The Development of a Stabbing Machine for Forensic Textile Damage Analysis.
Stab injuries and fatalities are common crimes of violence in several countries, particularly those where access to firearms is restricted including Australia, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom [1]. For example, in Australia, more homicide victims die from stab wounds than from any other single cause. The total number of homicides that were attributed to knives and sharp implements peaked in 2006-08 to 43%, and has remained consistent on average until 2011 [2,3]. Analysis of damage to the victim ’s clothing such as cuts and tears caused by a weapon may provide important forensic information [4,5]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Natasha Benson, Robson Oliveria Dos Santos, Kate Griffiths, Nerida Cole, Philip Doble, Claude Roux, Lucas Blanes Source Type: research
Genetic analysis identifies the region of origin of smuggled peach palm seeds
The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth, Palmae) is cultivated almost exclusively in tropical America, both for its fruit and its heart-of-palm. There is growing demand for the heart-of-palm, stimulating an agribusiness with about 43,000 hectares in various Latin American countries, as well as breeding programs of peach palm for this product, including in Amazonia [1,2]. Currently, Brazil is the largest heart-of-palm producer, followed by Ecuador and Costa Rica, which are the largest exporters [2]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 17, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Michelly de Cristo-Ara újo, David Bronze Molles, Doriane Picanço Rodrigues, Charles R. Clement Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Effect of Drug Precursors and Chemicals Relevant to Clandestine Laboratory Investigation on Plastic Bags Used for Collection and Storage
When a search warrant is executed for possession of illegal products, such as drugs, whether for personal consumption or manufacturing in clandestine laboratories, most types of evidence are stored in plastic bags. This procedure is accomplished according to the legislation, rules and policies in force in the proper jurisdiction. Different types of plastic bags are currently used in New South Wales, Australia, for storage of evidence. Anecdotal evidence shows that, after storage, the bags may be compromised depending on the chemicals stored in them, suggesting an interaction occurring between the chemicals and the bags. (S...
Source: Forensic Science International - February 16, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Harmonie Michelot, Shanlin Fu, Barbara Stuart, Ronald Shimmon, Tony Raymond, Tony Crandell, Claude Roux Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research
Fundamental studies of the adhesion of explosives to textile and non-textile surfaces
The recovery of explosives evidence from textile surfaces can be vital during a forensic investigation. When constructing an explosive device, it is likely that traces of explosives will be transferred to the bomb-maker ’s clothing [1,2]. For example, traces of PETN were found on the clothing of the Oklahoma City bomber. Similarly, traces of explosives were found on the clothing of the foiled ‘Millenium bomber’ [2]. Other textile surfaces such as carpets have also been demonstrated to be a good matrix for ret aining explosives, with nitrate ester explosives reported to have a particularly high affinity for such subst...
Source: Forensic Science International - February 16, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: H.A. Yu, T. Becker, N. Nic Daeid, S.W. Lewis Source Type: research
The precision of micro-tomography in bone taphonomic experiments and the importance of registration
Micro-computed tomography ( μCT) is an imaging tool developed in approximately 1980 [1] that provides micrometric 3D images of small pieces for, e.g., engineering, science, and medical studies. Over time, it has grown into a promising tool. The μCT imaging principles have been summarized by Rutty et al. [2], and good practic es have been reported notably by Bouxsein et al. [3]. Resolution is one of the critical points with μCT, but several parameters must be correctly chosen to reduce the artefacts during the scan (frame averaging) and reconstruction (beam hardening and ring artefact correction). (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 14, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Erwan Le Garff, Vadim Mesli, Yann Delannoy, Thomas Colard, Julien De Jonckheere, Xavier Demondion, Val éry Hédouin Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research
Organic extraction of bone lysates improves DNA purification with silica beads
DNA extraction from bones could be challenging since many factors influence the efficacy of DNA recovery like post mortem interval, bone type (long, cancellous, high-load-bearing), decomposition degree, type of degradation (mummification, putrefaction, saponification) and post mortem conservation conditions (buried, open air, (sea)water, temperature, carbonization) [1 –10]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 14, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Stijn Desmyter, Greet De Cock, Sabine Moulin, Fabrice No ël Source Type: research
Technical note: The precision of micro-tomography in bone taphonomic experiments and the importance of registration.
