bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New anti-tuberculosis drugs and regimens: 2015 update
Authors: D'Ambrosio Lia , Centis Rosella , Sotgiu Giovanni , Pontali Emanuele , Spanevello Antonio , Migliori Giovanni Battista
Published: August 2015

Over 480 000 cases of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) occur every year globally, 9% of them being affected by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains ofMycobacterium tuberculosis. The treatment of MDR/XDR-TB is unfortunately long, toxic and expensive, and the success rate largely unsatisfactory (<20% among cases with resistance patterns beyond XDR).

The aim of this review is to summarise the available evidence-based updated international recommendations to manage MDR/XDR-TB, and to update the reader on the role of newly developed drugs (delamanid, bedaquiline and pretomanid) as well as repurposed drugs (linezolid and meropenem clavulanate, among others) used to treat these conditions within new regimens.

A nonsystematic review based on historical trials results as well as on recent literature and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines has been performed, with special focus on the approach to managing MDR/XDR-TB.

The new, innovative global public health interventions, recently approved by WHO and known as the “End TB Strategy”, support the vision of a TB-free world with zero death, disease and suffering due to TB. Adequate, universally accessed treatment is a pre-requisite to reach TB elimination. New shorter, cheap, safe and effective anti-TB regimens are necessary to boost TB elimination.
Prevention of COPD exacerbations: medications and other controversies
Authors: Vestbo Jørgen , Lange Peter
Published: August 2015

Exacerbations have significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most guidelines emphasise prevention of exacerbations by treatment with long-acting bronchodilators and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. Whereas most of this treatment is evidence-based, it is clear that patients differ regarding the nature of exacerbations and are likely to benefit differently from different types of treatment. In this short review, we wish to highlight this, suggest a first step in differentiating pharmacological exacerbation prevention and call for more studies in this area. Finally, we wish to highlight that there are perhaps easier ways of achieving similar success in exacerbation prevention using nonpharmacological tools.
Paediatrics: messages from Munich
Authors: Midulla Fabio , Lombardi Enrico , Pijnenburg Marielle , Balfour-Lynn Ian M. , Grigg Jonathan , Bohlin Kajsa , Rusconi Franca , Pohunek Petr , Eber Ernst
Published: August 2015

The aim of this article is to describe paediatric highlights from the 2014 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Munich, Germany. Abstracts from the seven groups of the ERS Paediatric Assembly (Respiratory Physiology and Sleep, Asthma and Allergy, Cystic Fibrosis, Respiratory Infection and Immunology, Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care, Respiratory Epidemiology, and Bronchology) are presented in the context of the current literature.
Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT as first choice in the detection of recurrent colorectal cancer due to rising CEA
Authors: Gade Michael , Kubik Magdalena , Fisker Rune V. , Thorlacius-Ussing Ole , Petersen Lars J.
Published: August 2015

Background

The diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) as the first imaging approach in the evaluation of rising carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is not clear. The objective of this study was to investigate the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and suspected recurrence based on rising CEA.

Methods

A total of 73 patients with CRC were referred to PET/CT after radical surgery. Generally, all patients were scheduled to follow a CT-based post-surgical follow-up regimen. In the case of rising CEA, 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in most patients with contrast-enhanced CT. The PET/CT images were independently reviewed by two readers. The presence or absence of recurrence was based on histology and/or standardized clinical follow-up.

Results

Among 35 patients who had confirmed recurrence of CRC, PET/CT demonstrated recurrence with a sensitivity of 85.7 %, a specificity of 94.7 %, a positive predictive value of 93.8 %, and a negative predictive value of 87.8 %. The SUVmax ranged from 1.3 to 19.9. The mean time since the last postoperative imaging and PET/CT was 8 months (median 4 months). CEA values at referral ranged from 1.5 to 164.0 μg/L (median 5.6 μg/L). The diagnostic properties of PET/CT were analyzed in subgroups of patients with a single rising CEA sample (30 patients, 41 %), 31 patients (43 %) with two or more consecutive increases, and 12 patients (16 %) with persistently elevated values.

Conclusions

18F-FDG PET/contrast-enhanced CT has high diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of recurrent CRC, even in patients in a conventional CT-based follow-up program.
Applying compressive sensing to TEM video: a substantial frame rate increase on any camera
Authors: Stevens Andrew , Kovarik Libor , Abellan Patricia , Yuan Xin , Carin Lawrence , Browning Nigel D.
Published: August 2015

One of the main limitations of imaging at high spatial and temporal resolution duringin-situtransmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments is the frame rate of the camera being used to image the dynamic process. While the recent development of direct detectors has provided the hardware to achieve frame rates approaching 0.1 ms, the cameras are expensive and must replace existing detectors. In this paper, we examine the use of coded aperture compressive sensing (CS) methods to increase the frame rate of any camera with simple, low-cost hardware modifications. The coded aperture approach allows multiple sub-frames to be coded and integrated into a single camera frame during the acquisition process, and then extracted upon readout using statistical CS inversion. Here we describe the background of CS and statistical methods in depth and simulate the frame rates and efficiencies forin-situTEM experiments. Depending on the resolution and signal/noise of the image, it should be possible to increase the speed of any camera by more than an order of magnitude using this approach.

