Hertfordshire Matters

Final Published versio

Testing High-dimensional Multinomials with Applications to Text Analysis

Motivated by applications in text mining and discrete distribution inference, we investigate the testing for equality of probability mass functions of $K$ groups of high-dimensional multinomial distributions. A test statistic, which is shown to have an asymptotic standard normal distribution under the null, is proposed. The optimal detection boundary is established, and the proposed test is shown to achieve this optimal detection boundary across the entire parameter space of interest. The proposed method is demonstrated in simulation studies and applied to analyze two real-world datasets to examine variation among consumer reviews of Amazon movies and diversity of statistical paper abstracts

Measuring sunk costs in agricultural and food industry assets: why some assets sell below appraisal

Asset obsolescence or external obsolescence is a decline in the economic value of capital because of a decrease in demand for the capital’s services. Measurements of sunk costs typically use appraised values of capital. In food and agricultural industries facing asset obsolescence due to government policy, appraised values may be greatly overstated and this has implications for research on industrial structure. A theoretical model to account for the appraisal error is developed and the method is applied to the U.S. sugar beet industry. The sugar beet industry displays symptoms of asset obsolescence. Our estimates indicate that plant appraisals using currently accepted practices greatly overstated the true value of these assets in 2006

Themes of Exodus and Revolution in Ellison's Invisible Man, Morrison's Beloved, and Doctorow's Ragtime

In my dissertation I examine the steps in and performance of revolution through the writings of three Postmodern authors, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and E. L. Doctorow, in light of the model of the biblical Exodus journey and the revolution which precipitated that movement. I suggest that the revolution which began with the Israelites' bondage in Egypt has provided the foundation for American literature. I show that Invisible Man, Beloved, and Ragtime not only employ the motif of the Exodus journey; they also perpetuate the silent revolution begun by the Israelites while held captive in Egypt. This dissertation consists of six chapters. Chapter One provides the introduction to the project. Chapter Two provides the model for this study by defining the characteristics of the Exodus journey, Moses as the leader of the Israelites, and the pattern of revolution established by Michael Walzer in Exodus and Revolution. In Chapters Three, Four, and Five, I apply the model established in Chapter Two to the individual texts. In Chapter Six, I draw three conclusions which arise from my study. My first conclusion is that the master story of the Exodus journey and the Israelites' liberation from Egypt informs all Western literaturewhether the literature reinforces the centrality of the master story to our lives or whether the literature refutes the significance of the master story. Second, the stages of revolution present in the biblical Exodus are also present in twentieth-century American literature. My third conclusion is that authors whose works deal with an exploration of the past in order to effect healing are authors who are revolutionary because their goal is to encourage revolution by motivating readers to refuse to accept the status quo and to, instead, join the revolution which demands change. They do this by asking questions which are characteristic of that which is postmodernnot so much looking for answers as demonstrating that questioning what is, is appropriate and necessary

The Cultural History and Future of Sheep Farming in the High Country

From agricultural development theories, literature research, and interviews with community members that raised sheep, I have attempted to piece together a cultural history surrounding sheep in the High Country. By describing the past during the height of sheep production during the 1930s and 1940s, one can view the community structure and reasons why sheep production was so popular. Reasons for the decline in sheep are discussed. I seek to determine the viability of raising sheep in the High Country today, applying lessons from the past and encouraging the use of new alternative and emerging markets in innovative ways

An Exploration of the Worklife Experiences of Autistic Women in the UK

Existing studies suggest that few autistic women are employed in the workplace. However, because many autistic women have been diagnosed or self-identify later in life they may well have been employed in numerous workplaces, without appearing in statistics. This study explores the worklife experiences of autistic women in the workplace in the United Kingdom using oral history interviewing techniques with 35 autistic female participants. The qualitative research is analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2019) and a theoretical and conceptual framework of autism and identity. This study shows that autistic women carry out a wide range of jobs which go beyond stereotypical assumptions of what they might undertake as employment. However, the research demonstrates a chaotic employment pattern with multiple jobs undertaken. The study also shows that autistic women undertake identity work, impression management and masking in the workplace which may trigger anxiety and stigma. Prior to being diagnosed or self-identifying, women may be unable to resolve their identity in the workplace, leading many to feel stigmatised or broken, but after receiving a diagnosis or self-identifying the women were able to reappraise their careers and lives. Having an autism diagnosis can provide a gateway to workplace support and accommodations and allows a woman to access measures that might improve the interview or employment experience. The study has also shown a variety of challenges faced by autistic women in the workplace and suggests that these are driven by double empathy problems where a breakdown of communication or understanding has occurred between an autistic woman and their allistic co-worker, supervisor, or manager, and vice versa. The study also demonstrates that exhaustion or ‘autistic burnout’ was a feature for many participants resulting from the amount of masking needed to ‘fit in’ at work. Reasonable adjustments were patchy in the workplace, due either to participants not disclosing their diagnosis, or to a lack of understanding by employers about what adjustments could be made. The study also found that autistic women were often value driven in the workplace and considered that they were doing more work than the allistic worker or had a greater work ethic. The study contributes to the literature on autism, identity, and stigma in the workplace by helping understand their historic patterns of employment and the implications of an early or late diagnosis. It also considers the longitudinal patterns of employment of autistic women and where employers and support organisations can enhance their provision, in offering support. The interviews conducted for this study do not represent the views of all autistic women or all autistic people and so it represents an exploratory study of the multitude of issues associated with employment. This study was also limited to the UK and does not cover the experiences of autistic women in other countries who may also be affected by other intersectional or structural issues in their countries. The study highlights the continuing need for easy access to autism diagnostic services to enable autistic women to access appropriate support for all areas of their lives. Career guidance for autistic people could include guidance from older autistic workers currently in the workplace ensuring that careers opportunities are understood beyond stereotypical IT or analytical jobs

