International Journal of Legal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"The current state of forensic imaging - post mortem imaging.","authors":"Fabrice Dedouit, Mathilde Ducloyer, Jamie Elifritz, Natalie L Adolphi, Grace Wong Yi-Li, Summer Decker, Jonathan Ford, Yanko Kolev, Michael Thali","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03461-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03461-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the last few decades, forensic imaging has become an essential part of current forensic practice. The aim of this 4-part review is to provide a comprehensive overview of forensic imaging over the first 25 years of this century. After a brief historic review, this first part details the advantages and limitations of post-mortem imaging for the indications most frequently encountered in daily practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: With or without human interference for precise age estimation based on machine learning?","authors":"Mengqi Han, Shaoyi Du, Yuyan Ge, Dong Zhang, Yuting Chi, Hong Long, Jing Yang, Yang Yang, Jingmin Xin, Teng Chen, Nanning Zheng, Yu-Cheng Guo","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03468-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03468-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143676877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematically improving the efficiency of complex kinship identification through the addition of genetic markers and reference individuals.","authors":"Shubo Wen, Man Chen, Qianqian Kong, Ao Huang, Ziwei Wang, Qiannan Xu, Xiling Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03473-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03473-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a growing demand for complex kinship identification due to the increasing complexity of social structures. However, the system efficiency of complex kinship identification systems, particularly for identifying second-degree and higher kinship relationships, needs improvement. This study aimed to further explore the selection of introduced relatives and genetic markers for second- and third-degree kinship identification by comparing the statistical parameters, such as likelihood ratio (LR), effectiveness, and error rate, of four different detection systems (19 STRs, 39 STRs, 55 STRs, and 55 STRs + 94 SNPs) in 109 common kinship identification scenarios. The study found that increasing the number of genetic markers or introducing more reference individuals generally enhanced the system efficiency for identifying complex genetic relationships by introducing various reference individuals into three-generation family lines to identify second- and third-degree kinships. The results were validated using true pedigree samples. Ranking the system efficiencies of kinship identification systems with different combinations of reference individuals and genetic markers provided insight into reference selection priorities and the optimal number of loci required. For second-degree relatives, adding one relative to the 39 STR marker set resulted in an effectiveness of over 90% with an error rate of less than 0.0005, while adding two known relatives achieved an effectiveness of over 95% with an error rate of less than 0.0001. Certain models could completely discriminate between related and unrelated individuals when using 55 STRs. For third-degree relatives, incorporating two known relatives in the 55 STR marker set resulted in an effectiveness of over 90% with an error rate of less than 0.0001 in most scenarios. In addition, when using both 55 STRs and 94 SNPs, a total of five models used for first-cousin relationships, that incorporated two reference individuals within second-degree relatives of both subjects, could completely distinguish between related and unrelated individuals. This study not only offers theoretical insights for complex kinship identification but also provides a valuable reference that can significantly improve the practice of identifying second- and third-degree kinships.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143676880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The current state of forensic imaging - perspectives.","authors":"Fabrice Dedouit, Mathilde Ducloyer, Jamie Elifritz, Natalie L Adolphi, Grace Wong Yi-Li, Summer Decker, Jonathan Ford, Yanko Kolev, Michael Thali","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03466-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03466-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This fourth part of the review of the current state of forensic imaging describes the future potential influence of artificial intelligence in forensic imaging. In addition to this important point, training in forensic imaging is discussed in detail, as are the documentation possibilities offered by non-conventional imaging tools such as photography, photogrammetry, 3D surface scanning and 3D print casts.