Digital evidence, 'absence' of data and ambiguous patterns of reasoning

In this paper we discuss the use of digital data by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in a recent case of attempted homicide. We use this case to examine drawbacks for the defense when the presentation of scientific evidence is partial, especially when the only perspective mentioned is that of the prosecution. We tackle this discussion at two distinct levels. First, we pursue an essentially non-technical presentation of the topic by drawing parallels between the court's summing up of the case and flawed patterns of reasoning commonly seen in other forensic disciplines, such as DNA and particle traces (e.g., gunshot residues). Then, we propose a formal analysis of the case, using elements of probability and graphical probability models, to justify our main claim that the partial presentation of digital evidence poses a risk to the administration of justice in that it keeps vital information from the defense. We will argue that such practice constitutes a violation of general principles of forensic interpretation as established by forensic science literature and current recommendations by forensic science interest groups (e.g., the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes). Finally, we posit that argument construction and analysis using formal methods can help replace digital evidence appropriately into context and thus support a sound evaluation of the evidence.

The experience of identity transformation process for people living with tetraplegia and paraplegia = El proceso de reconstrucción de la identidad de las personas afectadas de una paraplejia o tetraplejia

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is perceived as a source of biographical disruption, not only at a physical level but also in terms of people’s life stories, their motivation and their self-esteem. The aim of this study is to explore the factors that people with spinal cord injuries perceive as contributing to rebuilding their sense of self. Two focus groups were established from the SCIcommunity, one of which was made up of 14 people with paraplegia and the other of 9 people with tetraplegia. In addition, four individual interviews were conducted with the participants. The results of content analysis show that the two most prominent factors in the process of identity renegotiation are the partial transformation of the subject’s identity followed by a coming to terms with that new identity. To rebuild self-worth, the importance of finding a balance between change and continuity was identified. Renegotiation of identity after a spinal cord injury is a complex phenomenon that greatly influences the SCI individual’s quality of life perceptions. Reaching a balance between the changes experienced due to the injury and finding a sense of continuity can be either facilitated or obstructed by the economic, political, legal, architectural, and social context

Identificação de resíduos de disparos de armas de fogo por meio da técnica de espectrometria de massas de alta resolução com fonte de plasma indutivo

The violence derived from crimes involving firearms represents one of the main concerns of society. For this reason modern techniques have emerged in forensic science to identify suspects at crime scenes. This work describes a methodology to identify residues present in the hands of suspect by using a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and collection procedure based on ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution as a complexing agent in moistened swabs. In order to distinguish real gunshot residues from others types of residues present in the hand of suspect, ternary ratio per cent diagrams were developed for antimony (Sb), barium (Ba) and lead (Pb) detected on the hands of volunteers, before and immediately after shooting tests, revealing a remarkable difference in both situations.

El uso del colágeno en la cicatrización de las heridas.

La progesiva importancia de la atención de las heridas crónicas y los continuos avances en el conocimiento del proceso de cicatrización han facilitado el desarrollo de nuevos productos con capacidad de incrementar la velocidad de la cicatrización de las heridas. La investigación de nuevos materiales biocompatibles, las técnicas de cura en ambiente húmedo, o el desarrollo de productos basados en la ingeniería de tejidos, son los ejemplos más recientes [...].

Factors de creixement autòlegs aplicats a les ferides cròniques amb evolució tòrpida

Les ferides cròniques, especialment les de lenta curació, suposen una carga important pels pacients i pels sistemes de salut. És imprescindible investigar en nous tractaments que redueixin el temps de curació d‟aquestes ferides. L‟objectiu d‟aquest projecte, és avaluar l‟eficàcia dels factors de creixement, obtinguts de plasma ric en plaquetes, en la curació o millora de les ferides cròniques. El projecte s‟ha dissenyat com un estudi d‟una sèrie de casos que compara el tractament convencional amb el tractament amb factors de creixement. La variable resultats és la curació o la disminució del àrea de l‟úlcera. El projecte pretén avaluar uns quants pacients consecutius atesos en l‟ unitat de ferides cròniques del nostre hospital. Els subjectes del estudi han de presentar una ferida de més de 3 mesos d‟evolució nul·la o escassa resposta als tractaments habituals. La tècnica de obtenció dels factors de creixement plaquetar no és complexa i es pot realitzar en l‟entorn d‟un hospital de dia. No s‟han comunicat en la literatura efectes secundaris majors de l‟aplicació dels factors de creixement en ferides cròniques.

