bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences and Challenges of Evidence Leaders ("Prosecutors") in Learner Disciplinary Hearings in Public Schools
Authors: Smith Anthony , Beckmann Johan , Mampane Sharon
Published: April 2016

After the abolition of corporal punishment at schools, teachers have been faced with an increase in unacceptable learner behaviour and threatening situations in their classrooms. An urgent need arose to address learner discipline in innovative ways.  Disciplinary hearings that deal with cases of serious misconduct represent a shift away from authoritarian control towards a corrective and restorative approach.  This article presents views of educators that had acted as evidence leaders (“ELs”) at disciplinary hearings. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews in a district of the Gauteng Education Department. AtlasTi software was utilised to analyse the verbatim interview transcriptions. Educators that usually served as evidence leaders (“prosecutors”), but had not been trained in law, experienced problems in conducting quasi-judicial functions without proper support and training. ELs regularly experience animosity from parents and learners; are frustrated by the unwillingness and failure of the provincial education departments to act in accordance with an SGB recommendation.  Disciplinary hearings are time-consuming and lawyers representing learners complicate rather than facilitate the process.  These weaknesses jeopardise the efficacy and fairness of the process and may ultimately defeat the purpose of a disciplinary hearing.
Protecting the Foundation and Magnificent Edifice of the Legal Profession: Reflections on Thukwane v Law Society of the Northern Provinces 2014 5 SA 513 (GP) and Mtshabe v Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope 2014 5 SA 376 (ECM)
Authors: Maloka Tumo Charles
Published: April 2016

The High Court decisions in Thukwane v Law Society of the Northern Provinces 2014 5 SA 513 (GP) and Mtshabe v Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope 2014 5 SA 376 (ECM) dealing with the question whether a parolee could be considered a "fit and proper person" to be admitted and readmitted to the roll of attorneys raise important and interrelated issues demanding definitive and systematic consideration. This contribution seeks to isolate some of the vexed questions concerning the novel issue of whether a person previously convicted of a criminal offence and who is still serving a sentence under a parole could be admitted and/or readmitted to the roll of legal practitioners.

Thukwane and Mtshabe demonstrate that the admission or readmission must not be damaging to the integrity and standing of the profession, the judicial system, or the administration of justice, or be contrary to the public interest. It is trite that public confidence in the legal profession is more important than the fortunes of any one practitioner or prospective practitioner.
Impacts of Global Wildfire Aerosols on Direct Radiative, Cloud and Surface-Albedo Forcings Simulated with CAM5
Authors: Jiang Yiquan , Lu Zheng , Liu Xiaohong , Qian Yun , Zhang Kai , Wang Yuhang , Yang Xiu-Qun
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Aerosols from wild-land fires could significantly perturb the global radiation balance and induce the climate change. In this study, the Community Atmospheric Model version 5 (CAM5) with prescribed daily fire aerosol emissions is used to investigate the spatial and seasonal characteristics of radiative effects (REs) of wildfire aerosols including black carbon (BC) and particulate organic matter (POM). The global annual mean direct radiative effect (DRE) of all fire aerosols is 0.155 ± 0.01 W m−2, mainly due to the absorption of fire BC (0.25 ± 0.01 W m−2), while fire POM induces a small overall effect (−0.05 to 0.04 ± 0.01 W m−2). Strong positive DRE is found in the Arctic and in the oceanic regions west of South Africa and South America as a result of amplified absorption of fire BC above low-level clouds, in general agreement with satellite observations. The global annual mean cloud radiative effects (CRE) due to all fire aerosols is −0.70 ± 0.05 W m−2, resulting mainly from the fire POM indirect effect (−0.59 ± 0.03 W m−2). The large cloud liquid water path over land areas of the Arctic favors the strong fire aerosol indirect effect (up to −15 W m−2) during the Arctic summer. Significant surface cooling, precipitation reduction and low-level cloud amount increase are also found in the Arctic summer as a result of the fire aerosol indirect effect. The global annual mean surface albedo effect (SAE) over land areas (0.03 ± 0.10 W m−2) is mainly due to the fire BC-in-snow effect (0.02 W m−2) with the maximum albedo effect occurring in spring (0.12 W m−2) when snow starts to melt.
Solar modulation of flood frequency in central Europe during spring and summer on interannual to multi-centennial timescales
Authors: Czymzik Markus , Muscheler Raimund , Brauer Achim
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Solar influences on climate variability are one of the most controversially discussed topics in climate research. We analyze solar forcing of flood frequency in central Europe during spring and summer on interannual to multi-centennial timescales, integrating daily discharge data of the River Ammer (southern Germany) back to AD 1926 (∼  solar cycles 16–23) and the 5500-year flood layer record from varved sediments of the downstream Ammersee. Flood frequency in the River Ammer discharge record is significantly correlated to changes in solar activity when the flood record lags the solar signal by 2–3 years (2-year lag: r = −0.375, p = 0.01; 3-year lag: r = −0.371, p = 0.03). Flood layer frequency in the Ammersee sediment record depicts distinct multi-decadal variations and significant correlations to a total solar irradiance reconstruction (r = −0.4, p <  0.0001) and 14C production rates (r = 0.37, p <  0.0001), reflecting changes in solar activity. On all timescales, flood frequency is higher when solar activity is reduced. In addition, the configuration of atmospheric circulation associated with periods of increased River Ammer flood frequency broadly resembles that during intervals of reduced solar activity, as expected to be induced by the so-called solar top-down mechanism by model studies. Both atmospheric patterns are characterized by an increase in meridional airflow associated with enhanced atmospheric blocking over central Europe. Therefore, the significant correlations as well as similar atmospheric circulation patterns might provide empirical support for a solar influence on hydroclimate extremes in central Europe during spring and summer by the so-called solar top-down mechanism.
Discrete-Element bonded-particle Sea Ice model DESIgn, version 1.3a – model description and implementation
Authors: Herman Agnieszka
Published: April 2016