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143673772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of multi-modality fusion and deep learning on adult age estimation based on bone mineral density.","authors":"Yongjie Cao, Ji Zhang, Yonggang Ma, Suhua Zhang, Chengtao Li, Shiquan Liu, Feng Chen, Ping Huang","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03432-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03432-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Age estimation, especially in adults, presents substantial challenges in different contexts ranging from forensic to clinical applications. Bone mineral density (BMD), with its distinct age-related variations, has emerged as a critical marker in this domain. This study aims to enhance chronological age estimation accuracy using deep learning (DL) incorporating a multi-modality fusion strategy based on BMD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective analysis of 4296 CT scans from a Chinese population, covering August 2015 to November 2022, encompassing lumbar, femur, and pubis modalities. Our DL approach, integrating multi-modality fusion, was applied to predict chronological age automatically. The model's performance was evaluated using an internal real-world clinical cohort of 644 scans (December 2022 to May 2023) and an external cadaver validation cohort of 351 scans.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In single-modality assessments, the lumbar modality excelled. However, multi-modality models demonstrated superior performance, evidenced by lower mean absolute errors (MAEs) and higher Pearson's R² values. The optimal multi-modality model exhibited outstanding R² values of 0.89 overall, 0.88 in females, 0.90 in males, with the MAEs of 4.05 overall, 3.69 in females, 4.33 in males in the internal validation cohort. In the external cadaver validation, the model maintained favourable R² values (0.84 overall, 0.89 in females, 0.82 in males) and MAEs (5.01 overall, 4.71 in females, 5.09 in males), highlighting its generalizability across diverse scenarios.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The integration of multi-modalities fusion with DL significantly refines the accuracy of adult age estimation based on BMD. The AI-based system that effectively combines multi-modalities BMD data, presenting a robust and innovative tool for accurate AAE, poised to significantly improve both geriatric diagnostics and forensic investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bleeding pattern in the early phase after experimental rotational acceleration induced traumatic brain injury.","authors":"Daniel Andersson, Kanar Alkass, Julia Anna Mielcarz, Johan Davidsson, Henrik Druid","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03457-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03457-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lethal rotational acceleration induced injury to the brain may leave few detectable intracerebral injuries if the survival time is short. Eighty-two Sprague Dawley rats were utilized in a validated model for standardized rotational acceleration traumatic brain injury to investigate the number and area of subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages. The rats were divided into groups with survival times of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 60 min with equal amounts of experimental and sham operated rats in each group. In addition, a \"postmortem\" group of rats were euthanizied 5 min before the trauma and samples collected 5 min after the trauma. From all rats, hemispheres were collected, cut and double stained with immunohistochemistry with anti-collagen IV and anti-hemoglobin. Brains from the 20- and 60-minutes groups were stained with immunohistochemistry for amyloid precursor protein beta. The 2 rats with the most and 2 rats with the least intracerebral hemorrhages from all time points were stained for fibrinogen and P-selectin. The group that sustained trauma postmortem and all sham operated rats showed either no bleedings or only a few, minimal, isolated hemorrhages. All other experimental groups showed widespread subarachnoid hemorrhages and few and small intracerebral hemorrhages. The hemorrhages were observed immediately after the rotational brain injury and did not change in number or size during the first hour. Amyloid precursor protein beta staining did not show any convincing axonal accumulation. Fibrinogen and P-selectin showed signs of hemostasis in all antemortem trauma groups. Our conclusion is that hemorrhages from rotatory traumatic brain injury develops immediately upon trauma and do not change during the first hour.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Terrain of taphonomy: how biogeographic variation affects decomposition and scavenger behaviour in two forensically significant habitats of Cape Town, South Africa.","authors":"Kara Sierra Adams, Devin Alexander Finaughty, Victoria Elaine Gibbon","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03470-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03470-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In South Africa, high rates of unidentified human remains necessitate the establishment of regionally specific high resolution taphonomic data to facilitate accurate reconstruction of postmortem circumstances and timing, as well as identification. This study investigates the effects scavenging and environmental conditions on the decomposition process using porcine models as human analogs across two distinct forensic sites in Cape Town: a suburban site and a peri-urban site. Over four deployments (July 2021-January 2023), six clothed porcine bodies were placed at each site and monitored. Data collected included mass loss, scavenger activity (notably by the Cape grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta), and environmental variables. Findings revealed that seasonal variations and habitat types had significant impacts on the rate and pattern of decomposition. Porcine bodies at the Medical Research Council site consistently decomposed faster than those at the University of Cape Town site due to the micro habitat differences