Collective motion of organisms in three dimensions

We study a model of flocking in order to describe the transitions during the collective motion of organisms in three dimensions (e.g., birds). In this model the particles representing the organisms are self-propelled, i.e., they move with the same absolute velocity. In addition, the particles locally interact by choosing at each time step the average direction of motion of their neighbors and the effects of fluctuations are taken into account as well. We present the first results for large scale flocking in the presence of noise in three dimensions. We show that depending on the control parameters both disordered and long-range ordered phases can be observed. The corresponding phase diagram has a number of features which are qualitatively different from those typical for the analogous equilibrium models.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Improving data quality and avoiding pitfalls of online text-based focus groups: A practical guide

Despite the fact that there are several practical advantages of online typed focus groups, this type of group questioning has not spread as widely as had been expected when it appeared as a new research option. One of the reasons for that might be that a major risk of these text-based focus groups is inadequate data quality. Unless certain measures are taken to prevent this, an analysis can face the problem of not being rich enough and not digging deep enough – which are often important criteria for good qualitative analysis. This article discusses how to deal with the problem and other possible pitfalls of this type of group discussion, and gives practical advice on how to obtain the best results from such discussions. It also gives suggestions which can be useful if a free chat platform is being used to conduct these groups. It argues that even nowadays with other online techniques available, online text-based focus groups can be useful – if executed properly

GM Crops in Hungary: Comparing Mass Media Framing and Public Understanding of Technoscientific Controversy

Unlike some Western societies, in Hungary there has not been intensive public debate on the issue of genetically modified crops. The mass media has published little to inform Hungarian lay people about GM crops or their relevance to the country. Nevertheless the media did convey some general impressions, mainly from within an Anti-GM Threat frame. Several elements from the mass media were present in lay focus group discussions – e.g. GM crops branded a food risk, general focus on risks, health risk identified as important risk, foreign companies regarded as source of the problem and as being ‘just out for profit’, image of corn, rhetoric of deterioration, etc. This overlap is in consonance with theories postulating such similarities, whereby the media framing provides a resource which can be appropriated for public understanding. At the same time, there were also differences: some elements of the dominant media frame were mentioned only vaguely or in a somewhat modified way. Other issues raised in the media frame, not resonating with wider cultural themes, were absent from focus group discussions (e.g. environmental concerns). And participants were also able to rely on other conversational resources (analogous reasoning, cultural themes) to formulate some additional issues beyond the media reportage. KEY WORDS: GM CROPS, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS, MEDIA FRAMIN

Exploring Gender Culture at a Telecommunications Company

Abstract Purpose (mandatory) The study interprets the expectations, the norms and values related to gender, within the concept of organizational culture. Over the past decades organizational researches have paid great attention to cultural research, and feminist theories have increasingly examined organizations from the angle of gender. The research we conducted in a business organization attempts to link these two areas. Design/methodology/approach (mandatory) We used the focus group discussion method at a telecommunications company in the spring of 2011 in Central Hungary. Findings (mandatory) The employees interviewed made a sharp distinction between professional and managerial competencies of female managers, accepting the former and often questioning the latter. Female managers met with lack of understanding and reserve if they returned to work while their children were still very young – not a common practice in Hungarian society – or if they worked in a top managerial position. Research limitations/implications (if applicable) The findings cannot be generalized. Practical implications (if applicable) Social implications (if applicable) Although women managers’ acceptance is widespread on the level of rhetoric, they face prejudices in several situations in workplaces. Originality/value (mandatory) Novelties of the research include examining the compatibility of priorities based on traditional gender expectations and priorities based on high level of investment in women’s human capital in a highly competitive organizational context within a post-socialist society. The paper presents new insights linked to gendered organizational culture, which has been rarely analysed and presents data from a Central Eastern European society which differs in many respects from previously investigated countries. Keywords: gender culture, management, competencies, work-life balanc

Networks in the Social Sciences: Comparing Actor-Network Theory and Social Network Analysis

While the subject of networks has been an issue in the social sciences for decades, it can still be regarded as one of the concepts significant enough to excite the imagination of both theorists and empirical researchers. Because of this interest, many different types of approaches to networks have been developed. In many cases these theoretical and analytical developments have occurred relatively independently from each other, using different vocabularies and research styles. This paper presents two prominent network approaches—namely, Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Social Network Analysis (SNA)—in order to highlight the similarities and differences between the two. Besides providing a comparison, the paper discusses the potentially fruitful convergence of these two theories. We argue that ANT researchers could benefit from using certain SNA methods (such as visualization techniques and quantitative measures), whilst SNA researchers would benefit from developing new theoretical and empirical ideas about how to introduce non-human actors into networks that also contain humans

