Victimisation and worry about crime. Analysing the relationship between victimisation and worry about crime, and the effects of personal and neighbourhood characteristics on this relationship

Crime has fallen in England and Wales since the mid-1990s (Office for National Statistics, 2021) and has become more concentrated on certain individual and households (Hunter & Tseloni, 2016; Ignatans & Pease, 2016). Despite this the majority of the population believe crime to be rising nationally (Office for National Statistics, 2017), this is known as the fear/victimisation paradox (Lee, 2011). Victimisation is commonly found to increase risk of fear of crime (Brunton-Smith & Sturgis, 2011; Hale et al., 1994; Krulichova, 2019; Weitzer & Kubrin, 2004), however results vary when crime type specific measures are used. Crime Survey for England and Wales data is analysed in this study. Chi-square tests of association are first used to establish a significant relationship between victimisation and worry within three crime type categories: household; vehicle; and personal. Bivariate Multilevel Modelling is then employed to analyse the relationship between victimisation and worry about crime at the individual and neighbourhood level, identifying how individual, household and neighbourhood characteristics affect victimisation risk, risk of being worried about crime, and the relationship between them. Significant positive associations were found between victimisation and worry for all crime categories, the increased odds of worry associated with a victimisation experience were greatest for vehicle crime (OR=2.84), followed by household crime (OR=2.40), and lowest for personal crime (OR=1.84). Low to moderate positive correlations were also confirmed between victimisation and worry at the individual level across crime types, which were not accounted for by individual, household and neighbourhood characteristics included in the model. A positive correlation was initially found between victimisation and worry at the neighbourhood level for household and vehicle crime, whilst no such correlation was found for personal crime. The correlation persisted for vehicle crime despite accounting for individual, household, and neighbourhood characteristics, whilst these characteristics explained the relationship for household crime. Individual level analysis offers support for the victimisation theory of fear of crime across crime types, whereas neighbourhood level analysis offers support for indirect victimisation theory only in the case of vehicle crime. The effects of individual, household and neighbourhood characteristics on victimisation are well explained by opportunity theories of crime, including the lifestyle/exposure model. Individual and neighbourhood characteristics are well explained by vulnerability theory and ideas of social and physical disorder, and social networks, whereas household characteristics are less well explained. This is attributed to the limited evidence of such characteristics affecting fear of crime in the literature

Nanotopography of Polystyrene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) for the Promotion of Patient Specific Von Willebrand Factor Entrapment and Platelet Adhesion in a Whole Blood Microfluidic Assay

Platelet function testing is essential for the diagnosis of patients with bleeding disorders. Specifically, there is a need for a whole blood assay that is capable of analysing platelet behaviour in contact with a patient-specific autologous von Willebrand factor (vWF), under physiologically relevant conditions. The creation of surface topography capable of entrapping and uncoiling vWF for the support of subsequent platelet adhesion within the same blood sample offers a potential basis for such an assay. In this study, spin coating of polystyrene/poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA) demixed solutions onto glass substrates in air has been used to attain surfaces with well-defined topographical features. The effect of augmenting the PS/PMMA solution with uniform 50 µm PS microspheres that can moderate the demixing process on the resultant surface features has also been investigated. The topographical features created here by spin coating under ambient air pressure conditions, rather than in nitrogen, which previous work reports, produces substrate surfaces with the ability to entrap vWF from flowing blood and facilitate platelet adhesion. The direct optical visualisation of fluorescently-labelled platelets indicates that topography resulting from inclusion of PS microspheres in the PS/PMMA spin coating solution increases the total number of platelets that adhere to the substrate surface over the period of the microfluidic assay. However, a detailed analysis of the adhesion rate, mean translocating velocity, mean translocation distance, and fraction of the stably adhered platelets measured during blood flow under arterial equivalent mechanical shear conditions indicates no significant difference for topographies created with or without inclusion of the PS microspheres. </p

A combined experimental and computational study on the reaction of fluoroarenes with Mg–Mg, Mg–Zn, Mg–Al and Al–Zn bonds