Mathematics Subject Classification:(2010) 94A08 · 78A15
Inhibitory Effect of the Noncamptothecin Topoisomerase I Inhibitor LMP-400 on Female Mice Models and Human Pheochromocytoma Cells
Authors: Schovanek Jan , Bullova Petra , Tayem Yasin , Giubellino Alessio , Wesley Robert , Lendvai Nikoletta , Nölting Svenja , Kopacek Juraj , Frysak Zdenek , Pommier Yves , Kummar Shivaani , Pacak Karel
Published: August 2015

Metastatic pheochromocytoma continues to be an incurable disease, and treatment with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy offers limited efficacy. In the present study, we evaluated a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor, LMP-400, as a potential treatment for this devastating disease. We found a high expression of topoisomerase I in human metastatic pheochromocytoma, providing a basis for the evaluation of a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor as a therapeutic strategy. LMP-400 inhibited the cell growth of established mouse pheochromocytoma cell lines and primary human tumor tissue cultures. In a study performed in athymic female mice, LMP-400 demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth with two drug administration regimens. Furthermore, low doses of LMP-400 decreased the protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α), one of a family of factors studied as potential metastatic drivers in these tumors. The HIF-1α decrease resulted in changes in the mRNA levels of HIF-1 transcriptional targets. In vitro, LMP-400 showed an increase in the growth-inhibitory effects in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs that are currently used for the treatment of pheochromocytoma. We conclude that LMP-400 has promising antitumor activity in preclinical models of metastatic pheochromocytoma and its use should be considered in future clinical trials.
A novelFoxD3Variant Is Associated With Vitiligo and Elevated Thyroid Auto-Antibodies
Authors: Schunter Jo Ana , Löffler Dennis , Wiesner Tobias , Kovacs Peter , Badenhoop Klaus , Aust Gabriela , Tönjes Anke , Müller Peter , Baber Ronny , Simon Jan C. , Führer Dagmar , Pfäffle Roland W. , Thiery Joachim , Stumvoll Michael , Kiess Wieland , Kratzsch Jürgen , Körner Antje , Führer-Sakel Dagmar
Published: August 2015

Context:

Vitiligo frequently coincides with autoimmune endocrinopathies, particularly Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Genetic susceptibility may underlie this coincident occurrence. One candidate region is the autoimmunity susceptibility locus on chromosome 1, which encompasses forkhead transcription factor D3 (FoxD3), a gene involved in embryonal melanogenesis. We identified a promotor variant (rs78645479) in an index case of vitiligo + HT + candidiasis and evaluated its clinical and functional relevance.

Design:

We genotyped 281 patients with variable autoimmune endocrinopathies: HT, Graves' disease (GD), type 1 diabetes (T1D), Addison's disease (AD), autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS), and/or vitiligo and 1858 controls. Furthermore, we experimentally assessed the effect of the variant on promotor activity and assessed the expression of FoxD3 in human thyroid tissue samples.

Results:

Patients with vitiligo had a higher frequency of the risk allele (30%) compared with healthy controls (18.2%). In addition, the variant was associated with the incidence of elevated anti-TPO antibodies and anti-Tg antibodies, but not with TSH, FT3, or FT4 levels and also not with GD, T1D, AD, or APS. Functionally, the variant increased transcriptional activity in Jurkat and in Hek293 cells. We confirmed gene expression of FoxD3 in human thyroid tissue, which seemed elevated in thyroid tissue samples of some patients with GD and nonautoimmune goiter but not in patients with HT.

Conclusion:

In addition to a possible association of rs78645479 in FoxD3 with vitiligo, our data on the association of this FoxD3 variant with thyroid autoantibodies suggest a potential involvement of FoxD3 in thyroid immunoregulation.
Decoration of Silica with Tb2O3 Nanoparticles by a Facile Method Free of Additional Catalyst
Authors: Cui Fang , Yu Jing , Cui Tieyu
Published: August 2015

Silica composites decorated with metal oxide nanoparticles are prepared based on successive spontaneous reactions. This method does not require any additional acid or base catalyst, thus offers an opportunity to introduce pH-sensitive metal carboxylate groups to silica matrix. Furthermore, the covalent bond of metal carboxylate groups to silica allows the formation of ultrafine and well-dispersed metal oxide nanoparticles in the entire SiO2 matrix.
Cadherin signaling: keeping cells in touch
Authors: Klezovitch Olga , Vasioukhin Valeri
Published: August 2015

Cadherin-catenin complexes are critical for the assembly of cell-cell adhesion structures known as adherens junctions. In addition to the mechanical linkage of neighboring cells to each other, these cell-cell adhesion protein complexes have recently emerged as important sensors and transmitters of the extracellular cues inside the cell body and into the nucleus. In the past few years, multiple studies have identified a connection between the cadherin-catenin protein complexes and major intracellular signaling pathways. Those studies are the main focus of this review.
Contemporaneous and Delayed Sales Impact of Location-Based Mobile Promotions
Authors: Fang Zheng , Gu Bin , Luo Xueming , Xu Yunjie
Published: August 2015

