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Natural background levels of primary biogenic amines in water samples from lakes and rivers around Stoke-on-Trent
Get PDFSearching for victims of crime who have been buried in hidden (clandestine) graves or dumped into water courses currently utilises a number of techniques such as victim recovery dogs or ground penetrating radar. The development of chemical techniques would offer further assistance in body location and previous research has shown that primary biogenic amines are potential chemical markers of decomposition. There is a paucity of information about the natural abundance of the primary biogenic amines cadaverine, methylamine and putrescine in different water courses and an understanding of this natural abundance would allow for more accurate detection.
This work aimed to chemically detect the natural background levels of primary biogenic amines (cadaverine, methylamine, and putrescine) in water samples taken from canals, lakes and rivers around Stoke-on-Trent (UK), These amines were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Water samples from the Hanley Park in Stoke-on-Trent were examined. In Hanley Park, there is a lake fed by a canal. It was determined that 0.002 mM putrescine was present in the analysed water samples from the park; cadaverine could not be detected. For comparison, in previously analysed leachate samples of buried porcine material with a post-burial interval of 350 days, putrescine had a concentration of 0.374 mM and cadaverine had a concentration of 0.323 mM. These data suggest that background levels of key bioamines are much lower than those found from buried material and it expected that this will be the scenario for bodies found in water
Bacterial Succession of the Aquatic Necrobiome as an Indicator of Post Mortem Submersion Interval
No full textThe soft tissue decomposition of human remains has been extensively studied, resulting in identification of sequential morphological change and patterns of insect colonisation. These studies have led to formulae being derived for post mortem interval estimation. Despite 140,000 annual police investigations around the world involving water, much of the present knowledge is only applicable to terrestrial decomposition [1].
It is well documented that micro-organisms are involved in decomposition processes, and are ubiquitous in water sources and human bodies [2]. Investigating the sequential colonisation of a body by microorganisms in water as well as the bacterial migration from the gut may provide a useful method for estimating post mortem submersion interval (PMSI).
Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been described as a revolutionary new technique within the field of microbiology [3] and is expected to become the method of choice over other biochemical microbial identification techniques [4]. This study utilised MALDI-TOF MS as a rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for identifying bacteria from a freshwater system
Defining excessive, over, or hyper-pronation: A quandary
No full textAbnormal-pronation, excessive-pronation, over-pronation, or hyper-pronation, are terms with a long historical use in both medical and research terminology pertaining to an abnormal movement of the foot. These terms are commonly used as a potential kinematic aetiology to explain the occurrence of multiple lower limb and foot pathologies. Yet despite this widespread use there is no clear definition to explain what the terms abnormal, excess, over, or hyper-pronation, mean. Without a strict definition the use of these terms as a patho-mechanical explanation of injuries, leaves a distinct lack of clarity and is meaningless in regards to being able to distinguish what movement may need clinical intervention. It is unlikely that hyper-pronation can be given a quantitative scale because individual anatomy and activity changes the necessary range of pronation within the foot. This paper attempts to give hyper-pronationa philosophically justifiable definition so that the term may be used in a more precise manner and avoid the confusion that presently exists clinically as well as in research literature
Comparison of in vivo vs. frozen vs. Thiel cadaver specimens in visualisation of anatomical structures of the ankle on proton density Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) through a visual grading analysis (VGA) study
No full textPURPOSE:
The use of cadavers for medical education purposes and for radiology research methodologies which involve subjective image quality evaluation of anatomical criteria is well documented. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of cadaver tissue preservation in producing MR images that are representative of living tissue by comparing the visualisation of anatomical structures of the ankle obtained from live and cadaver (fresh frozen and Thiel embalmed) specimens through a visual grading analysis (VGA) study.
METHODS:
A VGA study was conducted on an image data set consisting of 4 coronal proton density weighted (PDw) sequences obtained from ankles of a live patient and those of a cadaveric specimen, of which the right ankle was frozen and the left Thiel embalmed.
RESULTS:
Comparison of the image quality scores obtained from: the live patient vs. the Thiel specimen indicate a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the scores in favour of the Thiel specimen; between the live patient vs. the frozen specimen indicate a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in favour of the frozen specimen and between the frozen vs. the Thiel specimen indicate a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in favour of the Thiel specimen.
