GRB 081024B and GRB 140402A: two additional short GRBs from binary neutron star mergers

Theoretical and observational evidences have been recently gained for a two-fold classification of short bursts: 1) short gamma-ray flashes (S-GRFs), with isotropic energy $E_{iso}<10^{52}$~erg and no BH formation, and 2) the authentic short gamma-ray bursts (S-GRBs), with isotropic energy $E_{iso}>10^{52}$~erg evidencing a BH formation in the binary neutron star merging process. The signature for the BH formation consists in the on-set of the high energy ($0.1$--$100$~GeV) emission, coeval to the prompt emission, in all S-GRBs. No GeV emission is expected nor observed in the S-GRFs. In this paper we present two additional S-GRBs, GRB 081024B and GRB 140402A, following the already identified S-GRBs, i.e., GRB 090227B, GRB 090510 and GRB 140619B. We also return on the absence of the GeV emission of the S-GRB 090227B, at an angle of $71^{\rm{o}}$ from the \textit{Fermi}-LAT boresight. All the correctly identified S-GRBs correlate to the high energy emission, implying no significant presence of beaming in the GeV emission. The existence of a common power-law behavior in the GeV luminosities, following the BH formation, when measured in the source rest-frame, points to a commonality in the mass and spin of the newly-formed BH in all S-GRBs.Comment: 16 pages, submitted to ApJ, second version addressing the comments by the refere

GRB 170817A-GW170817-AT 2017gfo and the observations of NS-NS, NS-WD and WD-WD mergers

The LIGO-Virgo Collaboration has announced the detection of GW170817 and has associated it with GRB 170817A. These signals have been followed after 11 hours by the optical and infrared emission of AT 2017gfo. The origin of this complex phenomenon has been attributed to a neutron star-neutron star (NS-NS) merger. In order to probe this association we confront our current understanding of the gravitational waves and associated electromagnetic radiation with four observed GRBs originating in binaries composed of different combinations NSs and white dwarfs (WDs). We consider 1) GRB 090510 the prototype of NS-NS merger leading to a black hole (BH); 2) GRB 130603B the prototype of a NS-NS merger leading to massive NS (MNS) with an associated kilonova; 3) GRB 060614 the prototype of a NS-WD merger leading to a MNS with an associated kilonova candidate; 4) GRB 170817A the prototype of a WD-WD merger leading to massive WD with an associated AT 2017gfo-like emission. None of these systems support the above mentioned association. The clear association between GRB 170817A and AT 2017gfo has led to introduce a new model based on on a new subfamily of GRBs originating from WD-WD mergers. We show how this novel model is in agreement with the exceptional observations in the optical, infrared, X- and gamma-rays of GRB 170817A-AT 2017gfo.Comment: version accepted for publication in JCAP. Missing references adde

Osteogenesis imperfecta: pregled suvremenih spoznaja o radiologiji koštanoga sustava i nove genetske spoznaje

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder of bone and connective tissue characterized by osteoporosis, fragile bones, hyperextensible joints, dentinogenesis imperfecta, bluish coloration of the sclerae, and adult-onset hearing loss. Medical history, careful physical examination, radiographic features of fractures, and biochemical analysis of skin collagen are the four cornerstones of accurate diagnosis. As osteogenesis imperfecta affects the whole skeleton, radiologic diagnostic features could be seen on any bone at any age of the patient. A radiology specialist should be aware of subtle changes seen on radiographs of axial skeleton (i.e. skull, spine and pelvic bones) and appendicular skeleton (i.e. long and short bones of extremities) as well as of specific osteogenesis features (i.e. “popcorn” calcifications) and difficult differential diagnosis (i.e. hypertrophic callus formation versus osteosarcoma; child abuse fractures versus true osteogenesis imperfecta). About 300 different mutations have been identified within COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes that encode the chains of type I collagen. More than 90% of these are heterozygous single base pair mutations unique to the affected individuals within families. Depending on the location of the mutation within the collagen gene, these produce a variety of clinical pictures which range from mild (OI type 1), lethal (OI type 2) to severely deforming (OI type 3) and mildly deforming (OI type 4). Each of the four types has a common radiologic appearance that helps in establishing the diagnosis. However, recent findings have confirmed that new genes other than type I collagen could be responsible for three new types of OI (OI type 5; OI type 6 and rhizomelic OI). Here we describe the complexity of the phenotype-genotype correlation in OI, and the recently proposed new classification.Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) je genetski i klinički heterogena bolest kosti i vezivnoga tkiva s odrednicama: osteoporoza; lomljivost kostiju; labavost zglobova, dentinogenesis imperfecta; plavičaste bjeloočnice i nagluhost u odrasloj dobi. Ključ točne dijagnoze su četiri bitna postupka: precizna anamneza; pažljiv fizikalni pregled; uočavanje radioloških značajka prijeloma i promjena kostiju i biokemijska analiza kolagena kože. Uobičajena je podjela na četiri tipa OI: od blagog (tip 1), letalnog (tip 2) do teško deformirajućeg (tip 3) i umjereno deformirajućeg oblika (tip 4). Svaki od četiri tipa ima zasebne radiološke značajke koje pomažu kod postavljanja točne dijagnoze i klasificiranja. Dijagnostičko-radiološki znaci postoje na cijelom mišićno koštanom sustavu od novorođenačke do kasne životne dobi. Za radiologa je važno prepoznati brojne sićušne i specifične promjene na rendgenogramima aksijalnog (lubanja, kralješnica, zdjelica) i apendikularnog (kosti udova) skeleta. Znaci korisni u diferenciranju osteosarkoma prema stvaranju hipertrofičnog koštanog kalusa kod OI i drugi posebni znaci bolesti, primjerice metafizne “popcorn” kalcifikacije, prepoznaju se dobrom radiološkom obradom. Dosad je otkriveno oko 300 različitih mutacija na COL1A1 i COL1A2 genima odgovornima za oblikovanje lanaca kolagena tip I. Klinička slika OI razlikuje se prema mjestu mutacije na genu za kolagen. Nedavni nalazi su potvrdili da i drugi geni, uz kolagen tip 1, mogu biti odgovorni za nastanak tri nova tipa OI: tip 5; tip 6 i rizomelični tip OI. Nadalje, u tekstu je opisana složenost fenotipske i genotipske korelacije, kao i nedavno predložena nova klasifikacija OI

