X-chromosome Short Tandem Repeats (X-STR) have been utilized in forensics and population genetics studies for more than two decades, particularly in cases involving complex kinship analysis, disaster victim identification, sexual assault, and incest. Nevertheless, the genetic landscape of India remains underexplored using X-STR markers. In the present study, blood samples of 420 unrelated participants (133 females and 287 males) were analyzed from the Brahmin community of Gujarat, India. For the amplification of X-STR loci, the Investigator® Argus X-12 QS Kit was utilized. 186 unique alleles were identified, suggesting high genetic diversity of the Brahmin population. Locus DXS10135 (PIC = 0.930) was the most polymorphic, and locus DXS7423 was the least polymorphic (PIC = 0.553). On analyzing the haplotype diversity, Linkage Group-1 (LG1) was found to have the highest haplotype diversity (0.997). Notably, LG1 was also the most informative and polymorphic linkage group (PIC = 0.994), preceded by LG4 (PIC = 0.989), LG2 (PIC = 0.988), and LG3 (PIC = 0.983). Based on the allelic and haplotype frequencies, the combined estimates for PDF, PDM, MECDesmarais, MECKishida, MECKruger, and MECDesmarais duo were ≥ 0.999, demonstrating high discriminatory power of all the loci. Furthermore, inter-population phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic affinity of Gujarat's Brahmins with other populations of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing Madhya Pradesh's Bhil tribe and Punjab's Jat Sikh. The Gujarat Brahmins also have a shorter genetic distance with other South Asian populations, including the Bangladeshi population. This research indicates that the studied X-STR markers are highly polymorphic, offering significant insights for individual identification in forensics.

Climate change has led to an increase in flood disasters worldwide, raising concerns about their potential impact on respiratory health. This study investigated the impact of the 2018 Japan Floods, one of the largest flood disasters in Japan's history, on prescription rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To examine the impact of the disaster on COPD-related prescriptions, we analysed anonymised health insurance claims data from the Japanese National Database. The study focused on residents of three prefectures that included the most severely affected areas during the 2018 Japan Floods, covering a 2-year observation period-1year before and 1year after the disaster. First, we compared new prescriptions of long-acting inhaled COPD medications after the disaster between victims and non-victims among individuals who had not received such prescriptions during the previous year (n = 3,674,535). Second, we examined prescriptions for antibiotics or systemic steroids after the disaster among individuals already receiving long-acting inhaled COPD medications before the disaster (n = 18,059), as indicators of COPD exacerbations. Cox proportional hazards models showed that new prescriptions for long-acting inhaled COPD medications were significantly higher among disaster victims than among non-victims in the year following the 2018 Japan Floods (aHR: 1.56; 95% CI [1.25-1.95]). Difference-in-differences analysis showed that exacerbation-related prescriptions significantly increased among disaster victims compared with non-victims (aROR: 1.50; 95% CI [1.06-2.11]). New prescriptions for COPD controller medications and exacerbation-related prescriptions significantly increased in populations affected by the 2018 Japan Floods.

Prolonged post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) carries substantial personal and public-health costs, yet early identification of individuals at risk remains difficult. This study aimed to develop a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based predictive algorithm using psychological, biological, and psychosocial data collected at initial assessment to enhance early identification of individuals at heightened risk for probable persistent PTSD. This study included 88 bereaved family members of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, divided into probable persistent PTSD (n=67) and probable remitted (n=21) groups based on 4-year follow-up assessments. Demographic, blood test, and psychological data were collected during initial evaluations. Models compared linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with tree-based learners under stratified cross-validation; class imbalance was addressed with Borderline Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique, and recursive feature elimination identified parsimonious predictors. The LDA model demonstrated the highest performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.858. Psychosocial features dominated prediction: higher anxiety, depression, insomnia, and intrusive rumination increased risk, whereas greater positive resources and functional social support were protective. Routine physiological markers showed limited incremental value. Findings support a practical intake pathway in which brief psychosocial measures are used with an interpretable classifier to triage high-risk individuals to targeted interventions. External validation, calibration, decision-curve analysis, and broader biomarker panels are needed to confirm transportability and optimize clinical utility.