Micro-computed tomography ( μCT) is an imaging tool developed in approximately 1980 [1] that provides micrometric 3D images of small pieces for, e.g., engineering, science, and medical studies. Over time, it has grown into a promising tool. The μCT imaging principles have been summarized by Rutty et al. [2], and good practic es have been reported notably by Bouxsein et al. [3]. Resolution is one of the critical points with μCT, but several parameters must be correctly chosen to reduce the artefacts during the scan (frame averaging) and reconstruction (beam hardening and ring artefact correction). (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 14, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Erwan Le Garff, Vadim Mesli, Yann Delannoy, Thomas Colard, Julien DE JONCKHEERE, Xavier Demondion, Val éry Hédouin Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research
Reliability of age estimation from iliac auricular surface in a subactual chilean sample
The aim of this study was to test the reliability of Osborne et al. (2004) age estimation based on the auricular surface. We selected 172 skeletons with documented sex and age-at-death and established six uniformly distributed age intervals for analysis. ANOVA was employed to assess the association of the documented age with sex and the auricular surface classification. We employed Bonferroni post-hoc tests to find any statistical differences across documented ages within each phase of Osborne's criteria. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 13, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Maria Jose Herrera, Rodrigo Retamal Tags: Forensic Anthropology Population Data Source Type: research
Immunohistochemical methods as an aid in estimating the time since death
Morphological methods for time since death estimation are thought to be of no practical value in forensic practice. Although a comprehensive evaluation of all histologically, histochemically and electron-microscopically detectable postmortem changes shows that human tissues and organs decompose and break down in a certain sequence, in practice this sequence can be difficult to recognize, or not be seen at all in some cases. Laboratory experiments with artificial autolysis have shown that under precise conditions it is possible to histologically and histochemically establish the course of the first 48hours of this process [...
Source: Forensic Science International - February 13, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jan Ortmann, Elke Doberentz, Burkhard Madea Source Type: research
Photogrammetric 3D Skull/Photo Superimposition: a pilot study
The identification of bodies through the examination of skeletal remains holds a prominent place in the field of forensic investigations because the main objective of such inquiries is to establish the identity of the person to whom the remains belong. The use of DNA analysis in identifying human remains has become much more widespread in recent years. However, it is not always possible to utilize DNA due to the fact that under certain circumstances it may be subject to so much degeneration that it makes it impossible to extract it. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 11, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Valeria Santoro, Sergio Lubelli, Antonio De Donno, Alessio Inchingolo, Fulvio Lavecchia, Francesco Introna Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research
A time period study on the efficiency of luminol in the detection of bloodstains concealed by paint on different surfaces
Forensic science is an umbrella term that covers many areas of traditional science and melds them together. Although most of the techniques used here have been borrowed from other science, many of them have been developed and perfected principally for forensic purposes [18]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 9, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Deepthi Nagesh, Shayani Ghosh Source Type: research
Multifarious Applications of Atomic Force Microscopy in Forensic Science Investigations
Forensic Science is a broad field and consists of several subspecialties and uses different techniques that find its roots in natural sciences in the guilty and other lawful evidence. It can also be defined as a wide and multidisciplinary field that comprises of different branches such as Geology, physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics and uses them to examine and analyze different physical pieces of evidence obtained in a crime scene. Nano- forensics is a new field in which nanosensors are developed to acquire immediate results during the investigations of evidence at a crime scene. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 9, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Gaurav Pandey, Maithri Tharmavaram, Deepak Rawtani, Sumit Kumar, Y. Agrawal Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Staining in firearm barrels after experimental contact shots
Close contact gunshot wounds are common in suicides. In medico-legal practice backspatter on the hand of a deceased can help identify the gunshot injury as self-inflicted. In suicide cases rejected organic material can also be found on and inside the firearm. Systematic studies could demonstrate the presence of biological traces in barrels of suicide firearms by endoscopy and DNA analysis [1,2]. In a first approach, generation of such traces was realized in experimental contact shots using different models [3]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 9, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: C. Schyma, K. Bauer, J. Br ünig, C. Courts, B. Madea Source Type: research
TIAFT2016 Special Edition of Forensic Science International
The 54th annual meeting of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) met in Brisbane from August 28 to September 1, 2016 in a combined meeting with the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Association of Australasia (FACTA inc.). This meeting was particularly well attended with 505 registrants from 46 Countries representing all regions and included 53 students and 35 attendees from developing countries. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 6, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Olaf H. Drummer, Dimitri Gerostamoulos Tags: Preface Source Type: research
Identification of new psychoactive substances (NPS) using handheld Raman spectroscopy employing both 785 and 1064nm laser sources
In recent years, the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has proliferated globally [1]. NPS, also known as ‘legal highs’, designer drugs, ‘herbal highs’, ‘bath salts’ and ‘research chemicals’, are often perceived as ‘legal’ synthetic recreational drugs with analogous pharmacological effects to internationally controlled drugs of abuse [2]. The UK Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, rece ntly enacted, defines these substances as ‘capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it’ [3]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - February 3, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Amira Guirguis, Sarah Girotto, Benedetta Berti, Jacqueline L. Stair Source Type: research
