Supporting fingerprint identification assessments using a skin stretch model — A preliminary study
Fingerprint identification, as currently practiced by examiners, is a subjective evidence form in which a fingerprint examiner, based on their training and experience, is required to provide an expert opinion on a comparison of minutiae to determine whether a fingermark was created by a certain person as opposed to some other person. For the majority of the 20th Century, such testimonies have been very rarely challenged. However, in the wake of the Daubert decision by the Supreme Court in the USA, concerning expert evidence admissibility [1] and the 2009 report of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) [2], there have b...
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Rebecca Lee, Bruce Comber, Joshua Abraham, Michael Wagner, Chris Lennard, Xanthe Spindler, Claude Roux Source Type: research
Postmortem in vitro ethanol production —It could be more common than we think!
The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the most frequent determination in a Forensic Toxicology Laboratory [1]. Despite its apparent simplicity, the results interpretation can be complex and always have relevant social and legal implications, particularly in postmortem analysis [1 –3]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Maria Jos é Quintas, Pedro Costa, Paula Melo, André Castro, João Miguel Franco, Helena M. Teixeira Source Type: research
Supporting Fingerprint Identification Assessments Using A Skin Stretch Model − a Preliminary Study
Fingerprint identification, as currently practiced by examiners, is a subjective evidence form in which a fingerprint examiner, based on their training and experience, is required to provide an expert opinion on a comparison of minutiae to determine whether a fingermark was created by a certain person as opposed to some other person. For the majority of the 20th Century, such testimonies have been very rarely challenged. However, in the wake of the Daubert decision by the Supreme Court in the USA, concerning expert evidence admissibility [1] and the 2009 report of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) [2], there have b...
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Rebecca Lee, Bruce Comber, Joshua Abraham, Michael Wagner, Chris Lennard, Xanthe Spindler, Claude Roux Source Type: research
Postmortem concentrations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in peripheral blood and brain tissue — differentiating between postmortem formation and antemortem intake
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a naturally-occurring neurotransmitter as well as a psychoactive compound. GHB has been used medically for various purposes including as a general anesthetic, treatment of narcolepsy and alcohol withdrawal [1]. It has also been used illegally as an intoxicant, as a means for drug-facilitated sexual assault and as a muscle growth-promoting agent [1]. On the illicit market GHB is often referred to as “liquid ecstasy” or “fantasy”. Chemically, GHB is closely related to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for which it is both a metabolite and a precursor [2]. (Source: Fore...
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ragnar Thomsen, Brian Schou Rasmussen, Sys Stybe Johansen, Kristian Linnet Source Type: research
Gunshot Wound Trajectory Analysis Using Forensic Animation to Establish Relative Positions of Shooter and Victim.
Forensic pathologists who perform autopsies in gunshot cases may be asked to determine the bullet trajectories in the body in order to elucidate the circumstances of a homicide and answer questions about range of fire, the order of shots fired, and the relative positions of the shooter and victim at the scene. However, there are few peer-reviewed articles or case reports detailing how trajectory analysis is performed in complex cases with conflicting testimony. The following case report documents an instance when the testimony of a police officer who shot a suspect was at odds with the evidence at the scene and the traject...
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aisling A. Galligan, Craig Fries, Judy Melinek Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Postmortem in vitro ethanol production − it could be more common than we think!
The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the most frequent determination in a Forensic Toxicology Laboratory [1]. Despite its apparent simplicity, the results interpretation can be complex and always have relevant social and legal implications, particularly in postmortem analysis [1 –3]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - January 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Maria Jos é Quintas, Pedro Costa, Paula Melo, André Castro, João Miguel Franco, Helena M. Teixeira Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Demographic, Clinical and Pathological Features of Sudden Deaths due to Myocarditis: results from a State-wide Population-Based Autopsy Study
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart that can cause sudden and unexpected death in otherwise healthy individuals. A population-based study in reported that the death certificate-based incidence of fatal myocarditis was 0.46 per 100.000 person-years and that myocarditis was recorded to cause 0.47 of in all deaths was 0.47 of 1,000 deaths in the general Finland population from 1970 to 1998 [1]. A review of all deaths from Tokyo from 1958 to 1984 reported that myocarditis was the cause of death in 0.15% of autopsy cases [2]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - January 2, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Liliang Li, Yang Zhang, Allen Burke, Aimin Xue, Ziqin Zhao, David Fowler, Yiwen Shen, Ling Li Source Type: research
Toxicological findings in driver and motorcyclist fatalities in Scotland 2012 –2015
It has long been recognized that alcohol and certain drugs may impair a person ’s driving ability [1]. It is also well known that drug use by drivers can increase the risk of being killed in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) [2–4]. Both illicit psychoactive drugs such as cannabis and amphetamine, and prescription medications such as benzodiazepines can impair driving [5]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - January 2, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hilary J. Hamnett, Martha Ilett, Fauzia Nurul Izzati, Shannah Smith, Kirsty H. Watson Source Type: research
