Journal of forensic sciences最新文献_第2页

Understanding the link between autism and self-harm from a forensic lens.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-17 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70026

Hasan Abder-Rahman, Imad Al-Abdallat, Lana N Qaqish, Ameera Elqasass, Asma Al-Shaeb, Leen Abuzaid, Younes F Samara

{"title":"Understanding the link between autism and self-harm from a forensic lens.","authors":"Hasan Abder-Rahman, Imad Al-Abdallat, Lana N Qaqish, Ameera Elqasass, Asma Al-Shaeb, Leen Abuzaid, Younes F Samara","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70026","url":null,"abstract":"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Individuals with ASD, particularly females, are at an increased risk of self-injurious behavior (SIB), which can sometimes be misinterpreted as signs of physical abuse. This case report describes a 17-year-old female with ASD and ADHD and limited verbal language skills who presented to the emergency room with multiple skin lesions resembling second-degree burns, raising concerns of child abuse. Initial assessments by the emergency and dermatology teams were inconclusive, and plastic surgeons suggested the lesions were burns. However, forensic specialists noted inconsistencies with burn patterns, including the absence of blisters and redness around newer lesions. A review of the patient's psychiatric records revealed a history of repetitive self-harm, specifically aggressive scratching. Additional history from the family confirmed that the injuries were self-inflicted. Distinguishing between self-harming injuries and physical abuse in patients with ASD can be challenging, especially since both can coexist. This necessitates thorough assessment and experienced forensic consultation to avoid misdiagnosis, which can lead to significant legal and emotional consequences. To conclude, accurate diagnosis of self-harm versus abuse in patients with autism requires detailed investigation, consideration of psychiatric history, and forensic expertise. Moreover, early and correct diagnosis is crucial to prevent misattributed allegations of abuse and facilitate appropriate medical and psychiatric care for individuals with ASD.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Research on temperature-dependent visualization and enhancement mechanism of latent fingermarks deposited on steel container.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-17 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70024

Zhengzhe Zang, Peibin Wang, Haoyuan Li, Jing Jin, Yu Wang, Yiyue Cao

{"title":"Research on temperature-dependent visualization and enhancement mechanism of latent fingermarks deposited on steel container.","authors":"Zhengzhe Zang, Peibin Wang, Haoyuan Li, Jing Jin, Yu Wang, Yiyue Cao","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70024","url":null,"abstract":"In arson cases, the accelerants are typically stored in steel containers where fingermarks may be preserved. To explore the effects of heat on latent fingermark visualization deposited on steel surfaces and the corresponding mechanisms, 304 stainless steel and tinplate were selected. Coaxial illumination and cyanoacrylate fuming were employed to visualize fingermarks. An optical microscope (OM) equipped with a hot stage was utilized to characterize the fingermark ridges evolution in situ. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze fingermark micromorphology and variations in fingermark composition. The results showed that below 500°C, the visibility of fingermarks on both steel surfaces decreased as the temperature increased, and no ridges were visible at 500°C. This was due to the decomposition/evaporation of organic compounds in the fingermarks caused by high temperatures. However, their outlines began to reappear at 600°C, and ridges became visible to the naked eye at 800°C. This was due to the fact that at temperatures exceeding 600°C, oxidative, electrochemical, and salt corrosion between fingermarks and substrates were accelerated, achieving fingermark enhancement. For tinplate, due to its antioxidant properties and the corrosion resistance provided by FeS2, it exhibited less apparent oxidation and salt corrosion. Comparatively, fingermark visualization on 304 stainless steel was superior to that on tinplate. This study demonstrated that fingermarks could be retained on steel surfaces even after exposure to high temperatures with different mechanisms related to the chemical composition of steel, which provided crucial data for fire investigations.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Analysis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its metabolites using LC-MS/MS for forensic purposes.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-16 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70013

