Science & Justice最新文献

{"title":"Paws for a moment: Investigation of bi-directional transfer of human DNA during a short human–dog interaction and subsequent indirect transfers","authors":"Heidi Monkman ,&nbsp;Roland A.H. van Oorschot ,&nbsp;Mariya Goray","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>DNA transfer events have been well researched in the context of commonly found items at crime scenes. However, whilst animals are a common feature of most households, transfer events involving companion animals have been understudied. Recent research has shown that dogs and cats are a reservoir of human DNA that can transfer to a hand or sterile object after a short contact. It is now of interest to explore how and where this DNA on dogs can transfer during normal human-animal interactions. In order to assess this aspect of DNA transfer, 5 dogs were paired with 5 visitors that were unknown to one another. The dogs were contacted by the visitor for 5 min and the first 5 items contacted immediately were sampled. Additionally, the first 3 items the visitor touched on return home, a number of pre-determined items they were instructed to touch, and both hands, were also targeted. Finally, the dog and the items that the animal contacted in an hour post contact were also analysed.</div><div>The results showed that DNA of the visitor or visitor’s housemate persisted on the dog up to an hour later in 50 % of the samples but was not detected on any of the items an animal contacted. Dog owner’s DNA transferred from the dog to the visitor and visitor related items and surfaces, including the car and the house, in 31 % of the samples. These results provide a valuable insight for forensic investigators on the potential origins of DNA found at a crime scene and also add to the body of research indicating that companion animals may be used as evidence to identify who had been in contact with a dog.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101312"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830191","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":"BM2: Council Information","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1355-0306(25)00113-3","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1355-0306(25)00113-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101329"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018614","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 preliminary survey of ethnic diversity and experience of discrimination in forensic science in the UK","authors":"Sin Tong Ho,&nbsp;Hilary J. Hamnett","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bringing in diverse people to a scientific workplace can result in many different benefits including improved innovation and impact. This study investigates the current ethnic diversity in forensic science in the UK using an online questionnaire. The preliminary data collected were compared to census figures for scientific occupations, and it was found that minoritised individuals are under-represented. The survey also looked at whether forensic science workplaces have appropriate diversity training and employee support groups in place. In addition, 30 % of respondents disclosed that they have experienced discrimination in the workplace. We also examined the ethnicities of the top 100 most-cited forensic science researchers in the UK according to Scopus. This study is an important first step in tackling the ethnicity gaps present in forensic science. Further research is suggested on the specific barriers faced by minoritised individuals wishing to study, work, or progress within forensic science as well as intersectionality with other protected characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101313"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144858192","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":"Fingermark development on silver mirror surfaces: A comparative study between mirror chemical delamination assessment and established techniques","authors":"R.J. Accioly ,&nbsp;E.G. Silva ,&nbsp;K.C. Mariotti ,&nbsp;C. Fridman","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human identification and its involved science are present in the daily context of legal medicine, criminal justice, and humanitarian issues. The development of a mirror delamination method for fingermark enhancement on silver mirror substrates has resulted in an affordable and efficient alternative to obtain good-quality fingermark images for forensic investigations. However, efficiency and sensitivity comparisons between the novel method and established techniques are necessary to understand the limiting factors and practical applications. This study used a fingermark depletion series for comparative analysis of chemical delamination processes and 1) powder, followed by lift process; 2) superglue, followed by powder and lift process; and 3) polarized light techniques. The results demonstrated that the mirror delamination method detected more minutiae than powder and superglue treatments, increasing 227% and 23%, respectively. Polarized light system illumination detected 6% more minutiae than chemical delamination. The evaluation of the magnitude of these differences revealed that the silver mirror chemical delamination method could be an effective and noncontact alternative for the fingermark enhancement procedures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144605224","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":"Latent fingermark recovery in a simulated café setting: an exploratory study of cyanoacrylate fuming on disposable nonporous plastic and semiporous paper cups","authors":"Minhwan Jang","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Latent fingermark recovery from beverage containers is an important aspect of forensic investigations, yet the influence of substrate properties and beverage temperatures on fingermark development remains understudied. This exploratory study assessed the development and quality of latent fingermarks on disposable beverage cups made of nonporous plastic and semiporous paper using cyanoacrylate (CA) fuming, under conditions approximating a typical café environment. A total of 255 cups (107 plastic, 148 paper) were collected after participants consumed hot and iced beverages in a controlled classroom setting. CA fuming was performed under standardized laboratory conditions, and developed prints were evaluated on a five-grade scale (Grade 1 = poor quality, Grade 5 = very good quality). Analyses revealed significantly more and higher-quality latent fingermarks on plastic cups compared with paper cups, with Grade 5 prints observed exclusively on plastic surfaces. Among plastic cups, transparent cups yielded more identifiable prints than translucent ones. These findings highlight the potential impact of porosity, surface texture, and handling behaviors on fingermark residue preservation and polymerization during CA fuming. This study underscores the effectiveness of plastic beverage cups as substrates for latent fingermark recovery with CA fuming, whereas semiporous paper cups may require different or enhanced development techniques. Repetitive gripping of hot beverage cups—intended to avoid burns—may mechanically disrupt residues or shorten handling times, thus reducing overall residue deposition. Limitations such as the relatively homogeneous participant pool, reliance on a single examiner for grading, and controlled environmental