Abstract. This paper presents theoretical foundations, numerical implementation and examples of application of the two-dimensional Discrete-Element bonded-particle Sea Ice model – DESIgn. In the model, sea ice is represented as an assemblage of objects of two types: disk-shaped "grains" and semi-elastic bonds connecting them. Grains move on the sea surface under the influence of forces from the atmosphere and the ocean, as well as interactions with surrounding grains through direct contact (Hertzian contact mechanics) and/or through bonds. The model has an experimental option of taking into account quasi-three-dimensional effects related to the space- and time-varying curvature of the sea surface, thus enabling simulation of ice breaking due to stresses resulting from bending moments associated with surface waves. Examples of the model's application to simple sea ice deformation and breaking problems are presented, with an analysis of the influence of the basic model parameters ("microscopic" properties of grains and bonds) on the large-scale response of the modeled material. The model is written as a toolbox suitable for usage with the open-source numerical library LIGGGHTS. The code, together with full technical documentation and example input files, is freely available with this paper and on the Internet.
Implementation of a Marauding Insect Module (MIM, version 1.0) in the Integrated BIosphere Simulator (IBIS, version 2.6b4) dynamic vegetation–land surface model
Authors: Landry Jean-Sébastien , Price David T. , Ramankutty Navin , Parrott Lael , Matthews H. Damon
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Insects defoliate and kill plants in many ecosystems worldwide. The consequences of these natural processes on terrestrial ecology and nutrient cycling are well established, and their potential climatic effects resulting from modified land–atmosphere exchanges of carbon, energy, and water are increasingly being recognized. We developed a Marauding Insect Module (MIM) to quantify, in the Integrated BIosphere Simulator (IBIS), the consequences of insect activity on biogeochemical and biogeophysical fluxes, also accounting for the effects of altered vegetation dynamics. MIM can simulate damage from three different insect functional types: (1) defoliators on broadleaf deciduous trees, (2) defoliators on needleleaf evergreen trees, and (3) bark beetles on needleleaf evergreen trees, with the resulting impacts being estimated by IBIS based on the new, insect-modified state of the vegetation. MIM further accounts for the physical presence and gradual fall of insect-killed dead standing trees. The design of MIM should facilitate the addition of other insect types besides the ones already included and could guide the development of similar modules for other process-based vegetation models. After describing IBIS–MIM, we illustrate the usefulness of the model by presenting results spanning daily to centennial timescales for vegetation dynamics and cycling of carbon, energy, and water in a simplified setting and for bark beetles only. More precisely, we simulated 100 % mortality events from the mountain pine beetle for three locations in western Canada. We then show that these simulated impacts agree with many previous studies based on field measurements, satellite data, or modelling. MIM and similar tools should therefore be of great value in assessing the wide array of impacts resulting from insect-induced plant damage in the Earth system.
Does drought alter hydrological functions in forest soils?
Authors: Gimbel Katharina F. , Puhlmann Heike , Weiler Markus
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Climate change is expected to impact the water cycle and severely affect precipitation patterns across central Europe and in other parts of the world, leading to more frequent and severe droughts. Usually when projecting drought impacts on hydrological systems, it is assumed that system properties, like soil properties, remain stable and will not be affected by drought events. To study if this assumption is appropriate, we address the effects of drought on the infiltration behavior of forest soils using dye tracer experiments on six sites in three regions across Germany, which were forced into drought conditions. The sites cover clayey-, loamy- and sandy-textured soils. In each region, we compared a deciduous and a coniferous forest stand to address differences between the main tree species. The results of the dye tracer experiments show clear evidence for changes in infiltration behavior at the sites. The infiltration changed at the clayey plots from regular and homogeneous flow to fast preferential flow. Similar behavior was observed at the loamy plots, where large areas in the upper layers remained dry, displaying signs of strong water repellency. This was confirmed by water drop penetration time (WDPT) tests, which revealed, in all except one plot, moderate to severe water repellency. Water repellency was also accountable for the change of regular infiltration to fingered flow in the sandy soils. The results of this study suggest that the drought history or, more generally, the climatic conditions of a soil in the past are more important than the actual antecedent soil moisture status regarding hydrophobicity and infiltration behavior; furthermore, drought effects on infiltration need to be considered in hydrological models to obtain realistic predictions concerning water quality and quantity in runoff and groundwater recharge.
Brief communication: Two well-marked cases of aerodynamic adjustment of sastrugi
Authors: Amory C. , Naaim-Bouvet F. , Gallée H. , Vignon E.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. In polar regions, sastrugi are a direct manifestation of drifting snow and form the main surface roughness elements. In turn, sastrugi alter the generation of atmospheric turbulence and thus modify the wind field and the aeolian snow mass fluxes. Little attention has been paid to these feedback processes, mainly because of experimental difficulties. As a result, most polar atmospheric models currently ignore sastrugi over snow-covered regions. This paper aims at quantifying the potential influence of sastrugi on the local wind field and on snow erosion over a sastrugi-covered snowfield in coastal Adélie Land, East Antarctica. We focus on two erosion events during which sastrugi responses to shifts in wind direction have been interpreted from temporal variations in drag and aeolian snow mass flux measurements during austral winter 2013. Using this data set, it is shown that (i) neutral stability, 10 m drag coefficient (CDN10) values are in the range of 1.3–1.5 × 10−3 when the wind is well aligned with the sastrugi, (ii) as the wind shifts by only 20–30° away from the streamlined direction, CDN10 increases (by 30–120 %) and the aeolian snow mass flux decreases (by 30–80 %), thereby reflecting the growing contribution of the sastrugi form drag to the total surface drag and its inhibiting effect on snow erosion, (iii) the timescale of sastrugi aerodynamic adjustment can be as short as 3 h for friction velocities greater than 1 m s−1 and during strong drifting snow conditions and (iv) knowing CDN10 is not sufficient to estimate the snow erosion flux that results from drag partitioning at the surface because CDN10 includes the contribution of the sastrugi form drag.
Basal sliding of temperate basal ice on a rough, hard bed: pressure melting, creep mechanisms and implications for ice streaming
Authors: Krabbendam Maarten
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Basal ice motion is crucial to ice dynamics of ice sheets. The Weertman sliding model for basal sliding over bedrock obstacles proposes that sliding velocity is controlled by pressure melting and/or ductile flow, whichever is the fastest; it further assumes that stoss-side melting is limited by heat flow through the obstacle and ductile flow is controlled by Power Law Creep. These last two assumptions, it is argued here, are invalid if a substantial basal layer of temperate (T ~ Tmelt) ice is present. In that case, frictional melting results in excess basal meltwater and efficient water flow, leading to near-thermal equilibrium. Stoss-side melting is controlled by melt water production, heat advection by flowing meltwater to the next obstacle, and heat conduction through ice/rock over half the obstacle height. No heat flow through the obstacle is required. High temperature ice creep experiments have shown a sharp weakening of a factor 5–10 close to Tmelt, implying breakdown of Power Law Creep and probably caused by a deformation-mechanism switch to grain boundary pressure melting. Ice streaming over a rough, hard bed, as likely in the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, may be explained by enhanced basal motion in a thick temperate ice layer.
La economía social como alternativa de autoempleo. El perfil del emprendedor/a en las sociedades laborales andaluzas
Authors: Ciruela Lorenzo Antonio Manuel , Cuadrado Serrán Mario , Plaza Angulo Juan José
Published: April 2016