Munchelou M Gomonit, Madeleine J Swortwood, Michael T Truver, Britni N Skillman

{"title":"Analysis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its metabolites using LC-MS/MS for forensic purposes.","authors":"Munchelou M Gomonit, Madeleine J Swortwood, Michael T Truver, Britni N Skillman","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70013","url":null,"abstract":"Ayahuasca contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the primary alkaloid responsible for its psychedelic effects. DMT oxidative deamination yields indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) as the predominant metabolite, while N-oxidation produces N,N-dimethyltryptamine-N-oxide (DMT-NO) as the second most abundant metabolite. An LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated to quantify DMT, IAA, and DMT-NO in human plasma, as well as DMT and DMT-NO in human urine. Protein precipitation using a 75:25 (v/v) acetonitrile:methanol yielded analyte recoveries ≥91% in both plasma and urine. Key parameters including matrix effects, linearity, bias, precision, stability, carryover, and dilution integrity met their respective acceptability criterion outlined by ANSI/ASB 036 recommendations. In plasma, the linear range was 0.5-500 ng/mL (DMT), 0.25-125 ng/mL (DMT-NO), and 240-6000 ng/mL (IAA), while the DMT and DMT-NO range in urine was 2.5-250 ng/mL. Bias was within ±17.5%, and precision was ≤6.4% in both plasma and urine. Analytes were free from exogenous/endogenous interferences, and carryover was negligible. Extracts were also stable in the autosampler compartment (4°C) for 48 hours. A proof-of-concept study was conducted using authentic paired peripheral blood and urine samples. Results showed higher concentrations of DMT and DMT-NO found in urine as compared to plasma, highlighting the rapid metabolism and clearance of DMT and its metabolites. This study proposes the utility of DMT and DMT-NO as direct and distinctive biomarkers for forensic determination of exogenous DMT consumption. While IAA is the predominant metabolite of DMT, IAA should not be relied upon as the sole biomarker due to its substantial endogenous presence in both plasma and urine.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Characterization and differentiation of aluminum powders used in improvised explosive devices-Part 3: Comparison of statistical analysis methods.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-16 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70010

Danica M Ommen, Christopher P Saunders, JoAnn Buscaglia

{"title":"Characterization and differentiation of aluminum powders used in improvised explosive devices-Part 3: Comparison of statistical analysis methods.","authors":"Danica M Ommen, Christopher P Saunders, JoAnn Buscaglia","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70010","url":null,"abstract":"Determining the extent to which sources of aluminum (Al) powders, often used as fuel in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), can be differentiated is important for forensic investigations and gathering intelligence. Previous work developed effective methods of characterizing Al powders using micromorphometric features of the Al particles and a multistage sampling approach. Since then, ~100 additional samples from Al powder sources representing five powder types used in IEDs and 33 product distributors have been added to the dataset. Using this large dataset, a study confirmed that 200 randomly selected fields of view (FOV) are needed to accurately characterize the powder. Three different statistical methods, each using a different method of summarizing the large volumes of data, are used: a modified Wasserstein distance score nearest neighbor classifier for the FOV means, an ASTM-style match interval for means of the FOV means, and a linear discriminant analysis for the means of means of means. Two of the methods classify each questioned subsample to an Al powder sample, whereas the ASTM-style method classifies questioned/known-source subsample pairs as matching or non-matching. All three classifiers show that Al powder sources can be discriminated, although samples of the same powder type or made of Al products from the same distributor are often confused. Analysis of Al powder samples from three casework IEDs shows they were likely made using Al powder from Al-containing paint products. These results are integral to closed-set classification of Al powders where the source of a questioned subsample is contained in the database.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Improved DNA recovery and STR profile development from weathered Bos taurus bones using demineralized bone slices.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-16 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70023

Ciara Rhodes, Reilly Price, Celeste Willetts, Jenise Swall, Laura Gaydosh Combs, Sarah Seashols-Williams

