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 $z\sim 9$ 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 $w(z)$. We first build a gamma ray burst Hubble's diagram and then we estimate the set ($\Omega_m$, $\Omega_{\Lambda}$) in the framework of flat and non-flat $\Lambda$CDM paradigm. We then get bounds over the $w$CDM model, where $w$ is thought to evolve with redshift, adopting two priors over the Hubble constant in tension at $4.4$-$\sigma$, i.e. $H_0=(67.4\pm0.5)$ km/s/Mpc and $H_0=(74.03\pm1.42)$ km/s/Mpc. We show our new sample provides tighter constraints on $\Omega_m$ since at $z\leq1.2$ we see that $w(z)$ agrees within 1$\sigma$ with the standard value $w=-1$. The situation is the opposite at larger $z$, where gamma ray bursts better fix $w(z)$ that seems to deviate from $w=-1$ at $2$-$\sigma$ and $4$-$\sigma$ level, depending on the redshift bins. In particular, we investigate the $w(z)$ evolution through a piecewise formulation over seven redshift intervals. From our fitting procedure we show that at $z\geq 1.2$ the case $w<-1$ cannot be fully excluded, indicating that dark energy's influence is not negligible at larger $z$. 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

Motion of stars near the galactic center

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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 “Managers’ Support” with Cronbach’s 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 “Peer Support” 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 worker’s gender