Comparison of practical techniques to develop latent fingermarks on fired and unfired cartridge cases.

We have tested some widely used and practical fingermark enhancement techniques such as powdering (regular powder dusting and magnetic powder application), cyanoacrylate fuming, fluorescent dying (basic yellow 40), gun blueing solutions and acidified hydrogen peroxide solutions. The results were evaluated and compared in order to establish best procedures on processing cartridge cases. The tests were performed on brass discs subjected to three different temperatures (room temperature, 63 and 200°C), and on fired and unfired cartridge cases. All the samples were processed after three different periods of time (24h, 7 days and 14 days) after deposition. The best results for both fired and unfired cartridge cases were obtained by the sequential application of cyanoacrylate, gun blueing solution and basic yellow 40. Some stages of the firing process were isolated in order to identify their effects over the final amount and quality of the remaining latent fingermarks on cartridge cases. Good state fingermarks were developed on unfired cartridge cases cycled through the gun, showing that friction inside the gun without firing does not cause significant damage to the fingermarks. On the other hand, fired cartridge cases are significantly affected by the firing effects, exhibiting low quality ridge details which are mainly located next to base. An unexpected phenomenon was observed on most of the brass discs heated to 200°C and developed with gun blueing solutions; they presented a reverse development compared to the expected one, with darkening of the ridges instead of the background.

Structures of relevant ammonium salts in fertilizers.

The crystal structures of two double salts of ammonium nitrate (AN) and ammonium sulfate (AS) are reported. The double salts 2NH(4)NO(3).(NH(4))(2)SO(4) (2AN.AS) and 3NH(4)NO(3).(NH(4))(2)SO(4) (3AN.AS) show a very similar crystal structure packing with alternating layers of anions and cations. The solid-state ionic distribution is controlled by an extensive hydrogen-bonding network with ammonium groups as the donors and O atoms acting as the acceptors. Crystallographic studies were conducted at both room temperature (293 K) and 100 K. Increasing the temperature involves shortening the b axis in the case of the 3AN.AS salt. Quantification of fertilizer mixtures using the Rietveld method was also carried out by means of the structural models reported in this paper for both salts.

[Neuropsychiatric and vascular manifestations of disseminated lupus erythematosus]. / Manifestações neuropsiquiãtricas e vasculares no lúpus eritematoso disseminado.

Disseminated lupus erythematous is an auto-immune disease with systemic manifestations that develops by outbreaks. It's pathogenesis is unknown. The physiopathology jeopardizes auto-immune phenomenon whose most important biological effect is the polyclonal activation of B Lymphocytes. The tissue's lesions are due to several mechanisms, being, perhaps, the deposition of immune complexes of a great value. On account of a young woman with recurrent deep venous thrombosis and neuropsychiatric manifestations the bibliographic data are reviewed, especially those that concern with the etiopathogenesis, treatment and prognosis.