Diatoms and Forensic Science

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 181-190
Author(s):  
Benjamin P. Horton
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
The Body ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Analogue Matching ◽  
Informal Assessment ◽  
Diatom Test ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Site Of Drowning

The application of diatom analysis in determining whether drowning was the cause of death has proved to be a valuable tool in forensic science. The basic principal of the “diatom test” in drowning is based on inference that diatoms are present in the medium where the possible drowning took place and that the inhalation of water causes penetration of diatoms into the alveolar system and blood stream, and thus, their deposition into the brain, kidneys, and other organs.I provide an informal assessment of “reliability” of the “diatom test” through correlations between control samples and samples from organs and clothing in two case studies. In studies, all organ and clothing samples except one had matching analogues in the modern diatom dataset from the body recovery sites, reinforcing drowning as the cause of death. The analogue matching provides further information on the precise site of drowning, in particular differentiating between drowning in a bathtub versus a naturally occurring body of water.

scholarly journals Forensic Anthropology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Purva Wagisha Upadhyay ◽  
Amarnath Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Forensic Anthropology ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Physical Anthropology ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Since Death ◽  
Characteristic Features

Physical anthropology has been making progress in the field of forensic science. Forensic anthropology is the study of identifying and establishing identity of the skeletal remains present at the crime scene. The purpose of the chapter is to throw a light on the field of forensic anthropology as it seeks data like age, sex, ethnic groups, and other characteristic features after the examination of the skeletal remains. Forensic anthropology helps in determining the manner and cause of death, and if the body is still in the decompositions stage, time since death can also be estimated. Advancement in forensic anthropology will not only help to solve the case but it will also increase the opportunity to work in this area. In this chapter, there is an explanation of some of the methods used in forensic anthropology for the analysis of identification and other purposes.

scholarly journals Asymmetrical Body Perception

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 1373-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally A. Linkenauger ◽  
Jessica K. Witt ◽  
Jonathan Z. Bakdash ◽  
Jeanine K. Stefanucci ◽  
Dennis R. Proffitt
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
The Body ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Many Body ◽  
Body Perception ◽  
Left Handed ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Right ◽  
Cortical Representations ◽  
The Brain

Perception of one's body is related not only to the physical appearance of the body, but also to the neural representation of the body. The brain contains many body maps that systematically differ between right- and left-handed people. In general, the cortical representations of the right arm and right hand tend to be of greater area in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere for right-handed people, whereas these cortical representations tend to be symmetrical across hemispheres for left-handers. We took advantage of these naturally occurring differences and examined perceived arm length in right- and left-handed people. When looking at each arm and hand individually, right-handed participants perceived their right arms and right hands to be longer than their left arms and left hands, whereas left-handed participants perceived both arms accurately. These experiments reveal a possible relationship between implicit body maps in the brain and conscious perception of the body.

The Blood Vascular System of Nephtys (Annelida, Polychaeta)

1956 ◽  
Vol s3-97 (38) ◽  
pp. 235-249
Author(s):  
R. B. CLARK
Keyword(s):  
Body Wall ◽  
Vascular System ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Ventral Surface ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Neurosecretory Cells ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dorsal Vessel ◽  
The Brain

The four longitudinal vessels of the circulatory system of Nephtys californiensis are dorsal, sub-intestinal, and neural, the latter being paired. There is a complete longitudinal circulation; the dorsal vessel communicates with the sub-intestinal by way of the proboscidial circulation and with the neural by way of the circum-oral vessels. In each middle and posterior segment segmental vessels from each of the longitudinal trunks carry blood to and from the parapodia and body-wall. The segmental circulation is completed by a circum-intestinal vessel connecting the dorsal and subintestinal vessels in each segment and an intersegmental branch connecting the dorsal and sub-intestinal segmental vessels. A trans-septal branch of the neural segmental vessel communicates with the sub-intestinal segmental vessel. This arrangement is modified in anterior segments which house the muscular, eversible pharynx, and no blood-vessels cross the coelom except by running through the body-wall. On anatomical grounds and by comparison with other polychaetes it seems likely that segmental is subordinate to longitudinal circulation. There are no endothelial capillaries such as have been described in some other polychaetes; instead there are numerous blindending vessels the walls of which are composed of the same three layers as other vessels and which are probably contractile. The dorsal vessel, where it is in contact with the ventral surface of the supra-oesophageal ganglion, forms a plexus in close association with a modified part of the brain capsule and a special axonal tract within the ganglion. It is thought that by way of this ‘cerebro-vascular complex’, hormones produced in the neurosecretory cells of the brain pass into the blood-stream.

