178 research outputs found
Enhanced Emission Using Thin Li-Halide Cathodic Interlayers for Improved Injection into Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) Derivative PLEDs
In this study, the effects of thin Li-halide cathodic interlayers on electron injection were examined for electroluminescent layers of polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). An order of magnitude increase in current density is observed as Li-halide salts are varied down the group VII column of the periodic table. When considering luminance, devices with a LiCl interlayer were 2.3Ă greater than those with LiF, whereas devices with LiBr were 2.8Ă greater, while concurrently lowering the turn-on voltage. This resulting enhanced current density and subsequent luminance could be due to a lowered work-function difference at the cathode created by either the Li-halides dissociation-induced doping of the polymer surface or an interfacial dipole of ionic Li-halide compound, leading to band bending
Loudly sing cuckoo : More-than-human seasonalities in Britain
This research was funded by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, grant number AH/E009573/1.Peer reviewedPostprin
Politicizing vulnerability and adaptation: on the need to democratize local responses to climate impacts in developing countries
A despistagem do VIH/sida: saĂșde pĂșblica e motivaçÔes dos utentes do teste rĂĄpido no Nordeste de Portugal
The article examines the adherence of citizens to the quick test for HIV in the Counseling and Early Detection of HIV/AIDS Center (CAD), in the city of Bragança (Northeast Portugal). Specifically, it seeks to examine the role of a fast diagnosis in the fight against AIDS within the Portuguese public health system, to understand the circumstances underlying the demand for the service and to interpret the perceptions and practices of CAD users. In terms of methodology, it was a case study based on ethnographic inquiry, linking direct observation, informal conversations and interviews, which was associated with extensive documental and statistic research. The results obtained allow us to state that the quick test gave a very positive contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS infection, facilitating citizen access to knowledge of their serological status almost instantly and improving their follow-up by health technicians. The so-called âdissipation of uncertaintyâ, following sexual risk behavior, is the main reason that leads users to perform a quick test.O artigo analisa a adesĂŁo dos cidadĂŁos ao teste rĂĄpido de despistagem do VIH no Centro de Aconselhamento e Deteção Precoce do VIH/sida (CAD) da cidade de Bragança (Nordeste de Portugal). Em concreto, procura-se examinar o papel do diagnĂłstico rĂĄpido na luta contra a infeção pelo VIH/sida no quadro do sistema pĂșblico de saĂșde portuguĂȘs, compreender as circunstĂąncias subjacentes Ă procura do serviço e interpretar as percepçÔes e prĂĄticas dos utentes do CAD objecto desta pesquisa. Em termos metodolĂłgicos, tratou-se de um estudo de caso assente em inquirição etnogrĂĄfica, articulando observação direta, diĂĄlogos informais e entrevistas, a que se associou uma extensa pesquisa documental e estatĂstica. Os resultados apurados permitem afirmar que o teste rĂĄpido proporcionou um contributo muito positivo para a luta contra a infeção pelo VIH/sida, facilitando o acesso dos cidadĂŁos ao conhecimento praticamente imediato do seu estado serolĂłgico e melhorando o seguimento destes por parte dos tĂ©cnicos de saĂșde. A chamada âdissipação da incertezaâ, na sequĂȘncia de uma situação de risco, Ă© o principal motivo que leva os utentes a realizar o teste rĂĄpido
Conserving Conflict? Transfrontier Conservation, Development Discourses and Local Conflict Between South Africa and Lesotho
This paper describes and analyses how discourses of conservation and development as well as migrant labour practices can be understood as transnational dynamics that both cement and complicate transnational relations. It also looks into how these dynamics articulate with, shape and are being shaped by âthe localâ. Focusing on the north-eastern boundary of Lesotho in the area of the âMaloti-Drakensberg transfrontier conservation and development projectâ, we show how conflictual situations put the ethnographic spotlight on the ways in which âlocal peopleâ in Lesotho deal with dual forces of localisation and transnationalisation. We argue that they accommodate, even appropriate, these dual pressures by adopting an increasingly flexible stance in terms of identity, alliances, livelihood options and discourses
Understanding Global Change: From Documentation and Collaboration to Social Transformation
The conclusion to the book situates the chapters within four programs of anthropological research on climate change: (1) documentation of local impacts of and adaptations to climate change, (2) connections to socioeconomic and political contexts, (3) collaborations with nonanthropologists, and (4) activism and social transformation. The final section notes the persistent challenges to creating positive change and meaningful research outcomes. It highlights some examples of success and outlines future directions for politically engaged anthropological work around climate change
Energy and Climate Implications for Agricultural Nutrient Use Efficiency
