Development of Natural Luminescent Powder for the Detection of Latent Fingerprint.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Nowadays, Dyes is widely used to improve fingerprints identification test. Natural dyes are another interesting way that can be used instead of chemical dyes because of its non-toxicity and lower cost. In this research, the development of rust powder from <i>Plumeria</i> tree was applied for fingerprints identification due to its fluorescence property under UV. Rust and Small Particle Reagent (SPR), containing ZnCO₃were applied to detect hidden fingerprints on non-porous surfaces in both dried and wet condition. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Yellowish Rust from <i>Plumeria</i> tree was extracted with ethanol, grinded, dried and then mixed with ZnCO₃. Powder slurry was sprayed over fingerprint mark on different surfaces and monitored in both dried and wet condition. Visualization of fingerprint under UV was observed. Scanning microscope (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) were also used to characterize physical and chemical properties of rust powder. <b>Results:</b> Fingerprints identification by dust technique using <i>Plumeria</i> rust powder as ingredient, provide best quality enhancement of fingerprints under UV light due to its fluorescent property, whereas a conventional technique of Small Particle Reagent technique (SPR) doesn't show fluorescent under UV. Data from SEM and FTIR show slight adhesion between zinc carbonate particles and rust powder. <b>Conclusion:</b> Fluorescence properties of rust powder is still interesting. Further improvement in powder recipe will be further investigated.

Use of the cryostat to prepare slides for trichological analysis / [Uso do aparelho criostato para preparação de lâminas para a análise tricológica]

A análise dos padrões morfológicos e morfométricos das microestruturas capilares é uma técnica não invasiva que pode ser utilizada para identificar espécies de mamíferos. Esta técnica pode ser aplicada em diversas áreas da ciência animal, tais como controle de qualidade de alimentos e análises forenses. Dada a dificuldade de obter seções transversais de pelos de guarda para expor o córtex, a maioria dos estudos analisou apenas os componentes medulares e cuticulares do pelo. A inclusão do córtex capilar de guarda em uma análise tricológica pode proporcionar uma descrição mais precisa das raças ou espécies de mamíferos. O presente estudo propõe um novo método para a execução de cortes transversais que expõem o córtex do pelo guarda de mamíferos utilizando um criostato.(AU)

¿Agresión o abuso sexual? Cuestiones forenses a propósito del caso de «La Manada» / Sexual assault or abuse? Forensic questions regarding the «La Manada» rape case

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The future of the forensic science providers - Time to re-think our structures?

The organisation of the forensic chain, from scene of crime up to the court house, has in most countries hardly evolved with the societal needs as well as with the scientific developments. It can be expected that the forensic possibilities will be strongly enlarged in the coming years, based on the current scientific evolution. This combined with the reduction of the operating funds most laboratories are experiencing highlights the need to reflect on the way the forensic chain and its providers are organized. In this paper, we will present a model based on a cost-balanced approach and distributed competences. Specialized forensic disciplines or techniques are either made available in single points of operation, through buying in services from external providers or through international collaboration with other forensic laboratories. Different ways for implementing the international exchange are discussed. A comparison is made with the collaboration of the metrological laboratories over the world which could serve as a template for the implementation of the forensic structure.

Revolution in death sciences: body farms and taphonomics blooming. A review investigating the advantages, ethical and legal aspects in a Swiss context.

Taphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and their process of fossilization. Taphonomy, originally a branch of palaeontology and anthropology, was developed to understand the ecology of a decomposition site, how site ecology changes upon the introduction of plant or animal remains and, in turn, how site ecology affects the decomposition of these materials. In recent years, these goals were incorporated by forensic science to understand the decomposition of human cadavers, to provide a basis on which to estimate postmortem and/or postburial interval, to assist in the determination of cause and circumstances of death, and to aid in the location of clandestine graves. These goals are achieved through the study of the factors that influence cadaver decomposition (e.g. temperature, moisture, insect activity). These studies have also provided insight into the belowground ecology of cadaver breakdown and allowed to develop useful protocols for mass disaster managements in humanitarian medicine. From the results obtained, new scientific disciplines have arisen, gathered under the word "taphonomics" such as the study of microorganisms living below/on a cadaver (thanatogeomicrobiology), and join the more classical forensic sciences such as anthropology, botany or entomology. Taking into account the specificities of the study object (human cadaver), primordial requirements are needed in terms of security (physical and environmental) as well as ethical and legal concerns which are studied in the Swiss context. The present review aims to present in a first part the concept of human forensic taphonomy facilities (HFTF, also colloquially named "body farm") leading to an enrichment of forensic sciences with new "taphonomics". The second part is focused on the mandatory points that must be addressed for a HFTF approach, especially because it requires a specific place to undertake this research which must be performed in conformity with a country's human ethics and laws.

Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research.

