Journal of forensic sciences最新文献

{"title":"Postmortem fingerprint identification: A novel adaptive approach to the transillumination technique using moistened black volcano powder for fragile epidermal tissue","authors":"Tatiana dos Santos Ferreira BS,&nbsp;Kristiane de Cássia Mariotti PhD,&nbsp;Ludmila Alem PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15695","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15695","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Postmortem identification through fingerprints often encounters significant challenges, particularly with damaged epidermal tissue, due to factors such as carbonization, putrefaction, mummification, or saponification. Traditional techniques frequently fall short in cases involving fragile skin, which complicates the collection of clear fingerprint impressions. This study presents and evaluates an adaptive modification of the transillumination technique, integrating it with moistened black volcano powder to enhance fingerprint recovery from compromised postmortem tissue. A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted on 55 cases processed at the Ricardo Gumbleton Daunt Institute of Identification, São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2012 to May 2022. Of these, 12 cases with both pre- and post-treatment records were selected, totaling 28 distal phalanx samples. The proposed technique involved applying moistened black volcano powder to the epidermis, followed by transillumination and direct photography. The enhanced technique demonstrated a significant improvement in fingerprint quality. Qualitative analysis revealed that all samples treated with moistened black volcano powder clearly presented visible ridges and minutiae, whereas four samples treated with traditional transillumination alone were insufficient for minutia marking. Quantitative analysis indicated that 75% of the samples scored +2 (greater minutiae details and contrast), with an additional 25% scoring +1 (slightly better minutiae details and contrast). The combined use of transillumination and moistened black volcano powder significantly improves the visualization of postmortem fingerprints, providing a reliable method for forensic identification in cases with fragile or compromised epidermal tissue from putrefied or carbonized skin. This technique generates high-resolution fingerprint images that are suitable for database comparison and forensic analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"709-727"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An examination of commingled first tarsometatarsal and atlantoaxial joints by deviation analysis","authors":"Helen Litavec PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15696","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15696","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study follows up on previous research conducted by Litavec (<i>J Forensic Sci.</i>, <i>68</i>, 2023, 1780) on sorting commingled sacroiliac joints using deviation analysis. In the present report, the results of this technique are expanded to separating commingled first tarsometatarsal and atlantoaxial joints. Following the methods of Litavec (<i>J Forensic Sci.</i>, <i>68</i>, 2023, 1780), virtual models were created at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Donated Skeletal Collection from 69 atlases and axes, 66 first metatarsals, and 64 medial cuneiforms using an EinScan-Pro 2x+ Handheld Surface Scanner. The shape and congruency of the articular surfaces were analyzed using a deviation analysis in Geomagic Wrap 2021. Receiver operating characteristic curves were conducted on reference samples composed of 200 commingled and non-commingled bone pairs per joint to identify threshold values for sorting the remains. Validation samples of 225 pairs were subsequently analyzed to identify the efficacy of this method on a sample of unknown individuals. The statistical analyses confirmed that deviation analysis values from commingled first tarsometatarsal and atlantoaxial joint pairs were significantly larger than those from non-commingled individuals (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). 87%–92% of first tarsometatarsal pairs and 63%–66% of atlantoaxial joint pairs were correctly sorted based on the selected threshold values. This study increases the number of joints able to be sorted by deviation analysis and reemphasizes its value as a technique for resolving commingled human remains.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"649-668"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1556-4029.15696","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dimensions and position of the eye for facial approximations in a South African cone beam computed tomography sample","authors":"Soné Van der Walt PhD,&nbsp;Anna C. Oettlé PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15693","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15693","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Accurate population and sex-specific normative values for the orbital and ocular dimensions, including the position and protrusion of the eye relative to the orbital rim, are vital for reliable facial approximations. In studies utilizing cadaveric tissue and computed tomography scans, the observed measurements may be influenced by desiccation, distortion or gravity, respectively. This study assessed the dimensions of the eye and orbit and established the position and protrusion of the eye relative to the orbital margin using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to negate the effect of gravity in the supine position. Scans of 197 adult South Africans (45 Black females, 49 Black males, 55 White females, and 48 White males) were selected retrospectively from private and public hospitals in Pretoria, South Africa. Linear distances were calculated from three-dimensional landmarks placed on the orbital rim and ocular equator using the MeVisLab © v.3.0.2 software. White females presented with significantly larger orbital heights and axial lengths of the eyes compared to Black females, while the eyeballs of Black females protruded more from the superior and lateral orbital margins. Black females presented with significantly smaller dimensions than Black males. On the contrary, White males exhibited significantly larger protrusion values than White females. The results of this study corroborate with the literature that sex, population, and modality significantly influence the position of the eye in the orbit, which emphasizes the necessity of creating population- and sex-specific facial approximations guidelines for the placement of the eye in the orbit.