Knighthood, chivalry and the Crown in fifteenth-century Scotland, 1424-1513

The Scottish crown's relationship with knighthood and chivalry during the fifteenth century has not been the subject of sustained analysis. However, how knights were used by the crown and how chivalric ideology affected them is of seminal importance in understanding the relationship between the king and his nobility. Knighthood was not only a military status which members of the nobility could attain, but also a powerful social and political tool for the crown. James I, James 11, James III and James IV all used knighthood as a way of controlling members of the nobility. The honour was usually bestowed to signify a man's commencement in royal service, or to reward him for service which he had already provided.Over the course of the century the need for knights in a military capacity declined, and knighthood changed from a career which esteemed heroics on the battlefield to one which demanded equal parts of martial skill and administrative, political and diplomatic abilities. However, while warfare was changing so dramatically, the ideals of chivalry underwent a revival. This was manifested through ideas promoted in literature, but also through traditional chivalric displays. These displays, namely tournaments, were held infrequently throughout the century, until the reign of James IV, who adopted a programme of chivalric reform, which included numerous crown-sponsored tournaments and jousts.Whilst knights were important in everyday court life, there was a steady decline of interest in chivalric knighthood from the start of the century. James I returned to Scotland with ideas for reform based on what he had witnessed during his years at the English court, and he focused more on using his knights in political and administrative posts. James II had a keen interest in chivalry, but his time was spent predominantly on waging military campaigns of a type which increasingly rendered the knight's traditional role futile. James III showed less interest in chivalry than his predecessors, and although scholars have often credited him with founding a chivalric order of knighthood in the 1470s, these assertions are ill-founded. In fact, James III all but ignored the common ideology which was shared by an important section of his nobility. There was, however, a revival of chivalry in the reign of James IV, when the king attempted to promote himself as a chivalric patron and encouraged his knights to pay tribute to the ideals of the mythical Arthurian court

An economic analysis of options for utilising additional land on a high rainfall Gippsland dairy farm

A range of options for utilising additional land on a dairy farm in the high rainfall area of Gippsland were analysed. The aim was to determine if additional land may assist the owners/operators in maintaining or increasing profit in the medium term (5-10 years). Historical trends have been towards fewer, larger, more intensive enterprises, and this project studies the value of additional land in continuing or altering this trend. A case study farm and spreadsheet modelling approach was used to examine these issues. Five different uses for additional land were identified by an expert steering committee, and were compared to the base farm system over a 10-year development period. The results suggest that expanding the milking area by purchasing additional land without a significant increase in herd size (2A) increased annual operating profit by approximately $70,000/year without increasing variability when compared to the base farm system. This was the only option examined to earn a high enough internal rate of return on additional capital investment to justify the investment without capital gains. Additional milking area with a substantial increase in stocking rate (2C) significantly reduced annual operating profit (by approximately$70,000/year) and notably increased the variability of these returns. The purchase of an outblock for conserved fodder production improved profitability, but would require some capital gains to be an attractive option on profit measures alone. The most appropriate changes to dairy farm businesses in response to changes in the operating environment will vary from farm to farm. The analysis indicated that simple following previous industry trends may not be appropriate on many farms. Optimising the amount of home grown feed and efficiently using purchased supplements are important, particularly if the milk produced is subject to the fluctuations of an export milk price.Farm Management,

Social and Leisure Participation by People with Dementia: A Caregiver Resource Guide

The purpose of this caregiver education intervention is to increase caregiver self-efficacy and effectiveness in increasing social participation and quality of life for those they are caring for as well as decreasing caregiver stress and burnout associated with providing care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer\u27s. The guide will include education and resources for these caregivers detailing safety precautions, strategies to reduce difficult behaviors impacting social and leisure engagement, and resources to decrease caregiver burden.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1029/thumbnail.jp

Characterizing insect communities within thin-soil environments

Natural thin-soil environments are those which have little to no soil accumulation atop hard substrates. Many of these natural thin-soil environments, such as alvars, rocky lakeshores or glades, cliffs and cliff bluffs, and barrens, are found in the Great Lakes Region of North America. Due to their ubiquity and ecosystem services they provide, characterizing insects in sensitive environments such as these is important. This study monitored insects in nine thin-soil sites, within three regions, on a 630 km latitudinal gradient in the Southeastern Great Lakes Region of North America from June - August 2019. Over 22,000 insect specimens collected were identified to order or family, and bee specimens were identified to genus or species. We found that overall insect community composition and biodiversity characteristics were similar between the three regions examined. However, the central region had higher taxonomic richness than the southern region. Although unique bee taxa were observed in each region, diversity metrics and community composition of bees were similar among sites. This study provides taxonomic information about the insect, particularly bees, and plant communities in thin-soil environments in this region, which could support conservation and management efforts

