{"title":"Negative result: Application of Raman spectroscopy to the forensic analysis of an arid, sandy, soil","authors":"Talia G. Newland, Kari Pitts, Simon W. Lewis","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, the application of Raman spectroscopy for the examination of the quartz-recovered fine fraction of arid, sandy soils is presented for the first time. The aim was to explore whether the technique would allow for the initial screening of samples, with the goal to extend the technique to in-situ analysis of the coatings on the quartz grains. Despite investigation of a variety of experimental conditions and different approaches to data correction, Raman analysis of the quartz-recovered fine fraction of sandy soils showed high levels of fluorescence, which masked all potential characterisation data captured within the spectra.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100343"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000385/pdfft?md5=6b1a5d53fceca6e00059ab79b3e9bb6a&pid=1-s2.0-S2665910723000385-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91964117","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}
Frederique Thicot , Vincent Dunet , Virginie Magnin , Christine Bruguier , Johannes-Alexander Lobrinus , Silke Grabherr , Pia Genet
{"title":"Artifacts in postmortem CT-imaging of the brain: A cooling effect?","authors":"Frederique Thicot , Vincent Dunet , Virginie Magnin , Christine Bruguier , Johannes-Alexander Lobrinus , Silke Grabherr , Pia Genet","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We would like to present two cases of middle-aged men found dead outdoors, in relatively low temperatures, whose postmortem brain CT scan exhibited unusual findings. Both cases presented traumatic injuries, mainly cerebral (bleeds, contusions). The first case involved a 55-year-old man, found dead in front of his house, mostly covered by snow, with an ambient temperature reaching − 1.8 °C. Before the autopsy, a native (without contrast) postmortem CT scan was performed which revealed a linear delimitation between the anterior and posterior regions of the brain, along with hypodensity in the anterior region, compatible with an advanced state of decomposition. The second case involved a 77-year-old man, found dead on the bottom of a cliff where his car was found. Temperatures recorded then approached 9 °C. However, a technical glitch in the cooling cell during the storage of the corpse was reported. The subsequent postmortem CT scan performed before the autopsy showed a grossly circular zone of hypodensity across the periphery of the brain with a centro-peripheral and right-left gradient. Furthermore, macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the brain didn’t reveal any pathological findings concerning the density differences observed on imaging in both cases. These two cases seem to highlight the processes through which the cold might affect brain tissue and his appearance on imaging, which could consequently represent a potential pitfall in postmortem forensic investigations. We intend to encourage further studies on this topic, to allow correct interpretation of such CT scan findings in forensic cases, and to open the debate about the possible causes of this phenomenon.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100342"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49888272","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":"Homicide by non-lethal strangulation followed by accidental drowning during the cleaning of the unconscious victim","authors":"Nina Sophia Mahlke , Stefanie Ritz-Timme , Benno Hartung","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A case of accidental fatal drowning after non-lethal strangulation by a cable is presented. Random circumstances, which are highlighted here, led to the fact that signs of strangulation and rape were either superimposed or left almost no traces. The autopsy did not reveal typical signs of drowning, strangulation or other violence and the cause of death initially remained unclear. Histological examinations showed an acute emphysema and marked blood congestion. Swabs were i.a. taken from the genital area and molecular genetic analyses of the contact persons were performed, which pointed to a craftsman. The crime was finally confessed by this craftsman. Obviously, the victim drowned unnoticed by the perpetrator when he tried to clean her from moleculargenetic traces.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100341"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49888273","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":"Synergy of on-surface and in-air trajectories: Exploratory analysis of forensic online signatures implementing lessons learned from biometrics","authors":"Manabu Okawa","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the increased use of digital devices, forensic document examiners (FDEs) encounter increasing number of dynamic or online signatures during their physical examinations. This shift expands the possibility of examinations and creates new challenges for FDEs. As such, FDEs require new examination skills using data science-based analyses with artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques. In recent years, automated signature verification has gained significant interest in biometric research and could be useful in forensic investigations. However, the use of complex black-box systems inconveniencing