Forensic Sciences Research最新文献

{"title":"Sequence variations of 58 STRs and 94 SNPs in Northeastern Xibe with ForenSeq™ DNA signature prep kit","authors":"Fei Guo, Longnian Zhang, Y. Xin, Shiquan Liu","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owad043","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology has already shown many advantages in forensic DNA typing. In this study, the repeat region (RR) and flanking region (FR) variations were detected at 58 short tandem repeats (STRs) by MPS, which could increase allelic diversity (34.59%) and gene diversity (3.95%) compared with the capillary electrophoresis (CE) method. Six novel RR variants were identified at 5 STRs, and eleven FR variants were found at 8 STRs. Concordance amounted to 99.96% (4598 out of 4600 alleles) between ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit and CE kits, and discordance was due to bioinformatic misinterpretation at DXS7132. Additionally, allele frequencies and forensic parameters of 94 identity-informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (iiSNPs) provided a reference dataset, which held a higher power of discrimination (1–3.4825 × 10−35). A total of 29 FR variants were found at 24 target iiSNPs. The power of the system effectiveness with the combined 27 autosomal STRs by sequence and 94 iiSNPs was added more substantially than that of a single type of marker alone, such as the combined power of discrimination (CPD) and the combined power of exclusion (CPE) achieving 1–7.1358 × 10−65 and 1–4.4803 × 10−21, respectively. Population structure analyses with iiSNPs and additional ancestry-informative SNPs (aiSNPs) demonstrated that Chinese Xibe in the northeast was one of the East Asian populations. At the genetic level, Northeastern Xibe is close to populations where they live, such as Han Chinese and other ethnic minority groups.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"24 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138596610","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":"A study on the measurement of GSR with bloodstains by ICP-MS.","authors":"Xiang Li, Aoyang Yü, Xinxin Xia, Yü Zhu, Hui Song","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad033","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fsr/owad033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In forensic laboratories, analytical investigations of gunshot residues (GSRs) are usually conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. If GSRs are covered with bloodstains, SEM cannot detect them. In this study, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method is proposed to solve this problem. Results show that bloodstains did not interfere with GSRs and low-level elements are detected. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of Sn, Sb, Ba, and Pb elements in GSRs are also carried out. Different pretreatment methods are adopted according to the characteristics of different samples. Our investigations suggest that the proposed method has the advantages of low detection limit and high sensitivity and it can be very important in expert testimony.</p><p><strong>Key points: </strong>GSRs with bloodstains could be successfully detected <i>via</i> ICP-MS and bloodstains did not interfere in GSRs analysis.The best pretreatment method for incident bullet holes with bloodstains was microwave digestion.The best pretreatment method for the region around the bullet hole and the shooter's hand with bloodstains was ultrasonic vibration.For the same shooting distance, GSRs collected from the cloth and the shooter's hand with type 95-1 rifle were higher than that of type 92 pistol.</p>","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"9 4","pages":"owad033"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11630047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142814509","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":"Sternal Rib Ends as a Method of Age Estimation at the CIL: A Brief Note","authors":"Alexander F. Christensen","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3040041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040041","url":null,"abstract":"This communication reports the relationship between skeletal age estimates based on the sternal rib ends (using the phase method of İşcan and colleagues, later revised by Hartnett) and the chronological age at the death of 221 U.S. military casualties processed by the Scientific Analysis section of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and its predecessor laboratories from 2000 to the present. Previously published age ranges for each phase do not provide accurate estimates for a sufficient proportion of the cases for forensic use; as an example, the age ranges that accompany reference cast sets proved accurate for 55% of CIL cases. Combining the published age ranges of İşcan and Hartnett, on the other hand, proved accurate in 99% of the cases.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":" 39","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135241747","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":"Marijuana: Forensics of Abuse, Medical Uses, Controversy, and AI","authors":"Olen R. Brown","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3040040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040040","url":null,"abstract":"Motor vehicle accidents are a significant consequence of marijuana abuse. Limitations of its roadside detection and the forensic problems with establishing impairment require innovations that are scientifically achievable. Marijuana abuse currently is at an all-time high in the United States and its physiological effects make it a popular recreational drug that is reported to be a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among the youth in the 18 most affluent nations. The medical benefits of drugs derived from marijuana complicate its forensic regulation. In an extensive 2017 report by The American Academy of Sciences, the evidence for the medical benefits of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (derived from marijuana) were stated to be conclusive or substantial for the treatment of chronic pain in adults, as an antiemetic for treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and for improving patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. The benefits from treatment for many other medical conditions were inconclusive or absent. The evidence is clear that safely driving a motor vehicle is significantly impaired while under the influence of marijuana. However, there is no roadside forensic test that reliably detects impairment, and there is an urgent need for such to protect the public while insuring the legal rights of users. There is strong societal pressure to relax marijuana’s forensic regulation, including removing it from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Artificial intelligence (AI) should be implemented with appropriate human control to resolve controversies.