Forensic Sciences

10 pages, 925 KiB

Open AccessReview

Wildlife Forensic Sciences: A Tool to Nature Conservation towards a One Health Approach

by Catarina Jota Baptista, Fernanda Seixas, José Manuel Gonzalo-Orden and Paula A. Oliveira

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 808-817; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040058 - 17 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5356

Wildlife forensics is a science field with a remarkable potential to provide accurate information regarding nature conservation and One Health. Wildlife crimes are now a persistent target of public opinion and the concern of conservation professionals, which is constantly putting pressure on governmental [...] Read more.

Wildlife forensics is a science field with a remarkable potential to provide accurate information regarding nature conservation and One Health. Wildlife crimes are now a persistent target of public opinion and the concern of conservation professionals, which is constantly putting pressure on governmental and non-governmental entities. Moreover, the cross-species transmission of pathogens is becoming more and more frequent, endangering the interconnected health of humans, animals and the environment (One Health). This review intends to briefly present and illustrate the potential of wildlife forensic sciences not only in crime solving, but also regarding health sciences and species conservation. By allowing target species identification, recreating the crime scene, and considering their contribution to diseases and ecosystems’ surveillance, wildlife forensics are now constantly developing and improving. A cooperative and multidisciplinary approach (with the inclusion of forensic sciences) is necessary to avoid wildlife crimes, disease outbreaks, environmental disasters and to promote a sustainable and healthy future for all the living beings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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13 pages, 3934 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Development of a Simple Cell Harvesting Method to Maximise DNA Recovery from Historic Microscope Slides for Sexual Assault Investigations

by Colby M. Hymus, Scott E. Egan and Jasmine W. Tay

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 795-807; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040057 - 17 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2082

Abstract

Microscopy slides are routinely created as part of sexual assault workflows for screening purposes and retained indefinitely with instances, such as cold cases, where they are the only remaining source of evidence. To date, no method has been developed to harvest the cells [...] Read more.

Microscopy slides are routinely created as part of sexual assault workflows for screening purposes and retained indefinitely with instances, such as cold cases, where they are the only remaining source of evidence. To date, no method has been developed to harvest the cells from these slides for differential extraction using the i-sep^® DL column or Intimate extraction using the PrepFiler™ Express chemistry supplemented with 60 mM DTT. This study used mock sexual assault slides from 2010 to develop a potential cell harvesting method, then tested both the extraction methods on historic casework slides collected in the 1980s and 1990s. Key findings included the necessity to re-screen slides microscopically to assess current cellular loading and the utility of using phase contrast to enhance visualisation of spermatozoa on historic slides. Both extraction methods successfully recovered DNA and generated partial profiles from the 1990s slides, but 1980s slides were too degraded to provide informative profiles. Differential extraction provided additional contextual information by separating contributors into sperm and non-sperm fractions, resulting in cleaner sperm profiles for interpretation. The study successfully established methods for historic microscope slides to be used as viable sources of evidence, potentially aiding in the progression and resolution of sexual assault investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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15 pages, 2440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sexual Dimorphism of the Human Scapula: A Geometric Morphometrics Study in Two Portuguese Reference Skeletal Samples

by Rúben Maranho, Maria Teresa Ferreira and Francisco Curate

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 780-794; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040056 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2935

Abstract

The estimation of biological sex is of paramount relevance in the analysis of skeletal remains recovered in forensic contexts. This study aims to assess sexual dimorphism for identification purposes, from two reference samples of the Portuguese population, and a depiction of the size- [...] Read more.

The estimation of biological sex is of paramount relevance in the analysis of skeletal remains recovered in forensic contexts. This study aims to assess sexual dimorphism for identification purposes, from two reference samples of the Portuguese population, and a depiction of the size- and shape-related sexual dimorphism of the human scapula using geometric morphometrics approaches. The sample comprised 211 individuals (100 males and 111 females). A generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) was performed for shape analyses, a principal component analysis (PCA) and a Procrustes ANOVA were implemented on the GPA transformed variables, and a discriminant analysis was used to assess the cross-validated accuracy of sex estimates. The data showed that male scapulae were larger, with medial and lateral curves more pronounced and an inferior angle more acute than females. The males and females were classified with low accuracy (66.82% and 65.88% for landmarks and semi-landmarks data) based on shape. Combining size and shape variables improved the accuracy of the prediction using landmarks data (80.09%). A combination of both variables might improve the chances of the geometric morphometrics methodology in correctly estimating the sex of unidentified individuals, especially if the skeletal elements show low sexual shape dimorphism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection The Rise of Forensic Anthropology and Documented Human Osteological Collections)

