Risk versus regulation: an update on the state of e-cigarette control in Australia

E-cigarettes are increasingly common around the world, particularly among youth. Ingestion of nicotine-containing e-liquid, while relatively rare, is the major toxicological risk associated with their use. Current Australian regulation has nicotine for use in e-cigarettes listed as a dangerous poison in Schedule 7, with its supply or sale illegal in all states and territories, while regulation on the sale of e-cigarettes and accessories varies by state. However, with increasing evidence that e-cigarettes produce far fewer toxic by-products than their combustible counterparts perhaps it is time to review this regulation

Entwicklung von Methoden zur optischen 3D-Vermessung in Bewegung

Zur dreidimensionalen Vermessung makroskopischer Objekte eignen sich optische Techniken unter anderem aufgrund ihres berührungslosen und damit zerstörungsfreien und unveränderlichen Vorgehens für eine Vielzahl von Anwendungen, die von Archäologie über Medizintechnik bis hin zu Soll-Ist-Vergleichen in der Qualitätssicherung und dem sogenannten „Rapid-Prototyping“ reichen. Der stereoskopischen Erfassung geht grundsätzlich eine Projektion temporärer Musterverteilungen in die Messszene zur Bereitstellung der Ansichtenverknüpfung voraus, wobei die Basis präziser Oberflächenrekonstruktionen eine Vielzahl paarweise verschiedener Musterverteilungen ist. Dabei besteht insbesondere für die Abbildung dynamischer Prozesse ein Zielkonflikt mit dem zur Ansichtenverknüpfung benötigten Stillstand während der Mustersequenz. Existierende Ansätze zur Auflösung dieses Zielkonfliktes lassen sich einerseits in hardwareorientierte und auf Algorithmik basierte Ansätze andererseits untergliedern. Hardwareseitig kommen primär Hochgeschwindigkeitskomponenten zum Einsatz, die eine Reduktion der Relativbewegung zwischen Messobjekt und 3D-Sensor während der simultanen Musterprojektion und Bildaufnahme realisieren. Alternativ bietet sich algorithmisch unter der Akzeptanz von Genauigkeitseinbußen die Verkürzung der Mustersequenz an. Erstmalig wird mit der vorliegenden Arbeit ein Vorgehen zur Bewegungsdetektion mit anschließender -kompensation beschrieben, um Standardhardware im Zusammenhang mit den Vorteilen ausgedehnter Mustersequenzen nutzen zu können. Dabei erfolgt die Bewegungsschätzung im dreidimensionalen Raum und unterliegt keinen Einschränkungen hinsichtlich der Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit und der Anzahl verwendeter, paarweise verschiedener Projektionsmuster mit trigonometrischer Intensitätsverteilung. Zur Verifikation des anschließenden Vorgangs der 3D-Bewegungskompensation werden zahlreiche Untersuchungen an synthetischen Datensätzen wie auch Aufnahmen eines 3D-Tischdigitalisierers gezeigt

Single-frame three-dimensional imaging using spectral-coded patterns and multispectral snapshot cameras

We present an approach for single-frame three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using multiwavelength array projection and a stereo vision setup of two multispectral snapshot cameras. Thus a sequence of aperiodic fringe patterns at different wavelengths can be projected and detected simultaneously. For the 3-D reconstruction, a computational procedure for pattern extraction from multispectral images, denoising of multispectral image data, and stereo matching is developed. In addition, a proof-of-concept is provided with experimental measurement results, showing the validity and potential of the proposed approach

Mobile 3D sensor for documenting maintenance processes of large complex structures

With the new handheld goSCOUT3D sensor system, the entire surface of complex industrial machinery spanning several meters can be captured three-dimensionally within a matter of minutes. In addition, a comprehensive photo collection is registered and precisely assigned to the corresponding 3D object points in one hybrid 2D/3D model. At the basis of the robust 3D digitization are the measuring principles of photogrammetric reconstruction using a high-resolution color camera and simultaneous localization and imaging using a tracking unit. Following image acquisition, the process leading to generation of the complete hybrid model is fully automated. Under continuous movement of the sensor head, up to six images per second and a total of up to several thousand images can be recorded. Those images are then aligned in 3D space and used to reconstruct the 3D model. Results regarding accuracy measurements are presented as well as application examples of digitized technical machinery under maintenance and inspection

