Eye Tracking to Evaluate Proficiency of Crime Scene Investigators with Varying Levels of Expertise: The Ability to Recognize Evidence and Understand its Significance

Crime scene analysts are the core of criminal investigations; decisions made at the scene greatly affect the speed of analysis and quality of conclusions that directly impact the successful resolution of a case. If an examiner does not recognize the pertinence of an item on scene, it cannot be used to support his or her theory regarding the crime. Conversely, unselective evidence collection will include irrelevant material, thus increasing a forensic laboratory\u27s backlog and sending the investigation into an unproductive and costly direction. Therefore, it is critical that analysts recognize and properly evaluate forensic evidence that can support or disprove hypotheses and accurately reconstruct events. With this in mind, the aim of the study was to determine if quantitative eye tracking data and qualitative observations could be used to distinguish investigator expertise. In order to assess this, 32 participants were recruited and categorized as experts or trained novices based on their educational and practical backgrounds. Each volunteer then processed a mock crime scene while wearing a mobile eye tracker, wherein visual fixations, duration, search patterns and qualitative reconstruction accuracy were evaluated. Quantitative eye tracking data were compared using pursuit percentage on areas of interest (AOIs), Earth Mover\u27s Distance (EMD) and the Needleman-Wunsch (N-W) algorithm. Results indicate significant group differences (Mann-Whitney U test, alpha = 0:05) for two out of 14 AOIs selected for analysis in this study. In addition, significant group differences were also detected for both search duration on specific AOIs (EMD), as well as search sequence (N-W), wherein experts exhibited more dissimilar search durations, but more similar search sequences than their novice counterparts (with possible implications regarding hypothesis-based scene reconstruction). Finally, hierarchical and k-means clustering based on multivariate AOIs suggest that latent variables may be present, which is the topic of future research. In addition to the quantitative visual comparisons, each participant\u27s reconstruction skill was assessed using a 22-point binary system. Significant group difference (Mann-Whitney U test, alpha = 0:05) was detected as a function of total reconstruction accuracy. However, the total number of cases processed does not correlate linearly (or well) with total reconstruction score. Equally of interest was the fact that canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) provided good group separability as a function of participant education (which was found to be more important for this cohort than professional development). Overall, results from this study found significant and interesting group differences, but likewise revealed the complexity associated with using gaze behavior as a means of assessing cognitive processes

Experimental Investigation of Indirect Field Oriented Control of Field Programmable Gate Array Based Five-Phase Induction Motor Drive

This paper analyzes the experimental investigation of indirect field oriented control of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based five-phase induction motor drive. A detailed d-q modeling and Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique of 5-phase drive is elaborated in this paper. In the proposed work, the prototype model of 1 hp 5-phase Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) fed drive is implemented in hardware. SVPWM pulses are generated in FPGA platform through Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) coding. The experimental results are observed under different loading conditions and compared with simulation results to validate the simulation model

Citrus Fruit Feature Extraction using Colpromatix Color Code Model

Classification of citrus fruit more precisely and economically under natural illumination circumstances. The aim of this paper was to develop a robust and feature extraction techniques to discover citrus fruit features with different dimensions and under different illumination conditions. To identify object residing in image, the image has to be described or represented by certain features. In this paper, proposed a citrus fruit feature extraction process for deriving the classification. The proposed system present two tasks namely, 1) Image pre-processing: it is carried out using Hybrid Noise filter to remove the noise; ii) Citrus fruit features extraction: Feature extraction using new Colpromatix color space model, Size, Texture, Shape, and Coarseness. The Image Shape is an important visual feature of an image. Difference features representation and description techniques are discuss in this review paper. Feature extraction techniques play an important role in systems for object recognition, matching, extracting, and analysis. It also presents comparison between various techniques

An Extended Review on Fabric Defects and Its Detection Techniques

In Textile Industry, Quality of the Fabric is the main important factor. At the initial stage, it is very essential to identify and avoid the fabrics faults/defects and hence human perception consumes lot of time and cost to reveal the fabrics faults. Now-a-days Automated Inspection Systems are very useful to decrease the fault prediction time and gives best visualizing clarity- based on computer vision and image processing techniques. This paper made an extended review about the quality parameters in the fiber-to-fabric process, fabrics defects detection terminologies applied on major three clusters of fabric defects knitting, woven and sewing fabric defects. And this paper also explains about the statistical performance measures which are used to analyze the defect detection process. Also, comparison among the methods proposed in the field of fabric defect detection

