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Kruger, Lara. "Towards a connective aesthetic : an a/r/tographic journey." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20100.
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Merron, James Lawrence. "Wattle we do? alien eradication and the 'ecology of fear' on the fringes of a world heritage site, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002655.
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In their article ―Naturing the Nation: Aliens, the Apocalypse and the Post Colonial State (2001) Jean and John Comaroff look at ―the contemporary predicament of South Africa through the prism of environmental catastrophe. Through it they reveal the context in which alien plants have become an urgent affair of the state. Following their lead, I show how alien plants (particularly Australian wattle) continue to provide grounds for new social and political aspirations in South Africa, though in a different setting. With reference to a group of private landowners on the fringe of a World Heritage Site -- the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa -- I show how an increasingly apocalyptic and xenophobic environmental agenda has influenced local activists seeking to address social and ecological issues in tandem with alien-eradication. These local activists adhere to a particular brand of environmentalism which Milton (1993) argues can be considered a social, cultural and religious phenomenon. The subjects of my main empirical investigation offer practical ways of achieving a transformational end through a new ritual activity in relation to a spread and exchange of environmental ideas and practices on a world-wide scale. On the ground this group practices ecosocietal restoration through which they aspire to mend the bond between people and the land in a spiritual and moral sense, bolstering intrinsic incentives for environmental stewardship and achieving ―cultural reconciliation in an attempt to reimagine what South Africa could be.
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Rancura, Sheila Aparecida de Oliveira. "Aspectos ecológicos e sociais da coleta informal de resíduos sólidos urbanos do município de São Carlos - SP." Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2005. https://repositorio.ufscar.br/handle/ufscar/2143.
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This work was developed along with informal waste collectors of recyclable solid waste in the urban area of the city of São Carlos SP. An effort has been performed with the aim of combining ecological studies with the garbage problematic and social exclusion the informal waste collection brings. The adequacy of concepts of the ecological theory (ecological niche, foraging models) to the case of the waste collectors studied allowed placing the role of individuals in the ecosystem and inferring on the resource utilization forms and their implications for the environment. The methodological procedures used combined direct observations and free interviews with structured questionnaires (socioeconomic and informal collection production data). Most informal waste collectors (80%) present generalist collection strategy, also presenting, however, high dependence degree on some types of waste such as aluminum, paper and ferrous materials. The behavior of the informal waste collectors is similar to behavior predicted for foragers by the optimal foraging theory. The contribution of the informal collection for recycling market is of order of 97.3 kg/day/collector, being hidden by its stealth situation and the gains they profit are found at minimum levels as possible in order to allow they subsistence. One of the effects of this activity on the environment is its performance as negative feedback on one component the garbage which causes environmental deterioration. One believes that the recognition of the collection social and environmental importance and its removal from informality are the first step to change the stealth situation that informal waste collectors are submitted to.
O trabalho foi desenvolvido junto aos catadores autônomos de resíduos sólidos recicláveis da área urbana do município de São Carlos SP. Foi realizado um esforço no sentido de aliar estudos ecológicos com as problemáticas do lixo e da exclusão social presentes na coleta informal. A adequação de concepções teóricas da ecologia biológica (nicho ecológico, modelo de forrageamento) ao caso dos catadores de resíduo estudados permitiu situar os indivíduos no seu papel dentro do ecossistema e inferir sobre formas de utilização do recurso e suas implicações para o ambiente. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados combinaram observações diretas e entrevistas livres e estruturadas com questionários estruturados (dados sócioeconômicos e de produção da coleta informal). A maioria dos catadores (80%) possui estratégia de coleta generalista, apresentando, contudo, alto grau de dependência de alguns tipos de resíduo, tais como alumínio, papel e metais ferrosos. O comportamento dos catadores é semelhante ao previsto para forrageadores pela teoria do forrageamento ótimo. A contribuição da coleta informal para o mercado de reciclagem, da ordem de 97,3 kg/dia/catador, é mascarada por sua situação de clandestinidade, sendo que os ganhos auferidos pelos catadores estão nos níveis mínimos possíveis para permitir sua subsistência. Um dos efeitos da atividade para o ambiente é seu funcionamento como retroalimentação negativa sobre um componente o lixo - que causa a deterioração ambiental. Acredita-se que o reconhecimento da importância social e ambiental da coleta e sua retirada da informalidade sejam o início da reversão do quadro de marginalização a que os catadores estão submetidos.
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De, Klerk Henning. "The mutual embodiment of landscape and livelihoods: an environmental history of Nqabara." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007054.
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This thesis presents a history of the landscape of Nqabara, an administrative area in a rural and coastal area of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In the process of investigating landscape history, the inquiry engages with a range of data sources from diverging discursive contexts, including data from ethnographic fieldwork, from the consultation of archival documents and historical reports as well as from comparative historic and ethnographic research, necessitating a critical consideration of the epistemological contexts of data production and the dialogue between researcher and data. Furthermore, in its aim to move beyond historical description towards explanation, the study interrogates the dualist ontological conceptualisations of nature and culture, society and ecology, object and meaning upon which are built three dominant conceptual frameworks concerned with human-environment relationships: social-ecological systems theory, transdisciplinary landscape studies and political ecology. Drawing primarily upon the works of James Gibson, Anthony Giddens and Tim Ingold, an ontological foundation is developed to guide the enquiry and move towards an alternative understanding of the relationship of people’s livelihoods with respect to the landscape in which it is lived, which I call here the praxisembodiment perspective. This ontology takes the situated patterns of action of a situated agent-in-its-environment as its point of departure and proceeds to develop a framework explaining how relations among the patterns of action of different agents-in-their-environment, emerge in structures that simultaneously enable and constrain future action. The foundation is thereby provided for a monist understanding of how landscape and social structure emerge simultaneously from the complex intersection of patterns of actions and interactions of agents in their environment. This framework calls for an understanding of time, space and scale, not as independent variables influencing process and action, but as emergent properties arising from the patterns of actions of situated agents. Finally the alternative ontology is applied to the history of landscape and livelihoods of people of Nqabara. It is concluded that an appropriate understanding and explanation of the critical transformations in the landscape as well as in social institutions, should be sought through analysis of the complex ways in which patterns of action of multiple spatial and temporal rhythms and between multiple agents in an environment, intersect and resonate.
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Fox, Helen Elizabeth. "The role of anthropogenic disturbance in the creation of a socio-ecological landscape." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008061.
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The aim of this thesis is to examine the role of anthropogenic disturbance in the creation of a socio-ecological landscape. Three key questions were answered: what impact has past anthropogenic disturbance had on present vegetative characteristics; what value did this disturbed landscape have to local people; how did the local peoples' worldviews and eco-cosmologies influence how they perceived, valued and managed their landscape? Research was based in a rural, predominantly amaXhosa village in the Kat River valley, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Four major landscape components characterised the environment, namely dense forests, former grazing lands, abandoned fields and old settlements. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted, consisting of a vegetation and soil survey and social science methods including semistructured interviews, focus groups, transect walks and participant observation. The key finding was that anthropogenic disturbance is necessary to enhance the potential of the area to support human habitation. However, anthropogenic disturbance can have positive or negative effects for both local people and the environment. An intermediate level of disturbance is a key factor leading to a resilient socio-ecological system. Various anthropogenic disturbances have had significant affects on vegetation characteristics in terms of species richness, and a change in vegetation composition and species heights. Of the three anthropogenic landscapes examined, former grazing lands were the least intensively disturbed. They were also more species rich and structurally diverse than areas that were under agricultural production or used as a settlement. Dense forests, although the least desirable landscape to local people were, together with sacred pools, sources of ecosystem renewal and played a critical role during times of disturbance. Anthropogenic disturbance has added value to local people's livelihoods; this disturbance has resulted in a patchy landscape that supplies a wide variety of resources to local people. Local people are dependent on their environment for their basic needs; this has encouraged sustainable management practices. The local AmaXhosa still retain many elements of their traditional worldview, which has many characteristics of Animism. The environment is an integral component of their belief system and certain sites and species have significant cultural value and are protected.
