13 research outputs found
Complex systems in the spotlight: next steps after the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics
No full textThe 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics recognized the fundamental role of complex systems in the natural sciences. In order to celebrate this milestone, this editorial presents the point of view of the editorial board of JPhys Complexity on the achievements, challenges, and future prospects of the field. To distinguish the voice and the opinion of each editor, this editorial consists of a series of editor perspectives and reflections on few selected themes. A comprehensive and multi-faceted view of the field of complexity science emerges. We hope and trust that this open discussion will be of inspiration for future research on complex systems.The authors acknowledge their funding sources, including: Royal Society (IEC\NSFC\191147 (G Bianconi); NSF Grants CCF-1839232, PHY-1806372, DGE-2125899, PHY-2210566 (L.C.); NRF, Grant No. NRF-2014R1A3A2069005 and the KENTECH Research Grant (KRG2021-01-007) (B Kahng); EU H2020 ICT48 project ‘Humane AI Net’ under Contract #952026 and EU Horizon 2020—ERC Synergy Grant 810115 ‘Dynasnet’ (J Kertesz); ICREA Academia Award, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (C Masoller); National Science Foundation Award No. DMS-1647351 (A E Motter); Slovenian Research Agency (Grant Nos. P1-0403 and J1-2457) (M Perc); PID2019-106811GB-C31 from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (M Sales Pardo); PACSS (RTI2018-093732-B-C21) and MDM-2017-0711 from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Spain (M San Miguel). FR acknowledges support by the Army Research Office (W911NF-21-1-0194) and by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-21-1-0446).Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 19 autors/es : Ginestra Bianconi, Alex Arenas, Jacob Biamonte, Lincoln D Carr, Byungnam Kahng, Janos Kertesz, Jürgen Kurths, Linyuan Lu, Cristina Masoller, Adilson E Motter Matjaz Perc, Filippo Radicchi, Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, Francisco A Rodrigues, Marta Sales-Pardo, Maxi San Miguel, Stefan Thurner and Taha Yasseri.Postprint (published version
International competition and strategic response in the Dundee jute industry during the inter-war (1919-1939) and post-war (1945-1960s) period : the case of jute industries, Buist Spinning, Craiks and Scott & Fyfe
No full textThis research uses the ‘demand-side thesis’ to examine the decline of the Dundee jute
industry. In particular, it examines the effect of international competition and the
strategic response of the industry during the inter-war (1919-1939) and the post-war
(1945-1960s) period to counter this challenge. The strategic response is studied by examining strategies employed at the firm and the industry level. Strategy at the firm
level is studied in the form of capability development using the capabilities approach.
The thesis also makes an attempt to redress the issue of determinism in the capabilities
approach which suggests that the pattern of capability development is governed by path-dependency. By drawing on the techniques employed in the history literature, this
research identifies strategic options that were being considered by firms at the time of
capability development and examine why certain alternatives were not pursued. This will bring to light aspects other then those associated with path-dependency that played a role in the pattern of capability development. The capabilities developed by firms during the two periods are compared and contrasted in order to understand the pattern over this period. These findings are juxtaposed with the British cotton textile industry, a related sector, to examine the effectiveness of the demand-side thesis in explaining the decline of the jute
industry in particular and the textile industry in general.
This thesis makes contribution to three areas of literature: First, the thesis helps to further develop the demand-side framework by introducing a new case (Dundee jute industry) and developing a better understanding of strategic response within the jute and textile industry in general. Second, this thesis contributes to the theoretical development of capabilities approach in two specific areas: a) it helps to address the issue of determinism
inherent in the capabilities approach through the notion of path-dependency. This was done by also examining the strategic options that were available to firms while
developing their capabilities and underlining the reasons for not pursuing them. b) the analysis sheds new light on the nature of branching of capabilities in an industry over a long period. Third, this research makes significant contribution to the existing literature on the business history of the Dundee jute industry, which is sparse. The contributions can be categorised into four key aspects which have not been examined in the current literature: a) period (inter-war and post-war), b) issue (systematic examination of the Dundee jute industry’s decline, strategic response and role of collective strategies), c)
method (detailed study of individual firm’s strategies), and d) cross comparison of
industry’s experience with related sectors (for example, the cotton industry). Focusing on these issues has helped to throw new light on the challenges, especially technological, facing the industry in developing its strategic response
Macro Implications of Micro-Participation: Participatory Management of Electricity Distribution in Eastern India
No full textElectrification has become a pivotal development issue in the developing countries, as it provides a huge range of social and developmental advantages. At the same time it has been realised that delivering electricity in the rural areas, particularly to poor, is a hard task and requires establishment of effective institutions and delivery mechanisms. If not properly planned, highly subsidised rural electrification programmes may end up in drain of resources and damaging impacts on the utilities. These challenges are probably better illustrated in the Indian case, where half of the population still living in dark.