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERIZATION STUDIES OF CASSIA AURICULATA FLOWER EXTRACT

Objectives: The present study, aimed to determine and characterize the chemical constituents of Cassia auriculata flower extract by qualitative, quantitative and analytical techniques. Methods: Preliminary Phytochemical, total flavonoid and phenol content was determined in the methanolic extract of C.auriculata (CAFMEt) using standard methods. C-18 silica gel based column chromatography was used to purify CAFMEt using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol and fraction identified by thin layer chromatography. GC-MS and FT-IR techniques used to characterize the lead fraction. Results: CAFMEt showed the presence of flavonoid and Phenols in a significant amount. Three fractions was collected from column chromatography viz., Fraction 1-3 (n-hexane: yellow) was 2.5mg, (ethyl acetate: light orange) 1.8mg and (methanol: light green) 5.67mg respectively. TLC indicated n-hexane has higher refractive factors 0.457 at yellow band and ethyl acetate fraction has 0.329 at light orange band. 14 chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS included alkanes, alcohol, esters and hydrocarbons. The major peak showed the presence of 4-(4-methylphenoxy) phenol at 22.53%. Infra red spectra revealed the presence of phenolic groups in hexane fraction. Conclusion: Further studies will be carried out the pharmacological potential of n-hexane fractions of flowers of C.auriculata

Investigation of Essential Oils as Natural Preservation System for Development of Lipid Based Nutricosmetics

OBJECTIVE:In Recent years, Bacterial contamination changes physical and chemical properties of cosmetics usually resulting in phase separation, discoloration and release of odours etc. Rich composition of modern cosmetics in combination with aqueous formulation and direct exposure to bacterial skin flora make them an ideal environment for microbial growth. Taking into consideration the high risk of contamination and therefore a risk for consumers health, the use of preservatives is a necessity. Preservation systems prevent and control the growth of microorganisms from contamination during manufacturing, storage or consumer use. Completely preservative-free and microbial stable cosmetics are made by sterile production and appropriate packaging. However, satisfactory results can be achieved only for some formulations and are under certain restrictions: Preservative systems usually include various combinations of chemical biocides that operate on a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. They offer a high antimicrobial efficacy and therefore prolong the shelf-life of products, however, many of them can cause adverse reactions to skin. A promising strategy to overcome these problems involves the development of suitable drug carrier systems. Nowadays, essential oils are the subject of intensive scientific research and also attract attention of cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries due to their potential therapeutic benefits as well as natural preservation effect. A new promising field of application of essential oils as natural preservatives in cosmetics or feed additives in human or animal food or as plant protection products has been studied. It is estimated that more than 3000 essential oils are of commercial importance and used in flavor and cosmetic industries. The microbial safety of cosmetics has been always of special interest for industries, as microbial spoilage can lead to product degradation and cause a risk to consumers’ health. It has become more and more evident that the development of new drugs alone is not sufficient to ensure progress in drug therapy. Exciting experimental data obtained in vitro are very often followed by disappointing results in vivo due to poor drug solubility, poor absorption, rapid metabolism and elimination, high fluctuation of plasma levels due to unpredictable bioavailability after peroral administration. The carriers should permit a controlled and localized release of the drug according to the specific needs of the therapy which determines the in vivo fate of the drug. The size of the carrier depends on the desired route of administration and ranges from few nanometres to the micrometer. Nano structured lipid carriers are proved to be suitable carriers with various advantages like (i) controlled release of the drug (ii) increased drug stability (iii) high drug loading (iv) no bio toxicity of the carrier (v) avoidance of organic solvents and (vi) no problems with respect to large scale production and sterilization. Based on these facts, the aim of this work is to present current knowledge on essential oils with special focus on mechanism of antimicrobial action; assessment of their efficacy as preservatives in cosmetic formulations as well as their safety is carried out with the following objectives. Selection of Natural Preservatives/ Oils Optimization of Natural Preservatives/ Oils in various Bacterial strains. Determine the Minimum inhibitory Concentration of essential oils. The specific objective of the present work is to develop nano structured lipid carriers (NLC’s) loaded with Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) using Natural Preservatives (Natural Essential Oils) To optimize the developed NLC loaded with THC To characterize the prepared formulations SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: In general lipid based formulations face stability problems over a longer period of time due to microbial contamination which can often change the physical and chemical properties of the drugs and excipients. In the current study, an attempt was made to enhance the stability of THC loaded lipid based formulations for nutricosmeceutical purpose using a natural preservation system. THC loaded nanostructured lipid carriers were prepared to serve as a carrier to enhance the bioavailability of THC for nutraceutical purpose and lipid based cream loaded with NLCs of THC were prepared to serve as a carrier for the delivery of THC for cosmetic purpose. Initially, essential oils like cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, clove oil, lemon grass oil, castor oil, neem oil and their mixtures were evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The results indicated a better antimicrobial property for cinnamon oil. Hence, THC loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and the corresponding creams were prepared using cinnamon oil as liquid oil carrier. THC loaded NLC were prepared from stearic acid, cinnamon oil and tween 80 by hot homogenization technique using ultra probe sonicator. The spherical shaped nanostructure lipid particles with a particle size of 245 nm showed a sustained release pattern across pig ear skin for around 48 hours. These THC loaded nanostructure lipid particles were loaded in a lipid based cream (prepared from cetostearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, myristic acid, palmitic acid and tween 80). Evaluation of the texture properties of the lipid cream loaded with THC NLCs showed good firmness and stickiness. THC NLCs and lipid based cream loaded with THC NLCs showed good stability during the initial 3 months without any microbial contamination. Long term stability studies are in progress to evaluate the stability of the lipid based formulations for a period of 1 year. Lipid based nutricosmeceuticals prepared using cinnamon oil as a liquid oil can be a good promising natural preservative against microbial contamination and can possibly enhance the stability of several other lipid based nutricosmeceuticals loaded with different types of drugs

