Chemical enhancement of footwear impressions in blood on fabric:part 3: amino acid staining

Enhancement of footwear impressions, using ninhydrin or ninhydrin analogues is not considered common practice and such techniques are generally used to target amino acids present in fingermarks where the reaction gives rise to colour and possibly fluorescence. Ninhydrin and two of its analogues were used for the enhancement of footwear impressions in blood on various types, colours and porosities of fabric. Test footwear impressions on fabric were prepared using a specifically built rig to minimise the variability between each impression. Ninhydrin enhancement of footwear impressions in blood on light coloured fabric yielded good enhancement results, however the contrast was weak or non-existent on dark coloured fabrics. Other ninhydrin analogues which have the advantage of fluorescence failed to enhance the impressions in blood on all fabrics. The sequential treatment of impressions in blood on fabric with other blood enhancing reagents (e.g. protein stains and heme reagents) was also investigated

Controlling the variable of pressure in the production of test footwear impressions

Footwear impression lifting and enhancement techniques may be affected by several variables introduced during the production of test footwear impressions, thus limiting the usefulness of enhancement technique comparisons and the results obtained. One such variable is the force applied when the impressed mark is being made. Producing consistent test impressions for research into footwear enhancement techniques would therefore be beneficial. This study was designed to control pressure in the production of test footwear impressions when mimicking a stamping action. Twenty-seven volunteers were asked to stamp on two different surfaces and the average stamping force was recorded. Information from the data obtained was used to design and build a mechanical device which could be calibrated to consistently deliver footwear impressions with the same force onto a receiving surface. Preliminary experiments using this device and different contaminants on the footwear sole have yielded consistent and repeatable impressions. Controlling the variable of pressure for the production of test impressions in this study demonstrated that the differences observed were visual (due to the amount of contaminant transferred and subsequent enhancement) and did not affect the replication of outer sole characteristics. This paper reports the development of the device and illustrates the quality of the impressions produced

Making the most of the holiday period for rest and recovery

This blog emphasised the importance of staff wellbeing over the holiday period and provided my 'top tips' for doing this

Assessment for learning : an introduction

This blog provides an introduction to Assessment for Learning within a Strathclyde context

Preparing to start a new semester when uncertainty remains

This blog explores how Strathclyde students can be supported at a time of uncertainty

Using Microsoft Sway in learning and teaching

Sway is a new app from Microsoft Office that is available to us at Strathclyde. It has a number of uses in creating and sharing reports, stories, presentations, photo albums and more, and in this micro-CPD we will focus on using it in learning and teaching

Pure - not just for researchers

Pure is the University's information management system for tracking activities and outputs of Academic Professional staff. It is heavily used in tracking the activities and outputs of researchers for the REF, so you could be forgiven for thinking this is something for the researchers. But it's not. It is for teaching staff too. And not just a tool that we engage with at promotion time either. This is a tool that you can use to tell the story of your career development and highlight what you do within your role. Pure is a single point of entry with a number of outputs. So when you add information into Pure, it updates your Knowledgebase profile instantly and your staff page within a day or so. This is your externally facing record of your professional achievements

Supporting growth, development and belonging through peer support networks

Peer Support Networks are a key component of academic development provision at Strathclyde University. Through this keynote I will explore, •participant and facilitator views of peer networks; •perceived benefits and challenges of peer networks; •a case study of developing and growing a leadership in learning and teaching network; and •the development of a peer network toolkit. Teams from Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian university's came together to evaluate participant views of peer networks. The research explored themes such as participants’ motivation, conceptions of learning and teaching and well-being. By creating spaces for socialisation outside of 'routine' work settings, the study suggests that peer support networks carry intrinsic benefits and can be effective in breaking down perceived disciplinary 'bubbles', barriers and hierarchies. Peer support networks appear to provide important spaces for reflection, practice-sharing, collaboration, and career development in an atmosphere of encouragement and acceptance. The study also sheds light on the importance of network facilitators. Therefore, links to our toolkit aimed at supporting new and existing peer support network facilitators across the sector will be provided. The Leadership in Learning and Teaching Network is one of four active staff peer support networks at the University of Strathclyde. I will reflect on my experiences of co-facilitating this network. I will explore how the network was initially developed and implemented, then abandoned and re-established, and ultimately now thriving. I will reflect on the key successes and challenges, and what we have learned along the way. Finally, I will recommend a set of resources for those who may be interested in establishing or further developing peer support activities within their own context

Course (re)design 4 : designing learning activities

[Abstract not available

Peer networks : fostering a sense of belonging

Katy Savage from the University of Strathclyde shares the findings of her research for the Peer Network Toolkit and how the toolkit can help others in implementing successful networks in their own institutions