An open reproducible framework for the study of the iterated prisoner's dilemma

The Axelrod library is an open source Python package that allows for reproducible game theoretic research into the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. This area of research began in the 1980s but suffers from a lack of documentation and test code. The goal of the library is to provide such a resource, with facilities for the design of new strategies and interactions between them, as well as conducting tournaments and ecological simulations for populations of strategies. With a growing collection of 139 strategies, the library is a also a platform for an original tournament that, in itself, is of interest to the game theoretic community. This paper describes the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, the Axelrod library and its development, and insights gained from some novel research.Comment: 11 pages, Journal of Open Research Software 4.1 (2016

6918 Determining potential: onshore/offshore prehistory

Historic England commissioned a team from the University of Southampton to undertake project 6918, ‘Determining Potential: onshore/offshore prehistory’ between January 2014 and July 2015. The central focus of the research was on evaluating methods that might be used to help move from generic to more specific understandings of archaeological potential within such environs. A region of the Bristol Channel and Somerset Levels was chosen as the study area within which to carry out this work, due to its already noted high potential for contributing to our understanding of prehistory. Three overarching aims were given for the project: a. Assess the efficacy of predictive modelling for the determination of the potential for submerged prehistoric archaeology in English waters;b. Evaluate the range of methods open to archaeologists when assessing the potential for submerged prehistoric archaeology offshore, and how best to investigate/mitigate for it; andc. Extend our knowledge of key inter-tidal and offshore sequences in a region already known for its nationally significant inter-tidal and onshore prehistoric record.This monograph describes three different approaches to modelling potential: inductive, deductive and geoarchaeological. The conclusion is reached that inductive predictive modelling is currently an inappropriate method for improving our understanding of offshore potential (and in some instances deeply buried onshore locations) in England. This is due to low data density and high degrees of uncertainty with regard to prehistoric activity. Deductive and geoarchaeologically focused methods were found to hold much greater promise for determining potential. However, again the need for high quality input data was highlighted. All of the above approaches should be seen as iterative in nature, and require a commitment to improving data accessibility and joined up approaches to acquisition. It also requires a greater degree of communication with colleagues working in countries whose territorial waters directly abut England’s.The above recognition of the need to improve our baseline understanding of both palaeoenvironmental change and archaeological finds density is one of the most significant and challenging outcomes from this project. In carrying out the review to address point b above, and the fieldwork to address point c, it became clear that we need to sample larger volumes across a wider range of ecological niches. Put simply, without adopting methods that maximise the chance of recovering material culture offshore we will never be able to:1. Answer key research questions identified in regional and national research agendas that are pertinent to both the onshore and offshore archaeological record.2. Improve our ability to pinpoint areas likely to produce important finds.The lack of direct engagement offshore, the limited nature of inter-tidal investigations and the uneven distribution of commercial activity onshore has led to a record that is hard to interpret with regard to the specifics of potential, beyond discussion in the broadest terms. Rather than being a negative outcome this is seen to be a positive result. The act of creating a deductive model forced detailed analysis of the qualities of input data, and highlighted lacunae in our understanding. In ground-truthing the deductive model new information was generated that contributes to our growing appreciation of the complexities of environmental change across the study region, and areas in need of future research clearly identified. Finally, through accepting that we may not be able to answer questions we have already raised of the offshore record without a change in approach, this research establishes the urgent need for more detailed consideration of how we manage and carry out research into the submerged prehistoric record, as well as compiling and distributing these results

Organisations and bullying: The role of attributions

Workplaces bullying has become a significant topic of management research in recent years. This paper follows a study of bullying in the public sector, examining the multiple perspectives of victim, alleged bully, bystander and HR or other senior managers, in which the notion of a bully as an antisocial perpetrator abusing power over an innocent, less powerful victim appeared simplistic in many ways. To investigate the processes by which people come to be identified as bully or victim, this paper uses Attribution Theory. Propositions concerning the processes by which such attributions are formed are presented as preliminaries to future research. We conclude that identifying individuals as bully or victim is a complicated process, and that greater appreciation of the logic of interpersonal relations would assist both researchers and managers interested in reducing bullying, and discuss the organisational implications

Exploring attitudes to conception in partners and young women with gynecologic cancers treated by fertility sparing surgery

Background: Approximately 20% of women with gynecologic cancers are under age 40 and with delayed childbearing, women may be diagnosed before their first pregnancy. Although fertility preservation is a priority for many women, attitudes to conception have not previously been investigated in these patients or their partners. We explored attitudes to conception in partners and young women, following fertility preserving treatment for gynecologic cancers. Methods: A total of 16 telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients who had had an early stage gynecologic cancer or borderline ovarian tumor treated by fertility sparing surgery in Western Australia between January 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2016. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Four main themes were identified: (i) Emotions at diagnosis and perception of information given; (ii) Discussions of fertility and factors affecting childbearing; (iii) Role of partners in decision making and relationship pressures; (iv) Decision for treatment and postoperative regrets. Conclusions: Regret and relationship breakdown were commonly reported. Women need appropriate support including inviting their partners to attend clinic appointments and may need several appointments before treatment. Regret was commonly reported by women who opted for completion surgery

Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years

Many studies document the relationship between housing quality and health status. Poor housing in Aboriginal communities continues to be linked to the compromised health status of Aboriginal Australians. The New South Wales (NSW) Housing for Health (HfH) program has been assessing and repairing Aboriginal community housing across the state for 20 years using a standardised intervention methodology that aims to improve the health of Aboriginal people in NSW by improving their living environments. Items are tested and repairs are prioritised to maximise safety and health benefits and measured against 11 Critical Healthy Living Priorities (e.g., safety, facilities for washing people and clothes, removing waste and preparing food). Descriptive analysis of data collected pre- and post-intervention from 3670 houses was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program. Analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the ability of the houses to support safe and healthy living for all critical healthy living priorities post-interventions. Trend analysis demonstrated the magnitude of these improvements increased over 20 years. In 24 communities (n = 802 houses) where projects were repeated (5–17 years later), results indicate sustainability of improvements for 9 of 11 priorities. However, the overall condition of health-related hardware in Aboriginal community housing across NSW pre-intervention has not significantly changed during the program’s 20 years. Results suggest a systematic lack of routine maintenance and quality control continues to be the overwhelming cause for this lack of improvement pre-intervention. Our evaluation of the HfH program demonstrated that fidelity to a standardised housing testing and repair methodology to improve residents’ safety and health can have sustainable effects on housing infrastructure and associated health benefits, such as a 40% reduction in infectious disease hospital separations. Housing and health agencies should collaborate more closely on social housing programs and ensure programs are adequately resourced to address safety and health issues