Forensic Science International: Reports最新文献

{"title":"Casting light in the shadows: Exploring the influence of biological sex and age-at-death on heat-induced shrinkage in experimentally burned patellae","authors":"Beatriz Mouga Almeida ,&nbsp;Filipa Cortesão Silva ,&nbsp;Ana Luisa Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Burned human remains have been studied by both forensic anthropologists and bioarchaeologists to understand how fire impacts and alters bone in different scenarios. Heat-induced changes can occur including differences in colour and shrinkage, where the extent of the latter varies in different studies. The current study aimed to bring information regarding this topic and to observe how the individual’s biological sex and age at death impact shrinkage. The variability of shrinkage was analysed, relating to temperature and duration of burning. The sample comprised of the patellae of 32 individuals (18 [56.3 %] females and 14 [43.8 %] males) with age at death between 60 and 93 (age grouped in decades) from the sub-collection of experimentally burned skeletons, part of the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection (ISC/XXI). The right patellae were subjected to experimental burning at different temperatures and durations using an electric muffle furnace. Both the right and left patellae had three measurements taken, maximum height, maximum thickness and maximum width, with a digital calliper. The shrinkage percentage was higher in males and among the younger individuals (60–79 years old of both sexes). The values of standard deviation were high which indicates high variability. Shrinkage occurred at every temperature with bigger values observed in the patellae that had been subjected to temperatures over 800ºC. However, three patellae showed an increase in size at temperature under 800ºC. These findings align with previous studies where a non-linear correlation between shrinkage and exposure duration was found. It is essential to underscore that the percentage of shrinkage exhibits substantial variability even under identical temperature and duration conditions, highlighting the critical significance of meticulous experimental design and thorough analysis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266591072400029X/pdfft?md5=315d56d18c86f305abe677313038601e&pid=1-s2.0-S266591072400029X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141715271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large hole artifacts in the formalin-fixed brain from a drowning case with head lacerations: A forensic autopsy case","authors":"Tadashi Hosoya ,&nbsp;Kazuki Harada ,&nbsp;Jun Kanetake","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A man in his forties with two lacerations in the occiput was found in a river. A forensic autopsy revealed that the cause of death was drowning, and the blood ethanol concentration was 1.5 mg/mL. The whole brain was fixed with formalin for 15 days using the standard immersion method to evaluate this. The fixed brains showed large holes in the deep white matter as artifacts. Research suggests that formalin-fixed brains from drowning cases tend to have “Swiss cheese-like” holes in the deep white matter. However, this study is the first to report a case that focuses on large holes as artifacts. The holes in the fixed brain may have been caused by postmortem invasion of freshwater indigenous bacteria and gas formation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100379"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000288/pdfft?md5=b6df228aa2a06aeccf32551105653565&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000288-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141595584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidermal ridge sweat pore density: A forensic approach to sex determination","authors":"Jaisleen Kaur,&nbsp;Meenal Dhall","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Determining the sex from an unidentified fingerprint recovered from a crime scene can assist in narrowing down the pool of potential suspects. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining sex using fingerprint epidermal ridge sweat pore density among the Indian population. For this purpose, plain prints from both the left and right thumbs were obtained from a total of 396 participants (191 males and 205 females), aged between 18 and 35 years, who were randomly selected for the study. Sweat pores were counted in a region of 3 × 3 mm². Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 26 for Windows and Microsoft Office Excel 365. The likelihood ratio (LR) was calculated to obtain the probability inferences of sex based on the number of sweat pores. Analysis revealed that a fingerprint containing ≤ 45 pores/9 mm² is more likely to be of male origin while one containing ≥ 49 pores/9 mm² is more likely to be of female origin. Moreover, the difference in the number of pores was found to be statistically significant between the two biological sexes. The methodology employed in this study helps demarcate a uniform region in all the samples thereby eliminating variability due to pattern type and recurving ridges.