The case of cadmium poisoning in japan Research Paper

The case of cadmium poisoning in japan - Research Paper Example In most zinc ores, this element occurs in minute quantities. Excessive exposure to the Cadmium chemical is the result of Cadmium Poisoning. Human exposure to Cadmium causes damage to the body. The high levels of toxic compounds in Cadmium are dangerous to humans and the environment. If the chemical is taken orally or inhaled, it can cause tremendous health issues for the human body, and there have been numerous reports of fatalities after exposure to the body. Immediately after contact of large amounts of Cadmium with the body, the Cadmium poisoning poses a threat to the body. Small amounts of the chemical do not require much to detox the body. However, according to reports, 10 milligrams of cadmium is dangerous to the body. The most common disease associated with Cadmium is the Itai-itai disease. It is a severe form of chronic Cadmium poisoning, and it is caused by prolonged oral Cadmium ingestion. It harms the body by causing renal and bone injury. During the initial stage, femoral pain and lumbago are present. This pain gradually spreads t hroughout the body. If pressure is applied to the bones, the pain increases. Additional damage to the bones can cause the body to worsen. If the patient is bed-ridden, the body continues to deteriorate. The first study presented in this research analysis of Cadmium Poisoning in Japan is a study on the â€Å"Influence of Drinking and/or Cooking with Jinzu River Water on the Development of Itai-Itai Disease.† The second study is a Comparison between â€Å"Cadmium in Rice and Renal Effects among inhabitants of the Jinzu River Basin.† The third study focuses on the â€Å"Influence of Consumption of Cadmium-Polluted Rice or Jinzu River Water on Occurrence of Renal Tubular Dysfunction and/or Itai-itai Disease.† According to the study on the â€Å"Influence of Drinking and/or Cooking with Jinzu River Water on the Development of Itai-itai Disease,† the authors’ focus was on evaluating the amount

Durkheims Study Of Suicide

Durkheims Study Of Suicide Durkheim was a sociologist of French origin born in year 1958 and died on the November of 1917. He instituted various academic disciplines and is considered as the current social science principal architect. He actually maintained dominancy in the field of social sciences until the time of his death. Durkheim also presented several sociological knowledge papers alongside religion. His studies such as the suicide study have actually picked a popular discourse. Most of Durkheims work involved social facts study, term which he developed so as to depict phenomena that is self-existent and which cannot be affected by individuals actions (Lukes, 1985). Durkheim considered social facts to possess sui generis, which is a self-sufficient existence which is greater as well as more objective when compared to the individuals actions which make up the society (Martin Lee, 1994). Contrary to the facts covered under natural sciences, social facts thereby refer to particular phenomena category and they as well exist independently, free from individual manifestations (Durkheim, 1951). Social facts of this kind are actually endowed with coercion power due to their capability to take control of personal behaviors (Martin Lee, 1994). In accordance to Durkheim, these types of phenomena should neither be condensed to psychological nor biological grounds (Martin Lee, 1994). Therefore, the phenomena which is considered as most individualistic, for instance suicide, would end up been classified as a fact which is socially objective. Durkheim further argued that the persons who compose the society do not cause suicide directly (Ritzer, 1992). He ba sed his argument on the fact that suicide being a social fact, its presence in the society is independent in spite of the prevailing desires of the individuals forming the society (Ritzer, 1992). Consequently, the departure of any individual from the society will have no effect on the suicide fact as the society which the individual leaves behind still contains suicide. Sociological tasks entail the discovery of various social facts characteristics which can only be revealed by the means of either experimental or quantitative approach (Hassard, 1995). For the case of the suicide study conducted by Durkheim, he particularly depended on statistics (Bellah, 1973). Durkheim is considered to be amongst the initial structural functionalism founders. In general, Durkheim discarded reductionist arguments (Durkheim, 1951). Instead, he focused on the cultural values and norms, social structures alongside social facts; which he considered as being external to every human being. Durkheims study classified suicide into four categories and provided evidence to one of his theories which states that suicide rate differences are as a resultant of changes in the immaterial social facts (Thompson, 2002). Durkheim is famous due to his social reality macro-level views and its relationship at individual level. Actually, Durkheim managed to make major contribution on the structural functionalism development alongside sociology in general (Durkheim, 1951). Basically, Durkheim explored the various suicide rates amongst different religious groups and specifically between the Catholics alongside the Protestants. He discovered that the suicide rates were lower amongst the Catholics when compared to the Protestants (Stark William, 1996). Durkheim believed that the low rates of suicide among the Catholic were a result of the religions vibrant social control mechanisms (Stark William, 1996). Consequently, he attributed the escalated suicide frequencies among the Protestants to the regions big freedom space. In Durkheims perspective, the catholic society integration level was normal but the Protestants integration levels were low (Stark William, 1996). However, this interpretation was faced by two major problems. First, Durkheim had relied on earlier researchers data, specifically Wagner, A. and Morselli, H (Stark William, 1996) who had basically generalized their individual data. Secondly, succeeding researchers discovered that the suicide r ates differences amongst the Protestants and Catholics tended to be prominent in the German-Speaking European part and thereby may only have been other factors spurious reflection (Pope Danigelis, 1981). In spite of its limitations, Durkheims suicide study has really influenced the control theory proponents (Pope Danigelis, 1981). Durkheim came up with four categories of suicide which included Egoist suicide, Fatalistic suicides, Altruist suicide alongside Anomic suicide (Thompson, 2002). Durkheim considered Egoistic suicides as those that result from the weakening of individual bonds that naturally integrate collectivity (Thompson, 2002). In different words, Egoistic suicides are caused by the social integration breakdown or even decrease. Durkheim associated this suicide type to excessive individuation implying that most victims initially become more detached from the other community members (Thompson, 2002). Generally, the individuals who are insufficiently committed to specific social groups: end up with minimal social support and hence the likelihood of them committing suicide is high (Thompson, 2002). For instance, Durkheim revealed that the unmarried people, specifically males, committed suicide more often than their married counterparts due to their less bondage with the established social norms goals . Apparently, similar problems affected the widows. Among 1Million widows aged 65 years, 628 of them committed suicide while amongst I million men aged 65 years, only 461 did commit suicide (Lukes, 1985). The sample composition was appropriate as the age bracket comprised of married men to the large extend (Almost 90%) (Lukes, 1985). Durkheims analysis however indicated that despite the fact that the widows had a higher likelihood of committing suicide than married persons, their suicide rate was lower when compared to that of single individuals (Ritzer, 1992). Durkheim linked the figures to the family factor as he was of the view that a simpler conclusion would turn out as problematic (Ritzer, 1992). It would be problematic due to the changes in the marriages numbers that occurred during this period as the suicide rates tripled. Significantly, Durkheim was quick to note that the factor was not simply marriage but a marriage that had children (Ritzer, 1992). This is because marriage s with children had lower suicide rates when compared to infertile families (Thompson, 2002). Thus, the main factor was considering family like a basic social unit but not marriage. Additionally, Durkheim further studied the wars and crises roles on suicide rates. He discovered during the course of social crises (for instance, revolutions) alongside wars; the suicide rates dropped remarkably (Bellah, 1973). In overall, he found out a more religious society had lower suicide rates and also the strength of family relationships determined the magnitude of suicide rate (Thompson, 2002). Moreover, the society integration greatly affected the suicide rate. On the other hand, Durkheim classified Altruistic suicides as those which occur in highly integrated societies in which the whole societys needs are more prioritized than individual needs (Thompson, 2002). Altruistic suicides therefore come about on a integration scale which is contrary to that of egoistic suicide (Thompson, 2002). Durkheim stated that the suicide rate in altruistic societies was generally low as personal interests were not viewed as important (Thompson, 2002). Durkheim viewed the armed forces with this perspective and was really surprising to find out that suicide rates occurred at a high rate within the military service (Thompson, 2002). It was startling due to the fact that the military, just like religions as well as cohesive societies should exhibit strong solidarity and moreover the people in the military are usually the most physically fit in the society (Durkheim, 1951).Besides, it was not right to attribute the suicide causes to either the military service h atred or even the failure to get used to military service routines (Durkheim, 1951).This was because it was evident that suicide rates were directly proportional to the military service length (Durkheim, 1951). Additionally, senior officers committed suicide at a higher rate than their juniors (Bellah, 1973). Moreover, the elite units were affected by higher suicide rates than the normal units (Bellah, 1973). Finally, the suicide rate was low in the units which demonstrated weaker military spirit (Bellah, 1973). Therefore, Durkheim stated that the senior military officers had to abandon the personal individuality to cope with the service requirements as it increased their risk of committing suicide (Lukes, 1985). Durkheim classified Anomic suicides as those which arise due to moral deregulation alongside the absence of legitimate aspirations definition through restrictive social ethic, which has the potential of imposing a different individual conscience meaning as well as order (Ritzer, 1992). This is indicative of economic development failure as well as the labor division to result to the organic solidarity of Durkheim (Ritzer, 1992). In this situation, people fail to recognize their appropriate positions in the society. Durkheim explained this moral disorder state as that which the desires of the individuals are limitless, thereby resulting to personal infinite disappointments (Ritzer, 1992). Lastly, Durkheim suggested that Fatalistic suicides mainly occur in the exceedingly oppressive societies which make people to opt for death other than continue living in such societies (Durkheim, 1951). Generally, this is one of the rarest reasons which can push an individual to committing suicide (Durkheim, 1951). However, fatalistic suicides are common features in prisons as individuals choose to die other than going on with the abusive, excessively regulated prison life which denies them the opportunity to fulfill their desires (Durkheim, 1951). The Durkheims suicide types had their basis on the twin social forces imbalance degrees which are the moral regulation alongside the social integration. Durkheim revealed how impacts on the social aggregate aspects such as; war can lead to increased altruism, booms in economy or catastrophe contribute to anomie. Durkheims suicide analysis indicates the way in which social facts on the contrary to biological as well as psychological facts can be stressed upon, and bring about constructive methods of examining individuals actions. Besides, suicide rates are considered as social facts as they express social currents that affect people and the society as whole. Despite the fact that psychology study is also essential in resolving individual motives and the process through which certain circumstances push people to committing suicide; it is equally important to undertake circumstances analysis within the prevailing individuals social currents (Durkheim, 1951). Durkheim as a matter of fact established that the suicide rates in males were higher than in females; the singles had a higher rate of committing suicide than the married; suicide rates were also higher in the infertile couples than the fertile ones; protestants committed more suicide incidences as compared to the Catholics alongside Jews; Soldiers were more vulnerable to suicide than Civilians; there were more suicide incidences in the peaceful times than in war periods; Scandinavian countries exhibited higher suicide rates and lastly the people who had accomplished higher education level were at a higher risk of committing suicide. However, the Durkheim suicide study has received a wide range of criticism from various sources. It has actually been criticized as the perfect example of logical error which is commonly termed as ecological fallacy (Freedman, 2002). Durkheims conclusions on personal behavior on the basis of aggregate statistics have been termed as misleading (Freedman, 2002). This is because the Simpsons (1987) paradox has revealed how erroneous it is to analyze micro events in macro properties terms. Nevertheless, diverging views have arisen on whether Durkheims work should actually be classified as ecological fallacy. Researchers such as Van Poppel (1996) alongside Day (1996) have proposed that suicide rates differences between different religious groups (such as the Catholics alongside the Protestants) could be entirely explained in terms of how the social groups categorized deaths. For example, while the protestants recorded sudden deaths alongside deaths resulting from unspecified causes as sui cides, this was not the case on the Catholics side (Thompson, 2002). Thereby, Durkheim error would be considered as empirical other than logical. Other researchers such as Gibbs, Inkeles, alongside Johnson have alleged that the main intention of Durkheim was to socially analyze suicide on the holistic perspective with the intention of expounding social environments variation within suicide incidences but not specific individuals suicides. In addition, researchers of the recent times like Berk (2006) have also queried the Durkheims work micro-macro linkages. Berk (2006) particularly noted that Durkheim spoke of collective current reflecting the joint inclination going down the social organization channels (Freedman, 2002). However, the current intensity is the determinant factor of the suicides volume thereby bringing about psychological variables like depression which could be viewed as independent or non-social suicide cause (Freedman, 2002). This thereby, ignores Durkheims concept ion of considering these variables as the mostly influenced by the wider social forces and the notion that suicide can not affect such individuals in the absence of these forces (Martin Lee, 1994). Apparently, Durkheim brings out issues that affect people directly. In addition, he tends to possess vibrant structural society view, as well as the mode in which everyone within the society is affected by various social facts and how it is a must for each to comply with them. Durkheim indeed tried to have the situation where the social roles are distinguished from psychological, economical alongside biological roles. This is actually be observed within his social influences view on the rate of suicides, in which he studies several factors and determines their effect on the propensity to commit suicide (Ritzer, 1992).

