Accidental Origin Research Articles

Modelling the ingress and charge enhanced deposition behaviour of radioactive aerosols in dwellings

Radioactive aerosols of accidental origin can travel long distances once airborne and although dwellings can provide some shelter, ingressed radioactive aerosol has been shown to be injurious to human health. Modelling approaches have been widely used to study indoor aerosol behaviour, but such approaches have not to date considered the self-charging nature of radioactive aerosol and the consequent effect upon aerosol deposition. In this work, a multi-zone modeling tool is used to simulate indoor aerosol concentrations in the individual rooms of a bungalow and semi-detached dwelling, for three radioactive aerosol particles sizes (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 μm, with aerosol deposition enhancement due to particle charge), two plume types (5 h and 24 h), and a range of representative dwelling airflow conditions (low air flow LAF and high air flow HAF1), including mechanical extract ventilation (HAF2). When comparing the time series of aerosol concentrations in different rooms, lower concentrations of charged aerosol, relative to uncharged, were observed, suggesting charge-enhanced deposition, and this phenomena is more striking during a 24 h plume compared to 5 h plume, where the difference between the two is up to 50% in one of the zones of the dwelling. The concentration comparison of charged aerosols concentration between LAF and HAF1 cases also showed that during a 5 h plume, the aerosol concentration is twice as high for the HAF1 case. These simulation results demonstrate that the effect of charged-enhanced aerosol deposition should be considered when assessing the benefits of sheltering in a building in the event of a nuclear accident.

Dynamic load assessment of building structures

The questions of the theory and practice of testing structures with dynamic loads are presented. A concrete example of testing a structure on its physical model by dynamic load is clearly shown. Some information necessary for statistical processing of research results is given. Building structures are exposed to the intensive dynamic loads. The existing methods and regulatory requirements should consider the loss of strength subject to dynamic impacts. The dynamic load types will show what needs to be more focused on during the construction. Building structures should be designed to stay out of the resonance band during the use. Nowadays, the construction of new industrial complexes and modernization of factories is widely developing. Increased production, leads to increased loads, including load-bearing structures of buildings and structures, namely there are dynamic effects from a large number of machines and mechanisms. Dynamic loads are very varied in nature. They include impacts associated with natural phenomena, such as seismic shocks and wind gusts, as well as dynamic impacts of technological and accidental origin. The most important characteristic determine behavior of buildings and structures under the action of external dynamic load, and are frequency, and nature of vibration. All methods for calculating wind and seismic loads are based on determining these parameters. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of dynamic loads on strength, durability, rigidity and crack resistance of building structures; to develop measures for mitigating oscillations; to verify the design performance of commercialized and exploited structures by the frequency and attenuation intensity of natural oscillations. The scientific novelty in this paper is that experiments were conducted to assess the dynamic stability and deficient dynamic stability using the “soil-to-building”.

Palaeodemography and palaeopathology of Khartoum Mesolithic skeletal remains from Jebel Sabaloka in central Sudan: first insights from the site of Sphinx

The site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60), located about 80 km north of Khartoum in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka, has been investigated since 2011 by the Charles University Sabaloka Expedition. Eleven trenches contained settlement deposits relating to occupation by hunter-fisher-gatherers of the Khartoum Mesolithic (or the Early Khartoum culture) dated at the site between 8750 and 4750 cal BC. In addition, five of the trenches yielded also human skeletal remains in primary and secondary deposits, with the minimal number of individuals estimated following anthropological standards at 45 individuals. The demographic structure of the burial site shows no selection based on sex, but immature individuals, especially those under the age of one year, seem to be markedly underrepresented, which is not unusual in pre-Neolithic funeral assemblages. Dental diseases, especially periapical lesions and inflammatory changes, predominate at Sphinx; however, a very low incidence of dental caries was recorded. Healed traumatic lesions or fractures possibly of accidental origin occurred in only six individuals. One identified case of perimortem trauma on the right scapula indicates an act of inter-personal violence. Nevertheless, it is possible to perceive the population buried at Sphinx as relatively healthy and peaceful.

