Background: A series of novel and low-cost powders were synthesised for the detection and extraction of the latent fingerprints deposited on various porous and non-porous surfaces. The template materials for these novel products range from silica nanoparticles to iron nanoparticles and activated charcoal. Preliminary lab testing indicated high quality fingerprints that were developed on various porous and non-porous surfaces such as glass slides, polymer plastic bags, aluminium foil, cardboard and paper. Results: The silica based nano-fingerprint powders gave extremely fine visual prints as compared to commercial SIRCHIE® powders, with a white pattern of the ridges. Activated charcoal based and iron nanoparticles based powders on the other hand yielded fine black fingerprint patterns similar to the commercial SIRCHIE® powders. These series of powders were subjected to on-field testing by utilising the state-of-art facility of the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, Dubai Police. The samples were tested here under both lab conditions and virtual crime scenes, alongside the SIRCHIE® commercial powders already in standard use by the Dubai Police. The qualities of print developed were assessed based on the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) report and visual inspection by the senior fingerprint experts of the Dubai police. Conclusion: The study revealed distinct advantages of the novel synthesised products over the commercial powders. There was higher uniformity of the developed print patterns, higher score of AFIS analysis and advanced recovery of damaged fingerprints using the novel powders, which makes these novel products highly commercially viable.
The exploration, distributed as of late in PLOS One, found key components identifying with untimely grown-up passings by examining dissection reports and medicolegal demise examination records of 1,282 individuals between the ages of 25 and 59 who kicked the bucket in Harris County in 2013. As indicated by milestone research distributed in 2015, there has been a sensational flood in the death pace of moderately aged white Americans since 1999. Untimely grown-up passings are characterized as passings before the normal mortality age. I had seen more youthful individuals kicking the bucket when I worked at the IFS, so I set out to recognize the causes in Harris County, said Stacy Drake, PhD, MPH, RN, who is the lead creator of the examination and now an associate educator at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth.
The history of pink teeth phenomenon [PTP] dates back to 1829 when it was first described by Bell. Thereafter a number of publications were made on this topic. Initial observations on pink teeth tend to correlate it with asphyxial deaths, especially drowning and strangulation. However with the passage of time, the phenomenon was also observed in non asphyxial and unknown causes of death. On account of nonspecific nature and unclear mechanisms, the finding, however, gradually lost it medico-legal acumen. The basic process behind post-mortem pink teeth is congestion/ hyperemia of pulp capillaries followed by hemolysis causing hemoglobin release where after its subsequent diffusion into dentinal tubules stains them pink. The process, as stated, requires humid and moist surroundings along with a prolonged postmortem interval, so the majorities of the cases belong to putrefied and drowned corpses that frequently depict adipocere formation too. One reason behind this is the head down position of submerged cases which predisposes them to a strong cranial congestion especially in the areas of declivous lividity. A minimum time of one week has been suggested for the first appearance of pink coloration. After a thorough review of literature, including the recent ones and from our own observations, the association of pink teeth in certain asphyxial deaths, particularly fatal neck pressures like strangulation and hangings, appears to be reemerging. Furthermore the cases depicted in the text have substantiated the truth of Clark and Law (4) that an invariable allocation of the hypostatic congestion to the pink teeth formation is not justified, although due to scarcity of enough case material and literature, a definite opinion cannot be put straightforward.