Most studies of decomposition in forensic entomology and taphonomy have used non-human cadavers. Following the recommendation of using domestic pig cadavers as analogues for humans in forensic entomology in the 1980s, pigs became the most frequently used model cadavers in forensic sciences. They have shaped our understanding of how large vertebrate cadavers decompose in, for example, various environments, seasons and after various ante- or postmortem cadaver modifications. They have also been used to demonstrate the feasibility of several new or well-established forensic techniques. The advent of outdoor human taphonomy facilities enabled experimental comparisons of decomposition between pig and human cadavers. Recent comparisons challenged the pig-as-analogue claim in entomology and taphonomy research. In this review, we discuss in a broad methodological context the advantages and disadvantages of pig and human cadavers for forensic research and rebut the critique of pigs as analogues for humans. We conclude that experiments using human cadaver analogues (i.e. pig carcasses) are easier to replicate and more practical for controlling confounding factors than studies based solely on humans and, therefore, are likely to remain our primary epistemic source of forensic knowledge for the immediate future. We supplement these considerations with new guidelines for model cadaver choice in forensic science research.

Forensic Cases in the Operating Room: Knowledge and Practices of Physicians and Nurses.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate physicians' and nurses' knowledge and practices regarding forensic cases in the operating room. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study. METHODS: The sample consisted of 139 physicians and 59 nurses working in the operating rooms of a university hospital. Data were collected via a question form prepared by the researchers. FINDINGS: Approximately half of the physicians and nurses did not know whether a patient brought to the operating room was a forensic case. Most of the physicians and nurses working in the operating room felt their knowledge and practice regarding the preservation and storage of evidence in forensic cases was inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the necessity of an increased focus on forensic case process.

[Comprehensive studies of forensic science]. / Kompleksnye issledovaniia v sudebnoi ékspertize.

The article addresses those aspects of comprehensive studies which can rightly be considered to number among the most relevant and potentially rewarding problems of forensic science. Until now, neither the concept and structure of a comprehensive study, nor its status and methodology have been the subjects of independent consideration in the legal literature, and were considered only in connection with the analysis of the concept of a comprehensive investigation. Establishing the parameters of expert practice allowed the authors to identify some significant features of comprehensive studies, including their analytical nature, complexity of sources and their combined assessment, and to identify the methodological approaches underlying such research, representing a kind of tool for the synthesis of independent portrayals of complex research in a single and at the same time multidimensional model of forensic science. The empirical and theoretical grounds identified by the authors helped to determine the structure of comprehensive research. Its basic elements are: multiple subjects, a single integral objective, an interdisciplinary task, a specialized program-target complex and a comprehensive expert synthesis. It is concluded that this structure, being invariant for any of the different forms of comprehensive research, reflects its main features and has a pronounced general scientific orientation.

Transcriptome variation in human populations and its potential application in forensics.

This review presents the state-of-the-art in the forensic application of genetic methods driven by the research in population transcriptomics. In the first part of the review, the constraints of using classical genomic markers are shortly reviewed. In the second part, the developments in the field of inter-population diversity at the transcriptomic level are presented. Subsequently, a potential of population-specific transcriptomic markers in forensic science applications, including ascertaining population affiliation of human samples and cell mixtures separation, are presented.

The impact of Brexit on the future of UK forensic science and technology.

This article seeks to assess the prospects of UK forensic science and technology in a post-Brexit world by analysing four interlocking issues: Brexit itself, the evolution of national criminal justice organisational and funding priorities, the increasing interrelationship of science and technology in the forensic domain and the relatively disadvantaged place of forensic science and technology within the contemporary 'scientific state' paradigm. The results are generally pessimistic for the likely future of forensic science. This conclusion is reinforced by scepticism about the wisdom of proceeding with Brexit. The article is structured to identify the potential implications of British political decisions on its national forensic science capabilities and capacity. Some aspects of the analysis are likely to have a wider resonance for international discourse about the future sustainability of forensic science and technology, however, particularly the interface between the globalisation of science and technology with justice.

Is forensic science in danger of extinction?

Observations of modern day forensic science has prompted asking the question of whether this field is in danger of extinction. Although there have undoubtedly been meaningful advancements in analytical capabilities, we have overlooked several unintended practical and philosophical consequences. This article addresses three main areas of concern: the declining role of the generalist in an era of increased specialization, the role of education in preparing the next generation of forensic scientists, and the implementation of advanced instrumentation with a focus on statistical significance and field deployable instrumentation.

The signatures of microorganisms and of human and environmental biomes can now be used to provide evidence in legal cases.

