Search results for "Forensic"

Diagnostic immunohistochemistry in neuromuscular disorders.

2005

Most neuromuscular disorders display only non-specific myopathological features in routine histological preparations. However, a number of proteins, including sarcolemmal, sarcomeric, and nuclear proteins as well as enzymes with defects responsible for neuromuscular disorders, have been identified during the past two decades, allowing a more specific and firm diagnosis of muscle diseases. Identification of protein defects relies predominantly on immunohistochemical preparations and on Western blot analysis. While immunohistochemistry is very useful in identifying abnormal expression of primary protein abnormalities in recessive conditions, it is less helpful in detecting primary defects in …

Role of ambient light in the detection of contrast elements in digital dental radiography.

2018

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different ambient light levels on observer detection of small contrast differences in a contrast phantom by using a high-end liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. Study Design An aluminum step wedge was converted into a contrast phantom by the addition of bore holes. Radiographic images of the contrast elements were presented to 20 observers. Images were displayed in random order under different ambient light levels (0, 50, 200, and 500 lux) twice, and the observers had to determine if contrast elements were visible. Sensitivity and specificity were determined to calculate areas under receiver operating characteristic curves and Friedmann…

Morpheaform Plaques and an Infiltrated Scar: Challenge

2021

Update on desiccant wheel model

2004

This short communication presents the update on the desiccant wheel models, developed earlier by the present authors. It is to be mentioned here that the psycrometric model presented earlier (Int. J. Energy Res., 2003; 27:17) is valid only for the desiccant wheel running with identical volume air-flows in supply and regeneration sides. However, when system runs with volume air flow ratio between supply and regeneration side (α), different from 1 (one), the model need further modifications. In the present work, correction factors were developed and incorporated in order to update the earlier model for predicting correctly the temperature and humidity of processed air at the outlet of desicca…

Influence of design mistakes and material degradation on the collapse of a long-span RC roof in South Italy

2020

Abstract In 2004, during ordinary maintenance work, consisting in the waterproofing of a building located in the South of Italy, the long-span (14.50 m) in situ cast reinforced concrete (RC) roof partially collapsed. The building, constructed in 1950, was in service as a cinema up to 1967 and utilized as a school up to 1985. Finally, it was a hotel up to 2000. In 2004, when the building was not in service and underwent maintenance work, it partially collapsed under the dead load. After the collapse, which involved a large portion of the roof, several beams and two columns, the Court nominated a first Official Technical Consultant in order to investigate on the causes of failure and related …

Desmoplastic melanoma may mimic a cutaneous peripheral nerve sheath tumor: Report of 3 challenging cases

2017

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) and cutaneous malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) reveal histological and immunohistochemical similarities, including S100 positivity and negative staining for conventional melanocytic markers. We present 3 cases of cutaneous S100-positive spindle cell tumors in elderly patients, in which first findings led to initial misdiagnoses as cutaneous MPNST and benign peripheral sheath nerve tumor (neurofibroma). The identification of adjacent atypical melanocytic hyperplasia in the overlying skin along with tumor cell proliferation, also in the superficial dermis, the neurotropic component and the absence of any relationship between the tumor and a major ner…

Analysis of LSD in human body fluids and hair samples applying ImmunElute columns.

2000

Immunoaffinity extraction units (LSD ImmunElute) are commercially available for the analysis of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in urine. The ImmunElute resin contains immobilized monoclonal antibodies to LSD. We applied the ImmunElute procedure to serum and also to human hair samples. For hair analysis the samples were first extracted with methanol under sonication. The extracts were then purified using the ImmunElute resin. LSD analysis was carried out with HPLC and fluorescence detection. The immunoaffinity extraction provides highly purified extracts for chromatographic analysis. The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) has been determined to be < 50 pg regardless of which sa…

Effect of the shampoo Ultra Clean on drug concentrations in human hair

2000

The influence of the special shampoo Ultra Clean (Zydot Unlimited, Tulsa, Oklahoma) on the results of hair analyses was investigated. Hair samples from persons (n = 14) with a known history of drug abuse were collected at autopsy. The hair samples were divided into separate strands which were analyzed both after washing with Ultra Clean and without treatment. Hair analyses were performed by methanol extraction under sonication, purification by solid phase extraction and GC/MS in SIM mode according to routine procedures for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cocaine, amphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), heroin, 6-m…

Validation of Powder X-Ray Diffraction Following EN ISO/IEC 17025

2012

:  Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) is used widely in forensic science laboratories with the main focus of qualitative phase identification. Little is found in literature referring to the topic of validation of PXRD in the field of forensic sciences. According to EN ISO/IEC 17025, the method has to be tested for several parameters. Trueness, specificity, and selectivity of PXRD were tested using certified reference materials or a combination thereof. All three tested parameters showed the secure performance of the method. Sample preparation errors were simulated to evaluate the robustness of the method. These errors were either easily detected by the operator or nonsignificant for phase iden…

Validated, non-destructive and environmentally friendly determination of cocaine in euro bank notes.

2005

A non-destructive, fast and environmentally friendly procedure has been developed for cocaine determination in euro bank notes. Cocaine was extracted with 15 ml methanol by vortex agitation during 5 min. The extract was evaporated and reconstituted in 0.5 ml methanol. GC-MS-MS analysis was performed using as precursor ion m/z 182.2, with an excitation energy voltage of 1.60 eV, being the product ions measured m/z 150.2 and 82.0. A limit of detection of 0.15 ng per note and a repeatability of 6%, established from the relative standard deviation, of a 1 ng ml(-1) level, were achieved. Recoveries of 101+/-2 and 98+/-3% were obtained for samples spiked with 100 and 10 microg respectively. Resul…