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Marino, Mariana Cristina Pinto. "Fugere urbem et locus amoenus quaerere: uma análise ecocrítica de Marcovaldo ou As estações na cidade, de Italo Calvino." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2018. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/3127.
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A presente pesquisa propôs a análise de todos os vinte contos que compõem a obra Marcovaldo ou As estações na cidade (2015 [1963]), de Italo Calvino. O foco das análises voltou-se para o protagonista, Marcovaldo, um trabalhador pobre e em permanente estado de desconforto com as mudanças ocorridas no contexto social pós-guerra, especialmente na Itália, no período de seu milagre econômico, que foi impulsionado pelo fim de medidas protecionistas na economia (GINSBORG, 2003). Ao tentar romper com esse cenário, buscando a beleza genuína da natureza, Marcovaldo vê-se experienciando situações que sempre o levam ao descontentamento, intrinsecamente ligado a um novo tipo de relação humana e social, construída a partir não somente da consolidação das sociedades capitalistas modernas, como igualmente da imposição de um padrão único de comportamento à sociedade — a mutação antropológica, como proposto por Pier Paolo Pasolini (1978, 1997). A pesquisa debruçou-se sobre o olhar Ecocrítico (GARRARD, 2006), despertado pela obra em questão, que sugere, a partir da Literatura (e da incorporação de outras áreas como a Sociologia, a Biologia, a Antropologia), o estudo da natureza, suas relações com a mulher e o homem e o refinamento da percepção acerca de questões ecológicas frágeis, captadas com mais afinco a partir da década de 1960 (PIGA; MANSANO, 2015), apesar de as mudanças de perspectiva sobre a sensibilidade em relação à natureza estarem em constante modificação principalmente desde o Iluminismo (THOMAS, 2010 [1983]). A esta pesquisa foram igualmente incorporados pressupostos da Ecosofia (GUATTARI, 2006 [1989]), que sugere um ressignificar de procedimentos e discursos hegemônicos advindos do sistema sócio-político-econômico capitalista. Para tanto, fez-se necessário, conjuntamente, compreender problemáticas concernentes à conjuntura ambiental do século XX e seu impacto sobre as classes menos favorecidas economicamente (BOFF, 1995), assim como assimilar os desdobramentos referentes ao ecologismo dos pobres (via econômica baseada na justiça social), preconizado por Joan Martínez Alier (2014 [2007]), tendo em vista a classe social à qual Marcovaldo pertence. Alicerçada nos princípios descritos, a esta pesquisa coube, portanto, analisar as interações de Marcovaldo e sua família com a natureza e suas possibilidades, suas modificações e incorporação a um efervescente mercado consumidor, com vistas a refletir sobre a crise ecológica (das três ecologias, conforme Guattari) e assinalar hipóteses de superação para a mesma, por meio da apologia de um convívio menos predatório do ser humano relativamente aos outros seres que ao seu lado coabitam na Terra.The present research proposed the analysis of all twenty short stories that compose the book Marcovaldo or the seasons in the city (2015 [1963]), by Italo Calvino. The analyses focused on the protagonist, Marcovaldo, an impoverished proletarian that finds himself in a continuous state of discomfort with the changes that occurred in the post-war social context, especially in Italy during the period of the economic miracle, which was driven by the end of protectionist measures in the economy (GINSBORG, 2003). In trying to break away from this scenario, seeking the genuine beauty of nature, Marcovaldo ends up experiencing situations that always lead him to a discontent that is inextricably linked to a new kind of human and social relationship, built not only on the consolidation of modern capitalist societies, but also on the imposition of a single standard of behavior on society – an anthropological mutation, as proposed by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1978, 1997). The research focused on the Ecocritical approach (GARRARD, 2006), awakened by the object, which suggests the study (incorporating references from areas such as Sociology, Biology and Anthropology to Literary Theory) of nature, its relationship with women and men, and the refining of perceptions about delicate ecological issues, captured more intensively since the 1960s (PIGA, MANSANO, 2015), although the changes in perspective on sensitivity to nature are constantly shifting, mainly since the Enlightenment (THOMAS, 2010 [1983]). This research also integrated the assumptions of Ecosophy (GUATTARI, 2006 [1989]), which suggests a re-signifying of hegemonic procedures and discourses derived from the capitalist socio-political-economic system. In order to do so, it was necessary, jointly, to understand issues related to the environmental context of the twentieth century and its impact on economically disadvantaged classes (BOFF, 1995), as well as to assimilate the consequences related to the environmentalism of the poor, advocated by Joan Martínez Alier (2014 [2007]), in view of the social class to which Marcovaldo belongs. Based on the principles described, this research therefore had to analyze the interactions of Marcovaldo and his family with nature and its possibilities, its modifications and assimilation into an effervescent consumer market, aiming to reflect on the ecological crisis (of the three ecologies, according to Guattari) and point out hypotheses of overcoming it, by means of the apology of a less predatory human conviviality in relation to the other beings that, with them, live on planet Earth.
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Makame, Makame Omar. "Vulnerability and adaptation of Zanzibar east coast communities to climate variability and change and other interacting stressors." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011895.
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Climate variability and change as well as sea level rise poses significant challenges to livelihoods, water and food security in small island developing states (SIDSs) including the Zanzibar Islands. Thus, without planned strategic adaptation, the future projected changes in climate and sea level will intensify the vulnerability of these sensitive areas. This thesis is based on research conducted in two sites located in the north eastern parts of each island, namely Kiuyu Mbuyuni, Pemba Island and Matemwe, Unguja Island. The research focused firstly on assessing the vulnerability of these two coastal communities to climate variability and change and other stressors. This included investigation of (1) the perceptions of fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers regarding climate stressors and shocks and associated risks and impacts, (2) existing and possible future water and food security issues, and (3) household's access to important livelihood assets. This was followed by an exploration of the coping and adaptive responses of farmers, fishers and seaweed farmers to perceived shocks and stresses and some of the barriers to these responses. Lastly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for achieving sustainable coastal livelihoods and a resilient coastal community was undertaken. The general picture that emerges is that local people along the east coasts of both islands are already vulnerable to a wide range of stressors. Although variability in rainfall is not a new phenomenon in these areas, increasing frequency of dry spells and coastal floods resulting from the influence of El Niño and La Niña events exert enormous pressures on local activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) which are the crux of the local economy. The main argument of the study is that the nature and characteristics of these activities are the main source of sensitivity amongst these communities and this creates high levels of vulnerability to climate shocks and trends. This vulnerability is evidenced by the reoccurrence of localised food shortages and the observed food and water insecurity. The study found that food insecurity is a result of unreliable rainfall, drought and seasonality changes. These interacted with other contextual factors such as poor soil, low purchasing power and the lack of livelihood diversification options. In addition to exposure to these almost unavoidable risks from climate variability, the vulnerability of the local communities along the east coasts is also influenced by the low level of capital stocks and limited access to the assets that are important for coping and adaptation. Despite this, some households managed to overcome barriers and adapt in various ways both within the three main livelihood sectors (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) as well as through adopting options outside these sectors resulting in diversification of the livelihood portfolio. However, the study found that most of the strategies opted for by fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers were mainly spontaneous. Few planned adaptation measures supported by state authorities were observed across the sites, with the exception of the provision of motorised boats which were specifically meant to increase physical assets amongst fishers, reduce pressure in the marine conservation areas and prevent overfishing in-shore. Furthermore, numerous strategies that people adopted were discontinued when further barriers were encountered. Interestingly, some of the barriers that prevented households adapting were the same ones that forced households that had responded to abandon their adaptations. To increase resilience amongst east coast communities to current and future predicted changes in climate and sea level, the study argues that traditional livelihood activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) need to be better supported, and access to a range of livelihood assets improved. This may be achieved through increased access to local sources of water and facilitation of rainwater harvesting, expanding the livelihood options available to people and increasing climate change awareness, and access to sources of credit.
