bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of Moral Cognition
Authors:   , Scott Tony James 
Published: November 2021

<p>Many modern approaches to the evolution of mind have claimed that the fundamental drivers of our cognitive capacities and cultures are genetically specified psychological adaptations, which evolved in response to evolutionary pressures deep within our lineage's history. Many of our cognitive capacities are innate. Recent approaches to moral cognition have similarly argued that moral cognition is innate. In this thesis, I argue that even though our capacity for moral cognising is an adaptation, it is a learned adaptation. Moral cognition is not innate. In arguing this thesis I will question many of the assumptions of traditional cognitive science and evolutionary approaches to the mind. By incorporating theory and evidence from cognitive science and the philosophy of mind, I apply the explanatory frameworks of embodied and extended cognition to the domain of morality: moral cognition is both embodied and extended cognition. This places particular importance on the role of our bodies and world in the fundamental structuring and scaffolding of the development and execution of moral cognition. Putting this in an evolutionary framework, I develop a dual inheritance model of the non-nativist evolution of moral cognition focusing on the roles of niche construction, biased learning and active learning in the transfer of moral phenotypes between generations. Morality is a learned adaptation that evolved through the dynamic and reciprocal interaction between genes and culture.</p>
How Does Professional Development Impact on Teachers' Use of an Interactive Whiteboard in New Zealand Primary Classrooms?
Authors:   , Grover Robyn 
Published: November 2021

<p>My research examined how professional development impacts on teachers' use of an interactive whiteboard in New Zealand primary classrooms. The research, in the form of a survey and qualitative case study, specifically looked at the professional development experienced by teachers with an IWB and contextual factors that enhance and constrain the introduction of an IWB for teachers learning to use it in their class programme. It also explored how an IWB is used in the classroom programme. Sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework to analyse the data. The findings of the research showed that professional development featured as both an enhancing and constraining factor. This was determined by the content of the activity. Sustained professional development appeared to have the most impact on teachers' IWB use. The data examined how and why teachers like to use an IWB, and the impact of the unique and multi-media features of the IWB had on teacher pedagogy and students. Recommendations are made for effective professional development for IWB users and areas for further research are discussed.</p>
Technology Translation and Synthesis: A Conceptual Framework for Critiquing Determinism in the Development Project
Authors:   , Paxton Rebecca 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis constructs a theoretical framework which critiques the legitimacy of technology transfer for the purposes of development. Under the auspices of the development project, technology transfer has involved the introduction of technology into so-called developing societies in the hope of leapfrogging them toward modernity. This process embodies a deterministic definition of technology that sees it as an inherently objective and rational process, mapping the ideas of Western science. Hence, all technological and social change is expected to follow a linear progression from pre-modern to modern, and developing to developed, respectively. In contrast, philosophers of technology have argued that technology has a cultural dimension which permits multiple avenues of change. This definition incorporates a dialogue between technology and society, whereby technologies are reinterpreted and imbued with culturally specific meanings by the adopting societies. The culturally contingent nature of these meanings entails that they are not necessarily transferable between cultures. Rather, technology must be translated. Conceptually, technology translation requires that aspects of the donor and recipient cultures are intertwined, producing a novel set of hybridised meanings. I argue that this process occurs primarily through the mode of synthesis - an emergent process whose outcomes are not predictable based solely on a priori knowledge of the interacting cultures. These ideas are tested in case studies arising from Indian agriculture. Indian agriculture has a long history of external agricultural influence in the shape of European colonialism, the Green Revolution and the more recent Gene Revolution. The results support the idea that both technology transfer and synthesis have occurred in Indian agriculture following the adoption of new technologies. Development agencies must revise their simplistic notion of technology by acknowledging the centrality of culture as part of technology, therefore, if they wish to ensure greater success in the future.</p>
Kia Maia ki te Kanga o Ta Koutou Ahi: Keeping the Home Fires Burning
Authors:   , Kumar Te Atawhai Praneeta Devi 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis articulates physical activities of tangata whenua occupation and use as being central to the operations of ahi ka and fundamental to the demonstration of mana whenua and mana moana. The focus on use and occupation of land expresses ahi ka as a practical tool, but more importantly, as a catalyst of Maori tribal identity and cultural permanency. The customary framework of Nga Tatai Ahi Ka is applied to demonstrate intricacies, flexibility and fragility of ahi ka as a holistic tool, symbolic of identity, permanency and well-being. A richer understanding of ahi ka shows that its practical functions exceeds mere occupation and use by contributing to the socio-political, cultural, spiritual and intellectual landscape of Maori tribal peoples. The visioning of ahi ka casts the indigenous net wider by examining the local context of Mer Islands located in the Torres Strait Archipelago. Meriam customs and practices reveal the Malo ra Gelar framework as a holistic law of organisation, akin to ahi ka . Together, the Nga Ta tai Ahi Ka and Malo ra Gelar frameworks illustrate two complex and pragmatic knowledge systems as an assertion of two indigenous peoples' holistic relationships to their surrounding landscape. The usefulness of this research serves to open up new spaces of inquiry into ahi ka and Malo ra Gelar as holistic applications of self-determination, self-identification, and sovereignty of our future landscape, destinies and realities. Furthermore, its application could extend towards other indigenous nations to continuously challenge their colonial landscapes by privileging their holistic approaches as assertions of autonomy over people and place.</p>
From Women in Development to Gender and Development? A case study of a women's organisation: (AMA) Asociacion de Mujeres de Acosta, San Ignacio de Acosta, Costa Rica
Authors:   , Hegarty Matilda 
Published: November 2021

