Research@Lincoln

Recent Submissions

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    The player-ethnographer: An ethnographic approach to the study of non-player characters in digital games
    (Association for Computing Machinery, 2020-02-04) Ogier, H
    This paper reports on the first steps toward the construction and evaluation of a novel methodological approach to the study of non-player characters in games, NPC Ethnography. In this approach, ethnographic data collection and analysis methods are applied to the study of game NPCs. The proposed approach has been tested in a single case study, an exploration of the appearance of "independent lives" among NPCs in the computer roleplaying game Fallout 4. This case study was motivated by the suggestion that the appearance of NPC autonomy is a key contributing factor to the commonly desired qualities of realism and believability. A total of 273 hours of ethnographic fieldwork were conducted, and ethnographic analysis of the resulting data led to an emergent framework of evidence for the appearance or illusion of NPCs leading independent lives. In this paper I discuss and evaluate the applicability of real-world ethnographic methods to NPCs as virtual human subjects, as explored through the case study. The ability to apply most of the tested methods to NPCs without significant modification to textbook examples of real-world applications supports NPC Ethnography as a valid methodological approach. The generation of useful results through the preliminary Fallout 4 case study illustrates the potential utility of NPC Ethnography as a methodology for applied NPC studies in games and virtual environments.
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    Evaluating the densities and distribution of root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) in wheat grown in Canterbury, New Zealand
    (New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.), 2023-05-18) Thiellier, MJ; Kularathna, Manjula
    Species of root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) are associated with significant reductions in wheat yield in wheat-growing regions around the world. Of these, Pratylenchus thornei and P. neglectus are known to cause the highest damage to the Australasian wheat industry. New Zealand is known to produce high wheat yields on a per-hectare basis yet little research has been conducted to date to determine the effects of Pratylenchus spp. on the production of wheat in New Zealand. Therefore, as the first step towards filling this knowledge gap, the current research focused on conducting surveys to determine the population densities and distribution of Pratylenchus spp. in wheat-growing regions in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand. Surveys were conducted at ten selected sites that were geographically distinct from each other. At six of the ten sites, lesion nematode populations were reported to be above the recorded Australian threshold of 2000 nematodes per kg of soil. In Australia, it’s been recorded that around 50% yield reductions can occur in intolerant wheat varieties when population densities reaches this number. Differences in population density within each location was also observed indicating the uneven distribution of lesion nematodes within a field. Morphological measurements of the nematodes collected from multiple sites during this study confirmed the presence of P. thornei and P. neglectus in Canterbury wheat-producing areas indicating a potential threat to the New Zealand wheat industry by root-lesion nematodes. Further studies need to be conducted to fully understand the situation and to develop management strategies to mitigate threats from nematodes.
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    Isolate differences in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum applied as a bioherbicide to Cirsium arvense
    (2018) Smith, B; Jones, E; Bourdôt, G; Casonato, Seona; Hinz, HL
    Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary has been proposed for use in a bioherbicide formulation to control Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. populations in pastures in New Zealand. Our research has investigated whether there is a difference between isolate S36 (the currently favored isolate) and another potential candidate, S37. Mycelial growth and morphology of the two isolates were compared on potato dextrose agar. A detached leaf bioassay was conducted on two populations of the thistle in Canterbury, New Zealand: one at Irwell and another at Lincoln. The fungus was applied as an oat formulation or as sclerotia. Lesion development on detached leaves was compared between the isolates, and molecular analysis was undertaken to determine if any genetic differences existed. S36 exhibited greater colony growth than S37 but no morphological differences were observed. Using the oat formulation on the Lincoln population of the thistle, S37 was more virulent than S36, forming substantially larger lesions. This difference was not observed on the Irwell population. In the detached leaf assays with the Irwell population, negligible (0.04%) germination of the S37 sclerotia occurred compared to 30% of the S36 sclerotia. The latter were more virulent, as assessed by lesion development. Random amplified polymorphic DNA indicated genetic differences between isolates S36 and S37 but whether these polymorphisms are responsible for virulence differences is unknown. This work indicates that the two isolates could be used together in a bioherbicide to overcome differences in virulence on different genotypes of C. arvense.
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    Te Whāriki subdivision Phases 1 and 2
    (Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2021) Bowring, Jacqueline; Chen, G
    Te Whāriki is a residential subdivision adjacent to Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand. By integrating the unique bicultural history of indigenous Māori and European cultures along with the ecological characteristics of the area into its framework, the project transformed a dairy farm owned by Lincoln University into a performance-focused residential landscape with high amenity value that creates a link between the university and its neighbouring township. Its ecological, educational, and cultural functions are supported by a series of interconnected wetlands, circulation networks, stormwater systems, and green spaces. The first phases of the project are complete, and the fourth phase, which is an expansion with more housing units, is ongoing as of 2021. Some of the site’s historic waterways were restored, and a new stormwater treatment system was created to help improve water quality 8 km downstream in Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere), a culturally significant lake for local Māori and one of New Zealand’s most polluted lakes as a consequence of agricultural runoff. Native plants from the time predating the dairy farm were reestablished to create wildlife habitat. The site is used by residents, including Lincoln University students and faculty who reside there, for physical activities, gathering, entertainment, and fruit and herb provision. University staff and students as well as local schools use the site for education including plant identification walks and field trips to learn about stormwater systems.
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    The future of monuments
    (2022) Bowring, Jacqueline
    Today, many want to pull down memorials as expressions of bad politics, especially those memorials that legitimise evil and injustice. What memorials need to go what can stay? Are their 'good' memorials—and who decides? Can we make use of 'bad' memorials? Is the form of the memorial itself now compromised? How do we understand miscellaneous contemporary memorial projects, like Peter Eisenman's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin and Ground Zero in New York, or Weta and Te Papa's The Scale of War and Peter Jackson 'colourising' World War I footage? Do memorials have a role moving forward? What form could future memorials take?