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39 pages, 8490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subadult Age Estimation Using the Mixed Cumulative Probit and a Contemporary United States Population

by Kyra E. Stull, Elaine Y. Chu, Louise K. Corron and Michael H. Price

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 741-779; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040055 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1917

Abstract

The mixed cumulative probit (MCP), a new, flexible algorithm that accommodates a variety of mean and shape parameters in univariate models and conditional dependence/independence in multivariate models, was used to develop subadult age estimation models. Sixty-two variables were collected on computed tomography (CT) [...] Read more.

The mixed cumulative probit (MCP), a new, flexible algorithm that accommodates a variety of mean and shape parameters in univariate models and conditional dependence/independence in multivariate models, was used to develop subadult age estimation models. Sixty-two variables were collected on computed tomography (CT) images of 1317 individuals (537 females and 780 males) aged between birth and 21 years from the United States sample in the Subadult Virtual Anthropology Database (SVAD). Long bone measurements (n = 18), stages of epiphyseal fusion and ossification (n = 28), and stages of dental development of permanent teeth (n = 16) were used in univariate, multivariate, and mixed models and compared using test mean log posterior (TMNLP), root mean squared error (RMSE), and percent accuracy on an independent test sample. Out of the six possible parameter combinations, all combinations were accounted for at least once in the data and conditionally dependent models outperformed the conditionally independent models. Overall, multivariate models exhibited smaller TMNLP and RMSE, and an overall greater stability in the age estimations compared to univariate models across all ages and independent of indicator type. Pre-optimized subadult age estimation models are freely available for immediate application through MCP-S-Age, a graphical user interface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Estimating Age in Forensic Anthropology)

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16 pages, 50801 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions

by Kristina Baumjohann and Mark Benecke

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 725-740; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040054 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 19758

Abstract

Decompositional processes depend on temperature, humidity, and light, as well as on animals that can access the body. In low-level cases, suicides, or cases of self-neglect especially, these factors are not always taken into consideration because a full investigation may not have taken [...] Read more.

Decompositional processes depend on temperature, humidity, and light, as well as on animals that can access the body. In low-level cases, suicides, or cases of self-neglect especially, these factors are not always taken into consideration because a full investigation may not have taken place. Misinterpretations of environmental factors can put crime scene investigators on the wrong track, and natural causes of missing tissue may be wrongly interpreted as violence or wounds. Here, we give some examples for the influence of invertebrate land animals on corpses. Full article

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0 pages, 268 KiB

Open AccessReview

Skeletal Sex Estimation Methods Based on the Athens Collection

by Maria-Eleni Chovalopoulou, Efstratios Valakos and Efthymia Nikita

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 715-724; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040053 - 30 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2620 | Correction

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to present all studies that have used the Athens Collection in order to develop methods for skeletal sex estimations and highlight the importance of documented skeletal reference collections in forensic anthropology. The Athens Collection is housed at [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper was to present all studies that have used the Athens Collection in order to develop methods for skeletal sex estimations and highlight the importance of documented skeletal reference collections in forensic anthropology. The Athens Collection is housed at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; it consists of 250 individuals and both sexes are well-represented. Several studies have used this collection for skeletal sex estimations. In particular, macroscopic observation methods have been used based on the cranium and pelvis; metric methods, including geometric morphometrics, have been applied to cranial and postcranial elements. These studies involved both the development of methods for the sex estimation of Greek/Eastern Mediterranean assemblages and an examination of the accuracy of the existing methods, thus making this collection a key resource for forensic anthropological and bioarchaeological research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection The Rise of Forensic Anthropology and Documented Human Osteological Collections)

19 pages, 819 KiB

Open AccessReview

Autopsy by Imaging: The Last 10 Years

by Ellie Mercala and Emyr Wyn Benbow

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 696-714; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040052 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3705

Abstract

Virtual autopsies (VAs) are non-invasive, bypassing many of the challenges posed by traditional autopsies (TAs). This is a literature review about the sensitivity of the main VA techniques: post mortem (PM) computed tomography (PMCT) and PM magnetic resonance (PMMR). This could help to [...] Read more.

