Punishment, blame and stigma after conflict: the experience of politically motivated former prisoners in Northern Ireland

This paper examines the relationship between the politics of blame in post-conflict Northern Ireland and the treatment of politically motivated former prisoners. Using the examples of direct and indirect discrimination in the areas of employment and access to mental health services, the paper considers how the discursive operation of blaming produces evasions and attributions of guilt. It argues that such blaming practices have very real material consequences for the allocation or withholding of goods and burdens in the community. The paper notes also that the ‘cause of victims’ is often appropriated by the press and other political actors for their own purposes, frequently to block the provision of public goods to one particular group of ex-combatants: ex-politically motivated prisoners. It concludes by posing a series of questions about blaming, justice and the moral authority of the victim in a transitional justice context. The claim of the paper is simply to offer some starting points for understanding the relationship between processes of blame, stigma and social exclusion.

Comparison of ELISA and SPR biosensor technology for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

An enzyme labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor assay for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins were developed and a comparative evaluation was performed. A polyclonal antibody (BC67) used in both assay formats was raised to saxitoxin–jeffamine–BSA in New Zealand white rabbits. Each assay format was designed as an inhibition assay. Shellfish samples (n = 54) were evaluated by each method using two simple rapid extraction procedures and compared to the AOAC high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the mouse bioassay (MBA). The results of each assay format were comparable with the HPLC and MBA methods and demonstrate that an antibody with high sensitivity and broad specificity to PSP toxins can be applied to different immunological techniques. The method of choice will depend on the end-users needs. The reduced manual labor and simplicity of operation of the SPR biosensor compared to ELISA, ease of sample extraction and superior real time semi-quantitative analysis are key features that could make this technology applicable in a high-throughput monitoring unit.

Confined Site Construction: A qualitative investigation of critical issues affecting management of Health and Safety

The construction industry is inherently risky, with a significant number of accidents and disasters occurring, particularly on confined construction sites. This research investigates and identifies the various issues affecting successful management of health and safety in confined construction sites. The rationale is that identifying the issues would assist the management of health and safety particularly in inner city centres which are mostly confined sites. Using empiricism epistemology, the methodology was based on qualitative research approach by means of multiple case studies in three different geographical locations of Ireland, UK and USA. Data on each case study were collected through individual interviews and focus group discussion with project participants. The findings suggest that three core issues are the underlying factors affecting management of health and safety on confined construction sites. It include, (i) lack of space, (ii) problem of co-ordination and management of site personnel, and (iii) overcrowding of workplace. The implication of this is that project teams and their organisations should see project processes from a holistic point of view, as a unified single system, where quick intervention in solving a particular issue should be the norm, so as not to adversely affect interrelated sequence of events in project operations. Proactive strategies should be devised to mitigate these issues and may include detail project programming, space management, effective constructability review and efficient co-ordination of personnel, plant and materials among others. The value of this research is to aid management and operation of brownfield sites by identifying issues impacting on health and safety management in project process.

3D Analysis of Heat Transfer Intensification by Re-Entrance Flow Pin-Fins Microstructures with a Highly Thermal-Conductive Plate

Joule heat-induced hot-spot formation sets severe limits in the operation of continuous annular electrochromatography (CAEC), a new concept for preparative separation as an analog to analytical capillary electrochromatography (CEC). This may lead to eluent flow perturbance, even to boiling, which would massively weaken separation efficiency and may even hamper the stationary phase used for separation. For reasons of system integration and high-efficiency heat transfer, micro flow heat exchangers are considered with a separate coolant flow. A 3D numerical analysis of the heat transfer of water single-phase laminar flow in a square microchannel and different arrays of micro pin-fins was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics. Several advanced materials with low electric conductivity and at the same time with high heat conductivity were put forward to be used in the CAEC system. As essential design point, it is proposed to constitute the micro heat exchanger from two different parts of the CAEC system, namely a microstructured pin-fins plate and a so-called conductive plate.