Short range shooting distance estimation using variable pressure SEM images of the surroundings of bullet holes in textiles
In many firearm related crimes, the range from which a weapon has been fired is an important component in the reconstruction of the crime scene. The firing distance estimation is based on the examination of the appearance of the bullet entrance hole and the examination of gunshot residue (GSR) patterns around the hole [1]. The mixture of unburned and partially burnt propellant, amorphous sooty material, incandescent gases, and primer discharge residues expelled from the muzzle will deposit in front of the gun, causing vastly variable discharge residue patterns [2]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - December 29, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ruth Hinrichs, Paulo Ost Frank, M.A.Z. Vasconcellos Source Type: research
Insect succession on remains of human and animals in Shenzhen, China
Investigating insect succession, along with developmental study of carrion insects, constitutes some of the most fundamental and important work of forensic entomology. In the time since insect succession theory on carcasses was first proposed by M égnin [1], there have been a great number of studies on this field. Through these studies, the succession patterns under different types of environment have been observed, including land exposure [2,3], burying [4,5], indoor environments [6,7], vehicle environments [8], ponds and rivers [9,10], oce ans [11], dry environments [12,13], rainy seasons [14,15]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - December 27, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Yu Wang, Meng-yun Ma, Xin-yu Jiang, Jiang-feng Wang, Liang-liang Li, Xiao-jun Yin, Min Wang, Yue Lai, Lu-yang Tao Source Type: research
Time since discharge of 9mm cartridges by headspace analysis, part 2: ageing study and estimation of the time since discharge using multivariate regression
In the forensic investigation of crimes involving firearms, the relevance of spent cartridges discovered at a crime scene may be contested during examination. Thus, a suspect may state, for example, that a cartridges was fired long before or after the commission of the alleged offense [1,2]. In such situations, estimating the time since discharge could be a valuable piece of evidence toward reaching a conclusion [3]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - December 26, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: M. Gallidabino, F.S. Romolo, C. Weyermann Source Type: research
Identification of MDMB-FUBINACA in Commercially Available E-liquid Formulations Sold for Use in Electronic Cigarettes
MDMB-FUBINACA (aka MDMB(N)-Bz-F), chemical name Methyl (S)-2-(1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate, is a fluoridated indazole-3-carboxamide synthetic compound (Fig. 1) which is considered a designer drug or a new psychoactive substance (NPS). Regarding the pharmacological effect of this compound, it might be referred as a synthetic cannabinoid (SCB) or cannabimimetic drug. Even though MDMB-FUBINACA is available worldwide via the Internet and the abuse of the drug seems to be increasing [1] there is little to no scientific/medical data concerning the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, biotransfor...
Source: Forensic Science International - December 26, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Michelle R. Peace, Rose I. Krakowiak, Carl Wolf, Alphonse Poklis, Justin L. Poklis Source Type: research
Development and validation of a fast ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid –liquid microextraction procedure combined with LC–MS/MS analysis for the quantification of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like hypnotics in whole blood
In toxicology, the analysis of complex biological samples remains a challenging task. The introduction of a thorough sample clean-up step has become inevitable. Matrix components need to be eliminated in order to avoid possible interferences during quantification and to minimize the chance of polluting the analytical instrument. Moreover, a good sample preparation step can result in analyte enrichment and thus a final analytical method with improved sensitivity [1 –3]. To date, the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique is one of the most frequently used sample preparation techniques in the biomedical field. (Source: For...
Source: Forensic Science International - December 25, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Marieke De Boeck, Sophie Missotten, Wim Dehaen, Jan Tytgat, Eva Cuypers Source Type: research
Stability of endogenous GHB in vitreous humor vs peripheral blood in dead bodies
For the first time, the stability of GHB was tested in post-mortem peripheral blood and vitreous humor samples, collected from 22 dead bodies at two different times: at the external body examination at the place of death and then during autopsy.An ad hoc method for the detection and quantification of GHB in vitreous humor by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC –MS) was developed and validated, with a good linearity between 0.1 and 50μg/mL (r2=0.991) and a precision and accuracy always better than 10% and an analytical recovery higher than 90%. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - December 25, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Francesco Paolo Busard ò, Giulio Mannocchi, Raffaele Giorgetti, Manuela Pellegrini, Giovanni Baglio, Simona Zaami, Enrico Marinelli, Simona Pichini Source Type: research
Stability of endogenous GHB in vitreous humour vs peripheral blood in dead bodies
For the first time, the stability of GHB was tested in post-mortem peripheral blood and vitreous humor samples, collected from 22 dead bodies at two different times: at the external body examination at the place of death and then during autopsy.An ad hoc method for the detection and quantification of GHB in vitreous humor by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed and validated, with a good linearity between 0.1 and 50 μg/mL (r2=0.991) and a precision and accuracy always better than 10% and an analytical recovery higher than 90%. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - December 25, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Francesco Paolo Busard ò, Giulio Mannocchi, Raffaele Giorgetti, Manuela Pellegrini, Giovanni Baglio, Simona Zaami, Enrico Marinelli, Simona Pichini Source Type: research
