Charitable bequests a specific case of gift giving

Over the last 5 years, charities have acknowledged that bequests are a source of income with the potential for enormous growth. As the population ages the number of possible bequest donors will increase. Charities are implementing bequest campaigns to target the older donors, and the need for research is evident..

Mode Transforming Properties of Tapered Single-Mode Fiber Microlenses

The Gaussian approximation that is typically used to estimate single-mode fiber microlens performance is investigated. It is applied to hemispheric lenses on two types of tapered single-mode fiber. Theoretical and experimental results are compared. The first type of taper, which is fabricated by pulling a fiber while it is melted, has a tapered core and a tapered cladding. The second type of taper, which is fabricated by etching the cladding, has a tapered cladding only. For a tapered-core fiber, coupling to the cladding-guided modes and the finite radius of curvature of the wave front before the lens must be considered to predict the lens spot size accurately, whereas the spot size of a tapered-cladding lens can be predicted from the lens diameter alone. Thus the spot size of a lens on a tapered-cladding fiber is easier to predict and control than that of a lens on a tapered-core fiber. It is also shown that the usual theory used to predict the spot size gives accepted values for tapered-cladding lenses but not for tapered-core lenses

Single-Mode Fiber Microlens with Controllable Spot Size

A novel method for fabricating microlenses on tapered single-mode fibers is shown to be able to control the lens spot size. The fiber cladding is first symmetrically tapered by etching it with an evaporating ammonium bifluoride solution. A hemispheric lens is then melted on the taper tip with a CO2 laser. The lens can reduce the fiber mode radius to 40% of its original value. A theoretical calculation of the focused spot size agrees well with experimental results

Predicting space climate change

The recent decline in the open magnetic flux of the Sun heralds the end of the Grand Solar Maximum (GSM) that has persisted throughout the space age, during which the largest‐fluence Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events have been rare and Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) fluxes have been relatively low. In the absence of a predictive model of the solar dynamo, we here make analogue forecasts by studying past variations of solar activity in order to evaluate how long‐term change in space climate may influence the hazardous energetic particle environment of the Earth in the future. We predict the probable future variations in GCR flux, near‐Earth interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), sunspot number, and the probability of large SEP events, all deduced from cosmogenic isotope abundance changes following 24 GSMs in a 9300‐year record

Researching solar storms with citizen scientists: engaging with four thousand volunteer research assistants

Professor Chris Scott, Dr Luke Barnard and PhD student Shannon Jones have been collaborating with a global community of thousands of citizen scientists using the Zooniverse platform, conducting open research about solar storms as they travel through interplanetary space

National Eclipse Weather Experiment use and evaluation of a citizen science tool for schools outreach

The National Eclipse Weather Experiment (NEWEx) was a citizen science project for atmospheric data collection from the partial solar eclipse of 20th March 2015. Its role as a tool for schools’ outreach is discussed here, in seeking to bridge the gap between self-identification with the role of a scientist and engagement with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. (The science data generated has had other uses beyond this, explored elsewhere.) We describe the design of webforms for weather data collection, and the use of several external partners for the dissemination of the project nationwide. We estimate that up to 3500 pupils and teachers took part in this experiment, through the 127 schools’ postcodes identified in the data submission. Further analysis revealed that 43.3% of the schools were primary schools and 35.4% secondary. 96.3% of participants reported themselves as “captivated” or “inspired” by NEWEx. We also found that 60% of schools who took part in the experiment lie within the highest quintiles of engagement with higher education, which emphasises the need for the scientific community to be creative when using citizen science to target minority audiences

Jordan v Farber (1352/09) 2009 ZANCHC 81 (15/12/2009)

This case note deals with several aspects of the law of contract, such as public policy and validity, error, cancellation, repudiation, undue influence and damages. It concerns the case of an elderly couple who had to stop their farming operations because of ill health. The attorney whom they approached for assistance offered to lease the farm, equipment and animals from them in his personal capacity, although in his professional capacity he also drafted the contracts of lease. It later transpired that the attorney used his position to mislead the couple as regards the contracts in question and that he was guilty of unethical and unprofessional conduct. The couple applied to court to have the leases declared void, alternatively cancelled, and to have the attorney evicted from the farm. The order was granted; however, the discussion seeks to demonstrate that the couple were afforded only minimal justice in that they did not claim, nor were they granted, any damages. The various possibilities open to them in the circumstances are examined and the conclusion is that ventilating the matter by way of application was probably not the best manner in which to have sought assistance.   

Hand hygiene in Chiropractic training : when knowledge, attitudes and practices do not meet

Abstract: Proper hand hygiene has been described as an important barrier in the defense against hospital acquired infections, along with the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the bacteria that cause these infections. Research has shown that although healthcare workers understand the principles and importance of hand hygiene, they do not always practice proper hand hygiene. The aim of this pre-post intervention study was to monitor the changes in the bacterial population on the hands of chiropractic students at a Chiropractic Clinic pre and post a hand hygiene education intervention. Sixty participants completed the World Health Organization hand hygiene survey to determine their hand hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), and had their hands sampled to quantify the bacterial population present. The bacterial population was quantified using flow cytometry and reported as total, live and dead bacteria present..