Carbon Isotopic Fractionation of CFCs during Abiotic and Biotic Degradation

Carbon stable isotope ((13)C) fractionation in chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds arising from abiotic (chemical) degradation using zero-valent iron (ZVI) and biotic (landfill gas attenuation) processes is investigated. Batch tests (at 25 °C) for CFC-113 and CFC-11 using ZVI show quantitative degradation of CFC-113 to HCFC-123a and CFC-1113 following pseudo-first-order kinetics corresponding to a half-life (t(1/2)) of 20.5 h, and a ZVI surface-area normalized rate constant (k(SA)) of -(9.8 ± 0.5) × 10(-5) L m(-2) h(-1). CFC-11 degraded to trace HCFC-21 and HCFC-31 following pseudo-first-order kinetics corresponding to t(1/2) = 17.3 h and k(SA) = -(1.2 ± 0.5) × 10(-4) L m(-2) h(-1). Significant kinetic isotope effects of e(‰) = -5.0 ± 0.3 (CFC-113) and -17.8 ± 4.8 (CFC-11) were observed. Compound-specific carbon isotope analyses also have been used here to characterize source signatures of CFC gases (HCFC-22, CFC-12, HFC-134a, HCFC-142b, CFC-114, CFC-11, CFC-113) for urban (UAA), rural/remote (RAA), and landfill (LAA) ambient air samples, as well as in situ surface flux chamber (FLUX; NO FLUX) and landfill gas (LFG) samples at the Dargan Road site, Northern Ireland. The latter values reflect biotic degradation and isotopic fractionation in LFG production, and local atmospheric impact of landfill emissions through the cover. Isotopic fractionations of ?(13)C ~ -13‰ (HCFC-22), ?(13)C ~ -35‰ (CFC-12) and ?(13)C ~ -15‰ (CFC-11) were observed for LFG in comparison to characteristic solvent source signatures, with the magnitude of the isotopic effect for CFC-11 apparently similar to the kinetic isotope effect for (abiotic) ZVI degradation.

Optical sensors for carbon dioxide: an overview of sensing strategies past and present

The evolution of the optical sensor for CO2 over the past two decades is outlined and illustrated through examples of luminescent-based sensors. The basic principles and design of the early 'wet covered' type sensor, in which a pH sensitive dye in an aqueous buffer is covered by a gas permeable, ion impermeable, membrane, are outlined. The gradual move from the 'wet covered' types of CO2 optical sensor to 'solid-water droplet' type sensors and then onto 'solid' sensors is charted. The basic design and principles of operation of the modern 'solid' optical sensor for P-CO2 is covered in some detail. Other sensing strategies outside the simple use of pH-sensitive dyes are also considered, most notably those based on luminescence lifetime measurements.

Gain saturation of the Ni-like X-ray lasers

Driven by a double 75 ps pulse with 2.2 ns separation, saturated operation of nickel-like Ag, In, Sn, and Sm X-ray lasers have been demonstrated with only 75 J drive energy on target. The variation of X-ray laser output with target length is found to fit well to a simple model for an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) laser including saturation. Small signal gains of similar to 10 cm(-1), effective gain length products of similar to 18, and saturation irradiance of (1-5)x 10(10) W/cm(2) are measured for these lasers using a fitting procedure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

IONIC COMPOSITION OF THE LIVER FLUKE FASCIOLA-HEPATICA FROM DIFFERENT MAMMALIAN HOSTS AND COMPARISON WITH HOST BILE

A qualitative analysis of the cationic profile of bovine and ovine biles and of bovine, ovine and rat liver flukes has been carried out by DC are emission spectrography. A quantitative assessment of the concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in bovine, ovine and rat flukes has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The levels of these ions in bovine and ovine bile samples have also been assessed and compared with those of Hedon-Heig saline. The ionic composition of the two biles is similar and the concentration of each ion is greater than that in Hedon-Heig saline. Despite the similarity in biles, ion levels in bovine flukes are generally higher than those in ovine flukes. Ion levels in rat flukes are different again but show closer similarity to those in bovine, not ovine, flukes. The results are discussed in relation to the proposed operation of the osmoregulatory system in the fluke.

Optimisation of drive pulse configuration for a Ni-like Sn X-ray laser at 12 nm

The current saturated operation of X-ray lasers at wavelengths > 15 nm requires at least kilojoule drive energy, which is only available at the largest laser installations in the world, Using a specially designed drive pulse configuration, saturated operation of a Ni-like Sn X-ray laser at 12 nm has been achieved with only 75 J drive energy, An efficiency as high as 9 x 10(6) in converting laser energy from the 1 eV optical spectral range to the 100 eV soft X-ray range has been reached, This paves the way for applications of saturated X-ray lasers at 12 nm at many other smaller laboratories. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Survival of pathogenic bacteria during mesophilic anaerobic-digestion of animal waste

The survival of pathogenic bacteria was investigated during the operation of a full-scale anaerobic digester which was fed daily and operated at 28-degrees-C. The digester had a mean hydraulic retention time of 24 d. The viable numbers of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni were reduced during mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Escherichia coli had the smallest mean viable numbers at each stage of the digestion process. Its mean T90 value was 76-9 d. Yersinia enterocolitica was the least resistant to the anaerobic digester environment; its mean T90 value was 18.2 d. Campylobacter jejuni was the most resistant bacterium; its mean T90 value was 438.6 d. Regression analysis showed that there were no direct relationships between the slurry input and performance of the digester and the decline of pathogen numbers during the 140 d experimental period.

