Forensic toxicological analysis of tetrahydrofuran in body materials

Routine analysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in biologic materials has become feasible using GC and GC/MS and the headspace method. Problems of the headspace method and this substance which has a high water- and lipid-solubility were overcome by using the salting-out technique. Identification was made by mass spectral examination, in case of concentrations over 5 micrograms per sample. For quantitative determinations, tetrahydropyran (pentamethylene oxide) was used as an internal standard in GC, and a stable isotopic substance, octadeuterated THF (TDF) in GC/SIM. THF was detected in 1 microgram per sample by GC, and 0.1 microgram per sample by GC/SIM. THF blood levels in laboratory animals reached their highest values about 1 h after the oral administration, and the half-life was about 5 h. Ratios of tissue levels to blood were ca. 1.5-2 in the adipose tissue and kidney, and fairly equal in the brain, liver, spleen, and muscle.     

Fabrication of compound nonwoven materials for soft body armor

The primary objective of body armor research is the development of low-cost, lightweight, wearable garments that effectively resist ballistic impact. This study introduces a material intended to reduce nonpenetration trauma by absorbing energy from ballistic impacts. Layers of web were made by low-melting point polyester (LMPET) on unaligned fibers of high-strength polyamide 6 (HSPA6). A compound nonwoven fabric was made by laying high-strength Vectran filaments between two layers of HSPA6-LMPET web. The new fabric underwent needle punching and thermal bonding to form a composite sandwich structure. The new fabric was subjected to a falling weight impact test and a ballistic impact test. The results indicated that the material with the new design reduced maximum indentation depth by 8%. Furthermore, soft body armor made from the material with the new design would cost less to produce and would weigh 22.5% less than conventional soft body armor.     

放射影像学方法测量活体女性颈椎推算身高

目的测量颈椎高度建立四川汉族女性人群的身高推算方程，为法医学个人识别提供帮助。方法应用计算机X线摄影放射学方法，在209例四川汉族女性颈椎CR片上测量C3～C7椎体高度，并准确测量身高。按年龄是否大于45岁进行分组，对各颈椎的测量数据与身高进行线性回归分析，建立颈椎推算身高的回归方程。结果共建立一元回归方程36个，多元回归方程12个，所有回归方程经线性回归模型假设检验，均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。所建立的回归方程的复相关系数（r）在0．628～0．280范围内，回归方程的标准误在4．03～5．03cm范围内。结论本研究所建立的回归方程，可用于四川汉族女性颈椎的身高推算。     

人体植入物、移植物损害后人体损伤程度鉴定研究

随着科学技术发展，人体植入物和移植物的应用越来越广泛，人体植入物、移植物损害案件的报道也渐增多，与此同时必然会引起法律上身体概念的内涵变化和相关法医学鉴定等问题争议。本文对法律上身体的内涵和人体植入物、移植物损害后人体损伤程度鉴定原则予以讨论。     

人体植入物、移植物损害后人体损伤程度鉴定研究

随着科学技术发展,人体植入物和移植物的应用越来越广泛,人体植入物、移植物损害案件的报道也渐增多,与此同时必然会引起法律上身体概念的内涵变化和相关法医学鉴定等问题争议。本文对法律上身体的内涵和人体植入物、移植物损害后人体损伤程度鉴定原则予以讨论。     

X线摄影测量活体胫腓骨长度推算身高

目的应用计算机X线摄影（computer radiography,CR）测量活体胫腓骨长度,建立适合当代中国北方汉族人群胫腓骨长度推算身高的数学模型。方法在422例（男性207例．女性215例）活体山东汉族成年人的胫腓骨正位CR片上测量5项长度指标,同时测量其身高。通过各项测量指标与身高的线性回归分析、线性回归模型假设检验的方差分析以及偏回归系数的t检验．建立运用胫腓骨长度推算身高的回归方程;并对所建立的方程进行身高预测值与真实值的配对t检验、残差分析等方程的预测与诊断。结果共建立有统计学意义的一元回归方程35个一所建立的回归方程的相关系数在0．909～0．823范围内．回归方程的估计值标准误在2．48～3．87cm范围结论应用CR放射学方法测量胫腓骨长度推算身高．可以为法医学个人识别身高推算提供帮助,建立的回归方程适用于中国北方汉族人群胫腓骨的身高推算。     

The death of a living soul

We are bedevilled with varying definitions of death, ranging from higher brain death to cardiovascular or somatic death. They all try to capture what is essential to our reasoning about the importance of human death. This column argues that what they all neglect is the Aristotelian inspiration of many of the attempts at reformulation of the definition. Aristotle's work on the soul focuses on the loving soul as the form of humanity that makes human living and dying the morally significant phenomenon that engages law-makers and ethicists alike. The form of humanity comprises a holistic package of properties which cannot be dealt with in a reductive manner and which our criteria for death must answer to. When that is clarified, the role of these criteria and their importance both become more transparent.     

