Science & Justice最新文献

{"title":"Earth observation technology’s alignment with OHCHR indicators for strengthening human rights breach investigations and adjudication","authors":"Seonaid Rapach ,&nbsp;Annalisa Riccardi ,&nbsp;Rhonda Wheate","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human rights investigations demand reliable data sources to substantiate alleged events, and satellite imagery offers diverse options crucial for evidential support. This paper delineates how Earth Observation (EO) imagery can be tailored to align with the requirements outlined by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicators, facilitating stakeholders in optimising their studies with applicable technological applications. To streamline EO technology, the paper categorises it into six primary payloads capable of observing such events: multispectral visible. multispectral infrared, passive microwave, hyperspectral, synthetic aperture radar, and meteorological datasets. Given variations in versatility across applications, the study further segregates each into ’full’ and ’partial’ applications. As shown here, EO data is an emerging form of digital evidence in legal proceedings for human rights breaches. The paper outlines the current trends in court cases and then outlines future opportunities for applications, based on the OHCHR taxonomy. This paper encourages investigators to fully consider the range of EO technology available, and the likely challenges to its relevance and admissibility, in such proceedings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Pages 710-727"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142657657","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":"BM1: Events Guide","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00113-8","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00113-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Page I"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142758801","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":"Development of a qPCR assay for the quantification of canine autosomal DNA recovered from livestock attacks","authors":"N. Dawnay ,&nbsp;P. Riley ,&nbsp;L. Dawnay ,&nbsp;R. Ogden ,&nbsp;S. McColl","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The absence of a standardised method to quantify canine DNA recovered from livestock attacks leaves forensic providers without an important quality control step to help support their decision making. Typically used to normalise the amount of DNA for STR amplification, modern forensic DNA quantification approaches use qPCR of target genes and can also include an Internal Positive Controls (IPC) to determine the presence of PCR inhibitors. The co-amplification of livestock DNA alongside canine DNA has meant that previously developed qPCR methods are not suitable for use so a standardised approach is needed. This research describes the development of a Taq-man multiplex qPCR assay that simultaneously quantifies the autosomal MC1R and Y-specific SRY gene to determine the concentration of canine DNA recovered from attacked livestock. Data suggests that the method is robust and reproducible with no significant difference in the standard curves produced from multiple runs or from different DNA standards derived from different canines. Assay sensitivity of between 15 and 31 pg is consistent with other forensic quantification assays and also in line with the sensitivity of the two tested canine STR kits, Canine Genotype 2.1 Kit and CaDNAP Panels 1 and 2. The assay is highly specific to canines when tested against 163 different dogs representing 33 different breeds and no cross-amplification of non-target species’ DNA was observed even from livestock DNA tested at 31.25 ng/µl. This strongly suggests that any DNA detected on evidence collected from attacked livestock is canine. The assay also shows robust tolerance to common livestock inhibitors continuing to amplify when inhibitor-spiked DNA samples were tested. Both mixed and inhibited DNA samples underwent STR typing using two canine forensic STR kits with data showing the Canine Genotype 2.1 Kit displaying pronounced cross-amplification of livestock DNA and and/or extensive PCR inhibition leading to the complete loss of amplification when using this kit. Conversely the CaDNAP Panels 1 and 2 showed little cross-amplification of livestock DNA and improved inhibitor tolerance suggesting that this approach was better suited for the analysis of livestock attack samples. Findings are discussed and the impact of the observations on future work in this area are explored.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Pages 688-697"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142657660","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":"BM2: Council Information","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00114-X","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00114-X","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Page II"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142758802","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":"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":"64 6","pages":"Pages 677-687"},"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":"Metaverse forensics framework: A NIST based investigation framework for metaverse","authors":"Shishir Kumar Shandilya ,&nbsp;Yuvraj Singh ,&nbsp;Ivan Izonin ,&nbsp;Lesia Hentosh","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2024.10.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Metaverse is an intersection of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality that offers users an interactive virtual environment. This new technology has enormous possibilities for both people and companies. However, owing to the existence of inherent vulnerabilities associated with Metaverse, misconduct is a major concern. The Metaverse is set to greatly impact the global technology and commercial landscapes as it develops into a substantial technological platform. The Metaverse operates as an online platform that enables users to access and move about in virtual worlds through the usage of gadgets. Through the use of the digital twin design, which is frequently used in smart cities, closely mimics the real world. Even if the Metaverse is still in its early phases, there is already cause for alarm because of the possibility of criminal activity there. Therefore, conducting a digital forensic investigation within the Metaverse is essential to investigate crimes like virtual theft, fraud, money laundering, and burglary. In this research, the authors present a Metaverse forensic framework that classifies artifacts and maps them with the phases of the Cyber Kill Chain (CKC). The framework is based on the latest NIST digital forensic framework. The applicability of the proposed framework has been demonstrated by an application example that follows a typical malware attack.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Pages 698-709"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658209","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":"Prelim 3: Contents","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00112-6","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1355-0306(24)00112-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"64 6","pages":"Page iii"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142758800","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":"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":"64 6","pages":"Pages 649-659"},"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":"64 6","pages":"Pages 660-664"},"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":"64 6","pages":"Pages 637-641"},"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}