Bette Howlands Criticism of Henry Jamess Washington Square :: Henry James Washington Square

Bette Howland's Criticism of Henry James's Washington Square Bette Howland, in her criticism of Henry James's Washington Square, focuses on two different aspects of the story's development. She begins by impressing on the reader how Henry James himself viewed his creation and then plunges into the history behind the plot. In doing this, she describes how Henry James has used irony to make this story his own creation. Half way through the article she changes directions and shows how Washington Square is the forerunner of his other novels. She describes how they all have the same basic plot. According to Bette Howland, Henry James never cared for his novel Washington Square. He refers to it as "A poorish thing" and "a tale purely American" (1). In fact, when he compiled his stories in his New York Edition he omitted this story from its pages. He claimed that, "I've tried to read over Washington Square and I can't and I fear it must go" (1). Ms. Howland claims that it is "a fitting irony. You might say that like Dr. Sloper in the novel, James disinherited his heroine, he cut her out of his will" (1). The author of the criticism then focuses on how Henry James received the anecdote that he would transform into his novel. Henry James twists the basic story into his own work by way of irony. Dr. Sloper is at the center of James's irony. While Dr. Sloper criticizes Catherine as a simpleton who is "ugly and overdressed" (3) he states, "I expect nothing . . . so that if she gives me a surprise, it will be all clear gain. If she doesn't, it will be no loss" (3). This is ironical because he himself played a part in her creation. Bette Howland states that while Washington Square may lack the 'supersubtle' nuances of Henry James' future novels, it "offers his irony at its most efficient. The novel is a system of ironies a closed system. . . James is always doing two things at once. Except for Catherine, the characters are always describing themselves and each other . . . and everything they say cuts both ways" (5). Bette Howland also examines the similarities present between Washington Square and The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, and The Golden Bowl. In the four novels, Henry James uses his favorite configuration of a triangle.

A Letter To Myself Essay

No one knows you better than you know yourself.   Moreover, out of all you will experience receiving a letter from yourself 50 years ahead in space-time will be your most profound experience.   So, here I am communicating with myself to inform what I have to look forward to in life. In writing I’m remembering receiving this letter five decades ago.   The odd thing is remembering its receipt but experiencing the writing for the first time.   With only 500 words, rather than focus on the strangeness addressing what will be is my mission.   Your life will be a strange and cruel mix of wonder and despair.   You will experience a living nightmare for love.   You’ll marry a woman who’ll turn out to be schizophrenic.   Dealing with her will be more than troublesome, yet the finer qualities of your character will arise out of the ashes of that experience. Knowing I received this letter will not prevent you from having the experience.   We all are purposed to play a role in life.   Writing this letter affirms some things are inevitable, even when you know about them in advance. You’re at an age where talk of marriage and difficult times are somewhat distant to your experience.   You’re yet to reach your teen years and the joy those years will bring.   Like yourself mom will undergo a troublesome marriage after she and dad divorce.   What you see in her next marriage will be a prophecy for your own.   In the midst of seeing her struggles will be happenings in your life that others will envy.   You’ll be very popular in high school and college.   You’ll turn out to be a champion sprinter and hurdler, you’ll sing in a singing group that will gain national prominence and you’ll have girlfriends that most men could only hope for.   Your teen and early adult years will be rewarding.   Those times I still treasure all these years having passed. Your love for learning will be a beacon to illuminate the way through your marital troubles.   Your field of study, along with your faith would be means to help you recover from troublesome times following your marriage.   This will be a battle however, one that would probably break the average man.   You’ll spend almost two decades unraveling the turmoil you experienced in being married for one decade.   In this you’ll get to know yourself as few people do.   You’ll become very wise and insightful as a result and you’ll be a blessing for what life will take you through. Do not be dismayed at what tomorrow will bring, it will lead to wonderful ends.   You will have a son who will do well in life.   A woman will come into your life who will be a dream come true and you’ll wind up content in your living.   You will appreciate life’s foibles and remember , â€Å"Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.†Ã‚   (Albert Einstein, Great Quotations, pg. 225)   That’s what you’ll do I’m proud to say. References Einstein, Albert, The Great Quotations, 225, George Seldes, May, 1978.

How useful are the views of Anzac soldiers at Gallipoli suggested in Source A, B and C

All the sources are useful because even though they may not be reliable, they show the people's opinion of the Gallipoli campaign. Sources that show peoples opinion can be used to explore how the solders felt through out the wars. Source A was published in 1916, just one year after the Gallipoli campaign. This makes it a primary source, which could mean that its more reliable as it was written nearer the time, and details have had less time to be forgotten. It was made on the Gallipoli peninsular, which shows that the artist had an eye witness account this would mean he was relying on his own knowledge not someone else's. Although it as created by an Australian artist, which might mean it, is biased or exaggerated because he might want to make the Australians look better, it shows both the good and bad side of the war. The cartoons show two ANZAC soldiers as they looked during the Gallipoli campaign. The first cartoon shows a man in a large over coat, shoes that are to big for him, a gun, he's yawning and has skinny legs. The large coat and shoes that are to big for him suggest that the supplies aren't getting through and they are very low on resources so he has to use anything he can get. The skinny legs also show that there is a lack of food and that the soldiers are very weak. I know from my own knowledge that supplies weren't getting through and that food supplies were very low. Also there were thousand of flies, which infected the food so that the little food that was left was not edible. The title â€Å"another hopeless dawn† shows the soldiers feel that they are not getting anywhere and that they are not going to progress anywhere with the knew day. The source is quite reliable and is useful because it shows an actual account of the soldier's time in Gallipoli and is not over exaggerated to make them look better as it shows the positives and negatives. Therefore it can be use to show how the conditions affected the soldiers, it also shows what the soldiers looked like during the war. Source B is useful because it provides a historical account. However it maybe bias as an Australian writes it and he might want to make his army look better. It is a secondary source so it might be more reliable because there might be more sources available. Also the people who have written the sources he's based his book on have had time to recover from the shock they may have suffered and write the sources more accurately. I know part of it is truthful and is reliable, as I know that the citizen soldiers were trained from an early age for military. It is also similar to the feeling in Britain – † to be left behind was unthinkable. So we know that this part is truth and reliable. However, part of the source is unreliable as it is just one man's opinion (John Kegan). â€Å"New Zealanders skills with the rifle and spade would win them a reputation as the best soldiers in the war during the 20th Century. † We know this is not true as the New Zealanders lost their battle at the Gallipoli campaign to the Turks. As the British and French troops won most of their battles during the first and Second World War it could be argued that they were the stronger and better troops of the 20th Century. It also says in the source â€Å"†¦ ormidable offensive power, as the Turks were soon to discover† we know this is not true as they lost to the Turks. I also know the landings at Sulva bay went wrong for the ANZAC troops and also the landings at ANZAC cove and Cape Helles beach failed. This shows they cannot be the â€Å"formidable offensive power† the author makes them out to be and that he is maybe exaggerating what happened to make it his troops sound better. This source can be used as an insight as to what happen when the new Zealanders got called up to war, and what the New Zealand people thought of their troops. Source C is written by a reporter, but it is not clear as to what country he is from, the way he talks about the Australians suggest that he is not from Australia, but is impressed by them. He seems to over exaggerate the part they played in the war and the way they dealt with it. This would suggest the source is unreliable as it is his own opinion not actual facts. This source shows what some people thought of the Australians â€Å"it was great to watch them as they went†. It shows the high moral and ANZAC spirit that was present through the campaign, I know this is probably true because is very similar to what happened in Britain through out the first and second war there was arguably very high British spirit. It also has some inaccurate points i. e. ‘absolutely unaffected by the bullets' – this cannot be true as many troops were killed by bullets. I know that there were 200,000 allied casualties and some of these were from the ANZAC troops, therefore they weren't unaffected by bullets. This source is best used as an opinion and insight into what was thought of the Australians rather than as reliable account of what actually happened. In conclusion Sources A, B and C are useful in different ways. Source A is the most reliable and accurate account of what actually happened and could be used to show what actually happened. Source B and C is best used as opinions of what happened, where the truth may have been exaggerated or distorted. It can be used to show an account from the ANZAC point of view and how their people felt towards the campaign.

Free Essays on A Random Walk

A Random Walk Down Wall Street Burton G Malkiel, the author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street, gives me the reader an easy way understand information about personal investing in today’s stock market. The book is divided into four parts: Stocks and their values, how the pros play the biggest game in town, the new investment technology, and a practical guide for random walkers and other investors. This book reflects on many different aspects for an individual on what are the best ways for that person to invest their money. Random walk theory gained popularity in 1973 when Burton Malkiel wrote A Random Walk Down Wall Street, a book that is now regarded as an investment classic. Random walk is a stock market theory that states that the past movement or direction of the price of a stock or overall market cannot be used to predict its future movement. Originally examined by Maurice Kendall in 1953, the theory states that stock price fluctuations are independent of each other and have the same probability distribution, but, over a period of time, prices maintain an upward trend. In short, random walk says that stocks take a random and unpredictable path. The chance of a stock's future price going up is the same as it going down. A follower of random walk believes it is impossible to outperform the market without assuming additional risk. In his book, Malkiel preaches that both technical analysis and fundamental analysis are largely a waste of time and are still unproven in outperforming the markets. Malkiel constantly states that a long-term buy-end-hold strategy is the best and that individuals should not attempt to time the markets. Attempts based on technical, fundamental, or any other analysis is futile. He backs this up with statistics showing that most mutual funds fail to beat benchmark averages like the S&P 500. While many still follow the preaching of Malkiel, others believe that the investing landscape is very different th... Free Essays on A Random Walk Free Essays on A Random Walk A Random Walk Down Wall Street Burton G Malkiel, the author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street, gives me the reader an easy way understand information about personal investing in today’s stock market. The book is divided into four parts: Stocks and their values, how the pros play the biggest game in town, the new investment technology, and a practical guide for random walkers and other investors. This book reflects on many different aspects for an individual on what are the best ways for that person to invest their money. Random walk theory gained popularity in 1973 when Burton Malkiel wrote A Random Walk Down Wall Street, a book that is now regarded as an investment classic. Random walk is a stock market theory that states that the past movement or direction of the price of a stock or overall market cannot be used to predict its future movement. Originally examined by Maurice Kendall in 1953, the theory states that stock price fluctuations are independent of each other and have the same probability distribution, but, over a period of time, prices maintain an upward trend. In short, random walk says that stocks take a random and unpredictable path. The chance of a stock's future price going up is the same as it going down. A follower of random walk believes it is impossible to outperform the market without assuming additional risk. In his book, Malkiel preaches that both technical analysis and fundamental analysis are largely a waste of time and are still unproven in outperforming the markets. Malkiel constantly states that a long-term buy-end-hold strategy is the best and that individuals should not attempt to time the markets. Attempts based on technical, fundamental, or any other analysis is futile. He backs this up with statistics showing that most mutual funds fail to beat benchmark averages like the S&P 500. While many still follow the preaching of Malkiel, others believe that the investing landscape is very different th...

