Publications from projects

Developing graduate attributes in students and linking research to teaching are key areas for teaching and learning programmes and the honours project for a third year practical on a forensic science course is a prime area for integrating these into degree studies. This poster covers the background and conducts of a student project developing an alternative to a liquid etch to recover identification marks. It then outlines further research undertaken to allow the work to be published

Recording of lectures

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of students wanting to record lectures. Two factors have contributed to this. Firstly, there is wide availability of compact, solid state recorders, and recorders are often incorporated into other goods (MP3 players, mobile phones, cameras, laptops). Secondly, within many universities facilities have been provided by student support services for students with a special need to record lectures. However, the recording of lectures presents a number of issues related to: ownership, data protection, potential misuse, and the pedagogic issue of ensuring equal treatment for all students. University recording policies address some of these issues, but the individual academic also needs to reflect on the consequences for their teaching. A trial has been carried out offering streamed recordings of lectures, and the merits of streaming and downloading are discussed. A survey was made on the usage by students and their reasons for accessing the recordings, and these are reported. There have been a number of advantages to students as well as the lecturer which have required relatively little extra burden on the lecturer. One important initial conclusion appears to be the need to incorporate recordings as part of the teaching material in the initial pedagogic design rather than an addition. For some students the recordings have proved a valuable additional resource and feedback from students has been positive

The thermal visualisation of latent fingermarks on metallic surfaces

Recent published research has lead to improved techniques for recovering latent fingermarks from metallic surfaces. The present study corroborates and extends some of the work carried out by Bond [1], [2] and [3], but an alternative mechanism is proposed for the thermal visualisation of fingermarks based on differential oxidation and the production of interference colours that improve contrast. Fingermarks treated at low temperature could be reheated to enhance recovery, but an upper temperature limit occurs beyond which the mark degrades. The mechanism of enhancement is discussed

Restoration of stamp marks on steel components

Stamp marks are used as a unique identification for a range of items, but these can be erased for criminal activities. Erased marks can sometimes be recovered by etching or magnetic means. The present study looked at the application of Fry's reagent to recover erased marks from steel. The investigation also demonstrated that Fry's reagent can deteriorate on storing and will require a longer etching time. The effect of different applied forces of stamping was investigated, and the depth of the underlying deformation was determined by etching after varying degrees of metal removal. The amount of metal needing to be removed depends on the force applied to the die. Metal removal also affects the time needed for recovery. The underlying structural change remains as a hidden identification mark, and could potentially be used by manufacturers as an unseen identifier. A model for the underlying deformation is proposed

Development of an etching paste

The recovery of erased identification marks is a problem for the forensic scientist, particularly with respect to vehicles and firearms. The widely accepted procedure for steel imprints is to use Fry's reagent. The present study examined the possibility of forming a paste that may be easier to use. The paste proved to be as effective as liquid in most cases, and often gave better results. The ease of using the paste gives it distinct advantages over liquid reagent

Editorial 2: Voice, Sight, Marginalization and Psychoanalytic Frames

All of the essays that make up the 26th edition of The Journal of Social Theory in Art Education reflect varied critical stances and approaches based on the homology site/ sight/ cite. In the spirit of the call for papers, a select number of authors chose to resolve their topics by addressing imagery, ideas, and practices that have been (or remain) out of site, sight, or cite. Others presented their topics more indirectly, thus leading the reader to shape or reshape the possibilities of context. And it\u27s true; as we read these essays we are in a position to continually interpret and reinterpret the possibility of other readings

Detection, mapping and estimation of rate of spread of grass fires from southern African ERTS-1 imagery

Sequential band-6 imagery of the Zambesi Basin of southern Africa recorded substantial changes in burn patterns resulting from late dry season grass fires. One example from northern Botswana, indicates that a fire consumed approximately 70 square miles of grassland over a 24-hour period. Another example from western Zambia indicates increased fire activity over a 19-day period. Other examples clearly define the area of widespread grass fires in Angola, Botswana, Rhodesia and Zambia. From the fire patterns visible on the sequential portions of the imagery, and the time intervals involved, the rates of spread of the fires are estimated and compared with estimates derived from experimental burning plots in Zambia and Canada. It is concluded that sequential ERTS-1 imagery, of the quality studied, clearly provides the information needed to detect and map grass fires and to monitor their rates of spread in this region during the late dry season

An investigation into the behaviour of air rifle pellets in ballistic gel and their interaction with bone

Although air weapons are considerably lower in power than other firearms, there is increasing concern that serious injuries can result from their misuse. The present study was therefore carried out to improve understanding of the terminal ballistic behaviour of air rifle pellets. Pellets were fired into ballistic gel under a variety of conditions. The pellets penetrated further than anticipated from their low cross-sectional density, and Bloom number was not necessarily a good guide to gel behaviour. Pellet penetration into the gel decreased with increasing gel concentration, and appeared to be linear at higher concentrations. Pointed pellets penetrated up to 50% further than rounded pellets. Power and range affect penetration, but other factors are also important, and power alone is not a simple guide to potential penetration. Test firings were also carried out firing pellets into ballistic gel that contained sections of animal bone. Computed tomography (CT) and visual observation were employed to record the interactions. CT scanning showed potential as a tool for examining pellet damage. The bone appeared to be undamaged, but the pellets were severely deformed on impact. If the pellet strikes the bone at an angle, less energy is absorbed by the impact and the pellet fragments may ricochet and cause further damage in the gel. A tentative model is proposed for estimating the energy absorbed by the impact