String (In)Stability Issues with Broken Supersymmetry

We review the main results of our investigations motivated by the tadpole potentials of ten--dimensional strings with broken supersymmetry. While these are at best partial indications, it is hard to resist the feeling that they do capture some lessons of String Theory. For example, these very tadpole potentials lead to weak-string-coupling cosmologies that appear to provide clues on the onset of the inflation from an initial fast roll. The transition, if accessible to us, would offer a natural explanation for the lack of power manifested by the CMB at large angular scales. In addition, the same tadpole potentials can drive spontaneous compactifications to lower--dimensional Minkowski spaces at corresponding length scales. Furthermore, the cosmological solutions exhibit an intriguing ``instability of isotropy that, if taken at face value, would point to an accidental origin of compactification. Finally, symmetric static \(AdS \times S\) solutions driven by the tadpole potentials also exist, but they are unstable due to mixings induced by their internal fluxes. On the other hand, the original Dudas--Mourad solution is perturbatively stable, and we have gathered some detailed evidence that instabilities induced by internal fluxes can be held under control in a similar class of weak--coupling type-IIB compactifications to Minkowski space.

SOME MATHEMATICAL ASPECTS OF ABIOGENESIS

In this paper, we try to modestly, but strictly, using a mathematical approach, show that life was created with a certain goal and that the possibility of accidental origin of life is equal to zero. To calculate the probability of accidental creation of only one protein molecule, the basic building block of living systems, we selected a hemoglobin molecule that, because it is well studied, has become the standard for protein research. For comparison, together with this calculation, we also made a calculation of the probability of the systematic stacking of chaotically scattered playing cards from a certain height on a certain surface, a probability that is generally accepted as - improbably!

A Test Chamber Investigation of the Effect of Charging on Aerosol Deposition on Indoor Surfaces

Exposure to radioactive aerosols of accidental origin is harmful to human health. Radioactive aerosols have an ability to self-charge due to ionization, and this influences their deposition behavior, but this effect has been rarely studied. In a test chamber study, the effect is investigated by using a corona unit to apply charges that are representative of the levels found on radioactive particles to three aerosol size distributions of 0.5 μm, 1.0 μm and 2.0 μm. Aerosol deposition velocities were calculated for each particle size, two chamber airflow values, three aerosol charge regimes (high positive, high negative, and no corona charging), and three interior wall surfaces (aluminum, wallpaper, polyethylene). The results show no significant difference between deposition velocities of charged aerosols of opposite polarities, but a difference of up to 72% between deposition velocities of corona-charged and uncharged aerosols. For all aerosol sizes and charge regimes, aerosol deposition was found to be enhanced to the greatest degree when the chamber walls were lined with polyethylene, with values found to be up to 4–8 times higher than those calculated in aluminum-walled chamber cases.

Regular graveyard in the stronghold versus settlement burials in the bailey. Comparison of Early Medieval populations from Pohansko (Czech Republic).

The aim of the study is to identify possible differences in the prevalence of biological stress markers (cribra orbitalia, linear enammel hypoplasia), dental caries, activity markers (Schmorl's nodes) and markers of violence (traumatic lesions) in populations from a typical graveyard around the first church (9th-10th century AD) in the stronghold and from settlement burials in the southern bailey (second half of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century AD) of Slavs from Pohansko (Czech Republic). Cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasia did not markedly differ in either population. On the other hand, co-occurrence of both markers was statistically different and distinction in higher age categories could indicate diverse living conditions. Lower cariousness in the population from the southern bailey was identified. The nature of postcranial traumatic lesions in both populations indicates rather their accidental origin. However, a higher incidence of cranial injuries points to more violent activities in the population from Pohansko compared to Mikulčice. A high number of healed face injuries in males from the southern bailey could indicate higher intragroup violence in this population.

Distribution of radiocesium of accidental origin between the suspended alluvium and solution in rivers: Comparison of Fukushima and Chernobyl

The radiocesium distribution coefficient between the suspended matter and water in river systems in the Fukushima-1 Daiichi NPP accident zone was estimated from the data of the radiation monitoring of aquatic systems. The radiocesium distribution coefficient in rivers of the Fukushima region appeared to be higher by 1–2 orders of magnitude than that in rivers of the Chernobyl zone in the first years after the accident (1987–1990). The possible materials responsible for radiocesium binding by the alluvium are both micaceous clay minerals (vermiculite, muscovite, etc.), present in soils and alluvium of the Fukushima region, and water-insoluble glassy particles containing radiocesium, uranium, and other elements from the structure of the damaged reactors, present in the accidental fallout.

Child drowning deaths in Aydin province, western Turkey, 2002-2012.

