The Pit & the Pendulum: Sex Offender Laws

For centuries the criminal justice system has struggled to define the methodology of and the justifications for social control of sexual behavior that does not conform to community mores. This poster compares and contrasts the historical and contemporary attempts in the United States, Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany to address the risk created by individuals who engage in behaviors broadly characterized as sexually deviant. Where available, we consider the rationale for sentencing, and the earliest attempts to bring “treatment” into the criminal dispositional formula for sexual based prosecution. We also consider the impact that the choice of societal response has on risk assessment and evaluation in the various systems, including where available, the assessment and commitment of juvenile offenders. The current practice of civil commitment for a person deemed to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) is discussed highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kansas v. Hendricks. This practice will then be compared and contrasted with the approach of designating an offender as a Dangerous Offender (DO) or a Long-Term Offender (LTO) under the criminal law. We also highlight sex offender registries where applicable. This poster is intended as an overview of the law as it exists, and not as a defense or a critique of any specific model

Non-Newtonian Mixed Thermo-Elastohydrodynamics of Hypoid Gear Pairs

Transmission efficiency is the main objective in the development of vehicular differential systems, comprising hypoid gear pairs. The overall aim is to contribute to improved vehicle fuel efficiency and thus levels of harmful emissions for modern desired eco-drive axles. Detailed predictive analysis plays an important role in this quest, particularly under realistic operating conditions, comprising high contact loads and shear rates. Under these conditions, the hypoid gear pairs are subject to mixed non-Newtonian thermo-elastohydrodynamic conditions, which is the approach undertaken in this paper. Such an approach for hypoid gear pair has not hitherto been reported in the literature

Defining appropriateness in coach-athlete sexual relationships: The voice of coaches

The sporting culture, with omnipotent coaches, fierce competition for recognition and funding, and ‘win at all cost’ ethos, creates an environment conducive to sexual exploitation of athletes. Recent increased public awareness and the development of child protection policies in sport have led to the questioning of previously accepted coach-athlete relationships. This study is an exploratory investigation into male swimming coaches’ perceptions of appropriateness of coach-athlete sexual relationships. Sexual relationships with athletes under the age of 16 were unanimously considered totally inappropriate. With regard to sexual relationships with athletes above the age of consent for heterosexual sex, opinions ranged from “totally inappropriate” to “it’s a question of civil liberties.” These results are discussed in relation to how coaches have adapted their own behaviours in the face of public scrutiny but are still reluctant to restrict the rights of their fellow coaches

Heavy Metals Distribution, Environmental and Health Risk, Sources, and Origin in Soil from European Beech Forests

Forests cover about 40% of Earth’s surface, while is 42% of the European Unions’ total land area is covered by forests and wooded land [1]. Forest ecosystems are open and dynamic systems that exchange matter with other systems such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere [1]. Nowadays, in addition to the exchange of substances necessary for its functioning, there is also an exchange of polluting substances. Heavy metals in forest soil can originate from natural and anthropogenic processes and their high concentration can be toxic for ecosystems and humans [2]. The aim of this study is to determine: (i) heavy metal distribution in forest soil; (ii) environmental and health risk; (iii) the source of heavy metals; (iv) the origin of heavy metals; and (v) influence of the geological substrate on heavy metal contents. Soil samples were collected from European mountain beech forests in 11 countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Since European beech forests grow on a wide range of geological settings, during this research terrestrial ecosystems that lie on five major bedrock groups (andesite, carbonate, conglomerate, granite, and sandstone) were investigated. The average abundance order of heavy metal contents in forest soil samples is Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Co > Cd. According to geo-statistical analysis soil samples with the lowest heavy metal contents belong to cambisol soil type, on sandstone, and granite substrate, and with the highest contents belong luvisols and rendzina soil types on limestone and dolomite substrate. The concentration of most heavy metals doesn’t show a systematic pattern with depth. Considering enrichment factor (EF) Pb, Sb, Cd and As, have moderate enrichment, or moderately severe enrichment in the surface soil layer. Mercury has severe enrichment. The highest values of hazard quotient pathways are noticed for ingestion in the children population, especially in the case of Pb. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a positive correlation among most of the elements indicating one or more common sources of heavy metals. Based on the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) V, Ni, Cu and Th were provided the highest percentage contribution for Factor 1, As, and Se for Factor 1 and Factor 3, Hg for Factor 4, and Cd for Factor 5. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that Principle Component 1 (PC1) was mainly loaded with V, Ni, Cu, As, Se, and Th with similar high values, and Cd and Hg were strongly correlated in the Principle Component 2 (PC2). Taking into account all results it can be concluded that heavy metal concentrations in European beech forests soil are mainly determined by the geological substrate

The Anions Profile as an Important Property of Soil in European Beech Forests

As the forests decrease in their size and quality, the forest ecosystems, as well as the ecosystems services and climate also change. Hence many of the animals and plants are relocated or brought into jeopardy of distinguishing. Directly and indirectly climate changes affect the growth and productivity of forests through changes in soil properties, temperature, draught, atmospehric falls and other factors. The effects of climate change on soils are expected mainly through alteration in soil moisture conditions and increase in soil temperature and CO2 levels [1]. These changes influence complex forest ecosystems since concentration of soil organic carbon, nitrogen cycles, water and nutrient retention, filter functions and erosion control are also affected. The hustle enviroment lead to forest extiction due to changes in the formation and conservation of soil structure, available water-holding capacity, soil nutrient cycling, and soil biodiversity transport of nutrients. The forest trees slowly extinct, decompose and change nitrogen cycles, content of organic carbon and other factors that influence the rest of forests ecosystems. In this study, the most abundant anions of European beech forest soils were investigated due to their specific roles in forests ecosystems. The carbonate and sulfate play important role in soil structure, water holding capacity and soil density. On the other hand, phosphate and nitrate ions can be regarded as markers of undisturbed forest ecosystems. The chloride is relatively uninvolved in neither biological nor inorganic chemical reactions [2]. Leaching in forest soils is limited by physco chemical reactions and roots needs. The framework of this study is to develop adequate database of forest ecosystems, and their response to climate change. This will involve analysis of physicochemical properties, anion and elemental composition. For that purpose, 80 soil samples from 15 soil profiles (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-80 cm) were collected from beech forests of Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia (Figure 1). Dionex ICS 3000 was used for anion analysis. The obtained results pointed out relatioship of sulfate and carbonate according to the soil type, while others anions did not exhibit such behavior. Climate change leads to leaching of basic cations which leaves the soils more acidified and this can be even more severe in soils containing high concentrations of sulfates [3]. The database of the major anion profile can be used for building apropriate model for assessing and predicting the effects of the climate changes on forest ecosystems The outcomes of this study will be compiled with the research conducted on pollution induced and climate change effects regarding aquatic, atmospheric and terrestrial systems, which will be operationalized in a geo-spatial and temporal forecasting model. The obtained models may be used as screening techniques for predicting the environmental stress caused by climate change in forest mountain regions

Time-optimal attitude control scheme for a spinning missile

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77165/1/AIAA-21009-332.pd

A review of the polygraph: history, methodology and current status

The history of research into psychophysiological measurements as an aid to detecting lying, widely known as the ‘lie detector’ or polygraph is the focus of this review. The physiological measurements used are detailed and the debates that exist in regards to its role in the investigative process are introduced. Attention is given to the main polygraph testing methods, namely the Comparative Question Test and the Concealed Information Test. Discussion of these two central methods, their uses and problems forms the basis of the review. Recommendations for future research are made specifically in regards to improving current polygraph technology and exploring the role of the polygraph in combination with other deception detection techniques