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"446-459"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1556-4029.15693","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142883808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From ashes to evidence: A study on the alterations in bloodstain patterns in high heat environments and post-fire scenes","authors":"Zack Kowalske MS,&nbsp;Abdulrahman Oleiwi PhD,&nbsp;Graham Williams PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15689","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15689","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fire is often used to conceal or destroy evidence of violent crimes, making it essential to understand how fire environments affect forensic evidence, particularly bloodstain patterns. This study investigates the impact of high heat environments and fire on the morphology and analysis of bloodstain patterns. Using controlled fire exposure, bloodstains were analyzed pre- and post-fire exposure on various substrates, including glass, painted drywall, and painted plywood. Measurements of angle of impact (AOI) and area of origin (AOO) were conducted using Faro Zone 3D Expert software. Despite physical alterations due to extreme temperature exposure, certain characteristics of the original bloodstains persisted. AOI calculations showed minimal deviation between pre- and post-fire measurements, with standard deviations generally under two degrees. AOO estimations also demonstrated no substantial statistical differences between pre- and post-fire data. The study confirms that bloodstain patterns retain observable traits despite exposure to high heat conditions, supporting the reliability of BPA in fire-affected scenarios. These findings enhance the understanding of bloodstain behavior in fire environments, aiding forensic investigations in accurately analyzing bloodstain patterns in cases involving fire or high-temperature conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"742-750"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1556-4029.15689","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142857399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter to the Editor — NSC-ADID position statement on consensus-based laboratory standards, accreditation and individual certification","authors":"Michael R. Corbett PhD, LLM,&nbsp;Laurel J. Farrell BA,&nbsp;Robert D. Johnson PhD,&nbsp;Sabra R. Jones PhD,&nbsp;Jennifer F. Limoges MS","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15692","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15692","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"813-814"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142857400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facing the future: Technology and “advocacy” at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences","authors":"Christopher R. Thompson MD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15676","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15676","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Most scientific organizations assiduously avoid using the term “advocacy” to describe their activities in order to avoid being perceived as biased or partisan. This is understandable given the general connotation of the word. However, “advocacy” has a potentially broad range of meanings. In its most extreme form, it could involve organizations (or their individual members) endorsing controversial positions, particular political parties, or even specific candidates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With regard to this endeavor as it relates to forensic science organizations in general, however, it generally has focused on an educative process for policymakers (e.g., the judiciary, legislatures, executive/administrative/regulatory agencies) and the public (e.g., interested individual citizens, the news media). The goal of this process has been to keep these entities and individuals apprised of existing scientific principles, new research and developments, and practical matters related to the practice of forensic science. Armed with this information, these entities can make well-informed decisions about regulations, legislation, and specific cases (among other things) involving various aspects of forensic science. Consequently, AAFS's process of education of policymakers and the public can accurately be described as “advocacy.” However, in this process, we are not advocating for a specific outcome or outcomes, but rather for sound processes, both from an ethical and scientific standpoint. In some cases, we may advocate for continued or additional resources to support the continuation, development, and/or implementation of such sound processes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lastly, and incredibly importantly, our society is seeing exponential, revolutionary advances in technology. Some of these are impacting and will impact almost every vocation, as well as society as a whole (e.g., artificial intelligence), while others may have more targeted effects (e.g., forensic genealogy, risk assessment algorithms, use of fMRI in forensic psychiatry). In part because of the magnitude of the ramifications of these technologies' impact on forensic science, I strongly believe AAFS has an obligation to advise policymakers about the appropriate implementation and use of these technologies, in both legal and other forensic science-related settings. Additionally, because these technological advances likely will tremendously affect the day-to-day practice of almost all subspecialties of forensic science, it would be wise for AAFS (and its members) to monitor closely the development and implementation of these innovations. This will help the Academy and its members remain professionally competent and “up-to-date” with current practice standards.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For the aforementioned reasons, AAFS should embrace a relatively broad educational mission and vision, one that includes not only its members but also governmental entities and the public. Obviously, this “advocacy” should only involve select matters about which AAFS a","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"5-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1556-4029.15676","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142831433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The crucial role played by material trace analysis in resolving a murder vs. suicide dilemma","authors":"Dora Domnica Baciu PhD,&nbsp;Bogdan Alexandru Tașbac PhD,&nbsp;Roxana Trușcă PhD,&nbsp;Dan Eduard Mihăiescu PhD Eng","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15690","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15690","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the case of a young woman's death by falling from the window of her boyfriend's sixth-floor apartment, investigators needed to determine whether the fall was suicidal or if the victim was forcibly pushed. The incident occurred at night, with her boyfriend being the only witness to how the fall happened. Establishing the origin of the material traces found on the woman's stockings and shoes, along with other clues, played a crucial role in resolving this dilemma. The traces found on the stockings and samples collected from the building's external wall were analyzed using digital stereomicroscopy, High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and optical microscopy. Chlorophyll presence on both the victim's stockings and the surface of the building façade was confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. The inorganic traces found on the shoes and the external wall were examined using stereomicroscopy and HRSEM coupled with EDX and were found to be similar in texture and elemental composition. The correspondence between the biological structures and mineral fragments, along with the dynamic friction marks found on the woman's body and shoes, confirmed physical contact between the victim and the external wall. These findings led to the conclusion that the victim struggled for her life and the fall resulted from a criminal act.