Influence of vegetation composition on runoff in two simulated green roof experiments

Despite the fact that green roofs are based upon living systems, the majority of published research literature contains little specific information on the contribution of plants to the various functions and properties of green roofs. Furthermore, there has been little investigation of the influence of the composition of vegetation on the physical properties of a green roof system. This paper reviews previously published material that throws light on the role of vegetation composition on green roof function, with particular regard to rainwater runoff. Two experiments at the University of Sheffield, UK, are considered in detail: (a) An outdoor lysimeter experiment that investigated the quantity of runoff from trays containing 100 mm of growing medium and combinations of grasses and forbs, together with bare substrate, and (b) a greenhouse experiment using simulated rainfall to estimate the amount of rainfall intercepted by different vegetation types. In both cases the vegetation ranged from simple monocultures of forbs and grasses through to complex mixtures of both. In both cases, the composition of the vegetation was found to significantly affect both the amount of water retained and released from the system.     

Emotional harm and neglect: the legal response

This paper reports on a study of the extent to which child protection applications brought to the Melbourne Children's Court in Victoria, Australia, were based on emotional/psychological harm or neglect of a child and what factors were presented as evidence of harm or neglect. The study examined records of 208 court‐ordered pre‐trial conferences heard in the court between February and July 2002. What was found was that, although cases involving emotional abuse have increased in terms of child protection applications, they remain cases that are difficult to decide. While in 1998/9 emotional harm was a ground in 25.7% of child protection matters completed in the Family Division of the Children's Court of Victoria, legal decision‐makers are reluctant to make a finding of child abuse in these cases because there is less accuracy in the determination of emotional harm and negligible legal criteria available to guide decision‐making. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An alternative model for curriculum building in clinical social work education: The California Institute for Clinical Social Work

Summary The growth and development of the California Institute for Clinical Social Work has been parallelled by the enhanced professional contributions of its alumni. Of the 59 graduates of the Institute, ten hold academic positions in top-ranking institutions of higher learning while three more are the chief administrators of social agencies. The remainder devote their time to direct clinical practice.In a recent survey of alumni, all graduates commented in one form or another upon the fact that because of the program, their work was more rewarding personally and was more responsive to clients' needs because of the knowledge and skill that they had gained. The evolution begun in 1974 still continues. This novel program has been elaborated to meet changing needs. Study of its efficacy and flexibility will be pursued as its development proceeds.     

Special Educational Needs: From Disciplinary to Pedagogic Research

A review of research on special educational needs in Britain over the last two decades indicates that two concerns have been paramount. First, there has been an attempt to broaden research styles in response to the growing critique of traditional positivist research. Secondly, the problem of the perceived gap between theory and practice has been addressed. Developments have included the use of small-N studies within a positivist framework, the adoption of qualitative research strategies and the critical perspectives of sociologists. It is argued here that such developments have been largely restricted to what Michael Bassey refers to as 'disciplinary' research, neglecting the 'pedagogic' research associated with the growth of practitioner research in other areas of education. The article examines both why teacher research has been relatively neglected in special education and the kinds of contributions it might make.     

中国与亚太的安全秩序:“和谐社会”与“和谐世界”

权力结构的变化必然会导致秩序的转变。国际关系领域的学者与政策制定者在总体上一致接受这样一个事实:亚太安全秩序正在随着中国权力的提升而改变。中国政府"双边与多边"的地区秩序理念以及中国权力地位的提升导致了亚太地区秩序转型,并揭示了中国与亚太地区其他国家和组织以及与美国在地区秩序理念上的兼容性。正是这一兼容性不仅确保了中国权力的提升不会导致地区秩序的断裂,而且会大大促进亚太地区乃至整个世界的和谐。中国的认知是:建设一个"和谐社会"需要有一个"和谐世界"与之相应,因此,中国制定的战略目标是努力建设一个确保地区和平与全球和平的环境,进而确保专注于国内的和谐发展。