Nano-scale analysis of titanium dioxide fingerprint-development powders

Titanium dioxide based powders are regularly used in the development of latent fingerprints on dark surfaces. For analysis of prints on adhesive tapes, the titanium dioxide is suspended in a surfactant and used in the form of a small particle reagent (SPR). Analysis of commercially available products shows varying levels of effectiveness of print development, with some powders adhering to the background as well as the print. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of prints developed with different powders show a range of levels of aggregation of particles. Analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the fingerprint powder shows TiO2 particles with a surrounding coating, tens of nanometres thick, consisting of Al and Si rich material. X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to determine the composition and chemical state of the surface of the powders; with a penetration depth of approximately 10nm, this technique demonstrates differing Ti: Al: Si ratios and oxidation states between the surfaces of different powders. Levels of titanium detected with this technique demonstrate variation in the integrity of the surface coating. The thickness, integrity and composition of the Al/Si-based coating is related to the level of aggregation of TiO2 particles and efficacy of print development

Cost effective development of a national test bed

For several years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has pursued the coordinated development of a Large Space Structures (LSS) National Test Bed for the investigation of numerous technical issues involved in the use of LSS in space. The origins of this development, the current status of the various test facilities and the plans laid down for the next five years' activities are described. Particular emphasis on the control and structural interaction issues has been paid so far; however, immediately emerging are user applications (such as the proposed pinhole occulter facility). In the immediate future, such emerging technologies as smart robots and multibody interactions will be studied. These areas are covered

Perceived Racial Discrimination and Nonadherence to Screening Mammography

Objective. We examined whether African American women were as likely as White women to receive the results of a recent mammogram and to self-report results that matched the mammography radiology report (i.e., were adequately communicated). We also sought to determine whether the adequacy of communication was the same for normal and abnormal results. Methods. From a prospective cohort study of mammography screening, we compared self-reported mammogram results, which were collected by telephone interview, to results listed in the radiology record of 411 African American and 734 White women who underwent screening in 5 hospital-based facilities in Connecticut between October 1996 and January 1998. Using multivariate logistic regression, we identified independent predictors of inadequate communication of mammography results. Results. It was significantly more common for African American women to experience inadequate communication of screening mammography results compared with White women, after adjustment for sociodemographic, access-to-care, biomedical, and psychosocial factors. Abnormal mammogram results resulted in inadequate communication for African American women but not White women (PAfrican American women may not be receiving the full benefit of screening mammograms because of inadequate communication of results, particularly when mammography results are abnormal

Localisation for a line defect in an infinite square lattice

Localised defect modes generated by a finite line defect composed of several masses, embedded an infinite square cell lattice, are analysed using the linear superposition of Green's function for a single mass defect. Several representations of the lattice Green's function are presented and discussed. The problem is reduced to an eigenvalue system and the properties of the corresponding matrix are examined in detail to yield information regarding the number of symmetric and skew-symmetric modes. Asymptotic expansions in the far field, associated with long wavelength homogenisation are presented. Asymptotic expressions for Green's function in the vicinity of the band edge are also discussed. Several examples are presented where eigenfrequencies linked to this system and the corresponding eigenmodes are computed for various defects and compared with the asymptotic expansions. The case of an infinite defect is also considered and an explicit dispersion relation is obtained. For the case when the number of masses within the line defect is large, it is shown that the range of the eigenfrequencies can be predicted using the dispersion diagram for the infinite chain

Adequacy of Communicating Results From Screening Mammograms to African American and White Women

Objective. We examined whether African American women were as likely as White women to receive the results of a recent mammogram and to self-report results that matched the mammography radiology report (i.e., were adequately communicated). We also sought to determine whether the adequacy of communication was the same for normal and abnormal results. Methods. From a prospective cohort study of mammography screening, we compared self-reported mammogram results, which were collected by telephone interview, to results listed in the radiology record of 411 African American and 734 White women who underwent screening in 5 hospital-based facilities in Connecticut between October 1996 and January 1998. Using multivariate logistic regression, we identified independent predictors of inadequate communication of mammography results. Results. It was significantly more common for African American women to experience inadequate communication of screening mammography results compared with White women, after adjustment for sociodemographic, access-to-care, biomedical, and psychosocial factors. Abnormal mammogram results resulted in inadequate communication for African American women but not White women (P\u3c.001). Conclusions. African American women may not be receiving the full benefit of screening mammograms because of inadequate communication of results, particularly when mammography results are abnormal

Emulating a flexible space structure: Modeling

Control Dynamics, in conjunction with Marshall Space Flight Center, has participated in the modeling and testing of Flexible Space Structures. Through the series of configurations tested and the many techniques used for collecting, analyzing, and modeling the data, many valuable insights have been gained and important lessons learned. This paper discusses the background of the Large Space Structure program, Control Dynamics' involvement in testing and modeling of the configurations (especially the Active Control Technique Evaluation for Spacecraft (ACES) configuration), the results from these two processes, and insights gained from this work

Networks and marketing in small professional service businesses

Purpose – This paper investigates the link between networks and marketing and discusses the extent to which small professional service businesses use their networks for marketing activities. Both the structural and relational components of networks are considered to better understand what networks are and how they operate. Design/methodology/approach – The literature review identifies key elements of professional service businesses, networks and marketing activities. The primary research is qualitative by design and exploratory in nature. Data were collected from five small management consultancy businesses through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Findings - The study finds that small professional service businesses lack the business/marketing language to articulate their approaches and values. They are increasingly relying on collaboration to deliver changing services. Findings show that ‘core groups’ are highly significant in the structure of their networks. Furthermore, while most connections are work related, networks are not strategically motivated. Linkages are strong and motivations to network and networking activities are both short and long term. Generating work and developing lasting collaborative relationships is based on similar values and interests. Originality/value – The study offers insight and practical understanding on the relations that small businesses have with their networks. It also builds and adds value to the theory of network and networking in both the small business field and professional services related industry

Three-Dimensional Integrable Models and Associated Tangle Invariants

In this paper we show that the Boltzmann weights of the three-dimensional Baxter-Bazhanov model give representations of the braid group, if some suitable spectral limits are taken. In the trigonometric case we classify all possible spectral limits which produce braid group representations. Furthermore we prove that for some of them we get cyclotomic invariants of links and for others we obtain tangle invariants generalizing the cyclotomic ones.Comment: Number of pages: 21, Latex fil