El presente trabajo ofrece un análisis cuantitativo en relación al perfil del emprendedor/a que decide iniciar su actividad a través de una sociedad laboral en el contexto de la Comunidad Autónoma Andaluza. De esta forma, en primer lugar se presenta a la Economía Social como una alternativa muy importante de creación y fomento de empleo, que trata de aunar los objetivos económicos y sociales en el desarrollo de las actividades. Posteriormente, y centrándose en las sociedades laborales, se ofrecen datos actualizados sobre su importancia y repercusión para, posteriormente, y a través del análisis de dos muestras de sociedades laborales, establecer los atributos o características más significativas de éstos emprendedores/as.
Syntax-phonology mapping and the Tongan DP
Authors: Ahn Byron
Published: April 2016

Tongan, a Polynesian language, is almost entirely head-initial. There are some exceptions to this, including Demonstrative enclitics and the so-called Definitive Accent (Churchward 1953), which appears to be a stress-shift operation, typically in the rightmost word of the DP. One question that arises here is: where does the morphophonological status of being an enclitic come from – particularly in a rather radically head-initial language? By investigating the distributional properties of the Definitive Accent, it will become clear that this is the result of syntactic and phonological structures proceeding without any direct appeal to morphophonological properties.A new formal analysis presented here derives the positions of the Definitive Accent and possible prosodic phrasings, appealing to independently motivated phonological constraints applying to structures with three cross-linguistically supported movement operations. It is shown that achieving this requires neither including morpheme-indexed constraints, nor having lexemes pre-specified with morphophonological properties such as “enclitic” or “prefix”.Finally, Tongan Definitive Accents raise important issues about the immutability of phases. Specifically, it must be that Phonology may access and manipulate previously spelled out material in a way that Syntax cannot, which is in fact exactly what a Minimalist architecture predicts.
Verb-second word order after German weil ‘because’: Psycholinguistic theory from corpus-linguistic data
Authors: Kempen Gerard , Harbusch Karin
Published: April 2016

