Journal of forensic sciences最新文献_第3页

Investigation of the impact of a sound suppressor on the weapon's memory effect and gunshot residue formation.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70008

Osnat Israelsohn Azulay, Yigal Zidon, Esti Kohalsky

{"title":"Investigation of the impact of a sound suppressor on the weapon's memory effect and gunshot residue formation.","authors":"Osnat Israelsohn Azulay, Yigal Zidon, Esti Kohalsky","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70008","url":null,"abstract":"The firearm's memory effect describes circumstances where particles from previous firing cycles are deposited with or incorporated in the new ammunition debris. Even though this phenomenon is well studied, the influence of a sound suppressor on the strength of the memory effect and its extent has not yet been investigated. In this study, the SINOXID-type ammunition barium, antimony lead with added aluminum (BaSbPbAl) primer mixture, was initially fired, followed by firing ammunition with classic SINOXID primer composition BaSbPb. Thirty bullets were test fired with and without a suppressor, accompanied by sample collection in predetermined shooting intervals. The results of the present study demonstrate that the memory effect was significant even after 30 shots of the latter classic SINOXID ammunition, both with a suppressed pistol or unsuppressed pistol, and that the proportion of the particles not compatible with the primer composition was unequivocally pronounced when using a suppressed pistol. Moreover, shooting a suppressed pistol affects the total amount of gunshot residue found on the shooter's hands; thus, it should always be considered in reconstructions of shooting incidents. Explanations for this phenomenon are offered.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143545441","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

Combining virtual endoscopy and postmortem computed tomography to identify airway obstruction by a peritonsillar abscess as the cause of an asphyxia death.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-25 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70001

Xin Zhao, Zhiming Chen, Bo Wang, Hongyang Li, Liyao Yang, Lijun Wang, Hao Zhang, Guanglong He

引用次数: 0

A retrospective search of postmortem examination reports indicates that death following chiropractic neck manipulation in Australia appears to be a rare event.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-24 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70007

Jose D Chong, Neil E I Langlois, Roger W Byard

{"title":"A retrospective search of postmortem examination reports indicates that death following chiropractic neck manipulation in Australia appears to be a rare event.","authors":"Jose D Chong, Neil E I Langlois, Roger W Byard","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70007","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to review the deaths associated with chiropractic treatment in Australia. The National Coronial Information System (NCIS) was searched for cases in Australia for which chiropractic treatment was determined to have contributed to death. Closed, completed Australian cases between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2019 were evaluated (approximately 356,000 cases). This revealed only one case in which chiropractic treatment was considered to have contributed to death. The case was that of an adult male who died from a dissected left vertebral artery following chiropractic manipulation for neck pain. In addition, postmortem records at Forensic Science SA (FSSA) were searched for similar cases over the same time period (approximately 30,000 cases). No cases definitely attributable to chiropractic manipulation of the neck were found, but a case with thrombus in the left vertebral artery would not be entirely excluded as being related to chiropractic treatment. Deaths associated with chiropractic manipulation in Australia therefore appear rare. Although there is a reported incidence of stroke associated with vertebrobasilar artery system occlusion following chiropractic manipulation, stroke associated with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion has also been observed following a visit to a primary care physician. This could be explained by vertebrobasilar artery pathology causing neck pain that initiated consultation. Thus, the present study only demonstrates a rare temporal, but not causal, relationship between attending a chiropractor and vertebral artery dissection causing death. Non-lethal injuries were not assessed.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143485088","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

Identifying bromazolam, etizolam, and flualprazolam in blood using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 利用气相色谱-质谱法鉴定血液中的溴唑仑、依替唑仑和氟普唑仑。

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-18 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70003

Marco Ballotari, Michael T Truver, Devin C Baer, Sara C Brogan, Jennifer L Hoyer, Michele M Crosby, Bruce A Goldberger, Chris W Chronister

{"title":"Identifying bromazolam, etizolam, and flualprazolam in blood using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.","authors":"Marco Ballotari, Michael T Truver, Devin C Baer, Sara C Brogan, Jennifer L Hoyer, Michele M Crosby, Bruce A Goldberger, Chris W Chronister","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70003","url":null,"abstract":"Designer benzodiazepines are a commonly misused class of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) that present challenges for forensic toxicology laboratories and public health. Due to the difficulty in detection by routine toxicology methods, it is important to enhance the analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of designer benzodiazepines. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify designer benzodiazepines using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in postmortem blood specimens. A method originally validated to identify and quantitate alprazolam was modified to quantitate flualprazolam, etizolam, and bromazolam, as well as identify adinazolam and 4'-chloro-deschloroalprazolam. The method was subsequently used to analyze postmortem specimens (n = 35) from Medical Examiner Districts (n = 4) in Florida that screened positive for one or more designer benzodiazepines from February 2022 to December 2023. Among the screened samples, 21 tested positive for one or more designer benzodiazepines in the postmortem blood; 1 was positive for etizolam (90 ng/mL) and flualprazolam (<5.0 ng/mL), while 20 were positive for bromazolam. Bromazolam was the most frequently detected designer benzodiazepine, with a concentration range of 5.9-352 ng/mL (mean: 59.1 ng/mL; median: 28.5 ng/mL) for 18 decedents and <5.0 ng/mL for two decedents. Polydrug use was confirmed in all decedents. The most prevalent drugs found with bromazolam in the blood were fentanyl, methamphetamine and/or amphetamine, and cocaine. The optimized GC-MS method provides a way to identify and quantitate designer benzodiazepines in postmortem blood and to also qualitatively monitor two newer designer benzodiazepines: 4'-chloro-deschloroalprazolam and adinazolam.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143443065","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

