The Importance of Economic Context in Interpreting Forensic Data on Drug Trafficking Networks
The study titled “Chemical profiling: A tool to decipher the structure and organization of illicit drug markets: An 8-year study in Western Switzerland” by Broséus et al. [1] presents results that purportedly “contradict those of −–” (p.27). Specifically, the Broséus paper concludes that the distributi on network for cocaine is markedly more diffuse than the corresponding network for heroin, which is the opposite of the results in −- [2]. We believe that, while the underlying chemical profiling analysis in the paper may be methodologically robust, this conclusion stems from a contextually flawed interpretat...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 16, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Siddharth Chandra, Johnathan Joba Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Antimony content of inorganic gunshot residue (IGSR) produced by 0.22 caliber rimfire ammunition having free-antimony primer.
In a recent paper published in Forensic Science International (FSI), Lucas et al. [1]claimed that muzzle discharge of 0.22 caliber rimfire ammunition is more likely to incorporate particles from the bullet surface than those retained on the firearm and that characteristic particles containing Pb, Ba and Sb formed from known Sb-free primers are likely to be more prevalent in muzzle discharge. It seems that this claim is not based on sufficient experimental results. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 16, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Arie Zeichner Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Optimising crime scene temperature collection for forensic entomology casework
The study of insects and other arthropods in a medico-legal context, also known as forensic entomology, is an essential tool in legal cases, especially in death enquiries [1]. Traditional forensic pathology methods for time of death estimation, using post-mortem changes such as rigor mortis, reach their limits within 48 –72hours after death [2]. At that point forensic entomology becomes particularly important as knowledge of insect biology, ecology and identification can provide information such as post-mortem body relocations, environmental conditions at death occurrence and, most importantly, estimation of a mi nimum p...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 16, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ines M.J. Hofer, Andrew J. Hart, Daniel Mart ín-Vega, Martin J.R. Hall Source Type: research
Euclidean distances as measures of speaker dissimilarity including identical twin pairs: A forensic investigation using source and filter voice characteristics
The human vocal apparatus is a sophisticated system relying on the accurate synchronization of multiple organic structures (e.g. lungs, vocal folds, vocal tract) in order to produce speech. Researchers from diverse disciplines have approached this field from very different angles, and continue contributing to the understanding of this immensely complicated process. Traditionally, the structures involved in speech production have been separated into the systemic view of the source-filter model due to [1], where the laryngeal structures are credited for the production of phonation, and the supralaryngeal structures are credi...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 16, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Eugenia San Segundo, Athanasios Tsanas, Pedro G ómez-Vilda Source Type: research
Sexual dimorphism of the tibia in contemporary Greek-Cypriots and Cretans: Forensic applications
Sex estimation is an essential step in the identification process of unknown heavily decomposed human remains as it eliminates all possible matches of the opposite sex from the missing person ’s database. Osteometric methods constitute a reliable approach for sex estimation and considering the variation of sexual dimorphism between and within populations; standards for specific populations are required to ensure accurate results. The current study aspires to contribute osteometric data on the tibia from contemporary Greek-Cypriots to assist the identification process. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 15, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: E.K. Kranioti, J.G. Garc ía-Donas, P.S. Almeida Prado, X.P. Kyriakou, H.C. Langstaff Tags: Forensic Anthropology Population Data Source Type: research
Loss and Replacement of Small Particles on the Contact Surfaces of Footwear During Successive Exposures
Very small particles are ubiquitous in our environment. These “VSP” are particle dusts which, as noted by Gross [1], are our “environment or surroundings in miniature,” and as noted by Locard [2] “may be formed of all the debris and all kinds of bodies… all the substances, organic or inorganic, existing on the earth.” Everywhere people walk, VSP transfer to and from their footwear. The mere presence at a crime scene requires this contact and transfer, and the particles are known to persistent for long periods of time [3,4]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 15, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: David A. Stoney, Andrew M. Bowen, Paul L. Stoney Source Type: research
A Systematic Review of Passive Exposure to Cannabis
Cannabis passive smoking referred to the inhalation of cannabis smoke, called secondhand smoke or environmental cannabis smoke, by persons other than intended “active” smokers. It occurs when cannabis smoke contaminates any environment and it is inhaled by people staying in that environment. Secondhand smoke is defined as the combination of the sidestream smoke released from a burning end of a marijuana cigarette and the mainstream smoke exhaled by a smoker [1]. Besides inhalation, unintentional cross-contamination could also occur by unintended direct contact with contaminated objects, as illustrated in Fig. (Source: ...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 15, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aur élie Berthet, Mariangela De Cesare, Bernard Favrat, Frank Sporkert, Marc Augsburger, Aurélien Thomas, Christian Giroud Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Sexual dimorphism of the tibia in contemporary Greek-Cypriots and Cretans: forensic applications.