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100378"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000276/pdfft?md5=b3f88bdc307bc0f6d2961b465f17b57e&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000276-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141595583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geographical profiling of wood samples via ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms: Application in wood forensics","authors":"Suraj Garg,&nbsp;Akanksha Sharma,&nbsp;Vishal Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Illegal activities associated with deforestation for the lumber and furniture industries pose significant threats to plant and animal biodiversity, as well as natural resources. Accurate identification of wood sources is vital, yet traditional laboratory techniques often fall short in precisely determining the chemical composition of samples for classification. This study aims to leverage ATR-FTIR spectroscopy alongside machine learning algorithms to construct a robust model for discerning the geographical origins of wood samples from India. By systematically comparing various machine learning classifiers, we address the limitations of subjective visual interpretation and evaluate their accuracy using wood spectral data. Logistic regression emerges as the most effective classifier for distinguishing <em>Eucalyptus</em> (75 % accuracy), <em>Dalbergia</em> (68 % accuracy), and <em>Populus</em> (81.5 % accuracy) species. Through a methodology encompassing data pre-processing, classifier selection, and performance evaluation, this research offers promising tools for combating challenges posed by illegal wood trafficking and transportation. The outcomes hold significant potential for enhancing wildlife crime prevention efforts by facilitating the tracing illicit timber sources, apprehension of perpetrators, and implementation of preventive measures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100377"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000264/pdfft?md5=26dfecbc023552b2528478c376f4ff33&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000264-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141433781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthetic illicit opioids in Brazil: Nitazenes arrival","authors":"Karen Rafaela Gonçalves de Araújo ,&nbsp;André Luis Fabris ,&nbsp;Luiz Ferreira Neves Junior ,&nbsp;Alexandre Learth Soares ,&nbsp;Jose Luiz Costa ,&nbsp;Mauricio Yonamine","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>While illicit opioids have not been historically significant in Brazil, these numbers have increased in the last few years. This change in the drug scenario is mainly associated with synthetic opioids, a class of new psychoactive substances (NPS). In this context, the present article describes detailed information about the recent cases of synthetic opioids seized in Brazil, especially the nitazenes group.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>All the analyses were carried out by the Superintendence of the Technical-Scientific Police - Narcotics Control Center (STSP-NCC) in São Paulo, between July 2022 and April 2023. The synthetic opioids were mainly found in herbal fragments.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Nitazenes, were the most frequent drugs detected in the seizures that took place in the State of São Paulo. There was a total of 140 cases of opioids seizures and 95 % out of those belonging to the nitazene group, while only 5 % consisted of other opioids (morphine and fentanyl). Nitazenes were found 28.6 % isolated and 71.4 % mixed with other active compounds, being MDMB-4en-PINACA the most prevalent (30 % of the samples). Non-nitazenes were found 27.1 % mixed and 72.9 % isolated. Nitazenes and non-nitazene opioids were not found in association in any sample.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This is the first consistent report of nitazene opioids apprehensions in Brazil. Also, as far as we know, it is the first report in which nitazenes were detected in the form of herbal fragments. The effect of smoking a potent opioid together with synthetic cannabinoids is unpredictable and most users cannot be aware of what they are using.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100375"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000240/pdfft?md5=a7c5b03c933404fb9b0a5a77194b8d6a&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000240-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141433783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-mortem identification of decomposed and skeletonized human remains in Malawi","authors":"Thom Kaledzera","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100376","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100376"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000252/pdfft?md5=3f39a9994675693d9a50c1dd4dca93c4&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000252-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141433782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex estimation and sexual dimorphism analysis through hand anthropometry: Insights from a cross-sectional study","authors":"M.O. Suleiman ,&nbsp;B. Danborno ,&nbsp;S.A. Musa ,&nbsp;J.A. Timbuak ,&nbsp;A.O. Yusuf ,&nbsp;H.O. Suleiman","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100374","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100374","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>One crucial aspect of a forensic procedure is sex estimation during individual identification. Hand and its remains are usually among the common body parts found in scenes of mass disasters during forensic investigations. Hand outlines are also important in several biomedical fields such as prosthetics, plastic surgery, and ergonomics. This cross-sectional study was done to investigate sexual dimorphism and discriminate sex using hand and hand print dimensions of 283 male and 317 female subjects who were randomly selected. Bare hand measurement and bilateral hand prints were obtained using Vernier caliper, inked pad, and A4 plain paper. