A Multidisciplinary Vision of the Criminal, Social and Occupational Risk Consequences of the Use of Police Force

(1) Background: The use of force by public and private security forces is currently an issue of great relevance because of the potential injuries caused by any excessive use of force by either active or passive subjects or a deficit in the real mastery of appropriate physical intervention techniques (PITs). For this reason, certain traditionally used physical intervention techniques have been questioned by scientific research studies and punished by justice. On the other hand, certain media have dealt with this matter in a biased and unfair manner by broadcasting videos where the use of force by police officer is displayed out of context. As a consequence, this problem has been brought under the spotlight, causing general uneasiness of the communities and rapidly spreading over social networks while favoring all sorts of parallel judgments. (2) Research method: A suit was equipped with 19 inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a Biomechanics of Bodies software application for Marras analysis of the data collected on trajectory, trunk twisting velocity, sagittal angle, load, and nature and severity of the injuries associated with the different intervention techniques examined. (3) Results: According to the data registered, the implementation of operational tactical procedures (OTPs) reduces the probability of injuries and leads to a more satisfactory outcome. (4) Conclusions: The implementation of operational tactical procedures, together with an awareness of the risks associated with the excessive use of force by public and private security forces and bodies, could reduce the risk of injuries suffered by both officers and citizens.R&D PROJECT DER 2012-35997-C03-03 “Study of police defense materials and possible improvements” financed by the Secretary of State for research, development, and innovation of MINEC

Application of an HS–MS for the detection of ignitable liquids from fire debris

In arsonattacks,accelerantssuchasignitableliquidsarecommonlyusedtoinitiateoracceleratea fire. The detection of ignitable liquid residues at fire scenes is therefore a key step in fire investigations.The most widely used analytical technique for the analysis of accelerants is GC–MS. However,pre-concentration of the ignitable liquid residues is required prior to the chromatographic analysis.Thestandard method, ASTM E1412, involves passive headspace concentration with activated charcoal strips as a method to isolate the ignitable liquid residues from fire debris and these residues are subsequently desorbed from the carbon strip with solvents such as carbon disulfide. In the work described here, an alternative analytical technique based on an HS–MS (headspace mass spectrometry) has been developed for the thermal desorption of the carbon strips and analysis of different ignitable liquid residues in fire debris.The working conditions for the HS–MS analytical procedure were optimized using different types of fire debris (pine wood burned with gasoline and diesel). The optimized variables were desorption temperature and desorption time.The optimal conditions were 145 °C and 15 min. The optimized method was applied to a set of fire debris samples. In order to simulate post burn samples several accelerants (gasoline, diesel, citronella, kerosene, paraffin, and alcohol) were used to ignite different substrates (wood, cotton, cork, paper, and paperboard). chemometric methods (cluster analysis and discriminant analysis) were applied to the total ion spectrum obtained from the MS (45–200m/z) to discriminate between the burned samples according to the accelerant used. The method was validated by analyzing all samples by GC–MS according to the standard methods ASTM E1412 and ASTM E1618. The results obtained on using the method developed in this study were comparable to those obtained with the reference method. However, the newly developed HS–MS method is faster, safer, and more environmental friendly than the standard method

Gasoline analysis by headspace mass spectrometry and near infrared spectroscopy

Headspace mass spectrometry and near infrared spectroscopy in combination with chemometric tools, including hierarchical cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis, have been used for the classification of gasoline according to the research octane number. Volatile components were studied by headspace mass spectrometry whereas the whole gasoline samples were studied by near infrared spectroscopy. Sample pretreatment was not required for either analysis. A set of 60 samples belonging to two different research octane numbers (95# and 98#) was analyzed by both techniques. The best results were obtained on using linear discriminant analysis, which allowed a full discrimination of the gasoline samples using only four m/z ratios (46, 59, 95 and 98) in the case of headspace mass spectrometry and three regions (below 1000 nm, 1400–1500 nm and 1600 nm) in the case of near infrared spectroscopy

New Headspace-Mass Spectrometry Method for the Discrimination of Commercial Gasoline Samples with Different Research Octane Numbers

