Post-mortem wear as indicator of taphonomic processes affecting enamel surfaces of hominin teeth from Laetoli and Olduvai (Tanzania): implications to dietary interpretations

The buccal microwear pattern of premolar and molar teeth has been linked to the composition of the ingested diet in human populations, both extant and fossil. However, numerous enamel surfaces observed for microwear analyses show microscopic damage that can be attributed to post-mortem taphonomic processes, not related to dietary habits. Post-depositional processes may greatly affect enamel surfaces, occasionally hindering dietary reconstructions based on dental microwear patterns. The present study analyses the damage patterns that can be observed on fossil Hominin teeth from the sites of Laetoli and Olduvai (Tanzania) to differentiate between ante-mortem and post-mortem processes. The results obtained show that post-mortem wear can be easily differentiated from ante-mortem abrasion for its distinct effects, mainly consisting of obliteration of enamel features. The frequency of abraded surfaces in the samples studied is considerably high. Despite the great antiquity of the remains studied, patches of well preserved enamel can still be distinguished in a number of teeth. Well preserved enamel surfaces can be discriminated for their polished appearance and the presence of distinct microwear features

Maceration determines diagnostic yield of fetal and neonatal whole body post‐mortem ultrasound

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors in non-diagnostic fetal and neonatal post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS) examinations. METHODS: All fetal and neonatal PMUS examinations were included over a 5 year study period (2014 - 2019). Non-diagnostic image quality by body parts (brain, spine, thorax, cardiac, abdomen) were recorded, and correlated with patient variables. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant factors for non-diagnostic studies. RESULTS: 265 PMUS examinations were included, with median gestational age of 22 weeks (12 - 42 weeks), post-mortem weight 363g (16 - 4033g) and post-mortem interval of 8 days (0 - 39 days). Diagnostic imaging quality was achieved for 178/265 (67.2%) studies. It was high for abdominal (263/265, 99.2%); thoracic (264/265, 99.6%) and spine (265/265, 100%), but lower for brain (210/265, 79.2%) and cardiac imaging (213/265, 80.4%). Maceration was the best overall predictor for non-diagnostic imaging quality (p<0.0001). Post-mortem fetal weight was positively associated with cardiac (p =0.0133), and negatively associated with brain imaging quality (p =0.0002). Post-mortem interval was not a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal maceration was the best predictor for non-diagnostic PMUS, particularly for brain and heart. Fetuses with marked maceration and suspected cardiac or brain anomalies should be prioritised for post-mortem MRI

Changes in trabecular bone, hematopoiesis and bone marrow vessels in aplastic anemia, primary osteoporosis, and old age

Retrospective histologic analyses of bone biopsies and of post mortem samples from normal persons of different age groups, and of bone biopsies of age- and sex-matched groups of patients with primary osteoporosis and aplastic anemia show characteristic age dependent as well as pathologic changes including atrophy of osseous trabeculae and of hematopoiesis, and changes in the sinusoidal and arterial capillary compartments. These results indicate the possible role of a microvascular defect in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and aplastic anemia

La biblioteca del predicador Pere Dorchal (1419)

This article analyses the library of Pere Dorchal, a priest at the Cathedral of Valencia (Spain), focusing on the post mortem inventory of his collection (1419). An analysis is conducted of its content, a paradigm of the preaching library, and his life is reconstructed.A partir del inventario post mortem de los libros de Pere Dorchal, sacerdote beneficiado en la catedral de Valencia, datado en 1419, se estudia la composición de la biblioteca de un predicador. Al mismo tiempo, se recompone su biografía