In present-day spoken German, subordinate clauses introduced by the connector weil ‘because’ occur with two orders of subject, finite verb, and object(s). In addition to weil clauses with verb-final word order (“VF”; standard in subordinate clauses) one often hears weil clauses with SVO, the standard order of main clauses (“verb-second”, V2). The “weil-V2” phenomenon is restricted to sentences where the weil clause follows the main clause, and is virtually absent from formal (written, edited) German, occurring only in extemporaneous speech. Extant accounts of weil-V2 focus on the interpretation of weil-V2 clauses by the hearer, in particular on the type of discourse relation licensed by weil-V2 vs. weil-VF: causal/propositional or inferential/epistemic. Focusing instead on the production of weil clauses by the speaker, we examine a collection of about 1,000 sentences featuring a causal connector (weil, da or denn) after the main clause, all extracted from a corpus of spoken German dialogues and annotated with tags denoting major prosodic and syntactic boundaries, and various types of disfluencies (pauses, hesitations). Based on the observed frequency patterns and on known linguistic properties of the connectors, we propose that weil-V2 is caused by miscoordination between the mechanisms for lexical retrieval and grammatical encoding: Due to its high frequency, the lexical item weil is often selected prematurely, while the grammatical encoder is still working on the syntactic shape of the weil clause. Weil-V2 arises when pragmatic and processing factors drive the encoder to discontinue the current sentence, and to plan the clause following weil in the form of the main clause of an independent, new sentence. Thus, the speaker continues with a V2 clause, seemingly in violation of the VF constraint imposed by the preceding weil. We also explore implications of the model regarding the interpretation of sentences containing causal connectors.
Justice: Essence and Architectonics
Authors: Crane Robert
Published: April 2016

Prof. Robert Crane starts from the grandiose assumption that the Arab Spring may have permanent significance by popularizing a long building paradigm shift from the increasingly bankrupt search for stability through material power as an end in itself toward an amorphous search for justice, if only because the old paradigm legitimized what increasingly has been felt to be a rapidly growing accumulation of injustices. The concern for Justice is at the heart of Islam and in the second part, the author proposes an outline of the universal principles of normative Islamic jurisprudence, known as the maqasid al shari'ah.
The Contested Place of Jerusalem in Biblical Tradition
Authors: Sizer Rev. Stephen
Published: April 2016

Many Christians, especially in the United States of America, accept unthinkingly the Zionist mantra that Jerusalem is the exclusive, undivided and eternal capital of the Jewish people. This paper seeks to refute this view and to demonstrate from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures that Jerusalem was always intended to be an inclusive city of peace for all who acknowledge the one true God. Practical steps are also offered for ways in which people of faith can work together to resolve the present conflict.
Modelling initial mortality of Abies religiosa in a crown fire in Mexico
Authors: Temiño-Villota Salomé , Rodríguez-Trejo Dante A. , Molina Terrén Domingo M. , Ryan Kevin
Published: April 2016

Aim of study: The objectives of this work were to determine which morphological and fire severity variables may help explain the mortality of adult Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham., to model the probability of this species after being affected by crown fire, and to obtain more elements to classify the sacred fir in terms of fire resistance. This type of studies are relevant to estimate the impact of crown fires on the climax forests that forms this species.Area of study: The burned forest was located in the southern Mexico City, borough.Material and methods: Morphological variables and fire severity indicators were collected for 335 Abies religiosa trees burned by a mixed severity fire. Logistic regression was used to analyze data and develop models that best explained tree mortality.Main results: Survival was 26.9%. The models for height (p≤0.0001), diameter at breast height (p=0.0082), crown length (p≤0.0001) and crown base height (p≤0.0001) were significant, with a negative relationship between each one of these variables and probability of mortality. The significant severity variables were lethal scorch height (p≤0.0001) and crown kill (p≤ 0.0001), which have a direct relationship with probability of mortality.Highlights: This species is moderately fire-resistant. Crown kill ≥ 70% markedly increases mortality. Silvicultural activities such as pruning, thinning and fuel management can reduce the risk of crown fires.
Age trends and within-site effects in wood density and radial growth in Quercus faginea mature trees
Authors: Sousa Vicelina B. , Louzada José-Luís , Pereira Helena
Published: April 2016

Aim of the study: This paper aims to valorize the wood of Quercus faginea Lam. for high quality end uses (e.g. furniture) by studying growth and quality properties using mature trees. Age trends in tree-ring width and wood density are shown and the main factors responsible for variations in tree-ring width and wood density within and between trees are investigated. Area of study: The study site is in the center of Portugal within the natural species distribution area.Material and methods: Radial samples from ten mature trees were collected at 6 heights (from base to 9.7 m) and prepared for X-ray microdensity.Main results: Wood density showed high values, ranging from 0.868 g/cm3 to 0.957 g/cm3. Wood density decreased from pith to bark and with stem height. Cambial age showed a linear relationship with wood density and most of the variation in wood is explained by age. Intra-ring and axial within-tree homogeneity was good.Research highlights: Mature trees of Q. faginea showed high wood density and a high potential for high quality end uses, comparable to other oaks. Wood density is influenced by cambial age and tree-ring width. Wood quality may be improved by tree growth rates adjustment e.g. through an adequate tree stand density (e.g. thinning operations).
An Analysis of Health Policies Designed to Control and Prevent Diabetes in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Nouf Sahal , Alotaibi Mohammed , De Lusignan Simon
Published: April 2016