FDEs in explaining the rationale behind their final assessment, especially when dealing with limited signature samples and various types of forged signatures. Therefore, a new forensic method is needed to assist FDEs’ analysis. To tackle these challenges and incorporate lessons learned from biometrics into forensics, this study proposes a novel forensic online signature analysis method. The proposed method uses a single-template strategy based on recent scientific findings in biometrics while updating the strategy for forensic use. This strategy creates a mean-template set from known signature samples that serve as a writer’s signature master pattern. Consequently, FDEs can evaluate intra-writer and inter-item variations using the mean-template set and a questioned signature. Furthermore, to take advantage of recent digital devices, we focused on both on-surface and in-air trajectories of online signatures, which could improve the discriminative power because in-air trajectories are invisible for imposters. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method in a forensic scenario using a public forensic online signature dataset.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49888277","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":"A new method of estimating age-at-death using patellar morphology","authors":"Thom Kaledzera , Amanda Alblas , Nadine Rampf","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Estimating the age-at-death of unidentified human skeletal remains is essential in medico-legal cases. Currently, the pubic symphyseal face and iliac auricular surface provide noteworthy indicators of adult ageing. However, as the pelvis may not always be available in some medico-legal cases, a need exists for substitute methods derived from other skeletal components. This study was conducted to derive a new method of estimating age-at-death using patellar morphology. The study sampled 104 paired patellae of known age-at-death and sex. Each patella was scored based on the severity of bone lipping at the base and the development of auricular marginal osteophytes. A composite scoring system was used to integrate the two scores and produce a representative score for each patella (0, 1, 2, 3). The relationship between patellar morphological changes and age-at-death was evaluated using a Spearman ranked correlation test (rho). Additionally, one-way ANOVA was used to assess age-at-death differences between composite scores. In both sex groups, age-at-death displayed a very strong, positive monotonic relationship with bone lipping (rho = 0.777 in males, rho = 0.752 in females) and auricular marginal osteophytes (rho = 0.622 in males, rho = 0.859 in females). In addition, patellar composite scores showed a stronger age-at-death correlation (rho = 0.888 in females, rho = 0.873 in males, p < 0.001 for each case) when compared to a level that was previously reported on the iliac auricular surface (rho = 0.624 in males, rho = 0.626 in females, p < 0.01 for each case). Statistically significant age-at-death differences were observed between all composite scores (p < 0.001), except between composite scores 2 and 3 (p = 0.967). The current study's findings led to the development of a new scoring method using composite scores based on patellar morphological changes that can support forensic anthropologists in estimating the age-at-death of unidentified human skeletal remains.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100339"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49887844","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}
Sayuri Ogasawara Bomfim , Gabriel Santos Sacramento , Claudio Lima Sousa , André Luís Vivas de Almeida , Jéssica Bomfim de Almeida
{"title":"Cut-contusion injury with severe hemorrhagic diathesis: Potential crime scene or hemophilia? A forensic investigation","authors":"Sayuri Ogasawara Bomfim , Gabriel Santos Sacramento , Claudio Lima Sousa , André Luís Vivas de Almeida , Jéssica Bomfim de Almeida","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Forensic investigation aims to identify, clarify and analyze evidence from a crime scene in order to assist law enforcement agencies. In this regard, both forensic hematology and forensic traumatology are responsible for interpreting the material evidence related to the crime and its nature. One of the biggest challenges in recognizing hemorrhagic diseases at crime scenes is the limited visibility of these diseases in forensic investigations, as well as the scarcity of resources for identification. In light of this context, this study aimed to describe a case of forensic investigation, whose victim had a cut-contusion injury in the head and significant blood loss. Analysis of the evidence demonstrated that the injury was caused by a fall from the victim's own height, hitting the head on the base of the gate rail at their residence. The forensic investigation of blood stain patterns revealed a predominant presence of blood stains caused by accumulation and it was discovered that the victim had a severe form of hemophilia, whose main characteristic is hemorrhage. After the fall, the victim died due to significant blood loss disproportionate to the injury suffered. The presentation of this report aims to provide elements of forensic hematology, which is not widely disseminated in the specialized literature, in order to assist professionals in dealing with similar patterns.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100338"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49888274","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}
