A comparison of the use of vacuum metal deposition versus cyanoacrylate fuming for visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on fabrics

Both vacuum metal deposition (VMD) and cyanoacrylate fuming (CAF) are techniques used to visualise latent fingermarks on smooth non-porous surfaces such as plastic and glass. VMD was initially investigated in the 1970s as to its effectiveness for visualising prints on fabrics, but was abandoned when radioactive sulphur dioxide was found to be more effective. However, interest in VMD was resurrected in the 1990s when CAF was also used routinely. We now report on studies to determine whether VMD or CAF is the more effective technique for the detection of marks on fabrics. Four different fabrics, nylon, polyester, polycotton and cotton, were utilised during this study, along with 15 donors who ranged in their age and ability to leave fingermarks, from good to medium to poor, thus reflecting the general population. Once samples were collected they were kept for a determined time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days) and then treated using either the gold and zinc metal VMD process or standard cyanoacrylate fuming.The smoother fabrics, such as nylon, consistently produced greater ridge detail whereas duller fabrics, like cotton tended only to show empty prints and impressions of where the fabric had been touched, rather than any ridge details. The majority of fabrics did however allow the development of touch marks that could be targeted for DNA taping which potentially could lead to a DNA profile. Of the two techniques VMD was around 5 times more effective than CAF, producing a greater amount of ridge detail, palmar flexion creases and target areas on more samples and fabrics

Prosedurele billikheid by ontslag weens wangedrag: Hoe “billik” moet ’n werkgewer wees?

Uit teks: In terme van die Grondwet het elkeen die reg op billike arbeidspraktyke. Die reg word in die Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge herhaal in die sin dat elkeen die reg het om nie onbillik ontslaan te word nie

Visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on fabrics. Part 1: gold/zinc vacuum metal deposition

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) is a highly sensitive technique originally introduced for detecting latent fingermarks on smooth non-porous surfaces such as carrier bags, plastics and glass. The current study explores whether VMD can be used in the examination of clothing from physical and sexual assault cases in order to visualise identifiable fingermark ridge detail and/or palmar flexion crease detail, thus allowing potential areas to be indicated for DNA swabbing and/or to determine the sequence of events. Four different fabrics were utilised during this study – nylon, polyester, polycotton and cotton, along with 15 donors who ranged in their age and propensity to leave fingermarks, from good to medium to poor as determined by results obtained from test runs using paper and plastic carrier bags processed with VMD. Once samples were collected they were kept for a determined time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days) and then treated using the gold/zinc metal VMD process. From the results, it appears that greater ridge detail is visible on the smoother non-porous fabrics, such as nylon whereas on rougher porous fabrics, such as cotton, only empty prints and impressions, rather than any ridge details, were visible. All fabrics did however allow the development of touch marks that could be targeted for DNA taping thus potentially leading to a DNA profile and possible identification of a suspect

Visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on dark fabrics using silver vacuum metal deposition

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) involves the thermal evaporation of metal (silver) in a vacuum, resulting in a uniform layer being deposited on the specimen being treated. This paper examines the use of silver on dark fabrics, thus offering a simpler operation and more obvious colouration to that of the traditional use of gold and zinc metals which must be evaporated separately. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fabric type, donor, mark age and method of fingermark deposition on the quality of marks visualised using silver VMD. This was achieved by collecting fingermark deposits from fifteen donors, of both sexes and various ages, by a grab or a press method. Four different fabrics: satin, polyester, polycotton and cotton were studied over a 10 day timeline of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 28 + days. It was found that satin and polyester gave the most positive results, with polyester often producing excellent ridge detail. Cotton and polycotton were less successful with no ridge detail being observed. The donors also had an observable effect on the results obtained probably due to variations in secretions produced or pressures applied during specimen collection. The age of the mark or the method of mark deposition had little influence on the results obtained. Silver VMD is a viable process for visualising marks on certain dark fabrics and has the advantage over gold/zinc VMD in that the marks visualised are light in colour which contrasts well against the dark background

Die predikant: dienaar van Godof net \'n gewone werknemer?

This article examines the nature of the relationship between the minister and his/her congregation in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Is the minister in the service of God, or is he/she in the service of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Synod of the relevant province concerned, or the Presbytery within which the congregation falls, or is he/she merely an employee of his congregation? The church ordinance is examined against the background of three relatively recent directional judgements of the courts, and a comparison is drawn between the Dutch Reformed Church and the Anglican Church. It is concluded that the minister is not only a servant of God, but also an employee in the service of the congregation.Acta Theologica Vol. 2 2007: pp. 63-9

Superlattice Magnetophonon Resonances in Strongly Coupled InAs/GaSb Superlattices

We report an experimental study of miniband magnetoconduction in semiconducting InAs/GaSb superlattices. For samples with miniband widths below the longitudinal optical phonon energy we identify a new superlattice magnetophonon resonance (SLMPR) caused by resonant scattering of electrons across the mini-Brillouin zone. This new resonant feature arises directly from the drift velocity characteristics of the superlattice dispersion and total magnetic quantisation of the superlattice Landau level minibands.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Inter-band magnetoplasmons in mono- and bi-layer graphene

Collective excitations spectrum of Dirac electrons in mono and bilayer graphene in the presence of a uniform magnetic field is investigated. Analytical results for inter-Landau band plasmon spectrum within the self-consistent-field approach are obtained. SdH type oscillations that are a monotonic function of the magnetic field are observed in the plasmon spectrum of both mono- and bi-layer graphene systems. The results presented are also compared with those obtained in conventional 2DEG. The chiral nature of the quasiparticles in mono and bilayer graphene system results in the observation of $\pi$ and $2\pi$ Berry's phase in the SdH- type oscillations in the plasmon spectrum.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Discussions on the relationships between meteorology and oceanography

G. E. R. DEACON: There must be some of you who, like me, did most of their seagoing 20 to 30 years ago and find it difficult to keep pace with the present urgency of introducing more precise reasoning into oceanography. This afternoon\u27s session dealing mainly with such precise arguments has not been easy to follow, and it is clear that there is much serious hard work ahead...