One of the more contentious homeland security debates has concerned fusion centers—state and local run organizations dedicated to information sharing and analysis. These centers have raised concerns regarding civil rights and the monitoring of lawful political and religious activities. There have also been concerns about their effectiveness and the quality and timeliness of the intelligence produced. But while fusion centers certainly saw their share of shortcomings in their early years, there has been substantial progress in their national security role. Question: Are fusion centers an effective and efficient mechanism to exchange information and intelligence, maximize resources, streamline operations, and improve the ability to fight crime and terrorism by merging data from a variety of sources? Must be based on factual academic information (not personal opinion) supported with citations to at least two (2) academic references
Partnerships & Information Sharing
A fusion center is an effective and efficient mechanism to exchange information and intelligence, maximize resources, streamline operations, and improve the ability to fight crime and terrorism by merging data from a variety of sources. In addition, fusion centers are a conduit for implementing portions of the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (NCISP). Fusion center has provided a mechanism where law enforcement, public safety, and private partners can come together with a common purpose and improve the ability to safeguard our homeland and prevent criminal activity. A police office officer, firefighter, or building inspector should not have to search for bits of information. they should know to call one particular place-the jurisdiction`s fusion center.
Nanoprecipitation system composed of three basic components: the polymer (synthetic, semi synthetic or natural), the polymer solvent and the non-solvent of the polymer. Organic solvent (i.e., Ethanol, acetone, hexane, methylene chloride or dioxane) which is miscible in water and can be easily removed by evaporation is chosen as polymer solvent. Because of this reason, acetone is considered to be the most commonly used polymer solvent in this method [143,153, 154].
Sometimes, it consists of binary solvent blends, acetone with small volume of water [155], blends of acetone with ethanol [156-158] and methanol [159].
The polymers commonly used are biodegradable polyesters, especially poly (Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) [160-164], polylactide (PLA) [165, 166] and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) [167, 168]. Eudragit [156] can also be used as many other polymers such as polyalkylcyanoacrylate (PACA) [169-171].
Natural polymers such as allylic starch [172], dextran ester [173], were also used ,though synthetic polymers have higher purity and better reproducibility than natural polymers [174]. On the other hand, some polymers are PEG copolymerized in order to decrease nanoparticle recognition by the reticular endothelial system [159].
PNP characteristics are influenced by the nature and concentration of their components [162, 164]. The key variables determining the success of the method and affecting the physicochemical properties of the PNP are those associated with the conditions of adding the organic phase to the aqueous phase, such as organic phase injection rate, aqueous phase agitation rate, the method of organic phase addition and the organic phase to aqueous phase ratio.
Lince et al.,2008 [175] indicated that the process of particle formation in the nanoprecipitation method includes three stages: nucleation, growth and aggregation. The separation between the nucleation and the growth stages is the key factor for formation of uniform particles. Ideally, operating conditions should allow a high nucleation rate strongly dependent on super saturation and low growth rate.