Forensic Sciences Research最新文献

{"title":"How to sample a seizure plant: the role of the visualization spatial distribution analysis of <i>Lophophora williamsii</i> as an example.","authors":"Jiaman Lin,&nbsp;Keming Yun,&nbsp;Qiran Sun,&nbsp;Ping Xiang,&nbsp;Lina Wu,&nbsp;Shuo Yang,&nbsp;Junling Dun,&nbsp;Shanlin Fu,&nbsp;Hang Chen","doi":"10.1093/fsr/owad014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/fsr/owad014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Natural compounds in plants are often unevenly distributed, and determining the best sampling locations to obtain the most representative results is technically challenging. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) can provide the basis for formulating sampling guideline. For a succulent plant sample, ensuring the authenticity and <i>in situ</i> nature of the spatial distribution analysis results during MSI analysis also needs to be thoroughly considered. In this study, we developed a well-established and reliable MALDI-MSI method based on preservation methods, slice conditions, auxiliary matrices, and MALDI parameters to detect and visualize the spatial distribution of mescaline <i>in situ</i> in <i>Lophophora williamsii</i>. The MALDI-MSI results were validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Low-temperature storage at -80°C and drying of \"bookmarks\" were the appropriate storage methods for succulent plant samples and their flower samples, and cutting into 40 μm thick sections at -20°C using gelatin as the embedding medium is the appropriate sectioning method. The use of DCTB (trans-2-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl-2-propenylidene]malononitrile) as an auxiliary matrix and a laser intensity of 45 are favourable MALDI parameter conditions for mescaline analysis. The region of interest semi-quantitative analysis revealed that mescaline is concentrated in the epidermal tissues of <i>L. williamsii</i> as well as in the meristematic tissues of the crown. The study findings not only help to provide a basis for determining the best sampling locations for mescaline in <i>L. williamsii</i>, but they also provide a reference for the optimization of storage and preparation conditions for raw plant organs before MALDI detection.</p><p><strong>Key points: </strong>An accurate <i>in situ</i> MSI method for fresh water-rich succulent plants was obtained based on multi-parameter comparative experiments.Spatial imaging analysis of mescaline in <i>Lophophora williamsii</i> was performed using the above method.Based on the above results and previous results, a sampling proposal for forensic medicine practice is tentatively proposed.</p>","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"8 2","pages":"140-151"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/50/7f/owad014.PMC10445667.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10262458","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":"Innovations in Forensic Sciences for Human Identification by DNA in the French Gendarmerie during the Last 10 Years","authors":"Stéphane Sauvagère, Amaury Pussiau, Sylvain Hubac, Audrey Gouello, Alexandre Poussard, J. Lavigne, Amel Larnane, C. Siatka, Francis Hermitte","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020024","url":null,"abstract":"The IRCGN (Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is a forensic science institute built by the French Gendarmerie which has the ability to exploit crime scene evidence. Any piece of evidence, anywhere in the world, in any environment, can be examined by IRCGN teams deployed in just a few hours. During the past 10 years, experts specializing in genetics have developed innovative genetic engineering technologies for application in forensic sciences. In this review, we highlight the main innovations and the creation of new tools for human identification, which are fully suited to the French Gendarmerie’s needs. Devices developed by the IRCGN are specific to the Gendarmerie’s purposes.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83118480","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":"Comparison of Derivatization Methods for Groomed Latent Print Residues Analysis via Gas Chromatography","authors":"Jessica Kindell, Candice M. Bridge","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020023","url":null,"abstract":"The practice of latent print analysis is comprised of a visual examination and the comparison of the fingerprint pattern from a questioned print to an exemplar(s). When a questioned print is either smudged or contains little pattern detail, the print comparison would be considered an inconclusive determination. However, in these scenarios, the latent print residues (LPRs) could provide associative information to supplement the current ACE-V (Analysis, Comparison, Examination-Verification) process. Advancements using analytical techniques allow for the analysis of LPR chemistry; however, derivatization is generally required to increase the abundance of components not traditionally observed in gas chromatography. This study aimed to determine whether two derivatization reagents, boron trifluoride in methanol (BF3-MeOH) and N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), provide a better recovery of LPR components from a porous or non-porous substrate. Five volunteers deposited groomed latent print samples onto two substrates: a microfiber filter (porous) and a microscope slide (non-porous). The residues were derivatized or evaporated prior to the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The percent recoveries were higher, >83%, in the DCM extracted samples for both substrates compared to those samples prepared in hexanes. DCM/MSTFA derivatization provided the recovery of fatty acids that ranged from 20 to 30% for both substrates and a recovery of squalene at a rate of 2.37% for the filter sample and 4.2% for the slide sample. These rates were higher than the recovery rates obtained for the hexanes/BF3-MeOH-derivatized samples, with a range of 1–8% for the fatty acids recovery rates and 0.6–0.85% for squalene from both substrates. Overall, the MSTFA derivatization reagent produced higher recoveries for LPR on porous and non-porous substrates while providing a LPR chromatographic profile similar to that of a non-derivatized sample. The use of DCM as a solvent provided a wider range of LPR components recovered than hexanes and, thus, should be used as the extraction solvent when derivatizing samples, regardless of the substrate.