In recent years, centralised planning and resource allocation, which used to be the governing principle for development, has been blamed for the failure. As a response to the perceived failure of top-down centralised planning and implementation, bottom-up decentralised participatory models have been proposed by international development organisations. The bottom-up model proposed for electric service delivery seek to involve the users in the delivery process through building micro-institutions and empowering them to plan, manage, monitor, and own the local service delivery mechanism. The proposed model marks the beginning of a new paradigm for electricity service delivery that relies on the users and their democratic capabilities.
In this context, this study, drawing on experiences in two cases in Eastern India, analyses the potentials of decentralised participatory model of electricity delivery. It provides an empirical analysis of how and to what extent decentralisation and users’ participation in electricity delivery contributes to efficiency and effectiveness gain in electricity supply system. Moreover, building on participatory democracy, the study analyses the empowering effects of participation in electricity users associations. It concludes that decentralisation and users’ participation has significant contributions to electricity service improvement. Yet, it identifies scope for improvement in the model and suggests some methods and approaches by which the model could be made more efficient and effective, and can produce real gains for the poor
Computer simulations of liquid crystals
No full textMolecular simulations performed on modern computers provide a powerful tool for the investigation of both static and dynamic properties of liquid crystals. In this thesis several properties of liquid crystal mesogens have been investigated using state-of-the-art Monte Carlo (MC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. The helical twisting power, βm, determines the pitch of the chiral nematic phase produced when a nematic liquid crystal is doped with a low concentration of chiral solute molecules. A new simulation technique that allows the prediction of both the sign and the magnitude of βm is described. The method employs fully atomistic MC simulations of a chiral dopant molecule in the presence of a twisted nematic solvent composed of Gay-Berne particles. Eighteen different chiral dopant molecules were examined and in all cases the results were in good agreement with existing experimental data. The Kirkwood correlation factor, g(_1), has been evaluated for the molecules PCH5, PCH5-C1, me5NF and GGP5C1 using MD simulations in the pre-transitional region of the isotropic phase. The calculations employed an all-atom force field, which was developed specifically for liquid crystal molecules. PCH5 and meSNF were seen to favour anti-parallel dipole alignment whereas, PCH5-C1 and GGP5C1 preferred a parallel arrangement of the molecular dipoles. With the exception of GGP5C1, the simulations gave g(_1) values that were in accordance with existing experimental dielectric measurements. Detailed analysis of the MD trajectories showed that certain molecular pair configurations were preferred in the bulk and indicated which molecular groups were responsible for the stabilization of these configurations. Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were carried out in order to evaluate the rotational viscosity coefficient, γ(_1), for a Gay-Berne mesogen using two independent analysis techniques. The methods gave consistent results, which were comparable to experimental data for real mesogens of similar shape and size
Mediadores envolvidos na nocicepção, hiperalgesia e edema causados pela endotelina-1 em camundongos: [dissertação]
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Programa de Pós-graduação em Farmacologia.O presente estudo investigou os mecanismos celulares e mediadores envolvidos nas respostas nociceptiva, hiperalgésica e edematogênica, induzidas pela injeção intraplantar (i.pl.) de endotelina-1 (ET-1) em camundongos. O degranulador de mastócitos, composto 48/80, injetad
Educational action research networks as participatory interventions
No full textIn 2002, the National College for School Leadership launched what was regarded as
the largest educational networking programme in the world. This brought together
groups of schools to collaborate over developing agreed areas of their work. This
thesis outlines a research project aimed at networks who were members of this
programme and whose main activity had been action research conducted by network
members. This research was intended to examine, and to understand, the
participatory aspects of networks of this sort.