A trend analysis of the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia revealed a steep increase in diagnosis rates for the disease between the years 1989 and 2009. Between these years, the percentage of the population suffering from diabetes rose from 10.6% to 32.1% of the adult population, and the diagnosis rate is likely to increase in the future. The controlling and prevention of diabetes in the future, therefore, would potentially benefit from a scholarly review of current policies and programmes designed to contain the disease. The current study examines such policies and programmes, specifically those existing in Saudi Arabia and which are currently in operation in 2016. It employs the thematic-content-analysis technique to review key literature, and also uses Walt and Gibson’s policy triangle framework to facilitate the analysis. Searches of PubMed and Medline databases were conducted to locate sources and sources were manually screened by the authors before inclusion in the study. The study concludes that prime obstacles to the successful implementation of diabetes programmes are: insufficient training of practitioners for the treatment of diabetes; lack of remuneration for the work of diabetes educators and no existing evaluation of their outputs; and a lack of training and appropriate modes of qualifying professionally for diabetes educators. The authors recommend that the Saudi government award a greater proportion of resources to programmes designed to treat diabetes sufferers, as well as educational programmes related to disease for the wider public.
Effective Strategies for Global Health Training Programs A Systematic Review of Training Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries
Authors: Dawson Aprill Z. , Walker Rebekah J. , Campbell Jennifer A. , Egede Leonard E.
Published: April 2016

INTRODUCTION: Low and middle-income countries face a continued burden of chronic illness and non-communicable diseases while continuing to show very low health worker utilization. With limited numbers of medical schools and a workforce shortage the poor health outcomes seen in many low and middle income countries are compounded by a lack of within country medical training.

METHODS: Using a systematic approach, this paper reviews the existing literature on training outcomes in low and middle-income countries in order to identify effective strategies for implementation in the developing world. This review examined training provided by high-income countries to low- and middle-income countries.

RESULTS: Based on article eligibility, 24 articles were found to meet criteria. Training methods found include workshops, e-learning modules, hands-on skills training, group discussion, video sessions, and role-plays. Of the studies with statistically significant results training times varied from one day to three years. Studies using both face-to-face and video found statistically significant results.

DISCUSSION: Based on the results of this review, health professionals from high-income countries should be encouraged to travel to low- middle-income countries to assist with providing training to health providers in those countries.
Normalisatie en zelfredzaamheid binnen het gevangeniswezen
Authors: Farahi Choukri , van de Rijt Jill
Published: April 2016

Experiences of prisoners and staff with the pilot ‘Central facility’ in a Dutch custodial facility

In recent years, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety has had to deal with severe budget-cuts leading to various austerity measures. For the Dutch Custodial Institutions (DJI) this has had serious consequences, including the closure of nearly half the prisons, the reintroduction of multi-person cells and a retrenchment of the detention regime. However, the chamber announced repeatedly that these cuts would not be detrimental to the core objectives of detention: security, self-reliance, dignity and a safe return to society. The pilot ‘Central facility’ is a project in which DJI wants to ‘test’ in practice her vision for the future. In the pilot, learning and encouraging the own responsibility of detainees through a modified daily program takes a central position. The aim is to increase the self-sufficiency of detainees and to allow for life in prison to resemble more life outside (normalization). In this article we will look more closely at the experiences of prisoners and staff with the amended detention regime in the pilot.
Rechters en officieren van justitie willen maatwerk leveren met de voorwaardelijke straf
Authors: Harte Joke , Malsch Marijke , van Dijk Doris , Vergouw Bas , van der Laan Peter
Published: April 2016

Effect of the suspended sentence according to judges and public prosecutors

In the Netherlands, the judge has the possibility to impose an entirely or partly suspended sentence. In this article, the perspective of judges and public prosecutors on the deterrent effect of the suspended sentence is investigated. For that purpose, 1000 court decisions were examined, and 15 judges and 15 public prosecutors were interviewed. The results show that the suspended sentence provides opportunities to intervene in the offender’s life regarding issues that are supposed to be related to recidivism. Judges and public prosecutors regard the suspended sentence as an important device to reduce the recidivism risk.
Transitioning from XML to RDF: Considerations for an effective move towards Linked Data and the Semantic Web
Authors: Hardesty Juliet L.
Published: April 2016

Metadata, particularly within the academic library setting, is often expressed in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and managed with XML tools, technologies, and workflows. Managing a library’s metadata currently takes on a greater level of complexity as libraries are increasingly adopting the Resource Description Framework (RDF). Semantic Web initiatives are surfacing in the library context with experiments in publishing metadata as Linked Data sets and also with development efforts such as BIBFRAME and the Fedora 4 Digital Repository incorporating RDF. Use cases show that transitions into RDF are occurring in both XML standards and in libraries with metadata encoded in XML. It is vital to understand that transitioning from XML to RDF requires a shift in perspective from replicating structures in XML to defining meaningful relationships in RDF. Establishing coordination and communication among these efforts will help as more libraries move to use RDF, produce Linked Data, and approach the Semantic Web.
Prévention secondaire des dommages liés aux substances psychoactives chez les jeunes Français
Authors: Michaud Philippe , Lécallier Dorothée , Hadj-Slimane Fatima
Published: April 2016

