Finding hidden bodies, believed to have been murdered and buried, is problematic, expensive in terms of human resource and currently has low success rates for law enforcement agencies. Here we present, for the first time, ten years of multidisciplinary geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine graves using animal analogues. Results will provide forensic search teams with crucial information on optimal detection techniques, equipment configuration and datasets for comparison to active and unsolved cold case searches. Electrical Resistivity (ER) surveys showed a naked burial produced large, low-resistivity anomalies for up to four years, but then the body became difficult to image. A wrapped burial had consistent small, high-resistivity anomalies for four years, then large high-resistivity anomalies until the survey period end. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 110-900 MHz surveys showed the wrapped burial could be detected throughout. 225 MHz GPR data was optimal, but the naked burial was poorly imaged after six years. Results suggested conducting both ER and GPR surveys if the burial style was unknown when searching for interred remains. Surveys in winter and spring produced the best datasets, and, as post-burial time increases, surveying in these seasons became increasingly important. This multidisciplinary study provides critical new insights for law enforcement and families of the disappeared worldwide.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64262-3 | DOI Listing |
Adv Healthc Mater
January 2025
Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Ultra-broadband photodetectors (UB-PDs) are essential in medical applications, public safety monitoring, and various other fields. However, developing UB-PDs covering multiple bands from ultraviolet to medium infrared remains a challenge due to material limitations. Here, a mixed-dimensional heterojunction composed of 2D WS/monodisperse hexagonal stacking (MHS) 3D PdTe particles on 3D Si is proposed, capable of detecting light from 365 to 9600 nm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Monit Assess
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.
Due to incessant contamination of the groundwater system near the dumpsite in southwestern Nigeria Basement Complex, this study seeks to evaluate the impact of the Odogbo dumpsite on the local groundwater system by integrating geophysical and geochemical methodologies. Aeromagnetic data covering the study area was acquired, processed, and enhanced to delineate basement features that could potentially be passing plumes to the groundwater system. Concurrently, geoelectric methods using 2-D dipole-dipole imaging and vertical electrical sounding (VES) were utilized to characterize the vulnerability indices of the lithologies underlying the dumpsite.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
January 2025
Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.
The functional performance of a particulate thin film depends greatly on the particle distribution that forms during drying. In situ methods for monitoring the impact of different processing parameters on the distribution of particles currently require expensive and specialized equipment. This work addresses this gap by miniaturizing a geophysical prospecting method to thin-film applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Geochem Health
January 2025
Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, No. 84, Jinguang Road, Langfang, 065000, China.
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans, playing a critical role in the functioning of the immune system. The global prevalence of dietary Se deficiency is a significant public health concern, largely attributed to the low levels of Se present in crops. The sufficient Se in plants and humans is determined by the presence of stable Se sources in the soil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Geochem Health
January 2025
Nuclear Technology Research and Development Center, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, Nakhon Nayok, 26120, Thailand.
The present study aimed to investigate the hydrogeochemical patterns and contamination of the radiogeology, especially radon activity, related to geothermal aquifer properties and to perform a risk assessment of annual effective doses covering all hydrothermal spring attractions in Southern Thailand. Radon is an established lung carcinogen; especially longer term exposure to radioactive radon through inhalation could be a cause of lung cancer risk. Altogether 22 hydrothermal spring samples were collected from the six hydrothermal provinces in Southern Thailand in early November of 2023.
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