573 research outputs found
Media coverage and public understanding of sentencing policy in relation to crimes against children
This research examines how the media report on sentences given to those who commit serious crimes against children and how this impacts on public knowledge and attitudes. Three months of press and television coverage were analysed in order to establish the editorial lines that are taken in different sections of the media and how they are promoted by selective reporting of sentencing. Results indicate that a small number of very high profile crimes account for a significant proportion of reporting in this area and often, particularly in the tabloid press, important information regarding sentencing rationale is sidelined in favour of moral condemnation and criticism of the judiciary. Polling data indicate that public attitudes are highly critical of sentencing but also confused about the meaning of tariffs. The article concludes by discussing what can be done to promote a more informed public debate over penal policy in this area
The Lambek calculus with iteration: two variants
Formulae of the Lambek calculus are constructed using three binary
connectives, multiplication and two divisions. We extend it using a unary
connective, positive Kleene iteration. For this new operation, following its
natural interpretation, we present two lines of calculi. The first one is a
fragment of infinitary action logic and includes an omega-rule for introducing
iteration to the antecedent. We also consider a version with infinite (but
finitely branching) derivations and prove equivalence of these two versions. In
Kleene algebras, this line of calculi corresponds to the *-continuous case. For
the second line, we restrict our infinite derivations to cyclic (regular) ones.
We show that this system is equivalent to a variant of action logic that
corresponds to general residuated Kleene algebras, not necessarily
*-continuous. Finally, we show that, in contrast with the case without division
operations (considered by Kozen), the first system is strictly stronger than
the second one. To prove this, we use a complexity argument. Namely, we show,
using methods of Buszkowski and Palka, that the first system is -hard,
and therefore is not recursively enumerable and cannot be described by a
calculus with finite derivations
Light cluster production in intermediate energy heavy-ion collisions induced by neutron-rich nuclei
The coalescence model based on nucleon distribution functions from an
isospin-dependent transport model is used to study the production of light
clusters such as deuteron, triton, and He from heavy-ion collisions
induced by neutron-rich nuclei at intermediate energies. It is found that the
emission time of light clusters depends on their masses. For clusters with the
same momentum per nucleon, heavier ones are emitted earlier. Both the yield and
energy spectrum of light clusters are sensitive to the density dependence of
nuclear symmetry energy, with more light clusters produced in the case of a
stiff symmetry energy. On the other hand, effects due to the stiffness of the
isoscalar part of nuclear equation of state and the medium dependence of
nucleon-nucleon cross sections on light cluster production are unimportant. We
have also studied the correlation functions of clusters, and they are affected
by the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy as well, with the stiff
symmetry energy giving a stronger anti-correlation of light clusters,
particularly for those with large kinetic energies. Dependence of light cluster
production on the centrality and incident energy of heavy ion collisions as
well as the mass of the reaction system is also investigated.Comment: Revised version, typos corrected and discussions added, 14 pages, 15
figures, 1 table, REVTeX4.
Isotopic Scaling in Nuclear Reactions
A three parameter scaling relationship between isotopic distributions for
elements with Z has been observed that allows a simple description of
the dependence of such distributions on the overall isospin of the system. This
scaling law (termed iso-scaling) applies for a variety of reaction mechanisms
that are dominated by phase space, including evaporation, multifragmentation
and deeply inelastic scattering. The origins of this scaling behavior for the
various reaction mechanisms are explained. For multifragmentation processes,
the systematics is influenced by the density dependence of the asymmetry term
of the equation of state.Comment: 10 Pages, 2 Figure
Remnants of Initial Anisotropic High Energy Density Domains in Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions
Anisotropic high energy density domains may be formed at early stages of
ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions, e.g. due to phase transition dynamics
or non-equilibrium phenomena like (mini-)jets. Here we investigate hadronic
observables resulting from an initially created anisotropic high energy density
domain. Based on our studies using a transport model we find that the initial
anisotropies are reflected in the freeze-out multiplicity distribution of both
pions and kaons due to secondary hadronic rescattering. The anisotropy appears
to be stronger for particles at high transverse momenta. The overall kaon
multiplicity increases with large fluctuations of local energy densities, while
no change has been found in the pion multiplicity.Comment: Submitted to PR
Inconsistent boundaries
Research on this paper was supported by a grant from the Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand.Mereotopology is a theory of connected parts. The existence of boundaries, as parts of everyday objects, is basic to any such theory; but in classical mereotopology, there is a problem: if boundaries exist, then either distinct entities cannot be in contact, or else space is not topologically connected (Varzi in Noûs 31:26–58, 1997). In this paper we urge that this problem can be met with a paraconsistent mereotopology, and sketch the details of one such approach. The resulting theory focuses attention on the role of empty parts, in delivering a balanced and bounded metaphysics of naive space.PostprintPeer reviewe
