How and why people stop offending: discovering desistance

This is an evidence summary published by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social services in Scotland (IRISS). It summarises evidence about desistance from crime and provides a series of recommendations for criminal justice policy, systems and practice

Sunspot rotation. I. A consequence of flux emergence

Context. Solar eruptions and high flare activity often accompany the rapid rotation of sunspots. The study of sunspot rotation and the mechanisms driving this motion are therefore key to our understanding of how the solar atmosphere attains the conditions necessary for large energy release. Aims. We aim to demonstrate and investigate the rotation of sunspots in a 3D numerical experiment of the emergence of a magnetic flux tube as it rises through the solar interior and emerges into the atmosphere. Furthermore, we seek to show that the sub-photospheric twist stored in the interior is injected into the solar atmosphere by means of a definitive rotation of the sunspots. Methods. A numerical experiment is performed to solve the 3D resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations using a Lagrangian-Remap code. We track the emergence of a toroidal flux tube as it rises through the solar interior and emerges into the atmosphere investigating various quantities related to both the magnetic field and plasma. Results. Through detailed analysis of the numerical experiment, we find clear evidence that the photospheric footprints or sunspots of the flux tube undergo a rotation. Significant vertical vortical motions are found to develop within the two polarity sources after the field emerges. These rotational motions are found to leave the interior portion of the field untwisted and twist up the atmospheric portion of the field. This is shown by our analysis of the relative magnetic helicity as a significant portion of the interior helicity is transported to the atmosphere. In addition, there is a substantial transport of magnetic energy to the atmosphere. Rotation angles are also calculated by tracing selected fieldlines; the fieldlines threading through the sunspot are found to rotate through angles of up to 353 degrees over the course of the experiment

The Thermal Degradation of Polymethacrylonitrile

Abstract Not Provided

The beautiful gate: my journey to the monastery

A memoir by Columba Timothy McNeill

Emergencies: Risk and Personal Preparedness Measures

Personal emergency preparedness efforts that increase the resiliency of individuals and communities and decrease the risk for poor outcomes after an emergency are increasingly of interest to health care leaders, policy makers, and governmental entities. The limited capacity for external aid to provide relief in the first 72 hours after an emergency dictates that individuals and communities become prepared to sustain themselves for this initial period. Failure to prepare for an emergency can result in a multitude of negative outcomes. Those who are economically vulnerable are particularly at risk, including a high risk for negative health outcomes. An initial review the literature on chronic diseases, specifically diabetes, provided a better understanding of how emergencies can impact the health of a diabetic. Analyzing the concept of risk facilitates an understanding of the concept that is useful to health care, nursing, and emergency preparedness professionals. Lastly, analyzing the effectiveness of emergency preparedness education to determine whether it impacted preparedness behaviors and the participants\u27 perceptions of the education itself provides insight into the effectiveness of the education and into the experience this population had in becoming more prepared. It was determined that participants were significantly more prepared for an emergency after the educational program (M = 17.2, SE = .98) than before the educational program (M = 11.68, SE = .55), t(41) = -4.28, p \u3c .001, ES r = .56. However, further research must be done to find better ways to measure individual preparedness levels and evidence-based methods of teaching it

Barriers to Employment

The 'baby boomers' are now approaching their 'third age' with many people able to live fit, active, healthy lives well beyond that experienced by previous generations. The 'third age' supposedly a time to take up new challenges, or explore new directions, has become possible through life span gains resulting from health and technological advances. For many who are approaching or now in their 'third age', however, the opportunity to continue working appears to be a risk. While it is now possible for 'third agers' to be active in the workforce up to and well beyond the previous retirement age, many older workers experience barriers to remaining in or returning to the workforce. This research, based on semi-structured interviews with eleven employers, identifies three main themes that are perceptual, cultural and developmental barriers to 'third age' workforce participation. Each of these themes has developed around the changes that have occurred since many 'third agers' began work. At the same time employers are experiencing skill shortages that are predicted to continue and increase in the future. If employers are to maximise their potential workforce and meet the challenges of the ageing population, diversification of their workforce to include all ages will be necessary

Using food intake records to estimate compliance with the Eatwell plate dietary guidelines

This work was supported by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division. The original studies, from which the current data were taken, were funded by the Food Standards Agency, UK, and the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Association, London, UK.Peer reviewedPostprin

Repeatability and validity of a food frequency questionnaire in free-living older people in relation to cognitive function

Objectives: To determine the repeatability and validity of a self-administered, 175-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in free-living older people and to assess whether these are influenced by cognitive function. Participants and setting: 189 free-living people aged 64-80y were recruited from participants in a previous study. Design: To assess repeatability, 102 (52M, 50F) participants completed the FFQ on two occasions three months apart. To assess validity, another 87 participants (44 M, 43 F) completed the FFQ and a four-day weighed diet record three months later. 25 nutrients were studied. Results: For repeatability, Spearman rank correlation coefficients were above 0.35 (p<0.05) for all nutrients. Cohen’s weighted Kappa was above 0.4 for all nutrients except starch, riboflavin, retinol, β-carotene, and calcium. There were no substantial differences in correlation coefficients between sub-groups divided by short-term memory test score. There was no clear pattern for correlation coefficients in sub-groups divided by executive function test score. For validity, the Spearman rank correlation coefficients were above 0.2 (p<0.05) for all nutrients except fat, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, niacin equivalents and vitamin D, and Cohen’s weighted kappa was above 0.4 for alcohol and was above 0.2 for 13 other nutrients. Participants in the lowest-score groups of short-term memory and executive function had the lowest median Spearman correlation coefficient. Conclusions: The FFQ had reasonable repeatability and validity in ranking nutrient intakes in this population though the results varied between nutrients. Poor short-term memory or executive function may affect FFQ validity in ranking nutrient intakes

Sport specialisation in a Singapore secondary school: a case for legitimisation

This evaluation study of a curriculum innovation in sport specialisation was conducted in Singapore from 1994 to 1997. The longitudinal design provided scope for a comprehensive analysis of the school, the staff, the pupils and the implementation of the sports programme, known as the Sports Class. The use of qualitative as well as quantitative paradigms enabled data to be triangulated within the inquiry, which added security to the interpretation of the subjective data. Surveys, interviews and non-participant observations provided the qualitative data whilst established, validated inventories from the field produced the scientific data. A control/experimental group design was selected as a means of removing any maturational data that might have interfered with the results. The study examined the implementation of the programme as an innovation from its inception and provided formative feedback to the school from its findings through annual reports. As background research, the study considered the historical development of sport in Singapore from its colonial past through to its current status as a 'developing' nation to better understand the dominant values for sport within the culture. Elitism, gender and a pre-occupation with fitness were notions that initially directed the investigation. The study also examined the level of intrinsic motivation and assessed the task and ego profiles of the players in the programme. As well as assessing the programme outcomes against the original goals prescribed by the Principal, the study sought out unanticipated effects that made an impact on the school. The study addressed the influence this elitist initiative had on physical education from an egalitarian perspective. The study found that the programme had been successful in improving sporting as well as academic success, two of the original goals, but found that modifications made to the programme design impaired the final structure that created concerns about the future success of the initiative