Through a combined experimental and computational (DFT) approach, the reaction mechanism of the addition of fluoroarenes to Mg–Mg bonds has been determined as a concerted S_{N}Ar-like pathway in which one Mg centre acts as a nucleophile and the other an electrophile. The experimentally determined Gibbs activation energy for the addition of C₆F₆ to a Mg–Mg bond of a molecular complex, ΔG‡_{₂₉₈K}(experiment) = 21.3 kcal mol⁻¹ is modelled by DFT with the ωB97X functional, ΔG‡₂₉₈ {K}_(DFT) = 25.7 kcal mol⁻¹. The transition state for C–F activation involves a polarisation of the Mg–Mg bond and significant negative charge localisation on the fluoroarene moiety. This transition state is augmented by stabilising closed-shell Mg⋯F_{ortho} interactions that, in combination with the known trends in C–F and C–M bond strengths in fluoroarenes, provide an explanation for the experimentally determined preference for C–F bond activation to occur at sites flanked by ortho-fluorine atoms. The effect of modification of both the ligand coordination sphere and the nature and polarity of the M–M bond (M = Mg, Zn, Al) on C–F activation has been investigated. A series of highly novel β-diketiminate stabilised complexes containing Zn–Mg, Zn–Zn–Zn, Zn–Al and Mg–Al bonds has been prepared, including the first crystallographic characterisation of a Mg–Al bond. Reactions of these new M–M containing complexes with perfluoroarenes were conducted and modelled by DFT. C–F bond activation is dictated by the steric accessibility, and not the polarity, of the M–M bond. The more open coordination complexes lead to enhanced Mg⋯F_{ortho} interactions which in turn lower the energy of the transition states for C–F bond activation

Structural Evolution of a Cyclooctatetraene Adlayer on Cu(111) during Isothermal Desorption

The use of helium diffraction patterns to study desorption processes is explored as a novel extension to traditional methods based on helium specular reflection. The sample, cyclooctatetraene adsorbed on Cu(111), provides a rich but complex structure. The modulation of cyclooctatetraene by Cu(111) is manifested as a convolution in the diffraction pattern, displaying an averaged super-cell symmetry of (7 √3 × 7 √3)R30◦. The adlayer expands during isothermal desorption, and the change in lattice constant provides a direct measure of the coverage as a function of time. We find a desorption energy of 0:96 ± 0:01 eV at saturation of the first layer, and an upper limit of 1:62 ± 0:07 eV for isolated molecules. These values, and details of the assigned structure, indicate chemisorbed molecules with a planar conformation.For financial support, N. Avidor gratefully acknowledges the Blavatnik Foundation, J.A. Lau acknowledges the ICASEC, P.S.M. Townsend acknowledges the UK EPSRC, I. Calvo-Almaz´an acknowledges the Ram´on Areces Foundation, BJ Hinch acknowledges the NSF (CHE-1565673). The authors thank G. Alexandrowicz for useful discussions. EPSRC (EP/E004962/1) EPSRC (1363145

Keeper-animal interactions: differences between the behaviour of zoo animals affect stockmanship

Stockmanship is a term used to describe the management of animals with a good stockperson someone who does this in a in a safe, effective, and low-stress manner for both the stock-keeper and animals involved. Although impacts of unfamiliar zoo visitors on animal behaviour have been extensively studied, the impact of stockmanship i.e familiar zoo keepers is a new area of research; which could reveal significant ramifications for zoo animal behaviour and welfare. It is likely that different relationships are formed dependant on the unique keeper-animal dyad (human-animal interaction, HAI). The aims of this study were to (1) investigate if unique keeper-animal dyads were formed in zoos, (2) determine whether keepers differed in their interactions towards animals regarding their attitude, animal knowl- edge and experience and (3) explore what factors affect keeper-animal dyads and ultimately influence animal behaviour and welfare. Eight black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), eleven Chapman’s zebra (Equus burchellii), and twelve Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) were studied in 6 zoos across the UK and USA. Subtle cues and commands directed by keepers towards animals were identified. The animals latency to respond and the respective behavioural response (cue-response) was recorded per keeper-animal dyad (n=93). A questionnaire was constructed following a five-point Likert Scale design to record keeper demographic information and assess the job satisfaction of keepers, their attitude towards the animals and their perceived relationship with them. There was a significant difference in the animals’ latency to appropriately respond after cues and commands from different keepers, indicating unique keeper-animal dyads were formed. Stockmanship style was also different between keepers; two main components contributed equally towards this: “attitude towards the animals” and “knowledge and experience of the animals”. In this novel study, data demonstrated unique dyads were formed between keepers and zoo animals, which influenced animal behaviour