Anthropometry, dietary intake, physical activity and sitting time patterns in adolescents aged 15-17 years: an international comparison in eight Latin American countries
BACKGROUND: Although there is high prevalence of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors among Latin American adolescents, there is limited evidence on dietary intake and physical activity (PA) patterns in this population. Therefore, we characterized anthropometry, dietary intake, PA and sitting time (ST) in adolescents aged 15-17 years from eight Latin American countries. METHODS: Six hundred seventy-one adolescents (41.4% girls) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) were included. Nutritional status was classified by four BMI (kg/m2) categories. Waist circumference (WC) was categorized as above or below thresholds. Dietary intake was assessed through two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. PA and ST were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We calculated overall and country-specific estimates by sex and tested for differences between boys and girls. RESULTS: Differences in the prevalence of overweightness (15.1 and 21.6%) and obesity (8.5 and 6.5%) between boys and girls, respectively, were statistically insignificant (p = 0.059). Average energy intake was 2289.7 kcal/day (95% CI: 2231-2350) for boys and 1904.2 kcal/day (95% CI: 1840-1963) for girls (p  0.05 for all outcomes). There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of total energy (TE) saturated fat and added sugar (>10% of TE) between girls and boys (49.6% versus 44.8 and 81.7% versus 76.1%, respectively). Prevalence of physical inactivity was 19% in boys and 43.7% in girls (p  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the high prevalence of poor dietary intake and physical inactivity in adolescents from Latin American countries. Therefore, effective and sustainable strategies and programmes are needed that promote healthier diets, regular PA and reduce ST among Latin American adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014
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Supply-chain research opportunities with the poor as suppliers or distributors in developing countries
Many social enterprises and some companies have developed supply chains with the poor as suppliers or distributors to alleviate poverty and to create revenues for themselves. Such supply chains have created new research opportunities because they raise issues fundamentally different from those examined in the existing operations management literature. We report this phenomenon of supply chains with the poor as suppliers or distributors in developing countries and identify operations management (OM) research opportunities. We also provide some stylized models to serve as potential seeds for modeling-based research in this area
Desert Ants Learn Vibration and Magnetic Landmarks
The desert ants Cataglyphis navigate not only by path integration but also by using visual and olfactory landmarks to pinpoint the nest entrance. Here we show that Cataglyphis noda can additionally use magnetic and vibrational landmarks as nest-defining cues. The magnetic field may typically provide directional rather than positional information, and vibrational signals so far have been shown to be involved in social behavior. Thus it remains questionable if magnetic and vibration landmarks are usually provided by the ants' habitat as nest-defining cues. However, our results point to the flexibility of the ants' navigational system, which even makes use of cues that are probably most often sensed in a different context
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Dyspraxia and autistic traits in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions
BACKGROUND:
Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are frequently associated with motor coordination difficulties. However, no studies have explored the prevalence of dyspraxia in a large sample of individuals with and without ASC or associations between dyspraxia and autistic traits in these individuals.
METHODS:
Two thousand eight hundred seventy-one adults (with ASC) and 10,706 controls (without ASC) self-reported whether they have been diagnosed with dyspraxia. A subsample of participants then completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ; 1237 ASC and 6765 controls) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ; 1147 ASC and 6129 controls) online through the Autism Research Centre website. The prevalence of dyspraxia was compared between those with and without ASC. AQ and EQ scores were compared across the four groups: (1) adults with ASC with dyspraxia, (2) adults with ASC without dyspraxia, (3) controls with dyspraxia, and (4) controls without dyspraxia.
RESULTS:
Adults with ASC were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of dyspraxia (6.9%) than those without ASC (0.8%). In the ASC group, those with co-morbid diagnosis of dyspraxia did not have significantly different AQ or EQ scores than those without co-morbid dyspraxia. However, in the control group (without ASC), those with dyspraxia had significantly higher AQ and lower EQ scores than those without dyspraxia.
CONCLUSIONS:
Dyspraxia is significantly more prevalent in adults with ASC compared to controls, confirming reports that motor coordination difficulties are significantly more common in this group. Interestingly, in the general population, dyspraxia was associated with significantly higher autistic traits and lower empathy. These results suggest that motor coordination skills are important for effective social skills and empathy
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