Impulse control, substance abuse and clinical factors in habitual criminal violence : a neuropsychological approach

Bibliography: leaves 183-203.Past research is reviewed in relation to criminal violence, psychopathy disordered impulse control and neuropsychological findings in these areas. Drawing upon publications from fields such as neurology, psychiatry and biochemistry, a theoretical foundation for a link between a functional disorder of impulse control and habitual impulsive violence is presented. Research on pharmacological treatment of violence is reviev.1ed as a possible alternative method to assist the violent offender to inhibit violent impulses. In order to assess whether functional impairment of impulse control may be a factor which contributes to the high local rate of habitual criminal violence on an interpersonal level, 50 violent and 50 nonviolent prisoners from Pollsmoor and Brandvlei Prisons in the Western Cape were compared on a self-report dyscontrol scale, neuropsychological measures of impulse control, incidence of substance abuse, prior head injury, and certain clinical and demographical variables. The violent group was selected on the basis of serving a current sentence for violent crime, plus a history of habitual interpersonal violence of a non-political nature from their criminal records in the prison files. The crime category of robbery was excluded from both subject groups, as it was considered to be a planned crime with an economic motive rather than an impulsive act of violence. The nonviolent sample was required to have no violent convictions of any nature, but the number of previous offences had to be comparable to those of the violent group. The total number of convictions per person ranged from 2 to 25 (mean 9.6)

Modeling wind waves from deep to shallow waters in Lake Michigan using unstructured SWAN

Accurate wind‐wave simulations are vital for evaluating the impact of waves on coastal dynamics, especially when wave observations are sparse. It has been demonstrated that structured‐grid models have the ability to capture the wave dynamics of large‐scale offshore domains, and the recent emergence of unstructured meshes provides an opportunity to better simulate shallow‐water waves by resolving the complex geometry along islands and coastlines. For this study, wind waves in Lake Michigan were simulated using the unstructured‐grid version of Simulating Waves Nearshore (un‐SWAN) model with various types of wind forcing, and the model was calibrated using in situ wave observations. Sensitivity experiments were conducted to investigate the key factors that impact wave growth and dissipation processes. In particular, we considered (1) three wind field sources, (2) three formulations for wind input and whitecapping, (3) alternative formulations and coefficients for depth‐induced breaking, and (4) various mesh types. We find that un‐SWAN driven by Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) wind data reproduces significant wave heights reasonably well using previously proposed formulations for wind input, recalibrated whitecapping parameters, and alternative formulations for depth‐induced breaking. The results indicate that using GEM wind field data as input captures large waves in the midlake most accurately, while using the Natural Neighbor Method wind field reproduces shallow‐water waves more accurately. Wind input affects the simulated wave evolution across the whole lake, whereas whitecapping primarily affects wave dynamics in deep water. In shallow water, the process of depth‐induced breaking is dominant and highly dependent upon breaker indices and mesh types.Key PointsImpacts of three different wind field sources on lake wave dynamics are examinedModifications to wind input and whitecapping formulations are critical to deepwater wave dynamicsDepth‐induced wave breaking and the choice of mesh type dominate modeled shallow‐water wave dynamicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133611/1/jgrc21745.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133611/2/jgrc21745_am.pd

Coastal Ocean Forecasting: science foundation and user benefits

The advancement of Coastal Ocean Forecasting Systems (COFS) requires the support of continuous scientific progress addressing: (a) the primary mechanisms driving coastal circulation; (b) methods to achieve fully integrated coastal systems (observations and models), that are dynamically embedded in larger scale systems; and (c) methods to adequately represent air-sea and biophysical interactions. Issues of downscaling, data assimilation, atmosphere-wave-ocean couplings and ecosystem dynamics in the coastal ocean are discussed. These science topics are fundamental for successful COFS, which are connected to evolving downstream applications, dictated by the socioeconomic needs of rapidly increasing coastal populations

