Science & Justice最新文献

{"title":"How 3D printing technologies could undermine law enforcement strategies targeting the production and distribution of designer drugs","authors":"Victoria Gilpin ,&nbsp;Robert B. Smith ,&nbsp;Jason W. Birkett ,&nbsp;James Davis","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Countering the supply of counterfeit and designer drug pills laced with fentanyl or its analogues has long been a challenge with the potency of the drug and the ease with which it can be obtained impacting greatly on families and the wider society. The introduction of legislative measures to restrict access to the machinery that allows the production of the pills has yielded considerable gains with numerous seizures of pill presses reported. However, the increasing availability of bench top milling machines and advances in 3D printing could render this a short term victory where the technology may be set to outpace the capabilities of conventional law enforcement. While pill presses were once born from high specification industrial machining, low cost mills and 3D printing systems are already at the stage of producing small format presses within the domestic home. Here, a spotlight is trained on fentanyl (and its analogues) from the perspective of pill manufacture and their supply. An overview of pill press mechanics and the approaches presently taken to counter distribution is provided and the potential influence that both milling systems and 3D printing technologies could have in the future is critically evaluated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592983","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":"Balancing validity and reliability as a function of sampling variability in forensic voice comparison","authors":"Bruce Xiao Wang ,&nbsp;Vincent Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic comparison sciences, experts are required to compare samples of known and unknown origin to evaluate the strength of the evidence assuming they came from the same- and different-sources. The application of <strong>valid</strong> (if the method measures what it is intended to) and <strong>reliable</strong> (if that method produces consistent results) forensic methods is required across many jurisdictions, such as the England &amp; Wales Criminal Practice Directions 19A and UK Crown Prosecution Service and highlighted in the 2009 National Academy of Sciences report and by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in 2016. The current study uses simulation to examine the effect of number of speakers and sampling variability and on the evaluation of validity and reliability using different generations of automatic speaker recognition (ASR) systems in forensic voice comparison (FVC). The results show that the <em>state-of-the-art</em> system had better overall validity compared with less advanced systems. However, better validity does not necessarily lead to high reliability, and very often the opposite is true. Better system validity and higher discriminability have the potential of leading to a higher degree of uncertainty and inconsistency in the output (i.e. poorer reliability). This is particularly the case when dealing with small number of speakers, where the observed data does not adequately support density estimation, resulting in extrapolation, as is commonly expected in FVC casework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142432416","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":"Advancing justice: The impact of Brazil’s convict genetic profile identification project after 5 years","authors":"Aline Costa Minervino ,&nbsp;Ronaldo Carneiro Silva Júnior ,&nbsp;Francisco Corte-Real","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This comprehensive study analyzed the implementation and impacts of the Convict Genetic Profile Identification Project in Brazil. By examining semiannual reports from the Integrated Network of DNA Databases (RIBPG) alongside a literature review covering the period from January 2018 to February 2024, the study evaluated the project’s relevance. The project’s primary aim was to enhance DNA databases, thereby fortifying crime prevention and resolution efforts. Notably, the results revealed a substantial increase in genetic profiles of convicted offenders included into the Brazilian National DNA Database (from 2,008 in 2017 to 54,657 in 2019) − a development that aligns with legislative goals. Despite legal and ethical debates, the project demonstrated a positive impact on criminal investigations, with a notable rise in database matches (from 376 in 2017 to 1,418 in 2019). Scientific literature had highlighted the project’s effectiveness in resolving crimes. The project has matured into a well-established process, characterized by continuous insertions and advancements, emphasizing a comprehensive operational framework. Beyond quantitative milestones, it has made qualitative contributions to justice. This collaborative model serves as an example for impactful public policies under Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142446097","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":"A cut above the rest? The value of post-mortem examinations in undergraduate forensic science education","authors":"Kirsty Squires,&nbsp;Francesca Snelleksz","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Very few people have the opportunity to witness a post-mortem first-hand in a mortuary environment. These spaces are typically reserved for those in the medical profession, including doctors in training. However, students enrolled on