The Integration of Laser Scanning and 3D Models in the Legal Process following an Industrial Accident

PublishedThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Background In order to obtain a deeper understanding of an incident, it needs to be investigated to "peel back the layers" and examine both the immediate and underlying failures that contributed to the event itself. One of the key elements of effective accident investigation is recording the scene for future reference. In recent years, however, there have been major advances in survey technology, which have provided the ability to capture scenes in 3D to an unprecedented level of detail, using laser scanners. Methods A case study involving a fatal incident was surveyed using 3D laser scanning and then subsequently recreated through virtual and physical models. The created models were then utilised in both the accident investigation and legal process top explore the technologies use in this setting. Results Benefits include; explanation of the event and environment, incident reconstruction, preservation of evidence, reducing the need for site visits, testing of theories. Drawbacks include; limited technology within court rooms, confusion caused by models, cost, personal interpretation and acceptance in the data. Conclusions The use of laser scanning surveys can be of considerable use in jury trials, for example, if the location supports the use of a high definition survey or if an object has be altered after the accident and has a specific influence on the case and needs to be recorded. However, consideration has to be made in its application and to ensure a fair trial, emphasis being placed on the facts of the case and personal interpretation controlled.The Authors would like to acknowledge the European Social Fund for providing funding for this research. In addition, the authors would also like to acknowledge 3DMSI Ltd for their assistance throughout this research

Primary Small Bowel Liposarcoma (Atypical Lipomatous Tumour) with Myogenic Differentiation

Primary small intestinal liposarcomas originating in the small bowel are uncommon with a generally poor prognosis due to the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. We describe a case of primary small bowel dedifferentiated liposarcoma presenting as a solid mass in the right iliac fossa. The current case is unusual as the tumour seemingly originated from the bowel and the well-differentiated component was seen extensively infiltrating the bowel wall including the small bowel submucosa

A Measurement of Newton's Gravitational Constant

A precision measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ has been made using a beam balance. Special attention has been given to determining the calibration, the effect of a possible nonlinearity of the balance and the zero-point variation of the balance. The equipment, the measurements and the analysis are described in detail. The value obtained for G is 6.674252(109)(54) 10^{-11} m3 kg-1 s-2. The relative statistical and systematic uncertainties of this result are 16.3 10^{-6} and 8.1 10^{-6}, respectively.Comment: 26 pages, 20 figures, Accepted for publication by Phys. Rev.

Hyperplastic Polyps Are Innocuous Lesions in Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancers

Aims. To compare methylation profiles, protein expression, and microsatellite instability (MSI) of sporadic, HNPCC, and familial hyperplastic polyps (HPs). Methods. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and pyrosequencing assessed p16, MGMT, hMLH-1, MINT 1, and MINT 31 methylation. IHC (Immunohistochemistry) assessed Ki67, CK20, hMLH-1, hMSH-2, and hMSH-6 protein expression. MSI analysis was performed on those polyps with adequate DNA remaining. Results. 124 HPs were identified 78 sporadic, 21 HNPCC, 25 familial, and the HNPCC group demonstrated no significant differences in overall methylation (P = .186 Chi2). The familial group demonstrated significantly less over all methylation levels (P = .004 Chi2). Conclusions. HPs that occur in HNPCC have no more worrying features at a molecular level than those patients with HPs in a sporadic setting

Electrostatic Patch Effect in Cylindrical Geometry. III. Torques

We continue to study the effect of uneven voltage distribution on two close cylindrical conductors with parallel axes started in our papers [1] and [2], now to find the electrostatic torques. We calculate the electrostatic potential and energy to lowest order in the gap to cylinder radius ratio for an arbitrary relative rotation of the cylinders about their symmetry axis. By energy conservation, the axial torque, independent of the uniform voltage difference, is found as a derivative of the energy in the rotation angle. We also derive both the axial and slanting torques by the surface integration method: the torque vector is the integral over the cylinder surface of the cross product of the electrostatic force on a surface element and its position vector. The slanting torque consists of two parts: one coming from the interaction between the patch and the uniform voltages, and the other due to the patch interaction. General properties of the torques are described. A convenient model of a localized patch suggested in [2] is used to calculate the torques explicitly in terms of elementary functions. Based on this, we analyze in detail patch interaction for one pair of patches, namely, the torque dependence on the patch parameters (width and strength) and their mutual positions. The effect of the axial torque is then studied for the experimental conditions of the STEP mission.Comment: 28 pages, 6 Figures. Submitted to Classical Quantum Gravit

Electrostatic Patch Effect in Cylindrical Geometry. I. Potential and Energy between Slightly Non-Coaxial Cylinders

We study the effect of any uneven voltage distribution on two close cylindrical conductors with parallel axes that are slightly shifted in the radial and by any length in the axial direction. The investigation is especially motivated by certain precision measurements, such as the Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP). By energy conservation, the force can be found as the energy gradient in the vector of the shift, which requires determining potential distribution and energy in the gap. The boundary value problem for the potential is solved, and energy is thus found to the second order in the small transverse shift, and to lowest order in the gap to cylinder radius ratio. The energy consists of three parts: the usual capacitor part due to the uniform potential difference, the one coming from the interaction between the voltage patches and the uniform voltage difference, and the energy of patch interaction, entirely independent of the uniform voltage. Patch effect forces and torques in the cylindrical configuration are derived and analyzed in the next two parts of this work.Comment: 26 pages, 1 Figure. Submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit

Acceleration disturbances and requirements for ASTROD I

ASTRODynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices I (ASTROD I) mainly aims at testing relativistic gravity and measuring the solar-system parameters with high precision, by carrying out laser ranging between a spacecraft in a solar orbit and ground stations. In order to achieve these goals, the magnitude of the total acceleration disturbance of the proof mass has to be less than 10−13 m s−2 Hz−1/2 at 0.1 m Hz. In this paper, we give a preliminary overview of the sources and magnitude of acceleration disturbances that could arise in the ASTROD I proof mass. Based on the estimates of the acceleration disturbances and by assuming a simple controlloop model, we infer requirements for ASTROD I. Our estimates show that most of the requirements for ASTROD I can be relaxed in comparison with Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA).Comment: 19 pages, two figures, accepted for publication by Class. Quantum Grav. (at press