Ian J. Turner

Who Wants to Be a Biologist? An Excellent Quiz Tool for Students.

Lectures tend to be a largely passive experience with respect to student learning and it has been shown that engaging students in their own learning can increase their understanding (Bonwell et al, 1991). Quizzes have been shown to be a mechanism that improves the student learning experience (Willmott, 2001), and other key factors such as a competitive environment, enjoyment and a good classroom or group atmosphere have been shown to motivate student learning (Perrie, 2003). If these key factors are combined with quizzes they could maximise the students knowledge retention and enhance their learning experience. “Who wants to be a millionaire” is a multi-million pound grossing quiz show popular in over 100 countries from the UK and USA to Kazakhstan and Venezuela (ITV, 2008).

A preliminary study investigating class characteristics in the Gurmukhi handwriting of 1st and 2nd generation Punjabis

Gurmukhi is a written script of the Punjabi language spoken by 104 million people worldwide. It has been previously shown in a study of Punjabi residents to contain several unique class characteristics. In this paper these class characteristics and others were analysed in both 1st generation and 2nd generation Punjabi decedents residing in the United Kingdom. Using the Pearson Chi-squared test, eight characteristic features were found to be statistically different in the Gurmukhi handwriting of the two populations (p > 0.01). Additionally there are several changes in previously identified class characteristics, such as script type and angularity of characters, between the 1st generation and 2nd generation Punjabi populations. These class characteristics may be of value to forensic document examiners and allow them to identify the population and the generation of the writer of a suspect document.

Exposing latent fingermarks on problematic metal surfaces using time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy

Fingermarks are a key form of physical evidence for identifying persons of interest and linking them to the scene of a crime. Visualising latent (hidden) fingermarks can be difficult and the correct choice of techniques is essential to develop and preserve any fingermarks or other (e.g. DNA) evidence that might be present. Metal surfaces (stainless steel in particular) have proven to be challenging substrates from which to reliably obtain fingermarks. This is a great cause for concern among police forces around the globe as many of the firearms, knives and other metal weapons used in violent crime are potentially valuable sources of fingermark evidence. In this study, a highly sensitive and non-destructive surface science technique called time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) was used to image fingermarks on metal surfaces. This technique was compared to a conventional superglue based fuming technique that was accompanied by a series of contrast enhancing dyes (basic yellow 40 (BY40), crystal violet (CV) and sudan black (SB)) on three different metal surfaces. The conventional techniques showed little to no evidence of fingermarks being present on the metal surfaces after a few days. However, ToF-SIMS revealed fingermarks on the same and similar substrates with an exceptional level of detail. The ToF-SIMS images demonstrated clear ridge definition as well as detail about sweat pore position and shape. All structures were found to persist for over 26 days after deposition when the samples were stored under ambient conditions.

The use of gamification in the teaching of disease epidemics and pandemics

Abstract With the launch of the teaching excellence framework, teaching in higher education (HE) is under greater scrutiny than ever before. Didactic lecture delivery is still a core element of many HE programmes but there is now a greater expectation for academics to incorporate alternative approaches into their practice to increase student engagement. These approaches may include a large array of techniques from group activities, problem-based learning, practical experience and mock scenarios to newly emerging approaches such as flipped learning practices and the use of gamification. These participatory forms of learning encourage students to become more absorbed within a topic that may otherwise be seen as rather ‘dry’ and reduce students engagement with, and therefore retention of, material. Here we use participatory-based teaching approaches in microbiology as an example to illustrate to University undergraduate students the potentially devastating effects that a disease can have on a population. The ‘threat’ that diseases may pose and the manner in which they may spread and/or evolve can be challenging to communicate, especially in relation to the timescales associated with these factors in the case of an epidemic or pandemic.

Indentation recovery threshold using the Electrostatic Detection Apparatus

ABSTRACT The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus® (ESDA) is an instrument employing techniques used by Questioned Document Examiners (QDE) for the development of indented impressions. It has been reported that impressions can be recovered from between three and five sheets beneath the original writing; however, there have been limited studies on the impact of paper type in this process. In this experiment, paper densities ranging from 54–170 g/m2 were examined and evaluated using a standard ESDA® protocol. Paper density affects both the quality and the depth at which an underlying impression can be visualized by electrostatic methods (between one and five sheets). Knowing the paper density could aid QDE in the effective examination of documents for impressions.