Memory and hypnosis: Implications for the use of forensic hypnosis.

I review arguments regarding hypnosis in forensic investigations, offer procedures of a nonhypnotic nature to enhance memory recall, and suggest guidelines for hypnosis in criminal cases. The effects of hypnosis on memory, as well as the concomitant dangers regarding those effects, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of infrared reflectance spectroscopy to the analysis of milk and dairy products

A method for the rapid, simultaneous determination of protein, fat, carbohydrate, non-protein nitrogen and total solids in milk and liquid dairy products by infrared reflectance spectroscopy is presented. The method is calibrated against known standards obtained by conventional, time-consuming wet chemical methods but, once calibrated, can be operated routinely by non-skilled personnel. The method is sensitive and accurate down to 0·5% w/v and can be applied to most liquid samples without any need for prior preparation.     

Damage Mechanisms and the Mechanical Properties of a Laminated 0/90 Ceramic/Matrix Composite

The tensile properties of a 0/90 laminated CAS matrix composite reinforced with Nicalon fibers have been measured. Some effects of notches have also been explored. Changes in modulus and permanent strain caused by matrix cracking have been measured and compared with available models. For this comparison, independent measurements have been made of the constituent properties and the residual stress. The ultimate tensile strength has also been measured and compared with a global load-sharing model. It is concluded that lower-bound matrix cracking models provide good predictability of the stresses at which various matrix cracking mechanisms first operate. Also, the ultimate tensile strength is found to be consistent with a global load-sharing model, based on the in situ strength properties of the fibers. Conversely, the evolution of matrix cracks at stresses above the lower bound has yet to be adequately modeled. In addition, a need is identified for improved models relating elastic properties and permanent strains to matrix crack spacing.     

Spin coating behavior of polyimide precursor solutions

Experimental data confirm the utility of the following simple equation in predicting the spin coating behavior of polyimide precursor solutions: in which .     

Aqueous gel permeation chromatography: The effect of solvent ionic strength

Porous glass packing materials have been used for gel permeation chromatography using an aqueous phosphate buffer. Elution volumes were determined for polystyrene sulfonates, dextrans, and small neutral and charged molecules at three different ionic strengths, viz., 0.01M, 0.1M, and 1.0M phosphate, pH 7.0. The pore diameters of the glasses studied were 75, 240, 700, and 2000 Å. Elution volumes of nonionic species were unaffected by changing the solvent ionic strength. Elution volumes of charged species were markedly affected by the ionic strength of the solvent. This was attributed to a combination of decreased polymer dimensions and decreased ionic exclusion with increasing buffer concentration. The use of low ionic strength solvents may be exploited to tailor the separating range for polyelectrolytes with porous glass packings. This is particularly useful in the low molecular weight range where the lowest pore size available is 75 Å.     

A wireless embedded tongue tactile biofeedback system for balance control

We describe the architecture of an original biofeedback system for balance improvement for fall prevention and present results of a feasibility study. The underlying principle of this biofeedback consists of providing supplementary information related to foot sole pressure distribution through a wireless embedded tongue-placed tactile output device.Twelve young healthy adults voluntarily participated in this experiment. They were asked to stand as immobile as possible with their eyes closed in two conditions of no-biofeedback and biofeedback. Centre of foot pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded using a force platform. Results showed reduced CoP displacements in the biofeedback relative to the no-biofeedback condition.On the whole, the present findings evidence the effectiveness of this system in improving postural control on young healthy adults. Further investigations are needed to strengthen the potential clinical value of this device.     

Evaluation of amplitude-based sorting algorithm to reduce lung tumor blurring in PET images using 4D NCAT phantom

PURPOSE: develop and validate a PET sorting algorithm based on the respiratory amplitude to correct for abnormal respiratory cycles. METHOD AND MATERIALS: using the 4D NCAT phantom model, 3D PET images were simulated in lung and other structures at different times within a respiratory cycle and noise was added. To validate the amplitude binning algorithm, NCAT phantom was used to simulate one case of five different respiratory periods and another case of five respiratory periods alone with five respiratory amplitudes. Comparison was performed for gated and un-gated images and for the new amplitude binning algorithm with the time binning algorithm by calculating the mean number of counts in the ROI (region of interest). RESULTS: an average of 8.87+/-5.10% improvement was reported for total 16 tumors with different tumor sizes and different T/B (tumor to background) ratios using the new sorting algorithm. As both the T/B ratio and tumor size decreases, image degradation due to respiration increases. The greater benefit for smaller diameter tumor and lower T/B ratio indicates a potential improvement in detecting more problematic tumors.