The detection of metallic residues in skin stab wounds by means of SEM-EDS: A pilot study

The morphological analysis of stab wounds may often not be accurate enough to link it with the type of wounding weapon, but a further evaluation may be performed with the search for metallic residues left during the contact between the instrument and the skin. In this study, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was applied to the study of cadaveric stab wounds performed with kitchen knives composed of iron, chromium and nickel, in order to verify the presence of metallic residues on the wound's edge. Two groups of 10 corpses were selected: group A, including victims of stab wounds and a control group B (died of natural causes). Samplings were performed on the lesions and in intact areas of group A, whereas in group B sampling were performed in non-exposed intact skin. Samples were then analysed with optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. In group A, optical microscopic analysis showed the presence of vital haemorrhagic infiltration, while SEM-EDS showed evidence of microscopic metal traces, isolated or clustered, consisting of iron, chromium and nickel. Moreover, in two cases organic residues of calcium and phosphate were detected, as a probable sign of bone lesion. Control samples (group A in intact areas and group B), were negative for the search of exogenous material to optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. The results show the utility and possible application of the SEM-EDS in theidentification of metallic residues from sharp weapons on the skin.     

End-of-Life Decisions in Albania: The Call for an Ethical Revision

Liverpool Law Review - While in Western European countries, the end-of-life decisions have become a matter of public policy, this paper provides a detailed analysis of end-of-life decisions in...     

Extensions of the Simpson voting rule to the committee selection setting

Public Choice - Committee selection rules are procedures selecting sets of candidates (committees) of a given size on the basis of the preferences of the voters. Two natural extensions of the...     

An Exploration of Victimization in the Older Lesbian Population

Research on lesbian, gay bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) victimization typically focuses on bias crime and intimate partner violence, with little focus on the experience of victimization more generally in this minority community. Meanwhile, the LGBT population has aged with an increasing number falling in the over 65 years old age group. This older population, however, has been largely sidelined in research on LGBT victimization. The authors aim to fill this gap by exploring the victimization experiences of a sample of older lesbians. The findings suggest that older lesbians have a unique victimization experience including a decreasing experience with bias victimization with age.     

Environmental Insurance and Financial Institutions

Abstract

Environmental insurance transfers to an Insurer all or part of a financial institutions loss resulting from legal liability for pollution conditions, or loss resulting from a borrower loan default and the discovery of a pollution condition on property that serves as collateral for a loan. Today, several major environmental insurers offer diverse, broad and flexible insurance policy terms and conditions. The placement of environmental insurance can add positive value to the financial institution’s balance sheet by providing more protection to the financial institution than the traditional environmental due diligence methods and loan underwriting process affords.