Child support judgments: comparing public policy to the public's policy

Any child support regime necessarily makes policy choices about how parental income should be shared between the two parental households. Those choices involve balancing the claims of the child, the claims of the custodial parent for help with the expense of providing for the child, and the claims of the support obligor for autonomy in deciding how to spend his own earnings. That balancing task is complicated by the fact that the child and the custodial parent necessarily share a living standard, so that any child support transfer, large or small, will unavoidably benefit the custodial parent as well as the child. This article reports the findings of an empirical study designed to reveal how the British public believe this balance should be struck. It then compares the public’s preferred policies to the policy choices implicit in the current UK child support schedule. It concludes that there are important gaps between the two, and recommends that consideration be given to amending the current UK law to better align it with the public’s values on these matters

A mechanistic investigation of the photoinduced, copper-mediated cross-coupling of an aryl thiol with an aryl halide

Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed cross-coupling can offer a complementary approach to thermal (non-photoinduced) methods for generating C–X (X = C, N, O, S, etc.) bonds. In this report, we describe the first detailed mechanistic investigation of one of the processes that we have developed, specifically, the (stoichiometric) coupling of a copper–thiolate with an aryl iodide. In particular, we focus on the chemistry of a discrete [Cu^I(SAr)_2]− complex (Ar = 2,6-dimethylphenyl), applying a range of techniques, including ESI-MS, cyclic voltammetry, transient luminescence spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, DFT calculations, Stern–Volmer analysis, EPR spectroscopy, actinometry, and reactivity studies. The available data are consistent with the viability of a pathway in which photoexcited [Cu^I(SAr)_2]−* serves as an electron donor to an aryl iodide to afford an aryl radical, which then reacts in cage with the newly generated copper(II)–thiolate to furnish the cross-coupling product in a non-chain process

Evaluating evolution as a learning algorithm

We interpret the Moran model of natural selection and drift as an algorithm for learning features of a simplified fitness landscape, specifically genotype superiority. This algorithm's efficiency in extracting these characteristics is evaluated by comparing it to a novel Bayesian learning algorithm developed using information-theoretic tools. This algorithm makes use of a communication channel analogy between an environment and an evolving population. We use the associated channel-rate to determine an informative population-sampling procedure. We find that the algorithm can identify genotype superiority faster than the Moran model but at the cost of larger fluctuations in uncertainty

Video recording true single-photon double-slit interference

As normally used, no commercially available camera has a low-enough dark noise to directly produce video recordings of double-slit interference at the photon-by-photon level, because readout noise significantly contaminates or overwhelms the signal. In this work, noise levels are significantly reduced by turning on the camera only when the presence of a photon has been heralded by the arrival, at an independent detector, of a time-correlated photon produced via parametric down-conversion. This triggering scheme provides the improvement required for direct video imaging of Young's double-slit experiment with single photons, allowing clarified versions of this foundational demonstration. Further, we introduce variations on this experiment aimed at promoting discussion of the role spatial coherence plays in such a measurement. We also emphasize complementary aspects of single-photon measurement, where imaging yields (transverse) position information, while diffraction yields the transverse momentum, and highlight the roles of transverse position and momentum correlations between down-converted photons, including examples of "ghost" imaging and diffraction. The videos can be accessed at http://sun.iwu.edu/~gspaldin/SinglePhotonVideos.html online.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Variability in the clinical management of iron deficiency anaemia in older adults : results from a survey of UK specialists in the care of older people

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the British Geriatrics Society for hosting the survey link and formally endorsing the survey through its electronic communications. We gratefully acknowledge the participants of the survey. Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

'Improving subnational disaster management in Sierra Leone': Evaluating Local Disaster Management in Sierra Leone (EVALDIS) Final Report 2023 No. 1

