Forensic Identification Research Articles

Morphometry of proximal femur and correlations of the head neck shaft assemblage

Introduction: Recent times have shown an increased incidence of proximal femur pathologies. The morphology and morphometry of the proximal femur is an important component of hip biomechanics. Altered diameters and angles affect the range of motion and have been found to be causative in hip pathologies. Understanding femoral shape and orientation can help to predict degenerative diseases, relate to hip instability, in designing hip replacement implants, in preoperative planning and for forensic identification of human remains. This study aimed at determining the morphometric parameters of proximal femur and to analyse the correlations between measured parameters. Materials and Methods: Measurements were made on 120 dry adult human femora of unknown sex (Right-60, Left-60). Transverse and vertical diameters of the head and neck and anterior and posterior neck lengths were measured using digital vernier calliper and neck-shaft angle was measured using a goniometer. Measurements were statistically analysed. Correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationship among variables. Results: Mean vertical and transverse diameters of head were 43.23 mm and 43.16 mm and Mean Anterior and Posterior neck lengths were 28.37 mm and 35.81 mm respectively. Mean Neck shaft angle was 128.82. On comparison between sides, statistically significant differences were observed in neck shaft angle and anterior neck length measurements. Correlation between neck shaft angle and neck length as well as between neck shaft angle and head diameters revealed variable patterns on left and right sides. Conclusions: Our study has found a significant difference in anterior length of neck in left and right femur as well as a substantial and statistically significant positive correlation was observed between anterior neck length and neck shaft angle of the right femur. Keywords : Femur, Morphometry, Vernier, Goniometer, Hip, Prosthesis

Systematic evaluation of the Precision ID GlobalFiler™ NGS STR panel v2 using single-source samples of various quantity and quality and mixed DNA samples

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) techniques were developed approximately 15 years ago. Meanwhile, several MPS kits for forensic identification, phenotypic information, ancestry, and mitochondrial DNA analysis have been developed and their use has been established. Sequencing short tandem repeats (STRs) has certain advantages over the currently used length-based genotyping methods, which are based on PCR amplification followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). MPS is more discriminative and includes the possibility of testing high numbers of targets (> 100), different types of markers [STRs and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)], as well as the use of smaller amplicons (< 300 bp). This study evaluated in 24 experimental runs the Precision ID GlobalFiler™ NGS STR panel v2 from ThermoFisher, which targets 31 autosomal STRs, amelogenin, and three Y-markers (one STR, SRY, and Yindel). Single-source samples were used in 18 experimental runs, for systematic evaluation. These included assessing library preparation benchmark conditions, limited DNA input, as well as testing repeatability, number of samples per run, and degraded DNA samples. Full profiles were consistently obtained from as little as 50 pg DNA input. Using the optional recovery PCR method improved outcomes for samples with low DNA input. Full profiles were also obtained from severely degraded DNA samples with degradation indices (DI) of > 60. In addition, six experimental runs were performed testing various two-person mixtures with mixture ratios ranging from 1:20 to 20:1. Major and minor contributors were distinguishable by their read counts (coverage), because less DNA input yielded lower read counts, analogous to the traditional CE technology, where less DNA produces lower peak heights. Mixture ratios of approximately 1:1 were indistinguishable, while a greater imbalance, i.e., higher mixture ratios, made the mixture more distinguishable between major and minor contributors. Based on this information, the highest success rate of correctly deconvoluted four-allelic loci was from mixtures with 1:3 ratios. At higher mixture ratios, the drop-out rate of the minor contributor increased, reducing the number of four-allelic loci.

Short tandem repeat (STR) variation from 6 cities in Iraq based on 15 loci

BackgroundOne thousand sixty-one individuals were sampled from the cities of Anbar, Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Najaf, and Wasit in Iraq and typed for 15 forensic STRs to explore the genetic structure of Iraq and develop a forensic DNA database. The total number of alleles that were identified was 203. ResultAnalyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) were then conducted Baghdad provides a good representation of the rest of the country, while Anbar is the most genetically distinct. The average heterozygosities of these loci was 0.779, homozygosities was 0.221, polymorphism information content was 0.77, power of discrimination was 0.927, and power of exclusion was 0.563. At these loci, a matching genotype will occur, on average, in 1 in 8.152 × 1017 individuals. For paternity tests, the average paternity probability for a matching profile is 99.9997%. ConclusionsThese loci are appropriate for use in forensic and paternity testing for this population. Iraq is similar to other countries in the Middle East, particularly Iran and Turkey, and is more similar to Europe than either Asia or Africa.