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"106 S7","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135540384","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":"The Presence of the Human Auditory Ossicles—Detected Postmortem by CT Scan—As a Taphonomic Indicator","authors":"Edda E. Guareschi, Sara Poggesi, Marco Palmesino, Paola A. Magni","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3040039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040039","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Three tiny bones compose the human ossicular chain: malleus, incus and stapes. Also known as auditory ossicles, they are united by joints in the middle ear cavity of the petrous part of the temporal bone. Completely developed two years after birth, the ossicular chain is involved in the physiological process of hearing, by which sound waves from the environment are converted into electrochemical impulses. In the last 500 years, most studies have focused on the morphogenesis, morphological variability and clinical pathology of the ossicular chain, whilst only a few studies have added relevant knowledge to anthropology and forensic science. The auditory ossicles and the enclosing petrous bone are some of the hardest in the human skeleton. This is reflected in a relative resistance to fire and in the possibility of preservation and fossilization in millions of years. Materials and Methods: The literature and four present-day forensic cases were included in studying the postmortem loss of the auditory ossicles in skeletal or decomposing remains. Results indicate that it can be ascribed to their destruction or physical displacement, by either macro-micro-faunal action and/or any other natural or artificial disturbance. Discussion: Physical displacement is closely connected to the depositional environment of the skeletal remains, such as burial, entombment (sarcophagus, coffin, vault…), submersion or exposure to natural elements. Auditory ossicles can be recovered in situ, or very close to their anatomical location, when the skeletal material has been involved in an archaeological excavation. In the case of accessible or disturbed remains, scavengers may remove the tiny ossicles and/or they can slip out of the middle ear cavity following skull movements. Entombment offers effective protection against the displacement of the auditory ossicles, whereas aquatic submersion and aquatic movement almost invariably displace them. Conclusion: the preservation of the human auditory ossicles should be critically considered in the comprehensive context of any forensic investigation on human remains since it can assist the reconstruction of their taphonomic history. Taphonomic histories of remains can add crucial information to forensic investigations (e.g., the Post Mortem Interval, PMI). The aim of this study, limited by scarce relevant literature, is to discuss the potential role of the ossicular chain, detected by postmortem imaging techniques, as a taphonomical indicator in decomposing and/or skeletonized bodies.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"61 7","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135933527","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":"ChatGPT in forensic sciences: a new Pandora’s box with advantages and challenges to pay attention","authors":"Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira, Rui M S Azevedo","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owad039","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract ChatGPT is a variant of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) language model that uses large amounts of text-based training data and a transformer architecture to generate human-like text adjusted to the received prompts. ChatGPT presents several advantages in forensic sciences, namely constituting a virtual assistant to aid lawyers, judges, and victims in managing and interpreting forensic expert data. But what would happen if ChatGPT began to be used to produce forensic expertise reports? Despite its potential applications, the use of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLM) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools in forensic writing also poses ethical and legal concerns, which are discussed in this perspective together with some expected future perspectives.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"2002 7","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135412967","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":"A Reflective Spectroscopy and Mineralogical Investigation of Cosmetic Blush (Wet‘N’Wild) Potentially for Forensic Investigations Related to Interpersonal Violence—An Experimental Feasibility Study","authors":"Juliana Curtis, Landon Stitle, Jessica Certain, Madeline Murchland, Charlotte Piszel, Jordan Vest, Claire L. McLeod, Mark P. S. Krekeler","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3040038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040038","url":null,"abstract":"Interpersonal violence is a rising issue in global society and new approaches are being sought to combat the problem. Within this context, expanding forensic techniques to better document violent crime scenes is critical for improving and acquiring legal evidence, such as proving or tracing contact between victims and suspects. This project aims to demonstrate the potential for forensic investigations in the context of interpersonal violence using a field-based reflective spectroscopy approach. For this, a common cosmetic, Wet‘N’Wild “Color Icon” blush in the shade “Pearlescent Pink”, was mineralogically characterized using transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction and subsequently investigated via reflective spectroscopy on a variety of common substrates. Differing amounts of the cosmetic product, ranging from 0.001 g to 0.075 g, were applied to a variety of substrates using a simple push method to simulate forcible contact and material transfer. Substrates included a pine wood block; (calcareous) sand from Tulum, Mexico; Ottawa sand; tile; Pergo wood; linoleum; closet material; carpets; and fabrics. The reflective spectra of cosmetic–substrate combinations were measured via an ASD FieldSpec 4 Hi-Res spectroradiometer. The Wet‘N’Wild cosmetic was reliably