9 results match your criteria: "Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra[Affiliation]"

XRF identification of sharp-force trauma in fresh and dry human bone under varied experimental heat conditions.

Sci Justice

May 2024

University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Physics, Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, P-3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Heat-induced fractures can mimic sharp force traumas, complicating medical and legal evaluations.
  • The study tested X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for spotting chemical traces from sharp instruments on fresh and dry human bones after applying trauma.
  • Results indicated XRF can detect iron traces in unburned and burned fresh bones, but previous burial conditions obscure these traces in bones that were inhumed.
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The effects of exogenous substances on the color of heated bones.

Am J Biol Anthropol

June 2024

Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how various factors influence the coloration of burned bones, which is crucial for bioanthropological analysis.
  • Researchers burned defleshed pig ribs and human clavicles at different temperatures and with various materials to observe color changes and chemical alterations.
  • Results indicated that certain materials can significantly alter the color of burned bones, which may help anthropologists better understand unusual coloration in human remains.
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All that glitters is not gold: X-ray fluorescence analysis of a fixed dental prosthesis from Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI, Portugal (CEI/XXI).

Int J Legal Med

March 2024

Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.

Access to better health care anticipates that more medical devices can be found alongside skeletal remains. Those employed in oral rehabilitation, with available brands or batch/series, can prove useful in the identification process. A previous study in the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI described macroscopically the dental prostheses.

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Thermoelectric Properties of Nickel and Selenium Co-Doped Tetrahedrite.

Materials (Basel)

January 2023

C2TN, DECN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal.

As the search continues for novel, cheaper, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly thermoelectric materials in order to expand the range of applications of thermoelectric devices, the tetrahedrite mineral (CuSbS) stands out as a potential candidate due to its high abundance, low toxicity, and good thermoelectric performance. Unfortunately, as most current thermoelectric materials achieve zTs above 1.0, ternary tetrahedrite is not a suitable alternative.

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Chemical trace XRF analysis to detect sharp force trauma in fresh and burned bone.

Sci Justice

September 2022

University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Physics, Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, P-3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Forensic anthropologists face challenges in distinguishing heat-induced fractures from those caused by sharp force trauma, impacting legal conclusions.
  • This study aimed to determine if chemical traces from various blades (like knives and axes) can be detected on defleshed bone before and after exposure to high temperatures.
  • Using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), the researchers found that most sharp force instruments left detectable chemical traces on bones, even after burning, suggesting potential for XRF to aid in identifying fracture causes, though further research is needed.
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Four stereoisomeric monoether derivatives, based on axially chiral ()- or ()-BINOL bearing a chiral (+)- or (-)-neomenthyloxy group were synthesised and fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The respective tris-monophosphites were thereof prepared and fully characterised. The coordination ability of the new bulky phosphites with Rh(CO)(acac), was attested by P NMR, which presented a doublet in the range of δ = 120 ppm, with a (Rh-P) coupling constant of 290 Hz.

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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disease often associated with severe complications that may result in patient morbidity or death. One T2DM etiological agent is chronic hyperglycemia, a condition that induces damaging biological processes, including impactful extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications, such as matrix components accumulation. The latter alters ECM stiffness, triggering fibrosis, inflammation, and pathological angiogenesis.

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Stationarity of the inter-event power-law distributions.

PLoS One

August 2017

Department of Mathematics and Namur Center for Complex Systems-naXys, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium.

A number of human activities exhibit a bursty pattern, namely periods of very high activity that are followed by rest periods. Records of these processes generate time series of events whose inter-event times follow a probability distribution that displays a fat tail. The grounds for such phenomenon are not yet clearly understood.

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Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection. The development of new topical antifungal agents for the treatment of onychomycosis has focused on formulation enhancements that optimize the pharmacological characteristics required for its effective treatment. Polyurethanes (PUs) have never been used in therapeutic nail lacquers.

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