Towards Substrate-independent Age Estimation of Blood Stains based on Dimensionality Reduction and k-Nearest Neighbor Classification of Absorbance Spectroscopic Data
The investigation of crimes is as old as crime itself. While perpetrators develop increasingly sophisticated schemes on the one hand, numerous methods originated from the fight against felony on the other hand. Today all scientific and technical aspects of crime investigation, such as ballistics, toxicology and parts of psychiatry as well as psychology, are being covered by the field of ”forensic science”. One well studied, old and yet still evolving forensic application is the analyses of blood patterns. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - June 7, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tommy Bergmann, Florian Heinke, Dirk Labudde Source Type: research
A simple method to compare firing pin marks using stereomicroscope and microsoft office (windows 8) tools
A case was received in the author ’s laboratory to examine the weapon so as to ascertain its serviceability with respect to legal provisions of law of the land in force. The items sent to the laboratory are (a) one improvised pistol with empty magazine and (b) four rim fire cartridges of .22inch caliber (head stamp KF, India). Fro m the constructional features (Figs. 1–4) of handgrip, action mechanism, barrel punching mark, unskilled barrel slide lock& magazine release, poor rifling pattern and absence of any visual identifiable characteristic feature of a factory made firearm, it has been concluded that it is a locall...
Source: Forensic Science International - June 7, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: R. Suresh Source Type: research
A geographical analysis of trafficking on a popular darknet market
The Internet continues to play an important role in illegal trafficking. It acts as a facilitator, providing another medium for sales and purchases, and a platform for information sharing between users. Users can access both legal and illegal commodities online from anywhere around the world [1]. Cryptomarkets, located on the darknet, are only the last illustration of the transition from illegal markets in the real world to the virtual world [2]. Visually very similar to popular merchant websites like eBay and Amazon, cryptomarkets share several structural features with conventional online sales sites. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - June 4, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Julian Bros éus, Damien Rhumorbarbe, Marie Morelato, Ludovic Staehli, Quentin Rossy Source Type: research
An image-processing methodology for extracting bloodstain pattern features
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) is the forensic discipline concerned with the evaluation and interpretation of bloodstain patterns found at crime scenes. The analysis of bloodstain patterns can provide investigators with useful information about the events that led up to a crime. BPA is conducted primarily through direct crime scene evaluation or careful analysis of photographs of the scene [1 –3]. Central to BPA is the classification process. Bloodstain pattern classification is the process of assigning a pattern to one or more categories based on the features of the pattern and their relationship with the blood shedd...
Source: Forensic Science International - June 3, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ravishka M. Arthur, Philomena J. Humburg, Jerry Hoogenboom, Martin Baiker, Michael C. Taylor, Karla G.de Bruin Source Type: research
The Clandestine Multiple Graves in Malaysia: The First Mass Identification Operation of Human Skeletal Remains
For decades human trafficking across borders for sexual, labour and other forms of exploitation is a subject that has captured the attention of international organisations, activists and policy makers. It is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. In Malaysia the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 (amended in 2010) prohibits all forms of human trafficking and prescribes punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment [1]. Between May and September 2015, Malaysia was under the global spotlight following the discovery of clandestine multiple graves at several transit camps for human trafficking located in Wang Kel...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 27, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Mohd Suhani Mohd Noor, Lay See Khoo, Wan Zafirah Zamaliana Alias, Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi, Mohamad Azaini Ibrahim, Mohd Shah Mahmood Tags: Forensic Anthropology Population Data Source Type: research
The use of pesticides in Belgian illicit indoor cannabis plantations
Although total size of illicit Belgian indoor cannabis plantations is unknown, official seizure data indicate that cannabis production in Belgium is on the rise. In 2007, police confiscated 466 indoor cannabis plantations in Belgium. By 2010 this number had risen to 979 and by 2015 to 1241 plantations. In 2015, 979 (79%) of the confiscated plantations had more than 5 plants and 529 (43%) had more than 50 plants (unpublished data from the Belgian Federal police). Plantations with more than 5 plants are most likely planted for commercial reasons. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - May 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Eva Cuypers, Wouter Vanhove, Joachim Gotink, Arne Bonneure, Patrick Van Damme, Jan Tytgat Source Type: research
Post-operative fatal blood aspiration after routine lung surgery
When patients die shortly after an operation, the question of possible medical malpractice frequently arises. The clarification of medical malpractice claims is, therefore, a regularly encountered task in medicolegal practice. To be able to fulfill this task, medical examiners need to have a good understanding of the common complications that can occur after surgical procedures [13 –15]. Although, the aspects that need to be clarified are often only vaguely defined, they may at times be so specific that they require specialist knowledge beyond the scope of the medical examiner’s training in general medicine. (Source: F...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Stefanie Plenzig, Mauricio Soriano, Hannelore Held, Marcel A. Verhoff Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Identification and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids in ‛spice-like’ herbal mixtures: update of the German situation in early 2017
