From ocean to ocean, or, The Salvation Army\u27s march from Atlantic to the Pacific

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Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Surface Roughness on Light Scattering by Hexagonal Ice Plates

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Cirrus clouds have an extensive global coverage and their high altitude means they play a critical role in the atmospheric radiation balance. Hexagonal ice plates and columns are two of the most abundant species present in cirrus and yet there remains a poor understanding of how surface roughness affects the scattering of light from these particles. To advance current understanding, the scattering properties of hexagonal ice plates with varying surface roughness properties are simulated using the discrete dipole approximation and the parent beam tracer physical–optics method. The ice plates are chosen to have a volume-equivalent size parameter of 2/=60, where r is the radius of the volume-equivalent sphere, and a refractive index =1.31+0 at a wavelength =0.532 µm. The surface roughness is varied in terms of a characteristic length scale and an amplitude. The particles are rotated into 96 orientations to obtain the quasi-orientation averaged scattering Mueller matrix and integrated single-scattering parameters. The study finds that the scattering is largely invariant with respect to the roughness length scale, meaning it can be characterised solely by the roughness amplitude. Increasing the amplitude is found to lead to a decrease in the asymmetry parameter. It is also shown that roughness with an amplitude much smaller than the wavelength has almost no effect on the scattering when compared with a pristine smooth plate. The parent beam tracer method shows good agreement with the discrete dipole approximation when the characteristic length scale of the roughness is several times larger than the wavelength, with a computation time reduced by a factor of approximately 500.Peer reviewe

A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long‐term health conditions

Singing can have a range of health benefits; this paper reviews the evidence of the effects of group singing for chronic pain in people with long‐term health conditions. We searched for published peer‐reviewed singing studies reporting pain measures (intensity, interference and depression) using major electronic databases (last search date 31 July 2018). After screening 123 full texts, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria: five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), seven non‐RCTs and one qualitative study. Included studies were appraised using Downs and Black and the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme quality assessments. Included studies reported differences in the type of singing intervention, long‐term condition and pain measures. Due to the high heterogeneity, we conducted a narrative review. Singing interventions were found to reduce pain intensity in most studies, but there was more equivocal support for reducing pain interference and depression. Additionally, qualitative data synthesis identified three key linked and complementary themes: physical, psychological and social benefits. Group singing appears to have the potential to reduce pain intensity, pain interference and depression; however, we conclude that there is only partial support for singing on some pain outcomes based on the limited available evidence of varied quality. Given the positive findings of qualitative studies, this review recommends that practitioners are encouraged to continue this work. More studies of better quality are needed. Future studies should adopt more robust methodology and report their singing intervention in details. Group singing may be an effective and safe approach for reducing persistent pain and depression in people with long‐term health conditions.Health and Social Care Research Centr

