Guest Editor ’s note
As outlined in the introductory paper to the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) on measuring and reporting the precision of forensic likelihood ratios [1], the VSI consists of three stages: (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 18, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Geoffrey Stewart Morrison Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Forensic likelihood ratio: Statistical problems and pitfalls
This collection of position papers focuses largely on philosophical issues. However, there are serious statistical difficulties that first need to be addressed. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 11, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: A. Philip Dawid Source Type: research
On the likelihood of “encapsulating all uncertainty”
The assignment of personal probabilities to form a forensic practitioner's likelihood ratio is a mental operation subject to all the frailties of human memory, perception and judgment. While we agree that beliefs expressed as coherent probabilities are neither ‘right’ nor ‘wrong’ we argue that debate over this fact obscures both the requirement for and consideration of the ‘helpfulness’ of practitioner's opinions. We also question the extent to which a likelihood ratio based on personal probabilities can realistically be expected to ‘encapsu late all uncertainty’. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 11, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kristy A. Martire, Gary Edmond, Daniel J. Navarro, Ben R. Newell Tags: Response paper Source Type: research
The consequences of understanding expert probability reporting as a decision
In this paper we reiterate that the personalist interpretation of probability is inevitable and as least as informed as any other allegedly more ‘objective’ definition of probability. We also argue that the problem faced by forensic scientists, the reporting on imperfect personal knowledge, in terms of probabilities, can be reconstructed as a decision problem. Tackling this problem through a rigorous decision theoretic analysis provides further argument in support of the view that optimal probability reporting is in terms of single numbers, not intervals. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 11, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: A. Biedermann, S. Bozza, F. Taroni, C. Aitken Tags: Response paper Source Type: research
A study of gunshot residue distribution for close-range shots with a silenced gun using optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and infrared spectroscopy
Detailed physical and chemical analysis of gunshot residue deposited in the nearest vicinity of a submachine gun alone and with a sound suppressor was performed. The studies were inspired by recent shooting cases with the use of a firearm with a silencer and the need to estimate the shooting distance to human body naked and covered with clothing. A series of experiments were performed in the shooting range using a machine pistol and the appropriate ammunition cal. 7.65mm Browning. Targets were placed in the range of 0 –30cm from the gun and covered either with white cotton fabric or a porcine skin that mocked people's cl...
Source: Science and Justice - December 7, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Zuzanna Bro żek-Mucha Source Type: research
Analysis of metallic medical devices after cremation: The importance in identification
The recovery of a charred cadaver raises many issues concerning personal identification; the presence of prosthetic materials may provide very important and decisive information. Who is involved in the recovery of a charred body or of burnt human fragments, should therefore be able to recognize medical devices even if modified by fire effects. Metallic residues (585kg) that came from 2785 cremations were studied. Medical devices were then divided by type and material in order to esteem the representativeness of each typology. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - December 2, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Danilo De Angelis, Federica Collini, Enrico Muccino, Annalisa Cappella, Emanuela Sguazza, Alessandra Mazzucchi, Cristina Cattaneo Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
When age-progressed images are unreliable: The roles of external features and age range
When children go missing for many years, investigators commission age-progressed images from forensic artists to depict an updated appearance. These images have anecdotal success, and systematic research has found they lead to accurate recognition rates comparable to outdated photos. The present study examines the reliability of age progressions of the same individuals created by different artists. Eight artists first generated age progressions of eight targets across three age ranges. Eighty-five participants then evaluated the similarity of these images against other images depicting the same targets progressed at the sa...
Source: Science and Justice - December 2, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: William Blake Erickson, James Michael Lampinen, Charlie D. Frowd, Gregory Mahoney Source Type: research
Events Guide
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Source: Science and Justice - November 30, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Council Information
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Source: Science and Justice - November 30, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
The environmental variables that impact human decomposition in terrestrially exposed contexts within Canada
This study involved the examination of 96 retrospective police death investigation cases selected using the Canadian ViCLAS (Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System) and sudden death police databases. A classification system was designed and applied based on the latest visible stages of autolysis (stages 1 –2), putrefaction (3–5) and skeletonisation (6–8) observed. The analysis of the progression of decomposition using time (Post Mortem Interval (PMI) in days) and temperature accumulated-degree-days (ADD) score found considerable variability during the putrefaction and skeletonisation phases, wi th poor predictability ...
Source: Science and Justice - November 14, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Diane Lyn Cockle, Lynne S Bell Source Type: research
Classification of nine malathion emulsion samples by using carbon isotope ratios and the ratio of organic solvents
The compound specific isotope analysis is nowadays an important and powerful tool in geochemical, environmental and forensics field. On November 2013, Aqli Foods Corporation in Japan dealt with complaints about stench from frozen foods produced. Subsequently, very high concentrations of organophosphorus pesticide as malathion, ethylbenzene and xylene were detected in recovered frozen foods. In particular case, we present the method to measure the stable carbon isotope ratio ( δ13C) of nine malathion emulsion pesticides using gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) to identify the source. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - November 10, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Nana Suto, Hiroto Kawashima Source Type: research
Investigating TNT loss between sample collection and analysis
Explosives residues are often collected from explosion scenes, and from surfaces suspected of being in contact with explosives, by swabbing with solvent-wetted cotton swabs. It is vital that any explosives traces present on the swabs are successfully extracted and detected when received in a laboratory. However, a 2007 proficiency test initiated by the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Expert Working Group on Explosives involving TNT-spiked cotton swabs highlighted that explosives may not always be detected from such samples. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - November 8, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Niamh Nic Daeid, Holly A. Yu, Matthew S. Beardah Tags: Technical note Source Type: research
Effects of different storage and measuring methods on larval length values for the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina
This study evaluated three different length-measurement methods for larval stages and examined the influence of different killing and storing methods on the larval length of two forensically important blow flies, Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - November 8, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Valentina Bugelli, Carlo Pietro Campobasso, Marcel A. Verhoff, Jens Amendt Source Type: research
Identification of Cannabis sativa L. using the 1-kbTHCA synthase-fluorescence in situ hybridization probe
This study reports a successful application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in the identification of Cannabis sativa L. cells recovered from fresh and dried powdered plant materials. Two biotin-16-dUTP-labeled FISH probes were designed from the Cannabis-specific tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS) gene and the ITS region of the 45S rRNA gene. Specificity of probe-target hybridization was tested against the target and 4 non-target plant species, i.e., Humulus lupulus, Mitragyna speciosa, Papaver sp. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - November 7, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Pattraporn Jeangkhwoa, Achirapa Bandhaya, Puangpaka Umpunjun, Ngarmnij Chuenboonngarm, Nathinee Panvisavas Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research
Extraneous fibre traces brought by river water — A case study
The fibre traces on a young victim found underwater were mostly single fibre traces besides small amounts of fibre collectives indistinguishable from his parents clothes (mainly wool). Most of those single fibre traces were blue-grey polyester fibres showing tiny differences among each other. They were unexpected according to known population fibre studies. One year after the victim's discovery experiments were conducted to evaluate the possible contamination with fibres from river water. A small amount of extraneous fibres were collected among which blue and grey-black cotton and man-made (mainly polyester) fibres. (Sourc...
Source: Science and Justice - October 27, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: L. Lepot, T. Vanden Driessche, K. Lunstroot, A. Barret, F. Gason, K. De Wael Tags: Case Review Source Type: research
