Forensic Science International: Reports最新文献

{"title":"Testing the accuracy of Foti’s dental age estimation methods on a London UK sample","authors":"Nurul Zeety Azizi ,&nbsp;Janet Davies ,&nbsp;Helen M. Liversidge","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aim</h3><p>Tooth development and eruption are widely used in assessing dental age estimation, and one of the methods in using tooth development and eruption is Foti’s method. However, the population used in the original study was French. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the accuracy of Foti’s four dental age estimation regression models against the East London population, mainly of the Bangladeshi and Caucasian ethnicity. These count the number of erupted teeth and tooth germs using a radiograph (Foti 1), absence of a radiograph (Foti 2), maxillary erupted teeth (Foti 3) and mandibular erupted teeth (Foti 4).</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The test sample was archived panoramic radiographs of 754 healthy patients aged 6–20 years (380 males and 374 females). The difference between dental and chronological ages was tested using a t-test. The mean absolute difference was also calculated for all models. The most accurate method was defined as the smallest mean difference, smallest standard deviation (SD) and mean absolute difference between dental and chronological ages.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Foti model 2 was most accurate with a mean difference of 0.11 years (SD 1.70 years) and a mean absolute difference of 1.33 years. Models 3 (maxillary erupted teeth) and 4 (mandibular erupted teeth) were marginally less accurate, whilst model 1 (radiograph) overestimated age on average by more than 5 years.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Our findings show that estimating age using erupting teeth was most accurate using Foti model 2 (least bias).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41763396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of low-cost bone and teeth processing methods for automated DNA extraction","authors":"Anika C. Rancourt ,&nbsp;Stacey Sainte-Marie ,&nbsp;Valerie Blackmore ,&nbsp;Krista A. Currie","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bone and teeth can often be the only, or the best, biological materials available as DNA sources for the identification of decomposed or skeletal human remains. While these hard tissues are resistant to decay and therefore offer endogenous DNA a certain protection from the environment, their mineral matrices make DNA extraction challenging, a problem compounded by the low DNA content and high degradation levels usually associated with these tissues. To help release DNA from the mineral matrix, they are generally ground into a powder to increase their surface area to the extraction reagents. Furthermore, it is now common to perform a demineralization to dissolve the powder and release DNA that remains trapped. A common pulverization method consists of the use of a cryogenic grinder, which prevents heating of the sample and avoids subjecting the DNA to heat damage, but this equipment is costly. That said, little is known about the effect of lower-cost alternatives to the expensive cryogenic grinder on the quality and quantity of DNA recovered. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate inexpensive grinding methods for their potential for use in a forensic laboratory setting. The methods deemed to be viable options for this purpose were investigated to determine their effects on the quantity and quality of extracted DNA. Bone samples were also subjected to freezing prior to pulverization to assess the possibility that a lower sample temperature could limit heat damage to the DNA during processing. Pig bone and tooth powders were extracted using an original and a modified PrepFiler BTA™ Kit protocol, with the latter featuring an added demineralization step. Out of the methods explored, a coffee grinder and mortar and pestle were determined to be the most suitable for bone and teeth processing in a forensic laboratory setting. No significant differences between the two methods were found regarding the quantity and quality of DNA recovered and the rate of powder recovery, although more powder loss occurred when teeth were crushed with the mortar and pestle. Likewise, freezing samples before grinding did not have a significant impact on DNA quality and quantity. Finally, the original DNA extraction protocol performed significantly better than the modified one for the quantity of DNA recovered from both bone and teeth, while the quality was only superior for the bone.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45838721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An unusual unplanned complex suicide by arm cutting, poisoning, and self-immolation","authors":"Claudio Terranova ,&nbsp;Luca Massaro ,&nbsp;Francesco Angiola","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Different methods of suicide, when combined with contamination of the scene, increase the difficulty of interpreting the dynamics of an event. In the presented case, the discovery of a corpse with widespread burns, singed hair, an “X”-shaped cut on the arm with a weapon distant from the body, and the death scene significantly altered by subjects with psychiatric disorders raised the hypothesis of murder in the initial phase. However, the integration of the death scene investigation with medicolegal, toxicological, and radiological analyses allowed for the identification of an unusual unplanned complex suicide by arm cutting, poisoning, and self-immolation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45735617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Finding trace evidence through scope reduction and applying its straightforwardness in traffic accident investigation","authors":"Youngnae Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>This report examines how evidence appears according to the issues of traffic accident investigation, and examines the immediacy of the evidence and its meaning.</p></div><div><h3>Background</h3><p>In traffic accidents, there may be trace evidence related to the issue. When the investigator does not make a judgment based on evidence, the truth of the case may be distorted by various mistakes that humans can make, such as confirmation bias and eyewitness illusion.