Introduction : themed section on care, values and the future of welfare

The papers in the themed section emerge from the work of the ESRC Research Group on Care, Values and the Future of Welfare (CAVA), based at the University of Leeds. CAVA was funded from 1999 to undertake a five-year programme of research into changes in parenting and partnering in Britain and their implications for future social policies. At the heart of CAVA's research is an investigation into the values that people attach to their parenting and partnering activities. We are interested in ‘what matters’ to people in their family lives and personal relationships, especially as they undergo change. This question lay at the centre of our core empirical projects, all of which were based on in-depth qualitative research. (An account of our methodology may be found in the Appendix to this Introduction). The projects focused on different aspects of change: motherhood, care and employment; kin relationships after divorce; care and commitments in transnational families; practices of care and intimacy amongst those who live without a co-resident partner; and collective values of care and support in self-help groups, voluntary organisations and trade unions. Each of these projects is represented in the following collection

Muon Background Reduction in CLIC

We report on a study concerning the reduction of muon backgrounds in CLIC using magnetised iron.Comment: Proceedings of the International Workshop on future Linear Colliders 2011 (LCWS11), Granada, Spain. 4 pages, 4 figure

Southern Infrared Proper Motion Survey I: Discovery of New High Proper Motion Stars From First Full Hemisphere Scan

We present the first results from the Southern Infrared Proper Motion Survey. Using 2 Micron All Sky Survey data along with that of the SuperCOSMOS sky survey we have been able to produce the first widefield infrared proper motion survey. Having targeted the survey to identify nearby M, L and T dwarfs we have discovered 72 such new objects with proper motions greater than 0.5''/yr with 10 of these having proper motions in excess of 1''/yr. The most interesting of these objects is SIPS1259-4336 a late M dwarf. We have calculated a trigonometric parallax for this object of $\pi = 276 \pm 41$ milliarcseconds yielding a distance of $3.62\pm0.54$pc. We have also discovered a common proper motion triple system and an object with a common proper motion with LHS 128. The survey completeness is limited by the small epoch differences between many 2MASS and UKI observations. Hence we only recover 22% of Luyten objects with favourable photometry. However the Luyten study is itself unquantifiably incomplete. We discuss the prospect of enhancing the survey volume by reducing the lower proper motion limit.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

The effect of mark enhancement techniques on the subsequent detection of saliva

There appears to be a limited but growing body of research on the sequential analysis/treatment of multiple types of evidence. The development of an integrated forensic approach is necessary to maximise evidence recovery and to ensure that a particular treatment is not detrimental to other types of evidence. This study aims to assess the effect of latent and blood mark enhancement techniques (e.g. fluorescence, ninhydrin, acid violet 17, black iron-oxide powder suspension) on the subsequent detection of saliva. Saliva detection was performed by means of a presumptive test (Phadebas®) in addition to analysis by a rapid stain identification (RSID) kit test and confirmatory DNA testing. Additional variables included a saliva depletion series and a number of different substrates with varying porosities as well as different ageing periods. Examination and photography under white light and fluorescence was carried out prior to and after chemical enhancement All enhancement techniques (except Bluestar® Forensic Magnum luminol) employed in this study resulted in an improved visualisation of the saliva stains, although the inherent fluorescence of saliva was sometimes blocked after chemical treatment. The use of protein stains was, in general, detrimental to the detection of saliva. Positive results were less pronounced after the use of black iron-oxide powder suspension, cyanoacrylate fuming followed by BY40 and ninhydrin when compared to the respective positive controls. The application of Bluestar® Forensic Magnum luminol and black magnetic powder proved to be the least detrimental, with no significant difference between the test results and the positive controls. The use of non-destructive fluorescence examination provided good visualisation; however, only the first few marks in the depletion were observed. Of the samples selected for DNA analysis only depletion 1 samples contained sufficient DNA quantity for further processing using standard methodology. The 28 day delay between sample deposition and collection resulted in a 5-fold reduction in the amount of useable DNA. When sufficient DNA quantities were recovered, enhancement techniques did not have a detrimental effect on the ability to generate DNA profiles. This study aims to contribute to a strategy for maximising evidence recovery and efficiency for the detection of latent marks and saliva. The results demonstrate that most of the enhancement techniques employed in this study were not detrimental to the subsequent detection of saliva by means of presumptive, confirmative and DNA tests

Creativity within Qualitative Research on Families: New Ideas for Old Methods

Qualitative researchers are continually searching for research methods that engage their participants in the data collection process. When researching living, dynamic systems such as families, researchers need to find methods that can encapsulate the multi-dimensionality of the human experience. The purpose of this paper is to acquaint researchers with some creative and active methods they can use to not only involve their participants in the research process, but also to more fully learn about and experience the perceptions, feelings, and life events of their participants. The methods discussed include sculpting, photography and videography, art and drawing, role playing, writing exercises, metaphors, and timelines

Planning Sidewalks: Implications of Regulating Sidewalk Space in the East Village

Sidewalks are the city’s most public space filled with diversity of both users and uses. This variety of programs and people create conflict within this space. Physical, programmatic, and social regulations construct sidewalk space, manage diverse usage, and attempt to mitigate clash and contention. Physical and programmatic regulations of sidewalks include the spatial dimensions through setback requirements, materiality of sidewalks, permitted uses in the space, and regulation of objects with sidewalk space such as newsstands, signage, and benches. Social regulations are twofold: use of the space is controlled through social norms and accepted behavior as well as legally acceptable behavior through quality of life enforcement. This research addresses the impacts of regulating sidewalks. The purpose of this research is to understand and examine the relationship between these regulations and behavior to better understand how sidewalks function and serve as public space. This study investigates sidewalk regulations in New York City, addressing city-wide regulations and specifically focuses on the sidewalks of the East Village to understand the implications of these regulations at the scale of the community. The density of regulations, both physical and social, create a highly controlled public space. Little research has been conducted to understand the impacts of these regulations within a comprehensive scope as most studies focus on particular elements of sidewalks and specific regulations which limits the understanding of the complexity of sidewalk usage. This thesis deciphers the complex web of regulations to understand how to plan sidewalks at the city level as well as understand the direct implications these regulations on the day-to-day pedestrians in order to recommend policies and practices to better plan sidewalks for public space

Regional policy and the location of industry: an application of attraction theory

An active regional policy is exercised both by the British Government and by most other industrial countries. A major part of this policy in the United Kingdom has been and still is the relocation of industries from the prosperous regions. It would therefore seem as though the theories of the location of economic activity would have some relevance to this problem. In reviewing the empirical work on location and industrial mobility, it is concluded, that they lack a rigorous theoretical and methodological base, such that little reliance can be placed on their results. These studies do however suggest certain factors that need further examination in explaining location. The theoretical work on location is found to be unable to generate many general results or suggest empirically testable models. These studies do however suggest certain analytical tools that are found useful to attraction theory. Attraction theory is examined and modified. The limitations and assumption underlying this theory are made explicit. It is concluded that this model may be a useful took in evaluating government policy on the relocation of industry; The results of the application to the United Kingdom data are presented. These results seem to explain why certain regions have had higher unemployment than the national average and also suggest certain policy prescriptions. In implementing the attraction model data from regional input- output tables are necessary. Therefore there is a discussion of various methods of constructing these tables. The results of the method considered most appropriate is given for purposes of comparison with the attraction results