Discover the Distant, Frozen Oort Cloud

Discover the Distant, Frozen Oort Cloud Where do comets come from? Theres a dark, cold region of the solar system where chunks of ice mixed with rock, called cometary nuclei, orbit the Sun. This region is called the Oà ¶rt Cloud, named after the man who suggested its existence, Jan Oà ¶rt. The Oà ¶rt Cloud From Earth While this cloud of cometary nuclei is not visible to the naked eye, planetary scientists have been studying it for years. The future comets it contains are made mostly of mixtures of frozen water, methane, ethane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide, along with rock and dust grains. The Oà ¶rt Cloud by the Numbers The cloud of cometary bodies is widely dispersed through the outermost part of the solar system. Its very distant from us, with an inner boundary 10,000 times the Sun-Earth distance. At its outer edge, the cloud stretches into interplanetary space some 3.2 light-years. For comparison, the closest star to us is 4.2 light-years away, so the Oà ¶rt Cloud reaches almost that far.   Planetary scientists estimate the Oort Cloud has up to two trillion  icy objects orbiting the Sun, many of which make their way into solar orbit and become comets. There are two types of comets that come from the distant reaches of space, and it turns out they dont all come from the Oà ¶rt Cloud.   Comets and Their Origins Out There How do  Oà ¶rt Cloud objects become comets that go hurtling in orbit around the Sun? There are several ideas about that. Its possible that stars passing nearby, or tidal interactions within the disk of the  Milky Way, or interactions with gas and dust clouds give these icy bodies a kind of push out of their orbits in the Oà ¶rt Cloud. With their motions changed, theyre more likely to fall in toward the Sun on new orbits that take thousands of years for one trip around the Sun. These are called long-period comets. Other comets, called short-period comets, travel around the Sun in much shorter times, usually less than 200 years. They come from the Kuiper Belt, which is a roughly disk-shaped region that spans out from the orbit of Neptune. The Kuiper Belt has been in the news for the past couple of decades as astronomers discover new worlds within its boundaries. Dwarf planet  Pluto is a denizen of the Kuiper Belt, joined by Charon (its largest satellite), and the dwarf planets Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Sedna. The Kuiper Belt extends from about 30 to 55 AU, and astronomers estimate it has hundreds of thousands of icy bodies larger than 62 miles across. It might also have about a trillion comets. (One AU, or astronomical unit, equals about 93 million miles.) Exploring the Parts of the Oà ¶rt Cloud The Oà ¶rt Cloud is divided into two parts. The first is the source of the long-period comets and may have trillions of cometary nuclei. The second is an inner cloud shaped roughly like a doughnut. It, too, is very rich in cometary nuclei and other dwarf-planet-sized objects. Astronomers also have found one small world that has a section of its orbit through the inner part of the Oà ¶rt Cloud. As they find more, they will be able to refine their ideas about where those objects originated back in the solar systems early history. The Oà ¶rt Cloud and Solar System History The Oà ¶rt Clouds cometary nuclei and Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) are icy remnants from the formation of the solar system, which took place about 4.6 billion years ago. Since both icy and dusty materials were interspersed throughout the primordial cloud, its likely that the Oà ¶rt Clouds frozen planetesimals formed much closer to the Sun early in history. That occurred alongside the formation of the planets and asteroids. Eventually, solar radiation either destroyed the cometary bodies closest to the Sun or they were collected together to become part of planets and their moons. The rest of the materials were slingshotted away from the Sun, along with the young gas giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) to the outer solar system to regions where other icy materials were orbiting. Its also very likely that some Oà ¶rt Cloud objects came from materials in a jointly shared pool of icy objects from protoplanetary disks. These disks formed around other stars that lay very close together in the Suns birth nebula. Once the Sun and its siblings formed, they drifted apart and dragged along the materials from other protoplanetary disks. They also became part of the  Oà ¶rt Cloud.   The outer regions of the distant outer solar system have not yet been deeply explored by spacecraft. The New Horizons  mission explored  Pluto in mid-2015, and there are plans to  study one other object beyond Pluto in 2019. Aside from those flybys, there are no other missions being built to pass through and study the Kuiper Belt and  Oà ¶rt Cloud. Oà ¶rt Clouds Everywhere! As astronomers study planets orbiting other stars, they are finding evidence of cometary bodies in those systems, too. These exoplanets form largely as our own system did, meaning that Oà ¶rt clouds could be an integral part of any planetary systems evolution and inventory.  At the very least, they tell scientists more about the formation and evolution of our own solar system.

Top 3 Secrets to Getting Hired for Any Job

Top 3 Secrets to Getting Hired for Any Job Finding it hard to stay ahead of the competition? Do you feel completely lacking in confidence when it comes to seeking out, applying for, and interviewing at prospective jobs? According to a LinkedIn expert who focuses on market shifts and analyzes how applicants can get ahead of the competition, there are three secrets you should keep in mind while job searching to increase your chances of getting hired for any job. 1. Focus not on who you know, but who your contacts knowThe number of people actively looking for work increased steadily over the past few years. But as of May 2016, 5.5 million jobs were still open. More employers are looking for top class talent and more workers are hoping to switch to better companies or fields. The way to use this to your advantage is to tap into your network. Companies prefer to hire candidates referred by a source they trust. Even if you don’t know someone at a company you’re applying to, figure out who you know that might know some one there.And remember: it’s often not your sister or best friend who’ll land you your next job. It could be anyone: your babysitter’s aunt, your coworker’s former neighbor, etc. First degree connections are great, but not the be all and end all. Think bigger than your immediate circle and branch out to use your whole network. Accept the third degree.2. Focus not on what your degree says, but what you actually knowYour major doesn’t matter that much. Besides, industries are changing so much and so rapidly these days that it is almost impossible to predict what the best field of study would be to land the work that will be most in demand–or how to meet the expanding demands of that industry. Focus on proving yourself to be a lifelong learner. Constantly accept opportunities to build new skills. Choose a field of study that gives you the broadest swatch of skill and knowledge. And then figure out how to put what you know into the proper contex t for any given job. Always think about how your particular group of skills could translate the position you’re applying for, and focus on communicating that.3. Focus on the power you do haveIt can feel powerless to be on the job market, but it doesn’t have to. Advances in technology and the gig economy mean that power is ever-shifting into the hands of job seekers. Be ready to wield it. Keep an eye on the market and be ready to pounce on new opportunities. It soon may be the case that companies come looking for you when you’re in the market for a challenging new opportunity. Until then, keep an open mind, and build your brand.

Medical Problems as a Result of Chronic Cocaine Abuse and Alco Lab Report

Medical Problems as a Result of Chronic Cocaine Abuse and Alcoholism - Lab Report Example Initially, the client described the pain as stabbing rated 9/10; however, after administering 2 SL Nitro and ASA 325 mg, the pain gradually became â€Å"crampy† and is currently rated 1/10. In addition, the client was also given Lasix 40 mg IV. The client reported that she tried Excedrin PM and Tylenol PM at home to relieve the pain but was unsuccessful. A day prior to consulting, the client related that she tried taking 100 mg of Toprol XL, which provided no pain relief.Carissa had a history of uncontrolled hypertension and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF), dilated cardiomyopathy, and polysubstance abuse.- The client had a history of longstanding hypertension and polysubstance abuse.- In March 2005, the client was diagnosed with stage II left intraductal breast carcinoma, metastatic with 1/14 left axillary lymph nodes. The client was S/P left mastectomy, chemotherapy, and XRT. She had a history of depression in the same year.- In July 2006, the client was dia gnosed with congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy.   - On 11/7/2006 – 16/7/2006, the client was admitted in the ward for 5 days after presenting to the ED with complaints of chest pains and SOB. During her admission, the client’s cardiac enzymes, electrolytes, Mg++ levels are all WNL. Her EKG showed normal sinus rhythm with LA enlargement, LVH, and a prolonged QT interval (.514 sec) but no dynamic changes worrisome for cardiac ischemia. CXR showed marked cardiomegaly with some pulmonary vascular congestion. An ECHO was performed during this time revealing LA dilation (5.0 cm) with LV size at the upper limit of normal, severe impairment of LV systolic function with a calculated biplane EF of 14%. The LV diastolic filling pattern was felt to be â€Å"pseudonormal.† It was during this time that RT was started on an aggressive 5 drug regimen for heart failure and recommended to follow up with a cardiologist at the Myers Park Heart Failure clinic. She has followed up with the Heart Failure clinic two times since July.

How economics influence a country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How economics influence a country - Essay Example Germany has a charming and promising standard of living. Germany has the best living standard in Europe. Characterized by a responsive authority, joint public, private partnership and the best service based economy; Germanys living standards are nothing short of perfect. The infrastructure is at its peak with elaborate means of transport. Germany has the best health policy in Europe and the mortgage industry is at its peak. As a result, Germany, emerges as one of the most beautiful and habitable places in Europe. The glory and splendor of Germany, however, has a tainted future. The economy heavily depends on its vibrant industries. These industries need a high input of human labor (office 164). The shrinking and aging Germany population is not in a position to handle most expansion and growth. The industries result in labor importation a very expensive undertaking which slices away a large proportion of the profits earned. In return, the feasibility to undertake any commercial activity is dark due to the high cost of labor. In the next 50 years, Germanys population will shrink by 20%. In all aspects, even if the economic growth rate maintains at a relative 115, the country will eventually lose out on the cost of production. Currently, the per capita income of Germany stands at $388 per head. Germany has the highest per capital rating in Europe. Increase in the cost of production ultimately leads to costly goods and services and the per capital income fall sharply. Currently, Germany offers a good work climate for potential workers. The balls are changing fast for the country as the south East economies pick on the development trend. Posing Germany against Malaysia, it is w orth noting that Malaysia is the very reverse of Germany. The Malaysian population is exploding and so is its workforce. Currently, Malaysia per capita income stands at $9000 per head (East Asia

