemporary series can truly offer ‘narrative renewal’ within the confines of republican representation norms
Current challenges in neuropsychological assessment when screening and diagnosing dementia within populations of low literacy, such as the Travelling Community of Ireland.
No full textIntroduction: Current cognitive assessments for dementia are subject to biases due
to large load of verbal content and knowledge which confound the assessment when
administered to individuals who do not follow usual educational pathways, or when
administered to an individual of a culture different from the normative data in which
these assessments were developed. Thus, any individual with a cultural or literacy
background different from the average Irish may perform below expectations, which
may be misinterpreted as cognitive decline and lead to a false positive dementia
diagnosis.
Aim: The central aim of the proposed research is to determine the most appropriate
approach to accurate screening and diagnosing of dementias within the Travelling
Community of Ireland.
Methods: A review of some commonly used assessments was also conducted to
determine which cognitive impairments are assessed by each test. A scoping review
of previous research examining assessments used with populations of low literacy
was conducted to determine which assessments are validated for use with such
populations, and their suitability. Three focus groups comprising members of the
Travelling Community were conducted to determine their understanding of
dementia, diagnosis-related stigma, and three focus groups comprising clinicians
were conducted to determine how assessments with this population are currently
conducted.
Participants: 14 clinicians and 20 Travellers took part in the focus groups.
Results: Limitations to current assessments were identified by the scoping review.
Several key themes were identified through the focus groups, namely (1) an urgent
update of assessments was identified in both sets of focus groups, (2) education around dementia was identified in Traveller focus groups (3) discussion between
clinicians and Travellers in order to alleviate misconceptions on both sides (4)
education for clinicians around Traveller culture, and interpersonal relations with
this Community (5) changes to assessment procedures in order to be more inclusive
of Travellers.
Conclusion: Current dementia assessment pathways are not suitable for use by the
Travelling Community. The fear of institutions experienced by the Community
results in a disconnect between the services available and their uptake resulting in
dementia being underdiagnosed, poorly treated, and commonly misunderstood by
Travellers. Education for medical staff into Traveller culture is needed in order to
begin to bridge this gap, and education on the symptoms, progression and services
available should be provided to Traveller advocacy groups for dissemination within
the Community. The use of dementia champions within the Traveller Community
may serve to explain and demystify dementia for the Community. The assessment
process itself should also be reviewed as a matter of urgency, to ensure inclusivity
for those individuals who are unable to complete the current assessments due to
literacy or cultural issues
An Exploration of Pre-Service Teachers’ Journeys in their Development as Socially Just Teachers: An Interpretative Study
No full textIt is widely acknowledged that the development of just teachers, teachers who ensure that all
students have access to a high-quality education regardless of their background, is essential within
initial teacher education (ITE). Teacher bias can significantly impact the educational experiences of
some children and contribute to educational inequality. This interpretative study aims to explore the
experiences of pre-service teachers in the journey of their development as a just teacher. To support
this goal, a professional development framework involving engagement with arts-based workshops
and school placement in a diverse education setting was designed, implemented, and researched to
enable pre-service teachers to confront their bias. Pre-service teachers in this study were enrolled in
year three of a four-year B. Ed program in an ITE college in Ireland.
The design of this interpretative study is subdivided into two phases. Phase One draws on the
reflective journals of pre-service teachers' engagement in arts-based workshops. The workshops
sought to enable pre-service teachers to develop awareness of their bias. Thirty pre-service teachers
took part in phase one. Phase two involves ten semi-structured interviews to explore how school
placement supports pre-service teachers' development as just educators. Data was analysed using
reflective thematic analysis. Findings indicated that the professional development framework
supported pre-service teachers' personal and professional learning. Key conclusions from this study
offer possible implications for pedagogical design and research in IT
‘Childhood here was a fleeting thing’: A study of childhood, rurality and poverty in County Donegal, 1850-1950
No full textThis thesis considers what life was like for children growing up in the often ‘forgotten’ county
of Donegal during a century of intense demographic change from c. 1850 to 1950. Donegal
during this period showcased high fertility but low marriage rates, high death rates in some
categories, high migration and decreasing population size, all of which was typical of Ireland’s
unusual demographic profile. This thesis considers the way, if any, that this century of change
impacted or influenced the lives of children growing up in rural Ireland, through the Donegal
case study. This study is both a social history and a local history which focuses on the
experiences of children in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Ireland, which have, until recently,
been largely overlooked by historians. Donegal is situated on the north-western periphery of
Ireland, and these children essentially lived on the ‘outer edge’ of Irish life. This thesis adopts
a lifecycle approach, considering aspects of birth, life and death within childhood. The term
‘child’ has been understood historically, culturally and theoretically in different ways in the
modern age, but in this thesis childhood includes antenatal experience up to the age of sixteen.