Multidimensional foot measurements-based sex estimation for Taiwanese population in foot length overlapping interval

ABSTRACT Estimating the sex from unknown bodies or fragmented human remains is essential for forensic identification. For sex estimation from foot features, previous studies highly depend on the foot length, resulting in a single-dimensional threshold and thusly poor performance for data falling into the foot length overlapping interval. Moreover, available information about the sex estimation from foot dimensions among Taiwan population is lacking. Hence, this study proposes a novel method to achieve multidimensional foot measurements-based sex estimation for the human falling into the overlapping foot interval. In total, 780 men and 670 women with same foot lengths ranging from 23.0 to 25.5 cm were recruited. A three-dimensional foot scanner was used to measure 10 dimensions of both feet. Bilateral differences were detected in several foot dimensions under the same foot length categories. The support vector machine method provided better results in terms of accuracy (86.05%), recall (86.44%), specificity (85.59%), and precision (83.77%). This study indicates the importance of other variables including foot length, ball girth, instep girth, ball of foot length, and outside ball of foot length in sex estimation. The findings will provide helpful information for forensic practice for Taiwanese and extend the application range of machine learning methods.

Characterization of DNA Quality, TPOX Locus, TH01 Locus in Seawater Soaked Nails in Forensic Identification

Forensic science is multiplying. One of them is the identification of events at sea. Of course, the victim’s body can be submerged in seawater for days so that components in seawater can affect the victim’s body. This research aimed to see the effect of storage time on the level and purity of DNA in nail samples. Identification of nail DNA using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. The DNA purity test examines nail samples using a spectrophotometer read at 260 and 280 nm wavelengths. Measurement of DNA levels using the PCR instrument on the STR TPOX locus, the result was 32.02 ug/uL on positive control, 36.73 ug/uL in seawater immersion on the 2nd day, 35.35 ug/uL in seawater immersion on the 7th day, and 34.5 ug/uL in seawater immersion on the 20th day. At the STR TH01 locus, the result was 32.155 ug/uL on positive control, 38.05 ug/uL on the 2nd day of immersion in seawater, 35.18 ug/uL on the 7th day, and 33.88 ug/uL on the 20th day. Results Examination of the Total Plate Number of seawater on the 2nd day, 7th day, and 20th day of immersion found no colonies of germ colony growth. This study obtained sufficient DNA purity from the 2nd day, 7th day and 20th day. So that the samples could be analyzed for DNA levels, the result obtained from the study showed a decrease in DNA levels at the TPOX Locus and TH01 Locus from the 2nd day, 7th day, and 20th day.

Gender Determination Based on CBCT Maxillary Sinus Analysis: A Systematic Review

Gender determination is an essential element for human identification in forensic medicine, to which the maxillary sinuses may contribute as they remain intact even after severe damage to the skull and other structures. Aim: To evaluate scientific evidence published over the last decade to determine whether maxillary sinus dimensions and volume may constitute useful parameters for forensic identification and gender determination, based only on cone-beam computed tomography images (CBCT). Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA statement’s criteria. Four databases were searched for articles published between January 2010 and April 2023. Results: Initially, 1719 records were identified. After screening, there were 2475 participants in the included studies. Of the fifteen articles selected, five reported data assessing only volumetric measurements of the maxillary sinus, seven reported data calculating only linear measurements and three reported data by combining findings of both linear and volumetric measurements of the maxillary sinus. Maxillary sinus volume was significantly higher in male participants. Maxillary sinus height was the best discriminating parameter for forensic identification with an overall accuracy ranging from 70% to 80%. Conclusions: Maxillary sinus measurements revealed anatomic variability between genders, and this approach can be applied as a complementary method for human identification.

