Evolution of decision-making and learning under fluctuating social environments

The capacity to learn to associate sensory perceptions with appropriate motor actions underlies the success of many animal species, from insects to humans. The evolutionary significance of learning has long been a subject of interest for evolutionary biologists who emphasize the bene¬fit yielded by learning under changing environmental conditions, where it is required to flexibly switch from one behavior to another. However, two unsolved questions are particularly impor¬tant for improving our knowledge of the evolutionary advantages provided by learning, and are addressed in the present work. First, because it is possible to learn the wrong behavior when a task is too complex, the learning rules and their underlying psychological characteristics that generate truly adaptive behavior must be identified with greater precision, and must be linked to the specific ecological problems faced by each species. A framework for predicting behavior from the definition of a learning rule is developed here. Learning rules capture cognitive features such as the tendency to explore, or the ability to infer rewards associated to unchosen actions. It is shown that these features interact in a non-intuitive way to generate adaptive behavior in social interactions where individuals affect each other's fitness. Such behavioral predictions are used in an evolutionary model to demonstrate that, surprisingly, simple trial-and-error learn¬ing is not always outcompeted by more computationally demanding inference-based learning, when population members interact in pairwise social interactions. A second question in the evolution of learning is its link with and relative advantage compared to other simpler forms of phenotypic plasticity. After providing a conceptual clarification on the distinction between genetically determined vs. learned responses to environmental stimuli, a new factor in the evo¬lution of learning is proposed: environmental complexity. A simple mathematical model shows that a measure of environmental complexity, the number of possible stimuli in one's environ¬ment, is critical for the evolution of learning. In conclusion, this work opens roads for modeling interactions between evolving species and their environment in order to predict how natural se¬lection shapes animals' cognitive abilities. - La capacité d'apprendre à associer des sensations perceptives à des actions motrices appropriées est sous-jacente au succès évolutif de nombreuses espèces, depuis les insectes jusqu'aux êtres hu¬mains. L'importance évolutive de l'apprentissage est depuis longtemps un sujet d'intérêt pour les biologistes de l'évolution, et ces derniers mettent l'accent sur le bénéfice de l'apprentissage lorsque les conditions environnementales sont changeantes, car dans ce cas il est nécessaire de passer de manière flexible d'un comportement à l'autre. Cependant, deux questions non résolues sont importantes afin d'améliorer notre savoir quant aux avantages évolutifs procurés par l'apprentissage. Premièrement, puisqu'il est possible d'apprendre un comportement incorrect quand une tâche est trop complexe, les règles d'apprentissage qui permettent d'atteindre un com¬portement réellement adaptatif doivent être identifiées avec une plus grande précision, et doivent être mises en relation avec les problèmes écologiques spécifiques rencontrés par chaque espèce. Un cadre théorique ayant pour but de prédire le comportement à partir de la définition d'une règle d'apprentissage est développé ici. Il est démontré que les caractéristiques cognitives, telles que la tendance à explorer ou la capacité d'inférer les récompenses liées à des actions non ex¬périmentées, interagissent de manière non-intuitive dans les interactions sociales pour produire des comportements adaptatifs. Ces prédictions comportementales sont utilisées dans un modèle évolutif afin de démontrer que, de manière surprenante, l'apprentissage simple par essai-et-erreur n'est pas toujours battu par l'apprentissage basé sur l'inférence qui est pourtant plus exigeant en puissance de calcul, lorsque les membres d'une population interagissent socialement par pair. Une deuxième question quant à l'évolution de l'apprentissage concerne son lien et son avantage relatif vis-à-vis d'autres formes plus simples de plasticité phénotypique. Après avoir clarifié la distinction entre réponses aux stimuli génétiquement déterminées ou apprises, un nouveau fac¬teur favorisant l'évolution de l'apprentissage est proposé : la complexité environnementale. Un modèle mathématique permet de montrer qu'une mesure de la complexité environnementale - le nombre de stimuli rencontrés dans l'environnement - a un rôle fondamental pour l'évolution de l'apprentissage. En conclusion, ce travail ouvre de nombreuses perspectives quant à la mo¬délisation des interactions entre les espèces en évolution et leur environnement, dans le but de comprendre comment la sélection naturelle façonne les capacités cognitives des animaux.

De la baja de un buque de la Armada como recurso socio-económico y ambiental: estrategias para la cohesión y formación del tejido social, el futuro pesquero y la protección ambiental

En la actualidad, la Armada española cuenta con un total de 103 buques (LOBA, 2009). Cada uno de ellos tiene una misión específica de acuerdo a sus características. Dicha misión condicionará la vida útil del navío. Cuando un buque es dado de baja, surgen las siguientes preguntas: ¿Qué hacer con ellos? ¿Tienen alguna utilidad? ¿Generan un impacto ambiental? En este proyecto, se presentan diferentes propuestas que tienen como finalidad obtener el mayor beneficio del recurso. Cada una de ellas buscará el máximo rédito en aspectos como la cohesión en el tejido social y la socio-economía de una zona determinada y la protección del medio marino junto al futuro de la pesca de arrastre en nuestro país. A lo largo del trabajo, se verá la dificultad de desguazar buques con gran eslora en nuestros astilleros, así como también los problemas administrativos y políticos a los que se enfrentan asociaciones y ayuntamientos que quieren adquirir un buque, para convertirlo en un museo o en un pecio, respectivamente. El objetivo principal es dar a conocer cuál es la situación, pero sin entrar a determinar qué opción sería mejor para cada tipo de navío.