The use of statistical operations to reduce the proportion of customer Essay

The use of statistical operations to reduce the proportion of customer complaints in the agency selling cars (x) in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example However, complaints should be minimized by ensuring the clients get quality services which meet their needs. According to DDDDDD, customer complaints should not be minimized by discouraging customers from complaining, rather it should be minimized by addressing the issues that give rise to customer complaints. Typically, such issues are numerous and not all can be eliminated. However, they should be minimized. Additionally, where resources are constrained, it is important to identify the vital issues which need to be prioritized. Saudi Arabian car is unsurprisingly the largest in the Middle East and by far, the most promising. This perhaps explains why manufacturers have placed much investment and hope in this area. In 2013, the car sales hit 570,000 marking a 10% increase from 2012; a trend likely to continue in 2014. The market’s importance was further emphasized in the Saudi International Motor Show in Jeddah highlighting the sharp competition arising from convergence of leading brands and new comers. This places greater emphasis on understanding the reasons behind customer complaints and further sieving into the important reasons which should be accorded greater importance by car sale agents. Understanding customer complaints and the reasons behind the complaints helps the agencies in defining needs of customers and satisfying the needs. The process considered involves the time the client first contacts the agency to seek information about a car to the time of purchase. A typical flow chart for ca r sales process is provided below, The agencies are responsible for facilitating initial contact with would be buyers, taking the buyers through the negotiation process and eventually selling and handing over the car to the buyers. More often, contact is initiated by a client, courtesy of adverts and referrals. The agents the takes the clients through a range of options available and where no desirable options are available, suggests alternative ways of

Journal Entry, topic novel 'The Feast of Love-by Charles Baxter' Essay

Journal Entry, topic novel 'The Feast of Love-by Charles Baxter' - Essay Example Some couples feel love is best expressed by living a traditional lifestyle. Society’s concept of love begins with a perfect family consisting of two parents, children, a white picket fence and a dog. Mothers and Fathers stay together, raising their children. Some couples lives this way happily. The Feast of Love depicts a couple who took this approach. The Ginsbergs raised three children, bought a house and were content to spend their golden years with each other. Both of the Ginsbergs are also Jewish. Even thought they aren’t practicing Jews, their heritage plays a big role in making them fit together. This idea of love fit them. When couples cannot agree on love, divorce becomes the answer. Bradley, the Ginsbergs’ neighbor, was not married once, but twice. Bradley married his first wife with the belief that love was between a man and a woman. He never dreamed that Kathryn would leave him for another woman. Kathryn thought if she married Bradley, he would love her the way she needed. When she realized that Bradley couldn’t love her enough, that no man could, Kathryn started noticing women. Kathryn found her love could exist with another woman. Some lovers believe commitment is not a necessary part of love. Bradley’s second wife, Diana, felt this way. She had a long running affair with a married man named David. When she met Bradley and started dating him, Diana felt no need to give David up. She even saw David after she had accepted Bradley’s proposal. Although Diana avoided David during the couple of months she was married, she never totally put him out of her mind. Though David was still married after her divorce, Diana went right back to him. Marriage was not sacred to her. Being with the person she loved was more important than a piece of paper. Marriage is not a part of love for some people. After Bradley’s two marriages failed, he didn’t really want to go down

Militarization and Police Brutality Annotated Bibliography

Militarization and Police Brutality - Annotated Bibliography Example Although the piece does focused mainly upon the process of the militarization of police, the tangential understanding that can be gained is the fact that this militarization has caused a psychological shift in the way that at least engage with crime. The veracity and truthfulness of this particular article is almost without question; due to the fact that it was published in a scholarly journal and thoroughly peer-reviewed. Furthermore, the author of the article has also been responsible for authoring several other pieces with relation to militarization of police and the overall impact upon society that these paramilitary forces have. Kimper, J. (2014). WHY MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS DONT WORK: CONFRONTING ANGRY CITIZENS IN THE GARB OF JACK-BOOTED THUGS DOES PLENTY OF DAMAGE, ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.  Newsweek Global,  163(8), 30-38. This particular article examines the correlation between the militarization of police and the overall level of violence that these so-called â€Å"peace officers† are willing to direct the average citizen. The author indicates that even though it might seem as a trivial matter, the actual clothing and tactical weapons that police are now receiving has had a direct correlation to the overall level of violence that they are comfortable with directing at the citizen. The source goes on to indicate the fact is that the militarization of the police is a relatively new occurrence; even though concerns and issues over police brutality is an issue that has been represented for a very long period of time.

Examined Life film. (Agree and opinion) Movie Review

Examined Life film. (Agree and opinion) - Movie Review Example us of Avital Ronell provides a stimulating perspective on what goes on in contemporary phases, for instance during her interview with Dufourmantelee, she commented on ways in which the technology can redefine the post human body contour. Or rather the television screen reflection and the spectrally concept. If her artistics work cannot offer the philosophical framework to the film, they contribute in exploding the conventional disciplinary borders and redefining theatricality. Avital Ronnell turned philosophy of performance into a performed philosophy. When she fails to perform herself as in in Examined Life Film, she actually staged her language in the film, thereby resorting to calligrammatic and creative layout drawings, punctuations, and mixing texts. In writing like the crack wars, literature, The telephone book, and Addiction, the textual matter of the scholar became a visual performance and a score in Examined Life Film. Ronnel therefore, tends to dramatize philosophy. Avitall Ronnel is one of the people that assisted in making Examined Life. Avital Ronnel remembered that Heidegger decided to ditch philosophy and went for thinking. She also attempted explaining how people need to live ethical life without the final meaning to them. Avital just like its philosophical belief, she tried to liberate the philosophical issues from the sterile academia world through provoking excursion and entertaining with the influential and famous thinkers (Ronnell, 13). She revealed the philosophical power in transforming the manner in which the world around us is seen and imagined. Examined Life, gave the first ten minute to Avital Ronell. She rhetorically turned the camera around on filmmaker by citing the issues of cutting the intellectual ideas down to less than 10 minutes to satisfy the demand of the medium. Bringing the question on what is important, is it medium or the information. In conclusion, the film avoided manipulation of agenda based arguments of simpl ification

Militarization and Police Brutality Annotated Bibliography

Militarization and Police Brutality - Annotated Bibliography Example Although the piece does focused mainly upon the process of the militarization of police, the tangential understanding that can be gained is the fact that this militarization has caused a psychological shift in the way that at least engage with crime. The veracity and truthfulness of this particular article is almost without question; due to the fact that it was published in a scholarly journal and thoroughly peer-reviewed. Furthermore, the author of the article has also been responsible for authoring several other pieces with relation to militarization of police and the overall impact upon society that these paramilitary forces have. Kimper, J. (2014). WHY MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS DONT WORK: CONFRONTING ANGRY CITIZENS IN THE GARB OF JACK-BOOTED THUGS DOES PLENTY OF DAMAGE, ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.  Newsweek Global,  163(8), 30-38. This particular article examines the correlation between the militarization of police and the overall level of violence that these so-called â€Å"peace officers† are willing to direct the average citizen. The author indicates that even though it might seem as a trivial matter, the actual clothing and tactical weapons that police are now receiving has had a direct correlation to the overall level of violence that they are comfortable with directing at the citizen. The source goes on to indicate the fact is that the militarization of the police is a relatively new occurrence; even though concerns and issues over police brutality is an issue that has been represented for a very long period of time.

Chicago history Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Chicago history - Assignment Example For instance, voters’ defeat of Thompson showed that many Chicago residents were tired of the ensuing disorder. Notably, reformist and citizens groups advocated for a stringent enforcement of prohibition, in addition to the immediate onslaught on corruption, crime and social vices. Thus, such belief united ethnic voters as well as politicians in Chicago and subsequently reformists’ mayors, such as William Dever were elected (Lecture notesâ€Å"Chicago in the Roaring Twenties† 6). Question 12 Lause, Mark A. "Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement, and the Bombing That Divided Gilded Age America." Business And Economics--Labor And Industrial Relations 60 (2007): 298-300. The objective of this article is to examine the repercussion of Haymarket riots and its brunt on the labor plus radical movements within the recognizable provisions of defeat as well as demise. The article assesses the repression of labor plus radicalism within Chicago , based on the assumption that there was an extensive authorized repression aimed at destroying the eight-hour movement along with the unity it momentarily inspired. Thus, according to Lause the police basically prevented an imminent revolution. The position taken by the author is that, even though segments of the movement at first backed away from the charged men, the extensive defense campaign shifted to an amnesty movement which inspired modern socialist International that went on to declare May Day an international labor day. Green, James. "Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement, and the Bombing That Divided Gilded Age America." The Journal of American History 94.1 (2007): 302-303. This journal article re-creates the Haymarket riots in order to demonstrate the growth of the earliest great labor movement following the American Civil War along with the twenty-year fight for the eight-hour working period. Green displays how the movement triumphed over several setbacks to coordinate a sequence of strikes which swept the nation during 1886, and as a result positioning the unions for a triumph on the eve of Haymarket tragedy. Green examines the frustrations, tensions plus exhilarating victories of the Midwestern source of strength of Gilded Age. Question 13 The cost of the Fair is worth the benefits Chicago received, since it generated extensive hysteria in opposition to immigrants and the labor leaders. Moreover, the affair destroyed the labor movement resistance in Chicago and is not worth the benefits Chicago received since it only stimulated the social consciousness of many people in Chicago rather than bridging reforms. However, it enthused generations of leftist activists and artists and it is for the most part considered as the origin of global May Day observances for workforces. The fair also displayed the worst of the city class struggle. Question 14 Paddon, Anna R and Sally Turner. "African Americans and the World's Columb ian Exposition,." Illinois Historical Journal 88.1 (1995): 19-36. The thesis of the article is that even though the fair officials discouraged the attempts of African Americans in achieving reforms, the activities conducted in that fair became the foundation for African American political social along with artistic movement. Hence, the aim of the study was to examine the approach, group alignment, together with mentoring relationships formed by Africans Americans from the fair. The authors Paddon,