AimTo reconstruct the forensic identification process following the 1994 explosion at the Duboki Jarak military ammunition and explosive ordnance storage facility in Croatia and to evaluate the role of early PCR-based DNA typing in the identification of severely fragmented human remains under wartime conditions.MethodsA retrospective archival analysis was conducted using original forensic, judicial, and laboratory documentation generated after the explosion. We reviewed crime scene records, medico-legal documentation, forensic body diagrams, situational plans, judicial orders authorizing DNA testing, laboratory reports, and genotype summary tables. Archived laboratory records indicate that recovered tissue samples underwent PCR-based DNA typing using the GeneAmp PCR System 9600 with reverse hybridization assays targeting six loci (HLA-DQA1, LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and GC). The obtained profiles were compared with reference samples from the missing persons’ relatives.ResultsArchival documentation recorded 59 biological specimens recovered at the scene. Of the 48 samples submitted for laboratory examination, 33 were subjected to PCR-based DNA typing, and 20 yielded interpretable DNA profiles. Among the recovered remains, multilocus comparison documented five distinct genetic profiles. Comparison with 16 reference samples from 16 relatives representing six families enabled kinship-based attribution of remains to five victims. No compatible genotype was identified in one family, and one specimen was excluded from attribution due to mixed PCR signals consistent with contamination.ConclusionThe Duboki Jarak case represents one of the earliest documented applications of PCR-based DNA typing for victim identification in a mass-fatality event during active wartime conditions. DNA-supported identification was operationally implemented in Croatia in 1994, several years before molecular genetics was formally integrated into international disaster victim identification protocols.

Addresing complex kinship and incidental findings in MPI/DVI databases Using SNPs Panels to Strengthen Casework Reporting.

Benchmarking KinSNP®: A study on genetic relationship prediction for forensic applications.

Futaba-machi in Fukushima Prefecture was designated as a difficult-to-return area due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident of 2011. As of February 2026, approximately 24 310 people remained evacuated. This case study describes the activities of a cooking class held in collaboration between The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) and Futaba-machi and how it contributed to (1) revitalizing communities in the disaster-affected areas as well as places to which evacuees relocated and (2) improving the dietary habits of disaster victims. The project's activities were organized into a logic model by TAF staff and the evaluation team. Based on a logic model, residents involved in the project, Futaba-machi public health nurses, TAF, and researchers summarized how the project supported disaster victims and rebuilt the community. We used evaluation reports, records of project activities, and interview data for analysis. To deploy the project in the community, public health nurses coordinated with the neighborhood association and related organizations. To address issues such as resident isolation and health and dietary problems among older adult residents, organizers developed a concrete implementation plan with long-term outcomes in mind. The cooking classes, centered on the "cook together and eat together" theme, strengthened connections among participants. Collaboration was sought in other activities (eg, of the neighborhood association), thus deepening bonds among participants. Furthermore, sharing meals naturally created a space for conversation, encouraged participants to vocalize their feelings, and provided a place for emotional nourishment. Building on the insights gained from this project, we will continue to address community challenges and conduct similar analyses, including additional case studies, for application to other regions.

Jewellary can be used for human identification because they might be the only intact objects left after an air crash or natural disaster.4 For instance, information about jewellery is requested in the INTERPOL disaster victim identification (DVI) PM forms. Aim: To investigate the opinions on the use of oral jewellery items among the undergraduate dental students. Objectives: To investigate the opinions on the use of oral jewellery items among the undergraduate dental students based on gender. To investigate the opinions on the use of oral jewellery items among the undergraduate dental students based on year of the study. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate dental students using a structured questionare.The questionnaire consists of demographic details and oral jewellery for personal identification in forensic odontology. Results: In the study population, majority of them were females with 56.1% and males were 43.9%. Conclusion: The study concluded that most of the students were aware that oral jewellery will help in personal identification in forensic odontology and has better knowledge regarding the oral jewellery.

Identification, a cognitive process by which individuals think of themselves as similar to another person, may be associated with distress during traumatic events. This study examined the association of identification with psychological responses among disaster workers not directly exposed to an airline crash. Participants were 421 workers (aged 18-60 [M (SD) = 36.2 (9.9)], 86.4% male, 98.3% White, 71.8% married). Surveys at 2 months (Time 1; T1) and 7 (T2) months post-disaster assessed identification (i.e., extent to which participants identified victims as similar to themselves, a friend, and/or family member), previous disaster exposure, and acute stress and anger/hostility. Linear and logistic regression analyses examined the relationship of identification to psychological responses over time. Approximately 15% of participants reported that they had high levels of acute stress within a week of the airplane crash when assessed 2 months later. Among those with high identification, 30.2% had high acute stress. In multivariable models, adjusting for covariates, greater identification was associated with acute stress and anger/hostility at T1, but not anger/hostility at T2. Identification is associated with high levels of acute stress and anger/hostility in non-exposed individuals. Those with greater identification, regardless of exposure, could be at increased risk of distress and may benefit from early interventions.

