259 research outputs found
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
Searching for galactic axions through magnetized media: QUAX status report
The current status of the QUAX R\&D program is presented. QUAX is a
feasibility study for a detection of axion as dark matter based on the coupling
to the electrons. The relevant signal is a magnetization change of a magnetic
material placed inside a resonant microwave cavity and polarized with a static
magnetic field.Comment: Contributed to the 13th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs,
Thessaloniki, May 15 to 19, 201
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
Gas damping force noise on a macroscopic test body in an infinite gas reservoir
We present a simple analysis of the force noise associated with the
mechanical damping of the motion of a test body surrounded by a large volume of
rarefied gas. The calculation is performed considering the momentum imparted by
inelastic collisions against the sides of a cubic test mass, and for other
geometries for which the force noise could be an experimental limitation. In
addition to arriving at an accurated estimate, by two alternative methods, we
discuss the limits of the applicability of this analysis to realistic
experimental configurations in which a test body is surrounded by residual gas
inside an enclosure that is only slightly larger than the test body itself.Comment: 8 pages. updated with correct translational damping coefficient for
cylinder on axis. added cylinder orthogonal to symmetry axis, force and
torque. slightly edited throughou
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
Long range neutrino forces in the cosmic relic neutrino background
Neutrinos mediate long range forces among macroscopic bodies in vacuum. When
the bodies are placed in the neutrino cosmic background, these forces are
modified. Indeed, at distances long compared to the scale , the relic
neutrinos completely screen off the 2-neutrino exchange force, whereas for
small distances the interaction remains unaffected.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure
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
Proinsulin Secretion Is a Persistent Feature of Type 1 Diabetes
OBJECTIVE:
Abnormally elevated proinsulin secretion has been reported in type 2 and early type 1 diabetes when significant C-peptide is present. We questioned whether individuals with long-standing type 1 diabetes and low or absent C-peptide secretory capacity retained the ability to make proinsulin.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:
C-peptide and proinsulin were measured in fasting and stimulated sera from 319 subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes (≥3 years) and 12 control subjects without diabetes. We considered three categories of stimulated C-peptide: 1) C-peptide positive, with high stimulated values ≥0.2 nmol/L; 2) C-peptide positive, with low stimulated values ≥0.017 but <0.2 nmol/L; and 3) C-peptide <0.017 nmol/L. Longitudinal samples were analyzed from C-peptide-positive subjects with diabetes after 1, 2, and 4 years.
RESULTS:
Of individuals with long-standing type 1 diabetes, 95.9% had detectable serum proinsulin (>3.1 pmol/L), while 89.9% of participants with stimulated C-peptide values below the limit of detection (<0.017 nmol/L; n = 99) had measurable proinsulin. Proinsulin levels remained stable over 4 years of follow-up, while C-peptide decreased slowly during longitudinal analysis. Correlations between proinsulin with C-peptide and mixed-meal stimulation of proinsulin were found only in subjects with high stimulated C-peptide values (≥0.2 nmol/L). Specifically, increases in proinsulin with mixed-meal stimulation were present only in the group with high stimulated C-peptide values, with no increases observed among subjects with low or undetectable (<0.017 nmol/L) residual C-peptide.
CONCLUSIONS:
In individuals with long-duration type 1 diabetes, the ability to secrete proinsulin persists, even in those with undetectable serum C-peptide
Observation of the thermal Casimir force
Quantum theory predicts the existence of the Casimir force between
macroscopic bodies, due to the zero-point energy of electromagnetic field modes
around them. This quantum fluctuation-induced force has been experimentally
observed for metallic and semiconducting bodies, although the measurements to
date have been unable to clearly settle the question of the correct
low-frequency form of the dielectric constant dispersion (the Drude model or
the plasma model) to be used for calculating the Casimir forces. At finite
temperature a thermal Casimir force, due to thermal, rather than quantum,
fluctuations of the electromagnetic field, has been theoretically predicted
long ago. Here we report the experimental observation of the thermal Casimir
force between two gold plates. We measured the attractive force between a flat
and a spherical plate for separations between 0.7 m and 7 m. An
electrostatic force caused by potential patches on the plates' surfaces is
included in the analysis. The experimental results are in excellent agreement
(reduced of 1.04) with the Casimir force calculated using the Drude
model, including the T=300 K thermal force, which dominates over the quantum
fluctuation-induced force at separations greater than 3 m. The plasma
model result is excluded in the measured separation range.Comment: 6 page
Large bowel obstruction due to sesame seed bezoar: a case report
peer-reviewedWe report a case of a 79 year old man with a known benign anastomotic stricture presenting with
large bowel obstruction. At laparotomy the obstruction was found to be caused by a large sesame
seed bezoar. Seed bezoars are well known to cause impaction in the rectum but have never been
previously reported to cause large bowel obstruction. We recommend that patients with known
large bowel strictures should be advised not to eat seeds as this could ultimately lead to
obstruction, ischaemia or perforationPUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe
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