International regime formation: the politics of ozone layer depletion and global warming

This thesis examines the politics of international regime formation, with particular reference to the global atmospheric problems of ozone layer depletion and global warming. A review of the international relations literature reveals that there are three approaches to the study of international regime formation: global, state-centred and individualistic. Building upon these, three preconditions and four catalysts for international regime formation are proposed. Each of the hypothesised preconditions -- scientific consensus, tolerable domestic economics costs and global equity -- is necessary, though not by itself sufficient, for international regime formation. Meanwhile, although no one of the hypothesised catalysts -- political entrepreneurs, the solidity of the broader international political system, environmental pressure groups and the mobilisation of public opinion -- is a necessary element for the formation of an international regime, the presence of any one can nevertheless accelerate the rate at which regimes are formed. The theoretical framework that is proposed is applied to the histories of the ozone layer depletion and global warming issues. In this investigation, data up to the end of 1991 were considered. The thesis also considers some issues that extend beyond the end of 1991, for the nature of parts of the analysis precludes an unwavering commitment to this cut-off date. The findings of this investigation have both theoretical and empirical dimensions. First, because the application of the theoretical framework does not invalidate it, thinking about the formation of regimes in international society in general is advanced. And second, by applying the framework to these two particular issues, explanations are offered as to why an international regime had been formed by the end of 1991 to preserve the earth's ozone layer, while one to deal with global warming had not

Bibliometrics Seminar

On 22 May 2014, the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh, held a Bibliometrics Seminar, a program detailing several research library service models for support of research evaluation and assessment. Three of the featured speakers--from academic libraries in the USA (Mayo), the UK (Rowlands), and Australia (Thomas)--discuss the development and operation of such services in their organizations, noting the drivers for development, the process of setting up the service, and the impact of the service on both the library and the institution. A faculty colleague (Larsen) talks about his needs for research assessment as both a senior researcher and university manager. Presentation 1: "Providing a Library Metrics Service: a perspective from an academic library within an Australian University" by Dr. Amberyn Thomas, Manager, Scholarly Publications, University of Queensland, Australia. Presentation 2: "Library Research Services at the University of Leicester, UK" by Ian Rowlands, Research Services Manager and University Bibliometrician, University of Leicester. Presentation 3: "Research Connection: Expertise to Advance Your Success" by Alexa Mayo, MLS AHIP, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Presentation 4: "Bibliometric Research Services - an iSchool Dean's Perspective" by Ronald L. Larsen, Dean and Professor, School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh. The program for the event and a recording of the presentations are also included

Using SciVal responsibly: a guide to interpretation and good practice

This guide is designed to help those who use SciVal to source and apply bibliometrics in academic institutions. It was originally devised in February 2018 by Dr Ian Rowlands of King’s College London as a guide for his university, which makes SciVal widely available to its staff. King’s does this because it believes that bibliometric data are best used in context by specialists in the field. A small group of LISBibliometrics committee members reviewed and revised the King’s guide to make it more applicable to a wider audience. SciVal is a continually updated source and so feedback is always welcome at [email protected]. LIS-Bibliometrics is keen that bibliometric data should be used carefully and responsibly and this requires an understanding of the strengths and limitations of the indicators that SciVal publishes. The purpose of this Guide is to help researchers and professional services staff to make the most meaningful use of SciVal. It includes some important `inside track’ insights and practical tips that may not be found elsewhere. The scope and coverage limitations of SciVal are fairly widely understood and serve as a reminder that these metrics are not appropriate in fields where scholarly communication takes place mainly outside of the journals and conference literature. This is one of the many judgment calls that need to be made when putting bibliometric data into their proper context. One of the most useful features of SciVal is the ability to drill down in detail using various filters. This allows a user to define a set of publications accurately, but that may mean generating top level measures that are based on small samples with considerable variance. Bibliometrics distributions are often highly skewed, where even apparently simple concepts like the `average’ can be problematic. So one objective of this Guide is to set out some advice on sample sizes and broad confidence intervals, to avoid over-interpreting the headline data. Bibliometric indicators should always be used in combination, not in isolation, because each can only offer partial insights. They should also be used in a `variable geometry’ along with other quantitative and qualitative indicators, including expert judgments and non-publication metrics, such as grants or awards, to flesh out the picture

Visualizing social acceptance research: A bibliometric review of the social acceptance literature for energy technology and fuels