Exo-erythrocytic schizogony in Plasmodium gallinaceum Brumpt, 1935

Parasitology ◽  
1938 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. James ◽  
P. Tate
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Circulation ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
The Body ◽  
Plasmodium Gallinaceum ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Peripheral Infection ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Reticulo Endothelial System ◽  
Sporozoite Infection ◽  
In Cells

In Plasmodium gallinaceum, parasitic in domestic fowls, in addition to the schizogony in red blood corpuscles, schizogony also occurs in monocytes and cells of the reticulo-endothelial system. This schizogony in cells other than erythrocytes may be termed, for convenience, exo-erythrocytic schizogony.Exo-erythrocytic schizonts are characterized by never having malarial pigment (as they live in cells devoid of haemoglobin), by growing to a large size and forming numerous merozoites, up to 50 or 60 or even more.Exo-erythrocytic schizonts are not confined to leucocytes of the blood stream, but can also develop in fixed endothelial cells of organs such as the brain, lung, liver and spleen.The brain is an especially important focus of development and, after sporozoite infection, it is the first organ in which exo-erythrocytic schizonts develop. These schizonts may be found in capillaries of the brain as soon as parasitized erythrocytes are present in the peripheral circulation, but as yet they have not been found before parasites-are present in the peripheral blood.In the brain rows of schizonts may develop and ultimately occlude most of the capillaries in the brain. This blockage of capillaries results in symptoms of general paralysis in the infected birds and death follows in a few days; and it frequently occurs in birds which apparently have been cured of the peripheral infection by treatment with quinine.The exo-erythrocytic stages of P. gallinaceum occur in birds which have been inoculated with blood or with sporozoites.During growth, the body of the schizont breaks up into a number of masses or cytomeres, on the periphery of which the merozoites are developed on regularly arranged rows of digitiform processes. A mass of chromatin migrates to the distal end of each process and is cut off to form a merozoite.The mature schizont consists of a mass of irregular merozoites enclosed in a sac-like membrane which may be the remains of the host cell. The merozoites are composed almost entirely of chromatin and when they are fully developed practically no cytoplasm of the schizont remains.

scholarly journals Comparison of Diatoms Which Were Obtained from The External Surface of The Body and Internal Organs in the Corpses Pulled Out of Water Using Colloidal Silica Gradient Centrifuge Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Çiler Fulya Erkan ◽  
Gürsel Çetin
Keyword(s):  
Colloidal Silica ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
The Body ◽  
Acid Digestion ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Centrifuge Method ◽  
Nitric Acid Digestion ◽  
Diatom Test

 Objective: Diatom analysis is a valuable tool in forensic science and it is useful in diagnosis of drowning and determination of the drowning site. The basic principal of the “diatom test” in investigation of drowning is based on correlation between diatoms are present in the medium where the possible drowning took place and inhalation of water causes penetration of diatoms into the alveolar system and blood stream and consequently their deposition into brain, kidneys and other organs, like the bone marrow of large bones. There are various extraction methods that are used to isolate diatoms from water and tissues. Nitric acid digestion is a worlwide known method for the extraction of diatoms. In this study, instead of acid digestion method, colloidal silica gradient centrifuge method was used to extraction diatom and the advantages of this technique has been aimed to be discussed. Materials and Methods: Therefore, 30 visceral and body fluid samples that have been obtained from corpses which were removed from the water and brought to the Council of Forencic Medicine to perform autopsy, were examined and diatom were obtained from samples of 19 cases. Moreover, the diatoms that were obtained from the swab samples taken from the outer body surfaces and the diatoms obtained from the visceral organs were compared. Results:  When the diatoms which were obtained from internal organs tissues and body fluids were evaluated numerically, it was seen that the diatoms that were obtained lungs were in high numbers and it was followed by pleural liquid...

scholarly journals Digital Unwrapping of the Mummy of King Amenhotep I (1525–1504 BC) Using CT

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar N. Saleem ◽  
Zahi Hawass
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Anterior Abdominal Wall ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Left Hemithorax ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
The Face ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
The Brain

