Science & Justice最新文献

{"title":"From intuitive to structured quality control: implementing checklist-based peer reviews of reports in Norwegian digital forensic units","authors":"Nina Sunde ,&nbsp;Olav Dahl","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital evidence plays a critical role in solving crimes, making its quality essential. This study examines the implementation of a structured, checklist-based peer review process for technical analysis reports within digital forensic units of the Norwegian Police. It incorporates two data collections: a qualitative study based on interviews following a trial implementation, and a quantitative survey assessing peer review practices one year after the trial. Using Normalisation Process Theory, the study retrospectively analyses the trial phase and prospectively evaluates the post-trial phase. Results indicate that during the trial, coherence and cognitive participation were achieved to the greatest extent, whereas collective action and reflexive monitoring were achieved to a limited extent. One year later, survey findings suggest further strengthening of cognitive participation and reflexive monitoring, while collective action remained underdeveloped. Additionally, the distinction between systematic checklist-based peer review and intuitive review practices appears to have become increasingly blurred. These findings highlight the need for a systematic and coordinated effort to ensure the sustainable implementation and normalisation of structured peer review practices in digital forensic units.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101298"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297196","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":"Discriminatory power of the Precision ID GlobalFiler™ NGS STR panel v2 in monozygotic twins for forensic applications","authors":"R.I.B. Fonseca ,&nbsp;G. Valle-Silva ,&nbsp;C.T. Mendes-Junior ,&nbsp;C. Fridman","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) are the standard technique used in forensic genetics for individual identification due to their high polymorphism and robustness. Although Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) enables the analysis of many STRs, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) offers enhanced resolution and the ability to detect STRs’ isoalleles and their flanking regions, enhancing the discrimination power of this analysis. Despite the fact that STR kits for NGS are well standardized for evaluating forensic samples, there is no data on their effectiveness in differentiating monozygotic (MZ) twins, which are indistinguishable by CE. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Precision ID GlobalFiler™ NGS STR Panel v2 in discriminating monozygotic twins by analyzing STRs and their flanking regions. Peripheral blood samples from thirty-two pairs of monozygotic twins were collected and CE and NGS profiles were compared. Then, NGS data were analyzed using Converge, IGV and STRait Razor software. The results showed agreement between the profiles generated by CE and NGS, with the exception of individual G037B, which presented a dropout in allele 13 of the Penta D marker in the Converge analysis. Using IGV, it was possible to note that this result was probably due to sequencing failure in different parts of the reads. On the other hand, STRait Razor was successful in detecting allele 13 in this individual, even with its low coverage (19 reads). Isoalleles were observed in 8 STRs markers, in both individuals of the 10-pair MZ, however, it was not possible to differentiate identical twins. Next, by analyzing the flanking region of the markers, the Converge software pointed out two SNPs in the regions adjacent to the STRs. For individual G016A, rs560609904 was detected in the TPOX marker and for individual G027B, the SNP rs569521603 in D6S1043. But after analysis by STRait Razor and Sanger sequencing to validate these results, these findings were not confirmed. The NGS error rate was analyzed, showing that the SNPs previously pointed out by Converge were in fact sequencing errors and not somatic mutations. In summary, in spite of not differentiating MZ twins, we concluded that the Precision ID GlobalFiler^TM NGS STR Panel v2 kit is an effective tool at identifying isoalleles, which increases the discrimination power for forensic analysis. We also strongly recommend the use of more than one genotype calling software to analyze NGS data in order to confirm the results and to tell apart sequencing errors from actual genetic variability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101305"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572149","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 microbiome and volatile organic compounds reflecting the state of decomposition in an indoor environment","authors":"Veronica M. Cappas ,&nbsp;Reena Roy ,&nbsp;Emily R. Davenport ,&nbsp;Dan G. Sykes","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Given that a variety of factors can affect the decomposition process, it can be difficult to determine the post-mortem interval (PMI). The process is highly dependent on microbial activity, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a by-product of this activity. Given both have been proposed to assist in PMI determination, a deeper understanding of this relationship is needed. The current study investigates the temporal evolution of the microbiome and VOC profile of a decomposing human analog (swine) in a controlled, indoor environment. Microbial communities were sampled at six-time points up to the active decay phase (72 swabs in total). VOC headspace samples were collected every six hours with six sampling times in common with the swab times. Sampling locations included the abdominal area, anus, right ear canal, and right nostril. Bacterial communities were found to significantly change during decomposition (p &lt; 0.001), and communities shifted differently based on sample location. The families Moraxellaceae, Planococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Staphylococcaceae drove these community shifts. From random forest analysis, the nostril sampling location was determined to be the best location to predict stage of decomposition. Individual VOCs exhibited large temporal shifts through decomposition stage in contrast to smaller shifts when evaluated based on functional groups. Finally, pairwise linear regression models between abdominal area bacteria and selected VOCs were assessed; Planococcaceae and Tissierellaceae were significantly correlated to indole. Overall, this study provides an exploratory analysis to support the connection between the microbiome, VOCs, and their relationship throughout decomposition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331393","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":"IFC: Editorial Board and IFC: Aims and