Blowfly Larval Tissues as a Secondary Detector for Determining Paraquat-Related Death in Rabbit Carcass

Paraquat poisoning is commonly associated with suicide or homicide in Malaysia. In a case involving advanced body decomposition, pathological analysis regarding the cause of death may become difficult or almost impossible. Insects serve as common alternative matrix for poison detection in forensic analysis. Paraquat detection via secondary bioaccumulation in fly larvae tissue has never been reported. In this study, tissues from blowfly larvae collected from a rabbit carcass with paraquat poisoning were analyzed for secondary bioaccumulation. Larvae samples were collected and analyzed using liquid–liquid extraction. The detection was performed via reduction of quaternary ammonium presence in paraquat and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring mode (SIM mode). GC-MS showed the elution of reduced paraquat was at retention time 12.8 min. Blowfly larvae tissue has proven useful as a secondary detector in paraquat-related deaths.     

Suicidal Fatality from Azide Ingestion

A 35-year-old man ingested an unknown amount of sodium azide and died within 2 h. The postmortem interval was 3 days. No alcohol or drugs were found in the blood and urine. Azide was derivatized in the peripheral blood, urine, and vitreous fluid with propionic anhydride. A portion of the headspace was injected onto a gas chromatograph with a nitrogen–phosphorus detector. Azide was quantitated in the peripheral blood (1.1 μg/mL), urine (7.5 μg/mL), and vitreous (43 μg/mL). The vitreous appears to be a better fluid for azide screening because of slower degradation.     

Survey of American (USA) Gasolines (2008)

The regulations for gasoline's content vary depending on the time of year and physical location within the United States while the refinery and distribution system mixes product batches; this results in variability of content. ASTM E1618 requires both the aromatic and alkane EIP patterns of gasoline to compare with references. A survey was conducted by collecting gasoline from Florida to Oregon, from 85 to 93 octane. Samples were analyzed in accordance with ASTM E1618 in various states of evaporation. The range of differences found in the 90% evaporated alkane EIPs is presented and showed a continuum of response when the n-alkane response was compared with the branched alkane response. Similarly, the ratio of the alkane EIP to the aromatic EIP also showed a continuum of response at the 90% evaporated state. Gasoline samples with unusual characteristics are also discussed.     

Ink Dating Using Thermal Desorption and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry: Comparison of Results Obtained in Two Laboratories

An ink dating method based on solvent analysis was recently developed using thermal desorption followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and is currently implemented in several forensic laboratories. The main aims of this work were to implement this method in a new laboratory to evaluate whether results were comparable at three levels: (i) validation criteria, (ii) aging curves, and (iii) results interpretation. While the results were indeed comparable in terms of validation, the method proved to be very sensitive to maintenances. Moreover, the aging curves were influenced by ink composition, as well as storage conditions (particularly when the samples were not stored in “normal” room conditions). Finally, as current interpretation models showed limitations, an alternative model based on slope calculation was proposed. However, in the future, a probabilistic approach may represent a better solution to deal with ink sample inhomogeneity.     

Simultaneous Screening for 45 Poisonous Alkaloids in Blood by LC-MS/MS

Objective To develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS) screening method for 45 poisonous alkaloids in blood. Methods Identification was based on the compound’s retention time and two precursor-to-production transitions. The method involved a liquid-liquid extraction(LLE) followed by LC-MS/MS with multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM). When 1 m L of blood was extracted with diethyl ether at p H=9.2 with SKF525 Aas the internal standard, the target compounds were analyzed with LC-MS/MS in the positive ionization mode. Results The target alkaloids had good linearity(r>0.995 1), both the intra-day precision and inter-day precision being less than 14.77%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.05 to 25 ng/m L in blood. Conclusion The method is selective and sensitive in detecting poisonous alkaloids with a total running time of 12 minutes; therefore it was successfully applied to some actual cases of suspected alkaloids poisoning.     

Offshore gas intermediary companies in Eurasia

Gazprom's utilization of offshore registration – or the moving of money across national boundaries for reasons other than of direct business benefit – has resulted in the creation of a web of subsidiary companies with opaque leadership and financial arrangements. Some of these subsidiary companies operate as intermediaries in the natural gas trade among the former Soviet states. Given that the gas trade within Eurasia has a long history of fixed contracts that move gas through a network of pipelines, why were intermediaries created, and why register them offshore? Using a critical reading of stateness as a space for transnational networks, and supported by mind-mapping software, we analysed the structure and operations of offshore gas intermediary companies between Russia and Central Asia dating from the break-up of the Soviet Union. We conclude that there were several purposes for using intermediary gas companies, from navigating trade among the newly independent states, to asset stripping, monopolizing markets, and obfuscating finance and ownership. However, the usefulness of intermediary companies to Gazprom may have expired, as a confluence of increased competition among suppliers, diversification of export routes, and economic stagnation has led to exporters and importers calling for their end.     

当前泰国的能源问题

本文对泰国的电力能源的供应和需求状况进行了分析汇总，同时对该国电力能源发展的一些可能性障碍进行了分析，透过泰国电力能源发展的道路可以体现泰国经济发展的道路。     

肺气虚证模型豚鼠肺功能与血气分析的变化

目的:观测肺气虚证模型豚鼠肺功能与血气分析的变化。方法:采用卵白蛋白(OVA)复制哮喘模型并加以改良法,建立肺气虚证模型豚鼠;对正常对照组(对照组)、肺气虚证模型组(模型组)两组动物进行肺功能与血气分析的检测。结果:与对照组比较,模型组肺功能指标吸气阻力(Ri)与呼气阻力(Re)均显著增加,第0.3秒用力呼气容积(FEV0.3)及肺顺应性(Cldyn)下降,血气分析中氧分压(pO2)、氧饱和度(SaO2)及酸碱值(pH)降低,而二氧化碳分压(pCO2)则升高。结论:肺气虚证有一定的肺功能损害,并呈现低氧与高碳酸血症。     

赴香港培训和考察报告

通过车用燃气加气站管理人员赴香港培训和考察 ,提高了从业人员的素质 ,并借鉴香港地区燃气加气站建设管理方面的成功经验 ,提出我市今后燃气汽车加气站的管理思路。     

Nails as useful materials for detection of methamphetamine or amphetamine abuse

Methamphetamine and amphetamine could be demonstrated in nail clippings obtained from methamphetamine users by sensitive gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry with N-methylbenzylamine as an internal standard. The methamphetamine levels in fingernails were comparable to those in hair. Both stimulants were more concentrated in toenails than in fingernails. The detection of methamphetamine and amphetamine in nails provides an alternative informatian to that in hair on their past abuse.