Study of the fingerprints of a Spanish sample for the determination of the hand and finger.

The individuality and permanence of fingerprints make of them a very useful feature in the identification of individuals. There are now automated computer programmes that allow a quick comparison between a fingermark and a database. However, in order to assess the strength of evidence in fingerprint identification, complementary information on the frequencies of the different morphological features of the dermopapillary ridges is required. This idea is used in this work as a starting point to evaluate the frequencies of the parameters used in the determination of the hand and finger in a large sample of 2600 fingerprints taken from 134 male and 127 female Spanish population. Based on these fingerprints, the frequencies of different categories of the following parameters were obtained: type of pattern, slope of the apex ridge, subtype of two-delta pattern, ridge tracing, major angle, major ridge count, bisector, rotation of the central ridge, assimilation to loops and slant. Moreover, the results have shown that these characters are useful for the determination of the hand in whorls (two-delta pattern) and loops (one-delta pattern), but not for the determination of the finger. The most useful and classificatory parameter when determining the hand of origin of a two-delta fingerprint is the slope of the apex ridge, and for the one-delta pattern, knowing the location of the delta allows the correct estimation of the hand of a fingerprint in more than 93% of the cases. The data presented in this paper are novel and can be used by latent print examiners to improve the statistical basis of their decisions in reaching conclusions.

Assessment of gunshot residue detection on a large variety of surfaces by portable LIBS system for crime scene application.

The application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in forensic science has garnered increasing attention. The ability to perform real-time, on-site analysis of Gunshot Residue (GSR) particles and potential elements originating from bullets or projectile cores on various surfaces holds the potential to assist in resolving firearms-related cases. This includes facilitating trajectory determination by locating distinct impact points and identifying the types of ammunition used. This study evaluates the utilization of a portable LIBS device for ballistic forensic purposes. Additionally, it focuses on the assessment of potential false positives and false negatives arising from the different materials where the shots have been fired. Since the system performs laser ablation of both surface particles and the substrate, it emphasizes the importance of conducting preliminary screening in an area with the same composition as the impact zone to minimize potential false positives during direct surface analysis. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the capability to detect the constituent elements of characteristic gunshot residue particles (GSR particles): lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and barium (Ba) adhering to bullets, as well as the principal elements composing the jacket or core of the projectile: lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) through direct analysis, without the need for a sampling kit, on different surfaces such as walls, furniture, or fabrics. Analyses conducted a month after the shots were fired indicate the potential for finding residues in the vicinity of the bullet hole. Analyses conducted a month after the shots were fired indicate the possibility of finding residues in the area around the bullet hole.

Assessing the shooting distance of lead-free ammunition regardless of composition using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

At present, it is challenging to accurately determine firearm shooting distances in the case that lead-free ammunition is involved, largely because different manufacturers use different primer compositions. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) allows the simultaneous detection of multiple elements with high sensitivity and so may represent a solution to this problem. Previous studies have, in fact, demonstrated that LIBS can be used to determine shooting distances when working with gunshot residues from conventional ammunition based on scanning fabric surfaces. The present study confirms that the shooting distance can be ascertained using LIBS to detect copper originating from the ammunition casing and projectile but not the primer on fabric surfaces. This estimation can be performed regardless of the primer composition of lead-free ammunition. Key points: Evaluation of gunshot residue from lead-free ammunition using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that 40% of the particles contained copper.The iForenLIBS system allowed the detection of copper-containing particles on fabric surfaces after firing at different distances with high sensitivity.Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy can determine the shooting distance of lead-free ammunition through copper detection even in ammunition that does not used this element in the primer.This technique can generate density maps allowing the evaluation of short, medium, and long-range shooting distances.

Interpopulational differences in the frequency and distribution of delta types.

The classification of the main pattern types, arch, loop and whorls, is based on the number and location of deltas or triradii, which are areas defined by the confluence of three ridge systems carrying different directions on the fingerprint. Despite being areas that give place to an important morphological variability, their study has only been approached from the quantitative point of view, in relation to the number with which they appear per finger, hand, or individual (intensity pattern), and their sexual and population differences; while the qualitative aspects have not been evaluated so far. The following paper aims to study and analyze the qualitative variability, both intra and interpopulation, of the frequency of occurrence of the different types of deltas or triradii, in four fingerprint samples from males of different population origin: 100 individuals from China, 100 individuals from Colombia, 100 individuals from Nigeria and 100 individuals from Romania, which has meant the analysis of 4000 fingerprints. For this purpose, the classification of 24 types used by the Scientific Police and Criminalist Departments of the Guardia Civil of Spain has been employed. The results obtained showed the non-equiprobability of the frequency distribution of the different delta types in the four populations. In all cases, sunk open total deltas (Hat), sunk open total with point (Hat(p)) and tripod long (Tl) were the most frequent types, while the sunk closed total with point (Hct(p)) had the lowest frequency. Furthermore, for the first time, interpopulation differences in the frequency distribution of different types of deltas have become noticeable. The data provided in this paper are a pioneer in the field of dactyloscopy and can be used as a reference by the departments of criminalistics of the different countries for the estimation of the scientific value of the evidence in dactyloscopy.