Virtual autopsies (VAs) are non-invasive, bypassing many of the challenges posed by traditional autopsies (TAs). This is a literature review about the sensitivity of the main VA techniques: post mortem (PM) computed tomography (PMCT) and PM magnetic resonance (PMMR). This could help to identify the most appropriate uses for VA, and where future research should focus. A review was performed, searching for literature from the last 10 years regarding how sensitive VA is at detecting common lesions that could cause or contribute to death. 33 studies were included. There was strong agreement that PMCT had strengths in detecting: free gas; fractures; large fluid accumulations; and calcifications. PMCT’s weaknesses included missing: pulmonary emboli; myocardial infarctions; and visceral/soft tissue lesions. The strengths of PMMR were less widely agreed, but included detecting: large fluid collections; myocardial infarctions; and visceral/soft tissue lesions. There were no wide agreements on PMMR’s weaknesses due to a lack of literature. Therefore, VA is a useful adjunct to TA; however, its drawbacks in reliably detecting common causes of death restrict its ability to fully replace TA. Novel imaging techniques are being developed in order to bridge the current gaps of VA, and make autopsies even less invasive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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14 pages, 1825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Bayesian Approach to Estimating Age from the Auricular Surface of the Ilium in Modern American Skeletal Samples

by Samantha M. Hens and Kanya Godde

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 682-695; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040051 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2035

Abstract

Age estimation from human skeletal remains is a critical component of the biological profile for unidentified decedents. Using a Bayesian approach, we examine two popular methods (Lovejoy–LJ, and Buckberry zand Chamberlain–BC) for estimating age from the auricular surface of the ilium. Ages of [...] Read more.

Age estimation from human skeletal remains is a critical component of the biological profile for unidentified decedents. Using a Bayesian approach, we examine two popular methods (Lovejoy–LJ, and Buckberry zand Chamberlain–BC) for estimating age from the auricular surface of the ilium. Ages of transition are generated from a modern Portuguese skeletal sample (n = 466) and are coupled with an informative prior from historic Spitalfields, London (n = 179) to estimate age in a sample of modern Americans from the Bass Donated collection (n = 639). The Bass collection was challenging to statistically model, potentially due to higher morbidity and mortality characteristics of the central southern United States. The highest posterior density ranges provide a realized accuracy between 84–89% for males and 85–91% for females using the LJ method, and a realized accuracy between 79–82% for males and 65–71% for females using the BC method. Both methods worked well for older individuals. Cumulative binomials showed that both methods significantly underperformed; however, results were better for the LJ method, which also showed lower bias. Reference tables for aging modern American samples are provided, and the data meet Daubert guidelines, i.e., legal criteria for acceptable scientific evidence in a court of law in the United States. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Estimating Age in Forensic Anthropology)

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10 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Enhanced Efficiency of PrepFiler™ BTA DNA Extraction Kit with PrepFiler™ Lysis Buffer Top-Up over Sample Remnants

by Courtney J. Cameron, Colby M. Hymus, Kenny Quach, Shannen J. Blackwell and Jasmine W. Tay

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 672-681; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040050 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2234

Abstract

The PrepFiler™ BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit (BTA) is designed to purify DNA from challenging forensic samples including tissue, bone, tooth and adhesive-containing substrates. Earlier versions of the manual state that lysates are stable at ambient temperature for 24 h when 300 µL [...] Read more.