Drowning, a major public health problem worldwide, occurs as an accident, suicide, or homicide. Deaths with an accidental origin are common in childhood in the 0-18 age group. In our study, pediatric drowning cases for whom a postmortem examination and an autopsy were conducted by Adnan Menderes University Department of Forensic Medicine were evaluated. The characteristics were determined and compared with domestic and foreign studies. A total of 39 cases in the 0-18 age group in Aydın between 2002 and 2012 were analyzed regarding age, gender, cause of death, origin, the accident scene, and the month in which the death occurred. Of the drowning cases, 33 (84.6 %) were male, and 6 (15.4 %) were female. The average age was 9.08 years, and drowning is most common in the 0-4 age group (33.3 %). The scene of the accident was an irrigation channel in 43.5 % of the cases, a river in 15.3 %, a sea in 12.8 %, a pool in 10.2 %, and a lake or pond in 7.69 %. Drowning deaths are a serious and preventable public health problem worldwide. There are strong correlations among lack of adult supervision, lack of precautions, and neglect.

Phytopathogenic micromycetes in central Poland. I. Peronosporales and Erysiphales

The present paper begins a new series of studies investigating the occurrence of phytopathogenic micromycetes in Central Poland. Fungi of the orders Peronosporales and Erysiphalas are discussed in part one. Relevant knowledge on the subject is surveyed, and a list of published records (46 taxa) as well as the findings collected by the present authors (99 taxa) is provided. The list comprises 2 species new for biota of Poland - <i>Microsphaera deutziae</i> Bunkina and <i>Microsphaera elevata</i> Burrill, 10 rare and many common fungal species that had not been previously re00rded in this area as well as 21 plant taxa, mostly species of deliberate or accidental anthropogenic origin, that are new hosts of the parasites formerly listed in Poland.

Cut throat injuries and honor killings: Review of 15 cases in eastern Turkey

Throat cuts could be of homicidal, suicidal or accidental origin. In the cases of death from cut throat, suicide can be distinguished from homicide based on the type and location of the wound and crime scene investigation. The purpose of the current study is to attract attention to the instructive findings for origin determination in deaths by cut throat according to the number and characteristics of the wounds and crime scene investigation. We have reviewed the files of autopsies performed between the years of 2000 and 2010, and compared with previously published case reports; all results were summarized in the current study. The results showed that 60% of cases were male, 40% were female, with 27.9 years of average age. The mean number of wounds was calculated to be 34.3 per case for honor homicides, 7.4 per case for other homicides, and 2.0 per case for suicides. Numbers of wounds were approximately 5 times higher in the honor homicides compared to other homicides. If the number of wounds were excessive, possibility of honor killings should be taken into account. When the killer was a parent not in psychosis, hesitation cuts were detected. Additional lesions were present in 46.7% of the cases, and they were assessed as homicide. Presence of vertebral notch and spinal cord cuts, which require a substantial amount of force and pressure via sharp tools, indicates homicide.

Evaluation of the criteria to identify single-fibre potentials in human muscle fibres

The criterion normally used to identify a potential generated by a single muscle fibre (SFAP) is that it must have identical shape at consecutive discharges. Technical problems accompanying the recording of single-fibre electromyographic (SFEMG) potentials introduce certain variability in the shape of these potentials, thereby compromising the ability to detect pure SFAPs. This study aims to determine the conditions necessary for two fibres to generate a compound potential that fulfils the single-fibre criterion. This has been done by analysing the alterations in the waveform of compound spikes formed by the summation of two SFAPs whose relative weight in the composite potential can differ considerably. Several factors responsible for this shape variability, with a geometrical, physiological or accidental origin, have been included in our study. It has been shown that a distant interfering component will be hardly detected in the composite potential if it is smaller than approximately 15% of the main component. For this interfering component to generate a notch in the rising phase of the compound potential, it must be greater than about 30% of the main component. A compound potential will fulfil the single-fibre criterion if the time dispersion between the individual components is less than 80-120μs. These results permit the estimation of the amplitude of interfering potentials so they could be useful in fibre density studies. The article also emphasises the inherent variability of SFEMG potentials and the impact of this variability on jitter estimation.