Scope","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1355-0306(25)00106-6","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1355-0306(25)00106-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101322"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018746","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":"Using fingermark powders and lifters on rhino horn to support anti-poaching efforts","authors":"Lauren Woodcock ,&nbsp;Thomas Mancini ,&nbsp;Julia Ringe ,&nbsp;Nunzianda Frascione","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wildlife poaching and the trade of wildlife items is a large area of illegal business that is alleged to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. However, wildlife forensics remains an understudied field even though the consequences of poaching are catastrophic and can lead to the spread of zoonotic disease and a decrease in biodiversity. Even though fingermark analysis is cost-effective, easy to deploy in the field and has a long history of securing criminal convictions in court, wildlife forensics is mainly limited to DNA-based techniques. Rhinos are one of the most trafficked animals in the world, with some species being hunted to near extinction.</div><div>To reduce rhino poaching and tackle the trade of rhino horn, this research used various fingerprint powders, including standard and fluorescent powders, to visualise fingermarks deposited on rhino horn. Eight fingermark powders were tested, including four traditional powders (i.e., magneta-flake, aluminium, and reduced scale black and white powders) and four fluorescent powders (i.e., red-and-green-fluorescent powders, along with Foster + Freeman’s fpNatural® 1, and fpNatural® 2,). The rhino horn sample used in this study was cut in half, and latent fingermarks were enhanced on both the rough and smooth sides of the rhino horn. Lifting tape and black gelatine were employed to lift enhanced fingermarks, and fingermarks were photographed on Foster + Freeman’s DCS®4 (for standard powders) and DCS®5 (for fluorescent powders).</div><div>Black gelatine was found to be significantly superior to tape in preliminary trials, and therefore, only black gelatine was used to lift powdered fingermarks after initial experiments. This study highlights that metallic powders (namely aluminium and magneta flake), and all fluorescent powders are effective options to enhance latent fingermarks on rhino horn, yielding marks suitable for comparison and search on fingermark databases. These fingermarks can be lifted using black gelatine without significant loss of fingermark detail. Due to the rough nature of the surface, fingermarks were significantly inferior in quality on the rough outer surface than the smooth inner cut section of the rhino horn. The recommendations made in this study can have an impact on the illegal wildlife trade when deployed in the field, providing more tools to assist front line anti-poaching agents and leading to an increase in convictions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101310"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144867237","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":"Protocol developed by the Forensic Science Police of Santa Catarina, Brazil, for identifying wildlife animal species in seized material","authors":"I.S. Perecin ,&nbsp;Marna Eliana Sakalem ,&nbsp;Leandro Luis Martins","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The identification of wildlife animal species using skeletal remains is of utmost importance in the fight against illegal hunting. In order to achieve assertive identification, the use of reliable and accessible techniques is mandatory. The present study evaluates radiography and maceration techniques for successful species identification of seized material in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. The identification was conducted following a protocol developed by the Forensic Science Police of Santa Catarina, and contains cases of multiple mammalian and avian species, and methods were compared regarding precision, demanded time, and cost. A total of 11 different species were identified using the protocol. The results indicate that both radiography and maceration were effective to identify most of the seized material, and additional DNA analysis was necessary in very few cases. In addition, the identification using radiography was faster, and precise for most cases, while presenting low-cost to be conducted. This study underscores the applicability of radiography and maceration in forensic investigations and highlights their potential for broader forensic applications. Additionally, such methodologies are expected to be widely disseminated and standardized for other expert contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101300"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262538","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":"Age characterization of donor based on fatty acid substances analysis in fingermarks","authors":"Li-Xue Wang ,&nbsp;Ya-Bin Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a critical frontier in forensic science, the profiling of physical evidence characteristics has garnered substantial attention. This study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to investigate age-related differences in sebaceous fingermark fatty acid compositions. Fingermark samples from 80 volunteers were analyzed to characterize fatty acid profiles across different age groups. Non-parametric tests were used to identify target fatty acids with significant age-dependent variations, followed by comparative evaluation of unsupervised (PCA) and supervised (RBF, MLP) classification models to develop a high-accuracy age prediction framework. Results revealed distinct fatty acid trends with age: younger donors predominantly exhibited saturated fatty acids with carbon numbers ≤ 10; mid-chain saturated fatty acids (C10–C20) showed minimal age-related variation; and long-chain fatty acids (C ≥ 20) were more abundant in older donors. Significant age-group differences were identified for octanoic acid, decanoic acid, palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, and tetracosanoic acid. The multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model achieved an overall accuracy of 84.6 %, outperforming other algorithms in age classification. This study enhances the understanding of age-related lipid dynamics in sebaceous fingermarks and establishes a robust analytical pipeline for forensic age profiling, offering practical implications for criminal investigation and biometric identification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49565,"journal":{"name":"Science & Justice","volume":"65 5","pages":"Article 101303"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331394","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":"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}