Yi Yang BEng, Yunqi Tang PhD, Junjian Cui MEng, Xiaorui Zhao MEng
{"title":"Score-based likelihood ratios for barefootprint evidence using deep learning features","authors":"Yi Yang BEng, Yunqi Tang PhD, Junjian Cui MEng, Xiaorui Zhao MEng","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15670","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15670","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As the court put forward higher requirements for quantitative evaluation and scientific standards of forensic evidence, how to objectively and scientifically express identification opinions has become a challenge for traditional forensic identification methods. Score-based likelihood ratios are mathematical methods for quantitative evaluation of forensic evidence. However, due to the subtle differences in inter-class barefootprints, there is no automatic barefootprints matching algorithm with high accuracy under large-scale dataset validation, and there are few studies related to deep learning barefootprint features for evidence evaluation in court. Therefore, score-based likelihood ratios for barefootprint evidence using deep learning features are proposed by this paper. Firstly, the largest barefootprint dataset (BFD) is constructed, which contains 54,118 barefootprint images from 3000 individuals. Then, an automatic barefootprint feature extraction and matching algorithm is proposed, which achieves a retrieval accuracy of 98.4% on BFD and an AUC of 0.989 for barefootprint validation. Next, Cosine distance, Euclidean distance and Manhattan distance are employed to measure the comparison scores between intra-class and inter-class barefootprints using deep learning features in four dimensions of 64, 128, 512 and 1024, respectively. The performance of proposed model is evaluated by comparing the <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>C</mi>\u0000 <mi>llr</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math> values and the Tippett plot. Finally, simulated crime scene barefootprint samples are constructed to verify the practical application of the proposed method, which provide further support for the quantitative evaluation of barefootprint evidence in court.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"98-116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635199","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}
Mark W. Kroll PhD, Dwayne A. Wolf MD, PhD, Stacey L. Hail MD, Tasha L. Zemrus MD, Sebastian Kunz MD, Howard E. Williams PhD
{"title":"Sickle cell trait in non-firearm arrest-related deaths of Black persons","authors":"Mark W. Kroll PhD, Dwayne A. Wolf MD, PhD, Stacey L. Hail MD, Tasha L. Zemrus MD, Sebastian Kunz MD, Howard E. Williams PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15668","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15668","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The role of sickle cell trait (SCT) in sudden exertional death is well-recognized in sports and military training. However, it is not yet studied for non-firearm arrest-related death (NF-ARD). With extensive multi-pronged searches, a large database (<i>n</i> = 1389) of NF-ARDs was established. For the years 2006–2021 (inclusive) there were 50 NF-ARDs of Black persons in which postmortem evidence of SCT was found. A control cohort consisted of 414 NF-ARDs of Black persons with no reported SCT. The mean age for SCT cases was 33.1 ± 10.4 years versus 37.0 ± 10.4 years for the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.01). The body-mass index for SCT cases was 28.3 ± 6.6 kg/m<sup>2</sup> versus 30.7 ± 7.6 kg/m<sup>2</sup> for the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.03). The prevalence of cardiomegaly was 21% for SCT cases versus 39% in the control cohort (<i>p</i> = 0.008). The postmortem prevalence of SCT in NF-ARDs of Black persons (<i>n</i> = 50, 10.7%) was higher than the prevalence of SCT in the US Black population, which is 7.1% (<i>p</i> = 0.003). In this study of NF-ARDs in Black persons, the prevalence of SCT and the differences between the SCT cases and the control cohort suggest that exertional collapse associated with sickle cell trait may be a contributory factor in NF-ARDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"179-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635201","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":"Forensic-geology-based magnetic analysis of beach sediments from the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan","authors":"Noriko Kawamura PhD, Takuya Matsushita BSc, Hiromi Itamiya PhD, Ritsuko Sugita PhD, Toshitsugu Yamazaki PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15667","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15667","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The occurrences of various illegal activities on beaches require effective geological and environmental investigation methods. Among these methods, the room-temperature magnetic analysis of soils and sediments represents a nondestructive investigation method for various amounts, types, and grain sizes of magnetic minerals. Here, to verify the usefulness of magnetic analysis in forensic geology research, beach sediment samples from nine sites in the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, were measured using magnetic analysis to determine the correlations between their concentration-dependent magnetic parameters and actual regional characteristics. The results revealed that the values of various parameters, namely the low-field magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), were relatively higher at sites near Ti and Fe sedimentary ore deposits. Further, thermomagnetometry results revealed that magnetite was the main magnetic carrier of the sediments. Moreover, pyrrhotite was detected around Ti–Fe mine sites. Furthermore, the results of the investigated parameters reflected the regional characteristics of the amount of magnetic minerals in the beach sediments. Low-temperature IRM curves and the magnetic grain size parameter also displayed sample-site-reflective characteristics. Thus, we believe that magnetic analysis represents an effective method for estimating the provenance of beach sediments in forensic geology research.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"117-131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11693521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635195","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}