Potential Effects of an Invasive Nitrogen-Fixing Tree on a Hawaiian Stream Food Web.

v. ill. 23 cm.QuarterlyFalcataria moluccana (albizia) is an exotic nitrogen (N)-fixing tree currently invading riparian forests in Hawai‘i, U.S.A. This study examined how this invasion is impacting stream ecosystems by using naturally occurring stable isotopes of carbon (C) and N to compare food web structure between a noninvaded and an albizia-invaded stream reach on the island of Hawai‘i. Isotopic signatures of particulate organic matter (POM), macroalgae, invertebrates, and fishes were collected and compared between the two stream reaches. Stable C isotopic signatures of organic matter sources (POM and macroalgae) and consumers (amphipods, caddisflies, crayfish, and fishes) from the invaded site were depleted in 13C compared with the noninvaded site. In contrast, all samples from the invaded site were enriched in 15N compared with the noninvaded site. Results from IsoSource and two-source mixing models suggested that albizia was a major contributor to diets of lower-level consumers within the invaded site, displacing POM and macroalgae as their major food sources. Albizia was also an indirect C and N source for higher-level consumers within the invaded site because albizia was the major dietary constituent of their prey. In addition, 15N enrichment of the macroalgae at the invaded site suggests that albizia may be an important N source to benthic primary producers and could be further altering the food web from bottom up. Our study provides some of the first evidence that invasive riparian N-fixing trees can potentially alter the structure of stream food webs

GNC University: A Case Study in Partnering Business and Education through Distance Learning

In 2002, General Nutrition Corporation, Inc. contacted the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida to collaborate in offering a series of courses in introductory nutrition for GNC employees in order to equip them with basic nutrition knowledge. The purpose of this case study was to describe the GNC University program as a model for business-education partnerships via distance education, to describe student expectations for the GNC University experience, to describe student reactions to the GNC University experience, and to describe the reaction of teaching assistants to their experience with GNC University. There were several key findings in this study. Students’ expectations are to increase in nutrition knowledge, professionally and personally, and to increase in their technological skills. There is a need, in future evaluation of this program, to measure whether students feel their expectations of increased knowledge and technological skills are being met. Additionally, focus groups with teaching assistants revealed a need for greater preparation for assisting students with technical difficulties. Overall, this program shows promise for business-education partnerships through distance education

Is Oligometastatic Cancer Curable? A Survey of Oncologist Perspectives, Decision Making, and Communication

PURPOSE Oligometastatic disease (OMD) refers to a limited state of metastatic cancer, which potentially derives benefit from local treatments. Given the relative novelty of this paradigm, oncologist perspectives on OMD are not well established. We thus explored oncologist views on curability of and treatment recommendations for patients with OMD. METHODS AND MATERIALS We developed a survey focused on oncologist views of 3 subtypes of OMD: synchronous, oligorecurrent, and oligoprogressive. Eligible participants included medical and radiation oncologists at 2 large cancer centers invited to participate between May and June 2022. Participants were presented with 3 hypothetical patient scenarios and asked about treatment recommendations, rationale, and demographic information. RESULTS Of 44 respondents, over half (61.4%) agreed that synchronous OMD is curable. A smaller proportion (46.2% and 13.5%) agreed for oligorecurrence and oligoprogression, respectively. When asked whether they use the word "cure" or "curative" in discussing prognosis, 31.8% and 33.3% agreed for synchronous and oligorecurrent OMD, respectively, while 78.4% disagreed for oligoprogression. Views on curability did not significantly affect treatment recommendations. More medical oncologists recommended systemic treatment only compared with radiation oncologists for the synchronous OMD (50.0% vs 5.3%; P < .01) and oligoprogression cases (43.8% vs 10.5%; P = .02), not the oligorecurrent case. There were no significant differences in confidence in treatment recommendations by specialty. CONCLUSIONS In this exploratory study, we found notable divergence in oncologists' views about curability of OMD as well as variability in treatment recommendations, suggesting need for more robust research on outcomes of patients with OMD