The microorganisms with which we share our world go largely unnoticed. We are, however, beginning to be able to exploit their apparently silent presence as witnesses to events that are of legal concern. This information can be used to link forensic samples to criminal events and even perpetrators. Once dead, our bodies are rapidly colonised, internally and externally. The progress of these events can be charted to inform how long and even by what means a person has died. A small number of microbial species could actually be the cause of such deaths as a result of biocrime or bioterrorism. The procedures and techniques to respond to such attacks have matured in the last 20 years. The capability now exists to identify malicious intent, characterise the threat agent to isolate level and potentially link it to perpetrators with a high level of confidence.

Fire investigation: Historical perspective and recent developments.

As a forensic science, fire investigation involves a wide variety of disciplines and thus attracts an equally wide variety of practitioners. These range from fire protection engineers who may only occasionally engage in forensic work to law enforcement officers, laboratory chemists, metallurgists, and materials engineers. This breadth of practice has resulted in a checkered history, which only relatively recently has given science a full-throated embrace. Because of the stakes involved, fires provide a rich source of material for litigation, both civil and criminal. This conceptual review provides a brief history from the standpoint of a practitioner who has witnessed and sometimes precipitated the changes that have taken place since 1974. Highlights include the debunking of many misconceptions about fire behavior and a general (though not always uninterrupted) movement toward making fire investigation more scientifically accurate through the development of best practices.

Progress in the 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing in Forensic Science.

Forensic microorganism is one of the hotspots of forensic science research. Due to its conservatism and specificity, the 16S rRNA gene is found to be an ideal marker for forensic identification. With the rapid development of high throughput sequencing technology, the research on microorganisms has been gradually applied to many fields such as environment and health care. In the field of forensic science, the results of forensic microbiology research, represented by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, are also gradually applied to forensic practice, such as biological samples identification, individual identification, postmortem interval estimation, and regional inference, which not only provide clues for the investigation of cases but also complement and assist traditional methods. This paper describes the research methods and related sequencing technologies of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, summarizes its research progress, and discusses the application value and potential of 16S rRNA in forensic science.

Identificación de un cadáver a través de los implantes dentales / Corpse identification through dental implants

Presentamos un caso de identificación de un cadáver en avanzado estado de putrefacción, momificado en gran parte y parcialmente esqueletizado y con pérdida de rasgos faciales, mediante el estudio de los implantes dentales que portaba. La identificación mediante estudio odontológico se viene utilizando en casos de cadáveres carbonizados, con múltiples víctimas o cuando no es posible proceder a una identificación por medio de ADN, que es el método de excelencia, con el hándicap de necesitar los registros dentales previos del individuo. No obstante, en el caso de sujetos edéntulos, podrían estudiarse los trabajos dentales llevados a cabo, bien prótesis dentales o, como en este caso, los implantes dentales (tipo, marca y localización concreta). Sin embargo, se hace imprescindible una marca identificativa del material utilizado, unas bases de datos de las casas comerciales, y una buena comunicación entre los profesionales que intervienen en la identificación

The case is presented on the identification of a corpse in an advanced state of putrefaction, mummified, and partially skeletonised and with loss of facial features, by studying its dental implants. Identification by dental study is being used in cases of carbonised cadavers, multiple victims, or when it is not possible to proceed with identification using DNA, which is the method of choice par excellence, with the handicap of needing the individual's previous dental records. However, in the case of lacking their own teeth, dental work carried out, dental prostheses or, as in this case, dental implants (type, brand and specific location) could be studied. However, it is essential to identify the material used, databases of commercial firms, and good communication between the professionals involved in identification

Field-based detection of biological samples for forensic analysis: Established techniques, novel tools, and future innovations.

Field based forensic tests commonly provide information on the presence and identity of biological stains and can also support the identification of species. Such information can support downstream processing of forensic samples and generate rapid intelligence. These approaches have traditionally used chemical and immunological techniques to elicit the result but some are known to suffer from a lack of specificity and sensitivity. The last 10 years has seen the development of field-based genetic profiling systems, with specific focus on moving the mainstay of forensic genetic analysis, namely STR profiling, out of the laboratory and into the hands of the non-laboratory user. In doing so it is now possible for enforcement officers to generate a crime scene DNA profile which can then be matched to a reference or database profile. The introduction of these novel genetic platforms also allows for further development of new molecular assays aimed at answering the more traditional questions relating to body fluid identity and species detection. The current drive for field-based molecular tools is in response to the needs of the criminal justice system and enforcement agencies, and promises a step-change in how forensic evidence is processed. However, the adoption of such systems by the law enforcement community does not represent a new strategy in the way forensic science has integrated previous novel approaches. Nor do they automatically represent a threat to the quality control and assurance practices that are central to the field. This review examines the historical need and subsequent research and developmental breakthroughs in field-based forensic analysis over the past two decades with particular focus on genetic methods Emerging technologies from a range of scientific fields that have potential applications in forensic analysis at the crime scene are identified and associated issues that arise from the shift from laboratory into operational field use are discussed.