L’article présente une action de santé publique d’une décennie menée en France par l’Institut de promotion de la prévention secondaire en addictologie (IPPSA) en faveur de la diffusion chez les personnels soignants de l’éducation nationale d’une stratégie associant repérage par la DEP-ADO et interventions brèves motivationnelles au bénéfice des adolescents scolarisés.

Cette démarche est constituée d’une succession de recherches-actions centrées sur l’adaptation au contexte français de deux stratégies : (1) formation au repérage et aux interventions dans les établissements d’enseignement secondaires et (2) association entre intervenants de premier recours (essentiellement infirmières scolaires) et entités spécialisées (consultations jeunes consommateurs).

Les résultats montrent l’intérêt des personnes formées et l’acceptabilité générale pour les jeunes, mais restent limités en termes d’effectivité à long terme. La discussion porte sur les besoins de maintenir la mobilisation du premier recours pour le repérage, l’intervention et l’orientation.
Consommation problématique de substances psychoactives et comportements sexuels à risque chez les adolescents admis en centre jeunesse
Authors: Lambert Gilles , Haley Nancy , Tremblay Claude , Frappier Jean-Yves , Roy Élise , Otis Joanne
Published: April 2016

Objectifs : Décrire les comportements sexuels à risque chez les jeunes admis dans des centres jeunesse (CJ) du Québec selon leur niveau de consommation de substances psychoactives.

Méthode : Entre juillet 2008 et mai 2009, une enquête de surveillance de deuxième génération a été menée auprès d’adolescents admis dans six centres jeunesse. Lors d’une entrevue face à face, ceux-ci ont rempli un questionnaire portant notamment sur leurs conduites sexuelles et leur consommation de substances psychoactives (au cours des 12 mois précédents l’admission en CJ). Un prélèvement urinaire a été recueilli afin d’estimer la prévalence de la chlamydiose et de l’infection gonococcique. Des analyses décrivant les comportements sexuels à risque selon le niveau de consommation (tel qu’établi par la grille DEP-ADO) ont été effectuées.

Résultats: Parmi les participants âgés de 14 à 17 ans (n= 499, filles= 205 et garçons= 294), une forte proportion (60 %) a rapporté une consommation problématique de substances psychoactives. Les jeunes présentant un niveau de consommation problématique avaient davantage de comportements sexuels à risque que les autres participants (par exemple : début des relations sexuelles avant l’âge de 13 ans, multiples partenaires sexuels, « sexe en groupe »).

Conclusion: Les comportements sexuels à risque sont fréquents chez les jeunes hébergés en CJ, et ce, de façon plus marquée chez ceux qui consomment de l’alcool et des drogues de façon problématique. Les interrelations entre la consommation de substances psychoactives et les comportements sexuels à risque sont complexes et méritent une attention spécifique. Le séjour d’adolescents en CJ, tout comme en centre spécialisé de réadaptation en dépendance, constitue un moment opportun pour détecter non seulement la consommation problématique de substances psychoactives, mais aussi les comportements sexuels à risque et les problèmes de santé associés. L’offre de ce dépistage ainsi que des interventions préventives conséquentes peuvent contribuer à améliorer l’état de santé et de bien-être de ces jeunes vulnérables.
Consommation de substances psychoactives et sexualité chez les jeunes : une vision globale de la sphère sexuelle
Authors: Goyette Mathieu , Flores-Aranda Jorge
Published: April 2016

Si l’importance de considérer l’ensemble des sphères de vie des jeunes aux prises avec un problème de consommation fait consensus, la sexualité demeure encore aujourd’hui en retrait. Cet article dresse un portrait d’ensemble des connaissances entourant la sexualité chez les jeunes adultes aux prises avec un problème de consommation de substances psychoactives en vue d’effectuer des recommandations entourant l’offre de service, la prise en charge et la recherche. Une revue narrative de la documentation est réalisée entourant la consommation relativement aux thèmes des comportements sexuels à risque et des infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang, des troubles sexuels, de l’orientation sexuelle ainsi que des activités et de la satisfaction sexuelles. Les constats issus de la démarche proposée soulèvent la nécessité de considérer un ensemble de facteurs qui dépasse les activités sexuelles en soi afin de circonscrire la présence de comportements sexuels à risque associés à la consommation. Alors qu’il est probable que la consommation amène ces jeunes à éprouver des problèmes quant à leur fonctionnement sexuel, cette dimension fait rarement l’objet d’une évaluation ou d’interventions. Pour plusieurs, la consommation semble également être utilisée afin d’améliorer la satisfaction sexuelle et peut être fortement associée à la sexualité au point de représenter en soi un facteur de risque de rechute. Parmi les pratiques recommandées auprès des jeunes adultes issus de minorités sexuelles ayant un problème de consommation, il est suggéré d’adopter une vision multidimensionnelle de l’orientation sexuelle ainsi qu’un ensemble précis d’attitudes en lien à la sexualité. Différentes suggestions sont émises quant au déploiement d’une offre de service intégrant la sexualité à la réadaptation en dépendance, l’utilisation de balises à l’évaluation et à l’orientation ainsi que l’adoption d’une vision globale et positive de la sexualité. Les recherches se doivent dès lors d’intégrer les multiples dimensions de la sexualité et de considérer la relation complexe qu’elle peut avoir avec la consommation.
Biosensing operations based on whispering-gallery-mode optical cavities in single 1.0-µm diameter hexagonal GaN microdisks grown by radio-frequency plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Kouno Tetsuya , Sakai Masaru , Kishino Katsumi , Hara Kazuhiko
Published: April 2016

