Search

The purpose of the work is to study the possibility of using carbon nanotubes (CNT) as taggants in gun powder to provide expert differentiation of used small firearms cartridges; and to identify the main characteristics of the changes to carbon nanotubes under firing conditions, i.e. short-term exposure to high temperatures and pressures. The principal possibility of using carbon nanotube material for marking gunpowder in small firearms cartridges is stated. There is a need, in both the theory and practice of forensics, to develop such a labeling additive, one that is designed to analyze labeled cartridges and trace their use. We studied the effect of high temperatures and pressures (up to 3000-3500 ºC, 30 MPa) on the behavior of carbon nanotubes by using scanning electron microscopy. We found that the properties of carbon nanotube material - including high chemical and thermal resistance, low prevalence in nature, and a wide variety of forms and configurations - would help solve various investigative issues related to the circumstances of the use of small firearms, in particular, to determine the batch or sample of gunpowder used in the firing of a cartridge.

The necessity of using a simulator of human soft tissues for the purpose of criminalistic and forensic medical expertises is dictated by the requirements put forward by the expert practice. The objective of the present study was to develop a synthetic simulator of the human soft tissues (compound) to ensure reliability of comparative criminalistics and forensic medical studies for the evaluation of gunshot injuries. The synthetic compound was prepared by mixing up the petroleum and/or synthetic oil with a polymeric thickening agent. This procedure was followed by heating the mixture at 90 degrees Celsius during 5 hours. Thereafter, petrolatum and/or ceresin and/or paraffin were added to the mixture. At the final stage, ionol was introduced, and the mixture was poured into a mold measuring 70×70×210 mm with its subsequent cooling down to 40 degrees Celsius during 10-12 hours. The experimental shooting was effected from the Kalashnikov AKS-74U assault rifle using the 5.45×39 mm (7H6) cartridges, Makarov pistol using the 9×18 mm cartridges and Nagant pistol using the CHELP-1000 cartridges. Five shots were fired from each of the three models. The experimental gunshot damages were evaluated visually by examining the inlet and exit openings and the bullet channel. In addition, criminalistic analysis of the grooves in cartridges was carried out. The technology for the fabrication of synthetic compounds based on ethylene, propylene, and butadiene co-polymers in the combination with such low molecular weight compounds as paraffins and ceresins having a homogeneous structure makes it possible to vary the rheological and mechanical properties of the simulators of human soft tissues for the solution of diagnostic and identification problems in the framework of criminalistics and forensic medical expertises.

Aim: To study density-specific distribution of erythrocytes (DSDE) in different types of anemia., Material and Methods: DSDE was determined in anemic patients by fractionation of the whole blood in hematocritic capillaries in the presence of mixtures of dimethyl- and dibutylphthalates with known density., Results: Parameters are proposed which characterize DSDE changes typical for each type of anemia: mean erythrocyte density (MED)--mean density of total erythrocytic population; DSDE width (W)--a characteristic of erythrocytic population heterogeneity; light fraction of erythrocytes (LEF)--% of the cells with density less than 1.086 g/ml (hypochromic cells and reticulocytes); dense fraction of erythrocytes (DEF)--% of cells with density over 1.112 g/ml (hyperchromic cells forming as a result of erythrocyte dehydration). DSDE parameters for different types of anemia differed: reduced MED was typical for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), increased DEF was seen in microspherocytic anemia (MSA), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA), deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, increased LEF was observed in reticulocytosis in all anemia types except MSA, DSDE W was larger in MSA, AHA, PNA., Conclusion: DSDE is determined by proportion of erythropoiesis and sequestration of erythrocytes as well as pathological impacts leading to impairment of membrane permeability for cations and erythrocytic metabolism. Informative value of DSDE parameters makes them effective for diagnostic screening of anemias and control over course of different diseases.

Aim: To study feasibility of hemopoiesis clonality determination in assessment of remission completeness in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR HUMARA)., Material and Methods: We have examined 28 patients with newly diagnosed CML, 10 CML patients with a complete cytogenetic response (CCR) to therapy with imatinib mesilate and/or alpha-interferon, 24 healthy control females. Twelve patients with untreated CML were homozygous by HUMARA gene (human androgenic receptor gene) and were withdrawn from the study. Leukocytes of peripheral blood from all the patients were investigated with PCR HUMARA for mono- or polyclonal hemopoiesis. Clonality was defined as allele proportion (a/p) of polymorphic loci of HUMARA gene. Remission completeness was confirmed cytogenetically and by molecular methods., Results: The value a/p in 10 patients with CCR varies from 0.69 to 1.33 and is similar to those in the control group., Conclusion: The PCR HUMARA technique adequately assesses reduction of Ph-positive clone in CML patients with CCR and points to polyclonal hemopoiesis.

The potentiometric determination method (Vmax NADP.H) was made use of to make an integral evaluation of the status of the oxidant-restorative metabolism of erythrocytes; the method facilitates essentially the diagnostics in certain hemolytic processes like G-6-PD-insufficiency, toxic hemolytic anemia and auto-immune hemlytic anemia. Essential differences of the oxidant-restorative potential of erythrocytes (Vmax NADP.H) at congenital and acquired hemolytic anemias were detected, which can be used in the hematological practice alongside with other laboratory tests in the differentiated diagnostics of hemolytic anemias of unclear etiologies.

Individual susceptibility of 10 G6PD- hemizygotes to oxidative hemolytic agents was tested on the basis of multifactorial cluster analysis of biochemical indices of erythrocyte populations; the indices related to G6PD activity and glucose metabolism were analyzed under physiological and oxidative stress conditions in very young, exactly adult and very old red cell suspensions. Biochemical images of G6PD- erythrocytes were obtained and compared with the donor (7 subjects) biochemical image on a IBM-PC computer according to a special "taxon" program. As a result, a stable subdivision of 10 Gd- biochemical images into 5 taxons was formed; each taxon included G6PD subjects with a certain form of clinical appearance of G6PD deficiency. Multifactorial cluster analysis of biochemical data on the erythrocyte population allows a clinical prognosis for G6PD- subjects.

In chronic experiments on 12 dogs, absorption of manganese complexes and amino acids proceeded more intensively than absorption of each of them separately. In acute experiments on 48 dogs, absorption of glycine and alanine complexes of manganese proceeded with an increase in oxygen utilization and in the rate of the intestinal motility.

The cooperation of specific and nonspecific factors of humoral immunity in the regulation of granulocyte locomotion was studied. Bacterial antigens of dental plaque, immunoglobulins, lysozyme, peroxidase, ribonuclease and trypsin were found to moderately stimulate chemotaxis and granulocyte chemokinesis. Of these, the most pronounced chemotactic effect is induced by ribonuclease and chemokinetic one by lysozyme. The strongest chemotactic stimulus is generated during activation of complement by the classical pathway. Production of the complement chemotactic factor by the classical pathway was dramatically increased by lysozyme and decreased by ribonuclease and trypsin. The treatment of granulocytes with antimicrobial enzymes diminishes their susceptibility to the chemotactic factor.