Age-related factors in the relationship between foot measurements and living stature and body weight

The measurements of feet and footprints are especially important in forensic identification, as they have been used to predict the body height and weight of victims or suspects. It can be observed that the subjects of forensic-oriented studies are generally young adults. That is to say, researchers rarely take into consideration the body's proportional changes with age. Hence, the aim of this study is to generate equations which take age and sex into consideration, when stature and body weight are estimated from foot and footprints dimensions. With this aim in mind, we measured the stature, body weight, foot length and breadth, heel breadth, footprint length and breadth, and footprint heel breadth of 516 volunteers (253 males and 263 females) aged between 17.6 and 82.9 years using standard measurement techniques. The sample population was divided randomly into two groups. Group 1, the study group, consisted of 80% of the sample (n = 406); the remaining 20% were assigned to the cross-validation group or Group 2 (n = 110). In the first stage of the study, we produced equations for estimating stature and weight using a stepwise regression technique. Then, their reliability was tested on Group 2 members. Statistical analyses showed that the ratios of foot dimensions to stature and body weight change considerably with age and sex. Consequently, the regression equations which include these variables yielded more reliable results. Our results indicated that age and sex should be taken into consideration when predicting human body height and weight for forensic purposes.     

数字X线摄影测量活体脊柱胸段推算身高

目的建立人脊柱胸段长度推算身高的方法。方法应用数字X线摄影技术（DR）摄制514例中国四川汉族人群的胸部DR片，测其脊柱胸段长度，同时准确测量被研究者身高，对测量获得的脊柱胸段长度与身高数据分组进行线性回归分析，建立胸段长度推算身高的回归方程。结果建立了混合组、男性组、女性组、20—45岁男性组、大于45岁男性组、20～45岁女性组和大于45岁女性组7个回归方程，经显著性检验，均有统计学意义（P〈0．01），复相关系数（R）范围0．834～0．624，回归系数（b）范围0．259～0．389，回归方程估计值的标准误在3．88～4．72cm范围内。结论利用人类脊柱胸段长度推算身高的方法在法医学个人识别中具有重要价值。     

Rapid presumptive "fingerprinting" of body fluids and materials by ATR FT-IR spectroscopy

Human body fluids and materials were evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Purified proteins, cosmetics, and foodstuffs were also assayed with the method. The results of this study show that the sampled fluids and materials vary in the fingerprint region and locations of the amide I peaks because of the secondary structure of the composite proteins although the C = O stretch is always present. The distinct 1016 cm(-1) peak serves as a signature for semen. The lipid-containing materials (e.g., fingerprints, earwax, tears, and skin) can also be easily separated from the aqueous materials because of the strong CH(3) asymmetric stretch of the former. Blood-saliva and blood-urine mixtures were also successfully differentiated using combinations of peaks. Crime scene investigators employing rapid, portable, or handheld infrared spectroscopic instruments may be able to reduce their need for invasive, destructive, and consumptive presumptive test reagents in evaluating trace evidence.     

The body buried twice

The authors report the case of an unusual reason for an "exhumation." A young person "exhumed" a child's body involved in a road accident because he wanted to test methods for preventing or slowing down the process of postmortem decay.     

活体鉴定400例放射学特点分析──兼论法医临床学与放射学的关系

为探讨法医临床学鉴定与放射学的关系，本文对４００例活体鉴定就放射学检查的有关问题进行回顾性研究。结果表明：２６６例进行了放射学检查（占６６．５％），其中Ｘ线１７６例（６６．２％），ＣＴ４３例（１６．１％），两者均有的４７例（１７．７％）。放射学检查部位中，Ｘ线以四肢为多，ＣＴ以颅脑为多。误诊率为９．０２％，放射学检查与致伤原因之间有一定关系，轻微伤中不必要的ＣＴ检查多见。并就放射学误诊的法律后果及不必要的放射学检查问题进行了讨论。本文从法医临床学的角度对放射学进行了评价，指出在活体鉴定中可以应用放射学知识协助证明损伤、推断损伤形成机制、个人识别及研究损伤时间。因此法医学鉴定人必须有放射学理论和技术方面的知识。作者还试图提出法医临床放射学。     

The characterization of automobile body fillers

Body fillers are sometimes encountered with paint evidence from hit-and-run accidents. Little forensic research has been conducted and published on the subject since 1986. The objective of this study was to determine if chemical and physical differences in body fillers from various manufacturers existed and could be identified. Thirty-three samples of light-weight automobile body fillers and spot putties were obtained. The fillers and putties were compared using light microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), and pyrolysis gas chromatography (pyGC). Results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis placed the samples into five groups and differentiated six samples. Light microscopy placed the samples into one of five color groups. PyGC placed the samples into three groups and differentiated one sample. SEM-EDX placed the samples into four groups and differentiated 13 samples. Using these analysis methods, 19 of the 33 samples could be discriminated. The best discriminatory tool was found to be SEM-EDX.     

Forensic toxicologic analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in body materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in biologic materials was carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A deuterium-labeled methamphetamine was employed as an internal standard with a detection limit of 50 pg and absolute stability and reproducibility. Blood was found to be the best material for estimation of the toxicity of the stimulant drug. It can be replaced by muscle which contains methamphetamine concentrations close to those of blood. The authors' classification of the toxic blood levels of methamphetamine from therapeutic to fatal doses was confirmed by additional data obtained from new case studies.