Distribution of the minutiae in palmprints: Topological and sexual variability.

Palmprints have been systematically less studied than fingerprints, despite being of great use in the identification process. In Spain, they were not included in Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) until 2009. Very few investigations performed within the field of palmprints have assessed the sexual and population variability of the number and distribution of minutiae on its surface, despite the fact that these particularities are the basis for personal identification in forensic science. That is why a study was conducted to assess total, bimanual, and sexual density per morphological regions (superior or distal, thenar, and hypothenar) and per counting areas of 1 cm2 on 120 palmprints obtained from 30 male and 30 female individuals of Spanish nationality. Also, the frequency in the location of each type of delta or triradius (a, b, c, d, and t) per count area was calculated. Results have shown a topological variability in the distribution of the density of minutiae, which is similar between sexes and a specular effect between both hands. The most frequent locations of the deltas coincide with areas of high minutiae density. It has also been shown that there are sexual differences in the total number of minutiae, which cannot be due to sexual dimorphism in adult hand size, since minutiae are established at an early stage of fetal development and their number will not change during later postnatal growth. These differences can only be attributed to genetic factors related to sexual determination.

Fingerprints identification on 3000 year old Egyptian mummies.

The Djehuty Project (Dra Abu el-Naga; Luxor, Egypt) contains a reused burial chamber, UE165. The human remains include 6 disarticulated, mummified human digits, of which five have very well-conserved prints. The most plausible dating is the Twenty-Second Dynasty (945-715 BCE). High resolution photographs were taken of these and studied in order to identify the main pattern, delta types and minutiae, ridge density and ridge breadth. First, however, a contemporary mummified body was studied in order to calculate the percentage of contraction that can occur in mummified digit tissue. The remains consisted of 4 fingers (a thumb, two index fingers and a middle finger) and a hallux toe, all from the right side, indicating that they came from at least two different people. As regards sex, all the fingers presented values typical of females. Estimated age ranged from 10.62 (middle finger) to 16.25 (thumb) years old, within the sub-adult category. The individual's height was estimated for all the fingers, obtaining values between 135.87 cm for the middle finger and 162.60 cm for the thumb. With regard to the possible ancestral origins of the remains, the type of delta o triradius identified presents high frequencies in contemporary Nigerian and Romanian populations. These results demonstrate that it is possible to work with fingerprints as much as 3,000 years old. It has been possible to identify the main patterns and the minutiae with a precision that exceeds the numeric standard -12 minutiae- currently applied in many countries for forensic identification.

Impact of aging on fingerprint ridge density: Anthropometry and forensic implications in sex inference.

The variation in the epidermal ridge's width between the sexes, during various growth stages, and among different populations has been previously assessed. However, the changes that occur with aging are barely known. The goal of this study was to analyse the degree of variation in epidermal ridge width due to aging. So that, fingerprint ridge density was estimated to establish their relationship with body and hand size changes that typically occur in adulthood. In this study, a sample of 213 adults of both sexes from a Spanish native population of different age ranges-18-30 years old ("junior" group) and 50-66 years old ("senior" group)-was used. Ridge density was assessed in three counting areas of the distal phalanx of each finger (radial, ulnar, and proximal). Height, weight, and a set of anthropometric measurements for both hands were also taken. Our results show that ridge density is higher in females than males throughout adulthood and decreases with aging in the radial and ulnar areas (as the hands widen) but not in the proximal region. Thus, a relationship between hand dimensions and ridge density was found. The data indicate that aging changes may conceal the recognized sex differences in ridge density, and so a better understanding of the topological variations in the epidermal ridge width throughout the life cycle and the factors involved would facilitate the interpretation of the differences between the sexes and different age groups.

Study of fingerprints in Argentina population for application in personal identification.

