Essays on African Rural Development and Environmental and Natural Resource Policy

My dissertation consists of three essays in development economics and empirical microeconomics.The first essay investigates food security in sub-Saharan Africa and spending in agricultural research and development. A two-stage stochastic frontier analysis is carried out, and deviation from the frontier used as a proxy for inefficiency is regressed against country-specific characteristics in the second stage estimation. Countries with abundant natural resources in which the majority of people live in rural areas tend to be associated with food insecurity based on the prevalence of undernourishment and the depth of food deficit. However, when using the average value of food production and the average dietary energy supply adequacy as measures of food insecurity, resource-rich countries as well as the proportion of people living in rural areas tend to be positively associated with food security.The second essay studies the factors that affect government assistance to agriculture by specifically focusing on the African rural sector. Through policy indicators such as the relative rate of assistance to agriculture, the cash food bias index, and the World Bank trade bias index (from 1955 to 2011), a fixed effect econometric modeling analysis is carried out in order to determine how a country�s GDP, rural population share, arable land share, natural resource endowment, and location explain the assistance government provides to agriculture. Results reveal a negative correlation between a country�s rural population share and the level of government assistance provided to agriculture. Governments of resource-rich countries, however, adopt policies that favor agriculture when rural population is above 57 per cent.The third essay examines the determinants of households� adoption of water conservation practices for indoor and outdoor uses in Oklahoma City. Using a unique dataset that combines actual household consumption data and county assessor�s data of house market value and characteristics with a survey of household water conservation methods, a logit model is used to predict the likelihood of adoption. Increased education, age, and income all were found to positively affect indoor and outdoor conservation adoption. Neither higher summer consumption during severe drought, nor the perception of prolonged drought increased outdoor conservation adoption, but owning previously conserving Bermuda lawn did increase adoption.Agricultural Economic

Human experience in the natural and built environment : implications for research policy and practice

22nd IAPS conference. Edited book of abstracts. 427 pp. University of Strathclyde, Sheffield and West of Scotland Publication. ISBN: 978-0-94-764988-3

Qualitative spatial reasoning for activity recognition using tools of ambient intelligence

The aging population represents a growing concern of governments due to the extent that it will take in the coming decades and the speed of its evolution. This problem will result in increasing number of people affected by many diseases associated with aging such as the various types of dementia, including the sadly famous Alzheimer's disease. People with Alzheimer's must be assisted at all time during their everyday life. Technological assistance inside what is called a smart home could bring an affordable solution to solve this concern. One of the key issues to smart home assistance is to recognize the ongoing activities of everyday life made by the patient in order to be able to provide useful services at an appropriate moment. To do so, we must build a structured knowledge base of activities from which one or many intelligent agents (communicating with each other) would use information extracted from the various sensors to take a decision on what the inhabitant could be currently doing. The best way to build such an algorithm is to exploit constraints of different natures (logical, temporal, etc.) in order to circumscribe a library of activities. Many authors have emphasized the importance of the fundamental spatial aspect in activity recognition. However, only few works exist, and they are tested in a limited way that does not allow discerning the importance of dealing with space. Important spatial criterions, such as distance between objects, could help to reduce the number of hypotheses. Moreover, many errors can be detected only by using the spatial reasoning such as position problems (inappropriate objects are brought into the activity zone) or orientation of object issue (cup of coffee is upside down when pouring coffee). This thesis provides potential solutions to the problem outlined, which deals with spatial recognition of activities of daily living of a person with Alzheimer's disease. It proposes to adapt a theory of spatial reasoning, developed by Egenhofer, to a new model for recognition of activities. This new model allows identifying the ongoing activity using only qualitative spatial criterions which we demonstrate through the text that some could not have been identified otherwise. It also allows detection of new abnormalities related to the behavior of an individual in loss of autonomy. Finally, the model has been implemented and validated in carrying out activities in a smart home on the cutting edge of technology. These activities were derived from a clinical study with normal and mild to moderate Alzheimer subjects. The results were analyzed and compared with existing approaches to measure the contribution of this thesis. Le vieillissement de la population représente une préoccupation croissante des gouvernements en raison de l'ampleur qu'il prendra dans les prochaines décennies et la rapidité de son évolution. Ce problème se traduira par l'augmentation du nombre de personnes touchées par de nombreuses maladies liées au vieillissement telles que les différents types de démence, y compris la tristement célèbre maladie d'Alzheimer. Les personnes atteintes de la maladie d'Alzheimer doivent être assistées en tout temps dans leur vie quotidienne. L'assistance technologique à l'intérieur de ce qu'on appelle une maison intelligente pourrait apporter une solution abordable pour cette tâche. Une des questions clés inhérentes à ce type d'assistance est de reconnaître les activités courantes de la vie quotidienne faite par le patient afin d'être en mesure de fournir des services utiles au moment le plus opportun. Pour ce faire, nous devons construire une base de connaissances structurée à partir de laquelle un ou plusieurs agents intelligents utilisant l'information extraite des divers capteurs pour émettre une hypothèse ciblée concernant l'activité en cours de l'habitant. La meilleure façon de construire un tel algorithme est d'exploiter les contraintes de natures différentes (logique, temporelle, etc.) afin de circonscrire une bibliothèque d'activités. De nombreux auteurs ont souligné l'importance de l'aspect spatial fondamental dans la reconnaissance d'activité. Cependant, seuls quelques travaux existent, et ils sont testés de façon limitée qui ne permet pas de voir l'importance de considérer l'espace. Néanmoins, plusieurs critères spatiaux tels que la distance entre les objets pourraient aider à réduire le nombre d'hypothèses d'activités. Par ailleurs, de nombreuses erreurs peuvent être détectées uniquement en utilisant le raisonnement spatial, tel que les problèmes de type position ou d'orientation. Cette thèse fournit des pistes de solutions aux problèmes décrits, qui traitent de la reconnaissance spatiale des activités de la vie quotidienne d'une personne avec la maladie d'Alzheimer. Elle propose d'adapter une théorie du raisonnement spatial, développé par Egenhofer, à un nouveau modèle pour la reconnaissance des activités. Ce nouveau modèle permet d'identifier les activités en cours en utilisant uniquement les critères spatiaux. Nous démontrons à travers le texte que certaines activités ne pourraient pas avoir été identifiées autrement. Le modèle permet également la détection de nouvelles anomalies liées au comportement d'un individu en perte d'autonomie. Enfin, le modèle a été implémenté et validé en réalisant des activités dans un habitat intelligent à la fine pointe de la technologie. Ces activités ont été tirées d'une étude clinique avec des sujets normaux et Alzheimer. Les résultats ont été analysés et comparés avec les approches existantes pour évaluer la contribution de ce modèle

