Eyewitness Identification Accuracy and Response Latency: The Unruly 10-12-Second Rule.

Data are reported from 3,213 research eyewitnesses confirming that accurate eyewitness identifications from lineups are made faster than are inaccurate identifications. However, consistent with predictions from the recognition and search literatures, the authors did not find support for the "10-12-s rule" in which lineup identifications faster than 10-12 s maximally discriminate between accurate and inaccurate identifications (D. Dunning & S. Perretta, 2002). Instead, the time frame that proved most discriminating was highly variable across experiments, ranging from 5 s to 29 s, and the maximally discriminating time was often unimpressive in its ability to sort accurate from inaccurate identifications. The authors suggest several factors that are likely to moderate the 10-12-s rule. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electron energy loss spectroscopy for analysis of inhaled ultrafine particles in rat lungs

Epidemiologic studies have associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with ambient particulate air pollution. Particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter (ultrafine particles) are present in the urban atmosphere in very high numbers yet at very low mass concentration. Organs beyond the lungs are considered as targets for inhaled ultrafine particles, whereby the route of particle translocation deeper into the lungs is unclear. Five rats were exposed to aerosols of ultrafine titanium dioxide particles of a count median diameter of 22 nm (geometric standard deviation, GSD 1.7) for 1 hour. The lungs were fixed by intravascular perfusion of fixatives immediately thereafter. TiO(2) particles in probes of the aerosol as well as in systematic tissue samples were analyzed with a LEO 912 transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy filter for elemental microanalysis. The characteristic energy loss spectra were obtained by fast spectrum acquisition. Aerosol particles as well as those in the lung tissue were unambiguously identified by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Particles were mainly found as small clusters with a rounded shape. Seven percent of the particles in the lung tissue had a needle-like shape. The size distribution of the cluster profiles in the tissue had a count median diameter of 29 nm (GSD 1.7), which indicates no severe clustering or reshaping of the originally inhaled particles. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and related analytical methods were found to be suitable to identify and localize ultrafine titanium dioxide particles within chemically fixed and resin-embedded lung tissue.     

Plasma folate levels are associated with the lipoprotein profile: a retrospective database analysis

Background

Several studies demonstrated an association of homocysteine plasma levels and the plasma lipoprotein profile. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed at analyzing whether blood levels of the two important cofactors of homocysteine metabolism, folate and vitamin B12, coincide with the lipoprotein profile.

Methods

In a retrospective single center approach, we analyzed the laboratory database (2003-2006) of the University Hospital Bonn, Germany, including 1743 individuals, in whom vitamin B12, folate and at least one lipoprotein parameter had been determined by linear multilogistic regression.

Results

Higher folate serum levels were associated with lower serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; Beta = -0.164; p < 0.001), higher levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; Beta = 0.094; p = 0.021 for trend) and a lower LDL-C-C/HDL-C-ratio (Beta = -0.210; p < 0.001). Using ANOVA, we additionally compared the individuals of the highest with those of the lowest quartile of folate. Individuals of the highest folate quartile had higher levels of HDL-C (1.42 ± 0.44 mmol/l vs. 1.26 ± 0.47 mmol/l; p = 0.005), lower levels of LDL-C (3.21 ± 1.04 mmol/l vs. 3.67 ± 1.10 mmol/l; p = 0.001) and a lower LDL-C/HDL-C- ratio (2.47 ± 1.18 vs. 3.77 ± 5.29; p = 0.002). Vitamin B12 was not associated with the lipoprotein profile.

Conclusion

In our study sample, high folate levels were associated with a favorable lipoprotein profile. A reconfirmation of these results in a different study population with a well defined status of health, diet and medication is warranted.     

Thermal deformations of cutting tools: measurement and numerical simulation

Challenges for machining include greater and greater material removal rates coupled with an increase in the use of difficult to machine materials, as well as environmental-friendly dry or minimum quantity lubrication machining, small manufacturing batches and frequently changed manufacturing orders. These trends are accompanied by high temperatures in the machining process and large, variable heat flows causing thermo-elastic displacements of the tool, the workpiece and the clamping devices. Although the displacements are small, in the range of a few micrometers, they have assumed more and more importance because of growing requirements for manufacturing accuracy. Thermo-elastic displacements of the tool due to heat flow during machining are investigated and analysed in this paper. Temperatures and displacements are measured on a test bed equipped with measuring instruments. The identification of the thermal boundary and contact conditions is supported by finite element models. Knowledge of the heat flows resulting from the machining process is a prerequisite for control of and compensation for displacements. Since these heat flows either cannot be measured or can only be measured with enormous effort, heat flows are determined by means of numerical simulation of the machining process itself. This strategy has been previously used as a systematic approach for turning in orthogonal cutting conditions. However, further investigations are needed for oblique turning conditions, milling and drilling operations.     