A Light Scattering Model for Large Particles with Surface Roughness

The scattering of light from particles with roughened surfaces occupies a gap in our understanding because they have size dimensions spanning multiple length scales. Subtle changes in the symmetries and features of a particles geometry can lead to significant changes in its optical properties. Combined with the fact that many applications of light scattering are concerned with the bulk properties of an ensemble of particles with varying shapes and sizes, this makes it particularly challenging to study them through experiment and to model via simulation. The goal of this work is to develop a model to solve a multi-scale problem in an approximate yet fast and computationally feasible manner, to aid in characterising the optical properties of particles with surface roughness. Accomplishing this will enhance current modelling capabilities and offer the potential to compute single scattering parameters with greater accuracy, leading to a deeper understanding across a wide range of applications. For particles with size much larger than the wavelength, the existing work is generally limited to ray-tracing approaches based on geometric optics, as well as some physical-optics hybrid methods based on an equivalence between the orientation averaged scattering of roughened and distorted smooth particle geometries. The use of geometric optics is a good approximation if the particle size dimensions are much greater than the wavelength of light, but the accuracy decreases with decreasing size dimension. To address this limitation, the model developed in this study, the Parent Beam Tracer method, improves upon geometric optics by accounting for diffraction effects, which become important when the length scale becomes comparable to the wavelength. The basic principles of pioneering ray-tracing studies provide the inspiration for the model, which also includes a novel ray backtracing technique for application to particles with a variety of surface textures. It utilises a surface integral diffraction equation, allowing it to capture the interplay between wavelength, surface roughness, and overall particle shape in the computation of 2D scattering patterns. It is the first physical-geometric optics hybrid method of its kind to compute the full Mueller matrix from particles with surface roughness, which can be achieved in a time reduced by several orders of magnitude compared to other methods, such as the discrete dipole approximation. By comparison of 2D scattering patterns measured by experiment with those predicted by the model, the prospective user may be able to better characterise particles beyond the capabilities of current resolution-limited imaging techniques. In summary, this report details the key findings based on the development of a physical-optics hybrid light scattering model for particles with overall size(1) much larger than the wavelength of light, but with surface roughness on a scale comparable to the wavelength. In addition, this work describes new evidence showing that the length scale of surface roughness has a negligible effect on the orientation averaged scattering, suggesting that surface roughness can be quantified solely by an amplitude. This report is structured into the following sections: First, a range of applications are introduced in Section 1, and the motivation for developing the model is discussed. A brief review of existing literature is given, with particular emphasis on the difficulties encountered in representing the size, shape, and surface texture of particles in theoretical light scattering models. The analysis of 2D scattering patterns as a means of characterising particles beyond the resolution of current imaging techniques is also discussed. Second, an introduction to some basic scattering theory is given in Section 2, which may be a useful resource for the reader for a better understanding of the proceeding sections. Third, Section 3 gives a brief review of some existing theoretical methods, with a greater depth of focus on the principles of geometric optics. These principles are then leveraged in Section 4, which describes and explains the novel techniques in the Parent Beam Tracer method. Section 5 discusses applications of the model; 2 benchmark studies comparing its accuracy against the numerically exact discrete dipole approximation are presented, as well as a study on the single scattering properties of roughened, thin hexagonal plates across a range of sizes and refractive indices. The work is summarised in Section 6, which concludes this report. (1)Overall size is intended to be the largest characteristic length scale of the particle, which may be loosely interpreted as the diameter of a sphere with the same volume

\u3cem\u3eVaccinium corymbodendron\u3c/em\u3e Dunal as a bridge between taxonomic sections and ploidies in \u3cem\u3eVaccinium\u3c/em\u3e: A work in progress

The species V. corymbodendron of section Pyxothamnus has shown value as a potential bridge between taxonomic sections and ploidies in Vaccinium when involved as either a first generation or second generation parent. Tetraploid V. corymbodendron has hybridized successfully with 2x and 4x section Cyanococcus species and with 2x section Vitis-idaea. Hybridizations with other sections are currently being tested. Second generation allotetraploid V. corymbodendron - V. vitis-idaea hybrids have hybridized successfully with 4x section Oxycoccus (cranberry), 4x section Cyanococcus (blueberry), and 2x section Vitis-idaea (lingonberry). It appears that these allotetraploid hybrids may allow gene movement among these diverse sections at the 4x level. Further test-crosses are being made to evaluate the range of crossability of 4x V. corymbodendron and the V. corymbodendron allotetraploids with other taxonomic sections of Ericaceae

To establish the effect of task oriented group circuit training for people affected by stroke in the public healthcare sector in RSA

