How taphonomic alteration affects the detection and imaging of striations in stab wounds.

Stabbing with a kitchen knife is a common method of homicide in Europe. Serrated knives may leave tool markings (striations) in tissues. Documentation of striations is necessary for their use as forensic evidence.

Forces generated in stabbing attacks: an evaluation of the utility of the mild, moderate and severe scale.

The commonest way of killing in the UK is by a sharp instrument. Knight reported in 1975 that it is impossible to discern with any degree of certainty the degree of force used to create a stab wound. Despite this, expert witnesses continue to approximate the degree of force used for their reports and evidence in court.

Effect of titanium carbonitride (Ti(C,N)) decomposition on failure mechanisms in Inconel 617 alloy.

Titanium Carbonitride (Ti(C,N)) decomposition in Inconel 617 alloy creep-exposed at 650°C for 574 hours is reported using analytical electron microscopy techniques. Cr-enriched M23C6-type carbides enveloped in fine gamma prime particles thought to be precipitated from the decomposition reaction are observed in the alloy. The morphology of the M23C6 carbides is irregular and blocky and the particle size up to 5 μm, whereas the morphology of gamma prime particles is mostly spherical and up to 30 nm in size.

Perimortem trauma in King Richard III: a skeletal analysis.

Background: Richard III was the last king of England to die in battle, but how he died is unknown. On Sept 4, 2012, a skeleton was excavated in Leicester that was identified as Richard. We investigated the trauma to the skeleton with modern forensic techniques, such as conventional CT and micro-CT scanning, to characterise the injuries and establish the probable cause of death.

Lead theft--a study of the "uniqueness" of lead from church roofs.

In the United Kingdom, theft of lead is common, particularly from churches and other public buildings with lead roofs. To assess the potential to distinguish lead from different sources, 41 samples of lead from 24 church roofs in Northamptonshire, U.K, have been analyzed for relative abundance of trace elements and isotopes of lead using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively.

Forces required for a knife to penetrate a variety of clothing types.

In stabbing incidents, it is usual for the victim to be clothed and therefore a knife penetrates both clothes and skin. Clothes (other than leather) have been thought to make little difference to the penetration force. However, there is little quantitative data in the literature.

Quantification of forces required for stabbing with screwdrivers and other blunter instruments.

In the UK, stabbing is the most common cause of homicide. The weapons used include knives, swords, screwdrivers and glass shards. Quantifying the exact force used in a stabbing incident is considered to be a difficult area due to the large number of variables present, such as sharpness of weapon, angle of attack and relative movements of the people involved.

Enhanced detection of thromboemboli with the use of targeted microbubbles.

Background And Purpose: Targeted ultrasound contrast agents have recently been developed to adhere selectively to specific pathogenic materials such as plaque or thrombus. Administration of such microbubbles has potential to aid transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) detection of emboli and to act as markers for distinguishing one embolic material from another. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether TCD detection of circulating thrombus emboli would be enhanced by the addition of targeted microbubbles.