185 research outputs found
A Model for Analysing and Grading the Quality of Scientific Authorities Presented to State Legislative Committees
No full textLongitudinal studies have confirmed that human brains continue to mature and restructure throughout adolescence, with the prefrontal cortex – responsible for executive functions – maturing into an individual’s twenties. Studies examining adolescent decision-making demonstrate that young people prioritise rewards when assessing risk, take more risks in ‘hot’ contexts and are more likely to take risks when in the presence of their peers. These findings have motivated arguments that the immaturity of an adolescent brain could impact on culpability for criminal offences; a point recognised by the US Supreme Court in 2005:
From a moral standpoint it would be misguided to equate the failings of a minor with those of an adult, for a greater possibility exists that a minor's character deficiencies will be reformed. Indeed, “[t]he relevance of youth as a mitigating factor derives from the fact that the signature qualities of youth are transient; as individuals mature, the impetuousness and recklessness that may dominate in younger years can subside.”
Since 2007, states have begun to ‘Raise the Age’ and move towards a national consensus of 18 for the upper age limit of juvenile court jurisdiction. Vermont has even gone beyond this, raising the age limit to 20. Little is known, however, about the extent to which, one, the evidential body of adolescent brain science is informing this legislative movement, or, two, robust science is presented to legislative decision-makers and by whom.
We have developed a model for analysing and grading the quality of scientific arguments and authorities presented to legislative committees examining ‘Raise the Age’ legislation and have applied it to four states: Connecticut, Vermont, Michigan and Wisconsin. The former two were selected as states which had already, or were repeatedly attempting, to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction above 18 and the latter two were states which, as of 2018, had not reached the national consensus of 18. Almost 700 pieces of evidence were examined, assessing criteria including whether studies were peer-reviewed, performed in humans, randomised control trials or whether they were opinion-based. Testimony was also categorised by author and a thematic analysis conducted.
Our research has shown that campaign organisations, academia, religious groups, police chiefs and parents regularly provide testimony in this public process and that the themes of funding, recidivism and serious offences are repeatedly referenced. The model tells us that overall, although detailed scientific arguments about brain science and culpability are made to the legislature, poor quality evidence is provided to support these and, most often, there is a lack of scientific evidence entirely.
This paper provides a summary of the results from Connecticut, Michigan, Vermont and Wisconsin. Part I discusses the methodology and development of the analysis model and Part II offers conclusions about the quality of science referenced, who participates, and the themes discussed in public committee testimony
The biogeochemistry of gold
No full textThe biosphere catalyzes a variety of biogeochemical reactions that can transform gold. Microbial weathering contributes to the mobilization of gold by releasing elemental gold trapped within minerals and by solubilizing gold via oxidation-promoting complexation. Subsequent microbial destabilization of gold complexes coupled with bioprecipitation and biomineralization can immobilize gold, completing the cycle. Secondary gold can occur as colloidal particles, crystalline gold and bacteriomorphic structures, the latter being a controversial form of `biogenic' gold.Gordon Southam, Maggy F. Lengke, Lintern Fairbrother and Frank Reit
1982 2nd Year Natural Resource Management
No full textColor photo; unmounted.Second Year Nat Rats: back - J Sumner, G Saunders, D Appleton, L Sparrow, M Watson, M Stokes; centre - C MacDonald, I Hopton, A Comas, D Simpson, M Short, G Motson, S Holden, P Young; front - D Ganino, S Petho, L Hearde, K Ayliffe, L Miller, V Lintern, M Pearse
PROBLEMS WITH SPARK CHAMBER GAS RECIRCULATOR / PURIFIER SYSTEMS IN USE AT RUTHERFORD LABORATORY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMMISSIONING PROCEDURES
No full textNanoparticle factories: Biofilms hold the key to gold dispersion and nugget formation
No full textBiofilms living on gold (Au) grains play a key role in the biogeochemical cycle of Au by promoting the dispersion of Au via the formation of Au nanoparticles as well as the formation of secondary biomorphic Au. Gold grains from Queensland, Australia, are covered by a polymorphic, organic-inorganic layer that is up to 40 μm thick. It consists of a bacterial biofilm containing Au nanoparticles associated with extracellular polymeric substances as well as bacterioform Au. Focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning through the biofilm revealed that aggregates of nanoparticulate Au line open spaces beneath the active biofilm layer. These aggregates (bacterioform Au type 1) resulted from the reprecipitation of dissolved Au, and their internal growth structures provide direct evidence for coarsening of the Au grains. At the contact between the polymorphic layer and the primary Au, bacterioform Au type 2 is present. It consists of solid rounded forms into which crystal boundaries of underlying primary Au extend, and is the result of dealloying and Ag dissolution from the primary Au. This study demonstrates that (1) microbially driven dissolution, precipitation, and aggregation lead to the formation of bacterioform Au and contribute to the growth of Au grains under supergene conditions, and (2) the microbially driven mobilization of coarse Au into nanoparticles plays a key role in mediating the mobility of Au in surface environments, because the release of nanoparticulate Au upon biofilm disintegration greatly enhances environmental mobility compared to Au complexes only.Frank Reith, Lintern Fairbrother, Gert Nolze, Oliver Wilhelmi, Peta L. Clode, Adrienne Gregg, John E. Parsons, Steven A. Wakelin, Allan Pring, Robert Hough, Gordon Southam and Joël Brugge
