Cocaine surface contamination and the medico-legal implications of its transfer

AbstractThe question posed by this research involves how frequently one can expect to contact cocaine in day-to-day living experiences where drug use may not normally be suspected. Issues concerning contamination are germane to medico-legal investigators who evaluate the significance of drug test results in (1) questioned deaths, (2) public health concerns, (3) drugs crimes, and (4) drug use toxicological tests potentially caused by external contamination, such as hair, sweat, and skin swabs. Previous surface studies focus mainly on currency drug contamination; few have addressed other common surfaces.Public surfaces handled by a large number of people, such as building entrance door handles, bank currency dispensing machines, food store shopping carts, and service station fuel pumps within the New Haven, Connecticut metropolitan area were tested. Socio-economically, the distribution of items tested ranged from working-class to upper-middle class areas. Results were obtained using the Securetec Drugwipe II® which is an immunological, on-site test device. Precautions were taken to avoid carry-over and other potential contamination from handling including single-use latex gloves which were pre-tested as a negative control immediately before swabbing. Analysis was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and in the laboratory to standardize conditions. Drugwipe II® limit of detection (LOD) is ∼50ng.Test results revealed 78% positive for cocaine substances as follows: fuel pump buttons for credit card authorization, 100% positive (n=10 individual locations); ATM machines for currency withdrawal, 100% positive (n=10 individual locations); grocery store shopping carts, 70% positive; academic building entrance doors, 30% positive (n=10); and shopping mall entrance/exit doors, 100% positive (n=5).Forensic scientists and medico-legal investigators responsible for interpreting surface test results are cautioned to consider contamination before ascribing drug activity to a specific individual. For legal proceedings these results are indicative but not conclusive because immunological tests are considered presumptive and may react with the parent substance (cocaine), related compounds (benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, ecgonine, nor-ecgonine, and cocaethylene) and immunologically similar materials

Current and Future Applications of Multispectral (RGB) Satellite Imagery for Weather Analysis and Forecasting Applications

Current and future satellite sensors provide remotely sensed quantities from a variety of wavelengths ranging from the visible to the passive microwave, from both geostationary and low ]Earth orbits. The NASA Short ]term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has a long history of providing multispectral imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA fs Terra and Aqua satellites in support of NWS forecast office activities. Products from MODIS have recently been extended to include a broader suite of multispectral imagery similar to those developed by EUMETSAT, based upon the spectral channels available from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard METEOSAT ]9. This broader suite includes products that discriminate between air mass types associated with synoptic ]scale features, assists in the identification of dust, and improves upon paired channel difference detection of fog and low cloud events. Future instruments will continue the availability of these products and also expand upon current capabilities. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on GOES ]R will improve the spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution of our current geostationary capabilities, and the recent launch of the Suomi National Polar ]Orbiting Partnership (S ]NPP) carries instruments such as the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Cross ]track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), which have unrivaled spectral and spatial resolution, as precursors to the JPSS era (i.e., the next generation of polar orbiting satellites. New applications from VIIRS extend multispectral composites available from MODIS and SEVIRI while adding new capabilities through incorporation of additional CrIS channels or information from the Near Constant Contrast or gDay ]Night Band h, which provides moonlit reflectance from clouds and detection of fires or city lights. This presentation will present a review of SPoRT, CIRA, and NRL collaborations regarding multispectral satellite imagery and recent applications within the operational forecasting environmen

The Use of NASA near Real-time and Archived Satellite Data to Support Disaster Assessment

With support from a NASA's Applied Sciences Program, The Shortterm Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has explored a variety of techniques for utilizing archived and near realtime NASA satellite data to support disaster assessment activities. MODIS data from the NASA Land Atmosphere Near Realtime Capability for EOS currently provides true color and other imagery for assessment and potential applications including, but not limited to, flooding, fires, and tornadoes. In May 2013, the SPoRT Center developed unique power outage composites using the VIIRS Day/Night Band to represent the first clear sky view of damage inflicted upon Moore and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma following the devastating EF5 tornado that occurred on May 20. Preevent imagery provided by the NASA funded WebEnabled Landsat Data project offer a basis of comparison for monitoring post-disaster recovery efforts. Techniques have also been developed to generate products from higher resolution imagery from the recently available International Space Station SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System instrument. Of paramount importance is to deliver these products to end users expeditiously and in formats compatible with Decision Support Systems (DSS). Delivery techniques include a Tile Map Service (TMS) and a Web Mapping Service (WMS). These mechanisms allow easy integration of satellite products into DSS's, including the National Weather Service's Damage Assessment Toolkit for use by personnel conducting damage surveys. This poster will present an overview of the developed techniques and products and compare the strengths and weaknesses of the TMS and WMS