Sex estimation is an essential step in the identification process of unknown heavily decomposed human remains as it eliminates all possible matches of the opposite sex from the missing person ’s database. Osteometric methods constitute a reliable approach for sex estimation and considering the variation of sexual dimorphism between and within populations; standards for specific populations are required to ensure accurate results. The current study aspires to contribute osteometric data on the tibia from contemporary Greek-Cypriots to assist the identification process. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 15, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: EF Kranioti, JG Garc ía-Donas, PS Prado Almeida, Xenia-Paula Kyriakou, HK Langstaff Tags: Forensic Anthropology Population Data Source Type: research
The application of silicon sol –gel technology to forensic blood substitute development: Mimicking aspects of whole human blood rheology
Solution –gelation chemistry has promising applications in forensic synthetic blood substitute development. This research offers a silicon-based sol–gel approach to creating stable materials that share similar rheological properties to that of whole human blood samples. Room temperature, high water conte nt, silicon sol–gels were created using the organosilane precursors 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate along with various concentrations of filler and pigment. Shear-thinning non-Newtonian properties were observed within most formulations of the presented materials. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 14, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Theresa Stotesbury, Mike Illes, Paul Wilson, Andrew J. Vreugdenhil Source Type: research
The application of silicon sol-gel technology to forensic blood substitute development: mimicking aspects of whole human blood rheology
Solution-gelation chemistry has promising applications in forensic synthetic blood substitute development. This research offers a silicon-based sol-gel approach to creating stable materials that share similar rheological properties to that of whole human blood samples. Room temperature, high water content, silicon sol-gels were created using the organosilane precursors 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate along with various concentrations of filler and pigment. Shear-thinning non-Newtonian properties were observed within most formulations of the presented materials. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 14, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Theresa Stotesbury, Mike Illes, Paul Wilson, Andrew J. Vreugdenhil Source Type: research
Car speed estimation based on cross-ratio using video data of car-mounted camera (black box)
In traffic accident reconstructions, using car black box footages to approximate the speed of cars involved is an important process which is commonly conducted. Traditional method in this process involves recognizing the distance that is clearly visible in the recorded footage, then measuring the time the car of interest passes through that distance to estimate its speed. However, when there are no clear lane markings or landmarks that can specify the location of the car, speed estimation is either impossible or lacks accuracy. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 14, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Inhwan Han Source Type: research
Hair ethyl glucuronide concentrations in teetotalers: should we re-evaluate the lower cut-off?
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor phase II metabolite that is formed in the body after the consumption of alcohol. In urine, oral fluid and blood, it is used as a direct and sensitive marker for the assessment of alcohol consumption [4]. In keratin matrices such as hair, EtG incorporates and accumulates, and can be used to quantify retrospective alcohol use from months to years prior to sampling depending on the available hair length [5]. The Society of Hair Testing (SoHT; www.soht.org) provides two cut-offs values that are widely accepted for the interpretation of hair EtG (hEtG) concentrations. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 13, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Cleo L Crunelle, Michel Yegles, Mireille De Doncker, Delphine Cappelle, Adrian Covaci, Alexander L.N. van Nuijs, Hugo Neels Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Forensic age estimation in anti-piracy trials in Seychelles: Experiences and challenges faced
Forensic Age Estimation (FAE) on living individuals has received much attention due to numerous challenges, limitations, ethical and humanitarian issues that are interwoven with determining the age of an individual who has no documentary evidence of his or her date of birth [1 –6]. These issues have been predominantly discussed in relation to unaccompanied minors seeking asylum status. However FAE in the living has a significant bearing in many other civil and criminal cases as well. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - November 13, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: S.A. Gunawardena, U.A. Liyanage, J.B. Weeratna, N.D.N.A. Mendis, H.J.M. Perera, R.W. Jayasekara, R. Fernando Tags: Forensic Anthropology Population Data Source Type: research
The anatomical mummies of Mombello: detection of cocaine, nicotine, and caffeine in the hair of psychiatric patients of the early 20th century
The anatomical specimens examined in the present study are part of a collection once placed in the Provincial Mental Asylum of Milan, Mombello (Limbiate), a structure created in the late 19th century. In 1878, this institution replaced the historic Senavra Psychiatric Hospital, which had been active since 1780 [1]. During the early 20th century, unclaimed bodies of many Mombello patients were dissected and preserved by Giuseppe Paravicini, an anatomist who operated within the asylum. In 1907, Paravicini became the head physician of the Institute of Pathological Anatomy of the asylum, a position which he held until the begi...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 13, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Frank Musshoff, Helena Fels, Alberto Carli, Dario Piombino-Mascali Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Staging of third molar development in relation to chronological age of 5 –16 year old Indian children
Age estimation of juveniles and adolescents is commonly required in most civilized countries, since age thresholds of social or legal relevance lie between ages 12 –25. While the developmental process of teeth is one of the most valuable biomarkers for age estimation in childhood, the accuracy inevitably decreases in adolescence, when the development of teeth is nearly completed. During this period, roughly between the middle teens and early 20s, all the han d–wrist bones have achieved their adult morphologies and their epiphyses have fused and the onset of secondary sex characteristics has occurred. (Source: Forensic ...
Source: Forensic Science International - November 12, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sapna Hegde, Akash Patodia, Uma Dixit Source Type: research