Can location-based mobile promotion (LMP) trigger contemporaneous and delayed sales purchases? As mobile technologies can reach users anywhere and anytime, LMP becomes a promising new channel. We unravel the dynamic sales impact of LMP on the basis of a randomized field experiment with 22,000 mobile users sponsored by one of the largest mobile service providers in the world. Our identification strategy is to gauge the marginal increases in consumer purchases of the geo-fenced treatment group of users who received LMP, above and beyond the baseline control groups. There are two controls: one group who received the same LMP but not in the virtual geo-fencing locational range (nongeo-fenced control), and the other who did not receive the LMP but in the geo-fencing range (geo-fenced control). The latter control serves as an organic holdout baseline from the similar population, i.e., counterfactual test of what if without the mobile LMP intervention, to identify the actual “lift” of incremental purchases caused by the treatment with the mobile LMP intervention. Findings suggest that LMP treatment has a significantly stronger impact on contemporaneous (same-day) purchases and delayed (subsequent-days) purchases than the controls. The randomized experiment design renders these findings robust to alternative explanations such as mobile usage behavior heterogeneity, product effects heterogeneity, nonrandomized sample-selection bias, and endogeneity concerns. Follow-up surveys with the field experiment users explore the nuanced mechanisms via which LMP may induce the impulsive, same-day purchases, and create product awareness for the planned subsequent-days purchases. LMP can generate six times more purchases than nongeo-fenced control with the LMP intervention, and 12 times more than geo-fenced control without the LMP intervention. LMP has a delayed sales effect for 12 days after the mobile promotions. The total sales impact of LMP could be underestimated by 54% if excluding the delayed sales impact and only including the contemporaneous impact. These findings are new to the literature and often neglected in mobile promotion practices, proffering novel implications on the sales value of LMP in the mobile era.
Reconnection Choices: Selecting the Most Valuable (vs. Most Preferred) Dormant Ties
Authors: Walter Jorge , Levin Daniel Z. , Murnighan J. Keith
Published: August 2015

Recent research has shown that reconnecting long-lost, dormant ties can yield tremendous value, often more than active ties. Yet two key research questions remain unanswered: which of a person’s many dormant ties provide the most value, and which are advice seekers most inclined to choose as reconnection targets? In the current study, we asked executives to seek advice on an important work project from two dormant ties (their first, most preferred choice plus one selected randomly from their next nine most preferred choices) and to respond to surveys before and after their reconnections. This two-stage design allowed us to make causal inferences about the executives’ advice-seeking preferences and the value of reconnecting certain types of dormant ties. Our results show that the most valuable reconnections are to people who provide novelty (by not having spent much time together in the past and having higher status) as well as engagement (by being trustworthy and willing to help). Our executive participants, however, preferred neither novelty nor engagement. Rather, the prospect of reconnecting can make people feel anxious. To avoid this discomfort, executives preferred contacts with whom they had spent a lot of time together in the past, thereby actually reducing novelty. Thus, our findings identify critical biases in executives’ reconnection preferences as well as insights into how to make more effective reconnections. Our discussion presents broader implications of these findings for advice seeking and social networks.
The role of midwifery care support workers (MCSWs) in breast feeding
Authors: Grainger Angela , Joseph Joanne , Sherring Nicola
Published: August 2015

This article explains the role of the MCSW generally and more specifically in helping mothers to breast feed.
Is there a difference between debridement and desloughing?
Authors: Cowan Tracy
Published: August 2015

Delays in the treatment of sloughy wounds are a prime cause of non-healing. How can we best address this? At this year's European Wound Management Association (EWMA) meeting, a workshop, sponsored by Urgo Medical and attended by several key opinion leaders, debated whether the solution is to create a new category, ‘desloughing’, in order to clearly differentiate it from debridement.
Understanding the Effects of ALS Pulse Density for Metric Retrieval across Diverse Forest Types
Authors: Wilkes Phil , Jones Simon D. , Suarez Lola , Haywood Andrew , Woodgate William , Soto-Berelov Mariela , Mellor Andrew , Skidmore Andrew K.
Published: August 2015

Pulse density, the number of laser pulses that intercept a surface per unit area, is a key consideration when acquiring an Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) dataset. This study compares area-based vegetation structure metrics derived from multi-return ALS simulated at six pulse densities
(0.05 to 4 pl m-2) across a range of forest types: from savannah woodlands to dense rainforests. Results suggest that accurate measurement of structure metrics (canopy height, canopy cover, and vertical canopy structure) can be achieved with a pulse density of 0.5 pl m-2
across all forest types when compared to a dataset of 10 pl m-2. For pulse densities <0.5 pl m-2, two main sources of error lead to inaccuracies in estimation: the poor identification of the ground surface and sparse vegetation cover leading to under sampling of the
canopy profile. This analysis provides useful information for land managers determining capture specifications for large-area ALS acquisitions.
Solutions of nonlinear problems involving p(x)-Laplacian operator
Authors: Yücedağ Zehra
Published: August 2015