other programmes may go on to future careers that involve interacting with deceased individuals. Forensic Science graduates, for example, may enter professional roles that require the recovery, sampling, analysis and/or identification of the dead. In only a small number of cases will forensic students have had the opportunity to attend a post-mortem in person. In this article, we explore the value of incorporating post-mortem visits on undergraduate forensic science degrees from an academic (KS) and a student (FS) perspective. As part of this research, we obtained supplementary feedback from students who had also attended a post-mortem as part of their undergraduate degree at the University of Staffordshire. This research shows that while there can be logistical challenges when arranging post-mortem visits, students find the experience to be incredibly valuable, allowing them to improve their own personal and professional practice, and learn about up-to-date methods and processes used by practitioners. It could be argued that these visits are invaluable as they facilitate observational learning, especially the practical application of theoretical knowledge and understanding of post-mortems and the identification process, which in turn improves the employability of students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142423036","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":"New on-site color test to discriminate cocaine and cathinone derivatives","authors":"Yukika Sobue ,&nbsp;Koki Hotoda ,&nbsp;Ayumu Ishii ,&nbsp;Kosuke Kusakabe ,&nbsp;Jun Ohta ,&nbsp;Ruriko Takahashi ,&nbsp;Noriyuki Kato ,&nbsp;Tomoaki Sugaya ,&nbsp;Koji Ishihara","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Color tests are advantageous for the field detection of illicit drugs because of their simplicity, low cost, and rapidity. The Scott test has been widely used as a color test for cocaine; however, it has the disadvantage of reacting with cathinone derivatives. To develop a more discriminating field-testing procedure, we evaluated the Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) and bicinchoninic acid (BCA) tests for cathinones, to discriminate between cocaine and cathinones. Although the BCA test has the drawback of recognizing sugars with reducing properties, this can be overcome by adding ethanol and filtering the sample before testing. Both tests successfully distinguished between cocaine and cathinone. The BCA test was superior in terms of the ease of visual discrimination, whereas the CUPRAC test had the disadvantage of a longer reaction time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142423035","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":"Gunshots detection, identification, and classification: Applications to forensic science","authors":"Yanlin Teng ,&nbsp;Kunyao Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaosen Lv ,&nbsp;Qi Miao ,&nbsp;Taiqi Zang ,&nbsp;Aoyang Yu ,&nbsp;Anmin Hui ,&nbsp;Hao Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>ce proliferation of audio sensors in surveillance, smartphones, and numerous devices has made gunshots-based event detection and forensic analysis critical for prompt police action and crime scene reconstruction. This paper initiates an analysis of the acoustic characteristics of gunshots and the variables affecting them, assessing their applicability and limitations in forensic science. It follows with a comprehensive review of existing literature on gunshots detection, identification, and classification technologies, detailing the critical components of machine learning applications, including dataset construction, feature extraction, and classifier selection. Despite the challenges in comparing diverse algorithms due to differences in data and evaluation criteria, the adoption of deep learning-driven neural networks is poised to become a dominant trend. This study aims to chart new frontiers in security systems and forensic analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142423033","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":"Predicting image quality of forensic footwear impressions","authors":"En-Tni Lin,&nbsp;Jacqueline A. Speir","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability of a footwear examiner to confidently discern features of importance in a forensic examination is directly related to impression quality. As a result, quality directly impacts the strength an examiner can ascribe to any opinion of source attribution. Despite the importance of image quality during both the analysis and comparison phases of an examination, there is limited research on the estimation, variation, and prediction of footwear impression quality. In response, this study aims to develop a methodology for evaluating footwear impression quality by regressing image features against subjective judgments of quality. Using a dataset of more than 450 impressions evaluated by more than 40 participants, estimates of intra- and inter-rater consistency were computed. After identifying reliable raters, matrix completion was performed, thereby permitting data imputation. This was based on an approximate 90:10 split between training and testing data, ultimately resulting in 6,000 quality predictions, which exhibited a mean agreement with ground truth <span><math><mrow><mo>&gt;</mo></mrow></math></span> 95%. Each image in the dataset was then reduced to a 10-dimensional feature vector describing image attributes such as complexity, contrast, sharpness, and noise. These features were used to train multiple ordinal and multinomial regression models