A method for the discrimination of different gasoline samples according to their RON has been developed using an HS-MS system. The working conditions for the HS-MS analytical procedure were optimized by experimental design. The variables optimized were incubation temperature, incubation time, and sample volume. The optimal conditions were as follows: 145 °C incubation temperature, 10 min incubation time, and 80 μL sample volume. The optimized method was applied to a set of 30 gasoline samples with different RON values (95# and 98#). An hierarchical cluster analysis was applied in which the m/z (45−200 m/z) values were used as a variable to form groups. A perfect classification (100%) of the gasoline samples according to their RON was achieved. A linear discriminant analysis was carried out and the resulting linear discriminant function enabled a perfect classification of the gasoline samples according to the RON using only the m/z values of 88, 95, and 112. These results demonstrate the capacity of the new technique for the discrimination of gasoline samples according to their RON and the applicability of this method in this field. For the first time, HS-MS was used for this purpose. The main advantage of HS-MS vs previous methodologies is that no chromatographic separation and no sample manipulation are required. HS-MS is therefore faster than the current techniques used in these kinds of studies; it is also cheaper, ecofriendly, and easy to use for routine analysis

Control of trace metal distribution and variability in an interdunal wetland

Trace elements are serious pollutants in the natural environment and are of increasing concern due to the adverse effects at global scale. To refine the current understanding of trace metal distribution and variability in natural environments, concentrations of dissolved trace metals (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Th,Tl, U, V, Mn, Zn), major ions, inorganic nutrients (NO3, PO4), TOC and stable isotopes of water were determined in water samples from rainwater, seven piezometers and a pond in the coastal Doñana wetland during four sampling campaigns between 2017 and 2019. Results show clear evaporation signatures of stable isotopes in the pond but not in the groundwater. Hydrochemical analyses yield significant, systematic changes in groundwater trace metal and nutrient composition along the flowpath from the dune belt to the pond, controlled by organic matter in the sediments. Whereas major ions reached maximum concentrations in the pond due to evapoconcentration, most trace metals showed highest concentrations at sites with lower redox levels, except for B, As and U, which showed very high concentrations in the pond. Cu, Zn, Ni, Sb and Tl yielded higher median concentrations in rainwater than in most of the groundwater points and in case of Cu and Zn higher even than in surface water which points to an atmospheric input source of these elements. Temporal variability of trace metals was related to lower hydraulic heads after an elongated dry period which led to lower redox levels and higher concentrations of most of the trace elements whereas major ions showed more constant concentration levels. This is of special concern regarding climate change and the predicted higher frequency of prolonged dry periods, which could modify the natural hydrochemical patterns in undisturbed wetlands systemsThis work has been financed by the CLIGRO Project (MICINN, CGL2016-77473-C3-1-R) of the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation. The infrastructure has been cofinanced by European Research Funds (SE Scientific Infrastructures and Techniques and Equipment 388 2013, IGME13-1E-2113). We are especially grateful for the technical support of Lidia Molano Leno and Daniel Jesus Martinez Suárez. The contracts of Lidia Molano Leno (PEJ-2014-A-68763) and Daniel Jesus Martinez Suárez (PTA2014-09579-I) were financed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain (MINECO) and co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The contract of Carmen Serrano Hidalgo was funded by the Industrial PhD grant supported by the Autonomous Region of Madrid, Spain (IND2018/AMB-9553). This work is also a contribution to the Andalusian research groups RNM-308 (Group of Hydrogeology) and RNM-126 (Group of water resources), the Lower Guadalquivir Basin convention between the CN IGME CSIC and Confederación Hidrológica del Guadalquivir (CHG) as well as the convention between Pablo de Olavide University and the Guadalquivir River Basin Board (Hydrological monitoring and modeling in Doñana temporary ponds

A Legal and Forensic Medicine Approach to Police Physical Intervention Techniques in High-Risk Situations

Background: The physical intervention techniques (PITs) typically used by the police in troublesome situations are examined in terms of injuring potential depending on whether they target a body zone of high, medium or low vulnerability. Based on legal and forensic considerations, and principles of congruence, opportunity and proportionality, a need exists to favor opponent locking and arrest techniques targeting non-vulnerable zones to minimize the risk of severe damage. Methods: A search of the training manuals for the different kind of law of enforcement officers was carried out. Revision of injuries was available from electronic databases of academic o medical journals. Results: Three different locking and arrest PITs based on operational tactical procedures (OTP) that avoid zones of high or medium vulnerability are proposed. The new techniques use blocking, diverting and grabbing of the upper and lower limbs, followed by dislocation and locking of the same targets. Conclusions: The damaging potential of such PITs was assessed in terms of anatomical region and most were found to have a high risk of severe damage. The alternative PITs proposed here, which rely on OTP, improve in legal and forensic medical terms on existing choices and dramatically reduce the risk of injuring arrestees