Latent fingermark degradation processes by 3D imaging: The impact of substrate type and natural light on ridge height. 通过三维成像观察潜伏指痕的降解过程：基质类型和自然光对脊高的影响。

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-18 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70000

Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul, Michelle V Mancenido

{"title":"Latent fingermark degradation processes by 3D imaging: The impact of substrate type and natural light on ridge height.","authors":"Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul, Michelle V Mancenido","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70000","url":null,"abstract":"Friction ridge patterns, including those from latent fingermarks, are valuable physical evidence in the identification of individuals in criminal and humanitarian investigations. Although latent fingermarks may persist over extended periods, their time-dependent degradation remains poorly understood. Traditionally, aging studies have focused on two-dimensional (2D) ridge topography instead of more comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) examinations; but recent technological advancements have enabled the analysis of ridge height (z-dimension) and its modifications over time as a morphometric to describe aging patterns. This study assessed a 3D metric, Sa (i.e., average surface height), to monitor the natural degradation process of fingermarks from six donors (three males and three females) over 3 months. These were deposited on glass and plastic substrates and exposed to either natural light or complete darkness indoors, with temperature and humidity monitored but not controlled. Results revealed a \"substrate effect\" with a faster ridge height decrease on plastic under both lighting conditions. Interestingly, a \"light effect\" was less noticeable, and mostly for the plastic substrate. Although not the main focus of this analysis, a \"biological sex effect\" was also noticed, where female fingermarks degraded more slowly compared with males. This study showed the potential of the Sa metric to characterize the loss of ridge height under various indoor conditions. However, due to limitations such as a relatively small sample size, a standardized and accurate age determination of fingermarks is not yet feasible. Further research is necessary to refine 3D examinations and develop reliable models for estimating fingermark degradation.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143443068","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

A forensic engineering technique for analysis of an explosion incident.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70005

Ganchai Tanapornraweekit, Thimira Abeysinghe, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul

{"title":"A forensic engineering technique for analysis of an explosion incident.","authors":"Ganchai Tanapornraweekit, Thimira Abeysinghe, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70005","url":null,"abstract":"This article investigates the validity of current forensic practices to analyze an explosion event. The purpose of this study is to use forensic engineering techniques with the integrated models for the simulation of blast fragments and blast pressure to determine an explosive weight used in a bombing incident and later predict a lethal radius caused by blast pressure and a lethal zone caused by fragment impact. The real explosion incident at the Erawan shrine in central Bangkok on August 17, 2015, is selected as a case study. By comparing the structural damage at the blast site to the one obtained from finite element (FE) analyses, an estimated bare charge weight of TNT used in the incident can be obtained. It was found that an estimated bare charge of 3 kg TNT equivalent could have been used for the bomb. To confirm the validity of the calculated explosive weight, a combined lethal zone from blast pressure and scattered fragments was analyzed. Human damage due to the blast pressure is analyzed based on Bowen's lethality curves. The lethality zone from expelled fragments is drawn based on a 50% probability of lethality, which considers the hit density and kinetic energy of the fragment. The analyzed lethal zone agrees reasonably well with the actual observed human damage level. The proposed forensic engineering technique offers the potential for enhancing management and policies in homeland security, contributing to a safer community.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143434738","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

Hair root sonication washing impact on nuclei counts.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70002

Stephanie M Betts, Ivette A Espinoza Quiroga, Linda M Otterstatter, Joseph Donfack