aimed at predicting image quality. Model comparison resulted in an overall optimal accuracy of approximately 75% when comparing predicted/modeled quality against the ground truth of subjective rater opinions. The resulting semi-automated, reference-free and numerical prediction tool exhibits reasonable success for impression quality prediction when presented with the types of challenging and domain-specific images often encountered in forensic footwear comparisons. The outcomes and challenges associated with this investigation provide a foundation upon which future studies of quality can be modified and built, with the downstream goal of an increased understanding of how quality impacts weight of evidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142423034","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":"Vaginal drainage of semen in underwear: A forensic study","authors":"S. Jones ,&nbsp;M. Logan ,&nbsp;G. Davidson ,&nbsp;C. Murphy ,&nbsp;P. Strahorn","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The UK and Ireland Association of Forensic Science Providers’ (AFSP) Body Fluid Forum (BFF) conducted this research to investigate the occurrence of seminal fluid draining from the vagina onto underwear worn after penile-vaginal sexual intercourse with internal ejaculation. This study shows the differing effects of the female being either supine or upright and active on possible patterns of seminal staining on underwear, and the effect of time since intercourse on the deposition of seminal fluid on underwear in a limited study. Here, we demonstrate that post vaginal intercourse different distributions of semen staining can be observed on underwear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142315314","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 efficacy of Diamond™ nucleic acid dye-stained cell counting techniques for forensic application","authors":"Mariya Goray ,&nbsp;Mike Hartog ,&nbsp;Heidi Monkman","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Touch DNA is one of the most common types of biological material collected during criminal investigations. Diamond™ Nucleic Acid Dye (DD) has been shown to aid in touch sample visualisation and target sampling. It has also been used as a method of shedder categorisation that is cheaper and quicker than DNA methods. However, the DD method routinely involves manual cell counting, which can result in intra and inter-person variability similar to other manual techniques used in forensic science, for example, fingerprint identification. Additionally, DD based shedder categorisation involves counting cells in a portion of the touch deposit to extrapolate an individual’s shedder status, and the sampling effect of such estimations is currently unknown.</p><p>The present study tested different data analysis aspects of the DD method, including counting variability within and between people, shedder classification differences based on different counting methods (entire thumbprint, sub-section of a print with most cells, sub-section of a print deemed most representative of the entire thumbprint, and random sections), the use of ImageJ software to semi-automate counting and the use and extension of the DD method for investigating DNA Transfer, Persistence, Prevalence and Recovery (DNA-TPPR).</p><p>The results of this study show that there are meaningful differences observed during counting processes both between and within people. These differences tended to increase as the factor of time, or the duration of counting, rather than the complexity of cell deposits being assessed. Investment in cell counting software that eliminates personal factors, such as boredom fatigue, can remedy most of these issues, however, will require optimisation, such as fibre recognition. Shedder testing was shown to be affected by the choice of sampling and categorisation methods, and suggested that using an entire finger or larger section size can provide increased precision. Finally, inverted worn gloves stained with DD may provide an acceptable alternative for hands in DNA-TPPR investigations, providing an interesting alternative for future research.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355030624000959/pdfft?md5=29cd3a1553d4cb4c8d9c9f4f295a9575&pid=1-s2.0-S1355030624000959-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142167389","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":"The effects of fingerprinting agents on the stable isotope ratios of polyethylene films","authors":"Joe Meikle ,&nbsp;Kylie Jones ,&nbsp;Sarah L. Cresswell ,&nbsp;Carney Matheson ,&nbsp;James F. Carter","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Traditional forensic chemical comparisons of polymeric materials are often affected by fingerprinting agents that enhance and visualise finger-marks. This can inhibit detailed analysis used to provide an association or discrimination between two samples. In this study, we have demonstrated that the method for polymer comparisons using isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis is not affected by fingerprinting matter on the surface in contrast to other forensic instrumental tests. A selection of resealable bags was analysed for carbon and hydrogen isotope ratio values of bags that had been subject to various fingerprinting agents and compared to values of untreated bags. The results showed no significant difference between samples that had been fingerprinted from those that were untreated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142172023","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}