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 IBM. Sexual dimorphism in all the hand dimensions and prints of both hands were observed. The binary logistic regression model showed that in the left hand, bare left-hand breadth (BLHB) was the single best variable to discriminate sex with a percentage accuracy of 69.5 %. Bare right-hand breadth (BRHB) was the best predictor in the right hand with a percentage accuracy of 71.8 %. The predicted probabilities of the binary logistic model (BLR) for the variables that contributed best to the prediction were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. It was observed that the BLHB and BRHB had the highest area under the curve (above 0.5) in the hand and print variables respectively. Sexual dimorphism and sex determination were established in this study using hand dimensions and prints. The BLHB and BRHB were the best sex determinants in this study. Although the accuracies of sex estimation from both hands in this study are low, it does confirm and support previous reports of handbreadth being the best variable for sex estimation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100374"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000239/pdfft?md5=98c8203a29e3b78c9b70d626376f9f8a&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000239-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141390684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SynTissue® as a surrogate material for the human scalp","authors":"Geoffrey T. Desmoulin ,&nbsp;Marc-André Nolette ,&nbsp;Theodore E. Milner","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Synthetic skin produced by SynDaver®, currently used primarily in medical testing and training applications, may be suitable as a surrogate for human skin in forensic investigations. To determine how accurately the company's synthetic skin, SynTissue®, could mimic the mechanical properties of human skin, tests were conducted to measure its elastic modulus and resistance to laceration. Test results were compared to published data acquired from tensile tests conducted on human scalp and impacts with blunt objects on porcine heads. The stress vs strain relation for SynTissue® 8 N corresponded closely to that of the human scalp. Deformations similar to skin lacerations were observed when SynTissue® was subjected to blunt object impacts, at forces in the range of those reported for lacerations of cadaver and porcine heads. However, the published data are insufficient to unequivocally assess the suitability of SynTissue® for forensic investigations of lacerations. Moreover, there are features of the SynTissue® impact deformations that can provide useful information even if the laceration threshold turns out to be lower than that of human skin.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000227/pdfft?md5=30832e22840d4fd0a38dca4c69900dee&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000227-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141394387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diaphragm histology in SIDS and other sudden unexplained deaths","authors":"Dov Jordan Gebien","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This is a Letter to the Editor in response to Kariks J. Diaphragmatic muscle fibre necrosis in SIDS. Forensic Sci Int. 1989 Dec;43(3):281–91. doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(89)90156-4. PMID: 2613142.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100372"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000215/pdfft?md5=e2e6f80238e204ac0bc9c39f8114d8c0&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000215-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141289182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delayed decompositional changes in indoor settings among Tibetan monastic communities in India: A case report","authors":"Tawni L. Tidwell ,&nbsp;Leslie E. Eisenberg ,&nbsp;Alexander Fedotov ,&nbsp;Elena Kokurina ,&nbsp;Julia Boytsova ,&nbsp;Tenzin Desel ,&nbsp;Lodoe Sangpo ,&nbsp;Ngawang Norbu ,&nbsp;Jigme Chokdrup ,&nbsp;Dorji Tsering ,&nbsp;Thupten Sherap ,&nbsp;Tanzin Chhonden ,&nbsp;Yeshi Dorje ,&nbsp;Chhoktan Lama ,&nbsp;Kunga Lhundup ,&nbsp;Jamyang ,&nbsp;Lharkyab ,&nbsp;Lobsang Phuntsok ,&nbsp;Tenzin Wangchuk ,&nbsp;Stanzin Lhakpa ,&nbsp;Svyatoslav Medvedev","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Within the fields of forensic anthropology and forensic medicine in general, the ability to provide accurate estimates of time since death that minimize error, maximize precision, and consider a multitude of variables is a critical component of all forensic and medicolegal investigations that focus on the identification of human remains and the circumstances surrounding death. In comparison with many forensic cases where date of death is typically unknown, we begin with a known postmortem interval and progressively assess, through external testing measures (temperature, skin elasticity and skin color changes) followed by photography and videography, decompositional changes over time. This work seeks to provide well-described cases with documented biological parameters to propose hypotheses for future research. Field team members observe and record any decompositional changes associated with the states of algor, rigor, and livor mortis, as well as progressive changes in skin color and tissue integrity in an environment where variability in climate and ecological factors may vary from case to case. The two cases were followed for 31 (postmortem interval [PMI] 38) and 19 (PMI 27) days in humid subtropical and tropical monsoon Köppen-Geiger classified climatic zones, respectively, where delayed decompositional and putrefactive changes observed are at odds with the anticipated rate and expected suite of biological changes occurring within an indoor permeable setting following clinical death. Within this taphonomic context, we also address the value of describing and documenting postmortem intervals in a closed subpopulation from which some individuals are recognized for exhibiting attenuated decompositional changes. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing understudied and underrepresented regions, climates, and cultural contexts for furthering research into the factors that may contribute to the understanding of the early stages of the PMI period and improve the precision of PMI estimates more broadly.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100370"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910724000197/pdfft?md5=2acf4effc38f95e20c641093474e81b4&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910724000197-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141030713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}