Five overarching themes were drawn from the literature on participatory interventions
and related to educational networks and to action research. The interaction of these
three areas of literature provided the background against which the empirical aspects
of this thesis were conducted. Based around an interpretive argument emphasising
the contextual uniqueness of these networks, a case study methodology was adopted
to study three networks. These three networks were those who had agreed to
participate of a total of 18 that had matched the profile for selection and who had been
invited to participate.
The conduct of these three case studies used a mixed method approach examining
documents produced by these networks as well as collecting data through the use of a
questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. From these three case studies
overarching themes were identified in the ways that these networks related to
participatory interventions. These themes specifically concerned: the approaches that
these networks had taken to action research; the ways in which they had perceived
and involved communities in their work; the nature of collaborative relationships in
the networks; the relationship between the operation of the networks and principles of
voluntarism and finally the roles of leadership in the networks. Overall, these
networks presented a model by which individuals could collectively work together for
a common aspiration, whilst retaining the flexibility to be relevant to local contexts
Trust, Power and the New Professionalism: A Case Study of Service User and Carer Involvement in the Selection of Social Work Students
No full textIn June 2002 the Department of Health upgraded social work training in England, resulting in the Diploma in Social Work being replaced by a new undergraduate and masters’ level qualification. The requirements outlined for the new degree in social work included the provision that programmes approved to provide the new training had to involve representatives of stakeholders, particularly service users and carers, in the selection of new students (DoH 2002). This thesis investigates the tensions implicit in this policy from the perspective of service users and carers involved in recruitment to one university between 2002 and 2005. To this end, a critical theoretical framework was employed, which recognised the importance of power relationships within the field of study. This framework draws on the work of Bourdieu, Abbott and Foucault, and incorporates feminist and critical theory, in order to conceptualise the issues raised by the study.
The intended outcomes of involvement in recruitment were unclear, in contrast to the case of involvement in social work education and practice. However, the policy of involvement in recruitment exemplified various tensions in service user and carer involvement in general, which the study sought to clarify. Service users were required to operate within a cultural context that they had little part in shaping, and this tended to reinforce the asymmetrical distribution of power which is seen as characterising relationships between professionals and those who use their services. Nonetheless, there were no disagreements reported between service users, carers, agency representatives and academic staff regarding the suitability, or otherwise, of individual candidates. Service users and carers looked for candidates who were trustworthy, anti-discriminatory and could relate to service users and carers – attributes which academic staff also valued.
Despite appearing beneficial to service users and carers and therefore, by default, social work within this University, the policy of involving service users and carers in admissions was not as beneficial as it appeared. It could disadvantage some service users and carers financially. The policy does not specify what service users and carers can contribute to the admissions process, and the policy can be conceptualised as one that assumes social work educators are inept at choosing social work trainees, despite the lack of evidence that this is the case. This can, in turn, be seen as both contributing to a negative discourse regarding social work, and as a means by which a more regulatory role by the State can be justified. This more duty-based role for social work, I have argued, can be at the expense of a more altruistic approach to assisting vulnerable people, which was so valued by participants
Political transnationalism, gender and peace buliding among Colombian migrants in the UK and Spain.
No full textPhDThe international migration of Colombians has received little attention, either at academic or
policy levels. This research explores Colombian migration to Spain and the UK. Its main aim
is to study the transnational political activities of Colombian migrants, in the context of the
armed conflict and search for peace in Colombia, by taking a gendered perspective. The
theoretical and conceptual frameworks draw from several research areas, mainly work on
diasporas and transnational migration, and studies of armed conflict and peace. Given that these
fields of study are rarely combined, this thesis provides an innovative conceptual approach. The
current research is based on qualitative fieldwork conducted in the UK and Spain between 2005