The fingerprints of the Buenos Aires and Chubut provinces in Argentina have been studied, with the aim of knowing and quantifying the variability of these features, which are used in the identification process. The data studied for this research was obtained from 330 individuals, of both sexes, from two Argentinian population samples (170 individuals from Buenos Aires and 160 from Chubut), which amounts to a total of 3300 fingerprints. The different types of minutiae were located, identified, and visually quantified in four areas on the fingerprint. Two perpendicular axes were drawn whose intersection was located in the center of fingerprint. In addition, a circle was defined on these quadrants whose radius cut fifteen ridges. This method divides the fingerprints into four quadrants with two sectors apiece. The results obtained for both populations were compared statistically with those published previously for an Argentinian population sample, which had been collected using the same methodology. Therefore, Argentina becomes the country with the most information in this matter. For both populations, the highest frequencies were of ridge endings, followed by bifurcations and convergences. In this study of minutiae, statistically significant differences were found between the area of the fingerprint (inside and outside the circle), males and females, and types of main pattern for both samples. However, although the results show common patterns in the distribution of minutiae, there are also significant differences between populations. This reveals a significant ancestral and frequency effect of the minutiae, which would indicate that the minutiae are more genetically dependent than has been suspected so far. Furthermore, the non-equiprobability found for the frequency of the types of minutiae indicates that the weight provided by these characteristics is not the same when applied in identification processes, whether used quantitatively (numerical standard) or qualitatively (holistic method).

Fingerprint ridge density in the Argentinean population and its application to sex inference: A comparative study.

Fingerprint ridge density (RD) is known to vary according to sex and population, and such variation can be used for forensic purposes. The aim of this study was to analyze the fingerprint RD of two samples of the Argentinean population in order to assess their topological, digital, bilateral, sexual, and population differences for subsequent application in the inference of sex. Data were collected from the fingerprints of 172 individuals from the Buenos Aires province and 163 from the Chubut province. RD was assessed for three different count areas for all 10 fingers of each individual. In both sexes and both samples, significant differences among areas were obtained, so that radial-RD>ulnar-RD>proximal-RD. Females presented greater RD than males in all areas and on all fingers. Regarding population differences, no significant differences were found between the Buenos Aires and Chubut samples (except for proximal RD in males). However, both samples showed RD significantly different from that of the Jujuy province. The application of Bayes' theorem allowed for the identification of an RD threshold for discrimination of sexes in these Argentinean samples. In conclusion females consistently exhibit narrower epidermal ridges than males, which may evidence a universal pattern of sexual dimorphism in this trait that can be useful in forensics in the identification of individuals.

Assessment of the methodology for estimating ridge density in fingerprints and its forensic application.

In recent times, some studies have explored the forensic application of dermatoglyphic traits such as the epidermal ridge breadth or ridge density (RD) toward the inference of sex and population from fingerprints of unknown origin, as it has been demonstrated that there exist significant differences of fingerprints between sexes and between populations. Part of the population differences found between these studies could be of methodological nature, due both to the lack of standardisation in the position of the counting area, as well as to the differences in the method used for obtaining the fingerprint. Therefore, the aim of this study was to check whether there are differences between the RD of fingerprints depending on where the counting area is placed and how the fingerprints are obtained. Fingerprints of each finger were obtained from 102 adult Spanish subjects (50 females and 52 males), using two methods (plain and rolled). The ridge density of each fingerprint was assessed in five different areas of the dactylogram: two closer to the core area (one on the radial and the other on the ulnar side), two closer to the outermost area of each of the sides (radial and ulnar), and another one in the proximal region of the fingertip. Regardless of the method used and of the position of the counting area, thumbs and forefingers show a higher RD than middle, ring, and little fingers in both sexes, and females present a higher RD than males in all areas and fingers. In both males and females, RD values on the core region are higher than those on the outer region, irrespective of the technique of fingerprinting used (rolled or plain). Regardless of the sex and location of the count area (core or outer), the rolled fingerprints exhibit RD greater than that of the plain ones in both radial and proximal areas, whereas the trend is inverted in the ulnar area, where rolled fingerprints demonstrate RD lesser than that of the plain ones. Therefore, in order for the results of different studies to be comparable, it is necessary to standardise the position of the count area and to use the same method of obtaining the fingerprint, especially when involving a forensic application.

Surnames, geographic altitude, and digital dermatoglyphics in a male population from the province of Jujuy (Argentina).