Biosensing operations based on a whispering-gallery-mode optical cavity in a single hexagonal GaN microdisk of approximately 1.0 µm diameter were demonstrated here. The sharp resonant peak in the photoluminescence spectrum obtained from the microdisk in aqueous sucrose solution redshifts with a change in sucrose concentration. The results indicate that an extremely small microdisk could be used as an optical transducer for sensing sugar, namely, as a biosensor. Furthermore, we investigate the relationship between the diameter of the microdisk and the sensitivity of the biosensor.
Cambodian Inclusive Education for Vulnerable Populations: Toward an Ecological Perspective Policy
Authors: Hackett Jacob D. , Hudson Roxanne F. , West Elizabeth A. , Brown Sharan E.
Published: April 2016

Cambodia is a dynamic country in transition and its population is committed to improve an economic, social, and educational system (Chandler, 2008). An imperial legacy and traumatic history involving a genocide specifically targeted at Cambodian intellectual elite continue to affect Cambodian schools with the most impact being felt by vulnerable populations including children from poverty and children with disabilities. An ecological framework of childhood development (Bronfenbrenner, 1992) is used to analyze interviews, classroom observations, and student work samples. School directors (3), teachers (3), students (2), and one parent from three public schools in three distinct provinces participated in this study, providing a broad geopolitical range of Cambodia. First, a review of Cambodian education and special education policy as well as international guidelines for inclusive education is provided. Next, a rationalization for including students with disabilities and children from poverty in the larger category of children from vulnerable populations is presented within the Cambodian context. Themes of key factors affecting the educational experience of children from vulnerable populations include: (1) school and community interconnectedness, and (2) Cambodian historical legacies. Perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of Cambodian practitioners are also key factors, and include: (1) Intersectionality of disability and poverty; (2) two distinct purposes of education, and (3) educators value responsive education. This qualitative analysis surfaces key factors affecting the educational experiences of Cambodian children from vulnerable populations by investigating perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes of various Cambodian education professionals and their decision-making concerning these students. Limitations and implications are provided.
Amygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
Authors: Korem Nachshon , Hillmer Ansel T. , D’Souza Deepak Cyril , Bassir Nia Anahita , Levy Ifat , Pietrzak Robert H. , Harpaz-Rotem Ilan
Published: September 2024

This case-control study assesses associations of amygdala cannabinoid 1 receptor availability with amygdala response to shock-induced pain and severity of emotional numbing symptoms of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Muscular dystrophy patients show low exercise‐induced blood flow in muscles with normal strength
Authors: Gera Orna , Shavit‐Stein Efrat , Amichai Taly , Chapman Joab , Chorin Odelia , Greenbaum Lior , Dori Amir
Published: September 2024

Objective

Neuromuscular evaluation increasingly employs muscle ultrasonography to determine muscle thickness, mean grayscale echointensity, and visual semiquantitative echotexture attenuation. However, these measures provide low sensitivity for detection of mild muscle abnormality. Exercise‐induced intramuscular blood flow is a physiologic phenomenon, which may be impaired in mildly affected muscles, particularly in dystrophinopathies, and may indicate functional muscle ischemia. We aimed to determine if muscle blood flow is reduced in patients with neuromuscular disorders and preserved muscle strength, and if it correlates with echointensity and digital echotexture measurements.

Methods

Peak exercise‐induced blood flow, echointensity, and echotexture were quantified in the elbow flexor muscles of 15 adult patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and 13 patients with other muscular dystrophies (OMD). These were compared to 17 patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 1 (CMT1) neuropathy and 21 healthy adults from a previous study.

Results

Muscle blood flow was reduced in all patient groups compared to controls, most prominently in BMD patients (p < 0.0001). Echointensity was similarly increased in all patient groups (p < 0.05), while echotexture was reduced only in muscular dystrophy patients (p ≤ 0.002). In BMD, blood flow correlated with echotexture (Pearson r = 0.6098, p = 0.0158) and strength (Spearman r = 0.5471; p = 0.0370). In patients with normal muscle strength, reduced muscle blood flow was evident in all patient groups (p < 0.001), echotexture was reduced in BMD and OMD (p < 0.01), and echointensity was increased in CMT (p < 0.05).