The study of palate shape or rugae pattern is known as Rugoscopy. Rugae are anatomical folds that are present on anterior third of palate of upper jaw behind the incisive papillae. These are transverse ridges located on palatal mucosa. These are used in forensic odontology for personal identification. They are unique and remain unchangeable throughout the life of a person from birth. The fat of buccal pad and tongue keep them (rugae pattern) protected from any kind of trauma. They vary in their size, shape, length and pattern from person to person and from left side to right side in same person and hence is used in personal identification
The pesticide poisoning cases are one of the most common referred for examination in Forensic Laboratories. Currently, these laboratories detect pesticides in visceral samples by using conventional techniques namely Thin-layer Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry techniques in antemortem and postmortem crime exhibits. However, these techniques are constrained by various factors including low sensitivity, efficiency, time consumption, high cost and require trained personnel to operate. The rapid development in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials will certainly pave the way for the development of new methods for detection of Organophosphorus pesticides in exhibits referred for forensic examination with the potentials to overcome the limitations of the conventional techniques. The researchers of various disciplines including chemical, biological, physical, medicine, explosive, fingerprinting, environment and biochemistry are exploring the Nanomaterials and Nanotechniques. Various Nanomaterials based sensors and detection techniques have been developed which have been found powerful tools for pesticides detection at very low level in food samples and contaminated water. These Nanotechniques and Nanomaterials may render great help in detection of pesticides in poisoning cases. Therefore, in forensic examination, it is decisive to apply the novel promising Nanomaterials and Nanotechniques for detection of OrganoPhosphorus (OP) pesticides with high sensitivity, selectively and rapidity. This review paper provides an insight of using nanomaterials based techniques for detection of OP pesticides
Biometric traits are now highly explored by the researchers to establish a system which can be used to identify a person accurately. The finger knuckle prints refers to the inherent patterns of skin that are formed at the joints in the finger back surface. This paper presents the comparative study of the finger knuckle prints, its individuality on the basis of which the prints are different from each other.
Fires in India account for the loss of property and lives as seen in examples of the AMRI Hospital Fire in Kolkata, Kamala mills fires at Mumbai, Carlton Tower fire in Bengaluru, etc. Hence, it is important to prepare strategies for minimizing fire incidents when possible, example workplaces. In this regard, this research study was undertaken to assess the present status of knowledge regarding fire safety practices at the Indian workplace. The assessment will help in initiation of better action strategies towards fire risk management and mitigation. In this study, employee perspectives regarding fire safety and awareness at workplaces were collected and analysed. This paper provides information about workplace fire safety protocols, preparedness of employees to handle emergency and personal coping strategies when faced with workplace fires. The study found that while most employees were aware of personal safety procedures; the awareness regarding usage of fire safety aids was lacking. Ultimately, workplace safety procedures need to be enhanced in certain cases to effectively combat and deal with future fire incidents.
Background: Forensic serology and DNA profiling are extremely important branches of forensic science. Forensic serology has been a major area of forensic science biology for many decades. Forensic serology is traditionally been concerned with the identification and individualization of biological evidence. The use of DNA technology in forensic science evidence examination is the most beneficial and an important part as compared to the forensic serology division. Main body of the abstract: The biology branch of the forensic science laboratory performs serological and DNA analysis of physiological fluids for identification and individualization. Forensic techniques for DNA profiling which being developing around 1985 have replaced the classical or traditional genetic system previously used such that forensic serology. DNA typing can help to bring home the guilt, acquit the innocent those wrongly convicted. Conclusion: In this article we’ll review two techniques of forensic science which are the basis of forensic serology and DNA typing as important forensic evidence. Apart from all available techniques DNA profiling for evidence easily give the result. Forensic DNA profiling is used to bring major benefits to society by helping to convict serious criminals.
The victim died in 2008 by a near contact, penetrating discharge by a 12 gauge shotgun to his left head at the ear. The determination of the manner of death was suicide, later concluded by a grand jury to be accidental. However, death scene images and reports reveal an obvious homicide. The scene and autopsy were documented by six digital cameras at different times. This homicide is unusual: 1) Prior to this report, there was no expert analysis of the evidence. 2) Blowback from the victim’s head was substantial, propelling tissue as much as 14.3 m (47 feet) from the victim. 3) The shotgun’s position at discharge was not possible for either suicide or accident scenarios. 4) The shooting scene was ineptly staged. 5) The staging of the shooting scene continued into the scene processing which was image documented with metadata time stamps. 6) Multiple persons were involved in the homicide.
Nasal Index is a very important anthropometric index which depend on the nasal parameters such as Nasal height and Nasal width. It is very useful in distinguishing racial and sexiual differences. It is also useful in finding an unknown person. The shape and size of the nose depends on the environmental factors and climatic conditions.