The scene examination, or Phase 1, is the recovery phase of the disaster victim identification (DVI) process, which involves the systematic recording, documentation and retrieval of the bodies of the dead following a mass disaster incident. A wide range of government and non-government organisations and volunteers can be involved in this phase of the DVI process. The need for collaboration between organisations, such as police and defence forces, in managing the aftermath of disasters has been increasingly recognised. Yet it is unclear whether, how, and to what extent practitioners are prepared through joint training and exercises for their roles in scene examination. This paper presents a review of the literature on collaboration across organisations in preparing for disaster incidents. It explores the findings from research and practitioner-oriented literature on the lessons learned from international DVI deployments, training initiatives, and collaborative DVI exercises. It identifies gaps in existing research to inform a research agenda on collaboration in the preparation for disasters among Australian and New Zealand police and defence force personnel.

Background: Virdentopsy is a dental-focused extension of virtopsy that enables remote collection, transmission, and expert interpretation of post-mortem dental data when on-site forensic odontologists are unavailable. Objective: This narrative review summarizes the current concepts, workflow, advantages, limitations, and implementation barriers of virdentopsy in forensic odontology and disaster victim identification (DVI). Review Approach: Relevant literature on virtopsy, virdentopsy, teledentistry, forensic imaging, and digital dental identification published up to 2025 was narratively reviewed from major biomedical and forensic sources. Because this is a narrative review, no formal quality-scoring tool or quantitative meta-analysis was applied. Results: The available literature shows that remote dental evaluation can be supported by grouped digital inputs, including imaging (intraoral radiographs, panoramic imaging, CT/CBCT), photography (2D intraoral and extraoral images), scanning (photogrammetry, intraoral scanning, 3D surface capture), and communication tools (video review and live streaming). These methods can strengthen documentation, facilitate remote expert consultation, and support humanitarian identification work. However, the evidence remains heterogeneous and is limited by variable infrastructure, image quality, chain-of-custody requirements, and uneven legal readiness across jurisdictions. Conclusion: Virdentopsy is a promising but still evolving forensic workflow. It is best viewed as an adjunct to established dental autopsy practice rather than a universal replacement. Standardized capture protocols, secure data transfer, training, and validation studies are required before broad routine implementation.

Emergency response procedures for the victims of natural disasters require information about the number and location of victims and their needs or injuries. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can efficiently reconnaissance the disaster area. The sum of UAVs’ routes has to cover the entire disaster area, which is divided into sectors with priorities. The sector identification is based on merging areas with a similar expected number of victims. We prioritize sectors with more victims; UAVs should visit them as early as possible. This paper proposes a new method of building sectors for real-world data from GIS (Geographic Information System) data sets. The process is based on merging cells into regions using a flood-fill search approach, which can be implemented directly on the input due to the rasterized structure of these data sets. We verify the usefulness of the method by computer simulations.We perform experiments optimizing UAV paths for four areas in Poland. We divide each area in five ways into collections of regions and compare the usefulness of the division for optimizing UAV routes regarding two objectives to be minimized: the execution time of the operation and the size of the area over the curve of the cumulative distribution function of detected victims over time. A good division of the area into regions can increase the quality of the results.

We will examine how anxiety is formed, circulated and negotiated through discussions of earthquake disasters in West Sumatra, Indonesia; anxiety is an organisational as well as discursive process in social and communication domains, in which communication is often shaped as the only means of communication. A primary aim of this research thus is to identify how these kinds of anxiety are influenced socially and culturally through messages from above the public stage, media discourse as well as neighbourhood and personal contacts to a crisis point of view and to see how these factors influence each other in order to address anxiety post-disaster. As a result, anxiety is not only the outcome of disaster but is one of the primary organizing forces affecting meaning making processes, public trust and group participation. The institutional narratives, media representation and community interactions help drive anxiety and how it is expressed in a social context through an interdependent interaction. In short, disaster anxiety should be seen as a communicative symptom instead of just a psychological state. While this article is presented from a Global South perspective we believe it contributes to the field of communication theory because it expands both affective and constitutive ways to describe crisis communication and challenges the technocratic paradigms in disaster management. We also believe it can bring some practical understanding to the field on how to practice a more reflexive, context-sensitive and socially conscious communication (CD) of disaster victims in the following situations and in the near future to give a better and more supportive way to respond.