AfrOBIS: a marine biogeographic information system for sub-Saharan Africa

AfrOBIS is one of 11 global nodes of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), a freely accessible network of databases collating marine data in support of the Census of Marine Life. Versatile graphic products, provided by OBIS, can be used to display the data. To date, AfrOBIS has loaded about3.2 million records of more than 23 000 species located mainly in the seas around southern Africa. This forms part of the 13.2 million records of more than 80 000 species currently stored in OBIS. Scouting for South African data has been successful, whereas locating records in other African countries has been much less so

Coastal Ocean Forecasting: science foundation and user benefits

The advancement of Coastal Ocean Forecasting Systems (COFS) requires the support of continuous scientific progress addressing: (a) the primary mechanisms driving coastal circulation; (b) methods to achieve fully integrated coastal systems (observations and models), that are dynamically embedded in larger scale systems; and (c) methods to adequately represent air-sea and biophysical interactions. Issues of downscaling, data assimilation, atmosphere-wave-ocean couplings and ecosystem dynamics in the coastal ocean are discussed. These science topics are fundamental for successful COFS, which are connected to evolving downstream applications, dictated by the socioeconomic needs of rapidly increasing coastal populations

Die geskiktheid van die natuur as hulpmiddel in 'n eksistensiele benadering tot psigoterapie

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research literature is increasingly referring to the therapeutic effect of experiences in nature on people. However, no research that evaluates the suitability of nature as an aid in an existential approach to psychotherapy could be found. This paper shows by means of a literature review that nature as an aid can make a significant contribution to this approach. The potential benefits of utilizing nature are integrated with the therapeutic goals of existential psychotherapy. The conclusion reached is that nature can be an important aid for leading a client to self-confrontation, increased selfawareness, acceptance of personal freedom and responsibility, and to find personal meaning in life. Proposals for future research are recommended.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsingsliteratuur bevat in 'n toenemende mate verwysings na die terapeutiese effek wat belewenisse in die natuur op mense het. Geen navorsing kon egter gevind word wat die geskiktheid van die natuur as 'n hulpmiddel in 'n eksistensiële benadering tot psigoterapie ondersoek nie. Hierdie studie toon deur middel van 'n literatuuroorsig aan dat die natuur wel as 'n hulpmiddel betekenisvolle bydraes kan lewer tot hierdie benadering, deur die potensiële bydrae van die natuur in verband te bring met die doelwitte van eksistensiële psigoterapie. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die natuur 'n belangrike hulpmiddel kan wees om die kliënt te lei na selfkonfrontasie, verhoogde selfbewussyn, aanvaarding van persoonlike vryheid en verantwoordelikheid, en die vind van persoonlike betekenis in die lewe. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word ook gemaak

The application of the numerical wind wave model SWAN to a selected field case on the South African coast