{"title":"Improved DNA recovery and STR profile development from weathered Bos taurus bones using demineralized bone slices.","authors":"Ciara Rhodes, Reilly Price, Celeste Willetts, Jenise Swall, Laura Gaydosh Combs, Sarah Seashols-Williams","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70023","url":null,"abstract":"Current processing techniques for harvesting DNA from osseous elements are destructive, and success rates vary widely. When skeletal elements are homogenized into a fine powder, endogenous DNA may be subjected to fragmentation, and the likelihood of introducing co-purified inhibitory substances to the sample increases. While a limited number of articles in the relevant literature have challenged the status quo of pulverization, powdering hard tissue samples before DNA isolation continues to be standard practice in the forensic and ancient DNA communities. In this work, we have developed and optimized an alternative front-end processing method for demineralizing and slicing cortical bone using aged and weathered bovine skeletal samples as a model for degraded human bone. Additionally, this study evaluated the enzymatic digestion of demineralized bone slices using collagenase I as a powder-free alternative for cell isolation. The efficacy of pulverization, demineralized slices, and collagenase-digested demineralized slices was assessed via DNA quantitation and STR profile data. The combined treatment incorporating collagenase digestion of demineralized slices did not improve the recovery of endogenous DNA yields or STR profile development; however, profiles developed from demineralized slices retained a significantly greater percentage of expected alleles and higher peak heights than samples processed with conventional powdering and organic chemistry extraction. By eliminating pulverization of bone and employing modified silica-based extraction chemistry, the susceptibility to inhibitory and competitive effects from native and foreign components often found in degraded skeletal remains can be minimized when utilizing total demineralization of small fragments with subsequent slicing before lysis.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Development of forensic blood substitute: Focusing on luminol reaction functionality.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70018

Sang-Yoon Lee, Yeon-Soo Jo, Hwa-Seon Lim, Ki-Jong Rhee

{"title":"Development of forensic blood substitute: Focusing on luminol reaction functionality.","authors":"Sang-Yoon Lee, Yeon-Soo Jo, Hwa-Seon Lim, Ki-Jong Rhee","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70018","url":null,"abstract":"Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is essential for reconstructing crime scenes using the shape and distribution of bloodstains. Luminol, which emits blue light in a chemiluminescent reaction with hemoglobin, is commonly used to detect latent blood. Artificial blood substitutes, designed for luminol reactivity or bloodstain pattern reproduction, are widely used in forensic experiments. These artificial blood substitutes, including synthetic and spatter blood, are commercialized with distinct functionalities: luminol reactivity and bloodstain pattern reproduction, respectively. This study introduces a new blood substitute that combines both functionalities. In this study, we verified the luminol reaction functionality of a newly developed forensic blood substitute, which also demonstrates bloodstain pattern reproduction capabilities. Additionally, we assessed its morphological features by analyzing the coordinate characteristics of the area of origin in impact spatter patterns. The visual inspection, without the use of supplementary equipment, revealed that there was no noticeable difference in the luminol fluorescence reaction between the developed blood substitute and the four types of commercial synthetic blood. Furthermore, the developed blood substitute exhibited the smallest standard deviation, confirming it to be the most homogeneous and stable artificial blood substitute. Morphological analysis revealed that the new substitute closely mimics human blood, particularly in z-axis coordinates. These findings establish the substitute as a versatile tool for forensic analysis, enhancing both luminol detection and bloodstain pattern reproduction.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Applicability, reliability, and accuracy of age-at-death estimation methods on a contemporary Italian population. 死亡年龄估算方法在当代意大利人口中的适用性、可靠性和准确性。

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70011

Paolo Morandini, Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Cristina Cattaneo