In the present paper, by using variational principle, we
obtain the existence and multiplicity of solutions of a nonlocal problem
involving p(x)-Laplacian. The problem is settled in the variable exponent
Sobolev space W
0
1,p(x)(Ω), and the main tools are the
Mountain-Pass theorem and Fountain theorem.
Umgebungsvermessung anhand von 3D Geometrie mit HDR Farbe und Wärmebilddaten
Authors: Fröhlich Christoph , Mettenleiter Markus , Held Christoph , Blersch Daniel , Kurz Sven
Published: August 2015

Der Markt von Sensoren zur 3D Vermessung wächst. Präzise Geometrieerfassung ist Grundlage, komplementäre Informationen gewinnen an
Bedeutung. Zur Minimierung von Stillständen am Messobjekt muss die Sensorik viele Primärinformationen erfassen. Die an der TU München
(LSR) entwickelte Laserkamera erzeugte räumliche Tiefen- und Reflektivitätsbilder. Detailliertere Informationen benötigen jedoch weitere
physikalische Messgrößen. Z+F entwickelt Messtechnologie und registriert außerdem HDR- und Wärmebilddaten präzise zu den 3D
Daten. Die Geometrie wird Träger komplementärer Informationsebenen.
Application of a compliant foil bearing for the thrust force estimation in the single stage radial blower
Authors: Łagodzinski Jakub , Miazga Kacper , Musiał Izabela
Published: August 2015

The paper presents the application of a compliant foil bearing for estimation of the thrust force in a single stage radial blower under operational conditions. The bump foil of the thrust bearing behaves as a nonlinear spring. The knowledge of the spring deflection curve allows estimation of the actual thrust force for a measured bump deflection at the given rotational speed. To acquire the deflection curve, static calibration of the axial shaft displacement sensor was performed. During the calibration, the information about voltage signals of the sensor for the given loading force was collected. The measured voltage values at different speeds and loadswere then converted into the thrust force. The results were verified by comparison to the thrust force resulting from the pressure distribution on the impeller.
Core beliefs in the service leadership model proposed by the Hong Kong Institute of Service Leadership and Management
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Lin Li
Published: August 2015

The service leadership model and related curriculum were developed by the Hong Kong Institute of Service Leadership and Management. To nurture service leadership qualities in university students, a 2-credit service leadership subject was developed at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This paper presents the core beliefs and key components of the service leadership model and outlines the content of one of the lectures in the subject. The lecture attempts to help students recognize the importance of leadership competencies, moral character and caring disposition in successful leadership, and to explore ways to develop service leadership qualities. In addition to the lecture, class activities are adopted, including group discussion, role play, self-reflection, and drawing.
Global Needs for Jet-Engine-Steered (JES) Strike Drones vs. Lack of Updated Textbooks to Design 6th Generation UCLASS Due to UCAV Failure
Authors: Gal-Or Benjamin
Published: August 2015

Global fight against terror, and the rapidly changing geopolitical situations, raise hot debates on urgently needed new designs and operational modes of efficient, low-cost, Jet-Engine-Steered (JES) strike drones, and about the expected roles of future UCLASS (Unmanned, Carrier-Launched, Surveillance & Strike), while current UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles) have failed to perform the needed strike missions. The role of the jet-engine community in this rapidly unfolding geopolitical situation is reviewed in the main text and in the Appendix.
Numerical Investigation of Strain Rate Effect for CRS Consolidation of Normally Consolidated Soil
Authors: Pu Hefu , Fox Patrick J.
Published: August 2015

Constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation tests are commonly used to measure consolidation properties of fine-grained soils. A series of numerical simulations was conducted using the CCRS1 model to investigate the effect of applied strain rate on accuracy of data analysis methods given by ASTM D4186/D4186M-12e1. The simulations consider six normally consolidated soils, each with rate-independent constitutive relationships, constant coefficient of consolidation, and constant coefficient of compressibility or compression index. Results indicate that high values of applied strain rate can introduce significant error for calculated consolidation properties (compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, coefficient of consolidation) using both linear and nonlinear analysis methods. Results also indicate that the normalized strain rate β governs CRS consolidation behavior and that CRS tests generally should be conducted with β ≤ 0.1. Finally, correction factors are proposed for calculated values of coefficient of consolidation from CRS tests on normally consolidated soils.
Effect of Hypothermia on Breath-Alcohol Analysis
Authors: Fox GR , Hayward JS
Published: August 2015

Mild hypothermia, induced by experimental immersion of ten subjects in cold water, distorted the decay curve of breath ethanol of intoxicated subjects by as much as 22% while not altering overall ethanol clearance rate. The results provide in vivo verification of the in vitro temperature correction factor of 6.8% · °C−1, and support previous recommendations that temperature monitoring be included in procedures for breath-ethanol testing. We recommend that mouth temperature be obtained before breath sampling to screen for abnormal body temperature and to allow for potential use of a temperature correction factor. This modification to existing analytical procedures would help to optimize the reliability of breath-ethanol analysis in predicting blood-ethanol concentration.
Comparison of Laser and Ultraviolet Techniques Used in the Detection of Body Secretions
Authors: Auvdel MJ
Published: August 2015

