Staffordshire University

Forensic and environmental experts have teamed up to develop a new scientific method to pinpoint microplastic pollution 'hotspots' in open waters. Forensic and environmental experts have teamed up to develop a new scientific method to pinpoint microplastic pollution 'hotspots' in open waters. A study by Staffordshire University, The Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean and Central Wyoming College trialled the technique in New York's Long Island Sound. Professor Claire Gwinnett from Staffordshire University explained: "Long Island Sound was a location of interest because it has lots of factors that can cause pollution. "It is an estuary that has high populations of wildlife, it is a busy transport route frequented by cargo ships and is a popular fishing area. Located adjacent to New York City, it is also highly populated and a major tourist destination." Funded, in part, by the National Geographic Society, the study saw samples collected from the deck of the 60′ oceanographic sailing research vessel, American Promise. The team took 1 litre 'grab samples' of surface water every 3 miles from the East River along the middle of Long Island Sound to The Race, where it meets Rhode Island Sound. Grab sampling allows analysis of specific locations, with the researchers applying a statistical approach to identify hotspots where microplastics were most in evidence. "People often use the term 'hotspot' but it is not scientifically defined. Previous studies have used largely subjective methods, without the use of any rules or thresholds that differentiate hotspots from non-hotspots," Professor Gwinnett commented. "Our study proposed a simple yet objective method for determining hotspots using standard deviation values. This is the first time that this has been done." Two primary and two secondary hotspots were observed, near either end of the sampling area. There is potentially a "bottleneck" effect in the narrower zones or, conversely, a dilution effect in the wider section of Long Island Sound. Similarly, hotspots were observed as being close to or in line with a river mouth, specifically the Thames and Connecticut Rivers. Overlaying heat maps of various types of shipping and vessel traffic with the microparticle heat map from this study shows potential similarities. In particular, between areas of high recreational and passenger vessel traffic and higher microplastic concentration. Professor Gwinnett said: "We need to consider factors that might influence these results, such as population, geography and human use. The identified hotspots, however, were found in both densely populated areas and adjacent to some of the least densely populated land areas surrounding Long Island Sound. "The first step in combatting this type of pollution is by characterizing microparticle samples so that we can begin to understand where they might have come from." 97% of samples contained human-made particulates. Microparticles were classified as 76.14% fibres and 23.86% fragments. 47.76% of the fibres were synthetic and 52.24% were non-synthetic. Forensic science approaches developed by Staffordshire University were used to analyse the microparticles -- including type, colour, shape, material, presence of delusterant and width -- which identified 30 unique categories of potential sources of pollution. Rachael Miller, Expedition lead and Rozalia Project Founder, explained: "Unlike larger fragments of plastic, which may exhibit clear features that easily identify its original source, such as bottle cap ridges or a partial logo, this is generally very difficult for microparticles unless an analysis approach which fully characterizes the particle is used. "Identifying a specific type of item from which a microparticle came from e.g. pair of jeans, carpet, tyre or personal hygiene product increases the likelihood of discovering the mechanism for transport to the environment. That, in turn, increases opportunities to prevent a subset of microplastic pollution." The authors are now calling for reference databases of potential pollutants of waterways. PhD researcher Amy Osbourne specialises in forensic fibre analysis at Staffordshire University after progressing from the undergraduate degree in Forensic Investigation. She said: "We cannot confidently identify the sources of pollution without being able to cross reference samples against large, easily searched known provenance databases. Such databases are already used in forensic science when identifying sources of evidence found at crime scenes. "For example, we might begin with a database of all the different types of fishing nets or tarpaulins that we know are commonly used in areas like Long Island Sound." Professor Gwinnett added: "While more research is needed to fully understand microplastics concentrations and implications of this pollution, the very presence is enough to engage in solution development and solution-deployment."