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Bishop, G. M. "Aspects of the reproductive ecology of the sea urchin Echinus esculentus L." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1985. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.353043.
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Da, Silva Jack. "Ecological aspects of Eurasian badger social structure." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.252789.
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Lôbo, Déborah Fernandes Vieira. "Comportamento de escolha sob contingências de variação com diferentes custos da resposta." reponame:Repositório Institucional da UnB, 2012. http://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/10857.
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Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Psicologia, Departamento Departamento de Processos Psicológicos Básicos, 2012.Submitted by Gabriela Botelho (gabrielabotelho@bce.unb.br) on 2012-06-29T13:28:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_DéborahFernandesVieiraLôbo.pdf: 516441 bytes, checksum: 8fd02ca2b36bf3217ef62daf568595e4 (MD5)
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Diante da escolha entre variar e repetir sequências de respostas, humanos e não-humanos tendem a escolher a alternativa de repetição, principalmente quando a exigência de variação é muito rigorosa. Uma vez que critérios rigorosos de variação geram sequências com várias mudanças entre operanda, o que aumenta o custo do responder, é possível que as escolhas sejam influenciadas por essa variável. Assim, o presente estudo avaliou as escolhas sob contingências de variação a partir da manipulação direta do número de respostas de mudança. Estudantes universitários deveriam escolher entre emitir sequências com duas ou com cinco mudanças. No Experimento 1, além do critério de mudança, havia um critério de variação em vigor. Dessa forma, apenas sequências diferentes das cinco anteriores e que continham duas (VAR 2) ou cinco (VAR 5) respostas de mudança eram reforçadas. No Experimento 2, além do critério de mudança, estava em vigor um critério de repetição. Isto é, o reforço era contingente a uma única sequência com duas (REP 2) ou cinco (REP 5) respostas de mudança. Os participantes escolheram mais frequentemente a alternativa com o critério de duas mudanças, a despeito do contexto de variação e de repetição. Esses resultados sugerem que o custo da resposta pode atribuir propriedades aversivas às contingências de variação, afetando a escolha entre variar e repetir sequências. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT
When given a choice between varying and repeating response sequences, humans and nonhumans tend to choose the repeat alternative, mainly when the variation requirement is highly demanding. Considering that rigorous vary requirements generate sequences with several switches between operanda, leading to an increase in response cost, it is possible that choice between varying and repeating is influenced by that variable. Thus, the present study evaluated choice under variation contingencies on basis of the direct manipulation of the intra-sequence switching responses. College students had to choose between emitting sequences with two or five switches. In Experiment 1, in addition to the switching criterion, there was a variation criterion. Therefore, only sequences that differed from the previous five ones and that included two (VAR 2) or five (VAR 5) switches were reinforced. In Experiment 2, in addition to the switching criterion, a repetition criterion was in effect. That is, the reinforcer was contingent to a specific sequence with two (REP 2) or five (REP 5) switches. Most participants chose more often the alternative with the two-switch criterion in despite of the variation and repetition context. These results suggest that response cost may ascribe aversive properties to vary contingencies, thus affecting choice between varying and repeating response sequences.
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Rounsefell, Vanda Barbara. "From egocity to ecocity : an ecological, complex systems approach to humans and their settlements." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2001. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phr8595.pdf.
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Green, Brian E. "Sharing Water: A Human Ecological Analysis of the Causes of Conflict and Cooperation Between Nations Over Freshwater Resources." Connect to this title online, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1039201377.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2002.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 159 p. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Kazimierz M. Slomczynski, Dept. of Sociology. Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-159).
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Heydenrych, Joan Ingrid. "Certain congenital anomalies : some psycho-social implications in adulthood." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17157.
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Bibliography: pages 195-202.This study is an investigation of some psycho-social implications in adulthood of being born with a congenital anomaly. The congenital anomalies - oesophageal atresia, Hirschsprung's disease and high anorectal malformations are surgically corrected at birth, but can be associated with residual problems. These problems could put patients at risk for psycho-social maladjustment. The three anomaly groups were seen to represent varying degrees of severity. The oesophageal atresia respondents represented the no to mild disability/residual problems group. Those who had Hirschsprung's disease represented the moderate disability/residual problem group. The high anorectal malformation respondents' represented the severe disability/residual problem group. The research hypothesis is that the severity of residual problems and psycho-social functioning will be directly proportional to each other, i.e. the more severe the handicap, the poorer the psycho-social functioning. A research study was conducted on 38 adult patients whose congenital anomalies were surgically corrected at The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The research methods used were a descriptive survey method and a case-study method. The former involved three self-administered questionnaires. Information obtained concerned demographic, socio-economic, family background, medical and psycho-social problem data. An in-depth case-study was conducted with one respondent from each anomaly group. Information was obtained concerning the effect that residual problems had had on various aspects of patients' lives. Data was analysed descriptively. The findings of the study supported the research hypothesis, the medical prognosis and on the whole agreed with the literature. Severity of residual problems was found to be directly related to psycho-social functioning. Patients with severe disability/residual problems were experiencing the most psycho-social problems, those who had moderate disability/residual problems were found to have some psycho-social disability/residual problems, whereas those with mild disability/residual problems were found to have few or no psycho-social problems. Self-esteem, depression, interpersonal relationships and restricted social functioning were the psycho-social aspects found to be most affected by residual problems. The study revealed gaps in both medical and social work services for these patients in terms of ongoing follow-up services. Recommendation to improve these services have been proposed.
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Harding, S. P. "Aspects of the ecology and social organisation of the muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi)." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.371654.
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Van, Herwerden L. "Human recreational activity and its impact on a metropolitan coastline." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14356.
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Includes bibliography.Recreation has an important social function in modern societies, with ever-increasing pressures in the day-to-day life being felt by most people. This study addresses the impact of recreational activity on metropolitan shorelines, with particular reference to the False Bay shoreline. During summer holiday periods shoreline utilization in the Western Cape peaks on the public holidays of 26 December, 1 and 2 January, beach attendances reaching levels of 2 to 10 times higher than attendances on other days during the summer holidays. The greatest proportion of visitors to the beach (94%) engage in non-exploitative activities, such as sunbathing and swimming. Most visitors occur on the beaches between 12h00 and 16h00, week-ends being most popular during out-of-season periods, but in-season week day attendances exceed those of weekends. Only 6% of visitors surveyed were engaged in exploitative activities such as angling and bait- or food-gathering. Conservation awareness of visitors to the shore is related to the place of residence of the person, as well as activity engaged in by the person. Fish numbers and their size frequency distributions in protected areas differs to those of unprotected areas. If boulders on a sheltered shore are over-turned during bait gathering it has an adverse effect on the boulder communities, whether the boulders are replaced or left over-turned. When bait gatherers target on mussel-worms as bait, they may cause inadvertent damage to the primary matrix of mussel bed or tube-worm reef in the process, thereby affecting ecological succession processes in the intertidal environment. Management of metropolitan shorelines must therefore provide for quality recreational experiences, while applying conservation measures to selected areas that are susceptible to over-exploitation under the onslaught of ever-increasing numbers of recreationists. For such measures to be of any benefit to the marine environment, it is essential that people are not only informed, but that the regulations are also properly enforced.
