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Too brutal for war: comparing rationales for weapon taboos
Get PDFWhat makes a weapon too horrific to use? This study investigates public attitudes toward the use of different weapon types using a conjoint survey experiment fielded on a U.S. sample. By randomly varying key attributes of military strikes—expected civilian casualties, operational effectiveness, and weapon type—we isolate the causal effects of each on public support. Casualty estimates exert the strongest influence, and effectiveness also matters. But we find that respondents rely heavily on powerful categorical heuristics about weapon types. These preferences persist even when other strike characteristics are held constant. The results reveal a robust hierarchy: cyber attacks were most favored, followed by conventional strikes, then cluster munitions over chemical, biological, and finally nuclear weapons. In fact, military operations using more favored weapons were often supported over more effective, or less lethal, ones employing disfavored armaments. These patterns reflect public intuitions about which weapons are perceived as brutal, indiscriminate, or illegitimate. Our study therefore has broad theoretical implications for understanding how weapon taboos interact with instrumental factors. It offers vital insights into the complex interplay of public preferences for military operations, weapon transfers, and arms control
Distant digraph domination
No full textA k-kernel in a digraph G is a stable set X of vertices such that every vertex of G can be joined from X by a directed path of length at most k. We prove three results about k-kernels. First, it was conjectured by Erd˝os and Sz´ekely in 1976 that every digraph G with no source has a 2-kernel |K| with |K| ⩽ |G|/2. We prove this conjecture when G is a “split digraph” (that is, its vertex set can be partitioned into a tournament and a stable set), improving a result of Langlois et al., who proved that every split digraph G with no source has a 2-kernel of size at most 2|G|/3. Second, the Erd˝os-Sz´ekely conjecture implies that in every digraph G there is a 2-kernel K such that the union of K and its out-neighbours has size at least |G|/2. we prove that this is true if V (G) can be partitioned into a tournament and an acyclic set. Third, in a recent paper, Spiro asked whether, for all k ⩾ 3, every stronglyconnected digraph G has a k-kernel of size at most about |G|/(k + 1). This remains open, but we prove that there is one of size at most about |G|/(k − 1)
Northernmost record of Crypthelia medioatlantica (Hydrozoa: Stylasteridae) in Icelandic deep waters
Get PDFThe stylasterid coral Crypthelia medioatlantica Zibrowius & Cairns, 1992, previously reported only from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (~ 23–37° N), is newly documented from Icelandic waters based on material collected by the BIOICE programme. Six dry, subfossil skeletal fragments were recovered at 1539 m depth west of Iceland in 1996, extending the known range of the species by ~ 28° latitude into sub-Arctic environments and representing its northernmost record. Detailed morphological analysis of coenosteal texture and cyclosystem structure confirms the identification. This discovery adds a fifth stylasterid coral species to the high-latitude North Atlantic fauna and demonstrates that C. medioatlantica has occurred in deep sub-Arctic benthic communities at least historically. It also highlights overlooked stylasterid diversity in under-explored regions and the value of historical collections. Combining re-examination of archived material with targeted, molecularly suitable collections will be essential to clarify the biogeographic history and conservation status of C. medioatlantica in the North Atlantic and to determine whether the Icelandic fragments represent an extant but unsampled population or the remnants of a past local population
Parental experiences and aspirations for children's education post-displacement
Get PDFThis research explores how parents who have experienced displacement to the UK experience and aspire for their children’s education. Using semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, the study uses frameworks of acculturation theory (Berry, 1989) and quiet resistance (Fakhoury, 2021) to delve into the complexities and challenges these parents face in their children’s education. The findings reveal significant barriers such as language difficulties, systemic exclusion, and legal constraints within the educational system, which hinder parents' inclusion in their children’s education. Parents exhibit resilience and resistance in finding means of staying involved in their children’s education within systemic constraints, working toward aspirations of ontological, material, and social development and success for their children. The study underscores the need for educational policies and school environments that are inclusive and culturally aware, to effectively support and integrate families with backgrounds of displacement. This research not only sheds light on the specific educational challenges faced by families with backgrounds of displacement but also opens pathways for further inquiry into more inclusive educational practices and policy considerations
‘Individually tailored, collectively constructed’: non-formal peace education in Kosovo