Upper Atmospheric Monitoring for Ares I-X Ascent Loads and Trajectory Evaluation on the Day-of-Launch

During the launch countdown of the Ares I-X test vehicle, engineers from Langley Research Center will use profiles of atmospheric density and winds in evaluating vehicle ascent loads and controllability. A schedule for the release of balloons to measure atmospheric density and winds has been developed by the Natural Environments Branch at Marshall Space Flight Center to help ensure timely evaluation of the vehicle ascent loads and controllability parameters and support a successful launch of the Ares I-X vehicle

Current and Future Applications of Multispectral (RGB) Satellite Imagery for Weather Analysis and Forecasting

No abstract availabl

Homework and Study Skills: Strategies for Improvement.

This practicum was designed to improve the homework-study skills routines of elementary students. This was to be done by educating the parent group. In-servicing staff members and providing materials and workshops for students. One goal of the program was to reduce the number of students attending homework sessions. A second goal was to plan evening workshops for parents and provide materials for use at home. The writer met regularly with staff members to disseminate information dealing with the two major practicum areas. Home and School Information Devices we sent home regularly with students and four formal evening sessions for parents were held. Students experiencing difficulties in study and homework areas met with the writer to discuss strategies for improvement. Materials for addressing study skills were purchased by the district and distributed to staff and students. The results of the practicum were positive. Parental involvement was consistently high while staff input added a great deal to the accomplishments of the five objectives. Home and school worked cooperatively in bring attention and improvement to the two areas of the practicum

AWIPS II Application Development, a SPoRT Perspective

The National Weather Service (NWS) is deploying its nextgeneration decision support system, called AWIPS II (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System II). NASA's Shortterm Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed several software 'plugins' to extend the capabilities of AWIPS II. SPoRT aims to continue its mission of improving shortterm forecasts by providing NASA and NOAA products on the decision support system used at NWS weather forecast offices (WFOs). These products are not included in the standard Satellite Broadcast Network feed provided to WFOs. SPoRT has had success in providing support to WFOs as they have transitioned to AWIPS II. Specific examples of transitioning SPoRT plugins to WFOs with newly deployed AWIPS II systems will be presented. Proving Ground activities (GOESR and JPSS) will dominate SPoRT's future AWIPS II activities, including tool development as well as enhancements to existing products. In early 2012 SPoRT initiated the Experimental Product Development Team, a group of AWIPS II developers from several institutions supporting NWS forecasters with innovative products. The results of the team's spring and fall 2013 meeting will be presented. Since AWIPS II developers now include employees at WFOs, as well as many other institutions related to weather forecasting, the NWS has dealt with a multitude of software governance issues related to the difficulties of multiple remotely collaborating software developers. This presentation will provide additional examples of ResearchtoOperations plugins, as well as an update on how governance issues are being handled in the AWIPS II developer community

Teacher gender diversity : Uncovering a hidden curriculum of masculinities

Shortages of male schoolteachers have ignited debates in several countries about whether or not men are important for the education of children. Such debates depict male teachers in contradictory ways, for example, as role models or potential paedophiles. Accordingly, men who choose to work as teachers face social pressures to adhere to dominant forms of masculinity—restricting children’s observations of masculinities and raising questions about what students inadvertently learn about masculinity in settings where male teachers are under-represented. Drawing upon research and scholarly work from several disciplines, this chapter identifies socio-economic conditions that limit male participation and portray teaching as an occupation better suited to women than men. The chapter then examines the potential impacts of teacher gender diversity, or the lack of diversity, on children, schools and societies to illuminate the unintended teachings of masculinity that may be transmitted through schooling

Applications and Assessments of Multi-Spectral VIIRS and MODIS Products in NWS Operational Forecasting Environments

No abstract availabl