Why stop after 20 minutes? Breaks and target prevalence in a 60-minute X-ray baggage screening task

Current EU regulation restricts continuously reviewing X-ray images of passenger baggage to 20-min duration as a precautionary measure to prevent performance decrements in airport security officers (screeners). However, this 20-min limit is not based on clear empirical evidence on how well screeners can sustain their performance over time. Our study tested screeners in a 60-min simulated X-ray cabin baggage screening task. One group took 10-min breaks after 20 min of screening; the other group worked without breaks. We found no decrease in performance over 60 min in either group. Breaks did not affect performance, but they did reduce the amount of subjective distress. By varying target prevalence, we found that d_a with a slope of about 0.6 is a more valid measure of detection performance than d'. Target prevalence caused a criterion shift. Our results provide a basis for conducting field studies of prolonged screening durations, and open the discussion on whether more flexible break policies and work schedules should be considered.     

A novel proposal for all optical 3 to 8 decoder based on nonlinear ring resonators

In this paper, a 3 to 8 optical decoder was proposed using nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonators. For realizing the 3 to 8 decoder, we combined seven 1 to 2 optical decoders. In the proposed structure, X, Y and Z serve as input ports. By combination of these ports, one can control which output port to be ON. The maximum time delay of the proposed structure is about 6?ps.     

基因芯片法在食源性疾病中诊断效果及影响多因素Logistic分析研究

目的对比基因芯片法在食源性疾病诊断中的效果,并对影响多因素进行logistic分析。方法选择180例临床表现符合食源性疾病诊断标准的患者作为研究对象,随机均分为实验组和对照组各90例,对照组采用传统的常规培养检测方法,实验组采用基因芯片法进行检测,对比2种方法的检出率、检测耗时以及检测灵敏度。结果实验组的检出率和检测灵敏度均高于对照组的检出率和检测灵敏度,对照组的检测耗时大约是实验组检测耗时的8.24倍。结论相比常规方法,应用基因芯片法的诊断速度更快、准确率更高,在诊断食源性疾病中的应用效果更佳。通过对单因素的χ~2和t检验,确定对食源性疾病有直接影响的多个因素。对影响食源性疾病的多个因素进行Logistic分析,分析结果表明在本次研究分析中,影响较大的因素是人们的饮食卫生以及进食规律。     

Study of the Antioxidative Properties of Several Amino Acid-Type Surfactants and their Synergistic Effect in Mixed Micelle

Cysteine and methionine, two sulfur-containing amino acids (AA), were introduced in their surfactant forms as potential antioxidants. The antioxidative (AOX) properties of lauroyl methionine (C12-Met) and lauroyl cysteine (C12-Cys) was investigated by means of the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay. Both the surfactants exhibited excellent AOX behavior at the premicellar state and micellar medium. The AOX behavior was found to be comparable for both the surfactants at their premicellar states. However, in micellar medium, C12-Met showed better AOX property than C12-Cys. The AOX power of the surfactants was compared with other previously developed AA-type surfactants. The order of the AOX power was found to be: C12-tryptophan > C12-tyrosine ≈ C12-methionine ≈ C12-cysteine > C12-histidine at the premicellar state and C12-tryptophan > C12-tyrosine > C12-methionine > C12-cysteine > C12-histidine at the micellar state. C12-Cys displayed lower AOX property in micellar medium due to its dimer formation tendency. Based on the HPLC and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis, the dimer formation of C12-Cys was found to be accelerated due to the micellar environment and results into negative synergistic effect on other aromatic AA-type surfactants. However, the presence of C12-His in the micellar solution of C12-Cys resulted no synergistic effect due to stronger H-bonding between the surfactants and resulting less dimer formation.     

Inhibition effect of swelling characteristics of expansive soil using cohesive non-swelling soil layer under unidirectional seepage

Cohesive non-swelling soil (CNS) cushion technology is widely used to solve swelling deformation problems in expansive soil areas. However, the swelling inhibition mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, the inhibition effect on expansive soil using a CNS layer was studied by performing five types of laboratory model tests under unidirectional seepage. The results showed that CNS cushion technology produced a sound inhibition effect on the swelling characteristics of expansive soil. It was shown that the cations in the CNS layer moved downward and accumulated on the surface of solids and produced an electrical environment inside the expansive soil. In this process, the adsorbed hydrated cations participated in ion exchange with the expansive soil, leading to the modification effect on its swelling potential. Meanwhile, the adsorbed water membrane surrounding the expansive soil aggregates formed by the hydrated cations obstructed further adsorption of water molecules, which inhibited the swelling development of expansive soil. Therefore, the swelling inhibition mechanism can be attributed to three factors: (i) modification effect, (ii) electrical environment, and (iii) deadweight of the CNS layer. The combined contribution of modification effect and electrical environment can be considered as an electric charge effect, which mainly controls the swelling characteristics of expansive soil.     