Collecting donations for natural disaster victims is a form of social solidarity widely practiced by the community, including students. However, in practice, these fundraising activities must be carried out in accordance with applicable legal provisions, specifically Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of the Collection of Money or Goods (PUB). This study aims to analyze the implementation of Ministerial Regulation Number 8 of 2021 in the practice of collecting donations for natural disasters by students. The research method used is a normative empirical research method with a legislative and sociological approach. Data were obtained through literature review and interviews with the Social Services Agency and student organizations. The results show that the implementation of Ministerial Regulation Number 8 of 2021 in student fundraising activities has actually taken place, but is not yet fully optimal. This is evident in the continued discovery of donation collections carried out without official permits from authorized agencies and the lack of accountability reporting for collected funds. This condition indicates that the level of compliance with administrative provisions in the implementation of fundraising is still relatively low. Therefore, increased regulatory dissemination, more effective oversight, and increased legal awareness among students are needed to ensure that fundraising activities are carried out transparently, accountably, and in accordance with applicable laws.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes debilitating nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety stemming from a catastrophic, often life-threatening traumatic event. Originally described in soldiers exposed to the horrors of battle, PTSD is now recognized in civilian victims of assault, natural disasters and mass casualty events. Most people experiencing trauma do not develop PTSD, so understanding neurobiological mechanisms is crucial to predicting risk and developing targeted treatments. There have been many studies seeking to find biomarkers for PTSD, and their results have converged on several brain regions, molecular pathways and neuropsychological functions. In this review, we focus on selected findings about the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the chaperone protein FKBP51 (FK506 binding protein 51), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), fear memory reconsolidation and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, amygdala and hippocampus. Together, these disparate aspects of brain function provide an emerging model for understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of PTSD. Avoidance of lethal threats is fundamental for survival, and this stringent evolutionary requirement has conserved many components of fear memory storage and behavioural response to danger. PTSD research can therefore rely on non-human animal model systems with better face and construct validity than most other psychiatric disorders. With this advantage, advances in PTSD biomarker identification are likely closer to clinical translation than in other mental illnesses. We attempt to highlight the most promising biomarkers that could be targeted by novel treatments and propose a map for future research work.

Age estimation is an important component of forensic investigation, with applications in criminal casework, immigration assessments, and disaster victim identification. Determining whether an individual is a minor or an adult, or estimating the age at death of unidentified remains, can have significant legal and humanitarian implications. Traditional forensic age estimation methods rely primarily on anthropological and radiological assessment of skeletal development and degeneration; however, these approaches may be limited by subjectivity, population-specific reference standards, and reduced precision in adult age estimation. In recent years, molecular biomarkers have emerged as promising complementary tools for age prediction. Molecular approaches, including DNA methylation profiling, Y-chromosome-associated markers, RNA-based biomarkers, mitochondrial DNA alterations, proteomic signatures, and telomere length analysis, reflect biological processes associated with aging and may provide objective indicators that can be measured from biological samples. Among these methods, DNA methylation-based models currently demonstrate the strongest predictive performance and represent the most extensively studied molecular strategy for forensic age estimation. Nevertheless, several challenges remain before widespread forensic implementation can be achieved, including tissue specificity, environmental influences on biomarker stability, population variability, and the need for robust validation across laboratories and forensic sample types. This review summarises the current molecular approaches investigated for forensic age estimation, evaluates their biological basis and methodological limitations, and discusses their potential integration into forensic workflows. While molecular techniques offer promising avenues for improving age estimation, further standardisation, validation, and careful interpretation are required before they can be routinely applied in forensic practice.

Purpose This paper examines how the waria (transwomen) community in Indonesia – historically stigmatized and excluded – mobilized social practices and collective action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how the Kebaya Foundation, a transwomen-led organization in Yogyakarta, transformed marginalization into resilience, challenging traditional views of gender minorities as passive disaster victims. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative single case study approach was applied, focusing on the Kebaya Foundation's preparedness and response from 2020 to 2021. Data were gathered through document reviews and semi-structured interviews with ten purposively selected participants, including staff, partners and beneficiaries. Guided by Bourdieu's social practice theory, the data were thematically analyzed to examine how habitus, capital and field shaped community-led disaster practices. Findings The study identified three interlinked dynamics – layered vulnerabilities, crisis reflection by community leaders and transformation of social into economic capital – that enabled the Kebaya Foundation to assume three roles: beneficiary, responder and partner. Despite systemic discrimination, the waria community demonstrated solidarity, leadership and adaptive capacity in responding to crisis. Practical implications Inclusive disaster governance should recognize gender-diverse communities as capable actors. Strengthening social networks and equitable partnerships can enhance their sustained participation in disaster risk reduction. Originality/value This paper is among the first in Indonesia to document transwomen-led disaster response in Indonesia, amplifying indigenous perspectives and advancing a call for grounded, inclusive and decolonized disaster scholarship.