The effect of deworming on growth in one-year-old children living in a soil-transmitted helminth-endemic area of Peru: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND:Appropriate health and nutrition interventions to prevent long-term adverse effects in children are necessary before two years of age. One such intervention may include population-based deworming, recommended as of 12 months of age by the World Health Organization in soil-transmitted helminth (STH)-endemic areas; however, the benefit of deworming has been understudied in early preschool-age children. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to determine the effect of deworming (500 mg single-dose crushed mebendazole tablet) on growth in one-year-old children in Iquitos, Peru. Children were enrolled during their routine 12-month growth and development clinic visit and followed up at their 18 and 24-month visits. Children were randomly allocated to: Group 1: deworming at 12 months and placebo at 18 months; Group 2: placebo at 12 months and deworming at 18 months; Group 3: deworming at both 12 and 18 months; or Group 4: placebo at both 12 and 18 months (i.e. control group). The primary outcome was weight gain at the 24-month visit. An intention-to-treat approach was used. A total of 1760 children were enrolled between September 2011 and June 2012. Follow-up of 1563 children (88.8%) was completed by July 2013. STH infection was of low prevalence and predominantly light intensity in the study population. All groups gained between 1.93 and 2.05 kg on average over 12 months; the average difference in weight gain (kg) compared to placebo was: 0.05 (95% CI: -0.05, 0.17) in Group 1; -0.07 (95%CI: -0.17, 0.04) in Group 2; and 0.04 (95%CI: -0.06, 0.14) in Group 3. There was no statistically significant difference in weight gain in any of the deworming intervention groups compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, with one year of follow-up, no effect of deworming on growth could be detected in this population of preschool-age children. Low baseline STH prevalence and intensity and/or access to deworming drugs outside of the trial may have diluted the potential effect of the intervention. Additional research is required to overcome these challenges and to contribute to strengthening the evidence base on deworming. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01314937)

Interfacial Origin of the Magnetisation Suppression of Thin Film Yttrium Iron Garnet

Yttrium iron garnet has a very high Verdet constant, is transparent in the infrared and is an insulating ferrimagnet leading to its use in optical and magneto-optical applications. Its high Q-factor has been exploited to make resonators and filters in microwave devices, but it also has the lowest magnetic damping of any known material. In this article we describe the structural and magnetic properties of single crystal thin-film YIG where the temperature dependence of the magnetisation reveals a decrease in the low temperature region. In order to understand this complex material we bring a large number of structural and magnetic techniques to bear on the same samples. Through a comprehensive analysis we show that at the substrate -YIG interface, an interdiffusion zone of only 4 - 6nm exists. Due to the interdiffusion of Y from the YIG and Gd from the substrate, an addition magnetic layer is formed at the interface whose properties are crucially important in samples with a thickness of YIG less than 200nm

The Surface Characterisation of Fused Filament Fabricated (FFF) 3D Printed PEEK/Hydroxyapatite Composites

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer which has found increasing application in orthopaedics and has shown a lot of promise for ‘made-to-measure’ implants via additive manufacturing approaches. However, PEEK is bioinert and needs to undergo surface modification to make it at least osteoconductive to ensure a more rapid, improved, and stable fixation that will last longer in vivo. One approach to solving this issue is to modify PEEK with bioactive agents such as hydroxyapatite (HA). The work reported in this study demonstrates the direct 3D printing of PEEK/HA composites of up to 30 weight percent (wt%) HA using a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) approach. The surface characteristics and in vitro properties of the composite materials were investigated. X-ray diffraction revealed the samples to be semi-crystalline in nature, with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry revealing HA materials were available in the uppermost surface of all the 3D printed samples. In vitro testing of the samples at 7 days demonstrated that the PEEK/HA composite surfaces supported the adherence and growth of viable U-2 OS osteoblast like cells. These results demonstrate that FFF can deliver bioactive HA on the surface of PEEK bio-composites in a one-step 3D printing process