The intoxicated witness: Effects of alcohol on identification accuracy from showups.

The effect of alcohol on identification accuracy is potentially an important topic. This study examined the effects of alcohol consumption on identification accuracy from showups, the identification procedure most likely to be used by police with intoxicated witnesses. The blood alcohol level of people exposed to a target was measured. In the target-present showup condition, blood alcohol level was not significantly related to correct identification rate. In the target-absent showup condition, the higher the blood alcohol level, the more people were likely to make a false identification. Implications for law enforcement and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

灵活的破碎锤

山特维克正在研发新一代中型液压破碎锤,其中第1台BR 2155已经在2008年的ConExpo博览会上展出,而第2台BR 2577则马上就会投入市场。Lindsay Gale的报道介绍了新型破碎锤和公司的新理念。     

Synthesis and Degradation of Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD)

The synthesis and decomposition of hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) were studied. Mechanisms were proposed based on isotopic labeling and mass spectral interpretation of both condensed phase products and head‐space products. Formation of HMTD from hexamine appeared to proceed from dissociated hexamine as evident from scrambling of the ¹⁵N label when synthesis was carried out with equal molar labeled/unlabeled hexamine. Decomposition of HMTD was considered with additives and in the presence and absence of moisture. In addition to mass spectral interpretation, density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate energy differences of transition states and the entropies of intermediates along different possible decomposition pathways. HMTD is destabilized by water and citric acid making purification following initial synthesis essential in order to avoid unanticipated violent reaction.     

Technologies and the development of the Automated Metadata Indexing and Analysis (AMIA) system

The Automated Metadata Indexing and Analysis (AMIA) project aims to provide an effective digital asset management (DAM) tool for large digital asset databases. We began with text-based indexing since it is still the most reliable approach as compared with other content-based media features. AMIA not only searches for the text of the file name, but also utilizes embedded information such as the metadata in Maya files. The AMIA system builds a linked map between all dependency files. We present an approach of preserving previously established metadata created by the old DAM tools, such as AlienBrain, and integrating them into the new system. Findings indicate that AMIA has significantly improved search performance comparing to previous DAM tools. Finally, the ongoing and future work in the AMIA project is described.     

Stabilized Magnesium/Perfluoropolyether Nanocomposite Films by Helium Droplet Cluster Assembly

The production of stable, pre‐reactive, nanocomposite mixtures of magnesium and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) has been achieved through the application of helium droplet cluster assembly. The nanocomposite films presented in this work demonstrated clear thermal desorption features that indicate the formation of an MgF₂ passivation layer between unreacted magnesium cores and PFPE shells upon heating. Additional heating resulted in the later rupture of the MgF₂ layer and release of trapped magnesium. The passivation behavior occurred only after deposition with the input of thermal energy, demonstrating the ability of helium droplets to assemble and deposit clusters in a pre‐reactive state.     

Comparative study of Ni-silicide and Co-silicide for sub 0.25-μm technologies

In this work, the phase formation is compared for Ni- and Co-silicidation with and without Ti cap. In addition, the electrical performance of Ni-silicidation with and without Ti-cap is investigated and compared to the performance of a Co-silicidation process with a Ti cap that has the same Si consumption. The lateral confinement of the silicide in the active areas is also studied.     

Loss of nitrogen from urea applied to rainfed wheat in varying rainfall zones in northern Syria

Fertilizer-applied Nitrogen (N) may be lost from the soil by various mechanisms, i.e., runoff, leaching, denitrification, and volatilization. The latter process is of primary concern in calcareous soils of arid and semi-arid regions, especially when urea is used. In this field study from northern Syria, urea alone, urea with either an incorporated urease inhibitor, phenylphosphorodiamidate, or an experimental bran-wax coating were evaluated on wheat for two cropping seasons at two experimental stations with varying average seasonal rainfall (340 mm, 270 mm). Loss of N was assessed with ¹⁵N by mass balance, i.e., the amount of N applied minus the crop N uptake and N remaining in the soil. Crop yields and N uptake were related to seasonal rainfall. Losses of N, apparently as volatilized NH₃, were relatively low at both sites, i.e., 11–18%. However, compared to the unmodified urea, neither the incorporated urease inhibitor nor the bran-wax coating had any effect on yields, N uptake or N loss. While urea hydrolysis is normally rapid, it may be delayed by dry conditions at the soil surface; similarly, unusually cold periods may delay nitrification following hydrolysis. Thus, under the cool-season conditions of rainfed cropping in the Middle East, efficient use of urea is not likely to be achieved by modification of the urea but by conventional management practices that ensure pre-plant soil incorporation or topdressing during early spring rains.     

Different responses of planktonic and attached Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens to sanitizer treatment.

Three commercial sanitizers containing iodophor (I), peracetic acid/ hydrogen peroxide (PAH), or chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) were evaluated in vitro against planktonic and sessile Bacillus subtilis or Pseudomonas fluorescens cells grown in Standard One Nutrient Broth. Sessile cells were attached to stainless steel or polyurethane test surfaces. Planktonic and attached cells of both bacteria were enumerated by plate counts after sanitizer treatment for 1, 3, or 5 min. Sessile cells were dislodged from test surfaces by shaking them with beads. Cell morphologies were monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Attached B. subtilis and P. fluorescens cells on both surface types were less susceptible to all three sanitizers than their planktonic counterparts. PAH, I, and CG were equally effective against planktonic P. fluorescens cells, which were reduced by 99.999% after 1, 3, and 5 min exposure. PAH was the only sanitizer effective against attached P. fluorescens cells on both surface types; it reduced counts by < or = 99.9% after 1, 3, and 5 min exposure. PAH was also the most effective sanitizer against planktonic B. subtilis cells, reducing counts by 99.9% after 1, 3, and 5 min. Sessile B. subtilis cells on both surface types were the least susceptible to all sanitizers; counts were reduced by only 99.5% or less after exposure to PAH for 5 min. SEM revealed that planktonic and attached cells of both bacteria exhibited symptoms of surface roughness, indentations, and shape distortions after treatment with any of the sanitizers.