Humanitarian forensics is an expanding multidisciplinary field that uses forensic science to support humanitarian operations in post-conflict, catastrophe, and human-rights contexts. This commentary underscores the pivotal importance of forensic methodologies in the identification of victims, investigation of human rights violations, and pursuit of justice and accountability in mass atrocities and war crimes. It also elucidates, with examples, the significance of forensic methodologies in disaster victim identification, international tribunal prosecutions, and providing resolution to families of missing persons. The evolution of humanitarian forensics is examined, from initial applications during World War II to the establishment of protocols by international organisations. Suggestions are offered for improving forensic capability, interdisciplinary cooperation, and incorporating developing technologies. Ethical and logistical issues, including cultural sensitivity, data management, and the balancing of legal and humanitarian goals are examined. Humanitarian forensics plays a vital role in upholding international humanitarian law and advancing peace, justice, and healing after major global disasters.

In 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, killing over 200,000 and injuring over 250,000. Dozens of countries sent medical teams, with Israel’s being one of the first to arrive. These teams saved lives and salvaged limbs. However, other responses were not as professional, resulting in criticism in the medical community of “Disaster Tourism.” For example, certain physicians attempted to perform procedures or surgeries that they were not certified to perform. There was a call to develop a framework for disaster response. The World Health Organization spearheaded this project by initiating the formation of Foreign Medical Teams, which later became known as Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). The EMT Initiative involves a vision of saving lives in the context of transparency and global cooperation. It includes an emphasis on safe care, ethical care, and an accountable, coordinated response to disasters. There are three general types of teams, with an additional group of specialized care teams. An EMT-1 is similar to a clinic and open only during the day. An EMT-2 adds operating room and inpatient capabilities. EMT-3 which is the most complex, includes a minimum of 40 inpatient beds, four intensive care unit (ICU) beds, and the capacity to treat 100 outpatients a day. The Israel Defense Forces Field Hospital was the first in the world to be recognized as an EMT-3. The Israeli EMT-3 includes an emergency department, inpatient services, surgical capabilities, and an intensive care unit. Pediatric services, infectious disease care, and women’s health are integral parts of the EMT-3. Logistical and ancillary services also play a key role in the success of the field hospital. The Israeli field hospital responded to recent disasters in Haiti (2010), the Philippines (2013), Nepal (2015), and Turkey (2023). The main lesson learned is that the success of the Israeli EMT-3 is based on professionalism and flexibility within the framework of the EMT initiative. The staff consists of highly trained professionals, including board-certified physicians and nurse specialists who convert their everyday skills into those used in the disaster setting. Flexibility includes having these professionals take on logistical responsibilites. Operational flexibility includes the last-minute decision to implement a hybrid versus a standalone model, to using local supplies to quickly adapt to an urgent need. While the lessons here are from the perspective of an EMT-3, they can be applied to other response teams to improve outcomes for disaster victims throughout the world.

ABSTRACT Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is a process that follows Mass Fatality Incidents including earthquakes, tsunamis, and large-scale terrorist attacks. It comprises a team deployed to collect and identify victims and return physical remains to their families. Extant research on the wellbeing and resilience of those who work in this vital process is at best ‘emergent’ and at worst ‘neglected’. This paper explores how DVI can negatively affect the wellbeing of those working within it, how they deal/cope with these effects, and how they build and maintain emotional, psychological, and physical resilience. An exploratory constructionist grounded theory approach was adopted to facilitate a deeper understanding of the experiences of those involved, comprising 25 semi-structured interviews conducted with individuals either working in DVI or who had recently retired. Participants performed a variety of different DVI roles and duties. A thematic analysis was conducted which resulted in six themes: the motivations for volunteering, personal rewards that working in DVI brings, the true nature of deployment, self-awareness about the effects of DVI on their own psychological, emotional, and physical wellbeing, and common coping strategies employed to deal with any negative impacts on personal wellbeing. The paper presents a proposed model for DVI wellbeing that highlights important risks and protections identified in the study for practitioners’ wellbeing. It concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for DVI practice and wellbeing.