Episodes of thoron exposure due to consumer products claiminghealth benefits of negative ions

In May 2018,the primetime news casted a shocking report saying that radon concentration on a certain model of bed mattress found to be as high as 2 200 Bq/m³.After a humble,the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission(NSSC) of Korea confirmed that significant amount of thoron gas is emanated from several mattress models marketed by a company claiming beneficial health effects of negative ions.Laboratory analysis showed that some internal fabric sheets of those mattresses contain high concentration of Th-232.It was revealed that the manufacture treated the material with so-called ‘negative ion powder’ procured from the market and NSSC found that its radioactive content is the monazite powder.Although measurements with reliable instruments resulted in somewhat lower values,the tentative but conservative estimates of doses to the users are still remarkable,ranging from a few to 14 mSv a year.Most of the affected models have been marketed from 2010 but earlier models,with lower thorium content,were supplied from 2006.As many as 88,000 mattresses have been produced.The manufacturer with help of the government,recalled all the affected models and separated the radioactive internals.A large amount of waste is waiting for the government decision on disposal method.Similar problems were identified in other consumer products including latex mattresses and pillows imported,hot pads,and several models of sanitary or health-aid goods.These episodes called for revisiting NORM control strategy in Korea.     

Effect of Mo on corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in air with NaCl–KCl–CaCl2 vapor at 570°C

The effect of Mo on the corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in an oxidizing chlorine-containing atmosphere using air mixed with the salt-vapor mixture of NaCl–KCl–CaCl₂ at 570°C was investigated. The results revealed that the corrosion performance of the Ni20Cr alloys in the oxidizing chlorine atmosphere was improved by Mo addition of up to 3 wt%. The Mo-free alloy formed a potassium chromate during corrosion as a result of the reaction between the Cr₂O₃ scale and KCl vapor. The chromate formation increased the chlorine potential at the scale surface and induced the breakdown of the protective Cr₂O₃ scale, resulting in internal chromium chloride precipitates and a Cr-depleted zone. In contrast, the presence of Mo resulted in the formation of a NiO scale, which did not react with the salt vapors and, therefore, prevented the formation of chromates. The beneficial effect of Mo on the high-temperature chlorination of Ni–Cr alloys in salt-vapor-containing atmospheres was ascribed to the suppression of chlorine generation due to NiO scale formation.     

Influence of salt concentration on solubility and tie-line data for the system: Formic acid + n-butanol + water

The tie-line and solubility data, i.e. formic acid (FA) + n-butanol + water + NaCl, were resolved at T = 298.15 K and under ambient pressure. The Othmer–Tobias equation was applied in this study. The experimental data were correlated and all linear correlation coefficients were found to be approximately equal to 1. Both the Universal Quasi-chemical Theory (UNIQUAC) and Nonrandom Two Liquid Theory (NRTL) and NRTL models were employed in order to compare the experimental liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) and tie-line data. Consequently, the calculated and experimental data proved to be a good fit. Results show that adding salt to the system proved beneficial by increasing the separation of FA from water.     

Nitrogen-doped graphene-supported zinc sulfide nanorods as efficient Pt-free for visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production

Nitrogen-doped graphene-ZnS composite (NG-ZnS) was synthesized by thermal treatment of graphene-ZnS composite (G-ZnS) in NH₃ medium. In the second step, the as-synthesized samples were deposited on indium tin oxide glass (ITO) by electrophoretic deposition for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. The as-prepared NG-ZnS-modified ITO electrode displayed excellent photocatalytic activity, rapid transient photocurrent response, superior stability and high recyclability compared to the pure ZnS and G-ZnS-modified ITO electrode due to the synergy between the photocatalytic activity of ZnS nanorods and the large surface area and high conductivity of N-graphene.     

碎软煤层条带瓦斯地面高效抽采技术研究

为了提高碎软煤层条带瓦斯抽采效率和效果,基于目前地面瓦斯抽采主要采用垂直井或从式井的方式抽采效果差、效率低的现状,通过理论和实验分析论证了穿岩层压裂改造煤储层的可行性,提出了在目标煤层顶板岩层中钻水平井,并通过垂直向下射孔以及采用泵送桥塞分段进行压裂的方式进行地面瓦斯抽采。试验结果表明:顶板分段压裂水平井单井产量高、高稳产期更长、产量衰减更慢;有效水平井段控制区域内瓦斯下降均匀,更有利于进行条带瓦斯抽采;相同投资条件下,采用水平井的方式瓦斯抽采效率和投入产出比更高。