and 2007, and comprising almost 100 interviews and participant observation. The main
empirical finding is that Colombian migrants are an integral part of the political context in the
home country, despite the emphasis by other studies on the polarisation, fragmentation and
apolitical nature of the diaspora. Conceptually, this thesis argues for the need to de-construct
political transnationalism, to account for: activities emerging from 'above' and 'below',
'individual' and 'collective' participation in formal and informal politics; and the connections
between political participation in the countries of origin and settlement. Also, it shows that
migrants' transnational politics varies according to gender, as well as other factors, mainly type
of migration and social class. More importantly, the transnational political activities of
Colombians abroad relate directly/indirectly to the armed conflict and search for peace in
Colombia. Future research and policy-making should take into account the potential of this for
civil society peace-building efforts, especially seeking to promote a gendered perspective
The impact of cooperative learning strategies to improve students’ oral communication In 9th graders inglés
No full textIlustraciones, gráficas, fotosspa:Este estudio pretende evaluar el impacto de las estrategias de Aprendizaje Cooperativo (AC) en la mejora de la comunicación oral de diecinueve alumnos de 9º curso de un instituto católico privado. La idea era resolver los problemas de los alumnos relacionados con la expresión oral, -baja participación, falta de interés y problemas para trabajar en grupo-. Para lograr nuestro objetivo se implementaron seis talleres utilizando cuatro Estrategias de Aprendizaje Cooperativo. Para evaluar la eficacia de dicha propuesta se utilizó la entrevista a los alumnos, los diarios de los profesores, una encuesta y una rúbrica de evaluación entre compañeros. Los resultados revelaron que los estudiantes aumentaron su participación en clase, mejoraron su interacción en inglés y mejoraron el trabajo en equipo en clase. Además, aumentó la confianza de los alumnos. Además, los alumnos fueron capaces de centrar su atención y comprendieron mejor lo que se esperaba de ellos; así, al estar más comprometidos en clase, tuvieron menos tiempo para portarse mal; en consecuencia, también mejoró su comprensión. En conclusión, el aprendizaje cooperativo fomenta la interacción social. eng: enhancing oral communication in nineteen 9th graders in a private Catholic high school. The idea was to solve the students’ problems related to speaking, -low participation, lack of interest and problems working in groups-. To achieve our goal six workshops using four Cooperative Learning Strategies were implemented. To evaluate the effectiveness of said proposal students’ interview, teachers’ journals, a survey, and a peer evaluation rubric were used. Results revealed that students increased their participation in class, improved their interaction in English, and improved teamwork in class. Besides, the students’ confidence increased. Besides, learners were able to focus their attention and got a better understanding on what they were expected to do; thus, because they were more engaged in class, they had less time to misbehave; consequently, their comprehension also improved. To conclude, Cooperative Learning promotes social interaction.eng:This is an action research project which aims at assessing the impact of Cooperative
Learning (CL) strategies on enhancing oral communication in 9th grade students in a
private institution in Manizales. Nineteen students collaborated with the research. In order
to solve the students’ problems related to speaking, that can be described as low
participation, lack of interest and problems working in groups, the researcher designed a
proposal that consisted of six workshops to implement four Cooperative Learning
Strategies: Team Game Tournament, Jigsaw, Think Pair Share, and Student Team
Achievement Division. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of said proposal six
instruments were used: journal, teachers’ and students’ survey, students’ interview, peers’
evaluation, and teacher’s evaluation. The findings of this research revealed that students
increased their participation in class, improved their interaction in English, and improved
their teamwork in class. As students were exposed to the different strategies mentioned
above, it was found that Cooperative Learning promotes social interaction among students.
In the meantime, it enhances students’ ability to support and relate to one another
positively. Their confidence increases. As a result, students are able to focus their attention
and become more alert to comprehend what they are expected to do; then because they are
more engaged in class, they have less time to misbehave; consequently, their