The EVALDIS Final Report No. 1 represents a comprehensive assessment of the challenges confronting provincial, district and local disaster management across the country and is designed to contribute valuable research based and evidenced recommendations that can help to shape the NDMA’s thinking and direction towards developing stronger regional capacities across the country in 2023. Research was conducted by a team from the internationally acclaimed Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre (BUDMC), led by Professor Lee Miles, during 2022. EVALDIS constitutes one of the most extensive, contemporary studies undertaken in recent years. The Report draws on data collected from stakeholder interviews and Focus Groups as well as peer/participant observations in disaster management meetings at the national, provincial, district and local levels. At all stages, the research has involved cooperation with Sierra Leone’s disaster management institutions, the participation of local communities and incorporates peer- review feedback on the findings presented in the EVALDIS Final Report. Through the application of innovative Bournemouth University led research techniques, focusing primarily on identifying ‘resolvable single points of failure’ (SPOF), refined in conjunction with the NDMA, this Final Report highlights that: • There is an overwhelming consensus that the development of the NDMA’s provincial and district capacities, including the appointment of NDMA Provincial and District Officers, and the creation of NDMA Provincial and District Offices is a welcome development. • However, there remain 12 notable areas where SPOF exist that are likely to lead to the breakdown of part or all of this evolving subnational component of Sierra Leone’s disaster management system. This includes aspects of disaster risk reduction, response and recovery. • These 12 SPOF areas are clearly and commonly identifiable by all three participating constituencies of national stakeholders, representatives of local communities and provincial disaster management officers, and verified through participating interactions. Thus, there is a firm basis for concerted future subnational action and initiatives. There is a remarkably high level of consistency and consensus shared by all three participating constituencies that the top SPOF areas are resolvable and fixable over the short to medium terms (within 5 years), provided appropriate recommendations and immediate action points are implemented to address them. • There is resoundingly strong agreement that key initiatives such as the development of Facilitators Guides to increase the knowledge, skills and competencies of the NDMA Provincial and District Officers (and offices) represent important initiatives for the future. The EVALDIS Final Report calls for the NDMA to further develop an integrated NDMA regional strategy/document that can further underpin the development of the NDMA's provincial and district capacities during 2023-24. The Strategy would be wise to recognise and consider the 51 notable, resolvable SPOF identified in the EVALDIS Final Report, and implement most(if not all) of the 62 specific evidenced-based recommendations and immediate action points that are aimed at improving subnational disaster management in Sierra Leone now and in the future

Exercise training in obese rats does not induce browning at thermoneutrality and induces a muscle-like signature in brown adipose tissue

Aim: Exercise training elicits diverse effects on brown (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) physiology in rodents housed below their thermoneutral zone (i.e., 28–32°C). In these conditions, BAT is chronically hyperactive and, unlike human residence, closer to thermoneutrality. Therefore, we set out to determine the effects of exercise training in obese animals at 28°C (i.e., thermoneutrality) on BAT and WAT in its basal (i.e., inactive) state. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12) were housed at thermoneutrality from 3 weeks of age and fed a high-fat diet. At 12 weeks of age half these animals were randomized to 4-weeks of swim-training (1 h/day, 5 days per week). Following a metabolic assessment interscapular and perivascular BAT and inguinal (I)WAT were taken for analysis of thermogenic genes and the proteome. Results: Exercise attenuated weight gain but did not affect total fat mass or thermogenic gene expression. Proteomics revealed an impact of exercise training on 2-oxoglutarate metabolic process, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV, carbon metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. This was accompanied by an upregulation of multiple proteins involved in skeletal muscle physiology in BAT and an upregulation of muscle specific markers (i.e., Myod1, CkM, Mb, and MyoG). UCP1 mRNA was undetectable in IWAT with proteomics highlighting changes to DNA binding, the positive regulation of apoptosis, HIF-1 signaling and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Conclusion: Exercise training reduced weight gain in obese animals at thermoneutrality and is accompanied by an oxidative signature in BAT which is accompanied by a muscle-like signature rather than induction of thermogenic genes. This may represent a new, UCP1-independent pathway through which BAT physiology is regulated by exercise training

Reply to: “Impact of marine processes on flow dynamics of northern Antarctic Peninsula outlet glaciers” by Rott et al.

Replying to Rott et al. Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16658-y (2020)Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Using Stories in Coach Education

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how storied representations of research can be used as an effective pedagogical tool in coach education. During a series of continuing professional development seminars for professional golf coaches, we presented our research in the form of stories and poems which were created in an effort to evoke and communicate the lived experiences of elite professional golfers. Following these presentations, we obtained written responses to the stories from 53 experienced coaches who attended the seminars. Analysis of this data revealed three ways in which coaches responded to the stories: (i) questioning; (ii) summarising; and (iii) incorporating. We conclude that these responses illustrate the potential of storied forms of representation to enhance professional development through stimulating reflective practice and increasing understanding of holistic, person-centred approaches to coaching athletes in high-performance sport