Changes in Holography

Changes in Holography 001 Looking Back, Moving Forward How was 2004 for you? For the industry as a whole, reviewing the developments that we covered last year in Holography News, we can conclude that it was a good year for most, with many positive developments that set the scene for 2005 and beyond, but with sufficient clouds on the horizon to prevent any complacency. In terms of markets, in the high security arena the growth of holograms on banknotes continues apace (see page 3) and this will continue to be key market notwithstanding the recent news that the new $100 and other denominations will not, in all likelihood, include a holographic feature. In other high security markets, passports took something of a back seat, for holograms at least not because of technology concerns but because of the current pre-occupation with biometrics. But elsewhere in document protection, AAMVAs specification of holograms on all US driving licences was a significant boost for the industry, while the tax stamp market continues provide significant high volume opportunities for suppliers. There were few major developments in brand protection although the use of holograms as the prime authentication feature on a new labelling program for pharmaceutical products in Malaysia, and the Olympics 2004 merchandising program demonstrated the continuing success of hologram s in these areas. On the downside, the FDAs controversial decision to adopt RFID-based track and trace as the solution to product safety and supply chain management for pharmaceuticals in the US could have unwelcome consequences for the industry should drug regulatory authorities elsewhere in the world follow its example. In packaging, meanwhile, as the Stock watch article in this issue (see page 6) points out, it is barely possible to go out nowadays without seeing holography embellishing shop shelves on all manner of goods from luxury high end to everyday items. Innovation and Development On the technology front, holography continued to demonstrate its inherent capacity for innovation and development. The integration of holograms with other technologies for enhanced security and functionality continued apace examples including Schreiners KeySecure technology, Securiketts Authentikett labels, combined hologram/DNA/RFID labels from ADNAS and Holomex and enhancements to teas scribos Holospot system (see page 8) to name but a few. In the banknote market, De La Rue, Louisenthal and Kurz all launched new security features during 2004 based on combinations of substrate, thread and foil technology. In terms of production, Newmec and Gidue both entered the market with foil applications systems, General Vacuum launched its new compact metalliser while Spatial Imagings new Lightspeed digital hologram printer marked the beginning of new era in large format hologram origination. Aside from the developments in the ‘conventional market for authentication and decorative devices, holography is also beginning to demonstrate its potential for use as a tool as well as a feature. Examples of this potential include Smart Holograms development of reflection holograms as medical diagnostic devices and holographic data storage systems from Optware. Publicly-listed companies were covered in detail in the December issue of Holography News. But there was news from many other qua rters as well, including the expansion plans announced by ABNH, ITW Covid, AFC and Holoshape, and AET Films move into wide embossing on the packaging front. Louisenthal, a major player in the banknote industry, revealed that it now offers full-scale hologram production, including origination, while its former strategic partner in foils, Hueck Folien, joined the ranks of banknote suppliers with its first order for stripes for the Thai currency, signalling a potentially significant new entrant to the market. Its arrival was partially offset by AOTs decision to abandon banknote foils, while the bankruptcy of another high security supplier, Mantegazza, was staved off by its acquisition by Italian security papermaker Fabriano. Outside of the traditional industry centres of Western Europe and North America, the Far East, India and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries continue to play an increasingly important role not just as markets for western companies but as major centres of developm ent in their own right. Russia, a hotbed of scientific innovation, held its first regional conference this year; the commitment amongst Indian companies to quality and industry standards is an inspiration to us all, while all eyes are currently on China, the location for the 2005 Holo-pack†¢Holo-print which will provide the first opportunity for many western hologram companies to witness the strength and scope of this massive market. 2004s Downside So much for the positive. On the downside, RFID continues to position itself, and be viewed in some quarters, as the ‘silver bullet antidote to counterfeiting and diversion, new technologies such as Nanoventions claim their superiority over diffractive features and high quality counterfeit holograms have been discovered on currency notably the euro. The latter, in particular, is leading to a perceptible sense of disenchantment with holograms in terms of their claimed security benefits, technology proliferation and lax standard s amongst suppliers. This topic has been covered exhaustively in recent issues of Holography News and was one of the main topics for discussion at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague, a positive outcome of which was the openness of debate and willingness amongst industry participants to work collectively to address the real issues that are causing concern and counter the misperceptions behind them. All in all, not a bad year for the industry. Provided the concerns leading to disenchantment in some sectors continues to be recognised and addressed with appropriate measures, and provided hologram companies continue to invest in the new products and techniques that form the lifeblood and future of this industry, 2005 could be even better. 002 A Watershed Year for the IHMA In his Chairmans report to the Annual General Meeting of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, Hugues Souparis identified the launch of the Secure Hologram Producer Certification Scheme as a watershed for the Association (se HN Vol 18 No 3). This Scheme, run in co-operation with Intergraf, should make a significant contribution to improving procedures in the secure hologram field, and help to raise customer awareness of the need to source secure holograms from a qualified secure producer. Souparis company, Hologram Industries, was the first to be certified, but several others have now applied. Another important development during the year had been the negotiations with the Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), aimed at building a strong relationship between the two associations and serving as a model for the IHMAs relationship with other regional or national hologram associations. An important part of the planned relationship was that the IHMAs Hologram Image Register and HoMAIs Hologram Registry would be linked so that all searches for a hologram match on either database would cover both databases, improving the likelihood of identifying matches which resulted from attempts to source illicit copies of a hologram already in use. He reported that Despite the news that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing is casting its net wider for security features (see page 1), banknotes continue to be a good market for the holography industry. A number of new banknotes have been introduced during 2004, including two major currencies the new Canadian dollar series which features a stripe and the two higher denominations of the newly-designed Japanese yen, each with a patch. Kurz was the supplier for both, the latter understood to be the largest single hologram order for banknotes in the industry. Other currencies that have introduced holograms to all or most of their the Board was in discussion with the China AntiCounterfeiting Technology As sociation (CATA) with a view to CATA establishing a hologram section, and that the IHMA was also in preliminary discussions with Russian producers interested in an industry organisation there. Souparis also reminded members of IHMAs links with Interpol and other international and national police organisations, saying that he hoped to build on these contacts in the coming year. New Board Members In the elections at the AGM, Souparis was re-elected Chairman a post he can hold for another two years. Wilfried Schipper (Hologram Company Rako) was elected as the European representative on the Board, with Alkis Lembessis (Cavomit and Taurus) as his deputy; Umendra Gupta (Holostik India) was re-elected as Asian representative, with Khalid Khanani (Metatex) as deputy. Randy James (Pacific Holographics) was elected as deputy North American representative and since the AGM the Board has co-opted John Halotek (ITW Covid) as the North American representative, there being no accepted nomination at the meeting. Alex Goncharsky (Computer Holography Centre, Moscow) and Ken Traub (ABNH) remain on the board for a second and fourth year respectively. Spreading the Word In addition to the objectives above, a key task for the IHMA in 2005 and thereafter will be to promote the positive benefits of holograms, particularly as authentication devices, as a counter to disenchantment with the technology in certain quarters, notably some parts of the high security sector. A proactive PR campaign, a greater presence at industry conferences, an improved website as a communications tool both for members and users, and a drive to increase the membership and the visibility of the IHMA are all currently underway. The hologram industry is one of the few in the authentication sector to have its own association and the IHMA is committed to building on this position and the strengths that a collective voice can provide for hologram companies. Contact: www.IHMA.org. 003 General Vacuums New Compact Metalliser (Pg # 5) General Vacuum, manufacturer of vacuum metallising equipment, unveiled further details of its new compact Holosecâ„ ¢ metalliser (see HN Vol 18 No 2) at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague. Vacuum metallisers have until now been supplied with production widths of 800-3000m, limiting their use both financially and for production purposes among small and narrow-web hologram producers and forcing these to buy in their film and foil pre-metallised from wide web suppliers. The Holosec was designed to fill this niche and enable narrow-web producers to bring metallising in-house, thereby increasing their security of production and enabling them to take advantage of the specialised treatments the system offers. The Holosec combines the vacuum chamber, unwind and rewind units, plasma pre-treatment, demetallization and evaporation source within one compact unit with a footprint of 2m x 3m. In addition to the conventional aluminium used for holographic films and foils, it can coat silicon oxide, chrome, silver and copper and zinc sulphide for high refractive index films. It also offers pattern demetallisation with in-line registration and plasma pre-treatment that enhances the sur face energy of the films to improve adhesion and hence quality. The run rate varies from 10m to a maximum of 200m per minute. General Vacuum, formerly Valmet and now part of the Bobst Group, declined to give prices for the Holosec, stating that these depend on specification. But it can assumed that they will be considerably lower than the prices for wide web systems. When questioned at Holopack.†¢ Holo-print about the risks of spreading low-cost secure hologram production technology in the market, Dr Nadir Ahmed, who gave the presentation on behalf of his former company, commented that the company would check the legitimacy of customers before supply. To date, two machines have been sold with other orders in the pipeline for early 2005. Contact: Andy Jack, General Vacuum Equipment. Tel: +44 1706 622442; [emailprotected] 004 Menzel Vision System for Web Guiding Menzel, a German company specialising in machinery for finishing and inspection machines for textiles, expanded into similar equipment for the plastic films industry in the late 1960s, and at Holopack†¢ Holo-print exhibited a machine vision system for control of web handling machines for holographic films. The system keeps web lines in register to improve the accuracy and quality of slitting, winding/re-winding, stamping and other hologram finishing processes. Based on the companys experience building textile and film web guiding systems, the hologram guiding system can be set to read the edge of the hologram film or a specific part of the pattern in the hologram the camera scans across the width of the film to record the edge position, the registration mark position or the position of a specified image element. Once programmed, it feeds the image data to a sensor and a controller, which in turn adjusts the web guides to maintain the position of the web. The Menzel vision system for holographic film costs around â‚ ¬17- 20,000, depending on the configuration required. Contact: www.menzel.net. 005 Optical Document Security The third edition of the reference book Optical Document Security is now available from publishers Artech House. Written by Rudolf van Renesse, an expert in the field and editor and co-author of the two previous editions (published in 1994 and 1998 respectively), the book provides a comprehensive and cohesive treatment of all aspects of optical document security, according to its publishers. The books contents have been substantially updated and revised from the previous edition, and expanded to include coverage of additional security features and evaluation. The introduction on the theory of colours is followed by chapters on light interference and diffraction, substrate-based security, printing inks and printing techniques, printed security patterns (including screen decoded images and digital watermarks), diffractive- and interference-based security features, security design and evaluation and an introduction to biometrics. The emphasis is on both the physics of security features and their value in resisting counterfeiting, while the chapter evaluating security design looks at the human factors of first line document inspection. The books 350 pages contain over 270 black and white illustrations, including live security documents, and an appendix with samples of important security features. In addition, a CD-ROM is included which contains all illustrations of the book in full-colour. Author Rudolf van Renesse was senior research engineer in the Optics Department of TNO Institute of Applied Physics in The Netherlands and is now an independent consultant on document security for government departments and banking and financial institutions. He has extensive experience in the areas of holography, optical inspection techniques, and the theory of colors and document security, and is the author of more than 80 publications in these areas, as well as a contributor to Holography News and its sister publications Authentication News and Currency News. Optical Document Security is available at the discounted price  £72/$118 from Artech House www.artech-house.com 006 Display Holography on the Rise Photopolymer is making progress winning projects that perhaps embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply We feel for Nick Hardy and Valerie Love of OpGraphics, the British company that has listed its DuPont photopolymer hologram production equipment for sale on eBay. Op has been producing display holograms for the gift and promotional trade since 1983, originally on Agfa silver halide films, then in the 1990s Nick Hardy started working with DuPonts