The possible association between finger dermatoglyphic patterns and altitude and surname distribution was analyzed in a sample of adult males from the province of Jujuy, Argentina. We also investigated the biological affinity of this population with other South American natives and admixed populations. Fingerprints were obtained from 996 healthy men, aged 18-20 years, from the highlands (HL: 2500m, Puna and Quebrada) and lowlands (LL: Valle and Selvas). Surnames were classified into native/autochthonous (A) or foreign (F), resulting in three surname classes: FF, when both paternal and maternal surnames were of foreign origin; FA, when one surname was foreign and the other was native; and AA, when both surnames were native. Frequencies of finger dermatoglyphic patterns - arches (A), radial loops (RL), ulnar loops (UL), and whorls (W) - were determined for each digit in relation to geographic location, altitude, and surname origin, resulting in the following categories: HL-FF, HL-FA, HL-AA, LL-FF, LL-FA, and LL-AA. The statistical analyses showed that UL and RL were more common in individuals of HL origin, whereas W and A were more frequent in the LL males (p<0.05). Significant associations were observed between finger dermatoglyphic patterns and surname origin when geographic altitude was considered. In the HL group, UL was associated with AA and FA; in the LL group, the presence of A was associated with FF and FA. The distribution of dermatoglyphic patterns shows that the population of Jujuy belongs to the Andean gene pool and that it has undergone differential levels of admixture related to altitude.

Diversity of human lip prints: a collaborative study of ethnically distinct world populations.

BACKGROUND: Cheiloscopy is a comparatively recent counterpart to the long established dactyloscopic studies. Ethnic variability of these lip groove patterns has not yet been explored. AIM: This study was a collaborative effort aimed at establishing cheiloscopic variations amongst modern human populations from four geographically and culturally far removed nations: India, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Lip prints from a total of 754 subjects were collected and each was divided into four equal quadrants. The patterns were classified into six regular types (A-F), while some patterns which could not be fitted into the regular ones were segregated into G groups (G-0, G-1, G-2). Furthermore, co-dominance of more than one pattern type in a single quadrant forced us to identify the combination (COM, G-COM) patterns. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The remarkable feature noted after compilation of the data included pattern C (a bifurcate/branched prototype extending the entire height of the lip) being a frequent feature of the lips of all the populations studied, save for the Nigerian population in which it was completely absent and which showed a tendency for pattern A (a vertical linear groove) and a significantly higher susceptibility for combination (COM) patterns. Chi-square test and correspondence analysis applied to the frequency of patterns appearing in the defined topographical areas indicated a significant variation for the populations studied.

A comparative study of topological and sex differences in fingerprint ridge density in Argentinian and Spanish population samples.

Although several studies have recently assessed sex differences in fingerprint ridge density and its variability in human populations from different origins, such a study has not been carried out yet in the Amerindian population. The goal of this study was to determine the topological and sexual differences in fingerprint ridge density (RD) in native subjects from two samples of northwestern Argentina (Jujuy province) living at different altitudes. The results were compared with those obtained from a Spanish population sample. The study was based on data from all 10 fingerprints of 393 adult Argentinian men and women, 193 from the Puna-Quebrada region (more than 2500 m above sea level) and 200 from Ramal (500 m above sea level). Ridge density was assessed for three different areas (radial, ulnar and proximal) for all 10 fingers of each subject. In both samples, significant differences between areas were obtained, so radial RD > ulnar RD > proximal RD. No significant differences were found between samples in males, while females from both samples significantly differed in the radial and proximal areas. Females have higher RD, so narrower ridges, than men, in all areas and all fingers. Application of Bayes' theorem allowed us to obtain a ridge density threshold for discrimination of sexes in Argentinian samples and the threshold for discrimination of populations between Argentinian and Spanish samples. These results can be useful for forensic use.

Sexual and topological differences in palmprint and ridge density in the caucasian Spanish population.