Domestic Practices and User Experiences Pre- and Post- Occupancy in a Low-Carbon Development

Examination of how household practices, resource flows and social contexts change after moving into an innovative development in Western Australia, with a focus on the home system of practice. This research demonstrates that while some aspects of domestic practices may change when the context changes, entrenched habits and personal practice history prescribe how practices are performed and the subsequent resources consumed

Half of them are dying on their feet but they still have strength for that: sexuality, dementia and residential care work : a disregarded and neglected area of study

Sexual expression by people with dementia has tended to be pathologised in biomedical debates or ignored in person-centred discussions. The thesis therefore brings together the study of sexuality, older people with dementia and residential living and makes connections between ideas, theories and practice reaching the 'interior' of social life that has hitherto been neglected. A postmodern feminist approach was used to explore this subject, which is 'seen' primarily through the lens of (mainly) female care workers' experience with ethnographic and grounded theory methods used to obtain the data. A postal survey involving 28 social work residential homes was undertaken followed by a period of fieldwork using observation, participant observation and in-depth interviews in one social work residential home. The overall research question addressed the neglect of the topic, others looked at what staff said about sex, how they responded to residents' expressed sexuality, what they found most difficult, the part dementia played and how context affected response. Resident-to-resident sexual expression was more widely discussed than resident-to-staff expression. The latter was reported to be the most difficult area for staff to manage and one that appeared to carry emotional costs. There was also a tension between what staff said and how they responded in practice. Ambiguity was a key constituent with the defining of dementia sometimes a contested area between care workers. Where the resident was very advanced in their dementia, the extenuating circumstances of the illness seemed to engender more forbearance. The difficulties arose when the diagnosis was not so apparent. The data point to the subject being a difficult area with staff sometimes choosing to ignore or remaining silent about resident sexual expression. Researchers' neglect may in part be due to difficulties in obtaining research funding or the possibility of their career prospects being compromised

Mobile Health Technologies

Mobile Health Technologies, also known as mHealth technologies, have emerged, amongst healthcare providers, as the ultimate Technologies-of-Choice for the 21st century in delivering not only transformative change in healthcare delivery, but also critical health information to different communities of practice in integrated healthcare information systems. mHealth technologies nurture seamless platforms and pragmatic tools for managing pertinent health information across the continuum of different healthcare providers. mHealth technologies commonly utilize mobile medical devices, monitoring and wireless devices, and/or telemedicine in healthcare delivery and health research. Today, mHealth technologies provide opportunities to record and monitor conditions of patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and diabetes mellitus. The intent of this book is to enlighten readers about the theories and applications of mHealth technologies in the healthcare domain

Aging with Dementia and an Intellectual Disability: A Case Study of Supported Empowerment in a Community Living Home

This case study explores the qualitative experience of 4 consumers with a dual disability living in a home specializing in dementia support. Drawing insights from participant observation, daily living log notes, and interviews with 4 each of family/friend caregivers, direct-care staff, and administrators, the study has 3 main goals: (i) to understand how the onset of dementia in people with an intellectual disability changes their needs, what adjustments have to be made in the support practices, and what service barriers and successes are experienced; (ii) to understand how people with dual disabilities experience living in a home specializing in dementia support and how stakeholders perceive this model of support; and (iii) to identify ways policymakers can better respond to the changing needs of people with dual disabilities. The findings of the study identify two social processes; one of marginalization and the other of supported empowerment. The process of marginalization depicts how dementia affects people with intellectual disabilities as they incur multiple losses in ability, home, and community. In spite of losses, the data illustrate how these individuals maintain their selfhood with good health support, decision-making, self-agency, and autonomy. Further, a home of choice with an individualized transition process, consistent and person-centered support, and elevated empathy facilitate their freedom of choice. Engaging the self in community, both inside and outside the home, is emphasized. The findings are contrasted with divergent perspectives on support practices and barriers in providing empowering support to consumers living in the home. The study generates a theory of supported empowerment grounded in the data. This theory yields an empowering social model and micro-practices that harness elements of empowerment necessary to support people with dual disabilities. Seven policy considerations that prevent premature placement in nursing homes, enable aging in place, and maintain a participatory life in community are recommended from insights gained. Several research implications are raised by this study, notably, inclusive research methodologies to access the voice of people with a dual disability, caregiver support, inclusive community participation, the benefits of social versus medical models of long-term support, and personhood created in quality of lives