holographic photopolymer, partly because Agfa ceased production of its holographic films, partly because the photopolymer reflection holograms had lower noise and were more light efficient. Unfortunately, when DuPont Authentication Systems was established as a joint venture with Label Systems Inc, the company decided to restrict the distribution of its unexposed photopolymer film to authorised security hologram producers. Op were among the hologram producers which were given notice of a cessation of supply. They tried to fight this under competition law in the UK, but despite their significant investment in DuPonts production equipment and the time to perfect their processes, this was to no avail. The result: holographic production kit being offered on eBay. The Year of Photopolymer? The timing could not be more poignant as there appears to be an upsurge of interest in photopolymer holograms could 2005 be the year of photopolymer? The year has started well for DAS with NASCARs announcement of its licensed product authentication label, a numbered photopolymer reflection hologram (see page 4). To date, the North American sports licensing authentication projects have been dominated by embossed holograms. NASCAR (the most popular motor sport organisation in North America) may not rival the big national sporting leagues in popularity, but big race meetings such as Daytona and Indianapolis attract large crowds of eager souvenir hunters. Last year, DAS released its izonâ„ ¢ advanced photopolymer holograms, offering instant holo portraits on the film, making it particularly suitable for ID documents. And across the Pacific, Dai Nippon and Nippon Paint Co announced that Teikoku Piston Ring Co had become the first major customer for authentication holograms on Secure I mageâ„ ¢ hot-stampable photopolymer. So photopolymer is making progress in the brand protection market, perhaps winning projects that embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply. Two announcements do not make a fully-fledged market, but do represent progress. Coming Full Circle And now, coming full circle, Liti Holographics has announced that it is shipping a new instant holographic film suitable for reflection holograms for the home and hobby market (see page 3). Meanwhile, silver halide display holograms remain a force in the marketplace. Slavich continues to find a market in Russia and beyond for its silver halide plates and films, and Colour Holographics, which took over the production and supply of HRT holographic plates, finds a steady if not spectacular market. The company is finding a ready market for its own large format co lour holograms, while other silver halide display hologram producers remain in steady production. The availability of compact LED lights which illuminate holograms at a very high quality, and the improved recognition by holographers that they have to deliver a complete, lit and framed installation, is boosting the readiness of display artists and interior designers to consider display holograms as a medium. As one who first got involved in holography because of the excitement of such 3D images, it is reassuring and somewhat surprising to see the continuing interest in full parallax holograms, complementing and supplementing the large volume market of embossed holograms. 007 Litis New Reflection Film Liti Holographics, which offers low cost portrait hologram kits selling for $99 (see HN Vol 18, No 9), has launched a new hologram film. According to the company, this film has all the ‘instant hologram qualities of its previous film but is now capable of making reflection as well as transmission holograms. The new film is red-sensitive, making it compatible with both the Litiholo and other hologram kits, as well as red laser diodes and even helium neon lasers. Contact: www.litiholo.com 008 Nigerias New Pharma Certificate NAFDAC, the Nigerian Food Drugs Agency, has introduced a new certificate to be issued to authorised imported and domestically produced pharmaceuticals. The new certificate is being produced by a security printer in the UK and includes a hologram among its security features. This follows participation by Dr Dora Akunyili, Director of NAFDAC in the first Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting, where she made contact with possible suppliers among the exhibitors. 009 Pharmaceuticals: a Hologram Market Expanding or Threatened? At the time of writing, the 2nd Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting has just finished in Paris, organised by Holography News publisher, Reconnaissance International. One of the themes to emerge during the course of the 21/2 day meeting was the importance of authentication of genuine products as part of the system to combat counterfeit medicines, heard from speakers from national drug regulatory agencies and from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Several of the speakers implied, but Dr Thomas Zimmer of Boehringer Ingelheim explicitly stated, that the ideal authentication device for pharmaceuticals is not yet available. As Dr Zimmer was speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Group of the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), his observations must be taken seriously by suppliers or aspiring suppliers of authentication products to the pharmaceutical sector. To date holograms have been the leading device used for overt authentication on pharmaceuticals, so the claim that the ideal device is not yet available can only be interpreted as a challenge to hologram suppliers. Either holograms have failed to deliver what the pharma sector requires or hologram manufacturers have not succeeded in persuading their customers to use all the levels of security that a hologram can offer; that is first, second and third levels overt, covert and machine read. To implement covert and machine read requires additional investment by customers in training, reading tools and for machine read infrastructure. Ideal Sector The pharmaceutical sector is ideal for the introduction of such an infrastructure. Another call at the Global Forum was for increased harmonisation of authentication and inspection systems. In a sector which is as regulated and as controlled as this one, where all medicines (at least, the legitimate ones) are distributed through a controlled system in a willing partnership between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and governments, training and equipping those who handle the goods to examine the authentication device should be feasible. As should the introduction of a machine-read infrastructure, assuming that there is commonality of what is to be read. The call for greater harmonisation results from the heterogeneity in the sector at present, which makes inpsection and examination a harder task for all involved. At present each hologram supplier offers its own proprietary method of encoding and reading hidden data. It is impractical for a warehouse or pharmacist to be equipped with numerous hologram reading systems, each one required to read the differently encoded information on the holograms from each of the many manufacturers whose medicines they provide. Equally, government inspectors are not able to carry around numerous handheld devices. But as the well-established precedent of credit cards and bar-codes shows, distributors and retailers will equip themselves to read standardised codes if the equipment footprint, cost and training required is minimal and the compatibility is maximal. Can the hologram industry achieve this for the pharmaceutical sector? That is to say, will the hologram industry recognise that here is a cause where collaboration on the adoption of a common approach to encoding and decoding could offer the industry the opportunity to capture that market for many years to come? Because once established, any competing technique has not just to prove itself superior, but must also overcome the inevitable reluctance of a whole sector to change the way it does things. Huge Advantage The hologram industry starts with a huge advantage because holograms have an established customer base in the Pharma sector. And holograms are perceived by the public as a mark of authentication the public may not know how to examine a hologram but its presence gives a level of comfort. Yet if the industry takes no coherent action to work together, it will squander this advantage. The Pharma sector (manufacturers, regulators, even patients groups) is making a case for the ideal authentication device, without perhaps realising that what is actually needed is an authentication system. That system could be built around holograms but it could alternatively be built around other types of device. There are many alternatives all seeking to usurp holograms from their number one spot. Recently, RFID has made the running, in lobbying and PR terms at least, but other technologies taggants, magnetics, complex bar-codes and others are all looking for their ‘killer application and see th e pharma sector as ripe for their efforts. The pharma sector is giving mixed signals about the use of holograms. On one side, Pfizer, in its current generation of product authentication, is currently using colour shift inks instead of holograms as the basis for its solution; on the positive side, Malaysias Meditag uses a three-level hologram (overt, covert and machine-read) at the heart of a system of registration and inspection. Can the hologram industry not individual suppliers, but the industry working together persuade the whole pharmaceutical sector that Malaysias is the way forward, not Pfizers? The RFID industry successfully lobbied the US Food Drugs Administration anticounterfeit task force so that it has identified RFID as the best way forward, although it has left the door open for other technologies by not mandating the use of RFID. This is the example the hologram industry needs to follow, because it has to persuade governments, distributors and manufacturers that the pharma sector can continue to use or even, needs to use holograms at the heart of an integrated system of authentication. The prize is immense, because other market sectors would follow the pharmaceuticals sector. There is no consolation prize, because surrendering this market sector to an alternative technology would give an unavoidable signal to other market sectors. 010 HoloTouch Progress HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, a development company based in Darien, Connecticut working in association with Atlantex Corp, has launched the BeamOne HoloTouch evaluation unit, a working demonstration of its noncontact control technique. HoloTouch was founded by R Douglas McPheters to exploit its patented process for projecting a real holographic image of a keypad or similar finger-tip control board such that passing a real item, such as a finger, through the image, activates the control (US Patent 6377238 see H N Vol 17 No 6). Atlantex specialises in helping bring new products to market, especially in the field of electronic controls and computer accessories . The BeamOne is a four-button box to issue instructions to a PC, to which it is connected by a USB cable. The holographic image of the buttons float about 4 (10 cm) above the BeamOne box and can be programmed to instruct the computer to perform the required functions. It is fully functional, priced at US$1995, but is characterised by Atlantex and HoloTouch as an evaluation device. Nonetheless, it has been chosen by readers of Control Engineering as ‘the most innovative human-machine interface featured in Control Engineering during the past year. McPheters identifies HoloTouch as suiting applications where non-contact is important, such as in a sterile environment, or where switches or buttons cannot be made rugged enough for the environment. The hologram image can also be larger than the keypad it mimics, making it suitable where the device is small or vision may require assistance, such as for sight impaired people or while driving a vehicle, where a quick glance at a small but ton can be dangerous. The hologram is also, of course, intrinsically illuminated, so it is useful for night time or dark environments. HoloTouch and Atlantex are looking for applications partners who will adapt the HoloTouch technique into their own control devices. www.HoloTouch.com HoloTouch Selected for FastTrack HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, the company that has developed a holographic interface for contactless control devices, has been selected for Connecticut Technology Councils FastTrack scheme for promising high-technology start-ups. FastTrack is an advisory and matching programme that helps start-ups with innovative ideas and rapid growth potential to gain seed-stage capital and business planning input through the mobilisation of a network of investors, advisors, professional service providers and industry contacts. Commenting on the scheme, HoloTouch founder and president R Douglas McPheters said: ‘FastTrack offers potentially valuable assistance in connecting us with mentors and advisors and can promote our partnering with companies who see value in our innovative touchless, holographic actuation and control technology. The company has already partnered with Atlantex Corp to launch the BeamOne HoloTouch unit. This enables operators of control boards such as keypads to enter commands simply by passing a finger through holographic images that represent these commands and float in front of the device (see HN Vol 19, No 3) and is suited for applications where non-contact is important for operability of hygiene, including consumer electronics, kiosks, ATMs and medical equipment. HoloTouch and Atlantex have also announced that the BeamOne is now available with relay output, extending the technologys reach to electronic equipment controlled by programmable logic controllers (PLCs). BeamOne already offers communication with PCs through USB, serial and other ports. According to McPheters, this latest development means that the technology can now be used in a numerous industrial applications as well, such as factory floor equipment. McPheters will be presenting a paper on the HoloTouch technology at Holopack†¢ Holo-print 2005. Contact: www.holotouch.com 011 Holotek Doubles Sales and Profits Holotek Technologies Ltd, of Sanzao Zhuhai in China, has doubled its sales and profits in 2004 and is aiming to achieve at least 50% growth in 2005. Its 2003 audited sales of RMB103m ( ±US$12.5m) rose to RMB210M ( ±$25.5m) in 2004, with net profit climbing from RMB58m ( ±$7m) to RMB123.5m ( ±$15.2m), but note that the 2004 figures are not yet audited. Although the company was not liable to tax in its first years of operation (as a start-up in the Zhuhai Economic Zone), these margins of almost 60% make Holotek probably the most profitable holographic producer in the world, both by margin and in its dollar figure. 