Despite the fact that variation in ridge breadth is of biological, medical, and genetic interest, it has not received as much attention as other dermatoglyphic characteristics. Recently, sex differences in mean epidermal ridge breadth have been proposed in the field of forensic identification in order to infer gender from fingerprints found at the scene of a crime left by an unknown donor. The aim of this research was to analyze sexual, bimanual, and topological variations in epidermal ridge breadth on palmprints taken from a Spanish population sample for subsequent application in inferring gender from the palm marks. The material used in the present study was obtained from the palmprints of 200 individuals (100 males and 100 females) from the Caucasian Spanish. Since ridge breadth varies according to age, subjects of similar ages were recruited to ensure that growth had finished. Therefore, in order to assess topological variation in ridge density or number of ridges in a given space, the count was carried out for the five palmar areas: hypothenar, thenar/first interdigital, second interdigital, third interdigital, and fourth interdigital. This allowed the segmentation of 2000 ridge count areas for analysis. For this, two methods were used, one described by Cummins et al. (the ridge count was carried out along a 1cm line) and the other by Acree (the number of ridges per 25 mm(2) of surface area). The results obtained by the second method can be compared with those obtained for the ten fingers from this same sample and evaluated in a previous study. The results have demonstrated the existence of topological differences in ridge thickness on the epidermal palm surface; also females present a significantly higher ridge density than men and, therefore, have narrower ridges over the entire palmar surface. Those sexual differences found in the sample population can be used for inferring the gender from palm marks left by an unknown donor. The hypotheses that could explain the variability in ridge breadth are evaluated according to the obtained results.

Topological variability of fingerprint ridge density in a sub-Saharan population sample for application in personal identification.

Variability in ridge density in a sub-Saharan population sample was studied by counting ridges in three fingerprint areas (two distal regions, radial and ulnar, and one proximal region) on the epidermal surface of the distal phalanx. Study material was obtained from the fingerprint impressions of 100 male sub-Saharan subjects aged between 18- and 48-years old. The results were compared with those obtained from a Spanish population sample. Sub-Saharan males presented lower ridge density than Spanish males in the distal regions (radial and ulnar) of all fingers, whereas differences in the proximal region were only observed on some fingers. Using the differences observed between these populations, the likelihood ratio for inferring membership of one of the populations from a fingerprint of unknown origin was calculated; therefore, a ridge density of 14 or less for both areas (ulnar and radial), support an origin sub-Saharan versus Spanish population.

[Infant mortality due to congenital malformations and socioeconomic status: the case of Argentina]. / Mortalidad infantil por malformaciones congénitas y condición socioeconómica: el caso de la Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the infant mortality rate due to congenital malformations ( IMRCM) and the percentage of deaths due to congenital malformations (%DCM) with sociodemographic and economic characteristics in Argentina. METHODS: The Argentine study population resided in 511 departments of 23 provinces, grouped into five geographic regions (Northwest, Northeast, Central, Cuyo, and Patagonia). The analyzed variables were the IMRCM and the %DCM calculated on the basis of births and deaths during 2002-2006 period. In addition, 21 variables were used from the 2001 Population and Housing Census (National Census and Statistics Institute of Argentina) to construct the Sociodemographic and Economic Indicator (SDEI) through the analysis of principal components. Comparison tests were carried out in order to assess the significant differences among the various regions and the correlations between indicators, and of these with the departmental latitudes and longitudes. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the IMRCM and the SDEI, nor with geographic coordinates. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the IMRCM and the SDEI (P < 0.05) at all levels of political organization. The SDEI explained 41% of the %DCM. CONCLUSIONS: The IMRCM was not significantly associated with the country's marked socioeconomic heterogeneity; the highest %DCM values, on the other hand, were observed in the populations of the central and southern areas of the country. Given the relationship between the %DCM and socioeconomic development of the population, use of this indicator as a proxy of well-being and quality of life is suggested.

Are there population differences in minutiae frequencies? A comparative study of two Argentinian population samples and one Spanish sample.

In recent years, both scientific and judicial sources have highlighted the need for more knowledge about minutiae variability, in order to improve their statistical application to fingerprint identification. In line with this trend toward improving our knowledge of this subject, the aim of the present study was to calculate the frequency with which 20 types of minutiae appeared in 2780 fingerprint impressions obtained from 278 individuals from two Argentinian population samples (100 individuals from Ramal and 178 from Puna-Quebrada). The different types of minutiae were located, identified, and quantified visually in two areas on the fingerprint, the inside and outside of a circle, the radius of which cut fifteen ridges perpendicularly, starting from the center cut of the axes defining the sectors. The non-equiprobability found in both population samples for the different minutiae types studied demonstrated that the evidential weight provided by these characteristics is not the same when applied in identification processes, whether used quantitatively (numerical standard) or qualitatively (holistic method). The results obtained for both populations were compared statistically with those published previously for a Spanish population sample, which had been collected using the same methodology. This comparison has enabled us to demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of significant differences between populations in minutiae frequencies, independently from the main pattern type.