Evaluation of the detection capabilities of both laser and ultraviolet light sources was performed. The Spectra-Physics Model 171-19 argon ion laser was used in a comparison with the hand held Mineralight® multiband ultraviolet lamp, Model UVSL-58 and the Fotodyne Foto UV 410. Model 3-4100. Both techniques were evaluated as to their detection limits for various biological stains. A serial dilution was made from semen, saliva, and sweat samples and their corresponding stains were examined under laser and ultraviolet light sources. The techniques were also evaluated as to possible interferences which may arise based on the type of fabric the stains were made on. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique in relationship to their initial costs are discussed.
A Fiber Data Collection for Forensic Scientists—Collection and Examination Methods
Authors: Laing DK , Hartshorne AW , Cook R , Robinson G
Published: August 2015

Methods used in U.K. forensic science laboratories to establish a large fiber data base are described including details of the recording of fiber sources, types, and colors. Such a data base provides a firm foundation for the assessment of the significance of fiber matches encountered in casework.
Quality Control for Amino Acid Visualization Reagents
Authors: Nielson JP
Published: August 2015

A method is described that quantitatively evaluates development conditions and reactivity of amino acid visualization reagents. Ninhydrin was the primary reagent used in this study. The method consists of spotting a serial dilution of amino acids in a numbered grid on paper. Examples of the variability of development as a result of atmospheric conditions are illustrated.
Rhabdomyolysis Following Violent Behavior and Coma
Authors: Reddy SK , Kornblum RN
Published: August 2015

An individual suspected of being under the influence of phencyclidine (PCP) exhibited acute psychotic and violent behavior which was followed by cardiac arrest, coma, and renal failure. Sections of the damaged muscle showed rhabdomyolysis, and sections of the kidneys showed myoglonin casts positive for immunoperoxidase stain. Extensive toxicology studies for narcotics, PCP, and cocaine were negative. Therefore, a correlation between PCP and rhabdomyolysis associated with acute psychotic and violent behavior could not be made with certainty.

The etiology and pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis are discussed in depth.
On the Relative Aging of Ink—The Solvent Extraction Technique
Authors: Cantu AA , Prough RS
Published: August 2015

The relative aging of ink is the comparison of inks of the same formula and on the same paper to ascertain the order in which they were written. The solvent extraction technique determines how efficiently an ink is extracted into a solvent. This efficiency involves both the rate and extent of extraction and is dependent on the time the ink was placed on the document. Two procedures are presented for obtaining the extraction rates: the R ratio and the Lth extraction time procedure. The third procedure presented, and sequential solvent extraction procedure, measures the extent of extraction as percent extraction. This procedure can be extended to provide extraction rates. Two methods are presented for obtaining either the extent or rate of extraction: a thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method and a spectrophotometric method. A suggestion is made to obtain the extent of extraction using a modified TLC method.
Histochemical Demonstration of Phenobarbital by Immunocytochemistry
Authors: Ishiyama I , Mukaida M , Tanabe R , Kaiho M , Ueyama M
Published: August 2015

A method for the demonstration of the topographical distribution of phenobarbital at the cellular level in various tissues was established. Mice that had been exposed to various doses of phenobarbital by intraperitoneal injection were killed, and their tissues were fixed with 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. Thereafter, paraffin and frozen sections were made and stained by the indirect immunoperoxidase method using antisera obtained from commercial sources and used for the immunochemical assay of the blood level of phenobarbital in clinical medicine. A specific positive reaction was observed solely in testing the intoxicated tissues, and this reaction was inhibited when phenobarbital was added to the antisera. The minimal sensitivity of the positive reaction, which can be discerned by observing the stained slides macroscopically, was in the range of 10 mg/kg. Thus, the diagnosis of phenobarbital intoxication in the forensic autopsy can be made by immunohistochemistry. A positive reaction was found in various tissue cells, including nerve cells, myelin sheaths, glia cells, hepatocytes, cells of the alveolar and bronchial wall, epithelial cells of the distal part of the renal tubules, and so forth. Endothelial cells of the capillaries in all tissues gave a strong positive reaction. The immunocytochemical electron microscopy of the hepatocytes revealed that the positive reaction in the cytoplasm was located solely in the intraluminal space of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. These results indicate some interesting aspects of the pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital in vivo. It is expected that the antisera, which are used widely for the assay of the blood concentration of various drugs (phenobarbital, amphetamines, morphine, and so forth), may be regarded as excellent reagents for immunocytochemistry. This clearly indicates that morphological evidence in toxicology, which had so far remained obscure, can be easily obtained by applying these antisera against various drugs.
Secondary Transfer of Human Scalp Hair
Authors: Gaudette BD , Tessarolo AA
Published: August 2015