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.198 leaves double sided printed, preliminary pages i-xx and numberd pages 1-1-12-6.Includes bibliography. List of tables, figures and appendices and acronyms. Scanned with a HP Scanjet 8250 Scanner to pdf format (OCR).ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the numerical short wave model SWAN is evaluated for application to a selected coastal region in South Africa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of accuracy with which SWAN can simulate prototype nearshore wave spectra and wave parameters (e.g. wave height, mean wave direction and mean wave period) for an Algoa Bay field case. Algoa Bay represents a typical deep, sheltered embayment on the South African south coast, which is exposed to high-energy swell. Sensitivity analyses on various wave-related processes were also done, with the aim of establishing the dominant physical processes and appropriate model setup for the Algoa Bay field case. With the dominant wave-related processes and appropriate model setup for the Algoa Bay field case established, selected final runs were performed to determine the degree of accuracy with which SWAN can simulate prototype conditions, by comparing its results with available field recordings. This study comprises a review of the SWAN evaluation work conducted to date by others, an overview of South African coastal conditions, and numerical model simulations. The model simulations, which represent the main focus of this study, were conducted for a selection of available offshore wave conditions (at 85 m water depth) observed during the Algoa Bay field case and were compared to available nearshore observations (at 17 m water depth). Environmental conditions of waves, wind and currents were included in these simulations. The study focuses on model application and sensitivity analysis, rather than model development, and includes evaluation of all relevant processes, without focussing on any specific model aspect. The results of this study show that SWAN simulations correlated well with observations at the nearshore station in Algoa Bay, both in wave spectral shape and its associated parameters. Dominant processes identified for the field case were depth-induced refraction, bottom friction and directional spreading. This finding agrees with those of previous evaluations of SWAN and previous modelling experience by others. It is shown that high-energy swell is relatively more sensitive to the choices of model setup than wind sea. Based on the simulation results of high-energy swell, it is concluded that the calculation of depth-induced refraction in SWAN seem to contain a degree of inaccuracy. It is also concluded that the findings of this study could be used as a guideline to SWAN modelling studies along the South African south coast.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die toepassingsmoontlikhede van die numeriese kortgolf model SWAN vir 'n geselekteerde gedeelde van die Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn beoordeel. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die vlak van akkuraatheid waarmee SWAN prototipe golfspektra en golfparameters (bv. golfhoogte, gemiddelde golfrigting en gemiddelde golfperiode) in die vlakwater kan simuleer te beoordeel, vir 'n Algoabaai gevallestudie. Algoabaai verteenwoordig 'n tipiese diep, beskermde baai aan die Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn, wat blootgestel is aan hoe-energie deining. Sensitiwiteitstoetse is ook uitgevoer vir verskillende golfprosesse, met die doel om die dominante fisiese prosesse en gepaste modelopstelling vir die Algoabaai gevallestudie te vind. Nadat die dominante golfprosesse geidentifiseer is, en die toepaslike modelopstelling gevind is, is finale simulasies uitgevoer vir geselekteerde gevalle om die mate van akkuraatheid te bepaal waarmee SWAN prototipe kondisies kan simuleer, deur simulasie resultate met beskikbare veldmetings te vergelyk. Hierdie studie bestaan uit 'n samevatting van die evaluasiewerk verrig op SWAN deur andere, 'n samevatting van golf-, wind- en stroomtoestande aan die Suid-Afrikaanse kus en numeriese modelsimulasies. Die modelsimulasies, wat die hooffokus van hierdie studie is, is uitgevoer vir 'n seleksie van beskikbare diepsee golftoestande (in 85 m waterdiepte) uit die Algoabaai gevallestudie en is vergelyk met beskikbare vlakwater metings (in 17 m waterdiepte). Omgewingstoestande van golwe, wind en seestrome is ingesluit in hierdie simulasies. Die studie fokus op modeltoepassing en sensitiwiteits-analise, eerder as modelontwikkeling, en behels die beoordeeling van alle toepaslike modelprosesse, sonder om te fokus op enige spesifieke model aspek. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon aan dat die SWAN simulasies goed korrileer met vlakwater meetings in Algoabaai, vir beide golfspektraalvorm en verwante golfparameters. Bodemrefraksie, bodemwrywing en rigtingsspreiding is geidentifiseer as dominante modelprosesse. Hierdie resultaat kom ooreen met bevindings van vroeere beoordeling van SWAN en modelleer-ervaring deur andere. Dit word aangetoon dat hoe-energie deining relatief meer sensitief is vir modelopstelling as wind-see. Gebasseer op resultate van simulasie met hoe-energie deining, word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die berekening van bodemrefraksie in SWAN 'n mate van onakkuraatheid toon. Die gevolgtrekking word ook gemaak dat die resultate van hierdie studie as riglyn gebruik kan word vir modelleerwerk met SWAN aan die Suid-Afrikaanse suidkus

Van der Westhuysen, J M. (Architect) Church Square Pretoria, Kruger Statue. Foot-piece. April 1941. Blueprints.

Blueprints: Drawing no. 2: 745X430, Drawing no. 3: 745X410, and 665X510,Van der Westhuysen, J M. (Architect) Church Square Pretoria, Kruger Statue. Foot-piece. April 1941. BlueprintsGauteng Institute of Architecture (GIFA) Collection of Architectural Drawings. Housed by Wits University, Architectural Archives