Burned bones are significant forensic evidence but the question arises about the analysis of burned bones. By being a fragile commodity burned bones can be hard to analysis. Over the year many researchers have given their important inputs towards the examination of the burned bones but the standard for all the research remains missing. The paper focuses on providing a bridge between the studies and to give significant insights in the analysis and recovery of burned bones and how they are an important in analysing the different parameters of forensic anthropology.
Novel techniques for personal identification are being researched using the latest available imaging devices. These studies may assist with disaster victim identification in future mass disasters. Studies have already been conducted on the use of advanced imaging for positive identification in forensic pathology using radiographic image recognition and other identification or authentication techniques. These techniques are based on information extracted from biological fingerprints through digital radiography and other advanced imaging techniques such as CT and MRI. Although, image matching and identification in advanced digital images is still in the initial stages of development, it has shown promising results in preventing medical accidents and for identifying specific patients. These techniques may be effective for positive identification in the fields of forensic pathology, forensic odontology, and forensic anthropology.
Primarily, this paper shall present the efficacy of forensic linguistic tools in establishing the identity of the person of interest by the unique multicultural determinants in the commission of the crime. Secondly, this will also highlight the practical description and analysis of forensic linguistics, more particularly on linguistic dialectology, which refers to the study of dialects in a methodological manner based on anthropological information. It shall elaborate on authentic case crime transcripts in assessing the tone, diction, and other linguistic features unique in a multicultural setting more particularly in assessing threat in establishing leads in identifying persons of interest by law enforcements. Lastly, the synthesis of the unique multicultural construct that the court may consider to be a determining evidence of a crime. In the Philippine context, the term Person of interest is commonly used by law enforcement to identify someone involved in a criminal investigation that has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It is used as equivalent for suspect. In a wider perspective, forensic linguistics covers these persons of interest by establishing proven facts as required by law in presenting compelling evidence.
Ulcerative lesions of the oral cavity are versatile. Autoimmune disorders like pemphigus present themselves with multiple different variants of ulcerative lesions. The diagnosis of such lesion at an early stage is very important to treat the disease condition faster and wiser. It affects the quality of life of patients. This paper pemphigoid case is discussed which was confined to the oral cavity. The final diagnosis was made using histopathology. Later the patient was given steroids and immunosuppressants for the management of the disease. Conclusion-Oral medicine experts or dentists play an important role in diagnosing autoimmune disorders. An early diagnosis and treatment can help the patient recovering soon and it also further improves the patient's quality of life.
This research examines the two-fold question of why people are so poor at detecting deception and why the indirect assessment of veracity may be more accurate than direct assessment. Four statements made by criminal defendants, two true and two deceptive, were rated by participants on a nine item test of veracity. Eight of the items were derived from Criterion-Based Content Analysis and Reality Monitoring, two techniques of verbal content analysis that exhibit good reliability. Scores on these eight items represented the indirect measure of truthfulness while a ninth item, the direct measure, asked participants to rate the overall truthfulness of each statement. Results indicated that the indirect assessment of truthfulness accurately classified a higher percentage of the statements made by the criminal defendants than the direct assessment while also accounting for more of the variance in the rating. The superior accuracy of indirect assessment, however, resulted from its greater ability to accurately identify truthful rather than deceptive statements. Further, the results suggest that direct assessment overwhelmingly relies on a single variable of realism while largely failing to use the seven other items, while indirect assessment utilizes all eight items approximately equally. The results also suggest that a one-step cognitive process is used in determining that a statement is true but that a two-step process is used in determining a statement is deceptive. These results support the idea that people are poor at detecting deception because identifying a statement as deceptive literally requires more cognitive effort than assuming veracity. Indirect assessment is more reliable since it permits the use of multiple sources of information rather than relying on a single attribute.
