SOME FORENSIC ASPECTS OF BALLISTIC IMAGING

Analysis of ballistics evidence (spent cartridge casings and bullets) has been a staple of forensic criminal investigation for almost a century. Computer-assisted databases of images of ballistics evidence have been used since the mid-1980s to help search for potential matches between pieces of evidence. In this article, we draw on the 2008 National Research Council Report Ballistic Imaging to assess the state of ballistic imaging technology. In particular, we discuss the feasibility of creating a national reference ballistic imaging database (RBID) from test-fires of all newly manufactured or imported firearms. A national RBID might aid in using crime scene ballistic evidence to generate investigative leads to a crime gun’s point of sale. We conclude that a national RBID is not feasible at this time, primarily because existing imaging methodologies have insufficient discriminatory power. We also examine the emerging technology of micro- stamping for forensic identification purposes: etching a known identifier on firearm or ammunition parts so that they can be directly read and recovered from crime scene evidence. Microstamping could provide a stronger basis for identification based on ballistic evidence than the status quo, but substantial further research is needed to thoroughly assess its practical viability

Hemodynamic Effects of Entry and Exit Tear Size in Aortic Dissection Evaluated with In Vitro Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation

Understanding the complex interplay between morphologic and hemodynamic features in aortic dissection is critical for risk stratification and for the development of individualized therapy. This work evaluates the effects of entry and exit tear size on the hemodynamics in type B aortic dissection by comparing fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations with in vitro 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A baseline patient-specific 3D-printed model and two variants with modified tear size (smaller entry tear, smaller exit tear) were embedded into a flow- and pressure-controlled setup to perform MRI as well as 12-point catheter-based pressure measurements. The same models defined the wall and fluid domains for FSI simulations, for which boundary conditions were matched with measured data. Results showed exceptionally well matched complex flow patterns between 4D-flow MRI and FSI simulations. Compared to the baseline model, false lumen flow volume decreased with either a smaller entry tear (-17.8 and -18.5 %, for FSI simulation and 4D-flow MRI, respectively) or smaller exit tear (-16.0 and -17.3 %). True to false lumen pressure difference (initially 11.0 and 7.9 mmHg, for FSI simulation and catheter-based pressure measurements, respectively) increased with a smaller entry tear (28.9 and 14.6 mmHg), and became negative with a smaller exit tear (-20.6 and -13.2 mmHg). This work establishes quantitative and qualitative effects of entry or exit tear size on hemodynamics in aortic dissection, with particularly notable impact observed on FL pressurization. FSI simulations demonstrate acceptable qualitative and quantitative agreement with flow imaging, supporting its deployment in clinical studies.Comment: Judith Zimmermann and Kathrin B\"aumler contributed equall

Solvent-Free Continuous Operations Using Small Footprint Reactors: A Key Approach for Process Intensification

A solvent-free approach to intensification of chemical processes is reported. This concept, in which reactions are carried out solvent-free, without the need for further downstream processing, was highlighted first with a full reduction of ethyl nicotinate to ethylpiperidine-3-carboxylate under continuous flow conditions. Using a small footprint reactor, a throughput of 26.4 g h–1 was achieved. Similarly, this approach was used for the telescoped two-step synthesis of 2-propyl phenol (productivity 120 g h–1) and 2-propyl cyclohexanone (productivity 30 g h–1), starting from the commercially available allyl phenol ether via Claisen rearrangement and subsequent reduction.We would like to thank Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development (CB), the EPSRC (RJM, SVL, Grant Codes EP/K009494/1, EP/M004120/1 and EP/K039520/1) and the Woolf Fisher Trust (DEF) for financial support.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the American Chemical Society via https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b0028

Platform-controlled social media APIs threaten Open Science

Social media data enable insights into human behavior. Researchers can access these data via platform-provided Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), but these come with restrictive usage-terms that mean studies cannot be reproduced or replicated. Platform-owned APIs hinder access, transparency, and scientific knowledge.<br/

Development and exploitation of a novel mutant androgen receptor modelling strategy to identify new targets for advanced prostate cancer therapy

The persistence of androgen receptor (AR) signalling in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) highlights the unmet clinical need for the development of more effective AR targeting therapies. A key mechanism of therapy-resistance is by selection of AR mutations that convert anti-androgens to agonists enabling the retention of androgenic signalling in CRPC. To improve our understanding of these receptors in advanced disease we developed a physiologically-relevant model to analyse the global functionality of AR mutants in CRPC. Using the bicalutamide-activated ARW741L/C mutation as proof of concept, we demonstrate that this mutant confers an androgenic-like signalling programme and growth promoting phenotype in the presence of bicalutamide. Transcriptomic profiling of ARW741L highlighted key genes markedly up-regulated by the mutant receptor, including TIPARP, RASD1 and SGK1. Importantly, SGK1 expression was found to be highly expressed in the KUCaP xenograft model and a CRPC patient biopsy sample both of which express the bicalutamide-activated receptor mutant. Using an SGK1 inhibitor, ARW741L transcriptional and growth promoting activity was reduced indicating that exploiting functional distinctions between receptor isoforms in our model may provide new and effective therapies for CRPC patients

Application de la méthode des transformateurs saturés à la mesure et régulation du champ magnétique d'un spectromètre β à double focalisation π √2 avec noyau de fer