Mortalidad infantil por malformaciones congénitas y condición socioeconómica: el caso de la Argentina / Infant mortality due to congenital malformations and socioeconomic status: the case of Argentina

OBJETIVO: Relacionar la tasa de mortalidad infantil por malformaciones congénitas (TMIMC) y el porcentaje de muertes por malformaciones congénitas (%MMC) con las características sociodemográficas y económicas en la Argentina. MÉTODOS: La población estudiada de la Argentina reside en 511 departamentos de 23 provincias, agrupadas en cinco regiones geográficas (Noroeste, Noreste, Centro, Cuyo y Patagonía). Las variables analizadas fueron la TMLMC y el %MMC calculados a partir de los nacimientos y las defunciones del quinquenio 2002-2006. Además, se utilizaron 21 variables del Censo de Población y Vivienda del 2001 (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos de Argentina) para construir el Indicador Sociodemográfico y Económico (ISDE) mediante el análisis de componentes principales. Se realizaron pruebas de comparación para valorar si aparecían diferencias significativas entre las distintas regiones y las correlaciones entre indicadores, y de estos con la latitud y longitud departamental. RESULTADOS: La TMIMC no presentó correlación significativa con el ISDE ni con las coor denadas geográficas. El %MMC y el ISDE presentaron una correlación positiva significativa (P < 0,05) en todos los niveles de organización política. El ISDE explicó 41% de la variación del %MMC. CONCLUSIONES: La TMIMC no se asoció significativamente con la marcada heterogeneidad socioeconómica del país; los valores más elevados del %MMC, en cambio, se observaron en las poblaciones del centro y sur del país. Dada la relación entre el %MMC y el desarrollo socioeconómico poblacional se sugiere utilizar este indicador como una aproximación (proxy) de bienestar y calidad de vida.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the infant mortality rate due to congenital malformations ( IMRCM) and the percentage of deaths due to congenital malformations (%DCM) with sociodemographic and economic characteristics in Argentina. METHODS: The Argentine study population resided in 511 departments of 23 provinces, grouped into five geographic regions (Northwest, Northeast, Central, Cuyo, and Patagonia). The analyzed variables were the IMRCM and the %DCM calculated on the basis of births and deaths during 2002-2006 period. In addition, 21 variables were used from the 2001 Population and Housing Census (National Census and Statistics Institute of Argentina) to construct the Sociodemographic and Economic Indicator (SDEI) through the analysis of principal components. Comparison tests were carried out in order to assess the significant differences among the various regions and the correlations between indicators, and of these with the departmental latitudes and longitudes. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the IMRCM and the SDEI, nor with geographic coordinates. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the IMRCM and the SDEI (P < 0.05) at all levels of political organization. The SDEI explained 41% of the %DCM. CONCLUSIONS: The IMRCM was not significantly associated with the country's marked socioeconomic heterogeneity; the highest %DCM values, on the other hand, were observed in the populations of the central and southern areas of the country. Given the relationship between the %DCM and socioeconomic development of the population, use of this indicator as a proxy of well-being and quality of life is suggested.

Distribution of the minutiae in the fingerprints of a sample of the Spanish population.

One of the fundamental aspects of the process of identification through fingerprints is the comparison of the minutiae between the fingermark obtained at the scene of the crime and the suspect's corresponding finger. There is no scientific basis in this process that allows the use of numerical standards, such as those kept in different countries, to obtain the identification. The recent mistakes made in the field of dactyloscopy, together with the growing rigor and scrutiny that forensic evidence undergoes in the legislative and scientific areas, have resulted in the need to reconsider some of the basic principles that support this discipline. A probabilistic estimation of the evidential value is especially necessary; therefore, it is indispensable to know and quantify the variability of the features used in the identification process. The sample studied for this research was obtained from 100 Caucasian men and 100 Caucasian women from the Spanish population, which amounts to a total of 2000 fingerprints. The different types of minutiae were located, identified, and quantified visually on the fingerprint, in four sectors, and inside and outside of a circle, whose radius cut, perpendicularly, fifteen ridges starting from the center cut of the axes that defined the sectors. According to the results obtained in this study, through dactyloscopic identification, the weight of the evidence of a minutia, such as the ridge endings, with frequencies between 55% and 65%, according to the area and gender evaluated, cannot be the same as that of a bifurcation or convergence, with frequencies of 13-18% or those of other minutiae that show frequencies lower than 3%. The significant differences found in the topological distribution of the endings, bifurcations, and convergences show the need to take into account, for its demonstrational value, the finger area in which they are evaluated. The significant association observed between the types of minutiae and the different fingers revealed a greater frequency of endings on the thumb and index fingers, and bifurcations and convergences on the middle, ring, and little fingers.