comprehension also improves.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS / Abstract / Introduction / 1. Research Problem / 1.1 Purpose of Research / 1.2 Description of the Context and Setting / 1.3 Description of the problema / 1.4 Research Questions and Objectives / 1.4.1 Research Question / 1.4.2 Research Objectives / 1.4.2.1 General objective / 1.4.2.2 Specific objectives / 2. Theoretical Framework / 2.1 Speaking / 2.2. Motivation to Speak in English / 2.3 Language Learning Strategies / 2.4 Cooperative Learning / 2.4.1 What is Cooperative Learning? / 2.4.2 Basic Elements in Cooperative Learning / 2.4.2.1 Positive Interdependence / 2.4.2.2 Individual accountability / 2.4.2.3 Face to face promote interaction / . 2.4.2.4 Social Skills / 2.4.2.5 Group Processing / 2.4.3 Cooperative Learning Strategies / 2.4.3.1 Team Game Tournament (TGT) / 2.4.3.2 Jigsaw / 2.4.3.3 Students Team Achievement Division (STAD) / 2.4.3.4 Think Pair Share (TPS) / 2.4.4 Teacher’s Role in Cooperative Learning clases / 2.5 Previous Related Studies / 3. Methodology / 3.1 Type of study / 3.2 Participants / 3.3 Data collection instruments / 4. Phases of the study / 4.1 Diagnostic stage / 4.2 Action Stage / 4.3 Evaluation Stage / 5. Analysis of results / 6. Summary of the findings / 7. Conclusions and recommendations / References / AppendicesMaestríaMagister en Didáctica del Inglés - Manizale
Cuidado de nietos(as) en un contexto crítico y/o vulnerable y las implicaciones en la salud de la abuela
No full textEl estudio aborda a la abuela cómo un fenómeno social y cultural que le compete a la disciplina de enfermería, al describir cómo el cuidado del nieto en un contexto crítico y/o vulnerable (comunas 13 y 14 de la ciudad de Cali) están implicados en su salud. Con relación a la metodología se empleó un tipo de investigación cualitativa descriptiva, con un diseño de etnografía enfocada. Participaron 11 abuelas de 37 a 67 años que cuidan nietos de 0 a 6 años mínimo 3 meses por más de 8 horas diarias. Como criterios de inclusión, se seleccionaron participantes que no presentaran deterioro funcional o mental y que pertenecían a comunas 13 y 14 de la ciudad de Cali. La información se recolectó en visitas cortas al hogar de la abuela mediante observación participativa, entrevista semiestructurada y el diario de campo. El proceso de recolección de datos tomó 9 meses. El análisis del dominio basado en el método de Spradley 1980, fue intensivo y paralelo a la recolección, gracias a los subprocesos: análisis semántico, taxonómico, componencial y de temas. Se hallaron cuatro temas culturales: “Abuela cuya historia repercute en “sentirse arrimada” y en la intensidad del cuidado a los nietos(as) en la actualidad”, “El trabajo doméstico no remunerado y el cuidado de los nietos(as) una forma de hacerse visible frente a su familia”, “Contexto crítico y/o vulnerable que se refleja al interior del hogar de la abuela que asume el cuidado de nietos(as)” y “La intensidad del trabajo doméstico, el cuidado de los nietos, el entorno familiar agresivo y la escasez de recursos afectan la salud de la abuela” Entre las principales conclusiones se destaca que la historia de carencias socioeconómicas determina socialmente la inequidad en materia de salud que vive la abuela. Dicha inequidad se evidencia en la falta de vivienda, de trabajo, ausencia de ingresos propios, ser desplazada y otros aspectos que la llevan a que constantemente asuma el cuidado de nietos y el trabajo doméstico como una forma de obtener posición en una familia en cuyo interior se reflejan las condiciones críticas y/o vulnerables del sector donde viven.The study addresses the grandmother as a social and cultural phenomenon that falls within the nursing discipline, describing how the care of the grandchildren in critical and / or vulnerable contexts (communes 13 and 14 of the city of Cali) are involved in her health. The methodology was Qualitative descriptive, focused ethnography type, with 11 grandmothers 37 to 67 years old who do not present functional or mental disorders, belonging to communes 13 and 14 of the city of Cali, who take care of grandchildren from 0 to 6 years old, minimum 3 months over 8 hours a day. The information was collected in short visits to the grandmothers’ homes for 9 months through participatory observation, a semi-structured interview, and a field diary. The domain analysis is based on the method of Spradley 1980, it was intensive and parallel to the data collection, thanks to the sub-processes: semantic, taxonomic, component, and subject analysis. The result was four cultural themes: " The Grandmother whose story has an impact on" feeling herself as a charge "and on the intensity of caring for her grandchildren today", "Unpaid domestic work and caring for grandchildren as a form of making themselves visible in their family”, “Critical and / or vulnerable context that is reflected inside the home of the grandmother who takes care of grandchildren ”and“ the intensity of domestic work, the aggressive family environment and the scarcity of resources that affect the health of the grandmother " The study finded that the history of socioeconomic deficiencies, socially determines the inequity in health experienced by the grandmother; consisting of homelessness, lack of work, lack of income, being displaced; which lead her to constantly take care of grandchildren and to housework, as a way to obtain a position in the family in whose interior the critical and / or vulnerable conditions of the sector where they live are reflected.Beca Colciencias Colfuturo convocatoria 727Línea de investigación: Cuidado y práctica de Enfermería.Doctorad