The purpose of an investigative sketch is to provide a correct record that shows the scene as it was found and that can be examined later. It does not require artistic ability but must be accurate enough to show the facts. The sketch is supplementary to the investigator's field notes. Hence to improvise the data being recorded, we are proposing introduction of 3D scanning to the crime scene documentation process. 3D scanning will provide us more precised and detailed results which will help the investigators to reconstruct the crime scene in a very easy and handy way. 3D scanning being digital data it will be very easy to handle and combine it with other technology like virtual reality (VR), Simulation etc… which will increase its importance as a document as well as evidence. It’s also very safe to use it digitally as we can encrypt it using hash function and its own digital profile will also help to prevent tempering. So, in this study we are scanning 3 sample crime scenes in three different conditions by a 3D scanner and make the 3D models of the respective scenes to understand its strengths and weaknesses. So that we can use it for investigation processes and overcome its flaws.
Human facial morphology is diverse between individuals and communities, and is affected by gene polymorphisms. We investigated the effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of ENPP1 and GHR genes on facial features. 20 volunteers over the age of 18 without birth defects, facial trauma, reconstructive and plastic surgery, facial and dental implant treatment, orthognathic/maxillofacial surgery story and facial paralysis or neurological problems resulting any facial abnormalities were selected for the study. Two SNP genotypes and a total of 40 samples were studied. 15 anatomic regions were identified on the face and 27 physical measurements were made between these 15 regions. ENPP1 (rs7754561) and biometric measurements between the points were found associated significantly. We believe that the data obtained from this study might be one of the study for the development of the powerful identification methods from DNA in forensic sciences. The information obtained from DNA analysis might be used for drawing 2D or 3D robot images. If the genes affecting the facial morphology and the variants of these genes are well understood, it would be possible to reach the person whose DNA could not be identified in databases.
Disaster may be caused by natural events such as severe flooding, earthquake or volcanic eruptions.it can also be due to human activities such as mishaps involving mass transport by Land Sea, air and other causes include war, boundary disputes. Identification of individual victims by devital means is one of the most reliable methods. In case of severe disintegration visual recognition of facial features and finger prints are often impossible due to soft tissue destruction. This situation necessitates the use of the hard calcified tissue such as human dentition and jaws, pelvis and skull
Prepared canines are inconceivable compound sensors, much better at recognizing explosives, opiates and different substances than even the most progressive innovative gadget. In any case, one test is that canines must be prepared, and preparing them with genuine risky substances can be badly designed and perilous. NIST researchers have been attempting to tackle this issue utilizing a jello-like material called polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS for short. PDMS retains scents and deliveries them gradually after some time. Wall it in a holder with a hazardous or opiate for half a month until it retains the smells, and you would then be able to utilize it to securely prepare canines to identify the genuine article. Yet, half a month is quite a while, and now, NIST specialists have built up a quicker method to inject PDMS with fumes. In the diary Forensic Chemistry, they depict warming mixes found in explosives, making them discharge fumes all the more immediately, at that point catching those fumes with PDMS that is kept up at a cooler temperature, which permits it to retain fumes all the more promptly. This two-temperature strategy slice the time it took to charge PDMS preparing helps from half a month to a couple of days.
Background: Forensic facial reconstruction (FFR) is a mixture of science and art, as it attempts to re-establish the contours of the soft tissues over the skull. From a forensic point of view, identification of an unknown body relies heavily on this visual aspect of recognition. Accurate facial soft tissue thickness data are essential for acceptable results. Facial reconstruction (FR) relies on the relationships between the facial features, subcutaneous soft tissues and underlying bony structure of the skull. If impossible to compare questioned remains with possible familiar material, in such cases one of the last chances is to recreate ante mortem appearance is by FR. Within forensic anthropology facial reconstruction is employed when all other alternatives are unsuccessful, thus it is a last resort employed in the anticipation that someone, somewhere, will be able to identify the deceased and offer clues to law enforcement investigators which ultimately lead to an arrest. Aims & objectives: Material & Method: The study was conducted among patients of Kanpur district reporting to the dental OPD of Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Center, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. In this study, lateral cephalometric radiographs of 100 healthy individuals were taken for 50 North Indian males and 50 North Indian females. All of them were aged between 15 and 40 years. