The aerosol direct and indirect effects were investigated for three specific cases during the March 2000 Cloud IOP at the SGP site by using a modified WRF model. The WRF model was previously altered to include a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme for the aerosol indirect effect and a modified Goddard shortwave radiation scheme for the aerosol direct effect. The three cases studied include a developing low pressure system, a low precipitation event of mainly cirrus clouds, and a cold frontal passage. Three different aerosol profiles were used with surface concentrations ranging from 210 cm-3 to 12,000 cm-3. In addition, each case and each aerosol profile was run both with and without the aerosol direct effect. Regardless of the case, increasing the aerosol concentration generally increased cloud water and droplet values while decreasing rain water and droplet values. Increased aerosols also decreased the surface shortwave radiative flux for every case; which was greatest when the aerosol direct effect was included. For convective periods during polluted model runs, the aerosol direct effect lowered the surface temperature and reduced convection leading to a lower cloud fraction. During most convective periods, the changes to cloud, rain, and ice water mixing ratios and number concentrations produced a nonlinear precipitation trend. A balance between these values was achieved for moderate aerosol profiles, which produced the highest convective precipitation rates. In non-convective cases, due to the presence of ice particles, aerosol concentration and precipitation amounts were positively correlated. The aerosol threshold between precipitation enhancement and suppression should be further studied for specific cloud types as well as for specific synoptic weather patterns to determine its precise values.

This study examined the relationship between executive function and externalizing behaviors within a student population that was assessed for special education services. Executive function was measured by using the Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI). Externalizing behaviors and school problems was measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3). Four separate structural equation models were produced and analyzed to examine this relationship. The results from this study indicate that there is a significant direct effect from executive function on externalizing behaviors and school problems, such that higher scores in executive function yielded lower externalizing behavior and school problems scores. Differences in average full scale CEFI scores were noted between types of special education placements and between various groupings of students in regards to what category they qualified in. The data indicates programs that facilitated more environmental supports and services had students with lower full scale CEFI scores, while students that qualified under Other Health Impairment and Emotional Disturbance shared comorbid features with other distinct processing deficits.