documented between the two sites. This research underscores the importance of considering biogeographic variation and the displacement of vertebrate scavengers in urban settings, emphasising the need for careful site selection in decomposition research to better reflect some forensic urban scenarios. By replicating the locally prevalent medicolegal death scenario of a single clothed body, the study enhances understanding of postmortem processes in Cape Town and contributes to the refinement of methodologies for forensic taphonomy within specific ecological contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The current state of forensic imaging- clinical forensic imaging.","authors":"Fabrice Dedouit, Mathilde Ducloyer, Jamie Elifritz, Natalie L Adolphi, Grace Wong Yi-Li, Summer Decker, Jonathan Ford, Yanko Kolev, Michael Thali","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03464-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03464-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clinical forensic imaging could be defined as the use of imaging first realised for medical care as evidence for a judicial purpose. It requires both forensic experts and clinical radiologists to have a good understanding of imaging modalities and indications and a solid knowledge of the correct terminology. This second part of the review describes the main situations in which imaging may be used for forensic purposes, i.e. blunt trauma, penetrating injuries, asphyxia, physical abuse and neglect.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological sex estimation in experimentally burnt patellae: exploring sexual dimorphism through comparative analysis.","authors":"Beatriz Mouga Almeida, Filipa Cortesão Silva, Ana Luísa Santos","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03467-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03467-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The patella has been used in various studies to verify its value in the estimation of biological sex. However, there is limited understanding regarding the alterations the bone undergoes when exposed to the effects of fire and how it affects sexual dimorphism. The current study aims to study the efficacy of three patella measurements, and generate an equation and cut-off points, to estimate the sex of individuals that had their patellae subjected to burning. Furthermore, the applicability of cut-off points from two previous studies was tested. Patellae (n = 32 individuals) from the sub-collection of experimentally burned skeletons at the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection were measured with a digital calliper for their maximum height, maximum thickness, and maximum width. The sample comprises 18 females (56.2%) and 14 males (43.8%) with ages at death between 60 and 93 years (x̄ = 78.6 years). The measurements were evaluated through linear discriminant analysis for sex estimation allowing correct classifications between 68.8 and 75%. The sexual dimorphism in both burnt and unburnt patellae was studied and results were significant for maximum height and maximum width. It was concluded that sex estimation is possible in patellae that have been subjected to different degrees of burning and sexual dimorphism is maintained albeit at lower levels compared to the non-burnt patellae. This study brought light into use of experimentally burnt patellae with its possible implications for forensic investigations although further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143630414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic facial reconstruction: A computer tomography study of facial soft tissue thickness in Nigerian adult male multi-ethnic population.","authors":"Nurudeen Adegbite, Manuela Mura, Haliru Shafiu, Christopher Avery, Waqar Ahmed","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03455-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03455-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) was measured from computer tomography scans of 55 Nigeria adult males. Forensic facial reconstruction (FFR) with own population FSTT values can be vital in recognition of skeletal remains and has been used as an adjunct in forensic science.There are no published FSTT values for this population. Measurements were obtained at 12 mid-sagittal and 19 bilateral points totalling 50 and by use of a software package called RadiAnt. In comparison to previous studies in Africa, measurements were taken from more points and with a diverse age of 18 to 100 years. Mean FSTT values were determined for these combined Nigerian male ethnicities. These values will suffice in FFR for this population and for the Hausa adult male. This population homogenously showed more soft tissue volumes on the left than the right side at all FSTT points with the most relative difference at the frontal eminence and the least at the mid-point of the masseter muscle. The low relative difference at the mid-masseters may relate with the soft floury diets of this population. These combined Nigerian male ethnicities midline FSTT values showed significant differences in the lower third of the face when compared with other population data. The values for the right side of the face shows even more substantial differences at multiple points when compared with published data of other populations. The change with age compares well with other studies. These data will be applicable for FFR in the CNME than data of other populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143605006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}