Previous studies have shown that palmprints can be employed to reveal the sex of the print donor when direct identification is not possible. However, most of the methods require that the entire print ...is preserved, thus restricting the usage of the partial and lower-quality prints found at the scene. This research aimed to examine if the distances between digital triradii on the palm exhibit sexual dimorphism and to develop sex classification models for the Croatian population. The study sample comprised 119 left palmprints (66 males and 53 females) and 134 right palmprints (73 males and 61 females) on which we took eight measurements based on the distance between digital triradii. We examined the sexual dimorphism of variables using an independent samples t-test and developed logistic regression models for sex classification. All variables showed statistically significant sexual dimorphism (P < 0.001). Univariate models achieved sexing accuracy 64%-85%, while the accuracy of the multivariate models ranged from 81% to 87%. The research demonstrated that measurements of the interdigital palmar area could be used for estimating sex from palmprints in the Croatian population. Therefore, they can be employed in investigations to reveal the sex of the perpetrator and reduce the list of potential suspects.
This paper presents the chronology, experiences, and challenges in introducing COVID-19 RT-PCR testing in Split, Croatia. We describe the processes from March 12, 2020 to May 26, 2020, starting from ...the initial knowledge transfer, expert team formation and management, testing implementation, and concluding with the standalone testing facilities, which used automated processes sufficient to meet testing requirements at that time. In the case presented, the COVID-19 unit was organized by joining human and laboratory resources from five clinical departments at the Split University Hospital Centre. Sample preparation procedures and analyses were launched within the restricted time frame while simultaneously training and organizing new laboratory staff and completing equipment requirements. As a result, the process that started with 30 tests per day was constantly improved over time and reached up to 160 tests per day when MagNA Pure was added to automatize RNA extraction at the end of April. At that pace, the cumulative number of samples soon exceeded the first thousand, and by the end of May it exceeded 4000. The case presented provides an example of good practice for crisis response and organization that successfully enabled sufficient COVID-19 testing capacities within the restricted time frame, human and technical resources. Despite limited understanding of COVID-19 at that time, appropriate management, transfer of knowledge, previous experiences in related laboratory and diagnostic work, as well as interdisciplinary and interdepartmental cooperation proved appropriate to overcome the above limitations and ensure adequate healthcare response. Keywords: COVID-19, RT-PCR, Split, Croatia
To examine seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in industry workers population sample.
From 23 to April 28, 2020, we conducted serological testing ...for antibodies (Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM)) on 1494 factory employees living in the Split-Dalmatia and Šibenik-Knin County (Croatia).
We detected antibodies in 1.27% of participants (95% confidence interval CI 0.77-1.98%). In Split facility 13/1316 (0.99%, 95% CI 0.53-1.68%) of participants were tested positive, of which 13/1079 (1.20%, 95% CI 0.64-2.05%) of those living outside the facility and 0/237 (0%, 95% CI 0-1.26%) of those living inside the facility. In Knin facility, 6/178 (3.37%, 95% CI 1.25-7.19%) participants were tested positive for antibodies.
The study showed relatively small SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in the DIV Group population sample.
Sažetak
Individualizacija osoba i ljudskih ostataka jedan je od izazova s kojim se susreću forenzičari u
svome radu u slučajevima poput masovnih katastrofa, požara i masovnih grobnica. Frontalni se
...sinusi pojavljuju kod većine ljudi te su kod svake osobe individualnog oblika i dimenzija. Koriste
se za individualizaciju osoba kada nisu prisutni crteži papilarnih linija te kada DNK analiza nije
moguća. U praksi se frontalni sinusi rabe za individualizaciju osoba od 20-ih godina 20. stoljeća.
Određivanje spola prvi je korak u stvaranju biološkog profila ljudskih ostataka. U dosadašnjim
istraživanjima spolnog dimorfizma frontalnih sinusa postotak pouzdanosti procjene spola iznosio
je od 60 % do 85 %. Razlike u rezultatima autori objašnjavaju korištenjem različitih radioloških
metoda kojima su napravljene snimke, veličinom uzorka te populacijskom specifičnošću.
Za potrebe individualizacije osoba razvijeni su brojni kodni sustavi za klasifikaciju oblika i dimenzija
frontalnih sinusa koji su u stvarnim slučajevima omogućili pozitivnu individualizaciju
posmrtnih ostataka. Kodni sustavi polaze od ideje da će kombinacija koda biti jedinstvena ili
dovoljno rijetka unutar promatrane populacije. Unatoč nedostacima, kodni sustavi klasifikacije
frontalnih sinusa predstavljaju dobru pomoćnu metodu prilikom individualizacije osoba.
Nijedno istraživanje proučavanjem populacijske specifičnosti te spolnoga dimorfizma frontalnih
sinusa nije napravljeno na području Republike Hrvatske.
Sažetak
Od travnja 2018. do listopada 2019. godine odvija se projekt Forenzično-kriminalističko nazivlje
(FuNK) u sklopu programa Izgradnja hrvatskoga strukovnog nazivlja (Struna) Hrvatske zaklade
za ...znanost (HRZZ). Projektom je predviđeno definiranje 3000 pojmova iz područja istraživanja
mjesta događaja, suvremenih kriminalističkih teorija i izvršnoga upravljanja, forenzične obrade
bioloških, kemijskih i fizikalnih tragova, forenzične balistike i mehanoskopije, daktiloskopije,
forenzične analize spornih dokumenata i novca te masovnih katastrofa i masovnih grobnica.
Tijekom rada na projektu suradnici su se susreli s brojnim izazovima u usklađivanju i osuvremenjivanju
nazivlja terminologije; te će u ovome radu predložiti rješenja za definiranje pojmova
identifikacije, klasifikacije i individualizacije, koji se često rabe u forenzičnoj praksi, no počesto
u pogrešnome i neodgovarajućemu kontekstu.
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