conditions should be addressed in future research. Nonetheless, this work offers insight into the forensic viability of common beverage containers and provides a foundation for further investigations in real café settings. Future studies are encouraged to expand participant diversity, explore varied environmental conditions, and compare alternative fingermark development methods to optimize practical applications and casework outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101311"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018599","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":"From digital trace to evidence: Challenges and insights from a trial case study","authors":"Maxime Bérubé ,&nbsp;Laurie-Anne Beaulieu ,&nbsp;Sophie Allard ,&nbsp;Vincent Denault","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Technology’s rapid evolution has made digital traces a common part of our lives, holding significant value for investigations and legal cases across various national jurisdictions. However, law enforcement and judicial systems often struggle to adapt to these changes, resulting in possible misinterpretations of digital evidence in criminal trials. Drawing on insights from a qualitative analysis of a terrorism-related court case, this research aims to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental challenges of decision-making in digital forensics and how they can impact a criminal case. Our findings show that operational, technical, and management constraints hinder the accurate processing of digital traces. They highlight the need for standardized forensic practices and rigorous validation procedures to ensure clarity and reliability. A more structured approach can support law enforcement in adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape and, subsequently, help legal teams to better comprehend the complexities of digital evidence. While recognizing that each investigation is unique, this highly detailed examination allowed us to identify ways to help practitioners improve their investigative practices and to foster a clearer understanding of digital evidence in the justice system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101306"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557206","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":"Corrigendum to “Contacting surfaces are rarely DNA Free: Another look at transfer when both surfaces have DNA” [Sci. Justice 65(3) (2025) 101248]","authors":"Georga Sallows ,&nbsp;Duncan Taylor ,&nbsp;Roland A.H. van Oorschot ,&nbsp;Mariya Goray","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018612","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 simple protocol to improve touch DNA analysis using direct STR amplification","authors":"Jill Snyder,&nbsp;Hannah Varner,&nbsp;Jamie Fredericks","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditionally, when processing DNA samples, a multiple-step procedure is followed; after a sample has been collected, DNA is then extracted and quantified before a profile is generated. During the process, valuable DNA can be lost and/or consumed. When processing reference samples, where DNA is usually in abundance, DNA loss may not be a concern for the analysts. However, DNA loss from samples that have minimal amounts of DNA could be detrimental to successful analysis. Touch or contact DNA samples are collected when an individual has handled an object, leaving behind genetic material. Genetic and environmental factors can affect the amount of touch DNA deposited; thus, it is important that as much DNA is retrieved from the surface being sampled and made available for analysis. A new collection method, using Promega’s SwabSolution™ as a swab wetting agent, is proposed. In comparison to traditional methods, the new procedure significantly increased both the amount of amplifiable DNA retrieved and the number of alleles amplified and maintained with acceptable peak height ratios of heterozygote loci. The proposed method coupled with direct PCR protocols has shown to be a reliable and effective procedure for the analysis of touch DNA samples across a variety of different surfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101309"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662066","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":"Prioritizing patterns in evidence: Applying the analysis of competing hypotheses framework to criminal investigations and cold cases","authors":"David A. Keatley","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Police investigations often give rise to multiple hypothetical pathways for how the crime was conducted. Investigators may develop several hypotheses, often based on different pieces of evidence. It is often the case that investigators have too many potential hypotheses rather than too few. The current research shows a method of prioritizing hypotheses based on all evidence available and how this may help highlight and reduce bias in investigations. A real-world case of a homicide, that was originally misclassified as a death by natural causes is provided to show how Analysis of Competing Hypothesis (ACH) can be effectively used. Findings show support for the use of ACH in major crimes and cold case reviews. ACH allows investigators and reviewers to clearly show which hypotheses they have formulated and what evidence is consistent or inconsistent. In the case outlined, ACH may have led to consideration of poisoning rather than natural causes. This is the first paper to explore the use of ACH in major crimes and cold case reviews. While other authors have shown the importance of structuring decision making in police investigations, none have used the ACH framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101308"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572147","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":"Application of deep learning for detecting implants in computed tomography scout images with multi-institution and multi-vendor for personal identification","authors":"Yeji Kim ,&nbsp;Yosuke Usumoto ,&nbsp;Jin-Haeng Heo ,&nbsp;Nozomi Eto ,&nbsp;Yukiko Sadamatsu ,&nbsp;Wonseok Yang ,&nbsp;Eun-Ju Kang ,&nbsp;Junji Morishita ,&nbsp;Jeong-hwa Kwon ,&nbsp;Seon Jung Jang ,&nbsp;Sookyoung Lee ,&nbsp;Yongsu Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The identification of deceased individuals is essential in forensic investigations, particularly when primary identification methods such as odontology, fingerprint, or DNA analysis are unavailable. In such cases, implanted medical devices may serve as supplementary identifiers for positive identification. This study proposes deep learning-based methods for the automatic detection of metallic implants in scout images acquired from computed tomography (CT). Using a multi-institutional and multi-vendor dataset, two object detection models, RetinaNet and Faster R-CNN, were trained and evaluated to ensure generalizability across diverse imaging conditions. The proposed models achieved improved performance in detecting various types of implants, significantly reducing false positives and improving classification consistency. These findings emphasize the potential of CT scout image analysis as a practical tool for supporting forensic identification through the efficient detection of implanted medical devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902269","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}