Get PDFThis dissertation is a qualitative study using student focus groups, staff semi-structured interviews, and document analysis to answer the following question: In Kosovo’s context of a formally divided education system, what role do non-formal peace education programs play in shaping youth perceptions of peace and agency? Kosovo offers a unique case study as it is a post-conflict society with an ethnically stratified education system that receives little government support for instituting formal peace education initiatives. As a result, an integral need and research gap exists in understanding the role of non-formal peace education in facilitating Kosovo’s ongoing peacebuilding process amidst barriers existing in the formal environment. To respond to this need, the researcher examined the Hawley Youth Center’s (HYC) Student Exposure Program (SEP) as a case study of non-formal peace education in Kosovo by applying Monisha Bajaj’s (2019) four critical peace education competencies. The findings will demonstrate that non-formal critical peace education initiatives encourage youth to view peace and agency as objects of sensemaking. HYC develops this student mindset through an approach that is relevant to individual student experiences (‘individually tailored’) while collaborated on with others for a common purpose (‘collectively constructed’). This paper contributes to peace education literature by discussing how a sensemaking perspective facilitates pursuits for long-term, sustainable peace as youth are better prepared to face evolving challenges and unanticipated spoilers to the peace process. The researcher then recommends that further research be conducted to one, evaluate the development of sensemaking mindsets in other cases of non-formal peace education initiatives and two, explore how this perspective directly aids sustainable peacebuilding efforts
Teacher-child relationships in Kenyan primary schools: a mixed methods approach
Get PDFPositive TCRs significantly improve children’s developmental outcomes, such as social, emotional, regulatory, cognitive, and academic skills (Hamre & Pianta, 2001; Spilt & Koomen, 2022). Yet, little analytical attention has been given to TCRs in developing countries such as Kenya, meaning the TCR field lacks a nuanced, global understanding of TCRs.To this end, the present study applied a mixed methods approach to 1) quantitatively assess whether Kenyan TCRs are associated with children’s academic achievement in average grades, and in mathematics, Kiswahili and English, and 2) qualitatively explore contextual factors affecting TCRs and achievement.Quantitative and qualitative data were collected in five primary schools in Kakamega, Kenya. 37 teachers participated. Students’ anonymised grades were compiled, and teacher-child Closeness and Conflict was assessed using the teacher-reported Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS; Pianta, 2001). Regression analyses were conducted with academic achievement as the outcome variable, and the STRS, teacher and child characteristics, and class size as predictor variables. Additionally, six teachers were interviewed and were asked about their perspective on TCRs and surrounding factors. Interviews were then analysed through thematic analysis.Firstly, reliability and exploratory factor analyses showed that the STRS is a reliable and valid measure in a Kenyan setting. Furthermore, teacher-child Closeness was associated with higher achievement and Conflict with lower achievement. However, Closeness was more impactful towards children’s grades. Secondly, the teacher interviews illustrated that TCRs often have a parental dimension. Close TCRs also enable teachers to provide targeted material and emotional support. This is particularly valuable in a context of challenges associated with poverty (e.g., children experiencing hunger and parental absence). TCRs partly alleviate but cannot compensate for the impact of these challenges. Lastly, parent-child and parent-teacher dynamics were found to influence the TCR, indicating a teacher-child-parent triad perspective encompasses a more precise view of TCRs. The study concludes that, particularly in low-resource settings, school leadership should leverage TCRs as much as possible for children’s enhanced wellbeing and academic fulfilment
Ease of access to general practice, patient experience and use of the NHS App: an ecological analysis of English data
Get PDFSummary: Objective: To assess the relationship between GP experience, phone and website access measures, and NHS App use. Design: An ecological study using practice-level NHS App usage data between March 2020 and June 2022. GP practice codes were used to link patient-reported experience and ease of access scores from the General Practice Patient Survey to the NHS App data. Practices were grouped into five quintiles based on experience and access measures, and negative binomial regressions were used to estimate Incident Rate Ratios (IRR) comparing NHS App usage across quintiles. Models were adjusted for age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and long-term healthcare needs. Setting: General practices across the NHS in England. Participants: Patients registered at 6386 GP practices in England. Main Outcomes: Weekly rates of NHS App functions used (registrations, logins, prescriptions ordered, medical record views and appointments booked) per 1000 GP-registered population. Results: Fully adjusted models found lower NHS App use in practices with the highest patient experience. Registration rates were 3.5% lower in practices with the highest vs. lowest experience scores (IRR 0.96, p < 0.001) and logins were 5.2% lower (IRR 0.95, p < 0.001). Practices with better phone access had 27.0% higher prescription orders (IRR highest vs. lowest = 1.27, p < 0.001), and 57.8% higher appointment bookings (IRR highest vs. lowest = 1.58, p < 0.001). Prescriptions were 7.7% higher in practices with the highest vs. lowest web access scores (IRR 1.08, p < 0.001). Conclusion: NHS App use was lower in practices with the highest patient experience, but generally higher in practices with better phone and web access. Results highlight the need for coordinated action to improve access and patient satisfaction
Halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding fluorescent anion sensing at the solid–liquid interface
Get PDFHalogen bonding (XB) has emerged as a powerful non-covalent interaction in anion supramolecular chemistry and is now well-established for the recognition and sensing of various environmentally and biologically relevant anionic species in solution. To translate the significant potential of XB-mediated anion binding to real-world sensor application requires both a consideration of XB material device integration and utilisation in water; key areas that remain noticeably underdeveloped. Addressing this challenge, we herein report the first example of a XB monolayer architecture for the detection of anions at the solid–liquid interface via fluorescence, enabling sensor re-use and detection of various anions in both organic solvent and in pure water. To this end, a BODIPY-bis(iodo)triazole receptor was covalently immobilized onto glass slides via amide bond formation. Detailed unprecedented comparisons of the anion binding and sensing performance of this XB interface with both an analogous solution-phase XB receptor as well as their hydrogen bonding (HB) congeners revealed that the system's fluorescence sensing performance is largely retained upon surface immobilization for all tested anions. Interestingly, and in contrast to solution-phase experiments, the XB interface outperformed the HB interface in all cases, both in terms of anion binding strength and signal response. These observations pave the way for a rational translation of established solution-phase fluorescent XB anion receptors to molecular film sensing formats, which, as shown here, both support sensor re-use and circumvent solubility constraints
Imperial offshore: Aden and the infrastructure of Empire
No full textThis dissertation explores the British colonial port of Aden (1839–1967)—at its height, the fourth-busiest port in the world—as a key site of infrastructure in the development of empire and global capitalism. More than a logistical hub, Aden served as a space of regulatory and territorial innovation that helped insulate global capital from the claims of labour, law, and national sovereignty. The study thus presents Aden as a central node in what I term imperial offshore—a legal and spatial practice of rule that established zones of exception where standard regulations were selectively suspended, prefiguring the free trade zones and corporate governance of the neoliberal offshore economy. Foregrounding infrastructure, the study examines how legal, logistical, and commercial systems tethered Aden to wider imperial networks—and how a diverse cast of actors, from colonial administrators to Indian capitalists and Yemeni labourers, animated and contested these systems. This infrastructural approach challenges dominant narratives on multiple fronts. Drawing on diverse sources—including hitherto unexamined family archives and community records in Gujarati—I show that, contrary to colonial claims, the making of Aden was driven not only by British imperial planners but by non-Western, predominantly Indian capitalists whose investments, speculations, and attendant risks formed elemental building blocks of British statecraft in the Indian Ocean. More fundamentally, by focusing on Aden as an ‘interstitial site,’ this dissertation opens analytical space for examining empire and capitalism not from the agricultural or industrial edges which ‘bookend’ them, but from the middle—the in-between sites and infrastructures that regulate connectivity, mediation, and circulation. This methodological reorientation serves a broader theoretical purpose: rather than framing the Middle East through theoretical models imported from elsewhere, it takes seriously the region’s own historical experience as a generative force in the making of global capitalism
Inhomogeneous spatial branching processes
Get PDFWe study several spatial branching processes with inhomogeneities. Branching processes are a fundamental building block in mathematical models related to growth. Often growth happens in space: the spread of an epidemic, a selective sweep in the genetics of a population, the spread of a chemical reaction or the spread of an opinion in a social network. On the level of stochastic processes, branching Brownian motion is used to understand the interplay of effects in a spreading population, and indeed the front of branching Brownian motion exhibits wave-like properties.
We study several variants of branching Brownian motion, in all of them we move away from homogenous Euclidean space. First, we study branching Brownian motion in two-dimensional space where one direction of space improves the reproduction rate of particles. Here we show that this inhomogeneity in the branching rate leads to significant corrections to the speed of the front. Secondly, we study a discrete analogue of branching Brownian in a high dimensional random environment. Here we show that the exponential number of particles produces a law of large numbers effect and that the first order of the speed of the front is linear and non-random. Thirdly, we study branching Brownian motion in two-dimensional hyperbolic space. Here we that the limit of the empirical population measure on the boundary of the space is determined only by typical particles and we use this to compute the Hausdorff dimension of its support. The collection of these results show the emergence of interesting phenomena when inhomogeneities are added to branching Brownian motion