detected on various substrates relevant to crime scenes. Minor amounts (as low as 0.02 mg/mm2) could be detected, and average limits of detection of 0.03 mg/mm2) were achieved; however, a calcareous sand (Tulum) had a high level of detection (&gt;0.38 mg/mm2), suggesting that further investigation is needed for more complex sand substrates. The use of the ASD spectroradiometer as a forensic tool within the context of crime scene documentation shows promise. Future work should expand the characterization of cosmetic materials across a broad range of substrates and consider systematic studies of specific population groups. Furthermore, combining this approach with hyperspectral imaging at crime scenes is a promising future direction for crime scene documentation. This work therefore demonstrates a novel method for investigating cosmetics within the context of interpersonal violence and provides a foundation for future laboratory and field work using the ASD FieldSpec 4 and hyperspectral imaging systems.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136032969","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":"miR-26a/30d/152 are reliable reference genes for miRNA quantification in skin wound age estimation","authors":"Longlong Suo, Jian Cheng, Haomiao Yuan, Zhenf Fei Jiang, Dilichati Tash, Linlin Wang, Hao Cheng, Zhongduo Zhang, Fuyuan Zhang, Miao Zhang, Zhipeng Cao, Rui Zhao, Dawei Guan","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owad037","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that exert their biological functions as negative regulators of gene expression. They are involved in the skin wound healing process with a dynamic expression pattern and can therefore potentially serve as biomarkers for skin wound age estimation. However, no reports have described any miRNAs as suitable reference genes (RGs) for miRNA quantification in wounded skin or samples with postmortem changes. Here, we aimed to identify specific miRNAs as RGs for miRNA quantification to support further studies of skin wound age estimation. Overall, nine miRNAs stably expressed in mouse skin at certain posttraumatic intervals (PTIs) were preselected by next-generation sequencing as candidate RGs. These nine miRNAs and the commonly used reference genes (comRGs: U6, GAPDH, ACTB,18S, 5S, LC-Ogdh) were quantitatively examined using qRT-PCR at different PTIs during skin wound healing in mice. The stabilities of these genes were evaluated using four independent algorithms: GeNorm, NormFinder, Bestkeeper, and comparative Delta Ct. Stability was further evaluated in mice with different postmortem intervals (PMIs). Overall, mmu-miR-26a-5p, mmu-miR-30d-5p, and mmu-miR-152-3p were identified as the most stable genes at both different PTIs and PMIs. These three miRNA RGs were additionally validated and compared with the comRGs in human samples. After assessing using one, two, or three miRNAs in combination for stability at different PTIs, PMIs, or in human samples, the set of miR-26a/30d/152 was approved as the best normalizer. In conclusion, our data suggest that the combination of miR-26a/30d/152 is recommended as the normalization strategy for miRNA qRT-PCR quantification in skin wound age estimation.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135759330","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":"Exploring the Growing Importance of Forensic Geoarchaeology in Italy","authors":"Pier Matteo Barone, Rosa Maria Di Maggio","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3040037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040037","url":null,"abstract":"Forensic geoarchaeology provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to investigating crime scenes. This field combines the techniques and methods of archaeology, geology, geophysics, and remote sensing, to provide a more comprehensive picture of the events that have occurred at a site. Forensic geoarchaeologists can not only provide valuable information about the context of a crime scene but also help reconstruct past events and collect relevant information about missing persons. Moreover, the use of geospatial technologies and the analysis of evidence together with a vast range of scientific methods and techniques help forensic geoarchaeologists provide compelling and reliable evidence before courts and law enforcement agencies. Although some reticence still prevails among Italians about recognizing forensic geoarchaeology as a fundamental discipline vis-a-vis crime scenes, the recognition of its vital significance is growing in Italy, thanks to the decision of the Italian Standards Organization (UNI) to standardize it alongside other fields of criminalistic expertise.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"85 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136358504","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":"Neuropathology consultation rates in medical-legal autopsies show substantial within-country variation—a nationwide Finnish study","authors":"Petteri Oura, Aki Eklin, Antti Sajantila","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owad027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Neuropathology consultations are an essential part of medico-legal cause-of-death investigations. However, there are little data on the rates of neuropathological examinations in medico-legal autopsies. The present nationwide, retrospective, register-based study aimed to report and compare neuropathology consultation rates (i.e., the percentages of medico-legal autopsies with a neuropathology consultation) in five Finnish regions from 2016 to 2021. The dataset comprised 50 547 medico-legal autopsies with 1274 neuropathology consultations. Overall, approximately 1 in 40 autopsies (2.5%) involved a neuropathology consultation. Consultation rates were lowest in the Southern Finland region (1.4%) and highest in the Southwestern Finland and Åland region (6.5%). Throughout the study period, the consultation rates of Southwestern Finland and Åland were 1.5 to 9.4 times those of other regions (P &amp;lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the present nationwide Finnish study identified substantial differences in neuropathology consultation rates between regions, which may indicate regional differences in conventions and policies. However, the ‘optimal’ consultation rate remains unknown. Future studies are required to further understand the differences in autopsy practices within the Finnish context as well as in medico-legal institutions elsewhere.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136294058","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}