Secondary transfer of hair occurs when a person transfers hair that is not his or her own to an object, place, or other person. Since it is possible that the perpetrator of a crime may have transferred hairs picked up from previous associations, secondary transfer can affect the value of associative hair comparison evidence. Nine experiments were conducted as a preliminary attempt to obtain information on hair transfer mechanisms and the role of some of the variables involved, as well as to get a preliminary indication of the extent and importance of secondary hair transfer. Indirect hair transfer mechanisms were found to be much more common than direct transfer mechanisms. This study further showed that secondary transfer of human scalp hair can and does exist in casework situations. However, the extent of secondary transfer was found to be extremely variable. Some factors that can affect the likelihood of secondary transfer in a given situation are discussed. The persistence of human scalp hairs on clothing was found to be quite similar to the persistence of extraneous fibers on clothing.
Estimating Age at Death from Immature Human Skeletons: An Overview
Authors: Ubelaker DH
Published: August 2015

Literature on the estimation of age at death of immature human skeletons is critically reviewed. Those estimating age at death for forensic science purposes should consider all available data, but especially rely upon the most appropriate and accurate methods. Estimates should reflect the possible error resulting from the sex differences and population variability known to be associated with the growth process.
Abuse of Smoking Methamphetamine Mixed with Tobacco: I. Inhalation Efficiency and Pyrolysis Products of Methamphetamine
Authors: Sekine H , Nakahara Y
Published: August 2015

Experiments of smoking methamphetamine in tobacco have been investigated. Inhalation efficiencies of methamphetamine into tar were 6 to 17% according to the additive amounts, suction volume, and intervals of smoking. Major pyrolysis products of methamphetamine in tar were identified as methamphetamine, amphetamine, phenylacetone, dimethylamphetamine, N-formyl-, N-acetyl-, N-propionyl-, and N-cyanomethyl-methamphetamine by the spectral analysis of infrared spectra (IR), mass spectra (MS), and proton magnetic resonance spectra (PMR), and comparison with the samples synthesized from authentic samples by one step. The largest pyrolysis product was N-cyanomethylmethamphetamine which is a new compound and easily metabolized to methamphetamine in the body. Methamphetamine itself transferred into tar was not so large, but the total active compounds in tar which would be metabolized to methamphetamine in the body were considerably larger.
Cranial Fracture Patterns and Estimate of Direction from Low Velocity Gunshot Wounds
Authors: Smith O'BC , Berryman HE , Lahren CH
Published: August 2015

Cranial trauma produced by low velocity gunshot wounds is investigated in an autopsy series. In skeletonized remains with postmortem damage, or after surgical debridement, the primary internal or external beveling may become obscured, causing difficulty with the identification of entrance and exit wounds. The morphology of associated secondary and tertiary fractures based upon the mechanics of their production is discussed as a means of establishing bullet entrance and exit sites.
Histologic Detection of Fat Emboli
Authors: Davison PR , Cohle SD
Published: August 2015

We describe a procedure for detection of fat emboli in formalin fixed tissue using osmium tetroxide postfixation. Intravascular fat in tissue postfixed in osmium tetroxide, embedded in epoxy or paraffin, and stained with toluidine blue, hematoxylin, or Oil Red O is more easily visualized than in frozen tissue that is stained with Oil Red O. With these methods, fat emboli may be detected years after the initial autopsy.
Myocardial Infarction in Pregnancy
Authors: Sperry KL
Published: August 2015

Myocardial infarction occurring during pregnancy or the puerperium is a rare condition, occurring in about 1 per 10 000 deliveries, and carries a mortality of approximately 30%. As a consequence of its rarity, symptoms of impending infarction may be easily mistaken by physicians for much more common and innocuous conditions, especially those (such as gastroesophageal reflux) typically associated with pregnancy. Two cases of infarction in pregnant women are presented, with a discussion of risk factors which may predispose towards development of coronary artery disease or thrombosis in this population. Other, more uncommon, causes of myocardial infarction during pregnancy are also addressed.
A Review of Forensic Osteology, Advances in the Identification of Human Remains
Authors: Brooks ST
Published: August 2015

Reviewing the papers presented in this volume from the keyword in the book title, “Advances,” the contributions range from excellent to a repetition of data published elsewhere. This compilation of articles contains some papers with new material, or variations and ramifications of previously described methods of identification. Alternately, there are a few articles that are only reviews of the literature or overviews of well-known techniques. In the Introduction, Reichs divides the 16 chapters into 3 stages with some subdivision: Stage I: Field Recovery; Stage II: Laboratory Analysis, Osteological Aspects—Age, Sex, Race; Stage III: Laboratory Analysis, Forensic Aspects—Time and Manner of Death, Individuation. Then she considers the contributions made through the data analyses or presentation by the authors, with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Electrophoresis Reliability: I. The Contaminant Issue
Authors: Budowle B , Allen RC
Published: August 2015

The effects of the common contaminants—soil, oil, gasoline, salt, acid, base, bleach, and detergent—on various forensically used genetic marker systems were studied. The predicted effects of the various contaminants on the proteins and the electrophoretic separations agreed with the observed results. A contaminant that affected protein conformation also adversely affected the integrity of the electrophoretic system, thus signalling an anomaly. It also was pointed out that the ideal control study for the effects of contaminants on genetic markers in evidentiary material is often provided to forensic scientists—that is victim's blood on victim's clothing and other substrata. The data presented in this paper support the validity and reliability of electrophoretic analyses of evidentiary material with respect to the contaminant issue.
Reagents for Chemical Development of Latent Fingerprints: Vicinal Triketones—Their Reaction with Amino Acids and with Latent Fingerprints on Paper
Authors: Almog J
Published: August 2015