<p>This dissertation documents research conducted with the 'Asociacion de Mujeres de Acosta' (AMA), in a mountainous rural region of Costa Rica, in Central America. AMA was originally set up to counter some negative effects of Costa Rican society, such as 'machismo' and the rural depopulation of women to the capital San Jose. The association implemented a Women In Development (WID) approach, which enabled women to gather and generate an income. The aim of my research is to examine the evolution of AMA since its inception, and to assess its current status in light of international shifts in development policy from WID to Gender And Development (GAD). It provides a rare opportunity to assess an organisation's evolution and its impact on women over a 30-year period. It also enables me to build on Kindon and Odell's earlier research with the organisation in 1990. The research uses qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, a focus group, a questionnaire and field notes, from five months of fieldwork in the community with members of AMA. The key findings show that AMA membership has decreased since its inception in 1980. Compared with results from previous research with AMA in 1990, my findings reveal that AMA has been slow to embrace international policy agendas and continues to adopt a WID approach. AMA does not yet reflect international and national development trends associated with gender and development, particularly in light of some similar organisations in Central and South America. While benefits have accrued to some of AMA members, they do not yet earn a decent wage to satisfy their needs. There are major intergenerational and interscalar issues, which are similar to those identified in 1990. These concerns are associated with power imbalances inside and outside of the association, traditional attitudes towards women due to the culture of 'machismo', and lack of appropriate information and funding sources. These issues appear to be stifling change and raise serious questions about the future sustainability of the association, as well as the relevance of international development policy changes for rural women in associations like AMA. Women of AMA are now looking for new projects and beginning to think about including men in the association. These slow changes, if enacted, may enable the organisation to survive another 30 years.</p>
Beginning Teachers, Schools and Diversity
Authors:   , Muralidharan Vijaya 
Published: November 2021

<p>As the field of education world-wide is explicitly striving to make schools and education available to all children and young persons, classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of language, culture, religion, gender, abilities, socioeconomic status and geographic setting. This rapidly growing phenomenon has educators trying to grapple with ways to prepare and support teachers to be responsive to the diverse needs of students in their classrooms. In New Zealand, cultural diversity is also growing rapidly. By the middle of this century nearly half the student population will be of Pasifika origin. Those opting into the teaching profession must be equipped to confront this reality. While initial teacher education can provide opportunities for student teachers to critically examine their own beliefs and orientation towards diversity, and also provide a snapshot of the reality of classrooms through practicum, it is when they begin actual teaching in schools that the "rubber hits the road". This ethnographic study explores the beliefs and attitudes of beginning teachers about student diversity and possible influences of the primary school culture on their perceptions and practice. Seven beginning teachers were involved in the study over a period of 6-18 months. Multiple data sources were used and data was thematically analysed across the settings using a grounded theory approach.</p>
Visual Signalling in Plant-Animal Interactions
Authors:   , N Rosely Nik Fadzly 
Published: November 2021

