The first impeachment: from a comparative study of its British historical roots to a contextual analysis

Combining the areas of expertise of the two authors the paper starts by providing the contemporary context to the first Trump impeachment then it goes on to compare today’s legal instrument with the British historical roots of impeachment by making reference to the Framers’ records from the late 18th century during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and subsequent debates for ratification. The third section of the paper then addresses the actual case that brought about the approval of articles of impeachment against President Trump and offers a critique of the Senate Trial. At this point, the paper turns to the past so as to make a comparison between all previous cases of impeachment with the first Trump impeachment and then, having in mind public trust, the paper offers some predictions for the future combined with an intricate use of counterfactuals. The paper ends by encouraging concerned parties to look beyond political polarization because the current dynamics at work in shaping American political parties and partisan moods are also shaping electoral oversight, constitutional interpretation by the legislature, and the scope of executive authority. In the final analysis, the paper underlines the fact that one should never forget that impeachment exists to uphold democratic constitutionalism

Implicit integration scheme for porous viscoplastic potential-based constitutive equations

This paper deals with a viscoplastic potential-based model allowing thermomechanical damage behavior modeling of porous materials. The model describes rate dependent effects, hardening, creep as well as defects coalescence and propagation. Kinematic and isotropic hardening effects are taken into account by a set of internal state variables. The integration and implementation of the model into the FE code using a fully implicit integration scheme is exposed. Finally, it 19s used to predict mechanical behaviour degradation of solder layers used in power electronic packaging. Stress-strain behaviour and the evolution of volumic fraction of voids for the material under cyclic loading are presented

A Researcher and a Practitioner's Perception of Generation 1.5 vs. International ESOL Students in College Writing Courses -Same View, Different Lens

Many might assume that English language learners who are originally from other countries, but are raised in the United States and graduate from American high schools (Generation 1.5) would fare better academically than English learners who graduate from high schools abroad and then migrate to the United States after graduation. However, as we demonstrate, this is not always the case. Through the perspectives of an ESOL teacher who interacts with students, and a quantitative researcher who measures students' performance, this paper discusses success in college-level ESOL writing courses, the influence of acculturation through living in the US, and the quality and significance of prior secondary academic preparation in the home language. The ESOL classroom teachers' years of practical experience complement and clarify the findings of researchers, and present a more accurate picture of English learners and their authentic production of written English

Accretion Disks around Young Stars: Lifetimes, Disk Locking and Variability

We report the findings of a comprehensive study of disk accretion and related phenomena in four of the nearest young stellar associations spanning 6-30 million years in age, an epoch that may coincide with the late stages of planet formation. We have obtained ~650 multi-epoch high-resolution optical spectra of 100 low-mass stars that are likely members of the eta Chamaeleontis (~6 Myr), TW Hydrae (~8 Myr), beta Pictoris (~12 Myr) and Tucanae-Horologium (~30 Myr) groups. Our data were collected over 12 nights between 2004 December - 2005 July on the Magellan Clay 6.5m telescope. Based on H$\alpha$ line profiles, along with a variety of other emission lines, we find clear evidence of on-going accretion in three out of 11 eta Cha stars and two out of 32 TW Hydrae members. None of the 57 beta Pic or Tuc-Hor members shows measurable signs of accretion. Together, these results imply significant evolution of the disk accretion process within the first several Myr of a low-mass star's life. While a few disks can continue to accrete for up to ~10 Myr, our findings suggest that disks accreting for beyond that timescale are rather rare. This result provides an indirect constraint on the timescale for gas dissipation in inner disks and, in turn, on gas giant planet formation. All accretors in our sample are slow rotators, whereas non-accretors cover a large range in rotational velocities. This may hint at rotational braking by disks at ages up to ~8 Myr. Our multi-epoch spectra confirm that emission-line variability is common even in somewhat older T Tauri stars, among which accretors tend to show particularly strong variations. Thus, our results indicate that accretion and wind activity undergo significant and sustained variations throughout the lifetime of accretion disks.Comment: to appear in The Astrophysical Journa

Nigerian clergy and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of health-seeking behaviours among Nigerian immigrants in the UK