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committee of Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Center, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Results: Student’s t-test was applied to assess association between facial parameters and gender. The p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Of all the parameters, facial angle, upper lip curvature, Nose tip to H-line, and Upper lip sulcus did not show any statistical association between male and female groups. Skeletal convexity Pta, H-angle, and Lower lip to H-line was found to be greater in females than males and the difference was statistically significant. Upper lip strain, upper lip thickness, lower sulcus depth, and soft tissue chin thickness were parameters that had greater values in males as compared to females and this difference was also found to be statistically significant. ANOVA test was applied to assess the facial parameters between the age categories. The facial angle was reported highest in the 31-35 years age group and lowest in 21-25 years age group. However the difference in facial angle values was not statistically significant between the age groups. The remaining parameters showed a statistically significant difference between age groups and so a post hoc test was applied to present the association between each age groupin the individual parameters. The post hoc test is presented and explained below. Difference in Upper lip curvature was statistically significant between 15- 20 age group with 26-30 and 31-35 age groups, 21-25 with 36-40 age groups. H-angle was found to be statistically different between 15-20 and 31-35 years age group, 21-25 and 31-35 age group and 26-30 and 31-35 age groups. The upper lip thickness was found to be statistically different between 15-20 and 26-30 age group, 15-20 and 36-40 age group, 21-25 and 36-40 age groups. The upper lip strain was markedly significant when age groups 15-20 and 26-30, 21-25 and 26-30, 26-30 and 36-40 age groups were compared. The difference between lower lip to H-line was statistically significant between 15- 20 age groups versus all other groups, 21-25 versus 31-35 and 36-40 age groups, and 26-30 and 31-35 age groups. Also, in soft tissue chin thickness, statistically significant differences were found between age groups 15-20 and 26-30, 31-35 and 21-25 with 26-30, 31-35, 26-40 and between 26-30 and 36-40 age groups ANOVA test was applied to assess the facial parameters and their association among the different groups as categorized by BMI categories. Of all the parameters, Facial angle, Upper lip strain and lower sulcus depth did not present any statistical variation as per BMI. The remaining parameters where BMI categories showed statistically significant difference between each other were further analysed by using post hoc test and is presented below. Post hoc analysis for Upper lip curvature showed significant difference in <18.5 BMI and 25-29.9, 35-39.9 and30-34.9 with 18.5–24.9, 25-29.9 and 35-39.9. Skeletal convexity Pta differed significantly in <18.5 with25-29.9 and 35-39.9with 18.5–24.9 and 30-34.9. BMI categories showed statistical difference between all categories except between 18.5–24.9 and 25-29.9, 30-34.9 BMI and 30-34.9 with 35-39.9 in case of H-angle. Nose tip to H line was statistically different for 35-39.9 with all other categories. Upper lip sulcus was found to be different in 35-39.9 BMI to all other categories and additionally <18.5 BMI was also different from 18.5–24.9 and 25-29.9. Upper lip thickness was measured to be statistically different for 25-29.9 BMI with <18 and 30-34.9, while 35-39.9 BMI differed with <18, 18.5–24.9and 30-34.9. Lower lip thickness was statistically variable only between<18.5 and 35-39.9. Lastly, soft tissue thickness showed a significant difference in BMI for<18 and 18.5–24.9 with 25-29.9 and 35-39.9 BMI respectively. Conclusion: In our study of all the parameters, facial angle, upper lip curvature, Nose tip to H-line, and Upper lip sulcus did not show any statistical association between male and female groups. Skeletal convexity Pt A, H-angle, and Lower lip to H-line was found to be greater in females than males and the difference was statistically significant. Upper lip strain, upper lip thickness, lower sulcus depth, and soft tissue chin thickness were parameters that had greater values in males as compared to females and this difference was also found to be statistically significant. This study focused on evaluating soft tissue profile of Kanpur individuals according to Holdaway analysis. The results revealed that some measurements were different from those proposed by Holdaway including; facial angle, H angle, upper lip curvature, nose tip to H line and upper lip sulcus. These differences disclose the importance of using normative data established for Kanpur population in forensic reconstruction. After analysing the effect of BMI on facial soft tissue thicknesses, this study states that the nutritional status of the individuals is an important factor to consider during facial reconstruction from skulls, as well as in studies on soft tissue thicknesses.