<p>The process of visual signalling between plant and animals is often a combination of exciting discoveries and more often than not; highly controversial hypotheses. Plants and animals interact mutualistically and antagonistically creating a complex network of species relations to some extent suggesting a co evolutionary network. In this study, I investigate two basic research questions: the first is how plants utilize aposematic and cryptic colours? The second is how animals are affected by the colour signals broadcasted by plants? By using the avian eye model, I discover how visual signals/colours from plants are actually perceived, and the effects of these signals on birds (not human) perception. Aposematism and crypsis are common strategies utilized by animals, yet little evidence is known of such occurrences in plants. Aposematic and cryptic colours were evaluated by studying different colouration strategy through the ontogeny of two native heteroblastic New Zealand plants: Pseudopanax crassifolius and Elaeocarpus hookerianus. To determine the potential effect of colour signals on animals, I investigated an evolutionary theory of leaf colours constraining the conspicuousness of their fruit colour counterparts. Based on the available data, I also conducted a community level analysis about the effects of fruit colours and specific avian frugivores that might be attracted to them. Finally, I examined the fruit colour selection by a frugivorous seed dispersing insect; the Wellington Tree Weta (Hemideina crassidens). My result shows that aposematic and cryptic colours are successfully applied by plants to either warn or remain inconspicuous from browsing herbivores. The evidence I presented lends support to the Moa browsing hypothesis in relation to constraining the conspicuousness of their fruit colour counterparts. Based on the cryptic plant colourations. However, the same level of selective interaction could not be inferred for frugivore fruit colour selection based on avian vision. I demonstrated that leaf reflectance does not constrain/influence the conspicuousness of fruit colours. There was also no fruit colour diversity based on geographical location. Fruit colour alone is not sufficient to influence a specific frugivore assemblage. Other environmental factors and species interaction must be taken into account. Weta proved to possess colour vision capable of colour perception even in low light conditions. Weta also consistently selected naturally blue streaked and manipulated blue coloured fruits of Coprosma acerosa in a binary test. This supports the idea of weta co- evolving with fruit colours of certain divaricating plants in New Zealand. I suggest that the fruit colours of New Zealand are shaped by the combined selection pressure from birds, lizards/geckos and weta.</p>
Properties of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Films
Authors:   , Ravi Shrividya 
Published: November 2021

<p>The preparation and physical properties of transparent, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks fabricated from a novel, organic dispersion are described here for the first time. Characterisation of SWNT dispersions uncovered shifts in the radial breathing modes as a function of aggregation. These modes were redshifted in centrifuged butylamine dispersions by ~3cm -1. SWNT films cast using a simple, drop-deposition technique were annealed at 300'C after fabrication to remove solvent and surfactant residue. Annealed films with a sheet resistance of magnitude ~10 4 kOhms/square and transparency of ~85 % were fabricated in this study. The optoelectronic properties showed some inconsistency due to varying levels of oxygen doping and film thickness. Thin films annealed at 500'C were found to be preferentially depleted of nanotubes with high chiral angle and small diameter. Oxidative effects were also observed upon annealing at temperatures as low as 300'C. However, the reasons for this premature combustion are as yet uncertain. Temperature-dependent conduction studies revealed that the removal of adsorbed surfactant considerably reduced tunnelling barriers in annealed films. The dominant conduction mechanism in both unannealed and annealed films was found to be 3D variable range hopping. In the annealed films, a high temperature activation regime (with activation energy of 220 meV) was observed above 225 K. This regime is due to thermal activation over Schottky barriers within the nanotube network or electron activation over the pseudogap in armchair tubes.</p>
Coca, Bolivia, and the War on Drugs: the Tension between Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want
Authors:   , Yap Renee 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis aims to demonstrate the tension between human security's core categories of freedom from fear and freedom from want. The two core categories of human security are often held to be complementary to each other. However, by applying a human security analysis to the War on Drugs in Bolivia, particularly with reference to the ideas of freedom from fear and freedom from want, it can be seen that the War on Drugs in Bolivia typifies a freedom from fear approach. This is illustrated through the War on Drugs focus on protecting individuals from physical violence and human rights abuses relating to situations of conflict, as well as its use of coercion strategies, such as sanctions or non-unilateral force; all of these of which are usual to a freedom from fear approach. An examination of how the War on Drugs has impacted upon the individuals of Bolivia reveals that despite the desired outcome of protecting individual safety and well-being, the War on Drugs has actually compromised the safety and well-being of Bolivians. In addition, in typifying freedom from fear, the War on Drugs in Bolivia has also challenged freedom from want by marginalising or threatening economic, community, food and health security, and thus defying claims that freedom from fear and freedom from want are complementary. This thesis concludes that by pursuing political and personal security, freedom from fear marginalises and even contests food, health, environmental and most especially economic and community security - the focal points of freedom from want. Security policies adopted to address transnational threats in developing countries must ensure that they not only account for the freedom from fear and freedom from want components of human security, but that they also account for, and manage, the potential for freedom from fear to undermine the wider goals of freedom from want.</p>
Modelling Wireless Robots for Urban Search and Rescue in Artificial Rubble
Authors:   , Tsui Tik Wa Charles 
Published: November 2021