Stroke remains a serious public health problem in low, middle and high income countries worldwide. In low and middle income countries there has been a greater than 100% increase in stroke incidence. The impact of HIV associated vasculopathy is recognized as contributing to the increased prevalence of stroke in younger patients (Tipping et al., 2007) and is an independent risk factor for stroke (Cole et al., 2004). The impact of this increased stroke incidence has not only resulted in an increase in death rates in the developing world, but has also resulted in increases noted in long term disability as a result of stroke. The available resources for stroke care and rehabilitation are lacking in developing countries including Africa, particularly in rural areas. It has also been noted that 80% of the population live in areas where factors such as limited resources and cultural practices limit access to stroke services (Poungvarin 1998). Currently patients with stroke are discharged from hospitals in the public healthcare sector within six to 14 days of having a stroke, because of the pressure for beds (Mudzi, 2009; Reid et al., 2005; Hale, 2000). As a result patients are not benefitting from rehabilitation services and this leads to suboptimal recovery post stroke and to a large number of persons living with disabilities in under resourced communities. Because the patients with stroke are discharged so acutely after their stroke, carers become a necessity to cope with the burden of care. These conditions result in increased stroke survivor dependence in South Africa compared to the USA or New Zealand. While 80% of stroke survivors who are initially unable to walk achieve independent walking (Jorgensen et al., 1995), at three months post stroke 25%-33% still require assistance or supervision when walking (Jorgenson et al., 1995; Duncan et al., 1994; Richards et al., 1993). Unfortunately these independent walkers seldom achieve walking speeds that are sufficient for community ambulation (Schmid et al., 2007; Lord and Rochester, 2005; Lord et al., 2004). Walking competency is a term used to describe a certain level of walking ability allowing an individual to participate in the community safely and efficiently (Salbach et al., 2004). It should also be noted that even those with mild and moderate strokes experience limitations with higher physical functioning which impacts on their quality of life and ability to return to work (Duncan and Lai, 1997). The cerebral cortex has the ability to undergo functional and structural reorganization for several weeks and even months in more severe cases post stroke. Rehabilitation post stroke facilitates this process and can shape the reorganization of the adjacent intact cortex (Green, 2003). Further, it has been concluded that to facilitate the best possible functional outcome for people post stroke, engagement in intensive task oriented therapy is necessary (Kwakkel et al., 2004; Van Peppen et al., 2004). Considering these findings it is extremely concerning that there is little or no rehabilitation provided to stroke survivors in the public healthcare sector in South Africa (Mudzi, 2009; Rhoda and Hendry 2003; Hale and Wallner, 1996; Stewart et al., 1994). With this in mind, the aim of this study was to determine if an out -patient based task oriented group training programme would promote improved walking competency more than the current progressive resistance strength group training programmes that are common practice in persons who have had an acute stroke in the public healthcare system in South Africa. The specific objectives of this study were to establish the effect of a low intensity, namely once a week (for six weeks), out- patient based task programme on: walking competency, walking endurance, gait speed and health status in terms of physical functioning in persons with sub-acute stroke. Due to the high incidence of post stroke survivors with HIV it was important to establish if the training programme produced comparable effects in HIV positive and HIV negative subjects. This study used a stratified blocked randomised controlled trial design. Where group allocation was concealed. In addition assessor blinded evaluations were conducted at baseline, post intervention and at six months after the intervention had ceased. A total of 144 persons who had a stroke were stratified according to their walking speed – mild (able to walk at a gait speed > 0.8m/s), moderate (able to walk at a speed of 0.4-0.8 m/s) or severe (able to walk at a speed < 0.4m/s) – and randomly assiged to one of three training groups. One group received task oriented group circuit training (task group), the second group received progressive resistance strength training (strength group), and the third group participated in one multidisciplinary education group training session (control group). The task and strength interventions included 6 sessions, of 60 minutes each for six to 12 weeks. While the control intervention group participated in one three hour education session, which included advice on the importance of exercise and a 20-minute exercise session. All subjects had been discharged from the public healthcare sector and were less than six months post stroke at inclusion into the study. The primary objective was walking competency, which included the measurement of walking endurance, gait speed, functional balance and mobility (Salbach et al., 2004). The task group showed an improvement that was significantly greater than that achieved by the strength and control groups in walking endurance, gait speed, functional mobility and balance at the follow-up. These findings demonstrate that the provision of as little as six sessions of task training (in a developing country, where persons with sub-acute stroke have had no previous rehabilitation) improves walking competency to a significantly greater extent than either a strength intervention of equal intensity, or a control intervention programme consisting of one three hour education visit in the sub -acute phase post stroke. While the strength group received a more frequent and intensive training compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in terms of walking competency between these two groups over the study period. The task group showed significantly greater improvements in walking endurance, comfortable and maximum gait speed than the strength and control groups immediately post intervention. While post intervention, the task training led to superior gains in functional mobility and balance compared to the control group, it was not superior to the strength group. For subjects, with a moderate gait disability at baseline, the improvements in walking endurance and in comfortable and maximum walking speed in the task group were significantly more than the strength and control groups. For subjects with a severe gait deficit at baseline, the task group improved significantly more than the control group on all measures of walking competency but not significantly more than the strength group. There were no significant differences among the groups for subjects with a mild gait deficit at baseline. All three treatment intervention groups improved their score on the stroke impact scale 16 (SIS 16) over the course of the study period. The task group improved significantly more than the control group’s health status in terms of physical functioning measured by the SIS16. There were no significant differences among the groups in the change scores for the measures of walking competency between the HIV positive and HIV negative subjects throughout the study period. The results of this study demonstrate that an extremely limited number of task training sessions resulted in significantly greater improvements in walking competency than progressive strength training or a multidisciplinary education training approach. However, these results must be interpreted with caution, remembering the context of the sample population who had not received a period of inpatient rehabilitation prior to their inclusion into the study and were 10-15 years younger than subjects in numerous other studies. This appears to be the first study conducted with such a limited rehabilitative intervention post stroke. As a result, further research to evaluate the effectiveness of limited intensity task oriented training interventions for non -ambulant stroke survivors in the developing world where resources are limited, needs to be conducted. It is important to explore the benefits of different group based rehabilitative interventions for stroke survivors to alleviate the burden as a result of disability as much as possible. Key words: Stroke, Task Oriented, Rehabilitation, Walking, Walking Competenc