The PrepFiler™ BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit (BTA) is designed to purify DNA from challenging forensic samples including tissue, bone, tooth and adhesive-containing substrates. Earlier versions of the manual state that lysates are stable at ambient temperature for 24 h when 300 µL of PrepFiler™ lysis buffer is added to the lysate. The effect of centrifuging additional PrepFiler™ lysis buffer over PrepFiler™ BTA-lysed remnants has not been evaluated previously. This study evaluated the DNA yield and STR profile quality of BTA lysates after 24 h with or without PrepFiler™ lysis buffer addition over sample remnants. Blood, semen and buccal cells on tape were processed with 300 µL of PrepFiler™ lysis buffer added directly to spun lysates (standard) or over sample remnants (top-up), and DNA extracted immediately or 24 h after lysis. The top-up method generated higher DNA yields for all tape samples tested, with diluted semen returning the greatest improvement. Comparison of standard and top-up methods for chewing gum, tissue and tooth samples showed that cigarette butt remnants must be removed prior to top-up to maintain resultant DNA quality. The top-up method maximizes DNA recovery using Prepfiler™ BTA, while enabling the combination of PrepFiler™ BTA and PrepFiler™ lysates DNA purification batches for high-throughput applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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15 pages, 313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond the Penrose Hypothesis: Examining the Association between the Availability of Psychiatric Care and National Homicide Rates in 166 Countries

by Ravi Philip Rajkumar

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 657-671; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040049 - 14 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1850

Abstract

The association between mental illness and violent crimes such as homicide is complex. In 1939, Lionel Penrose hypothesized that the availability of psychiatric hospital beds was inversely related to the prison population, presumably due to the hospitalization of potential offenders with a mental [...] Read more.

The association between mental illness and violent crimes such as homicide is complex. In 1939, Lionel Penrose hypothesized that the availability of psychiatric hospital beds was inversely related to the prison population, presumably due to the hospitalization of potential offenders with a mental illness. Subsequent studies have found evidence for this association, but questions remain about the contributions of confounding factors. Moreover, there has been a move towards deinstitutionalization and community care of the mentally ill over the past six decades. In this study, the association between national homicide rates and three measures of the availability of psychiatric care—the numbers of psychiatrists, general hospital psychiatric beds, and psychiatric hospital beds per 100,000 population—was examined using a time-lagged correlation analysis. Associations between homicide rates and socioeconomic factors associated with crime were also examined. It was found that the availability of psychiatrists and of general hospital psychiatric beds were both negatively correlated with homicide rates, and that the association with general hospital psychiatric beds remained significant even after correction for confounding factors. These results suggest the need for a more nuanced interpretation of Penrose’s original formulation, involving the interplay of social, economic factors and psychological factors rather than linear causality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

7 pages, 7969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pink Teeth Phenomenon in Dogs and a Cat

by Adam W. Stern, AnnMarie Clark, Jason H. Byrd, Katrina M. Leser and Haley Russo

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 650-656; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040048 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2813

Abstract

The observance of pink teeth during the postmortem period in humans is known as the pink teeth phenomenon. In contrast, postmortem pink discoloration of teeth is rarely reported in veterinary medicine. We examined the teeth of nine dogs and a cat postmortem, all [...] Read more.

The observance of pink teeth during the postmortem period in humans is known as the pink teeth phenomenon. In contrast, postmortem pink discoloration of teeth is rarely reported in veterinary medicine. We examined the teeth of nine dogs and a cat postmortem, all of which had varying degrees of pink discoloration of the teeth. Pink discoloration occurred in all types of teeth (incisors, canine, premolar, and molar). The roots of several teeth were discolored, ranging from pink to red, and over a 2–3 week period one dog’s lower incisors’ color changed from pink to red. Although the mechanism causing teeth to change color is suspected to be the uptake of hemoglobin within dentin tubules, the trigger for this phenomenon is not well understood. Our findings confirm the occurrence of the pink teeth phenomenon in dogs and a cat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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15 pages, 1082 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

The Importance of Soil on Human Taphonomy and Management of Portuguese Public Cemeteries

by Angela Silva-Bessa, Áurea Madureira-Carvalho, Lorna Dawson, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira and Shari L. Forbes

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 635-649; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040047 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3837

Abstract

Cemeteries from the European Romantic period (18th–19th centuries) are often compared to small cities that hold memories, art, and history. Portuguese public cemeteries were first established in 1835 and became an interesting combination of fauna, flora, and monumental sculptures to mourn the dead [...] Read more.