Aplicación del concepto ¿preparación del lecho de la herida¿ en el abordaje local de las lesiones crónicas.

A menudo es el podólogo quien debe enfrentarse a lesiones que se cronifican y que, en ocasiones, se asocian a afecciones de origen metabólico como la diabetes mellitus; desempeñando un importante papel para prevenir algunas de sus complicaciones. A pesar de ello, una vez que la lesión aparece, conseguir su cicatrización supone un reto complicado. El objetivo principal del presente artículo es aportar una perspectiva de abordaje local basado en la adecuada valoración y preparación de las características del lecho de la herida puesto que, independientemente del origen y etiología, su aspecto y características son de gran utilidad para la planificación de la estrategia terapéutica a seguir. A este respecto, el ¿concepto TIME¿ posibilita la correcta preparación del lecho de la herida mediante el empleo de productos de cura en ambiente húmedo que contribuyen a eliminar las barreras que dificultan el proceso natural de cicatrización.

Aplicación del concepto"preparación del lecho de la herida" en el abordaje local de las lesiones crónicas

A menudo es el podólogo quien debe enfrentarse a lesiones que se cronifican y que, en ocasiones, se asocian a afecciones de origen metabólico como la diabetes mellitus; desempeñando un importante papel para prevenir algunas de sus complicaciones. A pesar de ello, una vez que la lesión aparece, conseguir su cicatrización supone un reto complicado. El objetivo principal del presente artículo es aportar una perspectiva de abordaje local basado en la adecuada valoración y preparación de las características del lecho de la herida puesto que, independientemente del origen y etiología, su aspecto y características son de gran utilidad para la planificación de la estrategia terapéutica a seguir. A este respecto, el"concepto TIME" posibilita la correcta preparación del lecho de la herida mediante el empleo de productos de cura en ambiente húmedo que contribuyen a eliminar las barreras que dificultan el proceso natural de cicatrización.

Química forense: perspectivas sobre novos métodos analíticos aplicados à documentoscopia, balística e drogas de abuso

In this review recent methods developed and applied to solve criminal occurences related to documentoscopy, ballistic and drugs of abuse are discussed. In documentoscopy, aging of ink writings, the sequence of line crossings and counterfeiting of documents are aspects to be solved with reproducible, fast and non-destructive methods. In ballistic, the industries are currently producing ''lead-free'' or ''nontoxic'' handgun ammunitions, so new methods of gunshot residues characterization are being presented. For drugs analysis, easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) is shown to provide a relatively simple and selective screening tool to distinguish m-CPP and amphetamines (MDMA) tablets, cocaine and LSD.

Formulation and characterization of poloxamer 407®: thermoreversible gel containing polymeric microparticles and hyaluronic acid

The influence of the composition and preparation method on the sol-gel transition temperature (Tsol-gel) and rheological response of poloxamer-based formulations was determined. Manual and more complex mechanical stirring were found to provide similar results. In addition, a linear dependence of Tsol-gel on the poloxamer content was observed in the range of concentrations analyzed, and a Poloxamer 407® concentration of 18% was selected. The addition of hyaluronic acid did not lead to significant changes in the Tsol-gel values. In contrast, the addition of microparticles caused a reduction in Tsol-gel without a significant reduction in gel strength, and pseudoplastic characteristics were observed, indicating that a thermoreversible gel was obtained with a rheology suitable for application in the treatment of burn wounds.

Pathogenicity evaluation of Cytospora eucalypticola isolated from Eucalyptus spp: cankers in Uruguay

Cytospora eucalypticola has been frequently associated with twig and stem cankers and as endophyte of Eucalyptus globulus and E. grandis in Uruguay. Mycelium discs of two C. eucalypticola isolates obtained from actively growing colonies were inoculated, both superficially and on experimentally wounded stems of E. globulus and E. grandis. No inoculated and control plants have shown any discoloration, gumosis or necrosis nor did they display lesions ten months after inoculation. Callus tissue was formed, partially or wholly occluding the wounds. The ability to penetrate healthy tissues and the inability to produce lesions evidenced that the presence of C. eucalypticola in twig and stem cankers could result from saprotrophic expansion of the endophytic mycelium in dying tissues, cankers probably being produced by different environmental stress conditions.