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>By investigation process of two traffic accident cases that violated the central line regulation, we examine how evidence was found and its immediacy works.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>As evidence, we presented a piece of plastic attached to the underside of the vehicle and several photos showing the distribution of vehicle debris at the time of the accident. Evidence that we found can be easily understood by anyone with common sense and has undeniable clarity in figuring out the facts. The evidence found could immediately overturn the police’s investigation results and be accepted as primary evidence by law enforcement agencies.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Every incident has a judicial problem, and there can be one or more pieces of evidence for resolving it, which can manifest itself in many different ways. When evidence with immediacy is found, the case can be resolved easily and clearly. The field of forensic science can help find such evidence.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100315"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49865790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphometric study of the radius bone in a KwaZulu-Natal population: Laterality and sexual dimorphism","authors":"Nduduzo Lusanda Ngidi,&nbsp;Samuel Oluwaseun Olojede,&nbsp;Sodiq Kolawole Lawal,&nbsp;Okikioluwa Stephen Aladeyelu,&nbsp;Carmen Olivia Rennie","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Radius is sexually dimorphic bone, a relevant feature in biological profiling necessary in forensic investigations. This study aimed to record the radius morphometry and compare the radius morphometric parameters in terms of sex and laterality. Ninety-six dry-human radii bones were collected, and a total of nine morphometric measurements were recorded viz: Maximum radial length (MRL), Distal Breath (DB), Sagittal Diameter at Mid-shaft (SDM), Transverse Diameter at Mid-shaft, Vertical Head Height (HH), Minimum Head Diameter (MinHD), Maximum Head Diameter (MaxHD), Radial Head (CRH), Circumference at Radial Tuberosity (CRT). Circumference at the mean and maximum values in males was consistently higher than the female values for all parameters measured except the values in SDM and TD, where the minimum values of females + were greater on the right-hand side. For laterality, only DB (p 0.001) for both males and females, SDM for both males (p 0.013) and females (p 0.012), HH for males (p 0.042), and CRT for males (p 0.025) were statistically different. Sex and laterality remained unchanged when age was introduced as a confounding factor. This effectively means that age has no bearing on the sexual dimorphism as well as laterality of this sample. The right side consistently had greater values than the left except for HH and CRT for males without age, as well as CRT for males with age. The study concluded that the radius bone of people of the KwaZulu-Natal region is sexually dimorphic and can be used for sex determination.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100316"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49866769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Commentary on “Mantrailing as evidence in court?” Forensic Sci. Int.: Rep., 3 (2021), 100204","authors":"Leif Woidtke","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2022.100305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2022.100305","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100305"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49866770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Counterfeit and substandard drugs in Tanzania: A review","authors":"Petro Karungamye","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2022.100302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2022.100302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In several countries, counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals are a severe public health concern. This is a global issue, but it is especially prevalent in African countries, where more than 30 % of the pharmaceuticals supplied are counterfeit or substandard. Many reasons contribute to the emergence of this issue, which differ from country to country. Online business, light sanctions for drug infringers, ignorance, and an absence of meaningful collaboration amongst players are all variables involved. The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), Tanzania Police Force, Weights and Measures Agency Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (FCC), Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Customs are all involved in the fight against counterfeit drugs in Tanzania. Despite this, more work needs to be done to control the supply of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals, which have major health and economic effects. Based on the public health and economic consequences of these low-quality pharmaceuticals, strong international cooperation is required to address the issue. This includes tighter state licensing oversight of pharmaceutical suppliers. In order to identify these products at various supply chain stages, advanced technologies should be used. Finally, consumers must be educated on how to recognize counterfeit pharmaceuticals and their effects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100302"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45834900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicted changes to the rate of human decomposition due to climate change during the 21st century","authors":"Julius Strack ,&nbsp;Martin J. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Estimating the post mortem interval is an important aspect of the work of forensic pathologists and forensic anthropologists. Whilst temperature is generally agreed as the most important variable affecting decomposition, some formulae also incorporate relative humidity for a more detailed estimate. Both these variables are impacted by anthropogenic climate change. This study aims to provide a first overview of the likely extent to which anthropogenic climate change will affect future rates of decomposition. The post mortem interval from death until skeletonization (PMIDS) was calculated using the formula by Vass [1], as well as temperature and humidity predictions from two different climate models, to predict changes in the speed of decomposition between the decades 2020–2029 and 2090–2099. The changes are calculated for different climate zones, and a global average, as well as different climate change scenarios, and for decomposition starting in January and July. The estimated PMIDS is significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased in most scenarios, with the largest global decrease of 33.5% in the SSP5–8.5 scenario, with decomposition starting in July, and the smallest decrease of 2.6% in the SSP1–2.6 scenario, with decomposition starting in January. The significantly accelerated decomposition in the SSP5- 8.5 scenario will increase the workload of forensic anthropologists, by decreasing the time until skeletonization, after which the expertise of a forensic anthropologist is more likely to be needed. However, climate change is also predicted to decrease the accuracy of the formulae used for PMI estimation, even in regions where levels of precision are currently good. The present authors therefore argue, that the impacts of climate change will warrant increasing attention in the field of forensic anthropology, and that more research into PMI estimation will be needed particularly in warmer and drier regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100321"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44973953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic implications of classification of accident-related deaths: A case report and review of the medical and legal literature","authors":"Lauren Santoro ,&nbsp;Judy Melinek","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>One of the most important documents produced by physicians is a death certificate. It is not only used in the field of forensic science but is also utilized by statisticians, administrators, historians, researchers, and public health experts. Insurance companies refer to the cause and manner of death listed in the death certificate when deciding whether to distribute benefits. We report the case of a 40-year-old male who was declared dead after crashing his vehicle against a fixed object in a head-on collision. The collision occurred after he had worked a highly strenuous shift as a volunteer firefighter. The decedent’s daughter was a passenger in the car when the incident occurred, and witnessed him become unconscious and exhibit signs of a seizure while driving, before he lost control of the vehicle. The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy received a police report which did not include details of the crash and which specifically omitted the daughter’s witnessed account. Based on the absence of traumatic injuries and the presence of facial petechiae and marks on his abdomen and chest from the seatbelt, the autopsy pathologist concluded that the cause of death was mechanical/positional asphyxia due to entrapment by the seatbelt. The decedent had significant cardiovascular disease, but this was not considered a cause or a contributory cause of death. Because the cause of death did not align with the terms of the decedent’s insurance coverage, which required that any qualified accident be directly due to on the job injury or occur due to a cardiovascular event within 24 h of job-related exertion, the family was denied Public Safety Officer accidental death benefits. The family approached a legal advocate with experience in appealing these types of claims, and the advocate reached out to a consulting pathologist to peer-review the case. The consultant authored a report incorporating the daughter’s witnessed statement and discovered evidence on microscopy that indicated that cardiac strain brought on by workplace exertion was the likely cause of the collision and terminal entrapment. Upon tertiary review by the Chief Medical Examiner, the death certificate was subsequently amended to acknowledge the decedent’s cardiovascular disease, allowing the family to successfully appeal the insurance agency’s decision and receive the benefits.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45720442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Head injuries caused by hammer blows: A case report and literature review","authors":"Nozomi Idota,&nbsp;Satoko Kimura,&nbsp;Risa Bandou,&nbsp;Hiroshi Ikegaya","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper reports a fatal assault with a hammer, with numerous strikes to the skull. The victim was a man in his 70 s with dementia. The suspect was the victim’s son, a man in his 50 s with schizophrenia. According to the son's testimony, he struck the father approximately 100 times with ‘murderous intent’ using a hammer. The son called 911, but the father was dead when the authorities arrived. The futon on which the victim’s head was lying as well as his clothes were soaked with a lot of blood. Numerous additional bloodstains were observed on the wall and furniture. The hammerhead was made of metal and had a square face with rounded corners at each end. At autopsy, many purple bruises, thought to be defensive wounds, were found on both forearms and hands. Dozens of scalp-contused lacerations, abrasions, and small open scalp wounds accompanied by abrasions were observed. There were no skull bone fractures or major intracranial injuries. We believe hemorrhage from multiple scalp wounds was the cause of death. Most previous reports of head injuries due to hammer blows focused on skull fractures and scarcely focused on scalp injuries. This is the first report of head injuries due to blows with a square-faced hammer with rounded corners. We report this case because evaluating the unique characteristics of the wounds on the victim, as well as accumulating information from similar cases, may help identify wounds caused by similar weapons in the future.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100309"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49234239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}