[Mathematical simulation of the corpse's temperature change during exposure of a direct solar radiation to diagnose a postmortem interval]. / Matematicheskoe modelirovanie protsessa izmeneniya temperatury trupa pri vozdeistvii na nego pryamoi solnechnoi radiatsii v tselyakh diagnostiki davnosti smerti.

OBJECTIVE: To choose an optimal mathematical model and to practice the method of its use during finding the corpse under exposure of a direct solar radiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studies were carried out on 9 corpses with body weight from 50 to 83 kg. The influence of black (6 corpses) and white (3 corpses) colored cotton fabrics was investigated to standardize a photoreceptive surface of clothes. In addition, the objects (bags made of substantial polyethylene, densely filled with moderately humid black soil) replacing corpses with mass of 5.5, 11.0, 16.5 and 22.0 kg, wrapped in cotton fabric of specified colors, that imitates clothes, were used. The objects' temperature was measured within the accuracy of 0.001 °C, air temperature - within accuracy of 0.1 °C. A simplified one-dimensional variant of the finite mathematical differences method, representing the process of corpse's cooling as a discrete transfer of heat from one layer (node) to another, was used in developing the mathematical modeling algorithm. The model consisted of ten nodes was used in calculations. RESULTS: A mathematical model in the form of equations' system was developed, in which the variable reflecting the intensity of corpse's surface heating by sun rays was introduced. The example of calculation made with data of real measurements of corpse's temperature, that was in open place for the sun rays, is shown.

[A diagnostic program for estimating the time of death using microcalculators MK-61 and B3-34]. / Diagnosticheskaia programma dlia opredeleniia davnosti smerti pri pomoshchi mikrokal'kuliatorov marki MK-61 i B3-34.

The programme design is based on the process of changes in dead body temperature. Specific features of the process of changes in temperature values of a dead body are characterized by a parameter which involves process sample obtained by temperature measurements in diagnostical area of a cadaver at the accident scene during 1 hour. Programme provides for estimation of postmortem interval within the first 60 h after death occurrence. Diagnostical deviations don't exceed +/- 3% as compared to the real time of death.

[Realization of an adaptive method of simulating the process of temperature change of a cadaver on a microcomputer]. / Realizatsiia na mikro-EVM adaptivnogo sposoba modelirovaniia protsessa izmeneniia temperatury trupa.

Programme based on mathematical model of the process of dead body temperature changing was developed for estimation of postmortem interval. Automatic retrieval of problem solution was performed on programmable microcalculators of "Electronica MK-61" type using adaptive approach. Diagnostical accuracy in case of dead body being preserved in permanent cooling conditions is +/- 3%.

[The methodological aspects of establishing the time of death]. / Metodologicheskie aspekty ustanovleniia davnosti nastupleniia smerti.

Methodological analysis of essence of problem concerning postmortem interval estimation is given. The authors present the most promising ways of scientific research on this problem and possibilities of practical use of results of scientific research. The general methods of postmortem interval estimation including wired-in analogy (criterial) method and methods of modelling postmortal processes (mathematical and physical) are analysed. Graph of logical structures of modes of postmortem interval estimation and means of their realization is given.

[Effect of the weather conditions on process of temperature changes of cadaver in diagnostics of the time of death]. / Pogodnye usloviia i ikh vliianie na protsess izmeneniia temperatury trupa pri diagnostike davnosti smerti.

The impact exerted by weather conditions on the changing cadaver temperature (CCT) is described in the paper. Various meteorological phenomena influence the cadaver as an open thermodynamic system, which affects the accuracy of death prescription (DP). A variety of such impacts are described; trends for further elaboration of algorithms, which account for the environmental factors in mathematical modeling of CCD for the purpose of a more accurate DP diagnosis, are defined.

[Methodology of determination of the time of death and outlooks for the further development]. / Metodologicheskii analiz problemy davnosti smerti i perspektivy ee dal'neishei razrabotki.

A methodological analysis of diagnosing the prescription of death coming (PDC) is described in the paper. Key philosophic fundamentals for further novel and more effective methods of PDC determination are elucidated. Main requirement applicable to postmortem diagnosis are defined. Different methods of modeling the postmortem process are demonstrated by the example of cadaver cooling, i.e. in real time, by analogue computer systems and by mathematic modeling. The traditional empiric and the adaptive approaches are comparatively analyzed in modeling the postmortem processes for the PDC diagnosis. A variety of promising trends for further related research is outlined.

Sex determination of forensic samples by polymerase chain reaction of the amelogenin gene and analysis by capillary electrophoresis with polymer matrix.

The aim of this study was to validate an application of GenePrint Sex Determination System based on amplification of a section of the X-Y homologous gene amelogenin followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for gender testing of forensic DNA. It was found that subnanogram quantities of male and female DNA were correctly detected by this system. Experiments were performed to investigate the possibility of quantitating the X-Y chromosome-specific PCR products to disclose sex-mixed DNA samples. It was found that observed electrophoretic profiles correctly reflected an X-Y chromosome proportion of the DNA sample which was introduced into the PCR mix. The tested amelogenin PCR-CE system was successfully used for gender testing of a wide range of biological evidence including sex-mixed DNA samples from rape cases. These results demonstrate that the tested amelogenin PCR-CE system is a useful tool for gender determination of forensic DNA.