As a result, the device can create images of objects from numerous angles and without mechanical motion, which is a distinct advantage for any machine since it increases imaging speed, can reduce the size of the device and requires less maintenance. A report on the promising invention appears in this week’s issue (May 9) of Applied Physics Letters, a science and technology journal. The physicists already have received U.S. patents on elements of the work and expect more to be granted. “This technology can lead to smaller and faster X-ray imaging systems for airport baggage screening and for tomographic medical imaging such as CT (computed tomography) scanners,” said Dr. Otto Zhou, Lyle Jones distinguished professor of physics and materials sciences in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences. “We believe this is an important advance in X-ray technology, and we are extremely excited about it,” Zhou said. “If it works as well as we think it will, other advantages will be that scanners will be cheaper, use less electricity and produce higher-resolution images.” Other authors of the paper are physics doctoral students Jian Zhang and Guang Yang and Dr. Jian Ping Lu, professor of physics and astronomy at UNC, Dr. Yueh Z. Lee of the UNC School of Medicine and Dr. Yuan Cheng, Dr. Bo Gao and Qi Qiu of Xintek, Inc., a Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based nanotechnology company. Scientists and others, including the news media, have shown strong interest in carbon nanotubes because of numerous potential applications, Zhou said. Discovered about a decade ago, the tiny bits of carbon are very strong tubular structures formed from a single layer of carbon atoms and are only about a billionth of a meter in diameter. Industrial and university researchers around the world are now developing new devices using the nanotubes, such as field emission flat panel displays, high-strength composites and high energy-density batteries. The UNC researchers demonstrated that carbon nanotubes might be used as X-ray sources and received their first patent in 2000. Prior to that, conventional X-ray tube design had not changed much in a century. The nanotube X-ray technology allows the device to be operated at room temperature rather than at the 1,000 degrees Celsius that conventional sources require. It can also be operated as a high-speed X-ray camera, capturing clear images of objects moving at high speed. The team has now received two U.S. patents on the general concepts of nanotube X-rays. Xintek, the UNC spin-off, is working with several manufacturers to commercialize the technology. “When fully developed, devices should lead to more effective imaging systems for homeland security,” Zhou said. The new invention can create images of various objects from numerous angles without mechanical motion, he said. In conventional CT scanners used in airports for baggage screening and in hospitals for diagnostic imaging, the X-ray source is mechanically rotated around objects, including patients, to collect the many projection images required to construct a three-dimensional picture, Zhou said. Existing scanners are large and expensive. “In addition, the imaging speed is relatively low,” he said. “The new scanning X-ray source using nanotubes can electronically produce X-ray beams from different angles without moving. This can significantly increase the imaging speed and reduce the size of the scanner. Making this technology smaller, faster and more accurate should boost the effectiveness of airport baggage scanners significantly.”

Releasing the results of the Australian Government’s most recent survey of police detainees – the 2004 annual report of the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program – Senator Ellison said the survey would provide another valuable plank in the development, implementation and evaluation of policy covering the links between drug use and crime. “This demonstrates the importance of the Government’s Tough on Drugs Programme. If we make progress in the war on drugs, we make great strides in the fight against crime,” he said. “The DUMA program, now in its fifth year, provides us with vital information on the drugs/crime nexus and also plays a significant role in the identification of changes in local drug markets.” “For example, in previous years an upward trend in methamphetamine use was observed in the DUMA sites, but the 2004 data shows that methamphetamine use has stabilised at the nine sites surveyed across the country. “The government remains vigilant in monitoring possible changes in local drug markets, with the proportion of detainees testing positive to heroin staying the same or declining in most sites. “However, we need to monitor closely the slight increase in heroin use in Western Sydney.” Other findings of the DUMA survey include: * 71% of detainees reported obtaining illicit drugs in the 30 days prior to their arrest; * 37% of all detainees attributed some of their criminal activity to illicit drug usage, and * Detainees who were classified as drug-dependent or who had tested positive to methamphetamine or heroin had the highest number of arrests in the previous year. “The need for drug treatment and professional help for mental health concerns amongst offenders is highlighted in the 2004 report. Thirteen per cent of all detainees were classified as dependent on alcohol, and 40 per cent on illicit drugs,” Senator Ellison said. “Almost one-third of detainees were classified as having extreme levels of psychological distress, with these higher levels of distress pointing to possible dependence on illicit drugs. “Australia’s drug strategy has been recognised internationally for its integrated focus on health, education and law enforcement, including a sound evidence base for policy development, implementation and evaluation on the links between drugs and crime. “One important aspect of the Government’s response to local crime is the National Community Crime Prevention Programme, including a specific funding stream for the Western Sydney region.” Detainees were surveyed at seven sites across Australia – two each in NSW, Queensland and South Australia and one site in WA (local results available through the link below). Funded under the Australian Government’s National Illicit Drug Strategy, DUMA has been in operation since 1999 and quarterly data collection over seven sites provides empirical, timely and long term trend data on illicit drug use among people arrested and brought to a police station or watchhouse. The majority of detainees in 2004 (90%) agreed to participate in DUMA, and of those, 82 per cent also voluntarily agreed to provide a urine sample. Urinalysis data acts as independent evidence of illicit drug use.

