New urbanism, crime and the suburbs: a review of the evidence

Sustainability now influences government policy in the UK, Australia and USA and planning policy currently advocates high density, mixed-use residential developments in 'walkable', permeable neighbourhoods, close to public transport, employment and amenities. This clearly demonstrates the growing popularity, influence and application of New Urbanist ideas.This paper reviews the criminological research relating to New Urbanism associated with the three key issues of permeability, rear laneway car parking and mixed-use development. These key issues are discussed from an environmental criminology perspective and challenge New Urbanist assumptions concerning crime. The paper proposes that crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and its crime risk assessment model represents a valuable tool for New Urbanists to utilise to reduce opportunities for crime and tackle fear of crime in the community. Recommendations for future research and collaboration are discussed

MOLECULAR AND ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURES OF BIS[1,4-BIS(TRIMETHYL-SILYL)CYCLOOCTATETRAENE] SANDWICH COMPLEXES OF TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM

The reaction between 2 equivalents of [Li2{C8H6(SiMe3)2}] and [MCl4(thf)2] (M = Ti or Zr) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) afforded the sandwich complexes [M{C8H6(SiMe3)2}2]. X-Ray studies showed that the zirconium compound adopts a structure in which one ring is bound in an η8 fashion whilst the other adopts a novel η3 co-ordination mode. This unusual bonding situation has been studied using extended-Hückel molecular-orbital calculations and photoelectron spectroscopy. In contrast, the titanium compound adopts a solid-state structure in which one ring is η8 bound and the other is less readily classified, being intermediate between the η3 structure found for Zr and the η4 structure found in [Ti(C8H8)2]. Variable-temperature solution NMR studies on [M{C8H6(SiMe3)2}2] showed that the two rings remain indistinguishable even at 193 K for M = Zr, whereas for M = Ti the two rings only become equivalent on the NMR time-scale above 328 K

MOLECULAR AND ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURES OF BIS 1,4-BIS(TRIMETHYL-SILYL)CYCLOOCTATETRAENE SANDWICH COMPLEXES OF TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM

The reaction between 2 equivalents of [Li2{C8H6(SiMe3)2}] and [MCl4(thf)2] (M = Ti or Zr) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) afforded the sandwich complexes [M{C8H6(SiMe3)2}2]. X-Ray studies showed that the zirconium compound adopts a structure in which one ring is bound in an η8 fashion whilst the other adopts a novel η3 co-ordination mode. This unusual bonding situation has been studied using extended-Hückel molecular-orbital calculations and photoelectron spectroscopy. In contrast, the titanium compound adopts a solid-state structure in which one ring is η8 bound and the other is less readily classified, being intermediate between the η3 structure found for Zr and the η4 structure found in [Ti(C8H8)2]. Variable-temperature solution NMR studies on [M{C8H6(SiMe3)2}2] showed that the two rings remain indistinguishable even at 193 K for M = Zr, whereas for M = Ti the two rings only become equivalent on the NMR time-scale above 328 K

Concrete multivalence – practising representation in bunkerology

In this paper I investigate the various ways in which once secret and ‘unknowable’ military bunkers have over the last fifty years become increasingly accessible to perception and representation in print and other ‘off-line’ media. I focus upon the role played in this rediscovery by accounts produced and circulated by various types of bunker-hunting enthusiasts, who are defined collectively in the paper as ‘bunkerologists’. The paper also shows that bunkers are not, as some theorists such as Beck have recently suggested, beyond description and incapable of cultural assimilation. For whilst the military bunker is a powerful totem of postmodern ambiguity for some, bunkerologists have developed relatively stable modes of representation through which these abandoned concrete structures can come to be cherished, discussed, and ‘known’. Through analysis of bunkerological texts, and the practices by which they are generated, I examine how bunker hunting’s dominant discursive formations—ie, the political, the taxonomic, the nostalgic, and the experiential—frame the ways in which accounts of bunkers and bunker hunting are presented by bunkerologists themselves, and show how representation is performed by them. Whilst accepting the importance and value of nonrepresentational theory and its challenge to the dominance of the discourse-fixated analysis characteristic of the ‘linguistic turn’, I argue for an active acknowledgment of the role of representational practices within studies investigating performative engagements with place

Cognition, Emotion and Action in Sport:An Ecological Dynamics Perspective

Summary: In sport performance, patterns in perceptions, actions, intentions, ideas, feelings, and thoughts continuously emerge under environmental, task, and personal constraints. This chapter summarizes advances in ecological dynamics and discusses their implications for sport psychologists. Key concepts in ecological dynamics capture the nature of skill to regulate athlete performance behaviors in sport contexts, with clear implications for understanding performers and the learning process in preparation for performance. Viewing the role of cognition, perception, and action in sport performance from this perspective provides a principled, integrated systems focus on athlete behaviors for sport psychology practice. Emotions play a significant role in regulating behaviors that emerge in sports performance contexts as well as influencing learning experiences. The key principles of ALD will be valuable in the design of skill acquisition programs in athlete development from junior to senior levels. [Publisher's website

Evaluation of a Microfluidic Device for the Electrochemical Determination of Halide Content in Ionic Liquids

A microfluidic device designed for electrochemical studies on a microliter scale has been utilized for the examination of impurity levels in ionic liquids (ILs). Halide impurities are common following IL synthesis, and this study demonstrates the ability to quantify low concentrations of halide in a range of ILs to levels of 5 ppm, even in ILs not currently measurable using other methods such as ion chromatography. To validate the mixer device, the electrochemistry of ferrocene was also examined and compared with spectroscopic and bulk electrochemistry measurements. An automated “sample preparation, delivery, and calibration” method was developed, and the chip successfully used for linear sweep, cyclic voltammetry (under both quiescent and steady-state flowing conditions), square wave voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. An effective method of electrochemically cleaning the electrodes is also presented