The use of immunochromatographic rapid test for soft tissue remains identification in order to distinguish between human and non-human origin
Clear identification of soft tissue remains as being of non-human origin may be visually difficult in some cases e.g. due to decomposition. Thus, an additional examination is required. The use of an immunochromatographic rapid tests (IRT) device can be an easy solution with the additional advantage to be used directly at the site of discovery. The use of these test devices for detecting human blood at crime scenes is a common method. However, the IRT is specific not only for blood but also for differentiation between human and non-human soft tissue remains. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 27, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Dominic Gascho, Nadja V. Morf, Michael J. Thali, Sarah Schaerli Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
Sex estimation from the scapula in a contemporary Thai population: Applications for forensic anthropology
The impact of climate change is estimated to be particularly severe in Thailand. Overall, the country faces an increase in surface temperatures, severe storms and floods, and a possible increase in the number of mass disasters in the region. It is extremely important that forensic scientists have access to sex estimation methods developed for use on a Thai population. The goal of this project is to evaluate the accuracy of sex estimation discriminant functions, created using contemporary Mexican and Greek populations, when applied to a contemporary Thai sample. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 27, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tanya R. Peckmann, Shelby Scott, Susan Meek, Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh Tags: Emerging Researcher Article Source Type: research
Study of fingerprints in Argentina population for application in personal identification
The fingerprints of the Buenos Aires and Chubut provinces in Argentina have been studied, with the aim of knowing and quantifying the variability of these features, which are used in the identification process. The data studied for this research was obtained from 330 individuals, of both sexes, from two Argentinian population samples (170 individuals from Buenos Aires and 160 from Chubut), which amounts to a total of 3300 fingerprints. The different types of minutiae were located, identified, and visually quantified in four areas on the fingerprint. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 23, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Noem í Rivaldería, Esperanza Gutiérrez-Redomero, Concepción Alonso-Rodríguez, José E. Dipierri, Luis M. Martín Source Type: research
Age estimation by chest plate radiographs in a Thai male population
This study was performed in 136 remains yielding a regression formula for age estimation in Thai male population. Eight features on chest plate imaging were scored based on Garvin's method. Composite scores were calculated by summation of all scores and analyzed to generate the regression of age as: Age=16.664 ×e0.161 (composite score) with a 95% prediction interval. The predicted age intervals in all composite scores were overlapping except for score 0 and 7. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 20, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tawachai Monum, Karnda Mekjaidee, Nuttaya Pattamapaspong, Sukon Prasitwattanaseree Source Type: research
Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence
This study focussed on groups of individuals with different roles within the criminal justice system and individuals with varying degrees of expertise and knowledge. Three groups of individuals were identified: laypeople, legal professionals and those with some forensic or investigative knowledge. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 12, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: James French, Ruth Morgan, Eleanor Arscott, Georgina Meakin Source Type: research
Combined recovery of biological and fibre traces
We present a method in which DNA and fibre traces are jointly recovered by taping. The DNA traces are isolated by standard laboratory procedures. Fibre traces are isolated afterwards in order to improve efficiency.Two tests have been carried out to evaluate the suitability of the presented method. In the first test, possible changes in appearance of fibres due to the DNA isolation procedures are investigated. In the second test, the recovery of fibres from a contaminated surface and their possible loss due to the DNA isolation procedure are investigated. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 11, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Radha Samlal-Soedhoe, Laura M. Willemstein, Martin Baiker, Jaap van der Weerd Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
Towards a Bayesian evaluation of features in questioned handwritten signatures
In this work, we propose the construction of a evaluative framework for supporting experts in questioned signature examinations. Through the use of Bayesian networks, we envision to quantify the probative value of well defined measurements performed on questioned signatures, in a way that is both formalised and part of a coherent approach to evaluation.At the current stage, our project is explorative, focusing on the broad range of aspects that relate to comparative signature examinations. The goal is to identify writing features which are both highly discriminant, and easy for forensic examiners to detect. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 3, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Lorenzo Gaborini, Alex Biedermann, Franco Taroni Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
Evaluating evidence in linked crimes with multiple offenders
In de Zoete et al. (2015) a framework for the evaluation of evidence when an individual is a suspect of two separate offenses (based on Evett et al., 2006) is implemented using a Bayesian network. Here, we extend this to situations with multiple offenders. When we have multiple offenders, new questions arise: (1) Can we distinguish between the offenders, even if we do not know their identity? (2) Do we know that certain pieces of evidence originate from the same person? (3) Do we know the number of offenders? With the aid of a mock case example, we show that such subtle differences between situations can lead to substant...
Source: Science and Justice - January 27, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jacob de Zoete, Marjan Sjerps, Ronald Meester Tags: Emerging researcher article Source Type: research
Corrigendum to “Preserved brains from the Spanish Civil War mass grave (1936) at La Pedraja 1, Burgos, Spain” [Sci. Justice 56 (2016) 453–463]
The authors would like to point out that some affiliations were missing from the published version of this paper. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - January 13, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: F. Serrulla, L. Herrasti, C. Navarro, JL. Cascallana, AM Bermejo, N. M árquez-Grant, F. Etxeberría Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: research
Further to the evolution of best practice in forensic biochemical toxicology
There is an element of professional forensic toxicology practice unaddressed in the recent best practice document from the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists [1]. Both the training curricula in the alcohol and toxicology foundation modules are comprehensive for scientists' professional training. The entry requirements for the profession focus exclusively on scientists anticipating a career in forensic toxicology. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - January 5, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: William P Tormey Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Detection and characterization of volatile organic compounds from burned human and animal remains in fire debris
Debris collected from various test sites where mammalian remains (human and porcine) had been burned in a variety of full-scale fire scenarios was evaluated for the presence of volatile residues that could be characteristic of those remains. Levels of volatiles were measured using the method commonly used for fire debris analysis: gas chromatography –mass spectrometry. Homologous n-aldehydes (from n-pentanal to n-nonanal) proved to be a significant indicator of the presence of burned animal tissue as they were observed in nearly all of the samples. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - January 3, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: John D. DeHaan, Eimi I. Taormina, David J. Brien Source Type: research
Editorial Board
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 31, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM1: Events Guide
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 31, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
BM2: Council Information
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Source: Science and Justice - December 31, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Thinking forensics: Cognitive science for forensic practitioners
This article highlights a series of important findings and insights of relevance to forensic practitioners. These include research on human perception, memory, context information, expertise, decision-making, communication, experience, verification, confidence, and feedback. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 21, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Gary Edmond, Alice Towler, Bethany Growns, Gianni Ribeiro, Bryan Found, David White, Kaye Ballantyne, Rachel A. Searston, Matthew B. Thompson, Jason M. Tangen, Richard I. Kemp, Kristy Martire Tags: Review Source Type: research