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Harris, Regina Gray. "Social emanations: Toward a sociology of human olfaction." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5170/.
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Within the discipline of sociology human olfaction is rich with social significance yet remains a poorly charted frontier. Therefore, the following discourse is aimed toward the development of a foundation for the sociological study of olfaction. It is formed by the dual goals of unearthing the social history of olfaction and of providing a viable sociological account of the manner in which smells affect human ontology. From these goals arise the following research questions: (1) Have the meaning and social relevance of odors and the olfactory sensorium changed throughout different periods of history?; (2) How have those in the lineage of eminent sociological thinkers addressed the phenomenon of human olfaction during these periods?; and (3) What is the process by which aromatic stimuli are transformed from simple chemical compounds, drifting in the atmosphere, into sensations in a sensory field and then on to perceived objects, to subjects of judgment and interpretation, and finally to bases of knowledge which form and continually reform individuals in the world? The weaving of the sociohistorical tapestry of smell is undertaken to provide examples from thousands of years lived experiences as to the fluid and sociologically complex nature of individuals' olfactory senses. This historical information is presented in a narrative format and is synthesized from data gleaned from books, advertisements, articles in popular non-scientific magazines, as well as from the findings of studies published in medical/neurological, psychological, anthropological, and sociological scholarly journals. Regarding theoretical aim of this discourse, insights are drawn from Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological theory of human perception for the generation of a framework for the sociological study of olfaction. Merleau-Ponty's theoretical notions are modified, modernized, and refitted to more specifically fit the subject of human olfaction and to include all that has been discovered about the biological specifics of olfactory perception since the time of his writing. Taken in sum, this effort is an access point to the understanding of how olfactory sensory perceptions flow toward the ontological unfolding of individuals.
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KOHLER, Stefan. "Bargaining and human sociality : an experimental economic approach." Doctoral thesis, European University Institute, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1814/7015.
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Defence date: 5 February 2007Examining Board: Jordi Brandts, (Instituto de Análisis Económico (CSIC) ; Simon Gaechter, (University of Nottingham); Pascal Courty, (European University Institute); Karl Schlag, (European University Institute)
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digital archive of EUI PhD theses
This thesis adheres to the fundamental principle of maximizing behavior and equilibrium and shows how behavioral economic assumption of preferences, which go beyond self-interest, makes microeconomic theory applicable to a broad field of social behavior, where traditional models fail. All three thesis chapters are self contained but the thesis evolves from modelling social preferences and an analysis of their behavioral consequences in bargaining situations to an empirical test of their prevalence.
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Joanne, Pirie. "Human Being Leader." Licentiate thesis, Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hhs:diva-2286.
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De, Mendonça Philippe Gil. "Aspects of the social ecology of the yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.615613.
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Prather, Hannah Marie. "Examination of Human Impacts on the Biodiversity and Ecology of Lichen and Moss Communities." PDXScholar, 2017. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3615.
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Globally, more than half of the world's population is living in urban areas and it is well accepted that human activities (e.g. climate warming, pollution, landscape homogenization) pose a multitude of threats to ecosystems. Largely, human-related impacts on biodiversity will hold consequences for larger ecological processes and research looking into human impacts on sensitive epiphytic lichen and moss communities is an emerging area of research. While seemingly small, lichen and moss communities exist on nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on Earth and contribute to whole-system processes (e.g. hydrology, mineral cycling, food web energetics) worldwide. To further examine human impacts on epiphytic communities, I conducted three studies examining urbanization and climate warming effects on epiphytic lichen and moss biodiversity and ecology.
In the first study I revisited a historic urban lichen community study to assess how urban lichen communities have responded to regional air quality changes occurring over the last nearly two decades. I further investigated, for the first time, the biodiversity of urban tree canopy-dwelling lichen communities in a native coniferous tree species, Pseudotsuga menziesii. I found that urban parks and forested areas harbor a species rich community of lichens epiphytes. Further, I found evidence for the distinct homogenization of urban epiphytic lichen communities, suggesting that expanding beyond simplistic measures of biodiversity to consider community composition and functional biodiversity may be necessary when assessing the ecology and potential ecosystem services of epiphyte communites within urbanizing landscapes.
Next, I present the first tall tree canopy study across a regional gradient of urbanization near Portland, Oregon, USA. I found that tall tree canopy epiphyte communities change dramatically along gradients of increasing urbanization, most notably by the transitioning of species functional groups from sensitive, oligotrophic species to a dominance of urban-tolerant, eutrophic species. The implications these dramatic shifts in species composition have on essential PNW ecosystem processes, like N-fixation and canopy microclimate regulation, is still not well understood and is difficult to formally evaluate. However, I find strong evidence that native conifer trees in urban areas may provide a diversity of essential ecosystem services, including providing stratified habitat for epiphyte communities and their associated micro arthropod communities and the scavenging of atmospherically deposited nutrients. Future work is needed to understand how losses in canopy N fixation and species with large biomass (both lichens and bryophytes) will affect nutrient and hydrologic cycling in the PNW region, which continue to undergo rapid growth and urbanization.
The final chapter investigates the impacts of passive warming by Open Top Chambers (OTCs) in moss-dominated ecosystems located on the Western Antarctic Peninsula, an area of increasing climate warming. I compared species-specific temperature effects, moss canopy morphology, sexual reproductive effort and invertebrate communities between OTC and control moss communities for two moss species, Polytrichastrum alpinum and Sanionia uncinata, that make up over 65% of the terrestrial vegetative cover in the area. I found distinct reproductive shifts in P. alpinum under passive warming compared to controls. Moss communities under warming also had substantially larger total invertebrate communities than those in control moss communities, and invertebrate communities were significantly affected by moss species and moss reproductive effort. Further, substantial species-specific thermal differences among contiguous patches of these dominant moss species were revealed. These results suggest that continued warming will differentially impact the reproductive output of Antarctic moss species and is likely to dramatically alter terrestrial ecosystems dynamics from the bottom up.
This combined work provides a diverse contribution to the field of epiphyte ecology and biology by providing new insights on how human impacts will affect epiphyte lichen and moss communities across diverse ecosystems, in light of a rapidly changing planet.
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Veak, Tyler J. (Tyler James). "Entering the Circle: The Only Viable Hermeneutic for a Biblical Response to Ecocrisis." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1997. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277659/.
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A paradox exists in attempting to resolve ecocrisis: awareness of ecological concerns is growing, but the crisis continues to escalate. John Firor, a well-known scientist, suggests that to resolve the paradox and hence ecocrisis, we need an alternative definition of "human beingness"--that is, a human ontology.
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Johnson, Susan C. "Social, legal and ethical aspects of human genetic modification and selection." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.404051.
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Tse, Wai Shing. "The role of noradrenaline in different aspects of human social behaviour." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.272325.
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RIVA, FEDERICA. "Neural correlates of human action perception: motor, semantic and social aspects." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10281/46284.
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In the last decades, human action processing has been the research focus of a series of studies aimed at investigating the brain mechanisms underlying this complex process. Converging neurophysiological and functional neuroimaging literature suggested that human actions processing is associated with a large scale network involving areas within the temporal, parietal and frontal cortices. Against the amount of literature available on the localization of these areas, the temporal course of their activations is poorly understood.
The purpose of the present project was to explore the temporal dynamics associated with human action perception investigating the neural responses to different aspects of human behavior by means of a series of high-density electrophysiological recording experiments combined with source localization methods.
Specifically, the motor (Chapter 1), the semantic (Chapter 2) and the social (Chapter 3) aspects were investigated.