As more people seek to go where no man has gone before, researchers are exploring how forensic science can be adapted to extraterrestrial environments. A new study highlights the behavior of blood in microgravity and the unique challenges of bloodstain pattern analysis aboard spacecraft. As more people seek to go where no man has gone before, researchers are exploring how forensic science can be adapted to extraterrestrial environments. A new study by Staffordshire University and the University of Hull highlights the behaviour of blood in microgravity and the unique challenges of bloodstain pattern analysis aboard spacecraft. Bloodstain expert Zack Kowalske is a Crime Scene Investigator based in Atlanta, USA, and led the study as part his PhD research at Staffordshire University. "Studying bloodstain patterns can provide valuable reconstructive information about a crime or accident. However, little is known about how liquid blood behaves in an altered gravity environment. This is an area of study that, while novel, has implications for forensic investigations in space," he commented. "Forensic science is more than just trying to solve crimes; it additionally has a role in accident reconstruction or failure analysis. With this concept, consider how various forensic disciplines could be utilized in a critical accident onboard a space station or shuttle." Experiments were conducted aboard a Zero Gravity Corporation modified Boeing 727 parabolic aircraft. A mixture of 40% glycerin and 60% red food colouring was used, simulating the relative density and viscosity of human blood. Blood droplets were propelled from a hydraulic syringe toward a target during periods of reduced gravity between 0.00 and 0.05 g. From these blood stains, the researchers reconstructed the angle of impact. Co-author Professor Graham Williams, from the University of Hull, explained: "With the lack of gravitational influence, surface tension and cohesion of blood droplets are amplified. What this means is that blood in space has a higher tendency to stick to surfaces until a greater force causes detachment. Within the application of bloodstain formation, it means that blood drops exhibit a slower spread rate and, therefore, have shapes and sizes that would not be reflective on Earth. "On Earth, gravity and air drag have a noticeable influence on skewing the calculated angle. The initial hypothesis was that because of the absence of gravity, certain mathematical calculations would be more accurate. However, the amplified effect of surface tension became a predominant factor that caused the calculation to have greater variance, even in the absence of gravity." This is the first study relating to the behavior of blood in free flight. With the rate of technological evolution in space exploration, the authors say that the need for reliable forensic science techniques will become increasingly important. Zack added: "We find ourselves in a new era of forensic science; just as mid-19th century research asked the question of what a bloodstain meant in relation to cause; we are once again at the beginning of new questions that tie in how new environments influence forensic science. "Astroforensics is a novel subdiscipline that is in its infancy. Broadening the understanding of all forensic sciences in non-terrestrial environments is critical as we expand into a space-faring species. Research is needed, research that spans across all disciplines."

Caffeine can have a negative impact on football players' decision-making skills, new research shows. A study has found that while consuming caffeine before a game can improve the accuracy of football passes, it can have an adverse effect on more tactical play involving a higher number of passes. Caffeine can have a negative impact on football players' decision-making skills, new research shows. A study by Staffordshire University and Shiraz University in Iran has found that while consuming caffeine before a game can improve the accuracy of football (soccer) passes, it can have an adverse effect on more tactical play involving a higher number of passes. Dr Pooya Soltani, Senior Lecturer in Games Technology at Staffordshire University, explained: "Caffeine is one of the most popular dietary supplements which has been shown to provide benefits during exercise, including football. Studies have shown that caffeine can enhance attention, accuracy, and speed, as well as self-reported measures of energy and mood. "However, the effects of caffeine on "higher" cognitive functions such as problem-solving and decision-making are often debated, so we decided to investigate this." Twelve young football players, aged between 16-17 years old, took part in a series of tasks to explore the impact of caffeine on decision-making and passing accuracy. Participants performed five short (10m) and five long (30m) passes, as well as the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test which assesses skills including passing, dribbling, control, and decision-making. The researchers then used a computer task to measure decision-making in different gameplay scenarios, with participants asked to determine the best outcome of ten simulated pre-recorded events. The participants completed the tasks once after taking 3 mg/kg body mass of caffeine and once after consuming similar amounts of placebo. The footballers were 1.67% more accurate in short passes and 13.48% more accurate in long passes when they consumed caffeine compared to the placebo. However, participants' decision-making was 7.14% lower and the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test scores were 3.49% lower when they consumed caffeine compared to the placebo. Negar Jafari, from Shiraz University, said: "While the short pass accuracy remained consistent among almost all participants before and after caffeine consumption, the performance varied in the case of long passes. Moreover, most of the participants scored lower on decision-making and the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test after consuming caffeine. This may suggest that more complex tasks with a higher number of passes might negatively be affected by low doses of caffeine ingested one hour before playing." The researchers, however, are not suggesting that footballers should avoid caffeine completely and recommend further research into its effects on decision-making in the game. "During a football match, players must process various cues such as opponents' positions, team organisation, and time pressure. Decision-making in passing is particularly important, where a well-executed pass can create scoring opportunities," Dr Soltani commented. "Our findings show that this can be affected by caffeine intake and coaches may find these performance metrics useful to explore in training. A number of parameters can be involved -- the dosage of caffeine relative to body weight, the frequency of caffeine intake and certain positions of the players or their playing styles. For example, a slight decrease in pass accuracy might be crucial for a midfielder but less impactful for a goalkeeper."