As part of the lifecycle approach, this thesis utilises an intersectional analysis which considers
gender, religion and poverty, among other factors. The thesis begins with a discussion of
motherhood, pregnancy and birth, which are essential in any study of childhood, alongside
attitudes towards pregnancy and infancy. The next three chapters consider the daily lives of
children growing up in rural Ireland, by highlighting their experiences of education, labour and
leisure. Finally, childhood ill-health and death are analysed, bringing the childhood lifecycle to
an end. This thesis ultimately provides a rich social history of rural Irish childhoods by
highlighting both the idiosyncratic nature of childhood in County Donegal, a predominantly
rural county on the north-western seaboard of Ireland, and the experience of growing up in
rural Ireland more generally
On your marks, headset, go! Understanding the building blocks of metaverse realms
No full textIn 2011, Business Horizons published the social media honeycomb article to help managers and scholars understand what was, then, a new form of media, along with its various platforms and how to engage with and learn to use it. Today, we face similar challenges and opportunities with the metaverse as we try to discover how to attract, enable, serve, and capture value from users in the virtual world. In this article, we introduce the concept of a metaverse realm (i.e., a specific type of metaverse space and community) and present the metaverse honeycomb model to explain the functionalities and affordances for different metaverse realms. We present two applications of the honeycomb model to show how shifting attention to immersive functionalities can characterize various metaverse realms. To conclude, we outline how the model could be used to strategically evaluate metaverse realms in terms of their external fit (i.e., the who-what-how of realms), internal fit (i.e., the trade-offs and synergies of realm functionalities), and life cycles (i.e., roadmapping and directing realm evolution)
Social consequences of planned relocation in response to sea level rise: impacts on anxiety, well-being, and perceived safety
No full textGovernments globally are adapting to sea level rise through a range of interventions to improve everyday lives of communities at risk. One prominent response is planned relocation, where people and communities are enabled to move from localities exposed to coastal erosion and inundation as a result of sea level rise. Managed retreat has significant social consequences including under-reported impacts on health, well-being and social identity. Here we adopt well-established measures of well-being and document the outcomes of planned relocation on well-being in the Volta Delta region of Ghana. Data from a bespoke survey for individuals (n = 505) in relocated and non-relocated communities demonstrate that planned relocation negatively impacts well-being and anxiety of those relocated when compared to a community that is equally exposed but has not moved. Individuals in the relocated community reported significantly lower levels of overall wellbeing, significantly higher levels of anxiety, and lower perceptions of safety, compared to non-relocated community members. These outcomes are explained as being related to the disruption of community connection, identities, and feelings of efficacy. Relocated community members reported significantly lower levels of attachment to the local area and home, significantly lower levels of community-based self-efficacy, and significantly lower levels of overall community-based identity. The results demonstrate that planned relocation to address sea level rise has multiple social consequences with outcomes for well-being that are not straightforwardly related to risk reduction
Types, determinants, and outcomes of entrepreneurial behaviours during crises.
No full textEntrepreneurs usually have several means at their disposal to deal with and overcome adverse circumstances, ranging from simple non-resourceful coping strategies to more elaborate resourceful behaviours. However, entrepreneurs who find themselves in conditions of prolonged adversity and disadvantage have few effective possibilities to withstand sudden adversity such as crises and income shocks. Based on these premises, we develop theory on the types, antecedents, and outcomes of entrepreneurial responses to adversity by investigating how entrepreneurs living in conditions of extreme poverty may behave resourcefully while facing two major crises in a short timeframe. Through an analysis of entrepreneurship in South-West Cameroon, we identify three behaviours entrepreneurs enact in response to crises: passive, hustling, and future-oriented, which differ with regards to activities, driving motivations, main objectives, approaches towards present and future adversity, and dominant focus concerning the use of resources. We also find that entrepreneurs’ enacted behaviours depend chiefly on the nature of the losses they incur and on the type of social capital they can avail of in the aftermath of a crisis. Lastly, we suggest that the different behaviours result in further changes in the entrepreneurs’ resource levels, which subsequently influence the likelihood that entrepreneurs will shift between behaviours