Results highlighted a crucial role of the social/affective content, revealing a very early recognition (at 170 ms) operated by the temporal and limbic areas, of this aspect of the human behavior. Starting from 250 ms the processing of the different aspects occurs temporally aligned, involving firstly the mid-superior temporal sulcus (STS) and subsequently the fronto-parietal mirror (hMNS) circuit. Evidence from the source localization analysis suggested also a later involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), associated with mentalizing process.
A deepening of the social content of actions was then performed (Chapter 4). Specifically, the modulation of the neural response to particular social actions, that is the communicative actions, caused by the different role held by the observer was investigated using fMRI. Activations in the brain circuits associated with action perception, namely the STS, the hMNS and the mPFC, were recorded only when participants were the addressees of the communicative actions, clearly indicating the importance of social involvement in processing human actions.
All in all, the present results point toward a complex interplay of different brain networks to process in parallel distinct aspects of the human behavior in order to ensure a rapid and effective comprehension of the surrounding social environment. The prominent role of the social aspect in human action perception is also supported by the clear result of the prevalence of the affective/social content on the others.
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Wakjira, Dereje Tadesse. "Governance of social-ecological systems in an Afromontane forest of southeast Ethiopia : exploring interactions between systems." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2013. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=205392.
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Adaptive governance is increasingly regarded as necessary to improve the resilience of social-ecological systems. However, empirical studies of social-ecological systems are scarce, especially in relation to multiple-use forest systems. This thesis draws on a study of an Afromontane forest in southeast Ethiopia that has been used by humans through history, and explores mechanisms of interactions between social and resource systems and their influences on the overall social-ecological system. The thesis analyses the role of local-level institutions in this social-ecological system, their changes over time, their function as channels of access to forest products for local people and their influence on the forest system resulting from people's patterns of forest use. I use an interdisciplinary approach, considering local governance institutions (Chapters 2 & 3), forest-based livelihoods (chapter 4) and forest system (Chapter 5) as components of social-ecological systems. Chapter 2 analyses institutional change over time in order to understand mechanisms by which local forest use has been coordinated in dynamic political and socio-economic contexts. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that combining elements from both informal and formal institutions allowed traditional rules to persist for decades in the guise of more formal arrangements. However, large-scale governance changes constrained the adaptive capacity of local institutions by abolishing fora for collective decision-making. Chapter 3 builds on these findings. It examines the roles of elders, i.e., key actors in the communities, and the structure of their networks in order to understand mechanisms by which informal institutions were coordinated across study villages in the absence of fora for collective decision-making. Key informant in-depth interviews were used to explore the roles of elders in local governance. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted with elders to identify social networks. Findings suggest that prominent elders resident in different Kebeles were connected by layers of informal networks through which they exchanged opinions and knowledge. These networks were not centralised and were to some degree redundant, as the same roles were preformed by more than one elder in each community, which contributed to the persistence of informal institutions. These informal networks created a power that helped local people to undermine some of the formal rules and to continue using the forest for their livelihoods under informal governance arrangements. Chapter 4 investigates households' access to forest-based livelihoods as coordinated by informal institutions. To examine the relationships between households' endowments with assets and their use of forest products, a questionnaire survey was administered to the selected households resident in seven of the eight villages (Kebeles) bordering the Harenna forest. The results showed that 86% of households benefited from the forest directly by using one or more of the three non-timber forest products (NTFPs) considered; coffee, beekeeping and livestock grazing. Furthermore, there was no strong evidence that ownership of specific assets explained the difference between those households who used NTFPs and those who did not. However, asset-rich households tended to own larger areas of coffee land and to use multiple forest products compared to asset-poor households. In conclusion, future management approaches should be mindful of the effect that a formalisation of de facto forest use could have on widening the gap between asset-poor and asset-rich households. Chapter 5 reports the ecological legacy of different forest use practices. To assess the vegetation structure and composition of the forest under four different coffee management systems which evolved in the past 50 years, measurements of woody plants were taken from 202 nested plots. The results of the study provide an indication of how well each of the four coffee systems affects structure and composition of the forest. The study highlights the importance of adapting institutions to retain the patchy distribution of the different coffee systems in order to encourage forest dynamics at a landscape level. Together, the findings of the four studies identify the mechanisms by which interventions that specifically target either only forest ecosystems or social systems may undermine the sustainability of social-ecological systems. This emphasises the importance of autonomous local institutions to facilitate adaptive governance within broadly agreed goals, as rigid governance arrangements constrain the resilience of social-ecological systems.
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Björkman, Barbro. "Ethical aspects of owning human biological material." Licentiate thesis, KTH, Philosophy and History of Technology, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-610.
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Hicks, Ashley A. "Community Capacity for Positive Human Development: The Role of Social Service Agencies." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306516714.
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Meiçó, Cristiane de Abreu. "Caracterização dos atores presentes no contexto de implementação da APA do Pouso Alto-GO : descrição de seus valores e do capital social." reponame:Repositório Institucional da UnB, 2006. http://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/2443.
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Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 2006.Submitted by Diogo Trindade Fóis (diogo_fois@hotmail.com) on 2009-11-03T10:16:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane de Abreu Meico.pdf: 15266712 bytes, checksum: e4f0170e9021e9fc0d2209519b4bca98 (MD5)
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A partir de Schwartz (1992), Woolcock (1998), Narayan e Cassidy (2001), este trabalho evidenciou as relações existentes entre os valores e o capital social presentes no cenário de implementação da APA do Pouso Alto - GO. A descrição dos sujeitos presentes neste contexto permitiu visualizar as dinâmicas de conflito e compatibilidade de valores descritas por Schwartz (1992), bem como a influência destas relações sobre a força do capital social. A amostra contou com 45 sujeitos selecionados conforme o seu grau de representatividade da comunidade e o seu grau de participação durante o processo de implementação da APA. Foram realizadas entrevistas compostas pela aplicação oral da versão reduzida do Inventário de Valores de Schwartz (2004), o PQ 21 (Tamayo, no prelo), e pela aplicação de um questionário relacionado aos determinantes, dimensões e conseqüências do capital social. Os resultados mostraram que os valores priorizados pela amostra e pelos propósitos da APA são condizentes, porém contrários àqueles priorizados pelas estratégias utilizadas durante a implementação desta unidade de conservação, o que explica os conflitos observados. Os resultados também mostraram que tais conflitos prejudicaram a formação de relações de confiança, entre os responsáveis pela implementação desta unidade de conservação e a população local. Além disso, provocaram nesta população a sensação de desrespeito e injustiça, bem como a falta de engajamento com a implementação dessa unidade de conservação. Os dados evidenciaram a estreita relação entre os valores e o capital social e, com isso, a importância dos gestores ambientais trabalharem de maneira multi e interdisciplinar. Evidenciaram ainda a necessidade de continuar a validação do PQ 21 para amostras de baixa escolaridade do meio rural, de ampliar o tamanho da amostra e de validar o Inventário de Narayan e Cassidy (2001) ou mesmo elaborar uma escala que permita mensurar o capital social. __________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT
Considering Schwartz (1992), Woolcock (1998), Narayan and Cassidy (2001) and taking the implementation of APA do Pouso Alto context as a reference, this work has evidenced the value and social capital relationship. The people description has allowed visualize the values conflict and compatibility dynamics as an influence of these relations upon social capital strength. The sample has had 45 people selected as their community degree of representativiness and their degree of process participation. Has been made interviews compounded by oral application of the reduced version of the Schwartz Values Inventory (2004), the PQ 21 (Tamayo, not yet published), and the application of questions about social capital determinant, dimension and outcome. The results have shown that the sample and APA values are compatible but opposite of those emphaticaled by the strategies used during the APA implementation process. This fact had explained the observed conflict. The results also have shown that these conflict have injured the establishment of trust relationship among people accountable for the APA implementation and the local population. Besides, they have provoked the sensation of disrespect and of injustice so as the deficiency of engagement with the process. Data proved the strong relationship between values and social capital and so the importance of environment stakeholders develop an inter and multidisciplinary work. Also proved the necessity of continue the PQ 21 validation and start this process wih Narayan & Cassidy’s Social Capital Inventory (2001) or at least develop an inventory for this concept measurement.
