Preventing recidivism by using the theory of reintegrative shaming with conferences

Master's Project (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2013Driving while intoxicated in the United States is a major problem with more than 31 percent of national driving fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers. The purpose of the present study is to identify the possibility between the use of reintegrative shaming with conferences and the likelihood that it will reduce the recidivism of driving while intoxicated. The study explores John Brathwaite's theory on reintegrative shaming and how that theory applies in conferences. The emerging theory o f Storylines from Robert Agnew is also explored in its importance when conducting these conferences. Studies conducted in Australia, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Alaska have all suggested that the use of conferences, especially those which utilize reintegrative shaming and reintegrating offenders back into the community reduces the recidivism rates. The research found in this article helps point future studies to examine offenders in a longer term after they have completed reintegrative shaming programs and conferences

Tentative First Observations of Quasi-Stationary Zonal Flows in a Spherical Tokamak & Improvements in Image-Velocimetry Workflows

Turbulence drives anomalously high cross-field transport rates in tokamak plasmas. This drastically decreases the energy efficiency and presents a major issue in fusion research because the underlying plasma dynamics are not yet fully understood. Phenomena known as ‘zonal flows’ directly suppress cross-field transport while siphoning energy from the turbulence, making them highly beneficial for enhancing plasma confinement. Despite the theoretically predicted ubiquity of zonal flows in toka- mak plasmas, experimental measurements, particularly in spherical tokamaks, are re- markably scarce. This scarcity is largely attributed to a notorious difficulty in obtaining accurate velocity field measurements. To address this gap, this thesis presents im- provements to velocity field inference techniques and preliminary measurements of zonal flows. To this end, the Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) diagnostic on the upgraded Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST-Upgrade) was utilised. Image-velocimetry techniques, which are used to infer velocity fields from imag- ing diagnostics such as BES, were extensively performance tested for the first time. The two primary techniques, Cross-Correlation Time-Delay Estimation (CCTDE) and Dynamic Time-Warping (DTW), were investigated across the majority of reasonably achievable experimental conditions. Strongly nonlinear behaviour was identified in both techniques, indicating that testing was required for reliable velocimetry. Tests uncov- ered the effects and mitigation techniques of the barber pole illusion, the impact of sheared flows, optimal operational velocimetry parameters, the effect of varying the number of spatial channels, and more. Results were numerous, nuanced, and often unexpected; highlighting that thorough reading is recommended to anyone aiming to perform image-velocimetry analysis. Velocimetry analysis of BES data from the second MAST-U campaign was per- formed. The aforementioned testing results were used to guide and optimise the ve- locimetry workflow while preemptively avoiding complications. However, precision of the inferred velocities fell short of expectations, a discrepancy later attributed to an in- correctly calibrated optical filter in the BES diagnostic. Consequently, only background carbon II emissions reached the BES detector in most shots, rendering velocimetry of the main species impossible. Instead, attempts were made to perform velocimetry using the carbon background emissions, which may appear impossible at first glance due to localisation issues. Af- ter calibrations using a synthetic diagnostic, results demonstrated agreement with the Charge-Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy (CXRS) diagnostic, implying accurate velocimetry. Notably, this marked the first instance of successful CII velocimetry using BES, opening a promising new avenue for investigating impurity dynamics. A single useful shot, #46459, emerged unaffected by the preceding optical filter issues. The data was predicted to be suitable for accurate velocimetry based on the velocimetry testing results. Upon comparison with CXRS, temporal velocity trends showed agreement with CCTDE velocimetry. CCTDE velocities were inferred with typi- cal standard errors below 1 km/s at a temporal frequency of 4 kHz. The results unveiled radially localised velocity structures, intermittently drifting and re-forming on timescales of 1-10 ms. Further analysis identified this as a coherent localised shear mode featur- ing a characteristic frequency of 60 Hz and a radial wavelength of approximately 10 cm. The observation of this mode closely aligns with the expected attributes of quasi- stationary zonal flows, pointing to the first zonal flow detection in a high-performance spherical tokamak

Does global warming favour the occurrence of extreme floods in European Alps? First evidences from a NW Alps proglacial lake sediment record