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"779-799"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142840692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential postmortem microbial biomarkers of infant and younger children death investigation","authors":"Bethany Mikles MS,&nbsp;Carl J. Schmidt MD, MPH,&nbsp;M. Eric Benbow PhD,&nbsp;Heather R. Jordan PhD,&nbsp;Jennifer L. Pechal PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15677","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15677","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Microbial communities associated with the human body are highly dynamic and reflect the host environment and lifestyle over time. Studies show death is no exception, with data demonstrating similar antemortem and postmortem microbiomes up to 48 h following death. These predictable microbial biomarkers can inform death investigation by helping to estimate the postmortem interval and build models to identify cause and manner of death. However, no attempts have been made to model potential microbial biomarkers in pediatric (≤2 years) deaths. This study provided a cross-sectional survey of the microbiota of 53 pediatric cases (black, white, both sexes) seen in Wayne County, Michigan. Autopsy cases represented accidents, homicides, or natural causes. Postmortem microbiome were collected by swabbing the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, umbilicus, brain, rectum, trabecular space, and cardiac blood. 16S rRNA sequence analyses indicated that sex, race, age, body site, and manner of death (MOD) had significant effects on microbiome composition, with significant interactions among MOD, race, and age. Amplicon sequence variants identified intra- and interhost dispersion of the postmortem microbiome depending on death circumstance. Among manners of death, non-accidental deaths were significantly distinct from all other deaths, and among body sites the rectum was distinct in its microbial composition. There is a real need for robust postmortem microbiome before it can be standardized as a practical tool for use in forensic investigation or public health. These results inform postmortem microbial variability during pediatric death investigation that contributes to a larger effort to understand the postmortem microbiome.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"607-618"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1556-4029.15677","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142840690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance evaluation of a Cadre Forensics TopMatch-GS 3D system for cartridge case comparisons","authors":"Joseph W. Alsdurf MS,&nbsp;Eric F. Law PhD,&nbsp;Stephanie C. Luehr MS","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15688","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15688","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Three-dimensional (3D) measurement systems for firearm forensics are becoming more prevalent in forensic laboratories, and these instruments are typically coupled with algorithms to assist firearm examiners with comparisons. Due to differences in firearm feature reproducibility on different types of ammunition, comparison algorithms need to be tested utilizing a variety of ammunition brands. For this study, 30 shots were fired, utilizing six common ammunition brands, from each of the 10 casework firearms for a total of 300 cartridge cases. All cartridge cases were scanned on a Cadre Forensics TopMatch-GS 3D desktop system and compared using Cadre's breech face and firing pin aperture shear algorithms for a total of 44,850 comparisons. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to quantify the performance of the algorithms when comparing within and between ammunition brands. Same ammunition brand comparisons (AUC = 0.964) performed statistically significantly better (<i>p</i> = 0.0075) than different ammunition brand comparisons (AUC = 0.944). Overall, the results generally indicated greater reproducibility of characteristics from a firearm when the ammunition in a comparison is the same, however, Cadre's algorithms demonstrated excellent overall discrimination between same and different-source comparisons regardless of ammunition brand (AUC = 0.946). Additionally, score thresholds were evaluated for easier interpretation of what algorithm results mean for practitioners, where 68.6% of same-source comparisons resulted in a similarity score greater than 0.5. These results should assist the field in moving toward the use of algorithms to assist examiners in casework comparisons.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 2","pages":"504-513"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142820508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How specific is the specificity rule in duty to warn or protect jurisprudence following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Maas decision?","authors":"Allison Radley DO,&nbsp;Alan R. Felthous MD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15664","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15664","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Of the various rules establishing a mental health clinician's legal duty to take precautions to protect their patient from harming others, the most common is the specificity rule that limits the protective duty to warn reasonably identifiable victims. The specificity rule is important wherein the main or only specified protective measure is warning the victim. In the last quarter century, Pennsylvania adopted the specificity rule from its Supreme Court <i>Emerich</i> decision. In its recent <i>Maas</i> decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court expanded the duty to apply to potential victims who are unnamed and unidentifiable except for living on the same floor as the patient of a multiunit building. Victims constituted a group referenced by the patient as a “neighbor,” but from the patient's threats both narrower “next door neighbor” and broader “anyone.” We place this judicial expansion of the duty to warn within the context of professional ethics guidelines and state <i>Tarasoff</i> statutes that pertain to psychiatrists. The potential adverse consequences of this vague expansion of the specificity rule for clinicians, psychiatric patients, and unconnected citizens of Pennsylvania and for other jurisdictions in which courts could misguidedly follow this expansionist example are discussed, along with potential solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"237-248"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142808910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}