Todd J. Weller MS, Pierre Duez MASc, Ryan Lilien MD, PhD
{"title":"Commentary on: Gutierrez RE, Prokesch EJ. The false promise of firearms examination validation studies: Lay controls, simplistic comparisons, and the failure to soundly measure misidentification rates. J Forensic Sci. 2024;69(4):1334–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15531","authors":"Todd J. Weller MS, Pierre Duez MASc, Ryan Lilien MD, PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15659","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15659","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"401-404"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635150","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":"Authors' response","authors":"Richard E. Gutierrez JD, Emily J. Prokesch JD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15660","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15660","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"405-408"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635149","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}
Xiaobin Wang PhD, Lei Yang MS, Ruili Chen PhD, Wei Guo PhD, Xun Han PhD, Aolin Zhang BS
{"title":"Accurate felt-tip pen brands classification based on a convolutional neural network using data augmentation","authors":"Xiaobin Wang PhD, Lei Yang MS, Ruili Chen PhD, Wei Guo PhD, Xun Han PhD, Aolin Zhang BS","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15658","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15658","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ink analysis played an important role in document examination, but the limited dataset made it difficult for many algorithms to distinguish inks accurately. This article aimed to evaluate the feasibility of two data augmentation (DA) methods, Gaussian noise data augmentation (GNDA) and extended multiplicative signal augmentation (EMSA), for the classification of felt-tip pen ink brands. Four brands of felt-tip pens were analyzed using FT-IR spectroscopy. Five classification models were used, convolutional neural network (CNN), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results showed that the datasets generated by GNDA and EMSA are similar to the original datasets and have some diversity. The EMSA method had optimal classification results when combined with CNN, with classification accuracy (ACC), precision (PRE), recall (REC) and F1 score reaching 99.86%, 99.87%, 99.86%, 99.86%, and 99.86%, compared with GNDA-CNN method (ACC = 80.90%, PRE = 87.34%, REC = 81.62%, F1 score = 79.23%). This study shows that when raw spectral data is small, DA methods can be combined with neural network models to identify ink brands effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"170-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635102","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}
Ilung Seol PhD, Seungho Lee MS, Hyejung Kim MD, Hyung Joo Kim MS, Su-Jin Ahn MS, Jieun Jung PhD, Jaesin Lee PhD
{"title":"A fatal case of potassium gold cyanide poisoning","authors":"Ilung Seol PhD, Seungho Lee MS, Hyejung Kim MD, Hyung Joo Kim MS, Su-Jin Ahn MS, Jieun Jung PhD, Jaesin Lee PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15654","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15654","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A 77-year-old professional gold craftsman ingested a white powder used in goldsmithing, mistaking the powder for a health supplement. He detected a strange taste and immediately fell sick, reported the incident to 911, and was taken to the emergency room. He died approximately 8.5 h post-ingestion despite treatment. There were no significant findings in the autopsy, the victim's heart blood sample, gastric contents, and the white powder the victim had taken were submitted to the department of forensic toxicology. Using scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray analysis, potassium and gold (Au) were detected in the white powder. Ion chromatography analysis detected cyanide. Concentrations of cyanide were 0.5 mg/L in heart blood and 13.3 mg/L in gastric contents. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of Au in the heart blood sample and gastric contents using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry detected concentrations of 79.8 mg/L and 2010.1 mg/L, respectively. Au and cyanide synergistically enhance cytotoxicity through inhibition of detoxification and increasing intracellular accumulation. In the present case, the detected blood cyanide concentration was sub or minimally lethal, and the blood Au concentration was high. The cause of the victim's death was the combined toxicity of Au and cyanide.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"387-391"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635181","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}
Saiqa Muneer PhD, Matthew Smith PhD, Mikaela M. Bazley PhD, Daniel Cozzolino PhD, Joanne T. Blanchfield PhD