Eleven vicinal triketones and one vicinal tetraketone were reacted with amino acids in solution and with latent fingerprints on paper. All cyclic triketones gave colored products with amino acids in solution and developed latent fingerprints on paper. The products' colors varied depending on the structure of the triketone. The potential of these compounds as fingerprint developers is discussed.
Psychosocial Aspects of Selecting Animal Species for Physical Abuse
Authors: Felthous AR , Kellert SR
Published: August 2015

Identification of psychosocial factors in selecting animals for abuse is relevant to mankind's relationship to the world of animals and to the psychology of human aggression. A major study of animal abuse involving 152 male subjects resulted in the identification of 23 subjects who have histories of substantial animal abuse. In attempting to identify psychosocial factors that may affect recurrent abusers' choices of animals to mistreat, findings are presented under four thematic questions: (1) Are animals selected for abuse because they are perceived to be dangerous? (2) Is there a relationship between method of abuse and type of animal selected for cruelty? (3) Are some types of animals more likely than others to evoke predisposing attitudes and abusive behaviors? (4) What kind of relationships do abusers have with the animals they choose to mistreat?
Deaths Caused by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in an Open Environment (Outdoors)
Authors: DiMaio VJM , Dana SE
Published: August 2015

Three deaths as a result of inhalation of carbon monoxide from the exhaust fumes of automobiles are reported. All deaths occurred outside and not in a structure. The individuals were white males, ages 24 to 26 years. Blood carboxyhemoglobin concentrations ranged from 58 (in a decomposing body) to 81%. The three cases illustrate the fact that even in the outdoors death from carbon monoxide inhalation can occur if an individual is in close proximity to a rich source of carbon monoxide.
A Review of Lindow Man: The Body in the Bog
Authors: Hinkes MJ
Published: August 2015

The saga of Lindow Man begins like a story on the evening news: in 1983, two employees of a peat company working at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, England, unearthed a female skull with adherent tissue and hair. A local man then confessed to murdering his wife in 1960 and burying her dismembered body in the garden of their cottage, a spot not 300 m from where the skull was found. No other body parts were recovered. Though the skull proved to be nearly 2000 years old, the man was nonetheless convicted of his wife's murder, on the basis of other evidence.
Simple, Rapid, and Unique Hand Techniques for Cross-Sectioning Fibers and Hair
Authors: Fong W , Henry Inami S
Published: August 2015

Three methods for hand cross-sectioning of textile fibers are described. The first is intended for usage with single fibers and involves “heat shrinking” a plastic capillary onto a previously inserted fiber. The second is intended for usage when the fibers are present in abundance. It involves repeatedly pulling the fiber bundle through melted wax to build up an embedding medium of sufficient thickness. The third is intended for usage with either a single or multiple fibers in special situations and involves laminating the fibers in thin sheets of cellulose nitrate. All three are designed for cross-sectioning by hand while observing through a low-power stereoscopic microscope. Quality cross sections are produced. The methods are simple, and two of the three are exceptionally rapid. All are equally applicable to the cross-sectioning of hair.
The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) and Its Effects on Latent Prints on Paper
Authors: Moore DS
Published: August 2015

For almost a decade, document examiners have used the electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA) to detect and visualize indentations on paper. Many of the same papers that undergo the ESDA process, however, may also be capable of yielding latent print evidence of vital importance to the successful prosecution of a case. Both the questioned document examiner and the latent print analyst, therefore, have a valid interest in the protection of paper evidence. It is common knowledge that treating a paper document with ninhydrin for latent prints can effectively destroy any indentations. This study was initiated to determine whether the ESDA process resulted in any corresponding detrimental effects to latent prints on paper documents. Four different variables were manipulated and evaluated during the testing process. The results, which seem to contradict earlier published data, are discussed as well as what steps may be necessary to best protect both latent print and indentation evidence.
Child Abuse Reporting Trends: An Unprecedented Threat to Confidentiality
Authors: Weinstock R , Weinstock D
Published: August 2015

Some recent interpretations of the child abuse laws are creating serious and unprecedented erosions of therapist/patient confidentiality. In contrast to the Tarasoff decisions and laws, the child abuse statutes introduced a new element of mandatory reporting which permits no discretionary alternatives and presents prospects of criminal penalties for failure to report. A recent development suggests a possible requirement for therapists to violate confidentiality for the sole purpose of punishing perpetrators. Overinterpretations of the laws by some child protective services have led to recommendations that long past child abuse must be reported, even when no current child is in danger. The California Attorney General's Office has issued a clarification stating that the child abuse statute refers to children and not to adults molested as children. A survey of forensic psychiatrists and psychologists shows that most perceived an ethical problem in reporting adults molested as children when no is presently in danger, and the purpose of the report is solely for maximal legal self-protection. The survey indicates that fears induced by rigid and intimidating child abuse laws can influence therapists to act in ways most consider unethical. Recommendations are made for improving the current child abuse laws so that they accomplish their goals more effectively.
Glycogenated Squamous Epithelial Cells as a Marker of Foreign Body Penetration in Sexual Assault
Authors: Randall B
Published: August 2015