<p>Using robots to assist rescue personnel in USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) missions is an active area of research. Researchers are developing robots to penetrate into rubble to gather information about the environment and to search for victims. The School of Engineering and Computer Science of Victoria University of Wellington is developing a team of robots, the "robot family" to help at disasters. The robot family is a three-tier system. The first tier the "grandmother" which carries second tier "mother robots" to the rubble. The mother robot each launches a group of the third tier "daughter robots" that will penetrate the rubble surface. The daughter robots will burrow deep into the disaster site. They will be equipped with sensors to search for and locate trapped persons. They are designed to be small, battery operated, low cost and disposable. The team of robots is hierarchically structured and to be remotely monitored by rescue personnel at a safe distance from the rubble via a wireless communication link. This thesis describes the successful implementation of a wireless communication platform for the team of robots. This was verified using a simulated rubble site. A suitable ZigBee wireless module was selected by comparing a list of target brands to form the wireless network. A group of simulated wireless daughter robot models were developed by attaching wireless modules to microcontrollers. An automatic routing wireless network was implemented between the robots. They were deployed into artificial rubble and the communication system was characterised. Proof of concept experiments were carried out and demonstrated that rescue personnel using a computer at a safe distance outside the rubble could successfully establish reliable communication to monitor or control all robots inside the artificial rubble environment.</p>
The Mechanics of Order: An Inquiry into the Utopian Possibilities of the Free and Open Source Ecology
Authors:   , Hodgson Torrance 
Published: November 2021

<p>This is a study that concerns itself with two questions: how is order produced? and, is this order desirable? Contrary to many utopian methodologies that seek to elaborate 'what is not' but which 'ought to be', this is a study that seeks to contribute to a utopian mechanics by way of studying extant subterranean practices or ' minor traditions,' by studying elements of 'what is' that may also form something of what 'ought to be.' This study takes as its principal task to understand the production of order within a small free and open source project known as Compiz. It borrows from Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari to formulate the related concepts of the machine and the abstract machine in order to account for the ongoing production of order. These two concepts, following the lead of Bruno Latour, adhere to a 'flat social' ontology and bring forth the world of objects and space as being indispensible, alongside the members of Compiz, in accounting for the project's ordering. The study poses three primary machines of order: the Passport, the Exodus and the Module. The Passport regulates access within the virtual spaces of Compiz and produces a role known as the 'gatekeeper,' one who may exercise a power both vicarious and precarious. The machine of the Exodus makes the threat of desertion a real and ongoing possibility and in this establishes an 'imaginary counter' within the group, undermining the power of the gatekeeper and recasting him as a steward of the code, as 'maintainer.' The third machine, known as the Module, is designed to minimise the complexity of the project by way of the spatialisation and organisation of the code, but subsequently effects a concomitant spatialisation and organisation of developers and projects, coming in the end to shape the large scale order amongst free and open source projects. The study concludes by suggesting a 'present tense' and 'open ended' conception of utopia, in which both the machines of the Exodus and the Module - but not the Passport- would find themselves well placed.</p>