Testing for Geographic Variation in Survival of Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) Populations in Chukotka, Russia and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Information on variation in survival among geographically distinct breeding populations can produce valuable insights about the population dynamics of a species. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta sub-population of Spectacled Eiders in Alaska decreased precipitously between the 1950s and 1990s. Causes for this decline are unknown but may be attributed to low female survival due to predation and lead exposure on the breeding grounds. From 2014 to 2015, we compared annual survival probabilities of Spectacled Eiders on Kigigak Island in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, and Ayopechan Island in the Chaun Delta, Chukotka, where similar field protocols were implemented. A Cormack-Jolly-Seber maximum likelihood approach was used to estimate apparent survival (φ) and recapture probability (p) from mark-resight data. We tested a) whether Russian and Alaskan sub-populations differed in their survival rates, b) whether survival varied annually, and c) whether survival followed an increasing or decreasing trend over time at either site. We found no evidence for differing survival between the two breeding areas when mean survival across years was compared, and we did not find strong evidence for a linear trend in survival over time at either site. Furthermore, our data supported models with annually varying survival at Kigigak Island and constant survival at Ayopechan Island. Sample size constraints precluded estimates of annual survival at Ayopechan Island. Our finding of no difference in mean survival between sites lends support to the idea that survival may be a function of conditions on the wintering grounds.Les données en matière de variations de survie chez des populations nicheuses géographiquement distinctes peuvent donner un précieux aperçu de la dynamique des populations d’une espèce. La sous-population d’eiders à lunettes du delta Yukon-Kuskokwim, en Alaska, a chuté abruptement entre les années 1950 et les années 1990. Nul ne connaît les causes de ce déclin, mais elles pourraient être attribuables au faible taux de survie des femelles en lien avec la prédation et l’exposition au plomb dans les aires de reproduction. De 2014 à 2015, nous avons comparé les probabilités de survie annuelle des eiders à lunettes sur l’île Kigigak, dans le delta Yukon-Kuskokwim, en Alaska, et sur l’île Ayopechan, dans le delta Chaun, au Tchoukotcha, où des protocoles d’étude similaires sur le terrain ont été adoptés. La méthode du maximum de vraisemblance Cormack-Jolly-Seber a servi à estimer la survie apparente (φ) et la probabilité de recapture (p) à partir de données de marquage et de relocalisation. Nous avons tenté de déterminer a) si les sous-populations de la Russie et de l’Alaska avaient des taux de survie différents, b) si les taux de survie variaient d’une année à l’autre et c) si le taux de survie affichait une tendance à la hausse ou à la baisse au fil des ans à l’un ou l’autre des sites. Nous n’avons trouvé aucune preuve justifiant le taux de survie différent aux deux aires de reproduction au moyen de la comparaison des moyennes de survie au fil des ans, et nous n’avons pas trouvé de preuve importante permettant de déceler une tendance linéaire au fil des ans en matière de survie à l’un ou l’autre des deux sites. De plus, nos données ont permis d’étayer des modèles ayant des taux de survie annuels variables à l’île Kigigak et des taux de survie constants à l’île Ayopechan. Des contraintes en matière de taille d’échantillons ont empêché de faire l’estimation des taux de survie annuels à l’île Ayopechan. Le fait que nous n’ayons pas trouvé de différence entre les moyennes de survie des deux sites soutient l’idée selon laquelle la survie peut être tributaire des conditions des aires d’hivernage.Данные об изменении выживаемости в географически обособленных гнездовых популяциях позволяют понять тенденции динамики популяций рассматриваемого вида. В период с 1950-х по 1990-е гг. наблюдалось резкое снижение численности гнездовой популяции очковой гаги в дельте рр. Юкон-Кускоквим, предположительно обусловленное низкой выживаемостью взрослых самок из-за сильного пресса хищников и отравления птиц свинцом в районах гнездования. Мы сравнивали показатели ежегодной выживаемости взрослых самок очковой гаги на о. Кигигак, дельта рр. Юкон-Кускоквим, Аляска, США и на о. Айопечан, дельта рр. Чаун-Пучевеем, Чукотка, Россия. Идентичные полевые протоколы были разработаны и применены в обоих районах исследования. Метод максимального правдоподобия Кормака-Джоли-Себера использовался для оценки ежегодной выживаемости (φ) и вероятности обнаружения (p) птиц по данным повторных отловов. Мы проверяли: а) существование статистически значимых различий в выживаемости самок очковой гаги чукотской и аляскинской популяций в период с 2002 по 2015 гг.; б) межгодовые колебания ежегодной выживаемости; в) наличие тенденций повышения или понижения выживаемости с течением времени в каждой из популяций. Мы не выявили статистически достоверных различий в выживаемости самок из двух районов гнездования, а так же не обнаружили тренда выживаемости со временем ни в одной из популяций. Данные, которыми мы располагаем, позволили оценить ежегодную выживаемость самок на о. Кигигак и, по причине недостатка данных, среднюю межгодовую выживаемость самок на о. Айопечан. Наши выводы о том, что выживаемость самок одинакова в обеих популяциях, позволяют предположить, что на выживаемость очковых гаг в меньшей степени влияют условия гнездовых территорий, чем комплексные условия акватории зимовки