Les océans couvrant plus de 70 % de la surface de la Terre, les aérosols marins sont une des composantes les plus importantes en terme de concentration atmosphérique. De part leur large gamme de taille, ils interagissent à la fois dans les courtes et grandes longueurs d’onde et impactent ainsi le bilan radiatif à la surface et au sommet de l’atmosphère. Cependant, l’amplitude de cet impact climatique est encore soumise à de nombreuses incertitudes. Actuellement en modélisation, il existe très peu de cas d’études centrés sur les aérosols marins au niveau régional, la plupart étant réalisés au niveau global. Dans ce cadre et afin d’améliorer la connaissance des propriétés des aérosols marins et leurs effets radiatifs dans le bassin méditerranéen, le projet ChArMEx qui s’est déroulé pendant les étés 2013 et 2014, a permis la mise en place de plusieurs sites de mesures, notamment a Ersa (Cap Corse), ainsi que des observations aéroportées. Les observations réalisées à Ersa ont permis de repérer dans une première étude une période (22-26 juin) influencée majoritairement par les aérosols marins lors de l’été 2013 et de caractériser leurs propriétés physico-chimique, optiques et radiatives. De plus, l’impact de ces aérosols marins a pu être comparé à l’influence d’autres types d’aérosols présents dans le bassin méditerranéen (poussières désertiques, aérosols anthropiques et issus de feux de biomasse) également observés pendant la campagne de mesure. L’étude combinée de la composition chimique des aérosols marins et des rétro-trajectoires issues du modèle FLEXPART a permis également de mettre en évidence les multiples origines des aérosols marins, avec des émissions locales et des aérosols âgés associés à du transport longue distance. En se basant sur cette analyse, le modèle MesoNH a été utilisé pour étudier dans un premier temps les émissions, le transport et la concentration atmosphèrique des aérosols marins à l’échelle régionale, sur cette période d'étude. Pour cela, un nouveau schéma d’émission basé sur une paramétrisation récente (Ovadnevaite et al., 2014) a été implémenté dans le modèle. Celle-ci dépend, en plus de la vitesse du vent à la surface, de l’ etat de la mer (représenté par la hauteur des vagues, la température de surface de l’eau ainsi que la salinité). Une première simulation tri-dimensionnelle comprenant trois domaines imbriqués a donc été réalisée sur un domaine méditerranéen du 12 au 27 juin 2013. Les observations réalisées pendant la campagne de mesure ChArMEx-ADRIMED ont permis d’évaluer la capacité du modèle à simuler la concentration en masse et en nombre des aérosols marins ainsi que leur distribution granulométrique. Un deuxième cas d’étude, se déroulant pendant un cas de mistral/tramontane dans le golfe du Lion en juillet 2014, a également été simulé afin d’évaluer dans un second temps les effets radiatifs directs à la surface et au sommet de l’atmosphère (dans les courtes et grandes longueurs d’ondes). Cette simulation est supportée par des observations aéroportées réalisées dans le cadre de la campagne SAFMED+ ainsi que par des observations satellitaires et de télédétection (réseau AERONET). Ce travail indique également un forçage radiatif direct négatif des aérosols marins à la surface, qui est compensé, pour une très faible part, par le forçage radiatif positif exercé dans les grandes longueurs d’ondes. / As the oceans cover more than 70 % of the surface area of the Earth, marine aerosols compose one the most important aerosol types in term of atmospheric burden. As their size distribution comprises submicron and supermicron ranges, marine aerosol interacts with both shortwave and longwave radiation, leading to a radiative impact at the surface, within the atmosphere, and at the top of the atmosphere. However, the magnitude of its climatic impact is still subject to many uncertainties. Most model studies of marine aerosol emissions and their radiative impacts have focused on the global scale rather than the regional scale. In this context and in order to improve the knowledge of aerosol properties in the Mediterranean, and in particular, their impact on regional climate, the ChArMEx-ADRIMED field campaign took place in the Western Mediterranean Basin during the summer 2013. Several ground-based stations were operated throughout the Mediterranean Basin, including a station in Ersa (Corsica). During the ChArMEx-ADRIMED observation period, a major influence of marine aerosols was detected (22-26 June), allowing the characterization of their physical, chemical, optical and radiative properties. Moreover, the radiative impact of marine aerosols was compared to the influence of other types of aerosols usually present in the Mediterranean Basin (desert dust, anthropogenic and biomass burning aerosols) also observed during the field campaign. The combined study of the chemical composition of marine aerosols and backward trajectories using the FLEXPART model was used to characterize aging and origins of marine aerosols observed at the Ersa Station. For this work, the regional scale MesoNH model has been modified to study the radiative effect of marine aerosols on the Mediterranean Basin using a new marine aerosol emission scheme based on a recent parameterization (Ovadnevaite et al., 2014). This parameterization depends not only on the wind speed but also on the sea state (represented by wave height, sea surface temperature and the surface water salinity). A three-dimensional simulation including three nested domains was then conducted on a Mediterranean domain from 12 to 27 June 2013. The observations made during the ChArMEx-ADRIMED field campaign were used to evaluate this parameterization, via comparisons of the modeled and measured mass and number concentration of marine aerosols, as well as their size distribution. Another case study was conducted to assess the shortwave and longwave direct radiative effect, at the surface and top of the atmosphere, of marine aerosol during a period of strong winds (> 20 m s-1; Mistral) in the Golf of Lion (Western Mediterranean Basin). This simulation was conducted in conjunction with airborne observations (during the SAFMED+ field campaign), satellite and remote sensing (AERONET network) observations. Furthermore, this work indicate a negative direct radiative effect at the surface, only partly counterbalanced by a positive forcing in the longwave radiation.

The first part of the thesis assesses the aerosol direct radiative effect (ADRE) with a focus on ground-based AERONET and satellite MODIS measurements. The AERONET aerosol climatology is used, in conjunction with surface albedo and cloud products from MODIS, to calculate the ADRE and its normalized form (NADRE) for distinct aerosol regimes. The NADRE is defined as the ADRE normalized by optical depth at 550 nm and is mainly determined by internal aerosol optical properties and geographical parameters. These terms are evaluated for cloud-free and cloudy conditions and for all-mode and fine-mode aerosols. We find that the NADRE of fine-mode aerosol is larger at the TOA but smaller at the surface in comparison to that of all-mode aerosol. Cloudy-sky TOA ADRE with clouds is sensitive to the relative location of aerosols and cloud layer. The high-resolution MODIS land surface albedo is also applied to study the clear-sky ADRE over North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for summer 2001. TOA ADRE shows the high spatial variability with close similarity to that of surface albedo. The second part of the thesis is to develop a 2-D conceptual model for a climatological convective boundary layer over land as a persistent and distinct component in climate models, where the convective-scale motion is explicitly described by fluid dynamics and thermodynamics while the smaller scale effect is parameterized for a neutral stratification. Our conceptual model reasonably reproduces essential statistics of a convective boundary layer in comparison to large eddy simulations. The major difference is that our model produces a better organized and more constrained spatial distribution with coherent convective cells. The simulations for a climatological convective boundary layer are conducted for a prescribed constant and homogenous surface heat flux and a specified cooling term representing the background large scale thermal balance. The results show the 2-D coherent structures of convective cells with characteristic scales comparable with PBL height; downward maximum velocities being 70-80% of the accompanying upward maxima; vertical profiles of a constant potential temperature and linear decreasing heat fluxes; a square-root increase in the velocity magnitude with increasing surface heat flux.