A Comparison of the Predictive Validities of Single- and Dual-Task Measures
No full text An experiment comparing the predictive validity of single-versus dual-task measures is reported. Fifty-seven males received two trials on each of two identical one-dimensional compensatory tracking tasks followed by 25 dual-task trials. Finally, they performed each task alone for one trial. The subjects then were given a short basic flight course consisting of ground instruction and practice in a GAT-2 simulator. After completing the course, the subjects performed four repetitions of three maneuvers. Performance in the simulator then was correlated with performance on each tracking trial. The predictive validity of the early single-task scores decreased with practice while the dual-task validity increased throughout the testing session. However, the predictive validity of the late single-task scores was almost as large as that of the late dual-task scores. </jats:p
The Enquiring University: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning as a Foundation for Strategic Educational Transformation
No full textThis chapter charts how in England, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) activities that may until recently have been seen as ‘marginal' or ‘added' value are increasingly viewed as strategic enablers. This is of potential interest to international audiences due to the growing and, arguably, unprecedented expectations placed on English universities to evidence the impact of their education through the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework. However, if SoTL is to become a fully functioning enabler of strategic transformation—rather than simply a cited exemplar or initiative—it needs to be systematically coordinated and evidenced. Drawing on a recently developed conceptual model—‘the enquiring university'—the chapter charts how the role and impact of SoTL can be coordinated, recorded, and evaluated through an emergent SoTL Strategic Implementation and Impact Framework. Finally, the authors illustrate its application through reference to an example of a SoTL activity aligned to two key elements of the framework
A consistent global approach for morphometric characterisation of subaqueous landslides
No full textLandslides are common in aquatic settings worldwide, from lakes and coastal environments to the deep sea. Fast-moving, large-volume landslides can potentially trigger destructive tsunamis. Landslides damage and disrupt global communication links and other critical marine infrastructure. Landslide deposits act as foci for localized, but important, deep-seafloor biological communities. Under burial, landslide deposits play an important role in a successful petroleum system. While the broad importance of understanding subaqueous landslide processes is evident, a number of important scientific questions have yet to receive the needed attention. Collecting quantitative data is a critical step to addressing questions surrounding subaqueous landslides.
Quantitative metrics of subaqueous landslides are routinely recorded, but which ones, and how they are defined, depends on the end-user focus. Differences in focus can inhibit communication of knowledge between communities, and complicate comparative analysis. This study outlines an approach specifically for consistent measurement of subaqueous landslide morphometrics to be used in the design of a broader, global open-source, peer-curated database. Examples from different settings illustrate how the approach can be applied, as well as the difficulties encountered when analysing different landslides and data types. Standardizing data collection for subaqueous landslides should result in more accurate geohazard predictions and resource estimation
Direct monitoring reveals initiation of turbidity currents from extremely dilute river plumes
No full textRivers (on land) and turbidity currents (in the ocean) are the most important sediment transport processes on Earth. Yet, how rivers generate turbidity currents as they enter the coastal ocean remains poorly understood. The current paradigm, based on laboratory experiments, is that turbidity currents are triggered when river plumes exceed a threshold sediment concentration of ~1 kg.m‐3. Here we present direct observations of an exceptionally dilute river‐plume, with sediment concentrations one order of magnitude below this threshold (0.07 kg.m‐3), which generated a fast (1.5 m.s‐1), erosive, short‐lived (6 min) turbidity current. However, no turbidity current occurred during subsequent river‐plumes. We infer that turbidity currents are generated when fine‐sediment, accumulating in a tidal turbidity maximum, is released during spring tide. This means that very dilute river‐plumes can generate turbidity currents more frequently and in a wider range of locations, than previously thought
- …