Implementing Affirmative Action: Global Trends

This scoping article gives a global picture of dynamics, trends, policies and mechanisms for engaging with women's representation in political office. It discusses the kind of affirmative action introduced, and where it features vis?à?vis electoral cycles. It describes and compares candidate and reserved seats quotas and shows how electoral systems influence the possibilities of challenging power hierarchies in politics. The second part of the article reflects on the extent to which implementing quotas have been effective in engendering political representation and the conditions that allow or inhibit this

Calibration of Optical Particle Spectrometers Using Mounted Fibres

© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Calibrations of OPSs are non-trivial, and conventionally involve aerosolisation techniques which are challenging for larger particles. In this paper, we present a new technique for OPS calibration, which involves mounting a static fibre within the instrument sample area, measuring the scattering cross section, then comparing it with a calculated value. In addition, we present a case for the use of GLMT simulations to account for deviations in both minor and major axis beam intensity, which has a significant effect on particles which are large compared to the beam waist, in addition to reducing the need for a ‘top-hat’ spacial intensity profile. The described technique is OPS independent and could be applied to a field calibration tool, which could be used to verify the calibration of instruments before they are deployed. In addition to this, the proposed calibration technique would be suited for applications involving mass production of low-cost OPSs.Peer reviewe

The carry-over effect of an aquatic-based intervention in children with cerebral palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Children with CP are more likely to have lower levels of physical activity than their peers, which has negative implications for their health. However, aquatic exercise can be used to improve levels of fitness among children with CP. Objective: To determine the carry-over effect of an aquatic-based programme (postural control and balance) on land (walking, running and jumping) in children with CP, post aquatic intervention. Method: The study used a pretest-post-test, randomised group, cross-over design. Children aged 8–12 years (n = 10) were divided into intervention (n = 5) and control (n = 5) groups. The intervention group participated in two 30-min sessions a week, while the control group continued with normal activities. Pre- and post-intervention testing was conducted using gross motor function measurement. The 10-point programme of the Halliwick Concept was used. Results: Results demonstrated that the aquatic therapy had a significant effect on gross motor function scores. The aquatic programme-based group showed increased motor function following the intervention, compared to the control group (z = -2.803, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the aquatic-based therapy improved the average score for gross motor function measurement, post-intervention. Conclusion: Together with conventional modes of therapy, aquatic-based programmes should be integrated and considered as an essential, ongoing mode of treatment for children with CP, in order to ensure long-term gross motor function improvements

Religious Coping and Types and Sources of Information Used in Making Prostate Cancer Treatment Decisions.

Treatment experiences for prostate cancer survivors can be challenging and dependent on many clinical and psychosocial factors. One area that is less understood is the information needs and sources men utilize. Among these is the influence of religion as a valid typology and the value it may have on treatment decisions. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between race, religion, and cancer treatment decisions in African American men compared with White men. Data were from the Diagnosis and Decisions in Prostate Cancer Treatment Outcomes Study that consisted of 877 African American and White men. The main dependent variables sought respondents’ use of resources or advisors when making treatment decisions. Questions also assessed men perceptions of prostate cancer from the perspective of religious coping. After adjusting for age, marital status, education, and insurance status, race differences in the number of sources utilized were partially mediated by cancer was a punishment from God (β = −0.46, SE = 0.012, p \u3c .001), cancer was a test of faith (β = −0.49, SE = 0.013, p \u3c .001), and cancer can be cured with enough prayer (β = −0.47, SE = 0.013, p \u3c .001). Similarly, race differences in the number of advisors utilized in making the treatment decision were partially mediated by cancer was a punishment from God (β = −0.39, SE = 0.014, p = .006), and cancer was a test of faith (β = −0.39, SE = 0.014, p = .006). Religious views on prostate cancer may play an important role in explaining race differences in information used and the number of advisors utilized for treatment decision making for prostate cancer