Fine alignment, flexible fusion: A novel framework of multi-model score fusion in face identification

Multi-model score fusion was considered a bottleneck problem in forensic face identification. While the score distribution of different face models varies greatly, the existing score processing methods cannot achieve accurate alignment. This paper proposed a score fusion framework named fine alignment and flexible fusion framework (FAFF). In FAFF, we took score-based likelihood ratios as the reference values to align the similarity scores generated by different face models. First, we set up a unified calibration test workflow based on the forensic likelihood ratio test. Then, 3 LLR anchor-based methods (LLRBA1, LLRBA2, and LLRBA3) and LLR curve-based methods (LLRBC) were proposed. Finally, we conducted fusion experiments on four face models (VGGface, Facenet, Arcface, and SFace). The experimental results show that on the CelebA dataset, compared with the existing MOEBA and PAN methods, LLRBC increased the TPR@ 10−7 FPR by 175.4 % and 162.9 %, and LLRBA increased by 55.6 % and 48.5 %.

Age-Related Changes to Frontal Sinus Traits and Implications for Forensic Identification

Forensic studies on frontal sinus identification are often limited to adult samples or utilize static, simulated antemortem images, which overlook any potential temporal changes in sinus morphology. Further, studies on frontal sinus growth typically utilize lateral radiographs and/or are cross-sectional. The current study utilizes a longitudinal sample of frontal radiographs to determine the age at which forensically relevant frontal sinus traits stabilize during growth and development. The sample includes 1500 radiographs of 141 individuals (66F/75M) ranging from three to 56 years of age (yoa). For each individual, trait age-of-stabilization was recorded by identifying the year at which each coded trait became consistent across images.Our results demonstrate that frontal sinus traits stabilize on average 10–15yoa, with sinus presence being the first to stabilize and arcade counts the last. Females generally stabilized earlier (9–14yoa) versus males (10–15yoa). However, sex differences were generallynot statistically significant. Further, traits displayed a high degree of variation with wide standard deviations (~3 years). However, by 21yoa almost all individuals displayed stabilization in all traits, suggesting that little change should be expected with later-aged postmortem radiographs. Still, given the amount of variation, forensic practitioners should be cautious using frontal sinus identification methods in subadults, especially when years may have elapsed between images. When conducting a radiographic comparison that involves a subadult antemortem image, the results of this study may help the practitioner interpret whether the differences between antemortem and postmortem radiographs can be explained by age and time elapsed between radiographs.

Allelic frequencies of 22 short tandem repeats loci and tri-allelic patterns of Penta D and TPOX identified in Gabonese population

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are repeating DNA sequences used in forensic human identity testing and the diagnosis of aneuploidies. Many STRs like Penta D and TPOX are used routinely for paternity tests, but these tests are not widely used in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study we recruited individuals from Gabonese families seeking a paternity test. After DNA extraction from buccal swabs, we genotyped samples using a panel of 22 STRs. A total of 115 unrelated subjects from 39 families were included. Allele frequencies of the 22 STR loci were determined in unrelated Gabonese subjects. The most polymorphic loci were D21S11 (16 alleles) and FGA (17 alleles), while D3S1358 and TH01 loci were less polymorphic, with five alleles each. Deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was observed for TPOX, D3S1358, CSFPO and D7S820 loci. We reported tri-allelic patterns that indicate aneuploidies at a combined frequency of 4% (4/115) with 3% for Penta D (1/35) and 3% for TPOX (3/102). Furthermore, we identified a new tri-allelic genotype 5-8-16 for the Penta D locus located on chromosome 21 in a healthy subject. In addition, we observed three tri-allelic variants of TPOX, located on chromosome 2, in healthy subjects, namely 8-10-11, 8-9-10, and 8-8-10. Our study revealed unsuspected polymorphic variations in Penta D and TPOX for the first time in Gabon, raising several questions about chromosomal disorders. Further population genetics studies are needed in Gabon to better characterize these variations, both qualitatively and quantitative.

Forensic analysis of the Turkey 2023 presidential election reveals extreme vote swings in remote areas