Let Us Talk about Eggs! Professional Resistance to Elective Egg Vitrification and Gendered Medical Paternalism

In this paper, by applying a feminist bioethical perspective, we identify a new form of medical paternalism that still shapes contemporary legal policies on human egg cryopreservation performed without medical reasons. The fear of negligent, careless women who opt to delay their pregnancy for mere convenience is a widely known gender biased stereotype. Nevertheless, the opinions and judgments of medical professionals on this issue have not yet been sufficiently explored by in-depth research. In this essay, therefore, first we look at the broader bioethical, legal, and social aspects of human egg cryopreservation. In the second part of the paper we discuss a unique qualitative study conducted with professionals working at Hungarian IVF clinics. We argue, based on a bioethical analysis of the collected data, that when new reproduction technologies provide opportunities for women to widen their range of reproductive choices, the traditional forms of medical paternalism can be reinforced by gendered paternalism, as well. We identify several elements of gendered paternalism that characterized the attitudes of the IVF staff and discuss the professionals’ resistance to elective egg freezing and vitrification of eggs for the future (EVF). We conclude by suggesting directions for future policy. Although we focus on the Hungarian case in this paper, we are aware that similar attitudes can be observed in some other countries where this technology has become available and requested by women, but where they also face difficulties in their access to it

Néhány személyes hangvételű emlékünk Benoît Mandelbrotról és a fraktálokról = Some Personal Memories of Benoît Mandelbrot and the Fractals

Benoît Mandelbrot (1924–2010) születésének 100. évfordulóján felidézzük néhány személyes találkozásunkhoz kötődő emlékeinket. A „fraktálok atyja” a munkásságán keresztül megismert csodás természeti objektumokhoz hasonlóan igen komplex személyiség volt. Nagy rajongója volt a művészeteknek, kíváncsi volt a magyar történelem egyik periódusára, időnként csatákat vívott a multifraktálokról beszélő előadókkal, de arról is szó lesz, hogy milyen kellemes délutánt töltöttünk el nála, amikor barátságos otthonában vendégül látott minket. On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benoît Mandelbrot (1924–2010), we recall some of our personal encounters. The “father of fractals” was a complex man, similarly to the wonderful natural objects we have come to know through his work. He was a great fan of the arts, curious about a period of Hungarian history, occasionally engaged in battles with speakers about multifractals, but we will also talk about the pleasant afternoon we spent with him when he hosted us in his friendly home

Kapcsolódások a biotechnológiai nyilvánosság színterei között

A biotechnológiák jelentősége világszerte növekszik. Fontos stratégiai döntéseket kell hozni arról, hogy egyes országok, gazdasági közösségek miként használják fel ezeket, milyen fajtáikat fogadják el, milyen típusaikat utasítják el. Magyarországtól eltérően egyes nyugati társadalmakban intenzív nyilvános viták zajlottak ezekről a kérdésekről. A tanulmány alapjául szolgáló kutatás a biotechnológiai nyilvánosság két színtere: a tömegmédia és a lakossági attitűdök közötti kapcsolódásokat vizsgálta. A média fontos információforrás lehet egyes tudományos és technológiai kérdésekben a lakosság számára. Magyarországon ugyanakkor nem jelentkezett hangsúlyosan a biotechnológia témaköre a médiában. A kutatás során az érdekelt, hogy ilyen feltételek között vajon miként értelmezik a közönség tagjai az orvosi és az agrár biotechnológiákat, és ebben mi lehet a média szerepe. A médiahatást effects in use perspektívára építve fókuszcsoportos beszélgetéseken vizsgáltam: azt néztem, hogy a laikusok miként építenek a médiatartalomra mint erőforrásra a beszélgetések során. Az eredmények arra utalnak, hogy még olyan társadalmi feltételek között is, amikor a médiában nagymértékben a háttérbe szorítva jelentkezik egy technológiai kérdéskör, a framinghatások bizonyos mértékig érvényesülhetnek, valamint, hogy a médiakép hiányosságai miatt sérülhet a laikusok úgynevezett „tudományos állampolgársága”. A kutatás különbségeket is talált abban, ahogy a média mint erőforrás funkcionált az orvosi és az agrár biotechnológiák esetében