Influence of Ocean Acidification on a Natural Winter-to-Summer Plankton Succession : First Insights from a Long-Term Mesocosm Study Draw Attention to Periods of Low Nutrient Concentrations

Every year, the oceans absorb about 30% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) leading to a re-equilibration of the marine carbonate system and decreasing seawater pH. Today, there is increasing awareness that these changes-summarized by the term ocean acidification (OA)-could differentially affect the competitive ability of marine organisms, thereby provoking a restructuring of marine ecosystems and biogeochemical element cycles. In winter 2013, we deployed ten pelagic mesocosms in the Gullmar Fjord at the Swedish west coast in order to study the effect of OA on plankton ecology and biogeochemistry under close to natural conditions. Five of the ten mesocosms were left unperturbed and served as controls (similar to 380 mu atm pCO(2)), whereas the others were enriched with CO2-saturated water to simulate realistic end-of-the-century carbonate chemistry conditions (mu 760 mu atm pCO(2)). We ran the experiment for 113 days which allowed us to study the influence of high CO2 on an entire winter-to-summer plankton succession and to investigate the potential of some plankton organisms for evolutionary adaptation to OA in their natural environment. This paper is the first in a PLOS collection and provides a detailed overview on the experimental design, important events, and the key complexities of such a "long-term mesocosm" approach. Furthermore, we analyzed whether simulated end-of-the-century carbonate chemistry conditions could lead to a significant restructuring of the plankton community in the course of the succession. At the level of detail analyzed in this overview paper we found that CO2-induced differences in plankton community composition were non-detectable during most of the succession except for a period where a phytoplankton bloom was fueled by remineralized nutrients. These results indicate: (1) Long-term studies with pelagic ecosystems are necessary to uncover OA-sensitive stages of succession. (2) Plankton communities fueled by regenerated nutrients may be more responsive to changing carbonate chemistry than those having access to high inorganic nutrient concentrations and may deserve particular attention in future studies.Peer reviewe

E-cigarettes-An unintended illicit drug delivery system

Since the introduction of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in 2003, the technology has advanced allowing for greater user modifications, with users now able to control voltage, battery power, and constituents of the e-cigarette liquid. E-cigarettes have been the subject of a growing body of research with most research justifiably focused on the chemical makeup and risk analysis of chemicals, metals, and particulates found in e-cigarette liquids and vapor. Little research to date has focused on assessing the risks associated with the drug delivery unit itself and its potential for use as an illicit drug delivery system. In light of this, a range of illicit drugs was researched focusing on pharmacodynamics, usual method of administration, the dosage required for toxicity, toxic effects, and evidence of existing use in e-cigarettes in both literature and online illicit drug forums. A systematic literature search found evidence of current use of e-cigarettes to vape almost all illicit drug types analyzed. This presents both a potential population health risk and a management issue for clinicians. It also raises the issue of policing illicit drugs due to potential altered characteristic smells and storage within e-cigarette fluids. E-cigarettes are a viable illicit drug delivery system with evidence both inside and outside of the formal medical literature detailing their potential use for drug delivery of a wide range of illicit and legal drugs

Simulation and system design of a 3D metrology optical system based on a bidirectional OLED microdisplay

Innovative display technologies enable a wide range of different system applications. specifically, in metrology, medical, and automotive applications microdisplays were increasingly used. In the last decades OLED microdisplays were in the focus of display development. A new class of OLED microdisplays with an integrated photodiode array is the latest development. The so-called bi-directional OLED microdisplays combine light-emitting devices (AM-OLED microdisplay) and photo sensitive detectors (photodiode matrix) on one single chip based on OLED-on-CMOS-technology. Currently this kind of display is still a prototype. Based on such a novel bidirectional OLED microdisplay, we present for the first time a system simulation and design of a 3D optical surface metrology system. The first step is the full characterization of the microdisplay. Depending on the characterization results the future system parameters are determined. Based on the characterization results and the application parameters the system design parameters are defined. The functionality of the system is simulated, and a theoretical proof of concept is presented. An example for our application on 3D optical surface metrology system is evaluated