Energy and climate change are beginning to dominate the global political agenda and will drive policy formation that will shape the future of agriculture. Energy issues threaten national security and economic stability, as well as access to low-cost nutrient inputs for agriculture. Climate change has the potential to cause serious disruption to agricultural productivity. Paradoxically, nutrient use in agriculture to increase crop yields has the potential to negatively impact climate. This chapter will discuss recent and future energy and climate trends, the relationships between agricultural nutrient use efficiency and biofuels, and how global land limitations will shape agriculture in the future. Comparative gross energy yield and nitrogen use efficiency for ethanol production from crop residue, switchgrass, grain sorghum, sweet sorghum, and corn grain is presented, showing small differences in nitrogen use efficiency, but large differences in gross energy yields. In addition to considering the need to increase crop productivity to meet the demands of a growing population and bioenergy, agricultural nutrient use efficiency must be reconsidered with respect to the important energy and climate challenges shaping agriculture today
Operationalizing local ecological knowledge in climate change research : challenges and opportunities of citizen science
Current research on the local impacts of climate change is based on contrasting results from the simulation of historical trends in climatic variables produced with global models against climate data from independent observations. To date, these observations have mostly consisted of weather data from standardized meteorological stations. Given that the spatial distribution of weather stations is patchy, climate scientists have called for the exploration of new data sources. Knowledge developed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities with a long history of interaction with their environment has been proposed as a data source with untapped potential to contribute to our understanding of the local impacts of climate change. In this chapter, we discuss an approach that aims to bring insights from local knowledge systems to climate change research. First, we present a number of theoretical arguments that give support to the idea that local knowledge systems can contribute in original ways to the endeavors of climate change research. Then, we explore the potential of using information and communication technologies to gather and share local knowledge of climate change impacts. We do so through the examination of a citizen science initiative aiming to collect local indicators of climate change impacts: the LICCI project (www.licci.eu). Our findings illustrate that citizen science can inspire new approaches to articulate the inclusion of local knowledge systems in climate change research. However, this requires outlining careful approaches, with high ethical standards, toward knowledge validation and recognizing that there are aspects of local ecological knowledge that are incommensurable with scientific knowledge
Traditional use of the Andean flicker (Colaptes rupicola) as a galactagogue in the Peruvian Andes
This paper explores the use of the dried meat and feathers of the Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola) to increase the milk supply of nursing women and domestic animals in the Andes. The treatment is of preColumbian origin, but continues to be used in some areas, including the village in the southern Peruvian highlands where I do ethnographic research. I explore the factors giving rise to and sustaining the practice, relate it to other galactagogues used in the Andes and to the use of birds in ethnomedical and ethnoveterinary treatments in general, and situate it within the general tendency in the Andes and elsewhere to replicate human relations in the treatment of valuable livestock. The bird's use as a galactagogue appears to be motivated by both metaphorical associations and its perceived efficacy, and conceptually blends human and animal healthcare domains
Crop modelling: towards locally relevant and climate-informed adaptation
A gap between the potential and practical realisation of adaptation exists: adaptation strategies need to be both climate-informed and locally relevant to be viable. Place-based approaches study local and contemporary dynamics of the agricultural system, whereas climate impact modelling simulates climate-crop interactions across temporal and spatial scales. Crop-climate modelling and place-based research on adaptation were strategically reviewed and analysed to identify areas of commonality, differences, and potential learning opportunities to enhance the relevance of both disciplines through interdisciplinary approaches. Crop-modelling studies have projected a 7â15% mean yield change with adaptation compared to a non-adaptation baseline (Nature Climate Change 4:1â5, 2014). Of the 17 types of adaptation strategy identified in this study as place-based adaptations occurring within Central America, only five were represented in crop-climate modelling literature, and these were as follows: fertiliser, irrigation, change in planting date, change in cultivar and area cultivated. The breath and agency of real-life adaptation compared to its representation in modelling studies is a source of error in climate impact simulations. Conversely, adaptation research that omits assessment of future climate variability and impact does not enable to provide sustainable adaptation strategies to local communities so risk maladaptation. Integrated and participatory methods can identify and reduce these sources of uncertainty, for example, stakeholderâs engagement can identify locally relevant adaptation pathways. We propose a research agenda that uses methodological approaches from both the modelling and place-based approaches to work towards climate-informed locally relevant adaptation
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