Deterring gun crime materially using forensic coatings

Surface coatings that can help deter and solve gun crime are described. These nanoengineered coatings have been applied and evaluated on brass cartridge cases, where they increase associative forensic evidence through nanotag donation to the handler and the retention of handler's DNA. In future we expect this approach to be used for other surfaces and conditions.     

Physical and mechanical degradation of shirting fabrics in burial conditions

The current focal areas within forensic textile science are fibre identification and assessment of the method of damage to fabrics. This paper investigates fabric degradation within clandestine burials. The fabrics considered in this paper, unlike previous archaeological studies, are a modern polyester-cotton blend (65%/35%) and a 100% cotton fabric both of which are commonly used for men's shirting fabrics in the UK. Three laundering conditions were investigated (i) not-laundered, (ii) laundered 6 times, and (iii) laundered 60 times; this represented varying conditions of fabric upon clothing deposition. The two burial conditions; sand and clay, were selected as extremes of soil type. The deposition times (15 and 30 days) were based on a study of clandestine burials in UK crimes. There were clear differences in how polyester-cotton and cotton stained within the two different soil conditions, polyester-cotton becoming extensively stained after a 30-day deposition in sand. The tear force required to tear the fabric after deposition, suggested that polyester/cotton fabrics were consistently weaker after burial, regardless of soil type and deposition period. There was also significant damage caused to not-laundered cotton fabrics after a 30-day deposition in clay. This work indicates that common apparel fabrics can degrade in relatively short times when buried.     

Why we should eliminate personal belief exemptions to vaccine mandates

We argue that personal belief exemptions to the mandate for childhood immunizations should not be allowed. Parents who choose not to immunize their children put both their own children and other children at risk. Other children are at risk because unimmunized children go to school or day care when they are contagious but asymptomatic, exposing many more children to potentially dangerous infections. The risks to children from disease are much higher than the risks of vaccines. There are, of course, some bona fide reasons why children should not be immunized. Some children have known allergies or other medical contraindications to certain immunizations. Immunization refusals based on parental beliefs, however, do not fall into this category. In those cases, children are denied the protection of immunizations without any medical or scientific justification. By eliminating personal belief exemptions to those childhood vaccines associated with contagious diseases that have high rates of childhood mortality, we would better protect children and would more fairly spread the burdens of this important public health program.     

Perpetrator programmes for partner violence: Are they based on ideology or evidence?

Purpose. The ideologically based view of intimate partner violence has traditionally influenced policy and practice in modern western nations and dominated cross‐national research and practice. This review considers the validity of the position statement of a British organization responsible for accrediting many male perpetrator programmes in the statutory, voluntary, and private sector as an example of this ideological influence. Method. The position statement, informed by the patriarchal view of partner violence, is evaluated using empirical evidence from various branches of the social sciences, including psychology, that have not been guided by the patriarchal view. Results. Overwhelming empirical evidence is presented, which refutes ideologically driven assumptions that have been put forward to guide current practice and evaluation of it. Conclusions. This review highlights the need to investigate intimate partner violence from a scientific and gender‐inclusive perspective. The implications for psychological practice are discussed.