Interpretation

Muscle blood flow is a sensitive measure to detect abnormality, even in muscles with normal strength. Increased echointensity may indicate a neurogenic disorder when strength is preserved, while low echotexture suggests a dystrophic disease.
Machine Learning‐Guided Design and Synthesis of Eco‐Friendly Poly(ethylene oxide) Membranes for High‐Efficacy CO2/N2 Separation
Authors: Zheng Guangtai , Zhang Shuyuan , Meng Linghang , Zhang Sui , Wang Xiaonan
Published: September 2024

Machine learning (ML)‐guided polymer design and synthesis will enable the next‐generation membrane material discovery for CO2 capture. Herein, ML is leveraged to establish a structure‐performance relationship for the eco‐friendly poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) membrane and guide its design for high‐efficacy CO2/N2 separation. Through a rational fragment representation method and knowledge sharing across membranes fabricated by different methods, the precise prediction of CO2/N2 separation performance for PEO membranes with high Pearson correlation coefficients (0.973 for permeability and 0.875 for selectivity) despite data scarcity is demonstrated. Expertise knowledge and external monomer databases are then utilized in a human‐in‐the‐loop workflow to effectively explore high‐performance PEO membranes in the design space. Several discovered thermally crosslinked PEO membranes achieve CO2/N2 separation performances close to the 2019 Robeson upper bound, which are promising for practical large‐scale carbon capture applications. Model interpretation techniques are employed to provide data‐driven insights into the design of PEO membranes for high‐efficacy CO2/N2 separation. Further life cycle assessment results reveal the outstanding advantage of discovered PEO membranes in terms of environmental friendliness. The work highlights the enormous potential of ML in expediting the discovery of high‐performance carbon capture membrane materials.
Mild Fabrication of Polymeric Porous/Nonporous Micro‐Composite Structures via Enhancing the Photothermal Conversion of Ultrafast Laser
Authors: Xiang Pei , Zhang Haobo , Zhang Qiurui , Yu Zhichao , Wang Yihao , Li Juqing , Lei Jincheng
Published: September 2024

Localized foaming of polymers is promising to fabricate polymeric composite structures for applications in biomedical, aerospace, automotive, etc. However, the severe pyrolysis and carbonization of polymer chains during localized foaming may degrade the bulk strength. Herein, a mild localized foaming strategy is proposed to fabricate poly(lactic acid) (PLA) micro‐foams within dense PLA matrices using ultrafast lasers. The PLA substrates doped with graphene (Gr) and azodicarbonamide (AC) are developed for mild foaming. A picosecond laser is applied to pattern PLA micro‐foams on the PLA/Gr/AC substrates to fabricate porous/nonporous micro‐composite structures. The thermal behavior of the PLA/Gr/AC substrates is characterized to evaluate their capability in photothermal conversion and mild foaming during ultrafast laser pulses. To optimize the laser foaming process, the microstructure of the laser‐foamed PLA processed with different laser parameters is studied. It demonstrates that the oxidation of the functional groups dominates the side reactions on the PLA chains with slight variation in molecular weight during laser foaming, indicating that the PLA chains keep almost intact and mild localized foaming is realized. Furthermore, the developed technology is demonstrated for micro‐patterning and texturing, material toughness programming, and shape memory programming, showing promising applications for smart materials, metamaterials, micro‐robotics, and biological scaffolds.
Cu34S6(PFBT)22(PPh3)6: A Cu12S6 Core‐Based Nanocluster with Long‐Lived Phosphorescent Crystallization‐Induced Emission Enhancement for Selectively Acetonitrile Sensing
Authors: Li Ting , Qi Zhikai , Zhang Nan , Zhao Xingxing , Li Huan , Zhang Xian‐Ming
Published: September 2024

Atomically precise copper nanoclusters with crystallization‐induced emission enhancement (CIEE) have garnered significant academic interests‐ but the rational design of high‐nuclearity Cu nanoaggregates with precise atomic structures and the CIEE effect remains a long‐standing challenge. Herein, a new atomically precise copper nanocluster co‐protected by thiolate, phosphine, and S2− ligands, formulated as Cu34S6(PFBT)22(PPh3)6 (Cu34, PFBT = pentafluorobenzenethiol, PPh3 = triphenylphosphine), is reported, which possesses a typical Cu12S6 core and a Cu22S22P6 shell. Under photoexcitation at 505 nm, Cu34 exhibits strong red‐light emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 4.1%. DFT calculations confirm that the emission stems from the ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition. This nanoaggregate shows a strong CIEE effect, with the crystalline form exhibiting an 800‐fold enhancement in emission intensity compared to its solution form. An in‐depth structural investigation of the ligand shell reveals that the extensive C−H···F, C−H···π, and π···π interactions significantly restrict the intra‐ and inter‐molecular rotations and vibrations, accounting for the CIEE phenomena. The red emission of Cu34 can be selectively quenched by CH3CN, with a lower detection limit of 9.36 µM (0.38 ppm). This study advances the development of high‐nuclearity copper nanocluster with the CIEE effect and holds significant potential for applications in selectively sensing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).