{"title":"Detection of low-level fentanyl concentrations in mixtures of cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and caffeine via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy","authors":"Saiqa Muneer PhD, Matthew Smith PhD, Mikaela M. Bazley PhD, Daniel Cozzolino PhD, Joanne T. Blanchfield PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15652","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15652","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was utilized to measure low-level fentanyl concentrations mixed in common cutting agents, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, and caffeine. Mixtures were prepared with a fentanyl concentration range of 0–339 μM. Data was initially analyzed by plotting the area of a diagnostic peak (1026 cm<sup>−1</sup>) against concentration to generate a calibration model. This method was successful with fentanyl/MDMA samples (LOD 0.04 μM) but not for the other mixtures. A chemometric approach was then employed. The data was evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS1) regression, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The LDA model was used to classify samples into one of three designated concentration ranges, low = 0–0.4 mM, medium = 0.4–14 mM, or high >14 mM, with fentanyl concentrations correctly classified with greater than 85% accuracy. This model was then validated using a series of “blind” fentanyl mixtures and these unknown samples were assigned to the correct concentration range with an accuracy >95%. The PLS1 model failed to provide accurate quantitative assignments for the samples but did provide an accurate prediction for the presence or absence of fentanyl. The combination of the two models enabled accurate quantitative assignment of fentanyl in binary mixtures. This work establishes a proof of concept, indicating a larger sample size could generate a more accurate model. It demonstrates that samples, containing variable, low concentrations of fentanyl, can be accurately quantified, using SERS.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"73-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635151","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}
Emily Bibbo BSc (Hons), Duncan Taylor PhD, Roland A. H. van Oorschot PhD, Mariya Goray PhD
{"title":"Air DNA forensics: Novel air collection method investigations for human DNA identification","authors":"Emily Bibbo BSc (Hons), Duncan Taylor PhD, Roland A. H. van Oorschot PhD, Mariya Goray PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15662","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15662","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Modern techniques can generate highly discriminatory DNA profiles from minuscule biological samples, providing valuable information in criminal investigations and court proceedings. However, trace and touch DNA samples, due to their nature, often have lower success rates than other biological materials, such as blood. Further, forensically aware criminals can utilize gloves and meticulously clean the crime scene to remove DNA traces of themselves from contacted surfaces. Air sampling offers a novel approach to the collection of human DNA that has the potential to bypass some of these issues. This study reports on the results of research into the prevalence and persistence of human DNA in the air. The ability to collect human DNA from the air was investigated with the use of an AirPrep Cub Sampler ACD220 in different spaces, with and without the presence of individuals for various durations of sample collection. Results of this study demonstrate that level of occupation and sampling duration each have an influence on quantity and quality of DNA recovered from the air whereas the effects of orientation and distance of participants from the collection device as well as sequence of occupation remain unclear and require further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"298-313"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635107","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}
Lúcio Paulo Lima Logrado PhD, Jez Willian Batista Braga PhD
{"title":"Evaluation of interferents in sampling materials for analysis of post-explosion residues (explosive emulsion/ANFO) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS)","authors":"Lúcio Paulo Lima Logrado PhD, Jez Willian Batista Braga PhD","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15657","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15657","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chemical analysis aimed at identifying post-explosion residues is critical for investigating crimes or accidents involving explosives, establishing it as a vital area of forensic chemistry. In general, only trace amounts remain in samples analyzed for this purpose, making the presence of interferents a constant concern. Therefore, understanding the materials used from collection to sample preparation is essential for this type of analysis. This study focuses on organic contaminants in collection and laboratory materials analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), complementing a previous study by Mauricio et al. (2020), which addressed inorganic contaminants in materials used for similar purposes in ion chromatography (IC). No prior studies have specifically investigated the potential organic interferences introduced by various materials commonly used in forensic laboratories for sample pre-processing, storage, and evidence collection in this context. Plastic films, bottle caps, disposable gloves, syringes, swabs, disposable cups, plastic tubes, and plastic pipettes were examined. GC/MS analyses revealed that certain materials, particularly syringe plungers, gloves, and plastic films, can interfere with the detection of post-explosion residues from explosive emulsions and ANFO (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil). These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating materials for potential interferences prior to sample collection and processing to minimize contamination risks. This study provides significant insights into how commonly used laboratory materials can impact forensic analysis, thereby enhancing the reliability of post-explosion residue analysis and supporting more accurate forensic investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15743,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":"70 1","pages":"314-322"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635154","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}