On décrit un nouveau magnétomètre pour mesurer les champs magnétiques constants ou lentement variables dans l'intervalle de variation entre 10 -4 et 3 x 102 Oe. La précision relative est supérieure à 2,5 X 10-5 entre 7 et 300 Oe. Le champ magnétique d'un spectromètre β à double focalisation π √2 du type Siegbahn-Svartholm est stabilisé par un servomécanisme. On utilise comme signal d'erreur la différence entre une tension proportionnelle au champ d'induction magnétique et une tension de référence

ガーネット、サマータウン、グローバル・イシューズ案内 : 英語教材のフィクション対ノンフィクション

For the sake of the Japanese learners of English who love reading, this paper introduces three different series of readers: Garnet Oracle Readers, Summertown Readers, and National Geographic's Global Issues. Garnet Oracle and Summertown are both so-called graded readers. The former are for highschool and university students who study English as a foreign or second language while the latter are written for business people who have to learn English as a lingua franca. Both are,however, original fictional stories, some of which are quite enjoyable and really worth reading. Peter Viney, Garnet's main author, can write a variety of genres: for example, Space Romance is a romantic sci-fi story in an impressive setting; A Tidy Ghost is a witty ghost story whose terror dramatically changes into sheer humor at the ending; but,above all,his Underground is highly recommended because of the unforgettable character Tommy, a mute elderly man who lives in the London underground, saving the protagonist in big trouble. Summertown's counterpart must be James Schofield. Although his amateurish suspense stories tend to be rather boring, his humorous stories such as Room Service and Double Trouble are readable with a lot of laughter. National Geographic's Global Issues may seem to be no comparison with these interesting stories since they are serious nonfiction pamphlets edited for American high school students. Despite the foreign language, Japanese students can also appreciate the discussed, grave environmental problems of our planet Earth where the population explosion has been causing disastrous situations. In a sense, fact is truly stranger than fiction. So, which is more interesting, fiction or nonfiction? I hope you read the three series and decide for yourself

Measuring phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities with pyrogallol, l-DOPA, and ABTS: Effect of assay conditions and soil type

Microbial phenol oxidases and peroxidases mediate biogeochemical processes in soils, including microbial acquisition of carbon and nitrogen, lignin degradation, carbon mineralization and sequestration, and dissolved organic carbon export. Measuring oxidative enzyme activities in soils is more problematic than assaying hydrolytic enzyme activities because of the non-specific, free radical nature of the reactions and complex interactions between enzymes, assay substrates, and the soil matrix. We compared three substrates commonly used to assay phenol oxidase and peroxidase in soil: pyrogallol (PYGL, 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene), l-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). We measured substrate oxidation in three soils across a pH gradient from 3.0 to 10.0 to determine the pH optimum for each substrate. In addition, we compared activities across 17 soils using the three substrates. In general, activities on the substrates followed the trend PYGL&gt;. l-DOPA&gt;ABTS and were inversely related to substrate redox potential. PYGL and ABTS were not suitable substrates at pH&gt;5, and ABTS oxidation often declined with addition of peroxide to the assay. Absolute and relative oxidation rates varied widely among substrates in relation to soil type and assay pH. We also tested whether autoclaved or combusted soils could be used as negative controls for the influence of abiotic factors (e.g., soil mineralogy) on oxidative activity. However, neither autoclaving nor combustion produced reliable negative controls because substrate oxidation still occurred; in some cases, these treatments enhanced substrate oxidation rates. For broad scale studies, we recommend that investigators use all three substrates to assess soil oxidation potentials. For focused studies, we recommend evaluating substrates before choosing a single option, and we recommend assays at both the soil pH and a reference pH (e.g., pH 5.0) to determine the effect of assay pH on oxidase activity. These recommendations should contribute to greater comparability of oxidase potential activities across studies. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Rhizosphere priming effects on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization

Living roots and their rhizodeposits affect microbial activity and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. This so-called rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) has been increasingly recognized recently. However, the magnitude of the RPE and its driving mechanisms remain elusive. Here we investigated the RPE of two plant species (soybean and sunflower) grown in two soil types (a farm or a prairie soil) and sampled at two phenological stages (vegetative and mature stages) over an 88-day period in a greenhouse experiment. We measured soil C mineralization using a continuous 13C-labeling method, and quantified gross N mineralization with a 15N-pool dilution technique. We found that living roots significantly enhanced soil C mineralization, by 27-245%. This positive RPE on soil C mineralization did not vary between the two soils or the two phenological stages, but was significantly greater in sunflower compared to soybean. The magnitude of the RPE was positively correlated with rhizosphere respiration rate across all treatments, suggesting the variation of RPE among treatments was likely caused by variations in root activity and rhizodeposit quantity. Moreover, living roots stimulated gross N mineralization rate by 36-62% in five treatments, while they had no significant impact in the other three treatments. We also quantified soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity when plants were at the vegetative stage. Generally, living roots increased microbial biomass carbon by 0-28%, β-glucosidase activity by 19-56%, and oxidative enzyme activity by 0-46%. These results are consistent with the positive rhizosphere effect on soil C (45-79%) and N (10-52%) mineralization measured at the same period. We also found significant positive relationships between β-glucosidase activity and soil C mineralization rates and between oxidative enzyme activity and gross N mineralization rates across treatments. These relationships provide clear evidence for the microbial activation hypothesis of RPE. Our results demonstrate that root-soil-microbial interactions can stimulate soil C and N mineralization through rhizosphere effects. The relationships between the RPE and rhizosphere respiration rate and soil enzyme activity can be used for explicit representations of RPE in soil organic matter models. © 2014