Association between heavy metals and metalloids in topsoil and mental health in the adult population of Spain

Despite the biological plausibility of the association between heavy metal exposure and mental health disorders, epidemiological evidence remains scarce. The objective was to estimate the association between heavy metals and metalloids in soil and the prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population of Spain. Methods Individual data came from the Spanish National Health Survey 2011–2012, 18,073 individuals residing in 1772 census sections. Mental health was measured with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The concentration estimates of heavy metal and metalloid levels in topsoil (upper soil horizon) came from the Geochemical Atlas of Spain based on 13,317 soil samples. Levels of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) were estimated in each census section by “ordinary Kriging”. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multilevel logistic regression models. Results Compared with the lowest Pb concentration levels quartile, the OR for the second quartile was 1.29 (95%CI: 1.11–1.50), increasing progressively to 1.37 (95%CI: 1.17–1.60) and 1.51 (95%CI: 1.27–1.79) in the third and fourth quartiles, respectively. For As, the association was observed in the third and fourth quartiles: 1.21 (95%CI: 1.04–1.41) and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.21–1.65), respectively. Cd was associated also following a gradient from the second quartile: 1.34 (95%CI: 1.15–1.57) through the fourth: 1.84 (95%CI: 1.56–2.15). In contrast, Mn only showed a positive association at the second quartile. Additionally, individuals consuming vegetables > once a day the OR for the fourth quartile of Pb concentration, vs. the first, increased to 2.93 (95%CI: 1.97–4.36); similarly for As: 3.00 (95%CI: 2.08–4.31), and for Cd: 3.49 (95%CI: 2.33–5.22). Conclusions Living in areas with a higher concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in soil was associated with an increased probability of having a mental disorder. These relationships were strengthened in individuals reporting consuming vegetables > once a dayThis work was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities [grant number PI15CIII/00034, PI14CIII/00065 and PI17CIII/00040

Study of the chemotactic response of multicellular spheroids in a microfluidic device

YesWe report the first application of a microfluidic device to observe chemotactic migration in multicellular spheroids. A microfluidic device was designed comprising a central microchamber and two lateral channels through which reagents can be introduced. Multicellular spheroids were embedded in collagen and introduced to the microchamber. A gradient of fetal bovine serum (FBS) was established across the central chamber by addition of growth media containing serum into one of the lateral channels. We observe that spheroids of oral squamous carcinoma cells OSC–19 invade collectively in the direction of the gradient of FBS. This invasion is more directional and aggressive than that observed for individual cells in the same experimental setup. In contrast to spheroids of OSC–19, U87-MG multicellular spheroids migrate as individual cells. A study of the exposure of spheroids to the chemoattractant shows that the rate of diffusion into the spheroid is slow and thus, the chemoattractant wave engulfs the spheroid before diffusing through it.This work has been supported by National Research Program of Spain (DPI2011-28262-c04-01) and by the project "MICROANGIOTHECAN" (CIBERBBN, IMIBIC and SEOM). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis

To understand COVID-19 characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and identify high-risk individuals due to their immunocompromised state resulting from the use of disease-modifying treatments. Retrospective and multicenter registry in patients with MS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and available disease course (mild = ambulatory; severe = hospitalization; and critical = intensive care unit/death). Cases were analyzed for associations between MS characteristics and COVID-19 course and for identifying risk factors for a fatal outcome. Of the 326 patients analyzed, 120 were cases confirmed by real-time PCR, 34 by a serologic test, and 205 were suspected. Sixty-nine patients (21.3%) developed severe infection, 10 (3%) critical, and 7 (2.1%) died. Ambulatory patients were higher in relapsing MS forms, treated with injectables and oral first-line agents, whereas more severe cases were observed in patients on pulsed immunosuppressors and critical cases among patients with no therapy. Severe and critical infections were more likely to affect older males with comorbidities, with progressive MS forms, a longer disease course, and higher disability. Fifteen of 33 patients treated with rituximab were hospitalized. Four deceased patients have progressive MS, 5 were not receiving MS therapy, and 2 were treated (natalizumab and rituximab). Multivariate analysis showed age (OR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.17) as the only independent risk factor for a fatal outcome. This study has not demonstrated the presumed critical role of MS therapy in the course of COVID-19 but evidenced that people with MS with advanced age and disease, in progressive course, and those who are more disabled have a higher probability of severe and even fatal diseas