The regulation and function of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in cutaneous wound healing and squamous cell carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is a potent proteolytic enzyme, whose expression has been previously associated with fetal bone development and postnatal bone remodeling and with adult gingival wound healing. MMP-13 is also known to be involved in the growth and invasion of various cancers including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the function and regulation of MMP-13 in wound repair and cancer. In this study, it was shown that fetal skin fibroblasts express MMP-13 in response to transforming growth factor-β in a p38 MAP kinase dependent manner. In addition, MMP-13 was found to be expressed in vivo by wound fibroblasts in human fetal skin grafted on SCID mice. Adenovirally delivered expression of MMP-13 enhanced collagen matrix contraction by fibroblasts in vitro in association with altered cytoskeletal structure, enhanced proliferation and survival. These results indicate that MMP-13 is involved in cell-mediated collagen matrix remodeling and suggest a role for MMP-13 in superior matrix remodeling and scarless healing of fetal skin wounds. Using an MMP-13 deficient mouse strain, it was shown that MMP-13 is essential for the normal development of experimental granulation tissue in mice. MMP-13 was implicated in the regulation of myofibroblast function and angiogenesis and the expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation and movement, immune response, angiogenesis and proteolysis. Finally, epidermal mitogen, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) was shown to suppress the malignant properties of skin SCC cells by downregulating the expression of several target genes with potential cancer promoting properties, including MMP-13, and by reducing SCC cell invasion. These results provide evidence that MMP-13 potently regulates cell viability, myofibroblast function and angiogenesis associated with wound healing and cancer. In addition, fibroblasts expressing MMP-13 show high collagen reorganization capacity. Moreover, the results suggest that KGF mediates the anti-cancer effects on skin SCC

Pseudo-aneurisma gigante de artéria axilar esquerda

A case of a gunshot of the left axilary artery with a giant pseudoaneurism formation with sixteen years of evolution is presented. The 61- years-old male patient present since them a small assintomatic tumoration in infraclavicular localization. In the last eight months the tumor became symptomatic and volumous, reaching 20 cm in diameter, with signals of infection and imminent rupture. The patient was operated on with ligature of the axilary artery and evacuation of the pseudoaneurysm. The surgical handling and endovascular therapeutic options available in the present time are discussed. A short review about the disease as well as a bibliographic update are present. The authors also call attention for the necessity of a correct management of the vascular injures in the event of the first management.

Traumatismo cardíaco com retenção de corpo estranho em criança de sete anos

This is a case report about a seven year-old child who arrived at Emergency Department of Hospital da Restauração with gunshot wound on precordial area and clinical signs of cardiac tamponade. The roentgenogram showed 27 retained pellets in cardiac area. Thoracotomy was performed and repaired a cardiac wound in right ventricule. The patient developed conduction disturbance and valvar defect, but was discharged on the tenth postoperative day. Diagnosis, treatment and complications of retained projectiles are discussed.

Ferimento transfixante de útero em gestante

In de past 50 years, maternal mortality rates have declined, in contrast, the number of deaths due to injury during pregnancy is on the rise. The authors report a case of 24° week pregnant woman victim of penetrating abdominal trauma by gunshot who sustained a grade I11 transfixing injury of the uterine fundus. Treatment was conservative regarding the fetus. Hysteroraphia of the injuries was executed with closure of both penetrating orifices. Obstetrical-gynecological evaluation and echogram documented letal viability in the post-operative period. Post-operative follow-up was performed with periodical echograms up to delivery on the ninth month. Clinical findings, treatment and follow-up will be discussed.

Ferimento puntiforme em tórax produzindo lesão cardíaca

We report a case of a 17-year-old man with punctiforms thoracic and abdominal wounds. Clinical examination showed signs of cardiac tamponade. Roentgenogram demonstrated widened mediastinum and thoracotomy confirmed cardiac wound. We analyse the unusual trauma agent and prognostic factors in cardiac trauma. Wounds with "innocent" aspect can cause fatal lesions.