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Scharper, Stephen B. "The Role of the Human in Christian Ecological Literature." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ37021.pdf.
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Zhang, Huiqi. "Socioscope: Human Relationship and Behavior Analysis in Mobile Social Networks." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2010. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30533/.
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The widely used mobile phone, as well as its related technologies had opened opportunities for a complete change on how people interact and build relationship across geographic and time considerations. The convenience of instant communication by mobile phones that broke the barrier of space and time is evidently the key motivational point on why such technologies so important in people's life and daily activities. Mobile phones have become the most popular communication tools. Mobile phone technology is apparently changing our relationship to each other in our work and lives. The impact of new technologies on people's lives in social spaces gives us the chance to rethink the possibilities of technologies in social interaction. Accordingly, mobile phones are basically changing social relations in ways that are intricate to measure with any precision. In this dissertation I propose a socioscope model for social network, relationship and human behavior analysis based on mobile phone call detail records. Because of the diversities and complexities of human social behavior, one technique cannot detect different features of human social behaviors. Therefore I use multiple probability and statistical methods for quantifying social groups, relationships and communication patterns, for predicting social tie strengths and for detecting human behavior changes and unusual consumption events. I propose a new reciprocity index to measure the level of reciprocity between users and their communication partners. The experimental results show that this approach is effective. Among other applications, this work is useful for homeland security, detection of unwanted calls (e.g., spam), telecommunication presence, and marketing. In my future work I plan to analyze and study the social network dynamics and evolution.
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Jochum, Kim A. "Applying a social-ecological systems approach to human-bear encounters across the Pacific Rim| Advancing resilient human-wildlife management strategies." Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3640326.
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Wildlife management is challenged with addressing human resource needs while simultaneously conserving wildlife populations. Conflicts between humans and wildlife have increased across Northern countries with the expansion of human communities and environmental changes. Lack of information exists about reasons for such occurrences. This study explores adaptive capacity and resilience in coupled human-wildlife systems through the analysis of social and ecological factors contributing to perceptions of negative and positive human-bear ( Ursus spp.) encounters. I first developed a theory to evaluate human perceptions and behaviors during human-wildlife encounters. Secondly I adopted an interdisciplinary framework to analyze human-bear encounters in urbanizing regions of south Sakhalin Island, Russian Far-East, and southcentral Alaska, USA. These case studies facilitate an analysis of perception development across spatial and social scales while incorporating approaches of both social and ecological sciences. Hunting, tourism and overall anthropogenic impacts are central to bear management, whereas cultural and social interests are perceived to not be considered in bear management decision-making across study regions. In Alaska, political interests are prevalent in bear management, whereas on Sakhalin, economic interests, including illegal animal trade and poaching prevail. Across study regions the perception of an encounter with a bear was dependent on the socio-economic situation of the individual having the encounter. The higher a person's socio-economic status was, the higher was their probability to perceive bear encounters as positive. Further, spatial and social scales across which perceptions vary are identified. Scales include urban-non-urban areas, wildland-urban interfaces, and a recreation-subsistence interest divide. Outside of urban areas, people's interests in recreation versus subsistence affect their perceptions toward bear encounters. Subsistence collectors of fish, game or plants are more likely to have negative encounters. Within urban areas, increased experience with encountering bears and length of residency are associated with positive encounters, whereas closeness to residences while not in sheltered environments increases negative encounters. These findings constitute spatial and social barriers and benefits to individualistic perception formation during human-bear encounters. Their identification advances resilience in researched human-wildlife systems and helps us to understand the adaptive capacities within these communities. The successful spatially-explicit integration of social and ecological variables promotes the opportunities for integrating human dimensions in wildlife management.
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Ge, Shuai. "The mass collaboration of human flesh search in China." Thesis, University of Macau, 2011. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b2525506.
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Shearer, Megan Marie. "Tibetan Buddhism and the environment: A case study of environmental sensitivity among Tibetan environmental professionals in Dharamsala, India." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2005. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2904.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate environmental sensitivity among environmental professionals in a culture that is assumed to hold an ecocentric perspective. Nine Tibetan Buddhist environmental professionals were surveyed in this study. Based on an Environmental Sensitivity Profile Insytrument, an environmental sensitivity profile for a Tibetan Buddhist environmental professional was created from the participants demographic and interview data. The most frequently defined vaqriables were environmental destruction/development, education and role models.
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Shaw, Sylvie. "Wild at heart : creating relationship with nature." Monash University, School of Political and Social Inquiry, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/7963.
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Zara, Hilda Maria Anna. "People-environment relationships in the context of informal settlements : the case of the communities of El Naranjal in Caracas, Venezuela." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2015. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.659129.
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This qualitative case study aims to provide an understanding of people-environment relationships in El Naranjal, an expanding informal settlement in Caracas, Venezuela, against a backdrop of an episode of exceptionally intense rainfall that affected the north of the country in 2010. It is argued that the vulnerability of informal settlements to environmental risks such as weather-related events is shaped not only by the socio-economic particularities of the context in which these emerge, but also by the ways in which the inhabitants of these settlements experience, conceive and relate to their local environment. People-environment relationships are understood as multiple, complex and contextual, where environment comprises the physical, interpersonal, social and cultural aspects of the context that people interact with. The study demonstrates that an in-depth understanding of these relationships can be gained through exploring residents' experiences of place and communities in El Naranjal. Over a fieldwork period of eight months, data were gathered using in-depth and walking interviews, participant observation and group activities. Environment and environmental risks such as the impacts of rainfall were understood, experienced and related to differently by individuals with diverse needs and agendas. Residents' diverse experiences and responses are shaped by pre-existing issues of rapid irregular land occupation, socio-spatial segregation, poor infrastructure, lack of participation and government support within the communities of El Naranjal. This underlines some of the gaps between national policy-making on environmental, land tenure, risk management and community participation matters and residents' understandings and experiences of issues of their places and communities. Thus, this study emphasises the need to approach environmental risks as adding to, and amplifying the complex issues that residents of informal settlements deal with locally on a day-to-day basis. In doing so, it challenges views of informal settlement communities as homogeneous, illegal and paralysed by poverty. Instead, it highlights their central role in the making of cities, as well as their heterogeneity and capacity to innovate in the face of mounting risks.
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Byars, Lise Elsu. "Conceptualizing Vulnerability: The Impact, Meaning and Human Response to Social Catastrophe." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1242235185.
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Victorin, Karin. "Practically Human. : Performing Social Robots and Feminist Aspects on Agency, Body and Gender." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Tema Genus, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-158230.
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Through an experimental theatre play, this thesis explores the development of human-like agency in contemporary “social robot” technology. The entrance point of this study is the gender gap and lack of diversity in contemporary AI/robot development, with an emerging need for interdisciplinary research across robot technology and social sciences. Using feminist technoscience and critical posthumanism as the theoretical framework, this research involves an analysis of a particular social robot case, currently being developed at Furhat Robotics in Stockholm. Inspired by Judy Wajcman (2004), I analyze how socially intelligent machines impact perceptions of human agency, body, gender, and identity within cultural contexts and through interaction. The first part of the empirical research is carried out in the robot-lab. The robot is then, in the second part, invited to perform as an actor in a theatre play. Entangled amidst the other players and audience members, a queered agency starts to reveal itself through human-machine “intra-action” and embodiment (Barad 2003). Human-like agency in machines is shown to be a complex matter, drawing the conclusion that human-beings are vulnerable to a myriad of entanglements and preconceptions that artificial intelligence potentially embodies.