CONCLUSIONS:
The advantages of the use of cadavers (frozen or Thiel embalmed) has been shown to also apply for use with proton density (PD) MR imaging. The preservation of cadavers especially using Thiel is a suitable alternative for MRI optimisation and protocol development purposes
Spectrum Sharing Optimization and Analysis in Cellular Networks under Target Performance and Budget Restriction
Get PDFDynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) aims to provide opportunistic access to under-utilised spectrum in cellular networks for secondary network operators. In this paper we propose an algorithm using stochastic and optimisation models to borrow spectrum bandwidths under the assumption that more resources exist for secondary access than the secondary network demand by considering a merchant mode. The main aim of the paper is to address the problem of spectrum borrowing in DSS environments, where a secondary network operator aims to borrow the required spectrum from multiple primary network operators to achieve a maximum profit under specific grade of service (GoS) and budget restriction. We assume that the primary network operators offer spectrum access opportunities with variable number of channels (contiguous and/or non-contiguous) at variable prices. Results obtained are then compared with results derived from an algorithm in which spectrum borrowing are random. Comparisons showed that the gain in the results obtained from our proposed stochastic-optimisation framework is significantly higher than random counterpart
Performance effects of external search strategies in European small and medium-sized enterprises
Get PDFEmpirical studies on open innovation lack evidence on the performance impact of open innovation (OI) practices in different categories of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Our study explores how two inbound OI practices, external search and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) rights, affect SME innovation performance. The findings indicate a heterogeneous performance impact of open innovation. The only search strategy that positively affects innovation performance in micro and medium firms is customer involvement, whereas small firms benefit from formal protection mechanisms of IPs. These findings suggest managerial and policy implications for promoting open innovation in European SMEs
Surface and geometry changes during the first documented surge of Kverkjökull, central Iceland.
No full textGlacier surges are events of enhanced ice flow during which ice previously stored at elevation is rapidly discharged down glacier. Surges are important agents of erosion and deposition, they affect the timing and magnitude of meltwater runoff and in areas where surging is common, e.g. Iceland and Svalbard, they represent an important mechanism of glacier mass transfer. Glacier surges may usually be recognised by their distinctive surface morphological expression, and where appropriate data are available, by changes in terminus position, surface velocity and glacier surface elevation. However, many surge-type glaciers remain unrecognised because surge events can be short-lived and are rarely captured by satellite or field data. This study reports the first documented surge of Kverkjökull, central Iceland, adding a relatively short, narrow, steep and alpine outlet glacier from the Vatnajökull ice cap to the known surge-type glaciers in Iceland. The surge occurred after decades of persistent and recently accelerated terminus retreat. The surge initiated after 2008 and immediately preceded drainage of the Gengissig geothermal lake and the subsequent jökulhlaup in 2013. The surge was still in progress in 2013. It caused vertical surface displacements of up to 20 m that were most prominent in parts of the glacier >100 m thick. The magnitude of surface elevation changes, terminus advance and ice surface velocity changes probably reflect only a single surge phase. Asymmetry in the response of the glacier terminus to the surge front suggests interaction with near-stagnant ice but otherwise the trigger and mechanism of the Kverkjökull surge remain unexplained
A NOVEL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING INFORMATION OVERLOAD IN THE DIABETES CLINICS OF THE HOSPITALS IN JORDAN
No full textThis thesis introduces a study for knowledge management of information overload in the healthcare domain. The study selected the diabetes clinics of seven hospitals in Jordan as a case study based on obtaining consent letters from these hospitals. First, a comprehensive literature was conducted in order to explore the existing information overload problem in-depth and to investigate existing solutions that assist in developing a new framework for reducing this problem. The literature findings integrated six theoretical factors adopted from the literature to form a data collection survey representing the initial primary research stage where the mixed approach methodology was considered. The data was collected by approaching the medical staff in person, and was analysed to determine the arising problems affected by information overload, and to find out about the information type that is used, the way information is used/communicated, and how information is going to be held. The findings from the primary research analysis showed that the results were statistically approaching the average indicating to an average problem. The researcher afterwards produced an information flow and processing models for the information that is running into these clinics. Thus, a knowledge management framework is proposed in order to reduce information overload affecting these clinics by enhancing an appropriate existing method from the literature, and by enhancing the analytical primary research findings. The framework is based on sharing the information to the right person at the right time in the right place with the right quantity. Furthermore, a validation of the framework was conducted with the assistance of a subset of medical experts in the field existing in these clinics. In conclusion, the future research is that the framework will form the basis of teaching by future researchers for further possible enhancements
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