The final publication is available at Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.12.006. © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This paper conducts content and bibliometric analysis of 857 articles representing the knowledge domain for the social acceptance of energy technology and fuels. The objective is to identify basic trends and characteristics in the literature, identify current research fronts and pivotal papers therein, and map these fronts to their respective intellectual bases. We accomplish this by analyzing metadata, keyword use and citation networks within our dataset. We conclude with an evaluation of influence, structure, and collaboration and interdisciplinary dialogue in the field.Research made possible by the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as part of the NSERC Energy Storage Technology (NEST) Network

How ‘transformative’ is energy storage? Insights from stakeholder perceptions in Ontario

The final publication is available at Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.030. © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/‘Energy storage’ comprises a range of technologies of varying maturity and cost-effectiveness, which are increasingly considered to be an important part in building the electricity system of the future. As with any potentially transformative technology, there remain questions of how, and under what context, electricity system stakeholders (new and old) will perceive the technology. Our interest in this paper is to identify and assess the political and sociotechnical system factors that stand to shape the extent to which energy storage can be considered transformational. To do so, we investigate the transformative potential of storage in Ontario, Canada, based on interviews with key electricity system stakeholders. We find that the transformative potential of energy storage is by no means preordained, and is instead intimately intertwined with the complex interactions between actors and institutional factors in each and across three electricity system subsectors.Research made possible by the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as part of the NSERC Energy Storage Technology (NEST) Network

The value of multiple perspectives: Problem-solving and critique in the evaluation of social acceptance research—A response to M. Wolsink

The final publication is available at Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.12.007. © 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Established social acceptance scholar Maarten Wolsink recently published in these pages a critique of an earlier paper of ours, also published in ERSS. In this response, we will review some of Wolsink’s specific methodological concerns about our original paper, conduct some preliminary analysis to test their validity, and address the issue of ‘objects of acceptance’ thereafter. Suffice it to say, while we find some evidence to support Wolsink’s claims and personally agree (mostly) with Wolsink’s broader discussion of what social acceptance is (or, rather, should be understood as) and what research on it should aim to address, we nevertheless respectfully defend the legitimacy of both our methodological design and findings within the context of the much more limited, practical aims than those we have been read to have.Research made possible by the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as part of the NSERC Energy Storage Technology (NEST) Network

Six month durability of targeted cognitive training supplemented with social cognition exercises in schizophrenia.

Background:Deficits in cognition, social cognition, and motivation are significant predictors of poor functional outcomes in schizophrenia. Evidence of durable benefit following social cognitive training is limited. We previously reported the effects of 70 h of targeted cognitive training supplemented with social cognitive exercises (TCT + SCT) verses targeted cognitive training alone (TCT). Here, we report the effects six months after training. Methods:111 participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were randomly assigned to TCT + SCT or TCT-only. Six months after training, thirty-four subjects (18 TCT + SCT, 16 TCT-only) were assessed on cognition, social cognition, reward processing, symptoms, and functioning. Intent to treat analyses was used to test the durability of gains, and the association of gains with improvements in functioning and reward processing were tested. Results:Both groups showed durable improvements in multiple cognitive domains, symptoms, and functional capacity. Gains in global cognition were significantly associated with gains in functional capacity. In the TCT + SCT group, participants showed durable improvements in prosody identification and reward processing, relative to the TCT-only group. Gains in reward processing in the TCT + SCT group were significantly associated with improvements in social functioning. Conclusions:Both TCT + SCT and TCT-only result in durable improvements in cognition, symptoms, and functional capacity six months post-intervention. Supplementing TCT with social cognitive training offers greater and enduring benefits in prosody identification and reward processing. These results suggest that novel cognitive training approaches that integrate social cognitive exercises may lead to greater improvements in reward processing and functioning in individuals with schizophrenia

'Swimmability' : a key element for communities to safely engage with Australian urban rivers

Australia’s largest cities are growing, and this is placing increasing pressure on urban waterways. There is a growing awareness that the quality of life in Australian urban communities is enhanced through the engagement of people with healthy urban rivers. Swimming, boating, and fishing in many Australian urban waterways are popular recreational activities. Swimming and other activities associated with waterways contributes to quality of life in urban communities. Swimming in urban rivers can be risky. Hazards include dangerous currents, aquatic plants, submerged hazards, algal blooms, and unsuitable water quality. In Sydney, Australia’s largest City, swimming is popular in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Data from showed that E. coli levels in the river occasionally exceeded safe recreational guidelines for human health. The results are not reported to the public. We believe that it is more important than ever that government, industry and scientific bodies work to protect and improve the water quality of Australian urban rivers as our cities grow. Sharing this information with the community needs to consider education programs, public forums, and timely communication of the current state of local Australian urban rivers regarding their ‘swimmability’