Healthcare underutilisation due to religio-cultural differences has been recorded among immigrant groups. The diversity in patient populations due to immigration in the UK has implications for adequate understanding of a patients’ culture by the clinician as well as patient-clinician cultural matching for enhanced service use and outcome. This qualitative study investigated how Nigerian clergy and health professionals perceived health-seeking behaviours among Nigerians in the UK; while considering the impact of their own beliefs and values as care providers. Six participants were interviewed (clergy, n = 2; health professionals, n = 4). Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results showed that the clergy and health professionals themselves use religious/cultural cure and formal healthcare methods, and believed Nigerian immigrants as predominantly using religious / cultural methods which can affect healthcare utilisation, although differences between the professionals were reported. The potentials for integrating other cure methods into the formal healthcare services was considered, while highlighting the challenges that may arise from such collaborative effort

Adaptation of the measurement of acculturation strategies for people of African decent (MASPAD) in measuring acculturation in British Nigerians

The MASPAD is a validated and reliable, self-reported scale developed in the USA for measuring acculturation in people of African descent. However, nothing is known about the scale’s suitability for measuring acculturation and religious beliefs/behaviours of people of African descent living in Europe. The present study measured the psychometric properties of the MASPAD among Nigerian immigrants in the UK. Principal component analysis revealed that all variables loaded substantially across six components for acculturation patterns and religious factors, which are: “traditionalist behaviours”, “traditionalist beliefs”, “assimilationist behaviours”, “integrationist behaviours”,“religious beliefs”, and “religious behaviours”. Two new distinct subscales emerged from the adapted MASPAD for assessing religious beliefs and behaviours, which is characteristic of a multidimensional factor structure for acculturation scales. This study has provided important information on the need to develop appropriate measures for people of African descent, relative to their historical and cultural antecedents, as well as immigration contexts

An exploration of health seeking behaviours among Nigerian Christians in the UK: towards enhanced health services utilisation

Migration from different cultures carries with it some acclimatisation challenges. This study explored various health-seeking behaviours and potential barriers to healthcare utilisation among Nigerian Christians in the UK. This qualitative study involved 10 adult male and female participants, with both interviews and focus group discussion (FG) for data collection (Interviews: n = 4, FG: n = 6). Thematic analysis revealed that religious and cultural beliefs were barriers to healthcare utilisation. The implication is that further research on cultural matching between care providers and service users is needed; where religious leaders and health providers from Nigeria can influence health decisions among this migrant community. Limitations of the current study are discussed, with directions for further research identified

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of discontinued use of the e-cigarette

Introduction: Many UK smokers use e-cigarettes as a quitting aid; however a substantial number discontinue use of the e-cigarette and revert to smoking. Understanding why this may happen is important both for individuals and for stop smoking services. Aims: To explore young adult smokers’ experiences of use and discontinued use of the e-cigarette. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants who tried e-cigarettes for at least seven days and returned to smoking. Data was transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Findings suggested participants held conflicting attitudes about using e-cigarettes, which undermined attempts to quit smoking, and led to the discontinuation of the e-cigarette. These conflicts centred on participants’ discomfort with the e-cigarette or vaping identity, lack of abstinence self-efficacy and navigation of barriers to e-cigarette use. The complex interplay of these factors may have led to an underestimation of the individual effort required to continue vaping and reinforced participants’ perception of the e-cigarette as an inferior product to the cigarette. Conclusions: Future research should focus on the role of identity, self-efficacy, control and smokers’ expectations of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation as these may be important factors to consider for a more tailored service for e-cigarette users

Predicting attitudes towards seeking medical care among Nigerian immigrants in the UK

This study investigates the relationships between acculturation, religion, and coping styles; as well as their predictive potentials in relation to socio-demographic factors, on access to medical help among Nigerians in the UK. This is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires for data collection (N = 297). Results revealed negative correlations between assimilative behaviours and religious behaviours and between religious behaviours, denial and religious coping. High levels of religiosity and coping through behavioural disengagement and self-blame predicted poor attitudes to medical help; but those who used instrumental support, emotional support, and active coping showed more positive attitudes to medical help-seeking. No gender differences in medical help-seeking were found, but older people sought medical help more than those who were younger; while affiliation to the Christian religion predicted positive attitudes towards medical help seeking. These findings have implications for policy development towards tailored interventions that can enhance healthcare utilization among immigrants