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Weiss, Shelby A. "Social and Ecological Aspects of Managing Wildlife in Fire-dependent Forested Ecosystems." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1498039608388317.
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Zignani, M. "FROM SMALL-WORLDS TO BIG DATA:TEMPORAL AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN NETWORKS." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/233322.
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In this thesis we address the close interplay among mobility, offline relationships and online interactions and the related human networks at different dimensional scales and temporal granularities. By generally adopting a data-driven approach, we move from small datasets about physical interactions mediated by human-carried devices, describing small social realities, to large-scale graphs that evolve over time, as well as from human mobility trajectories to face-to-face contacts occurring in different geographical contexts.
We explore in depth the relation between human mobility and the social structure induced by the overlapping of different people's trajectories on GPS traces collected in urban and metropolitan areas. We define the notions of geo-location and geo-community which are operational in describing in a unique framework both spatial and social aspects of human behavior. Through the concept of geo-community we model the human mobility adopting a bipartite graph. Thanks to this graph representation we can generate a social structure that is plausible w.r.t. the real interactions. In general the modeling approach have the merit for reporting the mobility in a graph-theoretic framework making the study of the interplay mobility/sociality more affordable and intuitive.
Our modeling approach also results in a mobility model, Geo-CoMM, which lies on and exploits the idea of geo-community. The model represents a particular instance of a general framework we provide. A framework where the social structure behind the preferred-location based mobility models emerges. We validate Geo-CoMM on spatial, temporal, pairwise connectivity and social features showing that it reproduces the main statistical properties observed in real traces.
As concerns the offline/online interplay we provide a complete overview of the close connection between online and offline sociality. To reach our goal we gather data about offline contacts and social interactions on Facebook of a group of students and we propose a multidimensional network analysis which allows us to deeply understand how the characteristics of users in the distinct networks impact each other. Results show how offline and Facebook friends are different. This way we confirm and worsen the general intuition that online social networks have shifted away from their original goal to mirror the offline sociality of individuals. As for the role and the social importance, it becomes apparent that social features such as user popularity or community structure do not transfer along social dimensions, as confirmed by our correlation analysis of the network layers and by the comparison among the communities.
In the last chapters we analyze the evolution of the online social network from a physical time perspective, i.e. considering the graph evolution as a graph time-series and not as a function of the network basic properties (number of nodes or links).
As for the physical time in a user-centric viewpoint, we investigate the bursty nature of the link creation process in online social network. We prove not only that it is a highly inhomogeneous process, but also identify patterns of burstiness common to all nodes. Then we focus on the dynamic formation of two fundamental network building components: dyads and triads. We propose two new metrics to aid the temporal analysis on physical time: link creation delay and triangle closure delay. These two metrics enable us to study the dynamic creation of dyads and triads, and to highlight network behavior that would otherwise remain hidden. In our analysis, we find that link delays are generally very low in absolute time and are largely independent of the dates people join the network. To highlight the social nature of this metric, we introduce the term \textit{peerness} to quantify how well linked users overlap in lifetimes. As for triadic closure delay we first introduce an algorithm to extract of temporal triangle which enables us to monitor the triangle formation process, and to detect sudden changes in the triangle formation behavior, possibly related to external events. In particular, we show that the introduction of new service functionalities had a disruptive impact on the triangle creation process in the network.
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Prest, Janalyn. "O' the tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to conceive : navigating the online commodification, distribution, and consumption of donor sperm." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31133.
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Much of the public debate surrounding new technologies and techniques in assisted reproductive technology (ART) is caught up in the speculative nature of imagined futures of 'science-fictive' proportions. This thesis, by contrast, examines a 'naturalized' ART donor insemination, discussing the manner in which couples (and occasionally single women) construct distributive and kinship networks as they move through the processes of fertility treatment and the selection of donor sperm.This thesis follows a marketing trail for sperm from scientific journal, to the web, to conference floor. In doing so it examines and contrasts the information that is offered by companies distributing donor sperm and drawn upon by those making selective choices. It argues that the process of donor gamete selection---as mediated by Internet technologies---is characterized by a juxtapositioning of two trends: 'eugenic' promise, and expansion kinship networks based on 'like kinds'. This paper strives to explore these desires, beliefs and motivations at play in the commodification, distribution and consumption observed in the online marketing and sale of gametes.
This thesis contributes to the body of anthropological theorizing on gifting and commodification, and kinship, by arguing that donor sperm---in the context of current exchange practices---challenges a dichotomous categorization of gift/commodity, and is best understood as a hybrid item of exchange. Following Appadurai, the commodity candidacy of donor sperm, and the context of its commodification is explored, noting the manner in which kinship networks are extended and negotiated in the process.
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Swofford, Jacqueline Victoria. "Social and Human Capital: Contributing Effects of Incarceration on Neighborhoods." PDXScholar, 2011. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/261.
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Interest in human and social capital's contribution to the desistence of crime is increasingly popular amongst criminologists, economists and policy makers. However, little attention has been drawn to the influence human and social capital indicators contribute towards the relationship between the re-entry process and juvenile crime at the neighborhood level. The current study hypothesizes the existence of a mediating relationship between human and social capital indicators (2000) and the rates of receiving formerly incarcerated persons (1997-2002) and juvenile arrest (2006-08) in 92 Portland, Oregon neighborhoods. Portland, Oregon receives more formerly incarcerated persons from Oregon's state correctional facilities than any other city or county in Oregon. Using neighborhood rates of residents with house-hold income above 50K, high school graduation, and annual income type: retired or government assistance, as proxies for human capital measures and neighborhood rates of residents employed by non-profit organizations, number of churches, and self-employment as proxies for social capital measures, OLS regression and bivariate correlations tested for a mediating effect between human and social capital on rates of re-entry and juvenile arrest rates. Findings indicate neighborhoods with increased rates of returnees have higher rates of juvenile delinquency. In addition, mediating human and social capital indicators affect the direct relationship between re-entry and juvenile crime: neighborhoods with more residents receiving retirement income, higher percent of self-employed residents, non-profit employees, or higher rates of residents earning income above 50K had lower rates of returnees in their communities. Greater rates of Portland neighborhoods which house residents with high proportions of house-hold incomes above 50K per year see increases in the rate of juvenile crime. Rates of neighborhood churches showed a positive correlation with on both rates of returnees and juvenile crime; obtaining a high school diploma was also associated with increased returnee rates and juvenile crime. Neighborhoods with more residents who are self-employed or employed by non-profit organizations had reduced rates of returnees and juvenile crime. Future research and recommendations are discussed to examine the impact of these findings on neighborhoods with formerly incarcerated persons, levels of human and social capital and juvenile crime in Portland, Oregon.
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Poon, Sze-chung, and 潘思璁. "Socialisation of international human rights norms in the context of China's modernisation." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/198815.