Osteogenesis imperfecta: pregled suvremenih spoznaja o radiologiji koštanoga sustava i nove genetske spoznaje

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder of bone and connective tissue characterized by osteoporosis, fragile bones, hyperextensible joints, dentinogenesis imperfecta, bluish coloration of the sclerae, and adult-onset hearing loss. Medical history, careful physical examination, radiographic features of fractures, and biochemical analysis of skin collagen are the four cornerstones of accurate diagnosis. As osteogenesis imperfecta affects the whole skeleton, radiologic diagnostic features could be seen on any bone at any age of the patient. A radiology specialist should be aware of subtle changes seen on radiographs of axial skeleton (i.e. skull, spine and pelvic bones) and appendicular skeleton (i.e. long and short bones of extremities) as well as of specific osteogenesis features (i.e. “popcorn” calcifications) and difficult differential diagnosis (i.e. hypertrophic callus formation versus osteosarcoma; child abuse fractures versus true osteogenesis imperfecta). About 300 different mutations have been identified within COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes that encode the chains of type I collagen. More than 90% of these are heterozygous single base pair mutations unique to the affected individuals within families. Depending on the location of the mutation within the collagen gene, these produce a variety of clinical pictures which range from mild (OI type 1), lethal (OI type 2) to severely deforming (OI type 3) and mildly deforming (OI type 4). Each of the four types has a common radiologic appearance that helps in establishing the diagnosis. However, recent findings have confirmed that new genes other than type I collagen could be responsible for three new types of OI (OI type 5; OI type 6 and rhizomelic OI). Here we describe the complexity of the phenotype-genotype correlation in OI, and the recently proposed new classification.Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) je genetski i klinički heterogena bolest kosti i vezivnoga tkiva s odrednicama: osteoporoza; lomljivost kostiju; labavost zglobova, dentinogenesis imperfecta; plavičaste bjeloočnice i nagluhost u odrasloj dobi. Ključ točne dijagnoze su četiri bitna postupka: precizna anamneza; pažljiv fizikalni pregled; uočavanje radioloških značajka prijeloma i promjena kostiju i biokemijska analiza kolagena kože. Uobičajena je podjela na četiri tipa OI: od blagog (tip 1), letalnog (tip 2) do teško deformirajućeg (tip 3) i umjereno deformirajućeg oblika (tip 4). Svaki od četiri tipa ima zasebne radiološke značajke koje pomažu kod postavljanja točne dijagnoze i klasificiranja. Dijagnostičko-radiološki znaci postoje na cijelom mišićno koštanom sustavu od novorođenačke do kasne životne dobi. Za radiologa je važno prepoznati brojne sićušne i specifične promjene na rendgenogramima aksijalnog (lubanja, kralješnica, zdjelica) i apendikularnog (kosti udova) skeleta. Znaci korisni u diferenciranju osteosarkoma prema stvaranju hipertrofičnog koštanog kalusa kod OI i drugi posebni znaci bolesti, primjerice metafizne “popcorn” kalcifikacije, prepoznaju se dobrom radiološkom obradom. Dosad je otkriveno oko 300 različitih mutacija na COL1A1 i COL1A2 genima odgovornima za oblikovanje lanaca kolagena tip I. Klinička slika OI razlikuje se prema mjestu mutacije na genu za kolagen. Nedavni nalazi su potvrdili da i drugi geni, uz kolagen tip 1, mogu biti odgovorni za nastanak tri nova tipa OI: tip 5; tip 6 i rizomelični tip OI. Nadalje, u tekstu je opisana složenost fenotipske i genotipske korelacije, kao i nedavno predložena nova klasifikacija OI

Comparison of three methods of DNA extraction from human bones with different degrees of degradation

There is a necessity for deceased identification as a result of many accidents and sometimes bones are the only accessible source of DNA. So far, a universal method that allows for extraction of DNA from materials at different stages of degradation does not exist. The aims of this study were: the comparison of three methods of DNA extraction from bones with different degree of degradation and an evaluation of the usefulness of these methods in forensic genetics. The efficiency of DNA extraction, the degree of extract contamination by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors and the possibility of determining the STR loci profile were especially being compared. Nuclear DNA from bones at different states of degradation was isolated using three methods: classical, organic phenol–chloroform extraction, DNA extraction from crystal aggregates and extraction by total demineralisation. Total demineralisation is the best method for most cases of DNA extraction from bones, although it does not provide pure DNA. DNA extraction from aggregates removes inhibitors much better and is also a good method of choice when identity determination of exhumed remains is necessary. In the case of not buried bones (remains found outside) total demineralisation or phenol–chloroform protocols are more efficient for successful DNA extraction