Sustained Combustion of Bodies: Some Observations*

Previous tests have explored the fire effects and fuel characteristics of animal carcasses in intense fires of relatively short duration. Here, test fires were conducted involving intact human cadavers and torsos that included nonaccelerated, long-duration fires involving the bedding and clothing (in the manner of typical accidental deaths). The objective was to observe the fire conditions (size, radiant heat flux, and duration), where a human body represented the major fuel package in a nonaccelerated fire. The pattern of damage to the body was documented and compared with that resulting from a furnished room fire. Two intact, unembalmed human cadavers were exposed to fires of simulated accidental origin. The bedding was ignited by an open flame, and the fires were allowed to burn unaided to self-extinguishment. It was found that normal human bodies can support a modest-sized fire for some 6-7 h under these conditions. The presence of a substrate material that can act as a wick for the combustion of the rendered body fat results in extensive destruction of the torso where the greatest amount of subcutaneous fat resides, with less damage to the head and limbs. A third (partial) cadaver was exposed to a recreation of a typical accidental fire in a furnished room that progressed to full room involvement. This fire of some 15 min of total duration inflected only surface-layer damage to the torso of the victim.

Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation

Decapitation of bodies is a rare event in the civilian setting and is reported to account for approximately 0.1 % of medico-legal autopsies. Suicidal decapitation is a very rare method of self-destruction. In suicidal decapitation, the favored method is the one involving trains. Other encountered methods are decapitation in suicidal hanging, vehicle-assisted ligature suicide. Though being encountered rarely decapitation by guillotine was also reported. In this retrospective study, in order to depict characteristic features of deaths with decapitation, we presented the findings of fatalities with decapitation over a 10-year period in a medico-legal autopsy series in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 36270 forensic autopsies were performed over the period of the study and in 19 cases, the bodies were found to be decapitated (0.05 %). The age range of decapitated bodies was 18 to 71 years (average 39,1 years), with a male to female ratio of 13/6. There was only one case of suicide and the way used for suicide was a mechanism like guillotine. In this case, a guillotine-like device designed by male victim had been used for deliberately decapitating the body. The age of the suicide case was 41 years. There was no female suicide case. There were 13 deaths of accidental origin. 6 vehicle crashes and 7 train-pedestrian accidents. The age range of individuals died in accidents was 26 to 68 years (average 36.8 years) with a male to female ratio of 11/2. During the study period the number of the homicide cases with decapitation was 5. The age range of homicide cases was 18 to 71 years (average, 45.2 years), with a male to female ratio of ¼. There were multiple traumas in other body parts of the bodies of homicide cases together with decapitation. In majority of homicide cases, multiple stab wounds were detected. Decapitation level of vertebrae was at the level of 3-4 cervical vertebrae in 9 cases and different levels at cervical region in other cases.

Infecção por Clostridium tetani no recém-nascido: revisão sobre o tétano neonatorum

Although tetanus is a preventable disease by vaccination, it continues to claim lives around the world. Whereas cases of accidental origin reflect insufficient population immunization, tetanus neonatorum reveals a double-nature fault-poor vaccination coverage of adults coupled with difficulties accessing appropriate prenatal care; this situation is aggravated by the extreme severity of tetanus in this age group in which the mortality rate can reach up to 80%. The early detection of tetanus in neonates is essential for immediately initiating the proper therapy. Therefore, although reaching an early diagnosis of tetanus is important, the most relevant aspect is related to the appropriate management and prophylaxis of this disease. Consequently, the aim of this article is to review neonatorum tetanus with an emphasis on its therapy and prevention.

Crunch!: a history of the great American potato chip

The potato chip has been one of America's favorite snacks since its accidental origin in a nineteenth-century kitchen. A History of the Great American Potato tells the story of this crispy, salty treat, from the early sales of locally made chips at corner groceries, county fairs, and cafes to the mass marketing and corporate consolidation of the modern snack food industry.Crunch! also uncovers a dark side of potato chip history, including a federal investigation of the snack food industry in the 1990s following widespread allegations of antitrust activity, illegal buyouts, and predatory pricing. In the wake of these 'Great Potato Chip Wars,' corporate snack divisions closed and dozens of family-owned companies went bankrupt. Yet, despite consolidation, many small chippers persist into the twenty-first century, as mom-and-pop companies and upstart 'boutique' businesses serve both new consumers and markets with strong regional loyalties.Illustrated with images of early snack food paraphernalia and clever packaging from the glory days of American advertising art, Crunch! is an informative tour of large and small business in America and the vicissitudes of popular tastes.