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72905761","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":"Among Bodies: Portuguese Cemeterial Exhumations Three Years after a Pandemic","authors":"Angela Silva-Bessa, M. T. Ferreira, R. Dinis-Oliveira","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020022","url":null,"abstract":"On 19 March 2020, a “state of emergency” was declared in Portugal due to the manifestation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with an exponential rate of infection and high mortality and morbidity rates. Since then, the state of emergency was declared a further fifteen times until 30 April 2021, during which a total of 16,974 deaths associated with COVID-19 were acknowledged in the country. Over the aforementioned period, guidelines were followed regarding the handling of suspected cases in autopsy rooms, mortuaries, and cemeteries. However, no procedures have been established regarding the handling of human remains during and after cemeterial exhumations. Furthermore, little is known about the virus survival and its spatial distribution in postmortem human tissues. Given that the minimum Portuguese legal period of inhumation is ending and cemeteries have been facing limited burial space and soon will start exhuming buried individuals, the authors believe it is important to reflect on the matter.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81814368","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 Complementary Remote-Sensing Method to Find Persons Missing in Water: Two Case Studies","authors":"P. M. Barone, Rosa Maria Di Maggio, Silvia Mesturini","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020021","url":null,"abstract":"This short communication discusses how a specific geoarchaeological remote-sensing (RS) method, such as analyzing satellite images through NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index), can be used to aid in searching and locating persons missing in watercourses. Thanks to its high capacity to analyze changes in the surface water area, this index can remotely detect the presence of anomalies related to disappearances in water bodies and provide valuable information that can reduce the use of human resources and help pinpoint likely areas of search. Two real-life cases of missing persons in rivers in which the NDWI index was used are presented, and the results obtained are discussed, emphasizing the importance of NDWI analysis as a complementary method to different approaches, especially non-invasive and remote-sensed ones, when positively searching for missing persons.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73552100","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":"Comparing Traditional Age Estimation at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to Age Estimation Using Random Forest Regression","authors":"Kyle A. McCormick","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020020","url":null,"abstract":"Age estimation from developmental traits is typically assessed in isolation, where an age range is derived from known individuals that exhibit that degree of fusion. There are no objective means for incorporating developmental evidence from multiple areas of the skeleton into one cohesive age estimate. This limitation is obvious in the casework at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), where subjectivity is introduced into age estimates based on multiple age indictors. This holds true even when age is derived from one source, The 1957 study by McKern and Stewart). This study uses 388 individuals from the McKern and Stewart study and 41 individuals from the Battle of Tarawa and uses Random Forest Regression (RFR) to estimate an age interval using multiple age indicators. These RFR estimates are compared to age estimates from the Forensic Anthropology Reports (FARs). Overall, FAR age estimates are more accurate (92.7%) than those from the two RFR models (80.5% and 76.6%). This increase in accuracy comes at the cost of some precision (FARs average age interval of 8.1 years and RFR average age intervals of 6.3 and 6.4 years). The RFR models prefer age indicators with late fusion, such as the medial clavicle, and the pubic symphysis, which exhibit a combination of developmental and degenerative ages in morphology. Some avenues for further research are discussed.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80054817","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":"CBD-Containing Liquids for e-Cigarettes: Formation of Psychotropic and Secondary Cannabinoids and Amount of CBD Surviving the Smoking Procedure","authors":"Andrea Capucciati, Arianna Bini, B. Mannucci, A. Porta, A. Profumo, D. Merli","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020019","url":null,"abstract":"Recently, as the interest in cannabidiol (CBD) has grown due to its therapeutic potential, e-cigarette liquids containing CBD have proliferated on the market. Typically, e-liquids contain variable concentrations of CBD (from 2 mg∙mL−1 to 20 mg∙mL−1) in propylene glycol or 70:30 propylene glycol:glycerol mixture and are eventually flavored with food-grade flavors. In this work, carried out by a GC-MS analysis of the condensed smoke produced by a real e-cig, we have demonstrated the actual amount of CBD that can survive the smoking process, and we found that negligible amounts of THCs are formed during the smoking process (i.e., the amount formed was <0.005 mg for each mg of vaped CBD); considering that the threshold dose for ∆9-THC is around 2.5 mg (smoked or ingested per os), it is reasonable to conclude that accidental THC intoxication is unlikely, which is a very important issue from a forensic point of view, as in some court cases the use of e-cig liquids containing CBD has been argued as being the source of THC intoxication. Furthermore, all the other cannabinoids considered in this study and potentially derived from CBD thermal degradation have concentrations below the instrumental LOD.