Estimating an Endogenous Growth Model with Public Capital and Government Borrowing: U.S. and Germany 1960–1995

The paper presents and estimates an endogenous growth model with publiccapital and government borrowing. Government behavior (tax rates, spending andborrowing) does not follow optimizing rules but is restricted by two fiscalregimes (rules). In the strict fiscal regime government borrowing is used forpublic investment only. In the less strict regime it can also be used forpublic investment and to a certain degree for the debt service. The growthrate differs in our model variants according to which rule is adopted.Moreover, the growth maximizing income tax rate is different from zero. Forthe two relevant fiscal regimes, which correspond roughly to the cases of theU.S. and Germany, the model is estimated by employing time series data from1960.4 to 1992.1 and 1966.1 to 1995.1 respectively. The results suggest anexplanation for the different time paths of economic variables in the Americanand German economies in the post-war period.     

Acetaldehydbildung im Verlauf der G?rung in Abh?ngigkeit vom Wuchsstoffgehalt des G?rsubstrates I. Mitteilung

Zusammenfasmng In einem Literaturüberblick wird zunächst über die gesundheitliche Bedenklichkeit der schwefligen Säure im Wein berichtet. Sic wird dem Wein zugesetzt, um Acetaldehyd zu binden, der, wenn er in freier Form vorliegt, dem Wein einen unangenehmen Luftgeschmack verleiht. Der Acetaldehyd ist aus diesem Grunde die Ursache für den mehr oder weniger hohen SO₂-Bedarf von Weinen.

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Formation of Acetaldehyde during Fermentation in Relation to Contents of Growth Substance in the Fermentation Substrate

Summary In experiments with natural and synthetic substrates it is demonstrated that fermentation varied, depending on the presence of growth substances. High concentrations of pyruvic acid indicated a growth substance deficiency; addition of vitamins influenced the metabolism of fermentation in a similar way as the other biological substances. The formation of fermentation by-products was also influenced by growth substances.

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Semmler, G.: Auszüge aus der im Fach Lebensmitteltechnologie angefertigten Dissertation an der Justus-Liebig-Universität in Gießen.     

Interventional magnetic resonance imaging: an alternative to image guidance with ionising radiation

At present, interventional procedures, such as stent placement, are performed under X-ray image guidance. Unfortunately with X-ray imaging, both patient and interventionalist are exposed to ionising radiation. Furthermore, X-ray imaging is lacking soft tissue contrast and is not capable of true 3-D displays of either interventional device or tissue morphology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers excellent soft tissue contrast, 3-D acquisition techniques, as well as rapid image acquisition and reconstruction. Despite these advantages, MR-guided interventions are challenging owing to the limited access to the patient, strong magnetic and radio-frequency fields that require special interventional devices, inferior image frame rates and spatial resolution, and high MRI scanner noise. For MR-guided intravascular interventions, where access to the target organ is achieved through catheters, dedicated hardware and automated image slice positioning techniques have been developed. We illustrate that MR-guided renal embolisations can be performed in closed-bore high-field MR scanners.     

An MR-compatible stereoscopic in-room 3D display for MR-guided interventions

Background and methods

A commercial three-dimensional (3D) monitor was modified for use inside the scanner room to provide stereoscopic real-time visualization during magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventions, and tested in a catheter-tracking phantom experiment at 1.5 T. Brightness, uniformity, radio frequency (RF) emissions and MR image interferences were measured.

Results and discussion

Due to modifications, the center luminance of the 3D monitor was reduced by 14 %, and the addition of a Faraday shield further reduced the remaining luminance by 31 %. RF emissions could be effectively shielded; only a minor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) decrease of 4.6 % was observed during imaging. During the tracking experiment, the 3D orientation of the catheter and vessel structures in the phantom could be visualized stereoscopically.     

MR safety: simultaneous B 0, d��/dt, and dB/dt measurements on MR-workers up to 7 T

Object

The EU directive on safety requirements (2004/40/EC) limits the exposure to time varying magnetic fields to dB /dt = 200 mT/s. This action value is not clearly defined as it considers only the temporal change of the magnitude of ${\vec {B}}$ . Thus, only the translational motion in the magnet??s fringe field is considered and rotations are neglected.

Materials and methods

A magnetic field probe was constructed to simultaneously record the magnetic flux density ${\vec{B}}$ (x, y, z) with a 3-axis Hall sensor and the induced voltage due to movements with a set of three orthogonal coils. Voltages were converted into time-varying magnetic flux d ??(x, y, z)/dt serving as an exposition parameter for both translations and rotations. To separate the two types of motion, d B/dt was additionally calculated on the basis of the Hall sensor??s data. The calibrated probe was attached to the forehead of 8 healthcare workers and 17 MR physicists, and ${\vec {B}}$ and d??/dt were recorded during standard operating procedures at three different MR systems up to 7 T.

Results

The maximum percentage of the translational motion referring the data including both translations and rotations amounts to 32%. During volunteer measurements, maximum exposure values of d??/dt = 21 mWb/s, dB/dt = 1.40 T/s and ${\left| {\vec {B}}\right|= 2.75}$ Twere found.

Conclusion

The findings in this work indicate that both translations and rotations in the vicinity of an MR system should be taken into account, and that a single regulatory action level might not be sufficient.     

Real-time MR navigation and localization of an intravascular catheter with ferromagnetic components

Object  

To develop an intravascular catheter with ferromagnetic components that is navigated with MR gradient forces and imaged with dedicated MR sequences in real time.