Reframing Failure: Post Mortems for Library Projects

As librarians, we often take part in or lead projects and initiatives, but not all of these endeavors succeed; we sometimes experience failure. Whether a solo research effort or a collaborative attempt to improve information literacy skills, not every endeavor may go as planned. Yet, how often do we take a step back and investigate how, what, when, where, and with whom a critical breakdown occurred? The post mortem -- a systematic method for discovering, documenting, and disseminating an actionable summary of the ups and downs of a project’s execution -- offers librarians a valuable tool for reframing failure as an opportunity for ensuring future successes. Built upon the premise that similar projects face similar pitfalls, post mortems yield lessons learned that can be used by team members to prevent and/or plan for the mitigation of obstacles within and beyond their control. Although the project post mortem has its roots in the field of software development, many of the processes and principles upon which the post mortem is built can be applied and scaled for library projects of all sizes. By participating in this presentation, attendees will gain an understanding of the purpose and value of post mortem analyses for library projects; identify steps associated with planning for, conducting, and communicating the results of a post mortem analysis; consider how to scale post mortems for individual and team-based projects; and be able to develop a post mortem analysis plan for a past or current project upon returning to their home libraries

The Role of DNA Degradation in the Estimation of Post-Mortem Interval: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature

The determination of the post-mortal interval (PMI) is an extremely discussed topic in the literature and of deep forensic interest, for which various types of methods have been proposed. The aim of the manuscript is to provide a review of the studies on the post-mortem DNA degradation used for estimating PMI. This review has been performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the PRISMA Guidelines. Several analytical techniques have been proposed to analyse the post-mortem DNA degradation in order to use it to estimate the PMI. Studies focused mainly on animal models and on particular tissues. The results have been mixed: while on the one hand literature data in this field have confirmed that in the post-mortem several degradation processes involve nucleic acids, on the other hand some fundamental aspects are still little explored: the influence of ante and post-mortem factors on DNA degradation, the feasibility and applicability of a multiparametric mathematical model that takes into account DNA degradation and the definition of one or more target organs in order to standardize the results on human cases under standard conditions

Data Protection Post-mortem

This article discusses the notion of the post-mortem privacy of the deceased Internet user and focuses on the post-mortem privacy protection aspects in common and continental law systems. It analyses the post-mortem privacy regulation by the legal framework and by contracts, provides information about existing measures to protect Internet user’s data post-mortem and discusses the possibilities to improve them

DATA PROTECTION POST-MORTEM

This article discusses the notion of the post-mortem privacy of the deceased Internet user and focuses on the post-mortem privacy protection aspects in common and continental law systems. It analyses the post-mortem privacy regulation by the legal framework and by contracts, provides information about existing measures to protect Internet user’s data post-mortem and discusses the possibilities to improve them

The developmental and criminal histories of subgroups of sexual murderers engaging, or not engaging, in post mortem sexual interference, compared to rapists

Purpose Identifying factors that may predict sexual aggression in the context of directly sexual murder, indirectly sexual murder, and non-fatal outcomes is necessary for advancing a field lacking a substantiated multifactorial theoretical model. Methods Eighty-nine sexual murderers engaging in post mortem sexual interference were compared to 92 non-post mortem sexual interference sexual murderers and 72 rapists on developmental factors, adult lifestyle, and criminal history. An overall model was built using a series of multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results Unlike rapists, both groups of sexual murderers experienced a lack of success in sexually intimate relationships. Perpetrators of post mortem sexual interference were rarely necrophiles, but having a history of sadistic behaviors or interests uniquely predicted sexual murder involving post mortem sexual interference. Chronic violent and sexual offending was characteristic of rapists. Psychopathy, measured using the screening version of the Psychopathy Checklist (Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995), was not predictive of any outcome. Conclusion Results support criticism of existing theoretical models; that they do not apply to non-sadistic sexual murder. Findings are discussed in relation to gaps in theoretical understanding of sexual murder, and concerning implications for forensic policies and practice

Ruptured pseudo-aneurysm of a femoral artery in a drug abuser revealed by post-mortem CT angiography

A 35-year-old drug addict was found dead in a public toilet with a ruptured groin, which was later diagnosed to be a leaking pseudo-aneurysm. Investigation at the scene revealed impressive external hemorrhage related to a groin wound. Post-mortem computed tomography angiography demonstrated an aneurysm of the right femoral artery with leak of contrast liquid. Signs of blood loss were evident at autopsy, and histological examination revealed necrosis and rupture of the pseudo-aneurysm. Toxicological analyses were positive for methadone, cocaine, citalopram, and benzodiazepines. This is the first case report in the literature of a ruptured femoral pseudo-aneurysm with a post-mortem radiological diagnosi