Department for Social Development, Belfast City Centre Northside Urban Village, Draft Regeneration Framework. Health Impact Assessment Report

IPH conducted a rapid HIA appraisal in response to the consultation on DSD Draft Regeneration Framework. The Department for Social Development (DSD) has developed a Draft Regeneration Framework for the North West Quarter Part 2 area of Belfast City Centre, to be known as the Northside Urban Village. The Framework, which outlines the vision for the redevelopment of an inner city area of Belfast was released for public consultation in April 2008. In responding to this consultation, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) conducted a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in order to assess how the proposed Framework might impact on the health of those living in or close to the area as well as the wider Belfast population. The key recommendations which resulted from this process have been presented to the Department. This paper presents an overview of the HIA conducted.

IPH response to the HIQA consultation on the National Demographic Dataset and Guidance for use in health and social care settings in Ireland

The remit of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is to promote cooperation for public health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the areas of research and information, capacity building and policy advice. Our approach is to support Departments of Health and their agencies in both jurisdictions, and maximise the benefits of all-island cooperation to achieve practical benefits for people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. IPH have previously responded to consultations to the Department of Health’s Discussion Paper on the Proposed Health Information Bill (June 2008), the Health Information and Quality Authority on their Corporate Plan (Oct 2007), and the Road Safety Authority of Ireland Road Safety Strategy (Jul 2012). IPH supports the development of a national standard demographic dataset for use within the health and social care services. Provided necessary safeguards are put in place (such as ethics and data protection) and the purpose of collecting the information is fully explained to subjects, mandatory provision of a minimum demographic dataset is usually the best way to achieve the necessary coverage and data quality. Demographic information is needed in several forms to support the public health function: Detailed aggregated information for comparison to population counts in order to assess equity of access to healthcare as well as examining population patterns and trends in morbidity and mortality Accurate demographic information for the surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks, monitoring vaccination programmes, setting priorities for public health interventions Linked to other data outside of health and social care such as population data, survey data, and longitudinal studies for research and analysis purposes.   Identify and address public health issues to tackle health inequalities, and to monitor the success of such efforts to tackle them.

Guidance on the transfer of mentally disordered patients detained under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 to and from Hospitals in Great Britain - August 2011 (PDF 101 KB)

Guidance on the transfer of mentally disordered patients detained under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 to and from Hospitals in Great Britain - August 2011.

The Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986 - prescribed forms (PDF 169 KB)

The Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986 - prescribed forms.

La participación social como método de conservación. Estudio de caso en el área de conservación arenal Huetar norte de Costa Rica

El presente estudio se realiza con la intención de contribuir a establecer las bases para una buena gestión del territorio en el Área de conservación arenal Huetar norte de Costa Rica mediante la participación social; garantizando la conservación del capital natural y el desarrollo económico, social y ambientalmente sostenible. Para ello, se ha colaborado en la formación del Consejo Local del Corredor Biológico Ruta Los Malécu-Medio Queso (CL CBRLM-MQ) y del Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro (RNVSCN), formado por una coalición social que tendrá el objetivo de gestionar su propio territorio. Con la intención de capacitar a los integrantes de este consejo, y a los pobladores de la Zona Norte de Costa Rica en general, y orientarlos hacia la buena gestión de los recursos naturales, se ha realizado un análisis detallado sobre su percepción sobre los Servicios Ecosistémicos de la región. El resultado de este proyecto, es un manual de educación y comunicación ambiental sobre los servicios ecosistémicos de la Zona Norte para el educador/a. Con este manual se pretende capacitar a los pobladores sobre el valor de los SE, todo con la finalidad de promover cambios de actitudes y de conductas que fomenten una relación respetuosa con la naturaleza para alcanzar el desarrollo sostenible de la región y de esta manera mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes de esta zona.

Children Order Advisory Committee Sixth Report (PDF 821 KB)

Children Order Advisory Committee sixth report

Children Order Statistical Bulletin 2005 (PDF 278 KB)

Statistical information based on the Children Order returns for NI up to 31st March 2005

The Children Order Advisory Committee (PDF 410 KB)

Fifth Report

Draft Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004 - Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 296 KB)

Draft Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004 - Explanatory Memorandum

Draft Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004 (PDF 306 KB)

Draft Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004

Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004 - Regulatory Impact Assessment (PDF 254 KB)

Recovery of Health Services Charges (NI) Order 2004 - Regulatory Impact Assessment

Children Order Advisory Committee: Delay in Children Order Cases

Children Order Advisory Committee: Delay in Children Order Cases