{"title":"Hair root sonication washing impact on nuclei counts.","authors":"Stephanie M Betts, Ivette A Espinoza Quiroga, Linda M Otterstatter, Joseph Donfack","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70002","url":null,"abstract":"In a previous study, hair samples were washed by sonication in Terg-a-zyme™ (Alconox, White Plaines, NY, USA) as part of the DNA extraction protocol. The sonication wash step was deemed necessary in the previous study because the DNA extracts could be used for both mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear(nu) DNA analyses. In the current study, the impact of the sonication wash on the persistence of nuclei was assessed. Scalp hair roots were stained using the DNA binding dye 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and visible nuclei were counted. Hair roots that contained <50 visible nuclei were primarily used to monitor the change in the number of visible nuclei due to sonication. Hair roots with a larger number of nuclei counts (e.g., >100) were also included as comparative data. The selected hair samples were washed by sonication in Terg-a-zyme™. The number of nuclei detected in unwashed DAPI-stained hair roots was compared with the number in washed DAPI-stained hair roots. Intricacies that impeded visible nuclei counting in the same hair root were observed, such as orientation of the mounted hair root, hair root morphology, turgescence, and folding of soft tissue. Despite these challenges, this study showed the sonication wash of hair roots containing <50 visible nuclei might lead to a reduction of nuclei available for DNA extraction and short tandem repeat (STR) typing. However, for laboratories performing only nuDNA analysis, the sonication could be replaced with a less aggressive hair washing method such as briefly vortexing at low speed in saline followed by an ethanol rinse.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143434746","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

The influence of perceived difficulty, availability of marks, and examination time on the conclusions of firearms examiners.

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2025-02-14 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70004

Keith L Monson, Erich D Smith, Eugene M Peters

{"title":"The influence of perceived difficulty, availability of marks, and examination time on the conclusions of firearms examiners.","authors":"Keith L Monson, Erich D Smith, Eugene M Peters","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70004","url":null,"abstract":"Concurrent with studies on the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of decisions based on comparisons of fired bullet and cartridge cases, we also collected the opinions of the participating examiners as to the characteristics of the specimens provided and the difficulty of making comparisons. Examiners rated the ease with which they determined every conclusion (easy, average, hard) and estimated qualitatively the amount of visual information available to them in determining a conclusion (limited, some, extensive). Comparisons deemed hard were perceived generally to have somewhat fewer markings conducive for assessment, while comparisons where the markings were limited produced a larger number of inconclusive determinations. Perceived difficulty increased with wider separation in firing order (within or between three defined segments of 700-850 total firings). The repeatability of these qualitative assessments exceeded 60% and their average reproducibility was ~50%. Examination times did not vary significantly when rendering decisions of identification, elimination, or inconclusive, although bullet identifications appear to have taken slightly longer than those for cartridge cases. Hard comparisons, where the amount of information was limited, were not treated substantially differently from any other types of comparison. No correlation was found between difficulty and number of comparisons attempted. These results tend to contradict assertions by critics that examiners are tempted to declare inconclusive decisions to save time and avoid rendering an elimination or identification conclusion, or that the results are non-representative of casework, or that perceived difficulty affected the degree of examiner participation.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143416488","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

Genotyping strategies for tissues fixed with various embalming fluids for human identification, databasing, and traceability. 用各种防腐液固定的组织的基因分型策略，用于人类识别、数据库和可追溯性。

Journal of forensic sciences Pub Date : 2023-10-31 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15414

Madeline Ashton, Natalia Czado, Michelle Harrel, Sheree Hughes

{"title":"Genotyping strategies for tissues fixed with various embalming fluids for human identification, databasing, and traceability.","authors":"Madeline Ashton, Natalia Czado, Michelle Harrel, Sheree Hughes","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.15414","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1556-4029.15414","url":null,"abstract":"Within anatomical willed body programs and skeletal collections, whole bodies and their disassociated limbs and organs are identified and tracked. However, if these tracking mechanisms fail, DNA recovered from the formalin-fixed tissues/organs could provide an additional layer of quality assurance. Embalming fluids preserve biological tissues; however, they also damage, fragment, and cross-link DNA and protein molecules. This project investigated the success of STR-typing from various soft tissue and bone samples that were fixed with embalming solutions with a range of formaldehyde concentrations. Formalin-fixed samples dissected from five cadavers, including skin, muscle, bone, heart, and kidney were used in Phase 1 of this study. In Phase 2, an additional 57 tissue samples from various embalmed organs and body parts were collected to demonstrate long-term fixation and direct applicability within a body donor program. DNA was extracted from the samples using the QIAamp® FFPE Tissue Kit (QIAGEN), quantified with the Investigator® QuantiPlex® Pro RGQ qPCR Kit (QIAGEN), and amplified using the Investigator® 24plex and 26plex QS Kits and the Investigator® DIPplex Kit (QIAGEN). The results show the DNA was severely damaged, degraded, and often in low amounts (after one year post-embalming). Sampling from skin and muscle tissues embalmed with ~2.5%-5% formaldehyde solutions appears to be the best strategy for identification, while also maintaining the preservation of the tissues. The results of this project can provide informative data when determining which genotyping strategy may be best suited for the identification, re-association, and establishment of a database for the provenance of formalin-fixed human remains.","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71416309","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