Cemeteries from the European Romantic period (18th–19th centuries) are often compared to small cities that hold memories, art, and history. Portuguese public cemeteries were first established in 1835 and became an interesting combination of fauna, flora, and monumental sculptures to mourn the dead at a location outside the limits of the city. Over the past 187 years, laws have been created and amended taking into consideration the needs of the population and the scientific knowledge available at each time point in history. Nevertheless, cemeteries have long been struggling with the lack of burial space which has been emphasised during the two years of the COVID pandemic. This work aims to review the development of Portuguese public cemeteries since their establishment, highlighting the imposed measures for the inhumation and exhumation of the deceased. It will also discuss the importance of soil as an abiotic agent, focusing on eight specific soil properties and their significance on the characterisation of graves. It is expected that a better understanding of the impact of soil on human taphonomy supports the role of city halls in managing public cemeteries, particularly the lack of burial space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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15 pages, 7505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Decomposition: A Preliminary Study of Non-Destructive Detection of Simulated body Fluids in the Shallow Subsurface

by Pier Matteo Barone, Danielle Matsentidi, Alex Mollard, Nikola Kulengowska and Mohit Mistry

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 620-634; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040046 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2010

Abstract

The processes of decomposition that the body will have after the time of death are peculiar and complex. The body swells and expels gases and fluids, and the flesh decays. It also attracts many insects and scavengers. We know that these fluids are [...] Read more.

The processes of decomposition that the body will have after the time of death are peculiar and complex. The body swells and expels gases and fluids, and the flesh decays. It also attracts many insects and scavengers. We know that these fluids are nutrients for the vegetation, and if the body is inhumed in the subsurface, they allow a rapid crop growth that remote sensors can mark. During forensic investigations, mapping the fluid migration in the subsurface can help reconstruct the genesis of a clandestine grave. Several studies show how different remote sensors and analyses can be sensitive to human burials. This paper presents a preliminary experiment studying the fluid dispersion in the subsurface using simulated body fluids in a shallow grave and detecting it through the ground penetrating radar (GPR) technique (given its ability to detect dielectric constant changes in the investigated media) and other remote sensing techniques. Although the simulation of the body fluids related to the dielectric constant was accurate and allowed us to better understand how decomposition in the subsurface does not always migrate in the way that was initially expected (toward gravity), other typical characteristics of the body fluids, other soils and external factors were left out and would be studied in future simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Geoscience and Death Investigations)

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5 pages, 1041 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

An Atypical Disease-Knowledge-Related Suicide by Means of Slashing the Hemodialytic Arteriovenous Fistula

by Nicola Galante, Barbara Ciprandi and Lorenzo Franceschetti

Forensic Sci. 2022, 2(4), 615-619; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040045 - 21 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2894

Abstract

A case of suicide committed by self-cutting the arteriovenous fistula in a patient on hemodialysis is presented. A 77-year-old man was found dead with a blood-stained kitchen knife in the bedroom by his daughter. The man suffered from severe chronic renal failure, for [...] Read more.

A case of suicide committed by self-cutting the arteriovenous fistula in a patient on hemodialysis is presented. A 77-year-old man was found dead with a blood-stained kitchen knife in the bedroom by his daughter. The man suffered from severe chronic renal failure, for which he needed hemodialysis. Moreover, he was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer relapse. At autopsy, there was a single incised wound on the anterior surface of the left forearm, which showed a regular slash of the skin and the subcutaneous tissues. After the dissection, there was a small-sized lesion affecting the arteriovenous fistula wall. Furthermore, faint postmortem lividity and diffuse visceral pallor were observed. Consequently, the cause of death was identified as an acute hemorrhagic shock after self-cut of the arteriovenous hemodialytic fistula. This case is worthy of several medicolegal considerations: firstly, autopsy examination should always be required in cases with atypical injuries, providing important data to differentiate suicides from homicides. Secondly, disease-knowledge-related suicides are an emerging phenomenon, which deserve careful analysis. Lastly, it is important to identify patients with chronic diseases for whom psychological support is needed, preventing suicidal ideation and reducing suicide risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Forensic Sciences in 2022)

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Forensic Sci., Volume 2, Issue 4 (December 2022) – 14 articles

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