The Need for a Wellbeing Tool for Children

Well-being is characterized by a measure of overall quality of life that spans cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functions. As a multi-dimensional concept, its measurement is vital for the evaluation of mental and physical development. Well-being was immensely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and enforced isolation measures, resulting in challenged mental, physical, and emotional health of children. Prior studies pertaining to the impacts on the youth population include an increase in sedentary behaviors, social isolation, and more severe symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. A lack of physical activity and social distancing could lead to numerous psychosocial and physical implications. Research findings demonstrate the need for a focus on child wellbeing post pandemic. There is currently no existing tool to assess child wellbeing. The Wellbeing Tool that we propose is an instrument that will measure overall quality of life, utilizing pictures and simple language suitable for young children to easily comprehend. The Wellbeing Tool is beneficial to assess the emotional, physical, and mental health of children in a standardized way, especially in times of extreme stress and poor health due to external factors. Results from this study can be utilized to raise awareness of the negative effects of quarantine and isolation and to develop interventions that address challenges of mental health in youth.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2022/1016/thumbnail.jp

The impact of information, value-deliberation and group-based decision-making on values for ecosystem services:Integrating deliberative monetary valuation and storytelling

We thank the four anonymous referees whose comments substantially helped to improve this paper. We thank Anna Attlee and Althea Davies who helped to facilitate the research workshops; Anna Attlee also for helping to analyse the qualitative data. We thank all the participants of our study for their effort, and the Marine Conservation Society, the British Sub-Aqua Club and the Angling Trust for assisting with participant recruitment. This work was funded through the UK National Ecosystem Assessment Follow-On (Work Package 6: Shared, Plural and Cultural Values), funded by the UK Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Welsh Government, the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); additional funding was received from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation through the Marine Conservation Society. J.O. Kenter was also supported by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement no 315925 and K.N. Irvine by the Scottish Government Rural and Economic Sciences and Analytical Service (RESAS) Division.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Towards Robots that Influence Humans over Long-Term Interaction

When humans interact with robots influence is inevitable. Consider an autonomous car driving near a human: the speed and steering of the autonomous car will affect how the human drives. Prior works have developed frameworks that enable robots to influence humans towards desired behaviors. But while these approaches are effective in the short-term (i.e., the first few human-robot interactions), here we explore long-term influence (i.e., repeated interactions between the same human and robot). Our central insight is that humans are dynamic: people adapt to robots, and behaviors which are influential now may fall short once the human learns to anticipate the robot's actions. With this insight, we experimentally demonstrate that a prevalent game-theoretic formalism for generating influential robot behaviors becomes less effective over repeated interactions. Next, we propose three modifications to Stackelberg games that make the robot's policy both influential and unpredictable. We finally test these modifications across simulations and user studies: our results suggest that robots which purposely make their actions harder to anticipate are better able to maintain influence over long-term interaction. See videos here: https://youtu.be/ydO83cgjZ2

Risk factors for transmission of Ebola or Marburg virus disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The Ebola virus disease outbreak that started in Western Africa in 2013 was unprecedented because it spread within densely populated urban environments and affected many thousands of people. As a result, previous advice and guidelines need to be critically reviewed, especially with regard to transmission risks in different contexts. Methods Scientific and grey literature were searched for articles about any African filovirus. Articles were screened for information about transmission (prevalence or odds ratios especially). Data were extracted from eligible articles and summarised narratively with partial meta-analysis. Study quality was also evaluated. Results 31 reports were selected from 6552 found in the initial search. Eight papers gave numerical odds for contracting filovirus illness, 23 further articles provided supporting anecdotal observations about how transmission probably occurred for individuals. Many forms of contact (conversation, sharing a meal, sharing a bed, direct or indirect touching) were unlikely to result in disease transmission during incubation or early illness. Amongst household contacts who reported directly touching a case, the attack rate was 32% (95% CI 26-38%). Risk of disease transmission between household members without direct contact was low (1%; 95% CI 0-5%). Caring for a case in the community, especially until death, and participation in traditional funeral rites were strongly associated with acquiring disease, probably due to a high degree of direct physical contact with case or cadaver. Conclusions Transmission of filovirus is unlikely except through close contact, especially during the most severe stages of acute illness. More data are needed about the context, intimacy and timing of contact required to raise the odds of disease transmission. Risk factors specific to urban settings may need to be determined