Nonconsensual insertion of a foreign object into the vagina, anus, or mouth in some judicial jurisdictions is synonymous with rape, and elsewhere may constitute some degree of sexual assault or battery. Few techniques, however, are available to assist the criminalist in determining whether an object has been criminally inserted. Glycogenated epithelial cells have been used as a marker for vaginal epithelium, and as such, may indicate vaginal insertion if recovered from an object. This hypothesis was tested by studying orally and vaginally inserted objects from 42 volunteers and 20 rectally inserted objects recovered from cadavers. Glycogen positivity was assayed from smears of object swabbings stained with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) technique.

More than 75 glycogen positive cells were recovered from 39 of 42 vaginally inserted objects. Glycogenated cells were recovered from 8 of 20 rectally inserted objects (5 with more than 100 positive cells). Of 42 orally inserted objects, 32 also contained glycogen positive cells, but none with more than 28 positive cells. No glycogen positive cells were seen in skin exposed but not inserted objects. Large numbers of glycogen cells were seen in dried saliva drops. Amylase activity was not seen on 5 of 20 orally inserted shields, and thus the possibility of noninsertional saliva contamination could not be ruled out with shields yielding only small numbers of positive cells. Recovery of large numbers of glycogenated cells from foreign objects is strongly suggestive of either vaginal or anal insertion assuming amylase negativity. Glycogen positive cells are not seen secondary to glabrous skin exposure.
An Unusual Case of Child Abuse Homicide/Suicide
Authors: Fain DB , McCormick GM
Published: August 2015

This case report examines a child abuse homicide in which the perpetrator committed suicide a few hours after the infant's death. At the time of the perpetrator's suicide he was not under investigation, nor was he a suspect in the death of the child. Although the literature does not contain reports of similar cases, we are sure they exist. This report raises the question of the degree of social stigma attached to the accusation of child abuse. It also serves as a warning to those who must deal with the potentially suicidal child abuser.
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Other Amphetamine Derivatives
Authors: Bost RO
Published: August 2015

As various substances of abuse come under Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule restrictions, slightly modified derivatives (designer drugs) replace them. A series of amphetamine derivatives are discussed in this presentation. Applicable analytical methods are presented. Details of cases handled by the office (hospital patients, driving while under the influence/driving under the influence of drugs [DWI/DUID], and medical examiner cases) are discussed.
5-Methylthio Ninhydrin and Related Compounds: A Novel Class of Fluorogenic Fingerprint Reagents
Authors: Almog J , Hirshfeld A , Frank A , Grant H , Harel Z , Ittah Y
Published: August 2015

Ninhydrin derivatives bearing sulfur-containing groups at position 5 exhibit excellent properties as fluorogenic fingerprint reagents on paper. Their sensitivity markedly exceeds that of ninhydrin and even that of 5-methoxy ninhydrin. Preliminary experiments indicate it as equal to or better than 1–8-diazafluorene-9-one (DFO). One member of this group, 5-methylthio ninhydrin, has been recently declared an operational fingerprint developer in our laboratory.
A BASIC Algorithm for Calculating the Postmortem Interval from Arthropod Successional Data
Authors: Schoenly K , Lee Goff M , Early M
Published: August 2015

A computer algorithm, implemented in the BASIC language, is presented for calculating the postmortem interval (PMI) from arthropod successional data. Entomology-assisted determination of the PMI promises to be a reliable technique in cases of homicide, suicide, accidental death, and unattended death due to natural causes. The program requires, as input, the identity of arthropod taxa recovered from human remains in a death scene investigation and machine-readable data on carrion-associated arthropod taxa and their known successional patterns of activity for the same geographical area. The program performs rapid comparisons of these lists and, on output, calculates an upper and lower estimate of the PMI, identifies the definitive taxa for these limits, and determines if the remaining corpse taxa have known successional patterns that are consistent for this estimate. An alternate output is provided if one or more corpse taxa do not overlap all the others at any single time in the succession. In that event, the user is prompted to recheck the identity of the non-overlapping taxon or taxa or reevaluate the environmental circumstances surrounding the case in question. Results of the analysis are saved to an ASCII file for output to a printer for making paper copies useful for the entomologist's Case Study Final Report. This program may make possible wider use of this technique in law enforcement and medical investigator offices that utilize both forensic entomologist expertise and IBM PCs (or compatible computers).
Prosecuting Assaultive Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Norko MA , Zonana HV , Phillips RTM
Published: August 2015

For many reasons, inpatient psychiatric units are increasingly faced with treatment and management of violent individuals. This fosters a need to consider potential institutional responses to patient violence. This paper focuses on one response—prosecution of these persons. The existing literature on this topic is reviewed. In addition, the case history of a difficult but successful prosecution of an assaultive patient is presented. This case highlighted the development of guidelines, which are outlined herein, for determining the appropriateness of seeking legal action against patients. The paper concludes with an assessment of the benefits and risks associated with patient prosecution.