Asylum Policy under New Labour

This article examines New Labour policies on asylum with a focus on changes in welfare provision. The changes that have taken place have resulted in the exclusion of asylum seekers from 'mainstream' provision and have led to an increase in poverty and destitution among some asylum seekers

Final report: compilation of Alabama crayfish museum holdings and construction of a geo-referenced database

INHS Technical Report Prepared for Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Divisio

Method of improving contact bonds in silicon integrated circuits

Fabrication method produces stable and reliable metallic systems for interconnections, contact pads, and bonded leads in silicon planar integrated circuits. The method is based on substrate isolation of the interconnection metal from the contact pad and bonded wire

The Frequency Distribution of Semi-major Axis of Wide Binaries. Cosmogony and Dynamical Evolution

The frequency distribution f(a) of semi-major axis of double and multiple systems, as well as their eccentricities and mass ratios, contain valuable fossil information about the process of star formation and the dynamical history of the systems. In order to advance in the understanding of these questions, we have made an extensive analysis of the frequency distribution f (a) for wide binaries (a>25 AU) in the various published catalogues, as well as in our own (Poveda et al., 1994; Allen et al., 2000; Poveda & Hernandez, 2003). Based upon all these studies we have established that the frequency f(a) is function of the age of the system and follows Oepik's distribution f(a) ~ 1/a in the range of 100 AU < a < a[c](t), where a[c](t) is a critical semi-major axis beyond which binaries have dissociated by encounters with massive objects. We argue that the physics behind the distribution f(a) ~ 1/a is a process of energy relaxation, analogous to that present in stellar clusters (secular relaxation) or in spherical galaxies (violent relaxation). The frequency distribution of mass ratios in triple systems as well as the existence of runaway stars, indicate that both types of relaxation are important in the process of binary and multiple star formation.Comment: International Astronomical Union. Symposium no. 240, held 22-25 August, 2006 in Prague, Czech Republi

Proton irradiation of simple gas mixtures: Influence of irradiation parameters

In order to get information about the influence of irradiation parameters on radiolysis processes of astrophysical interest, methane gas targets were irradiated with 6.5 MeV protons at a pressure of 1 bar and room temperature. Yields of higher hydrocarbons like ethane or propane were found by analysis of irradiated gas samples using gas chromatography. The handling of the proton beam was of great experimental importance for determining the irradiation parameters. In a series of experiments current density of the proton beam and total absorbed energy were shown to have a large influence on the yields of produced hydrocarbons. Mechanistic interpretations of the results are given and conclusions are drawn with regard to the chemistry and the simulation of various astrophysical systems

XPS characterization of silver electrodes and catalyst for oxygen reduction

The combined analysis of the silver GDE using an ex-situ surface sensitive technique (XPS) and in-situ electrochemical measurements (EIS, CV) show that the performance of the silver GDE is significantly influenced by the degree of degradation of the electrodes, e. g., the reduction of the active surface due to the decomposition of the PTFE. These findings indicate a different degree of decomposition of the PTFE on the on the GDE

Current flight test experience related to structural divergence of forward-swept wings

Flight testing the X-29A forward-swept wing aircraft has required development of new flight test techniques to accomplish subcritical extrapolations to the actual structural divergence dynamic pressure of the aircraft. This paper provides current experience related to applying these techniques to analysis of flight data from the forward-swept wing in order to assess the applicability of these techniques to flight test data. The measurements required, maneuvers flown, and flight test conditions are described. Supporting analytical predictions for the techniques are described and the results using flight data are compared to these predictions. Use of the results during envelope expansion and the resulting modifications to the techniques are discussed. Some of the analysis challenges that occurred are addressed and some preliminary conclusions and recommendations are made relative to the usefulness of these techniques in the flight test environment