53 research outputs found
Thallium toxicity due to audultered infusion with thallium sulfate in eight members belonging to the same family nucleus: Autopsy findings and ICP-MS analysis (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) in a triple homicide
The banning of the heavy metal thallium (Tl) in many Countries, because of its toxicity, led to a remarkable reduction of the number of cases of poisoning both accidental and homicidal forcing us to better study the pharmacokinetics of this poison using new technologies. The Authors, in this work, are reporting the case of a collective thallium toxicosis caused by voluntary adulteration of an infusion with thallium sulfate, occurred in 8 members of the same familial nucleus; the administration of Prussian Blu resulted to be ineffective for 3 of these members that died at a later time. The most peculiar aspects of this rare manner of poisoning are discussed; the analytical procedures used, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in particular, resulted to be fundamental in the forensic diagnosis process of acute poisoning cause by thallium
Tracing dark energy history with gamma ray bursts
Observations of gamma-ray bursts up to are best suited to study the
possible evolution of the Universe equation of state at intermediate redshifts.
We apply the Combo-relation to a sample of 174 gamma ray bursts to investigate
possible evidence of evolving dark energy parameter . We first build a
gamma ray burst Hubble's diagram and then we estimate the set (,
) in the framework of flat and non-flat CDM
paradigm. We then get bounds over the CDM model, where is thought to
evolve with redshift, adopting two priors over the Hubble constant in tension
at -, i.e. km/s/Mpc and
km/s/Mpc. We show our new sample provides tighter constraints on
since at we see that agrees within 1 with the
standard value . The situation is the opposite at larger , where gamma
ray bursts better fix that seems to deviate from at -
and - level, depending on the redshift bins. In particular, we
investigate the evolution through a piecewise formulation over seven
redshift intervals. From our fitting procedure we show that at the
case cannot be fully excluded, indicating that dark energy's influence
is not negligible at larger . We confirm the Combo relation as a powerful
tool to investigate cosmological evolution of dark energy. Future space
missions will significantly enrich the gamma ray burst database even at smaller
redshifts, improving de facto the results discussed in this paper.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, ApJ submitte
The forensic odontology in Milan : a 20 year experience
Forensic odontology has a relevant importance in several fields of forensic sciences, from personal
identification of corpse sand the living from video-surveillance systems, to the evaluation of lesions
and odontoiatric damage and professional malpractice. In the last time forensic odontology has
known a decisive improvement in the field of age estimation of the living for the ascertainment of
imputability and age in adopted children, and from 2D images in cases of suspected juvenile
pornographic material. The association with forensic odontologists has a relevant importance also in
the assessment of bite marks and lesions in refugees seeking asylum. This poster aims at exposing
some examples of the reliability of odontological techniques applied to the forensic scenario, chosen
within the 20 year experience of LABANOF (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense),
which highlight the increasing requests from privates and the judicial authorities for expert witnesses
concerning forensic odontology and the crucial role of university centers which may provide a
reference point for assessing topics concerning this wide and crucial field of application of forensic
sciences
Lunar Gravitational-Wave Detection
A new era of lunar exploration has begun bringing immense opportunities for science as well. It has been proposed to deploy a new generation of observatories on the lunar surface for deep studies of our Universe. This includes radio antennas, which would be protected on the far side of the Moon from terrestrial radio interference, and gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, which would profit from the extremely low level of seismic disturbances on the Moon. In recent years, novel concepts have been proposed for lunar GW detectors based on long-baseline laser interferometry or on compact sensors measuring the lunar surface vibrations caused by GWs. In this article, we review the concepts and science opportunities for such instruments on the Moon. In addition to promising breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology, lunar GW detectors would also be formidable probes of the lunar internal structure and improve our understanding of the lunar geophysical environment
The Inverse Ocean Modeling System. Part II: Applications
The Inverse Ocean Modeling (IOM) System is a modular system for constructing and running weak-constraint four-dimensional variational data assimilation (W4DVAR) for any linear or nonlinear functionally smooth dynamical model and observing array. The IOM has been applied to four ocean models with widely varying characteristics. The Primitive Equations Z-coordinate-Harmonic Analysis of Tides (PEZ-HAT) and the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) are three-dimensional, primitive equations models while the Advanced Circulation model in 2D (ADCIRC-2D) and Spectral Element Ocean Model in 2D (SEOM-2D) are shallow-water models belonging to the general finite-element family. These models, in conjunction with the IOM, have been used to investigate a wide variety of scientific phenomena including tidal, mesoscale, and wind-driven circulation. In all cases, the assimilation of data using the IOM provides a better estimate of the ocean state than the model alone
The homicide of a transgender by an ante-mortem incaprettamento : a case report
Homicide of a victim belonging to the GLBT community (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) is rarely
described in the forensic-pathology literature, though this population is more prone to experience victimization than the
heterosexual population.
Authors illustrate the homicide of a Peruvian transgender that was murdered by her partner with the use of a killing
technique that is utilized by the Italian mafia organization: the so-called \u201cincaprettamento\u201d.
Cadaver presented both the knee in a flexed position, and all the limbs were forcedly put behind the back, with tied wrists
and ankles. The wrists were also fastened with another wire to a \u201cPlay-Station\u201d videogame consolle, that enclosed the victim\u2019s
neck. At the dissection, the antero-lateral soft tissues of the neck showed blood infiltration, with a complete fracture of the right
superior horn of the thyroid cartilage. The cause of death was determined in a self-strangulation due to the \u201cincaprettamento\u201d
technique.
Convergence of the historical, autoptical and histopathological data permitted to formulate the diagnosis of an homicide
by self-strangulation performed with an ante-mortem \u201cincaprettamento\u201d
The perception of psychosocial risks through the HSE questionnaire of a population of neurophysiology technicians: a cross-sectional study
Objectives. The Neurophysiopathology Technicians (NTs) are
exposed to psychosocial risks, exposure to psychosocial risks that
cause related work stress has been related to numerous physical and
mental illnesses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the perception of
psychosocial risks in a population of this population.
Materials and methods. 54 technicians of Neurophysiopathology
were enrolled, consisting of 23 males (42,6 %) and 31 females (57,4
%). All subjects were administered the HSE questionnaire developed
by the Health and Safety Executive. the statistical analysis provided
for the assessment of the reliability of the questionnaires and the nonparametric
analysis of gender differences.
Results. In the total population emerges as critical the perception
of the domain âManagersâ Supportâ with Cronbachâs alpha values for
total males and females respectively of 0,87, 0,85, 0,88. In the female
population is added the critical perception of the âPeer Supportâ domain
(p=0,026), shows that the employees indicated that they do not receive
adequate information and support from their colleagues.
Discussion. The study highlights the exposure to psychosocial risks
by technicians of neurophysiopathology able to mediate the phenomenon
of WRS. The HSE questionnaire represents a tool capable of
highlighting specific risks to which workers are exposed. Furthermore,
its ability to capture elements of the work context significantly increases
if an analysis is carried out that takes into account the workerâs gender
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