98% of these sales are for packaging, mainly for transfer metallising of cigarette liners and cartons; 85% is on OPP with the reminder on PET. Holotek has been through ownership changes since we first reported on the company (see HN Vol 17 No 6). It was set up by Fong Teng Technology of Taiwan, but government regulations limit the investment that can be put into a mai nland Chinese company from Taiwan. FT has accordingly sold its interest to four private shareholders, including the CEO Mark Chiang (as a minority owner), and Holotek operates as a subsidiary of Aimrich which is registered in Samoa. The company has also divested its former 49% holding in Yong Feng Tian Technology, a Shenzhen company that produces cigarette packaging materials. All these changes mean Holotek has also postponed its plans to float on the Hong Kong stock exchange. It had originally stated its aim was to float this year with a market capitalisation of US$150m, but it is now aiming for floatation in 2008 with a Changes in Holography Changes in Holography 001 Looking Back, Moving Forward How was 2004 for you? For the industry as a whole, reviewing the developments that we covered last year in Holography News, we can conclude that it was a good year for most, with many positive developments that set the scene for 2005 and beyond, but with sufficient clouds on the horizon to prevent any complacency. In terms of markets, in the high security arena the growth of holograms on banknotes continues apace (see page 3) and this will continue to be key market notwithstanding the recent news that the new $100 and other denominations will not, in all likelihood, include a holographic feature. In other high security markets, passports took something of a back seat, for holograms at least not because of technology concerns but because of the current pre-occupation with biometrics. But elsewhere in document protection, AAMVAs specification of holograms on all US driving licences was a significant boost for the industry, while the tax stamp market continues provide significant high volume opportunities for suppliers. There were few major developments in brand protection although the use of holograms as the prime authentication feature on a new labelling program for pharmaceutical products in Malaysia, and the Olympics 2004 merchandising program demonstrated the continuing success of hologram s in these areas. On the downside, the FDAs controversial decision to adopt RFID-based track and trace as the solution to product safety and supply chain management for pharmaceuticals in the US could have unwelcome consequences for the industry should drug regulatory authorities elsewhere in the world follow its example. In packaging, meanwhile, as the Stock watch article in this issue (see page 6) points out, it is barely possible to go out nowadays without seeing holography embellishing shop shelves on all manner of goods from luxury high end to everyday items. Innovation and Development On the technology front, holography continued to demonstrate its inherent capacity for innovation and development. The integration of holograms with other technologies for enhanced security and functionality continued apace examples including Schreiners KeySecure technology, Securiketts Authentikett labels, combined hologram/DNA/RFID labels from ADNAS and Holomex and enhancements to teas scribos Holospot system (see page 8) to name but a few. In the banknote market, De La Rue, Louisenthal and Kurz all launched new security features during 2004 based on combinations of substrate, thread and foil technology. In terms of production, Newmec and Gidue both entered the market with foil applications systems, General Vacuum launched its new compact metalliser while Spatial Imagings new Lightspeed digital hologram printer marked the beginning of new era in large format hologram origination. Aside from the developments in the ‘conventional market for authentication and decorative devices, holography is also beginning to demonstrate its potential for use as a tool as well as a feature. Examples of this potential include Smart Holograms development of reflection holograms as medical diagnostic devices and holographic data storage systems from Optware. Publicly-listed companies were covered in detail in the December issue of Holography News. But there was news from many other qua rters as well, including the expansion plans announced by ABNH, ITW Covid, AFC and Holoshape, and AET Films move into wide embossing on the packaging front. Louisenthal, a major player in the banknote industry, revealed that it now offers full-scale hologram production, including origination, while its former strategic partner in foils, Hueck Folien, joined the ranks of banknote suppliers with its first order for stripes for the Thai currency, signalling a potentially significant new entrant to the market. Its arrival was partially offset by AOTs decision to abandon banknote foils, while the bankruptcy of another high security supplier, Mantegazza, was staved off by its acquisition by Italian security papermaker Fabriano. Outside of the traditional industry centres of Western Europe and North America, the Far East, India and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries continue to play an increasingly important role not just as markets for western companies but as major centres of developm ent in their own right. Russia, a hotbed of scientific innovation, held its first regional conference this year; the commitment amongst Indian companies to quality and industry standards is an inspiration to us all, while all eyes are currently on China, the location for the 2005 Holo-pack†¢Holo-print which will provide the first opportunity for many western hologram companies to witness the strength and scope of this massive market. 2004s Downside So much for the positive. On the downside, RFID continues to position itself, and be viewed in some quarters, as the ‘silver bullet antidote to counterfeiting and diversion, new technologies such as Nanoventions claim their superiority over diffractive features and high quality counterfeit holograms have been discovered on currency notably the euro. The latter, in particular, is leading to a perceptible sense of disenchantment with holograms in terms of their claimed security benefits, technology proliferation and lax standard s amongst suppliers. This topic has been covered exhaustively in recent issues of Holography News and was one of the main topics for discussion at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague, a positive outcome of which was the openness of debate and willingness amongst industry participants to work collectively to address the real issues that are causing concern and counter the misperceptions behind them. All in all, not a bad year for the industry. Provided the concerns leading to disenchantment in some sectors continues to be recognised and addressed with appropriate measures, and provided hologram companies continue to invest in the new products and techniques that form the lifeblood and future of this industry, 2005 could be even better. 002 A Watershed Year for the IHMA In his Chairmans report to the Annual General Meeting of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, Hugues Souparis identified the launch of the Secure Hologram Producer Certification Scheme as a watershed for the Association (se HN Vol 18 No 3). This Scheme, run in co-operation with Intergraf, should make a significant contribution to improving procedures in the secure hologram field, and help to raise customer awareness of the need to source secure holograms from a qualified secure producer. Souparis company, Hologram Industries, was the first to be certified, but several others have now applied. Another important development during the year had been the negotiations with the Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), aimed at building a strong relationship between the two associations and serving as a model for the IHMAs relationship with other regional or national hologram associations. An important part of the planned relationship was that the IHMAs Hologram Image Register and HoMAIs Hologram Registry would be linked so that all searches for a hologram match on either database would cover both databases, improving the likelihood of identifying matches which resulted from attempts to source illicit copies of a hologram already in use. He reported that Despite the news that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing is casting its net wider for security features (see page 1), banknotes continue to be a good market for the holography industry. A number of new banknotes have been introduced during 2004, including two major currencies the new Canadian dollar series which features a stripe and the two higher denominations of the newly-designed Japanese yen, each with a patch. Kurz was the supplier for both, the latter understood to be the largest single hologram order for banknotes in the industry. Other currencies that have introduced holograms to all or most of their the Board was in discussion with the China AntiCounterfeiting Technology As sociation (CATA) with a view to CATA establishing a hologram section, and that the IHMA was also in preliminary discussions with Russian producers interested in an industry organisation there. Souparis also reminded members of IHMAs links with Interpol and other international and national police organisations, saying that he hoped to build on these contacts in the coming year. New Board Members In the elections at the AGM, Souparis was re-elected Chairman a post he can hold for another two years. Wilfried Schipper (Hologram Company Rako) was elected as the European representative on the Board, with Alkis Lembessis (Cavomit and Taurus) as his deputy; Umendra Gupta (Holostik India) was re-elected as Asian representative, with Khalid Khanani (Metatex) as deputy. Randy James (Pacific Holographics) was elected as deputy North American representative and since the AGM the Board has co-opted John Halotek (ITW Covid) as the North American representative, there being no accepted nomination at the meeting. Alex Goncharsky (Computer Holography Centre, Moscow) and Ken Traub (ABNH) remain on the board for a second and fourth year respectively. Spreading the Word In addition to the objectives above, a key task for the IHMA in 2005 and thereafter will be to promote the positive benefits of holograms, particularly as authentication devices, as a counter to disenchantment with the technology in certain quarters, notably some parts of the high security sector. A proactive PR campaign, a greater presence at industry conferences, an improved website as a communications tool both for members and users, and a drive to increase the membership and the visibility of the IHMA are all currently underway. The hologram industry is one of the few in the authentication sector to have its own association and the IHMA is committed to building on this position and the strengths that a collective voice can provide for hologram companies. Contact: www.IHMA.org. 003 General Vacuums New Compact Metalliser (Pg # 5) General Vacuum, manufacturer of vacuum metallising equipment, unveiled further details of its new compact Holosecâ„ ¢ metalliser (see HN Vol 18 No 2) at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague. Vacuum metallisers have until now been supplied with production widths of 800-3000m, limiting their use both financially and for production purposes among small and narrow-web hologram producers and forcing these to buy in their film and foil pre-metallised from wide web suppliers. The Holosec was designed to fill this niche and enable narrow-web producers to bring metallising in-house, thereby increasing their security of production and enabling them to take advantage of the specialised treatments the system offers. The Holosec combines the vacuum chamber, unwind and rewind units, plasma pre-treatment, demetallization and evaporation source within one compact unit with a footprint of 2m x 3m. In addition to the conventional aluminium used for holographic films and foils, it can coat silicon oxide, chrome, silver and copper and zinc sulphide for high refractive index films. It also offers pattern demetallisation with in-line registration and plasma pre-treatment that enhances the sur face energy of the films to improve adhesion and hence quality. The run rate varies from 10m to a maximum of 200m per minute. General Vacuum, formerly Valmet and now part of the Bobst Group, declined to give prices for the Holosec, stating that these depend on specification. But it can assumed that they will be considerably lower than the prices for wide web systems. When questioned at Holopack.†¢ Holo-print about the risks of spreading low-cost secure hologram production technology in the market, Dr Nadir Ahmed, who gave the presentation on behalf of his former company, commented that the company would check the legitimacy of customers before supply. To date, two machines have been sold with other orders in the pipeline for early 2005. Contact: Andy Jack, General Vacuum Equipment. Tel: +44 1706 622442; [emailprotected] 004 Menzel Vision System for Web Guiding Menzel, a German company specialising in machinery for finishing and inspection machines for textiles, expanded into similar equipment for the plastic films industry in the late 1960s, and at Holopack†¢ Holo-print exhibited a machine vision system for control of web handling machines for holographic films. The system keeps web lines in register to improve the accuracy and quality of slitting, winding/re-winding, stamping and other hologram finishing processes. Based on the companys experience building textile and film web guiding systems, the hologram guiding system can be set to read the edge of the hologram film or a specific part of the pattern in the hologram the camera scans across the width of the film to record the edge position, the registration mark position or the position of a specified image element. Once programmed, it feeds the image data to a sensor and a controller, which in turn adjusts the web guides to maintain the position of the web. The Menzel vision system for holographic film costs around â‚ ¬17- 20,000, depending on the configuration required. Contact: www.menzel.net. 005 Optical Document Security The third edition of the reference book Optical Document Security is now available from publishers Artech House. Written by Rudolf van Renesse, an expert in the field and editor and co-author of the two previous editions (published in 1994 and 1998 respectively), the book provides a comprehensive and cohesive treatment of all aspects of optical document security, according to its publishers. The books contents have been substantially updated and revised from the previous edition, and expanded to include coverage of additional security features and evaluation. The introduction on the theory of colours is followed by chapters on light interference and diffraction, substrate-based security, printing inks and printing techniques, printed security patterns (including screen decoded images and digital watermarks), diffractive- and interference-based security features, security design and evaluation and an introduction to biometrics. The emphasis is on both the physics of security features and their value in resisting counterfeiting, while the chapter evaluating security design looks at the human factors of first line document inspection. The books 350 pages contain over 270 black and white illustrations, including live security documents, and an appendix with samples of important security features. In addition, a CD-ROM is included which contains all illustrations of the book in full-colour. Author Rudolf van Renesse was senior research engineer in the Optics Department of TNO Institute of Applied Physics in The Netherlands and is now an independent consultant on document security for government departments and banking and financial institutions. He has extensive experience in the areas of holography, optical inspection techniques, and the theory of colors and document security, and is the author of more than 80 publications in these areas, as well as a contributor to Holography News and its sister publications Authentication News and Currency News. Optical Document Security is available at the discounted price  £72/$118 from Artech House www.artech-house.com 006 Display Holography on the Rise Photopolymer is making progress winning projects that perhaps embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply We feel for Nick Hardy and Valerie Love of OpGraphics, the British company that has listed its DuPont photopolymer hologram production equipment for sale on eBay. Op has been producing display holograms for the gift and promotional trade since 1983, originally on Agfa silver halide films, then in the 1990s Nick Hardy started working with DuPonts