Fosseptik Çukurunda Üçlü Ölüm

Hidrojen sülfür; renksiz, havadan ağır, mavi alevle yanan, çürük yumurta kokusunda bir gazdır. Organik maddelerin fermentasyonu sonucu açığa çıkan bu gaz kanalizasyonda, atık su arıtma tesislerinde, lağım çukurlarında bulunmaktadır. Kanalizasyonlarda CO2 ve metanla birleşerek kanalizasyon gazını oluşturmaktadır. Hidrojen sülfürün 500 ppm üzerindeki değerlerinin ani ölüme yol açtığı bilinmekle birlikte öldürücü kan düzeyi % 0.9-3.8 mg/lt dir. Ölümlerin tamamma yakım kaza orijinlidir. Hidrojen sülfür ve sülfidlerin çözünebilir tuzları potent zehirler olup, etki mekanizmasının özellikle hücre içi solunumda görev alan sitokrom oksidaz enziminin inhibisyonuna bağlı olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu türden ölümlerin otopsilerinde karakteristik bir bulgu saptanmamaktadır. Sülfürün biyolojik örneklerden kanda hızla kaybolduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu olgularla ilgili kararlarda cesedin bulunduğu ortam, olayın gelişimi, otopsi ve toksikolojik analiz sonuçlarının birlikte değerlendirilmesi gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmada evlerinden fosseptik çukuruna bağlanan boruyu temizlemeye çalışırken zehirlenerek fosseptik çukurunda ölen ve otopsi için Adli Tıp Kurumu Morg İhtisas Dairesi’ne gönderilen baba ve iki çocuğuna ait otopsi ve toksikolojik analiz verilerinin paylaşılması amaçlanmıştır.Anahtar kelimeler: Hidrojen sülfür, fosseptik, zehirlenme, kimyasal asfiksi, toksikoloji, otopsi

An unusual chemical burn caused by wet ash

Burns caused by apparently harmless substances such as garlic [1] or ash [2] are rarely seen and are usually the result of medical folk remedy or of accidental origin [3]. The case reported here is an unusual cause of burn injury. Ash wetted by rainwater turns into a potent alkali that is able to burn skin on contact. Chemical burns are often deep and delimited, and sometimes may be only become evident after some exposure to the causative agent. This report presents an unusual alkali burn caused by wet ash. The ash was from oakwood burnt in a fireplace and subsequently stored in a bag. The stored ash was exposed to rain for several weeks during winter time before being used as a fertilizer.

The argument from biogenesis: Probabilities against a natural origin of life

No evidence exists that the accidental origin of life is too improbable to have occurred naturally, but there are numerous attempts to argue so. Dizzying statistics are cited to show that a god had to be responsible. This paper identifies the Argument from Biogenesis, then explains why all these arguments so far fail, and what would actually have to be done to make such an argument succeed. Describes seven general types of error, with examples. Includes a table of forty-seven statistics used by over twenty authors to date.

Petrology of ultramafic nodules from São Tomé Island, Cameroon Volcanic Line (oceanic sector)

Ultramafic xenoliths were found in recent alkali basalts from São Tomé Island. These include spinel peridotites (lherzolites, harzburgites and dunites) and pyroxenites (orthopyroxenites and clinopyroxenites). Textures and mineral compositions indicate that pyroxenites originated from crystal/liquid separation processes operating on magmas similar to those giving rise to their present host rocks whereas spinel peridotite xenoliths had an accidental origin; Fo (>89) and Ni (>0.36 wt.%) contents in olivines, Mg# (91–95) of orthopyroxenes and low Ti in clinopyroxene (primary crystals: TiO 2<0.06 wt.%) and in spinel (TiO 2<0.1 wt.%) are within the range reported for abyssal peridotites, indicating São Tomé spinel peridotites represent refractory residues of melting. Nevertheless, the lack of correlation between mineral chemistry and modal composition suggests that spinel peridotite xenoliths are not simple residues and were affected by infiltration of fluid/melts within the mantle. The wide temperature range obtained for spinel peridotites (700 to >1150 °C) is compatible with a long period of pre-entrainment cooling supporting Fitton's [Tectonophysics 94 (1983) 473] hypothesis that proposes oceanic lithosphere uprising in the Cameroon Volcanic Line prior to the initiation of the current thermal regime, related to São Tomé magmatism. The association of upper mantle (peridotite) xenoliths with igneous cumulates (pyroxenites) suggests that the spinel peridotite suite originated in the uppermost mantle above the São Tomé magma storage zone(s), probably in a region of high strain rate, near the boundary between the mantle and the overlying oceanic crust.