Concerns about the integrity of Turkey’s elections have increased with the recent transition from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidency under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Election forensics tools are used to identify statistical traces of certain types of electoral fraud, providing important information about the integrity and validity of democratic elections. Such analyses of the 2017 and 2018 Turkish elections revealed that malpractices such as ballot stuffing or voter manipulation may indeed have played a significant role in determining the election results. Here, we apply election forensic statistical tests for ballot stuffing and voter manipulation to the results of the 2023 presidential election in Turkey. We find that both rounds of the 2023 presidential election exhibit similar statistical irregularities to those observed in the 2018 presidential election, however the magnitude of these distortions has decreased. We estimate that 2.4% (SD 1.9%) and 1.9% (SD 1.7%) of electoral units may have been affected by ballot stuffing practices in favour of Erdoğan in the first and second rounds, respectively, compared to 8.5% (SD 3.9%) in 2018. Areas with smaller polling stations and fewer ballot boxes had significantly inflated votes and turnout, again, in favor of Erdoğan. Furthermore, electoral districts with two or fewer ballot boxes were more likely to show large swings in vote shares in favour of Erdoğan from the first to the second round. Based on a statistical model, it is estimated that these shifts account for 342,000 additional ballots (SD 4,900) or 0.64% for Erdoğan, which is lower than the 4.36% margin by which Erdoğan was victorious. Our results suggest that Turkish elections continue to be riddled with statistical irregularities, that may be indicative of electoral fraud.

‘Strands in a cable’: effective investigator decision-making using forensic identification evidence in volume crime investigations

ABSTRACT Police investigators increasingly make use of forensic science in the investigation of crime. While there is considerable research on case outcomes following the use of forensic identification evidence (fingerprint and DNA evidence), few studies have explored how police investigators use these evidence types in their investigations. This study aimed to examine police investigators’ reasoning processes about the use of forensic identification evidence in volume crimes, such as burglary, to develop a decision-making framework that can be applied to the investigation of such crimes. Twenty-four police officers from three Australian police jurisdictions participated in semi-structured interviews that centred around a case scenario. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. The findings highlight that police investigators’ decision-making is influenced by the requirement to meet the rules of evidence. Further, participants’ own experience and mentoring by more experienced colleagues influenced not only the decisions made in a case, but also the development of decision-making skills in the use of forensic evidence more broadly. A decision-making framework is proposed to explain and guide the use of forensic evidence in volume crime investigations. Overall, the findings suggest that the effective use of forensic identification evidence in volume crime investigations requires that police investigators engage actively in the decision-making process. Further research can explore ways to integrate the findings from this research into police practices.

ANATOMICAL STUDY OF NUTRIENT FORAMINA IN LONG BONES OF HUMAN UPPER AND LOWER LIMBS

Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) To determine the number, location, position, and direction of nutrient foramina in the shaft of long bones. (2) To determine the foraminal index of the long bones. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, undertaken on dry cadaveric human long bones of unknown age and sex from the Department of Anatomy, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore. The duration of study was 2 years. In this study, 350 human long bones which include the clavicle, humerus, radius, and ulna from the upper extremity; femur, tibia, and fibula from the lower extremity were examined in detail for the number, position, location, and directions of the nutrient foramen. For statistical purposes, p&lt;0.05 was taken as significant. Results: All the bones had single nutrient foramina and a higher percentage of double nutrient foramina was seen in femur. The most common position was the middle one-third of the shaft and the surface distribution was different in different bones. All the bones had the nutrient foramina, which were directed away from the growing end. The mean foraminal index for clavicle, humerus, radius, and ulna was 52.85±9.24, 56.92±6.57, 34.80±6.07, and 36.0±5.85, respectively. Mean foraminal index for femur, tibia, and fibula was 43.54±10.32, 32.37±3.1, and 51.68±9.77. Conclusion: Knowledge of nutrient foramina of long bones is crucial for orthopedic surgery, forensic identification, obtaining vascularized bone grafts, and treating trauma or malignant bone conditions.

Marijuana: Forensics of Abuse, Medical Uses, Controversy, and AI

Motor vehicle accidents are a significant consequence of marijuana abuse. Limitations of its roadside detection and the forensic problems with establishing impairment require innovations that are scientifically achievable. Marijuana abuse currently is at an all-time high in the United States and its physiological effects make it a popular recreational drug that is reported to be a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among the youth in the 18 most affluent nations. The medical benefits of drugs derived from marijuana complicate its forensic regulation. In an extensive 2017 report by The American Academy of Sciences, the evidence for the medical benefits of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (derived from marijuana) were stated to be conclusive or substantial for the treatment of chronic pain in adults, as an antiemetic for treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and for improving patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. The benefits from treatment for many other medical conditions were inconclusive or absent. The evidence is clear that safely driving a motor vehicle is significantly impaired while under the influence of marijuana. However, there is no roadside forensic test that reliably detects impairment, and there is an urgent need for such to protect the public while insuring the legal rights of users. There is strong societal pressure to relax marijuana’s forensic regulation, including removing it from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Artificial intelligence (AI) should be implemented with appropriate human control to resolve controversies.