In addition, all SCs were quantified by a GC-MS method using JWH-018 as internal standard and corresponding response factors. While MDMB-CHMICA was detected in six out of 14 tested products (ranging from 6 to 20mg/g; average 10mg/g), 5F-Cumyl-P7AICA and Cumyl-PeGACLONE were detected in three (109 to 153mg/g; average 131mg/g) and five products (15 to 74mg/g; average 39mg/g), respectively. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - May 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ludger Ernst, Kai Brandhorst, Uli Papke, Anna Altrogge, Simone Zodel, Nico Langer, Till Beuerle Source Type: research
Peer Review in Forensic Science
Peer review is one of the central components of the scientific framework underpinning the publication process in journals, the awarding of grants and honours, and promotion of academics. It has long been held up as the premier approach to ensure the validity of methods and conclusions, to detect errors and fraud, and to improve the quality of learned papers (Bornmann, 2013). Courts have used peer review as an indicator of ‘good science’ and general acceptance within the relevant communities of experts, with landmark rulings such as Daubert and Kumho deeming peer review as an important factor in whether a scientific met...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kaye N. Ballantyne, Gary Edmond, Bryan Found Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
DNA decontamination of fingerprint brushes
Fingerprints and DNA are both valuable sources of forensic evidence. Today, the ability to generate DNA profiles from touched objects [1 –4], resulting from the increased sensitivity of DNA typing methodologies, has enabled the routine collection of DNA from fingerprints. In cases where conventional fingerprint analysis is uninformative due to smeared or partial prints, DNA analysis provides an alternative means for obtaining proba tive evidence about the offender. In some laboratories, the collection of DNA from evidentiary items occurs prior to latent print processing, while in others collection occurs following exposu...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 22, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Bianca Szkuta, Roland A.H. van Oorschot, Kaye N. Ballantyne Source Type: research
Acrylfentanyl: Another new psychoactive drug with fatal consequences
The last decades witnessed the appearance of a series of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the drug scene [1]. These new compounds have proven to be a serious challenge for legislators and health operators; indeed, by marketing them as items not for human consumption (such as ladybug attractant, plant food, bath salts)[2], the producers of such compounds effectively manage to circumvent the law, and to market “legal highs”[3]. Despite governments all over the world constantly update the lists of scheduled substances, new chemical structures keep hitting the market on an almost monthly basis, both in USA and in Europ...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 22, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Davide Guerrieri, Emma Rapp, Markus Roman, Gunilla Thelander, Robert Kronstrand Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
The influence of impact direction and axial loading on the bone fracture pattern
Knowledge on long bone failure mechanisms and fracture patterns may assist anthropologists and physicians in legal (forensic) medicine, i.e., in identifying the trauma that caused an injury. Traffic accidents, for example, is of major importance since road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death worldwide among young people aged 10 –24 years, with nearly 400,000 people under the age of 25 dying in the world’s roads [39]. Analysis of bone fractures may assist in reconstructing the location of pedestrians relative to the vehicle and their position (standing or recumbent), moving phase (standing or moving), the im...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 22, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Haim Cohen, Chen Kugel, Hila May, Bahaa Medlej, Dan Stein, Viviane Slon, Tamar Brosh, Israel Hershkovitz Source Type: research
Compound Mechanism of Fatal Neck Injury: A Case Report of a Tiger Attack in a Zoo
Cases of attacks by large wild cats (tigers, leopards, pumas, lions) on humans are reported relatively rarely in the medical literature, including forensic reports, a fact highlighted by most authors of published case reports [1 –22]. Some of the reported cases concern: attacks on zoo employees [1–4]; an attack on a zoo visitor during an attempt to feed an animal [5]; an accident in a private zoo [6]; an attack on a tiger trainer during a show [7]; an attack in an animal sanctuary in Oklahoma [8]; uncommon case of suici de in a lions’ den of a zoo [9]; and an attack on 2year-old girl by her father’s pet leopard [10...
Source: Forensic Science International - May 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Łukasz Szleszkowski, Agata Thannhäuser, Tomasz Jurek Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Further evidence for GHB naturally occurring in common non-alcoholic beverages
The identification and quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in beverages is considered challenging in forensic evidence. GHB has been implicated in many cases of suspected surreptitious administration with the purpose of increasing victim vulnerability to sexual assault. For this reason, some studies have focused on the determination of GHB in spiked alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages [1]. However, previously the presence of endogenous (or naturally occurring) GHB in beverages has been reported in various publications [2 –4]. (Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - May 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Simon P. Elliott, Paolo Fais Tags: Rapid Communication Source Type: research
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(Source: Forensic Science International)
Source: Forensic Science International - May 19, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