holographic photopolymer, partly because Agfa ceased production of its holographic films, partly because the photopolymer reflection holograms had lower noise and were more light efficient. Unfortunately, when DuPont Authentication Systems was established as a joint venture with Label Systems Inc, the company decided to restrict the distribution of its unexposed photopolymer film to authorised security hologram producers. Op were among the hologram producers which were given notice of a cessation of supply. They tried to fight this under competition law in the UK, but despite their significant investment in DuPonts production equipment and the time to perfect their processes, this was to no avail. The result: holographic production kit being offered on eBay. The Year of Photopolymer? The timing could not be more poignant as there appears to be an upsurge of interest in photopolymer holograms could 2005 be the year of photopolymer? The year has started well for DAS with NASCARs announcement of its licensed product authentication label, a numbered photopolymer reflection hologram (see page 4). To date, the North American sports licensing authentication projects have been dominated by embossed holograms. NASCAR (the most popular motor sport organisation in North America) may not rival the big national sporting leagues in popularity, but big race meetings such as Daytona and Indianapolis attract large crowds of eager souvenir hunters. Last year, DAS released its izonâ„ ¢ advanced photopolymer holograms, offering instant holo portraits on the film, making it particularly suitable for ID documents. And across the Pacific, Dai Nippon and Nippon Paint Co announced that Teikoku Piston Ring Co had become the first major customer for authentication holograms on Secure I mageâ„ ¢ hot-stampable photopolymer. So photopolymer is making progress in the brand protection market, perhaps winning projects that embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply. Two announcements do not make a fully-fledged market, but do represent progress. Coming Full Circle And now, coming full circle, Liti Holographics has announced that it is shipping a new instant holographic film suitable for reflection holograms for the home and hobby market (see page 3). Meanwhile, silver halide display holograms remain a force in the marketplace. Slavich continues to find a market in Russia and beyond for its silver halide plates and films, and Colour Holographics, which took over the production and supply of HRT holographic plates, finds a steady if not spectacular market. The company is finding a ready market for its own large format co lour holograms, while other silver halide display hologram producers remain in steady production. The availability of compact LED lights which illuminate holograms at a very high quality, and the improved recognition by holographers that they have to deliver a complete, lit and framed installation, is boosting the readiness of display artists and interior designers to consider display holograms as a medium. As one who first got involved in holography because of the excitement of such 3D images, it is reassuring and somewhat surprising to see the continuing interest in full parallax holograms, complementing and supplementing the large volume market of embossed holograms. 007 Litis New Reflection Film Liti Holographics, which offers low cost portrait hologram kits selling for $99 (see HN Vol 18, No 9), has launched a new hologram film. According to the company, this film has all the ‘instant hologram qualities of its previous film but is now capable of making reflection as well as transmission holograms. The new film is red-sensitive, making it compatible with both the Litiholo and other hologram kits, as well as red laser diodes and even helium neon lasers. Contact: www.litiholo.com 008 Nigerias New Pharma Certificate NAFDAC, the Nigerian Food Drugs Agency, has introduced a new certificate to be issued to authorised imported and domestically produced pharmaceuticals. The new certificate is being produced by a security printer in the UK and includes a hologram among its security features. This follows participation by Dr Dora Akunyili, Director of NAFDAC in the first Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting, where she made contact with possible suppliers among the exhibitors. 009 Pharmaceuticals: a Hologram Market Expanding or Threatened? At the time of writing, the 2nd Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting has just finished in Paris, organised by Holography News publisher, Reconnaissance International. One of the themes to emerge during the course of the 21/2 day meeting was the importance of authentication of genuine products as part of the system to combat counterfeit medicines, heard from speakers from national drug regulatory agencies and from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Several of the speakers implied, but Dr Thomas Zimmer of Boehringer Ingelheim explicitly stated, that the ideal authentication device for pharmaceuticals is not yet available. As Dr Zimmer was speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Group of the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), his observations must be taken seriously by suppliers or aspiring suppliers of authentication products to the pharmaceutical sector. To date holograms have been the leading device used for overt authentication on pharmaceuticals, so the claim that the ideal device is not yet available can only be interpreted as a challenge to hologram suppliers. Either holograms have failed to deliver what the pharma sector requires or hologram manufacturers have not succeeded in persuading their customers to use all the levels of security that a hologram can offer; that is first, second and third levels overt, covert and machine read. To implement covert and machine read requires additional investment by customers in training, reading tools and for machine read infrastructure. Ideal Sector The pharmaceutical sector is ideal for the introduction of such an infrastructure. Another call at the Global Forum was for increased harmonisation of authentication and inspection systems. In a sector which is as regulated and as controlled as this one, where all medicines (at least, the legitimate ones) are distributed through a controlled system in a willing partnership between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and governments, training and equipping those who handle the goods to examine the authentication device should be feasible. As should the introduction of a machine-read infrastructure, assuming that there is commonality of what is to be read. The call for greater harmonisation results from the heterogeneity in the sector at present, which makes inpsection and examination a harder task for all involved. At present each hologram supplier offers its own proprietary method of encoding and reading hidden data. It is impractical for a warehouse or pharmacist to be equipped with numerous hologram reading systems, each one required to read the differently encoded information on the holograms from each of the many manufacturers whose medicines they provide. Equally, government inspectors are not able to carry around numerous handheld devices. But as the well-established precedent of credit cards and bar-codes shows, distributors and retailers will equip themselves to read standardised codes if the equipment footprint, cost and training required is minimal and the compatibility is maximal. Can the hologram industry achieve this for the pharmaceutical sector? That is to say, will the hologram industry recognise that here is a cause where collaboration on the adoption of a common approach to encoding and decoding could offer the industry the opportunity to capture that market for many years to come? Because once established, any competing technique has not just to prove itself superior, but must also overcome the inevitable reluctance of a whole sector to change the way it does things. Huge Advantage The hologram industry starts with a huge advantage because holograms have an established customer base in the Pharma sector. And holograms are perceived by the public as a mark of authentication the public may not know how to examine a hologram but its presence gives a level of comfort. Yet if the industry takes no coherent action to work together, it will squander this advantage. The Pharma sector (manufacturers, regulators, even patients groups) is making a case for the ideal authentication device, without perhaps realising that what is actually needed is an authentication system. That system could be built around holograms but it could alternatively be built around other types of device. There are many alternatives all seeking to usurp holograms from their number one spot. Recently, RFID has made the running, in lobbying and PR terms at least, but other technologies taggants, magnetics, complex bar-codes and others are all looking for their ‘killer application and see th e pharma sector as ripe for their efforts. The pharma sector is giving mixed signals about the use of holograms. On one side, Pfizer, in its current generation of product authentication, is currently using colour shift inks instead of holograms as the basis for its solution; on the positive side, Malaysias Meditag uses a three-level hologram (overt, covert and machine-read) at the heart of a system of registration and inspection. Can the hologram industry not individual suppliers, but the industry working together persuade the whole pharmaceutical sector that Malaysias is the way forward, not Pfizers? The RFID industry successfully lobbied the US Food Drugs Administration anticounterfeit task force so that it has identified RFID as the best way forward, although it has left the door open for other technologies by not mandating the use of RFID. This is the example the hologram industry needs to follow, because it has to persuade governments, distributors and manufacturers that the pharma sector can continue to use or even, needs to use holograms at the heart of an integrated system of authentication. The prize is immense, because other market sectors would follow the pharmaceuticals sector. There is no consolation prize, because surrendering this market sector to an alternative technology would give an unavoidable signal to other market sectors. 010 HoloTouch Progress HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, a development company based in Darien, Connecticut working in association with Atlantex Corp, has launched the BeamOne HoloTouch evaluation unit, a working demonstration of its noncontact control technique. HoloTouch was founded by R Douglas McPheters to exploit its patented process for projecting a real holographic image of a keypad or similar finger-tip control board such that passing a real item, such as a finger, through the image, activates the control (US Patent 6377238 see H N Vol 17 No 6). Atlantex specialises in helping bring new products to market, especially in the field of electronic controls and computer accessories . The BeamOne is a four-button box to issue instructions to a PC, to which it is connected by a USB cable. The holographic image of the buttons float about 4 (10 cm) above the BeamOne box and can be programmed to instruct the computer to perform the required functions. It is fully functional, priced at US$1995, but is characterised by Atlantex and HoloTouch as an evaluation device. Nonetheless, it has been chosen by readers of Control Engineering as ‘the most innovative human-machine interface featured in Control Engineering during the past year. McPheters identifies HoloTouch as suiting applications where non-contact is important, such as in a sterile environment, or where switches or buttons cannot be made rugged enough for the environment. The hologram image can also be larger than the keypad it mimics, making it suitable where the device is small or vision may require assistance, such as for sight impaired people or while driving a vehicle, where a quick glance at a small but ton can be dangerous. The hologram is also, of course, intrinsically illuminated, so it is useful for night time or dark environments. HoloTouch and Atlantex are looking for applications partners who will adapt the HoloTouch technique into their own control devices. www.HoloTouch.com HoloTouch Selected for FastTrack HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, the company that has developed a holographic interface for contactless control devices, has been selected for Connecticut Technology Councils FastTrack scheme for promising high-technology start-ups. FastTrack is an advisory and matching programme that helps start-ups with innovative ideas and rapid growth potential to gain seed-stage capital and business planning input through the mobilisation of a network of investors, advisors, professional service providers and industry contacts. Commenting on the scheme, HoloTouch founder and president R Douglas McPheters said: ‘FastTrack offers potentially valuable assistance in connecting us with mentors and advisors and can promote our partnering with companies who see value in our innovative touchless, holographic actuation and control technology. The company has already partnered with Atlantex Corp to launch the BeamOne HoloTouch unit. This enables operators of control boards such as keypads to enter commands simply by passing a finger through holographic images that represent these commands and float in front of the device (see HN Vol 19, No 3) and is suited for applications where non-contact is important for operability of hygiene, including consumer electronics, kiosks, ATMs and medical equipment. HoloTouch and Atlantex have also announced that the BeamOne is now available with relay output, extending the technologys reach to electronic equipment controlled by programmable logic controllers (PLCs). BeamOne already offers communication with PCs through USB, serial and other ports. According to McPheters, this latest development means that the technology can now be used in a numerous industrial applications as well, such as factory floor equipment. McPheters will be presenting a paper on the HoloTouch technology at Holopack†¢ Holo-print 2005. Contact: www.holotouch.com 011 Holotek Doubles Sales and Profits Holotek Technologies Ltd, of Sanzao Zhuhai in China, has doubled its sales and profits in 2004 and is aiming to achieve at least 50% growth in 2005. Its 2003 audited sales of RMB103m ( ±US$12.5m) rose to RMB210M ( ±$25.5m) in 2004, with net profit climbing from RMB58m ( ±$7m) to RMB123.5m ( ±$15.2m), but note that the 2004 figures are not yet audited. Although the company was not liable to tax in its first years of operation (as a start-up in the Zhuhai Economic Zone), these margins of almost 60% make Holotek probably the most profitable holographic producer in the world, both by margin and in its dollar figure. 98% of these sales are for packaging, mainly for transfer metallising of cigarette liners and cartons; 85% is on OPP with the reminder on PET. Holotek has been through ownership changes since we first reported on the company (see HN Vol 17 No 6). It was set up by Fong Teng Technology of Taiwan, but government regulations limit the investment that can be put into a mai nland Chinese company from Taiwan. FT has accordingly sold its interest to four private shareholders, including the CEO Mark Chiang (as a minority owner), and Holotek operates as a subsidiary of Aimrich which is registered in Samoa. The company has also divested its former 49% holding in Yong Feng Tian Technology, a Shenzhen company that produces cigarette packaging materials. All these changes mean Holotek has also postponed its plans to float on the Hong Kong stock exchange. It had originally stated its aim was to float this year with a market capitalisation of US$150m, but it is now aiming for floatation in 2008 with a