Flood hazard is expected to increase in the context of global warming. However, long time-series of climate and gauge data at high-elevation are too sparse to assess reliably the rate of recurrence of such events in mountain areas. Here paleolimnological techniques were used to assess the evolution of frequency and magnitude of flash flood events in the North-western European Alps since the Little Ice Age (LIA). The aim was to document a possible effect of the post-19(th) century global warming on torrential floods frequency and magnitude. Altogether 56 flood deposits were detected from grain size and geochemical measurements performed on gravity cores taken in the proglacial Lake Blanc (2170 m a.s.l., Belledonne Massif, NW French Alps). The age model relies on radiometric dating (Cs-137 and Am-241), historic lead contamination and the correlation of major flood- and earthquake-triggered deposits, with recognized occurrences in historical written archives. The resulting flood calendar spans the last ca 270 years (AD 1740-AD 2007). The magnitude of flood events was inferred from the accumulated sediment mass per flood event and compared with reconstructed or homogenized datasets of precipitation, temperature and glacier variations. Whereas the decennial flood frequency seems to be independent of seasonal precipitation, a relationship with summer temperature fluctuations can be observed at decadal timescales. Most of the extreme flood events took place since the beginning of the 20(th) century with the strongest occurring in 2005. Our record thus suggests climate warming is favouring the occurrence of high magnitude torrential flood events in high-altitude catchments

Modern limnology, sediment accumulation and varve formation processes in Lake Żabińskie, northeastern Poland: comprehensive process studies as a key to understand the sediment record

Reconstructions of paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental data from sediment records require a thorough knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological factors that influence sediment-formation processes and signal preservation in lake sediments. Lake Żabińskie, an eutrophic hardwater lake located in northeastern Poland (Masurian Lake District), provides an unique environment for the investigation of processes that lead to the varve formation. During a two-year long observation period we investigated limnological and hydrochemical conditions within the water column, recent sediment fluxes and laminations preserved in the sediments of this lake to understand the relationship between the lake water properties and the sediment formation processes. We demonstrate that different mixing patterns may occur in Lake Żabińskie, from dimictic to meromictic depending on the meteorological conditions. Regardless of the water mixing pattern, the lake was stratified during much of the year which led to significant differences between surface and near-bottom water environments. The hypolimnion was characterized by higher conductivity and anoxic conditions with only short periods of better oxygenation, which created conditions ideal for the formation and preservation of biogenic varves. The material collected from the sediment trap revealed notable changes in sediment fluxes with characteristic spring maxima and, optionally, a second late fall maxima. Considerable variability was also observed for the fluxes of total organic carbon, biogenic silica and calcite. Microscopic investigation of the topmost sediments revealed a complex structure of the varves showing a distinct spring calcite lamina followed by several fine calcite laminae interbedded with diatom-rich laminae and, finally, by an organic-rich lamina with minerogenic admixtures deposited during winter. This seasonal variability was also reflected in the chemical composition inferred from high-resolution XRF measurements which allowed for the recognition of individual seasons within one varve. A characteristic annual succession of elemental composition followed a distinct pattern: spring was marked with a silica peak followed by a major calcium peak; during summer and fall minor calcium peaks occurred as well as maxima in iron and sulphur; winter was characterized by a peak in potassium. This study shows a remarkable potential of the sediment record from Lake Żabińskie as a high-resolution paleoenvironmental archive

A cost of illness study of hypoglycaemic events in insulin-treated diabetes in the Netherlands

__Objectives__ Patients with diabetes mellitus are at a risk for hypoglycaemia. Besides the burden of hypoglycaemia for patients, hypoglycaemia poses an economic burden to society. The aim of th

Impact of hypoglycaemia on patient-reported outcomes from a global, 24-country study of 27,585 people with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes

Aims: Data on the impact of hypoglycaemia on patients' daily lives and diabetes self-management, particularly in developing countries, are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess fear of, and responses to, hypoglycaemia experienced by patients globally. Materials and methods: This non-interventional, multicentre, 4-week prospective study using self-assessment questionnaires and patient diaries consisted of 27,585 patients, >= 18 years, with type 1 diabetes (n = 8022) or type 2 diabetes (n = 19,563) treated with insulin for > 12 months, at 2004 sites in 24 countries worldwide. Results: Increased blood glucose monitoring (69.7%) and seeking medical assistance (62.0%) were the most common responses in the 4 weeks following hypoglycaemic events for patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Approximately 44% of patients with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes increased calorie intake in response to a hypoglycaemic episode. Following hypoglycaemia, 3.9% (type 1 diabetes) and 6.2% (type 2 diabetes) of patients took leave from work or study. Regional differences in fear of, and responses to, hypoglycaemia were evident - in particular, a lower level of hypoglycaemic fear and utilisation of healthcare resources in Northern Europe and Canada. Conclusions: Hypoglycaemia has a major impact on patients and their behaviour. These global data for the first time reveal regional variations in response to hypoglycaemia and highlight the importance of patient education and management strategies. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. This is an open access article under thePeer reviewe