Multilevel perspective

The multilevel perspective described in the previous section provides a framework for organizing and developing some clarity among the many descriptions and definitions of inclusion that have begun to appear in both academic and applied work. Because the concept of inclusion can be so broad and encompass so many aspects, it can sometimes unfortunately appear that the term is not quite precise. Yet, when we sort the concepts and definitions... 

Moving from the assumption that such processes occur in a multidimensional space, this perspective, also known as the multilevel perspective (MLR), analyses... 

We hope to have convinced the reader by now that the tunneling centers in glasses are complicated objects that would have to be described using an enormously big Hilbert space, currently beyond our computational capacity. This multilevel character can be anticipated coming from the low-temperature perspective in Lubchenko and Wolynes [4]. Indeed, if a defect has at least two alternative states between which it can tunnel, this system is at least as complex as a double-well potential—clearly a multilevel system, reducing to a TLS at the lowest temperatures. Deviations from a simple two-level behavior have been seen directly in single-molecule experiments [105]. In order to predict the energies at which this multilevel behavior would be exhibited, we first estimate the domain wall mass. Obviously, the total mass of all the atoms in the droplet... 

The continued use of aw in foods does not preclude the use of other concepts or measurement methods, such as the food polymer science approach proposed by Slade and Levine (1991) or rotational and translation mobility as measured by NMR. Rather, it may be most useful to combine these various approaches, recognizing the strengths, perspective (i.e., distance and time scales), and limitations of each. Then, each approach can be utilized where it is most applicable so as to build a multilevel understanding of the workings of specific food systems. 

So far, I have presented various ways to conceptualize inclusion in the context of an emergent multilevel framework. From a practical perspective, the question then arises as to how to operationalize inclusion at each of these levels. What are the specihc elements of inclusion As exemplified in many of the quotes in Table 1.1, there are multiple ways to describe these, and the particular elements that are addressed can vary. In this section, I provide illustrative examples of such lists from my own research and consulting work as well as from other sources. First, I briefly discuss the importance of involving stakeholders in generating their own operational descriptions of inclusion, and I give an example of how this can be done. 

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