Divar is now available with Bilinx built-in. Bilinx is Bosch’s innovative camera control system that allows users to manage camera operation over the video cable. Integrating Bilinx with Divar makes installation easier and permits camera configuration changes without the need for direct access. This is important when cameras are located in areas that are difficult to reach or where surveillance cannot be interrupted, even temporarily, for servicing. Further, Divar units are now accessible from any personal computer using Internet Explorer. This allows users to view live video or playback events from anywhere on the network or Internet. In addition, the Divar Control Center has been updated with Instant Playback, which permits immediate playback of events while remaining in live mode, by pressing a single button.

The “Real ID Act” would mandate every U.S. citizen to present the national ID card in order to travel on a domestic airplane flight, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments, or take advantage of most government services. The act — passed by the Senate May 11 and approved by the House in February — includes a requirement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) apply “machine-readable technology” to the cards. However, the bill isn’t specific on what technology would be used and does not specify RFID or biometric technology. However, most state already apply a magnetic strip to driver licenses with identification information. The president is expected to sign the bill into law later this month. The bill leaves the states to actually issue the ID cards, which will likely mean little more than an augmentation to the current drivers license and state ID process. However, the law does say Americans will need an authentic copy of their birth certificate to apply for a new driver’s license or renew an old one. The law also allows state to not issue the national ID card at all. However, the state would lose federal funds and residents of the state would find it difficult, if not impossible, to travel by airplane out of state or obtain federal government services.

White brings to the role a wealth of experience gained in a variety of public sector and industrial positions, coupled to a strong background in science and technology – reflecting Dedicated Micros longstanding commitment to innovation. White, who will oversee DM operations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, started his career at Imperial College, London, where he gained a PhD for research in plasma physics. He then moved to the prestigious Rutherford Laboratory in Oxfordshire to lead the laser development team. Following that he joined Ferranti, and later GEC, in Edinburgh where he ran a business making missile seeker heads, optical countermeasures systems and laser-based bomb aiming systems for aircraft. In his last position prior to joining DM, White headed-up Electrox. Commenting on White’s appointment, Nigel Petrie, Chairman of Dedicated Micros said: “We are delighted that someone of White’s calibre, with his track record in business and technology, has been brought onto the Board. As Managing Director he will play a pivotal role driving DM forward in what is an exciting time for us as we unveil a large number of new CCTV products – from network enabled digital video recorders to dome cameras.” White said: “I am certainly looking forward to the opportunities and challenges which lie ahead. DM has established a tremendous reputation over three decades as the international leader in the CCTV industry. “My intention is to build on this success, in what is an increasingly competitive global marketplace, by offering our customers CCTV solutions which bring connectivity to a new level. “This will be based on a future vision of DM systems which have the potential to capture, store, transmit, decode and display images from ‘any camera, from any moment in time, anywhere in the world’”.