Towards an understanding of the causes and effects of software requirements change: two case studies

Changes to software requirements not only pose a risk to the successful delivery of software applications but also provide opportunity for improved usability and value. Increased understanding of the causes and consequences of change can support requirements management and also make progress towards the goal of change anticipation. This paper presents the results of two case studies that address objectives arising from that ultimate goal. The first case study evaluated the potential of a change source taxonomy containing the elements ‘market’, ‘organisation’, ‘vision’, ‘specification’, and ‘solution’ to provide a meaningful basis for change classification and measurement. The second case study investigated whether the requirements attributes of novelty, complexity, and dependency correlated with requirements volatility. While insufficiency of data in the first case study precluded an investigation of changes arising due to the change source of ‘market’, for the remainder of the change sources, results indicate a significant difference in cost, value to the customer and management considerations. Findings show that higher cost and value changes arose more often from ‘organisation’ and ‘vision’ sources; these changes also generally involved the co-operation of more stakeholder groups and were considered to be less controllable than changes arising from the ‘specification’ or ‘solution’ sources. Results from the second case study indicate that only ‘requirements dependency’ is consistently correlated with volatility and that changes coming from each change source affect different groups of requirements. We conclude that the taxonomy can provide a meaningful means of change classification, but that a single requirement attribute is insufficient for change prediction. A theoretical causal account of requirements change is drawn from the implications of the combined results of the two case studies.

Procurement and the Public Sector Equality Duty: Lessons for the Implementation of the Equality Act 2010 from Northern Ireland?

The use of public sector equality duties that require public authorities to do more than simply not discriminate and that in addition require such authorities in exercising their functions to actively promote equality has increasingly been considered as relevant for procurement. This article examines the Northern Ireland experience regarding the application of a public sector equality duty to procurement and addresses whether, and if so to what extent, this experience provides any useful lessons for the operation of the ‘equality duty’ in the recently enacted British Equality Act 2010.

Confined site construction: An empirical analysis of factors impacting health and safety management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify, clarify and tabulate the various managerial issues encountered, to aid in the management of the complex health and safety concerns which occur within a confined construction site environment.

Design/methodology/approach – This is achieved through conducting extensive qualitative and qualitative research in the form of case studies, interviews and questionnaire survey.

Findings – The leading managerial issues in the management of health and safety on a confined construction site are found to be: “Difficulty to move materials around site safely”; “Lack of adequate room for the effective handling of materials”; “Difficulty in ensuring site is tidy and all plant and materials are stored safely”; “Close proximity of individuals to operation of large plant and machinery”; and joint fifth “Difficulty in ensuring proper arrangement and collection of waste materials on-site” along with “Difficulty in controlling hazardous materials and equipment on site”.

Practical implications – The resulting implication for practice of these results can be summarised by identifying that with sustained development of urban centres on a global scale, coupled with the increasing complexity of architectural designs, the majority of on-site project management professionals are faced with the onerous task of completing often intricate designs within a limited spatial environment, under strict health and safety parameters.

Originality/value – The subsequent value of the findings are such that just as on-site management professionals successfully identify the various managerial issues highlighted, the successful management of health and safety on a confined construction site is attainable.

The Science of Religious Beliefs

Why have humans, throughout history and across cultures, shown a strong tendency to believe in the existence of superhuman intentional agents and attached this belief to notions of morality, misfortune, and the creation of the world? The answer emerging from the cognitive science of religion appears to be that explicit beliefs are informed and constrained by the natural and cross-culturally recurrent operation of implicit cognitive systems. Successful god concepts resonate with the expectations of these implicit systems but also have attention-demanding and inferentially-rich properties that allow their integration into various areas of human concern. Theological concepts may deviate from these natural cognitive moorings but require special cultural scaffolding, such as Whitehouse's two Modes of Religiosity, to do so and constitute additions to, rather than replacements of the religious beliefs supported by implicit cognitive systems.

Development and application of a multiple linear regression model to consider the impact of weekly waste container capacity on the yield from kerbside recycling programmes

The paper describes the development and application of a multiple linear regression model to identify how the key elements of waste and recycling infrastructure, namely container capacity and frequency of collection affect the yield from municipal kerbside recycling programmes. The overall aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the factors affecting the yield from municipal kerbside recycling programmes in Scotland. The study isolates the principal kerbside collection service offered by 32 councils across Scotland, eliminating those recycling programmes associated with flatted properties or multi occupancies. The results of a regression analysis model has identified three principal factors which explain 80% of the variability in the average yield of the principal dry recyclate services: weekly residual waste capacity, number of materials collected and the weekly recycling capacity. The use of the model has been evaluated and recommendations made on ongoing methodological development and the use of the results in informing the design of kerbside recycling programmes. The authors hope that the research can provide insights for the ongoing development of methods to optimise the design and operation of kerbside recycling programmes.