The direct and indirect effects of aerosols on the hurricane ‘Katrina’ have been investigated using the WRF model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme and modified Goddard shortwave radiation scheme. Simulations of the hurricane ‘Katrina’ are conducted under the three aerosol scenarios: 1) the clean case with an aerosol number concentration of 200 cm-1, 2) the polluted case with a number concentration of 1000 cm-1, and 3) the aerosol radiative effects (AR) case with same aerosol concentration as polluted case but with a modified shortwave radiation scheme. The polluted and AR cases have much larger amounts of cloud water and water vapor in troposphere, and the increased cloud water can freeze to produce ice water paths. A tropical cyclone in dirty and dusty air has active rainbands outside the eyewall due to aerosol indirect effects. The aerosol direct effect can lead to the suppressing of convection and weakening of updraft intensity by warming the troposphere and cooling the surface temperature. However, these thermal changes in atmosphere are concerned with the enhanced amounts of cloud hydrometeors and modification of downdraft and corresponding the low level winds in rainband regions. Thus, the AR case can produce the enhanced precipitation even in the weakest hurricane. When comparing the model performance between aerosol indirect and direct effect by ensemble experiments, the adjustment time of the circulation due to modification of the aerosol radiative forcing by aerosol layers may take a longer time than the hurricane lifetime, and the results from the simulated hurricane show that it is more sensitive to aerosol indirect effects which are related to the cloud microphysics process changes. From this aerosol study, we can suggest that aerosols can influence the cloudiness, precipitation, and intensity of hurricanes significantly, and there may be different results in the meso-scale convective clouds cases. The hurricane system is a large and complex convective system with enormous heating energy and moistures. Moreover, relationships between various hydrometeors in hurricane systems are difficult to isolate and thus, it needs further study with more realistic cloud microphysical processes, aerosol distributions, and parameterizations.

This thesis, entitled WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism focuses on the issue of direct effect of WTO law with respect to the possibility of private persons to claim damages in case they are affected by the retaliatory measures adopted by the injured WTO-member in response to the violation of WTO rules perpetrated by their government. In connection with the aforesaid, the thesis compares the approach of the United States of America with the one of the European Union. Given the fact that the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice regarding the issue of direct effect of WTO law has undergone substantial development, the thesis also analyses the jurisprudence and its outcomes. This thesis is divided into two parts. The first one introduces the dispute settlement procedure before the Dispute settlement body under the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes. The thesis focuses on particular stages of the procedure before the DSB and introduces the particular actors of the dispute settlement mechanism. The first part consists of three chapters, first of which deals with particular actors, second defining particular stages of the procedure and third focusing on the stage of implementation of DSB decisions. The second part that is also divided into three chapters...

The goal of my diploma thesis is to describe the influence of ECJ decision making on the common commercial policy ("CCP") of EU. Specifically my thesis examines what factors influence ECJ decision making about direct effect of trade agreements implementing CCP. These factors are applied on several treaties, where the court has not yet decided on their potential direct effect and on a present case at ECJ on direct effect of WTO treaties. With regard to the goal of my thesis an important part of my thesis deals with the development of ECJ decision making. Methods applied in my thesis are analysis and comparison of selected judgements that influence the CCP of EU. After proper analysis I found out that the main motiv behind ECJ decision making is that, if the negotiating position of EU is to be deteriorated, the ECJ is likely to find that the treaty does not have direct effect. Other factors are of secondary character. Examining the influence of decision making of ECJ on direct effect of trade agreements is important, because the role of ECJ influences the legal certainty of subjects about direct applicability of international trade treaties.