ASIS will represent the interests of non-governmental groups such as private companies on the National Citizen Corps Council Private Sector and Trade Associations Subcommittee. ASIS has also been tasked to serve on the National Citizens Corps Council, which is made up of representatives from subcommittees and works to increase support for state, tribal and local Citizen Corps Councils.

The airport will integrate the equipment into an inline, multi-level checked and transfer baggage screening system as part of its continued expansion. The VIS 108 systems will be deployed at Level One screening, providing the first automated baggage screening process within the multi-level system. The VIS provides automatic explosive detection at 1800 bags per hour, and has a smaller footprint, which is a key consideration for an airport, such as ICN, with limited space available. The eXaminer 3DX(R) 6500 will be used at Level Three screening, providing airport operators with another layer of automated security that rigorously screens baggage for threats. The eXaminers will be deployed as a networked explosive detection system (NEDS), offering unprecedented baggage throughput of 600 bags per hour when operating within the fully integrated BHS environment. According to Allen Barber, president of L-3 Security & Detection Systems, the ICN order represents a growing interest among international airport operators in the certification standards set by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for EDS technology that automatically screens aircraft hold baggage for explosives. The L-3 eXaminer is one of only two in-line systems certified by the TSA. There are currently more than 500 L-3 EDS systems deployed worldwide. L-3 currently supplies and maintains more than 50 AT systems at ICN, which are used to screen checked baggage for a wide range of explosives and other contraband. As the supplier for both eXaminers and VIS systems, L-3 offers several benefits to the airport, including: increased installation efficiencies, a common operating platform, and a single point of contact for after-sales service. “L-3’s range of products offers customizable and scalable solutions for international airports,” said Barber. “L-3 is not only supplying advanced screening technologies to meet the airport’s security needs, but is also maintaining a superior level of support that has come to be expected by our customers.” Earlier this year, the eXaminer 3DX(R) 6500 was certified by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation bag screening. The eXaminer introduces a number of industry-leading advancements that set it apart from competing systems, including: — Unprecedented baggage throughput of 600 bags per hour or more when operating within a fully integrated baggage handling system environment. — Industry-leading capability to accommodate long oversized baggage, such as skis or golf club bags, up to 100 inches (2.64 meters) in length. — A unique, active bag centering and alignment system that improves average throughput. — Increased entrance tunnel size (a full 1-meter width opening) simplifying integration with baggage handling systems. — A capability that allows users to adopt more stringent screening requirements at the “push of a button”. If threat levels are increased or customers have additional security requirements, the eXaminer 3DX(R) 6500 can be adapted without a system configuration change. — Additional operational features that improve the overall reliability and efficiency of in-line systems.

Bilinx also operates over standard unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or fibre optic video transmission links to provide the same advantages. No separate wiring is required for camera control, alarms or settings. Designed for use with Bosch’s latest Dinion and AutoDome cameras, Bilinx technology allows multiple cameras even at different locations to be remotely set-up and configured without sending a technician to each camera, saving substantial cost and time. With Bilinx, users can download, store and upload settings into Dinion and AutoDome cameras including pre-position set-ups, call-ups, alarms and auxiliary commands without needing to access each camera. All control and configuration commands are embedded in the video signal enabling practically all the functions required for direct camera access or control to be achieved over the video cable. This is especially important in installations where cameras are hard to reach, in remote installations or where operations would be interrupted by a service call. With Bilinx, new systems require only a third of the wiring and together with the savings in technician time results in significant cost savings and reduced downtime. To make set-up even easier, a Bosch configuration tool can be connected anywhere along the video cable to allow all cameras and settings to be customized for any particular application, with instant feedback on the video monitor. Settings can also be stored and uploaded to additional cameras for faster set-up or replacement. This is especially helpful when installing multiple cameras in the same site and on multi-site applications. Video motion alarms generated by the cameras are also transmitted along with the video signal, eliminating the need for separate wiring from the camera. Bilinx also allows signals from external sources, such as PIR’s, door contacts or access control systems to be sent with the video signal, greatly simplifying complexity and reducing installation costs. When new features are added to Dinion Cameras or AutoDomes, Bilinx allows users to update the firmware in all cameras from a central point, eliminating the need to travel to and access each individual camera.