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84424639","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":"Recent Case Reveals a Nineteenth Century Trauma Analysis and Presentation of a Skull as Evidence in a Homicide Trial","authors":"H. Garvin, Lindsey Hohulin, Alexis VanBaarle, Andrew Wilson","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020018","url":null,"abstract":"Following a recent death, a human skull was found in a worn physician bag at the decedent’s residence. The bag was labeled with the name “G.B. Ward”, who was found to be a practicing physician and surgeon in the late 1800s, and contained historic medical paraphernalia and letters and receipts dated to the late 1890s. A forensic anthropological analysis of the skull concluded that it was not of modern medicolegal significance but revealed certain inconsistencies with standard professionally prepared anatomical specimens. This initiated further investigation into the history of G.B. Ward, which ultimately resulted in the circumstantial identification of the skull and revealed more than forty detailed newspaper accounts of its evidentiary use in an 1895 homicide trial in the rural United States. Ultimately, the Prosecution’s argument was likely based on the misinterpretation of a transmaxillary (Le Fort) fracture, which had yet to be defined in the medical literature. This case study emphasizes the importance of investigative and forensic anthropological efforts and cautions against cursory designations of skeletal remains as medical specimens. It also highlights the early recognition of the evidentiary value of skeletal remains in court cases and pioneering efforts in performing forensic skeletal trauma analyses.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77533204","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":"Crime Scene Novichok—Optical Detection of Fourth-Generation Agents (FGAs) Using Handheld Forensic Light Sources","authors":"Gerald Bauer, Agnes Wildauer, G. Povoden, Benjamin Menzi, C. Curty","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020017","url":null,"abstract":"Novichok-like or fourth-generation agents (FGAs) are chemical warfare agents (CWAs) which have been gaining attention since their use in assassination attempts on Sergei Skripal and Alexei Navalny. Due to their physicochemical properties, these substances are difficult to detect by implemented technologies, resulting in massive response efforts if their occurrence is suspected in a civilian environment. In this work, an approach is presented that uses handheld forensic light sources to visually detect surfaces contaminated with Novichok. More than 100 different wavelength combinations were applied to seven substances chosen to represent the newly listed schedule 1 subgroups in the Annex on Chemicals of the Chemical Weapons Convention. One waveband was identified as promising, which allowed the optical detection of all tested substances. Several surfaces, which could be affected in case of a possible attack using novichok-like nerve agents, were also successfully evaluated. The proposed procedure could be implemented for CBRN responders and security agencies to significantly reduce response efforts, thereby diminishing the overall threat posed by this group of chemicals (FGAs). This procedure was also extended to carbamates and CWAs.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89316160","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":"Utility of Osteoarthritis as an Indicator of Age in Human Skeletal Remains: Validating the Winburn and Stock (2019) Method","authors":"Ariana N. Strasheim, A. Winburn, M. Stock","doi":"10.3390/forensicsci3020016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3020016","url":null,"abstract":"In forensic anthropology, and biological anthropology more broadly, age estimation is a crucial element of the biological profile. The development of osteoarthritis (OA) is correlated with age and, in 2019, Winburn and Stock published a method of estimating age in a sample of 408 white American individuals using OA presence/absence. The current study expanded the original study by testing its accuracy on a more diverse sample, including black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). This served to test whether embodied inequity from lived experiences may preclude the ability of the OA presence/absence method to estimate age at death. This study’s results demonstrated both that the original methodology was validated, and that the approach was accurate at estimating the age of death of BIPOC individuals. Furthermore, this study revealed that the hip and shoulder were highly consistent and reliable and are recommended for use as the strongest indicators of age at death, while the TMJ and ankle performed poorly and should not be used for age estimation.","PeriodicalId":45852,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Sciences Research","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90480603","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}