Le mécanisme de radiolyse de l’eau est bien établi. Sous l’effet des rayonnements ionisants, les produits de la radiolyse de l’eau pure sont les radicaux et les produits moléculaires tels que les électrons solvatés, les atomes hydrogènes, les radicaux hydroxyles, le peroxyde d’hydrogène et les ions hydroniums. Lorsque les solutions concentrées sont irradiées, le résultat de la radiolyse change à cause de la fraction d’énergie absorbée par le soluté, cette fraction est négligeable dans le cas des solutions diluées. Les produits de la radiolyse du solvant peuvent réagir avec les molécules du solvant engendrant des changements dans leurs rendements radiolytiques ainsi qu’un changement dans le mécanisme de radiolyse du solvant. L’effet du rayonnement ionisant sur les solutions concentrées est appelé l’effet direct du rayonnement ionisant. La compréhension de cet effet est fondamentale dans plusieurs domaines tels que l’énergie nucléaire, la radiothérapie et la radiobiologie.L’objectif de ce travail est de comprendre le mécanisme de radiolyse des solutions concentrées ainsi que de quantifier l’effet direct du rayonnement ionisant en étudiant des solutions concentrées d’halogénures tels que les bromures de sodium et les chlorures de sodium, de même qu’une étude préliminaire sur les solutions concentrées d’acide nitrique.Tout d’abord, en effectuant la radiolyse stationnaire des solutions concentrées de bromures de sodium, nous avons quantifié le rendement radiolytique de formation de Br3- qui est l’unique produit stable de ces solutions sous rayonnements sous différentes conditions expérimentales.Ensuite, en effectuant la radiolyse pulsée picoseconde sur l’installation ELYSE des solutions aqueuses de NaCl, NaBr et HNO3, nous avons montré l’ionisation direct du soluté après le passage du faisceau d’electron. Selon les cinétiques obtenues, nous avons montré que la formation Br2•-, Cl2•-, NO3• prend place durant l’impulsion picoseconde d’électron d’électron. La radiolyse pulsée picoseconde nous a permis donc de conclure qu’il existe deux voies pour la formation de Br2•- et Cl2•-. La première voie résulte de l’ionisation directe du soluté. La deuxième résulte du changement dans le mécanisme de radiolyse de l’eau dû à la forte concentration des ions halogénures autour des molécules d’eau ionisées. Nos résultats montrent que la formation du radical hydroxyle HO• dans les solutions concentrées est marginale puisque la molécules d’eau ionisée, le trou H2O+ , réagit très rapidement avec les ions halogénures. / The mechanism of water radiolysis is well established. As a result of the action of ionizing radiation on pure water, radicals and molecular products such as solvated electrons, hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydronium ions are formed. When highly concentrated solutions are irradiated, the outcome of irradiation is changed due to the important fraction of energy being absorbed by the solute which in the case of diluted solutions is skipped. Products of solvent radiolysis may react with the molecules of the solute leading to the change in their yields and moreover, may cause changes in the mechanism of solvent radiolysis. The action of ionizing radiation on highly concentrated solutions is named direct action of radiation. The understanding of direct effect of ionizing radiation is very important in several aspects, for example in nuclear energy, or radiotherapy or radiobiology. The aim of this work was to understand the mechanism and quantify the direct action of ionizing radiation in model systems such as highly concentrated sodium bromide and sodium chloride solutions. Firstly, by performing gamma radiolysis of highly concentrated solution of sodium bromide we quantify the yield of direct ionization of bromide ions for different experimental conditions.Secondly, by carrying out picosecond pulse radiolysis of aqueous solutions of NaCl, NaBr, and HNO3, we showed the direct ionization of the solute after the passage of electron beam. On the base of recorded kinetics, we showed that the formation of Br2•-, Cl2•-, NO3• takes place during the electron pulse. Picosecond pulse radiolysis allowed us to conclude that two ways of formation of Br2•- and Cl2•- exist. The first results from the direct ionization of the solute. The second results from the change in the mechanism of water radiolysis due to the high concentration of halide ions around the molecules of ionized water. Our results show that the formation of HO• radical in highly concentrated solutions is marginal and only stem from the dissociation of excited water, since the molecules of ionized water react with halide ions instead of hydronium ions leading to the formation of HO• hydroxyl radical.