{"title":"Applicability, reliability, and accuracy of age-at-death estimation methods on a contemporary Italian population.","authors":"Paolo Morandini, Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Cristina Cattaneo","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70011","url":null,"abstract":"This research tested the applicability, intra- and inter-observer reliability, and accuracy of nine macroscopic methods for estimating age-at-death from skeletal elements. The sample included 400 individuals from the contemporary CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection, equally divided by sex assigned at birth and with age-at-death ranging from 20 to 104 years. Statistical analyses used standard measures of reliability and validity. The most applicable methods assessed the auricular surface of the ilium (92%), whereas the preservation and/or identification of the fourth rib was rare (16%). All methods proved repeatable, except for the assessment of the obliteration of palatine sutures, which showed greater subjectivity to the observer's experience. The Rougé-Maillart (2009) method exhibited low bias and inaccuracy across all age groups in both sexes and the strongest correlation with chronological age in males. In females, the Buckberry and Chamberlain 2002 method showed the strongest correlation, but it tended to overestimate the age of younger individuals in both sexes. Age-at-death estimation methods revealed varying accuracy across age groups. The Suchey-Brooks 1990 method was effective for younger individuals, while the Rougé-Maillart (2009) and Falys and Prangle 2015 methods showed potential for the estimation of older adults, with lower bias and better precision. However, no approach was entirely satisfactory for older adults. The increasing life expectancy and the likelihood of encountering older adults' remains highlight the need for refined techniques that better address age diversity in contemporary and ancient populations.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Tusi but not 2C: A Miami-Dade medical examiner case series highlighting the variable drug composition in colored powder paraphernalia.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70012

Diane M Moore, Alexander D Giachetti, M Elizabeth Zaney, Rocio B Potoukian, Kenneth D Hutchins

{"title":"Tusi but not 2C: A Miami-Dade medical examiner case series highlighting the variable drug composition in colored powder paraphernalia.","authors":"Diane M Moore, Alexander D Giachetti, M Elizabeth Zaney, Rocio B Potoukian, Kenneth D Hutchins","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70012","url":null,"abstract":"Eight fatalities between September 2020 and July 2024 in Miami-Dade County involving the ingestion of colored powders, referred to as \"tusi,\" \"tucibi,\" or \"pink cocaine,\" are reported. For each case, a description of the terminal event, the postmortem toxicology findings, the cause and manner of death, and the chemical composition of the \"tusi\" powder(s) found on or near the decedent are summarized. Fourteen powders, mostly pink with a sweet or fruity aroma, were submitted for analysis. Ketamine was identified in all submissions, with the majority also containing methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Other substances identified in the powders include stimulants (cocaine, methylenedioxyamphetamine [MDA], and methamphetamine), opioids (oxycodone), benzodiazepines (alprazolam), synthetic cathinones (eutylone), and over-the-counter medications (diphenhydramine and loratadine). Five of the powders contained cocaine; however, none contained fentanyl or 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B). Five deaths were ruled as accidents, with four attributed to a drug overdose and one attributed to a fall from height. The remaining cases were classified as suicides (one fall from height, one hanging, and one self-inflicted gunshot wound). All cases reported multiple drugs in the decedent's postmortem blood in addition to ketamine and MDMA. The peripheral blood concentrations of ketamine and its metabolite, norketamine, ranged from 0.38-8.8 and 0.16-3.0 mg/L, respectively, and the concentration of MDMA and its metabolite, MDA, ranged from 0.10-3.0 and <0.01-0.27 mg/L, respectively. The medical examiner cases reported are the first to illustrate, through analytical testing, the variable drug composition of \"tusi\" powders and the impact its use may have in medicolegal death investigation.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

False negative ELISA screen for benzoylecgonine in blood using the Neogen® assay. 使用 Neogen® 检测法对血液中的苯甲酰可待因进行假阴性 ELISA 筛查。

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70015

Jennifer F Limoges, Seth J Tracy, Heidi E Grieger

引用次数: 0

RETRACTION: Evaluating Cardiac Risks of TASER: An In-Depth Case Study Through Probable Current Analysis.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-10 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70009

引用次数: 0