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This thesis is about understanding the dynamics involved in the socialisation of international human rights norms. It examines the process within an analytical framework of transnational advocacy networks, the spiral model, in the context of China’s modernisation. Existing literature points to China’s economic power and potential political influence on the international arena and the Chinese state’s authoritarian regime domestically in explaining the limited achievements transnational advocacy networks have had in inducing human rights changes in China. This thesis responds with a novel perspective constructed in three steps by examining: 1) the relationship between China’s identity and political legitimacy since the beginning of China’s modernisation in the 1840s; 2) how China’s modernisation drive impacts the development of its domestic civil society; 3) the potential of human rights INGOs in inducing human rights changes with case studies of the Dui Hua Foundation and the Rights Practice. It is found that under this novel perspective, the Chinese state’s authority has been limited by rising social problems, which threaten the state’s political legitimacy to rule. Chinese civil society actors play an important role in producing solutions to these social problems, convincing the state to further relax its control. Human rights INGOs contribute to this relationship through strengthening Chinese civil society actors’ capacity in solving social problems and monitoring official institutions, while also informing government officials about reforms that could make domestic practices more compatible to international human rights norms. In this vein, despite the fact that international human rights norms have been altered by China’s power, they remain influential on China’s behaviour by the careful alignment of the human rights work of transnational advocacy networks to suit China’s interest to political legitimacy. This thesis confirms and strengthens the spiral model as a framework to understand the socialisation of international human rights norms. This thesis contributes to understanding the power of international human rights norms, i.e. the extent to which they influence the behaviour and practices of states, as well as the role of transnational advocacy networks in situations where human rights violations persist.published_or_final_version
Modern Languages and Cultures
Master
Master of Philosophy
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Zhou, Feifei, and 周菲菲. "System, order, creativity : models of the human in twentieth-century linguistic theories." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/202354.
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Marangudakis, Manussos. "Nature and power : a study of the social construction of nature in Eurasia from the Stone Age to the Hellenistic times." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/NQ64615.pdf.
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Millet, Stephen. "Divergence and disagreement in contemporary anarchist communism : social ecology and anarchist primitivism." Thesis, University of Central Lancashire, 2002. http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/1749/.
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The strand of Nineteenth-Century Anarchism known as Anarchist-Communism conceived of the abolition of both state and market, and their replacement by a system of free distribution of goods organized through federated communes. While briefly this was the most developed and sophisticated strand of anarchism, it suffered an eclipse in the face of both the failure of the Russian Revolution, and the rise of the essentially a-theoretical industrial syndicalism that blossomed in many countries during the early decades of the twentieth century. With the expansion of the state and capitalism after WWII new forms of contestation appeared, most notably, in terms of Anarchist Communist theory, in the United States. In the 1960s and 1970s two currents emerged which represented the first significant development in anarchist communist theory for fifty years. These were the Social Ecology of Murray Bookchin, and a current which grew up around the Detroit underground paper Fifth Estate, later known as "Anarchist Primitivism". It is these two strands that are the subject of this research. Not surprisingly these two perspectives, appearing around a decade apart, and both in the same country, dealt with many of the same issues. What is more surprising is that in virtually every area, the conclusions they arrive at are completely different. In this research I locate these two strands historically as developments of Anarchist Communist theory, and examine their theories in four key areas: The Primitive, History, Reason and Rationality, and Technology. Examination of these areas serves to define the projects themselves, as well as highlighting how they disagree. To explain why they disagree, this work uses a methodological approach suggested Quentin Skinner. Skinner argued that in order to fully understand a text in the history of ideas, it is necessary to understand the author's intention in writing it. The study therefore examines not only the texts, but also the backgrounds of the writers concerned, their aims in producing it, and their approaches to debate with other theorists and perspectives. Through a combination of textual analysis and recovering the intentions of the writers, the high levels of disagreement can be accounted for.
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Sepinwall, Amy J. "Determining parental obligations to unborn children using a social contract theory." Thesis, McGill University, 1999. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=30114.
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I use a brand of social contract theory derived from David Gauthier to delimit precisely what might be permissible in the methods of conception and gestation of a child. More specifically, Gauthier posits a rule that is supposed to govern behavior among individuals prior to but in anticipation of the rise of social interaction. I argue that this rule can be appropriately applied to the interactions between a parent and her unborn child. I review other social contract models in an effort to show that Gauthier's is preferable to these. I also address other accounts concerned with parental obligations to the unborn, to see how these fare against Gauthier's. I conclude that, because of its breadth of applicability, as well as its plausibility, Gauthier's model is a powerful force for guiding us through these issues.
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Clark, Brett. "Metabolic rift : toward a sociology of ecological crisis /." view abstract or download file of text, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1283959611&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=11238&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006.Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-257). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.
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Manternach, Dean P. "The contributions of Catholic social teaching toward a global ethic of sustainable development, 1978-1992." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1993. http://www.tren.com.
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Goins, Jeffrey P. (Jeffrey Paul). "Expendable Creation: Classical Pentecostalism and Environmental Disregard." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1997. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278335/.
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Whereas the ecological crisis has elicited a response from many quarters of American Christianity, classical (or denominational) Pentecostals have expressed almost no concern about environmental problems. The reasons for their disregard of the environment lie in the Pentecostal worldview which finds expression in their: (1) tradition; (2) view of human and natural history; (3) common theological beliefs; and (4) scriptural interpretation. All these aspects of Pentecostalism emphasize and value the supernatural--conversely viewing nature as subordinate, dependent and temporary. Therefore, the ecocrisis is not problematic because, for Pentecostals, the natural environment is: of only relative value; must serve the divine plan; and will soon be destroyed and replaced. Furthermore, Pentecostals are likely to continue their environmental disregard, since the supernaturalism which spawns it is key to Pentecostal identity.
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Gilleland, Amanda H. "Human-Wildlife Conflict Across Urbanization Gradients: Spatial, Social, and Ecological Factors." Scholar Commons, 2010. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3489.
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As suburban and exurban residential developments continue to multiply in urban areas, they encroach on wildlife habitats leading to increased human-wildlife interactions. The animals involved in direct conflict with homeowners are often relocated or exterminated by the homeowners. Often the homeowners contact state licensed wildlife trappers to eliminate the problem animal. In this study I examined how landscape, ecological, and social factors influence the incidence of human-wildlife conflict of thirty two residential areas in the Tampa, Florida metropolitan area. These residential areas, totaling over 300 km2, are part of the urban development gradient representing a range of urban land use from the urban core to exurban residential areas. This study consisted of four phases. In the first three phases, I investigated which landscape, ecological, and social factors contribute to homeowner conflict with wild animals on their property. In the last phase, I combine the significant factors contributing to human-wildlife conflict from the first three phases to build a more complete model.
A spatial analysis of the locations of human-wildlife conflict events recorded by licensed wildlife trappers showed the most significant development and landscape factors affecting human-wildlife conflict reporting in a residential area were human population density and total area of natural habitat immediately adjacent to the residential area. A survey of the relative abundance of conflict prone animals living near and in remnant patches of habitat in suburban residential areas revealed that greater abundance was not correlated with the reported conflict of that species within that residential area. Species that were social, omnivorous, and had some flexibility in home range size were involved most often in conflict in highly urbanized environments. Species that were less social, and were not omnivorous, were not significantly involved in human-wildlife conflict in highly urbanized residential areas. These species tended to be restricted to intermediately urbanized areas like suburban and exurban residential areas.
Several social factors were also significant contributors to human-wildlife conflict as revealed through personal interviews with suburban homeowners in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Interviews confirmed that most people have positive attitudes toward wildlife, but some form of conflict was reported by thirty four percent of suburban residents, although only seventeen percent of those perceived it as a problem worth spending money to solve. Analysis of the attitudes of residents who reported having experienced problems associated with wildlife on their property, revealed significant negative correlations with statements of environmental concern and concern for the treatment of animals.
Using all the significant variables from the physical landscape, ecological evaluation, and the human attitude study in the suburbs, I developed a statistical model of human-wildlife conflict across the urbanization gradient. While the model has marginal success in terms of practical application for prediction, it is quite valuable for defining the importance of these variables in relation to conflict with certain types of species across the gradient. This set of papers collectively defines relationships between variables existing in urban, suburban, and exurban residential areas and human-wildlife conflict. These factors should be considered when planning new residential areas to minimize human-wildlife conflict while maximizing the residents’ enjoyment of natural areas and species within the residential area.