Sanitation, water, and hygiene in Ethekwini Municipality, Durban, South Africa : a baseline cross-sectional study.

Thesis (MMed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.Introduction: Inadequate water supply and sanitation adversely affects the health and socio-economic development of communities. Since 2003, more than 40 000 households in peri-urban and rural areas within eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, have been provided with urine diversion toilets, safe water and hygiene education. eThekwini Municipality have requested that these interventions be evaluated to monitor their effect on health outcomes. Aim: The aim of the study is to describe the baseline situation in respect of sanitation, safe water and hygiene behaviour in Intervention Areas in eThekwini Municipality and compare these to Control Areas. Methods: An observational analytic cross sectional study design was undertaken. A multi-stage sampling procedure was followed and six study areas were randomly selected. Three Intervention Areas (urine diversion toilets) were matched with three Control Areas (no urine diversion toilets). A total of 1337 households, comprising of 7219 individuals, were included in the study. A Household Questionnaire a and an Observational Protocolb was administered by fieldworkers. Data was entered onto a custom designed EpiData database, processed and analysed using SPSS version 13. Results: The baseline characteristics revealed that Intervention and Control areas were very similar other than the provision of urine diversion toilets, safe water and hygiene education in the Intervention area. The Intervention area scored higher than the Control area (2.31 vs. 1.64) with regard to having a cleaner toilet, with no flies, no smells, having hand-washing facilities and soap provided close to the toilet. Some of the collected data from questionnaire responses were not consistent with the fieldworkers observations. It was reported that 642 households in the Control and 621 in the Intervention areas washed their hands with soap, whilst only 396 households in the Control and 309 in the Intervention areas were observed to have washed their hands with soap. Conclusion: Households in the Control area are at a greater risk of developing diarrhoeal and other related diseases. The provision of safe water, urine diversion toilets and hygiene education in the Intervention area has proved to be successful. Recommendations: eThekwini municipality must expand the package of services c to the Control areas. Sustainable hygiene education programmes must continue to be implemented and be evaluated over time. Plate 1: Inside view of the UD Toilet Plate 2: Ground tank providing 200 litres free water Plate 3: Hygiene education material Plate 4: External rear view of the UD toile