Ai Sonoda, Norihiro Shinkawa, Eiji Kakizaki, Nobuhiro Yukawa
{"title":"A case of fatal tracheal compression in a patient with Hashimoto's disease under the setting of previous tracheostomy","authors":"Ai Sonoda, Norihiro Shinkawa, Eiji Kakizaki, Nobuhiro Yukawa","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This autopsy case involved a woman in her 60 s with a history of temporal tracheostomy. During an event in which her son allegedly experienced an epileptic seizure, he grasped the woman around the upper chest for several moments. The woman then experienced breathing difficulties, lost consciousness and died. Postmortem computed tomography revealed a pinhole-like tracheal narrowing at the level of the tracheostomy encircled by the thyroid. Autopsy revealed a modestly enlarged thyroid gland due to previously undiagnosed Hashimoto's disease and an old fracture in a tracheal ring indicating that the trachea had been compressed by the thyroid. Hashimoto's disease rarely causes sudden death through systemic endocrine disturbance, but this case may illustrate that against a background of previous tracheostomy that mechanically weakens the trachea, enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) as a local effect of the disease can also cause sudden death.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100337"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42343527","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":"Legal limits for driving under the influence of illicit drugs: Large variations between jurisdictions","authors":"Hallvard Gjerde, Maren C. Strand","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a major contributing factor to road traffic crashes. Most countries have implemented legal limits for alcohol, and some countries have also implemented legislation on DUI of drugs, in most cases impairment-based or zero- tolerance legislation. Based on searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and the internet, we identified several jurisdictions that had defined legal limits for drugs in the road traffic legislation. This included ten European countries, seven US states, Canada, and New Zealand. Most of these jurisdictions have defined low limits corresponding to the “lower effect limits” proposed by the European DRUID Project, and four countries have also defined higher, graded sanction limits, for some drugs. There were large variations between jurisdictions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100336"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44613091","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":"Validation and limitations in the DNA analysis of aged bloodstains: The Shroud of Turin as a sample case","authors":"Kelly P. Kearse","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100335","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100335"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49477744","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}
Jessica Perry , Sharlize Pedroza Matute , Stephen Cummings , Tasnim Munshi , Sasitaran Iyavoo
{"title":"English and Irish population comparison using STR markers: Insights into genetic disparities and historical influences","authors":"Jessica Perry , Sharlize Pedroza Matute , Stephen Cummings , Tasnim Munshi , Sasitaran Iyavoo","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Short tandem repeat (STR) markers are commonly used in forensic investigations and kinship testing due to their cost-effectiveness and high discriminatory power. In the United Kingdom, STR allele frequency databases are available for different population groups, including the White group, which includes individuals of both English and Irish ethnicity. However, considering differences in historical migrations and influences between England and Ireland, distinct genetic differences might exist between these populations. This study aimed to generate allele frequency data for English and Irish populations using the VeriFiler Express PCR Amplification Kit, which contains loci utilised in national databases. Buccal swabs were collected from 577 English and 500 Irish volunteers with self-proclaimed English and Irish ethnicity respectively. DNA profiling and statistical analyses were performed to assess allele frequencies and forensic parameters, and to perform population comparisons. The results showed minimal genetic differentiation (F<sub>st</sub> = 0.0013) between the English and Irish populations. Comparison with other European populations revealed close genetic relationships between the English population and Scandinavian countries, while the Irish population displayed closer genetic links to Western European countries. These findings support historical influences such as Viking migrations and highlight the need for further research using additional markers to explore the genetic makeup and history of the English and Irish populations. Although a single allele frequency database may be suitable due to the observed genetic similarity, the establishment of separate databases should be considered to ensure maximum population representation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100334"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45958984","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}