The mummy of King Amenhotep I (18th Dynasty c.1525–1504 BC) was reburied by the 21st Dynasty priests at Deir el-Bahari Royal Cache. In 1881 the mummy was found fully wrapped and was one of few royal mummies that have not been unwrapped in modern times. We hypothesized that non-invasive digital unwrapping using CT would provide insights on the physical appearance, health, cause of death, and mummification style of the mummy of King Amenhotep I. We examined the mummy with CT and generated two- and three-dimensional images for the head mask, bandages, and the virtually unwrapped mummy. CT enabled the visualization of the face of Amenhotep I who died around the age of 35 years. The teeth had minimal attrition. There was no CT evidence of pathological changes or cause of death. The body has been eviscerated via a vertical left flank incision. The heart is seen in the left hemithorax with an overlying amulet. The brain has not been removed. The mummy has 30 amulets/jewelry pieces including a beaded metallic (likely gold) girdle. The mummy suffered from multiple postmortem injuries likely inflicted by tomb robbers that have been likely treated by 21st Dynasty embalmers. These included fixing the detached head and neck to the body with a resin-treated linen band; covering a defect in the anterior abdominal wall with a band and placing two amulets beneath; placement of the detached left upper limb beside the body and wrapping it to the body. The transversely oriented right forearm is individually wrapped, likely representing the original 18th Dynasty mummification and considered the first known New Kingdom mummy with crossed arms at the chest. The head mask is made of cartonnage and has inlaid stone eyes. The digital unwrapping of the mummy of Amenhotep I using CT sets a unique opportunity to reveal the physical features of the King non-invasively, understand the mummification style early in the 18th Dynasty, and the reburial intervention style by 21st Dynasty embalmers. This study may make us gain confidence in the goodwill of the reburial project of the Royal mummies by the 21st dynasty priests.

scholarly journals Through the Open Window: How Does the Brain Talk to the Body?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludmila Gordon ◽  
Gil Levkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
The State ◽  
The Body ◽  
Brain Cells ◽  
Open Window ◽  
Food Digestion ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Sleep Cycles

The brain controls the activities of the body, including food digestion, drinking, sleep cycles, temperature, blood pressure, and more. These functions are essential to keep the body in homeostasis, which is the state of being steady and balanced. To control homeostasis, the brain talks to the body with the help of chemical messengers called hormones. Hormones travel through the blood stream from the brain to the body and back. However, in order to protect the delicate brain cells from unwanted intrusions, the blood vessels of the brain are tightly sealed, preventing the passage of most molecules. How, then, does the brain bypass this barrier to communicate with the body? The answer is that, in certain parts of the brain, the blood vessels contain special window-like openings that allow passage of hormones. Scientists are investigating why and how some blood vessels open their windows while others remain sealed.

Stress management: Corpus-based insights into vernacular interpretations of stress

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-93
Author(s):  
Laurel Smith Stvan
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
American English ◽  
Physical Symptom ◽  
The Body ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
The Past ◽  
Academic Texts ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Semantic Shift

Examination of the term stress in naturally occurring vernacular prose provides evidence of three separate senses being conflated. A corpus analysis of 818 instances of stress from non-academic texts in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and the Corpus of American Discourses on Health (CADOH) shows a negative prosody for stress, which is portrayed variously as a source outside the body, a physical symptom within the body and an emotional state. The data show that contemporary speakers intermingle the three senses, making more difficult a discussion between doctors and patients of ways to ‘reduce stress’, when stress might be interpreted as a stressor, a symptom, or state of anxiety. This conflation of senses reinforces the impression that stress is pervasive and increasing. In addition, a semantic shift is also refining a new sense for stress, as post-traumatic stress develops as a specific subtype of emotional stress whose use has increased in circulation in the past 20 years.

EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NANOPARTICLES TOXICITY OF NICKEL OXIDE IN TWO SIZES IN THE SUBCHRONIC EXPERIMENT

2018 ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
M.P. Sutunkova ◽  
B.A. Katsnelson ◽  
L.I. Privalova ◽  
S.N. Solovjeva ◽  
V.B. Gurvich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nickel Oxide ◽  
Nervous Activity ◽  
Equal Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subchronic Toxicity ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Nanoparticles Toxicity

We conducted a comparative assessment of the nickel oxide nanoparticles toxicity (NiO) of two sizes (11 and 25 nm) according to a number of indicators of the body state after repeated intraperitoneal injections of these particles suspensions. At equal mass doses, NiO nanoparticles have been found to cause various manifestations of systemic subchronic toxicity with a particularly pronounced effect on liver, kidney function, the body’s antioxidant system, lipid metabolism, white and red blood, redox metabolism, spleen damage, and some disorders of nervous activity allegedly related to the possibility of nickel penetration into the brain from the blood. The relationship between the diameter and toxicity of particles is ambiguous, which may be due to differences in toxicokinetics, which is controlled by both physiological mechanisms and direct penetration of nanoparticles through biological barriers and, finally, unequal solubility.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document