Après la découverte des rayonnements ionisants et leurs effets chimiques, il était important d’étudier et de comprendre les mécanismes de formations des radicaux libres et des produits moléculaires caractérisés par leurs courtes durées de vie. Ceci a encouragé les groupes de recherches à développer leurs outils pour qu’ils puissent réaliser ces études. De nos jours la radiolyse impulsionnelle se manifeste comme un outil fondamental permettant de sonder les effets chimiques ainsi que les mécanismes réactionnels dans le milieu étudié.Le laboratoire de Chimie Physique d’Orsay « LCP » est un laboratoire interdisciplinaire abritant la plateforme « ELYSE » qui est un centre de cinétiques rapides. Grâce au laser femtoseconde et à l’accélérateur d’électrons picoseconde, nous avons eu la possibilité, dans le domaine de la radiolyse, de remonter en temps, en étudiant les effets chimiques dans un milieu réactionnel, jusqu’à ~ 5 ps.Nous nous sommes intéressés par les réactions primaires induites par les rayonnements ionisants en solution et ELYSE représentait l’outil principal pour ces études. Les résultats obtenus concernent :- La détermination directe du rendement radiolytique du radical hydroxyle « HO• » en fonction du temps à l’échelle de la picoseconde ;- Etude de l’effet direct du rayonnement ionisant sur les solutions aqueuses concentrées ainsi que la vérification de la réaction de transfert d’électron ultrarapide entre le soluté et le trou positif « H2O•+ » issu lors de la radiolyse de l’eau ;- Etude à température ambiante de la réaction de transfert d’électron entre un électron solvaté (donneur d’électron) et un soluté organique (accepteur d’électron) en milieu visqueux ;- Etude à température ambiante de la solvatation de l’électron dans l’éthylène glycol et dans le propan-2-ol. / Following the discovery of ionizing radiations and their chemical effects, it was important to study and comprehend the formation mechanisms of short lived free radicals and molecular products. In order to perform such studies, researchers and research groups worked on developing tools allowing both formation and detection of those species at short time scales. Nowadays, pulse radiolysis imposed itself as a fundamental and efficient tool allowing scientists to probe chemical effects as well as reaction mechanisms in studied media.The laboratoire de Chimie Physique d’Orsay “LCP” is an interdisciplinary laboratory hosting the platform of fast kinetics known as “ELYSE”. Due to its femtosecond laser and its picosecond electron accelerator, we have the possibility to study chemical effects of ionizing radiations interaction with media at ultrashort times up to ~5 ps.Knowing that we are interested in primary reactions induced in aqueous media by ionizing radiations, ELYSE represents the essential tool in performing our studies. The obtained results concern:- First direct determination of hydroxyl radical “HO•” radiolytic yield as function of time at picosecond time scale ;- Direct effect of ionizing radiation in highly concentrated aqueous solutions as well as investigation of the ultrafast electron transfer reaction between solute molecules and positive holes “H2O•+” formed upon water radiolysis ;- Study at room temperature of electron transfer reaction between solvated electron (electron donor) and organic solutes (electron acceptors) en viscous medium ;- Study at room temperature of electron’s solvation dynamics in ethylene glycol and 2-propanol.

Abstract The main focus of this study is the identification of factors influencing the use and effectiveness of information system development methodologies (Le., systems development methodologies) in health information systems. In essence, it can be viewed as exploratory research, utilizing a conceptual research model to investigate the relationships among the hypothesised factors. More specifically, classified as behavioural science, it combines two theoretical models, namely the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory. The main aim of behavioural science in information systems is to assist practitioners (Le., social actors) in improving business processes and competitiveness, thus the effective use of information systems. A wider view of behavioural science incorporates other social actors (e.g., end users) and organisational actors (e.g., executives). In health information systems, the effective use of information systems is especially relevant Health information systems are vital in the area of health care, since only by having access to pertinent health information, can the correct decisions relating to diagnostics and curative procedures be made. The use of systems development methodologies in health information systems development is therefore crucial, since they can make the development process more effective, while improving software quality. By empirically evaluating the conceptual research model, utilizing a survey as the main research method and structural equation modelling as the main statistical technique, meaningful results were obtained. Focussing on the factors influencing the individual's behavioural intent, it was found that the compatibility of systems development methodologies to the developer's pre-existing software development style is vital. Furthermore, performance expectancy, self-efficacy, organisational culture, policies, customer influence, voluntariness and facilitating conditions, all directly influenced the use of systems development methodologies, with policies and customer influence playing a significant role, especially in relation to health information systems. No significant direct effects or indirect effects could be established for the factors effort expectancy, personal innovativeness and social influence. It appears that individuals working in the health care software development discipline are more autonomous, less influenced by others. Also, the lack of support for the factor effort expectancy may indicate that systems development methodologies have entered a mature state, with less concern on the effort required for use. Furthermore, with regard to effectiveness and the continued use of information systems methodologies, satisfaction had a significant direct effect, with confirmation having a significant indirect effect. Keywords: behavioural science; conceptual research model; direct effect; exploratory research; Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory; indirect effect; Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology; structural equation modelling; survey; systems development methodologies. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.