Curious about race: Generous methods and modes of knowing in practice.

What is race? And how does it figure in different scientific practices? To answer these questions, I suggest that we need to know race differently. Rather than defining race or looking for one conclusive answer to what it is, I propose methods that are open-ended, that allow us to follow race around, while remaining curious as to what it is. I suggest that we pursue generous methods. Drawing on empirical examples of forensic identification technologies, I argue that the slipperiness of race-the way race and its politics inexorably shift and change-cannot be fully grasped as an 'object multiple'. Race, I show, is not race: The same word refers to different phenomena. To grasp this, I introduce the notion of the affinity concept. Drawing on the history of race, along with contemporary work in forensic genetics, the affinity concept helps us articulate how race indexes three different scientific realities: race as object, race as method, and race as theory. These three different, yet interconnected realities, contribute to race's slipperiness as well as its virulence.

Frequency and Correlation of Fingerprints and Lip Prints with ABO Blood Groups among Nkalaha of South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract Background: Forensic individual identification system is one of the accurate ways of identification. The need to improve existing methods continues to be an area of research. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the frequency and correlation of different lip print patterns and fingerprint pattern distribution compared with gender and ABO blood group. Methodology: The study was conducted on 200 healthy volunteers aged 15–50 years. Each subject’s thermoscopic and dermatographic data were analysed according to Suzuki, Tsuchihashi, and Henry classification systems. ABO blood test was done and recorded for each subject. Pearson statistics were done, and tests were considered statistically significant when the P value was at 0.05; a Bar chart was applied to analyse the prevalence of the variables. Results: The O blood group was noted as common among the genders, followed by A, while the least was AB. Type III lip print pattern was the most predominant, while the least common was Type V in both genders. The radial loop fingerprint pattern was the most common in both genders, followed by Whorl, while Arch was least noted in males and tented loop in females. A significant correlation was found between ABO and lip print patterns except for Type V in both genders. A positive correlation was observed between all the ABO with fingerprint patterns, except for A and TL (A with fingerprint: r = 1, P = 0.05, B: r = 0.889, P = 0.001, O: r = 0.976, P = 0.000 and AB: r = 0.120, P = 0.742). Conclusion: We found an association between lip print patterns and fingerprints with ABO in both genders; thus, correlating this physical evidence sometimes helps the forensic team get an accurate personal identification or narrow the search for an individual where no possible data refer to the subject’s identity.

Age estimation in the combined long bones and ribs by histomorphometry: Past, present, and future.

Numerous age estimation methods in unidentified bone have been a long time developing for application in forensic anthropology. The histomorphometric technique is one of the alternative methods that relied upon the evaluation of the cortical bone microstructure over the lifespan as a result of the remodeling process in bone. Remodeling is a sophisticated event occurring from the coupled function of bone formation and resorption cells for maintaining mineral homeostasis and repairment of microdamage in bone tissue. Products derived from remodeling are primary changes in the osteon or haversian system in various regions in the cortical bone, including periosteum, endosteum, and trabecular bone. Throughout life, bone remodeling rate with osteon alteration can be predictable. In the forensic field, histological methods are getting more attention due to the unavailability of macroscopic methods. Histomorphometry approach can be accomplished in fragmentary or incomplete bone remains indicating the limited use of gross morphological methods. In addition, the microscopic methods can aid to increase the more accuracy of analyses and diminish the biased subjective assessment for determining age. Most histomorphometry method utilizes a cross-section of the midshaft of the long bones including the mandible, rib, and clavicle. This review provides the basic knowledge of bone biology and anatomy, several age-estimating methods of histology, and crucial factors for age methods. Studies regarding overall age determination methods from the past until now contribute to obtaining more benefits for developing methods of histomorphometry using human bone in forensic identification.

Screening of Genes Co-Associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Infectious Sudden Death in Infancy and Bioinformatics Analysis of Their Regulatory Networks.

The common differentially expressed mRNAs in brain, heart and liver tissues of deceased sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infectious sudden death in infancy (ISDI) confirmed by autopsy was screened by bioinformatics to explore the common molecular markers and pathogenesis of SIDS and ISDI. The datasets of GSE70422 and GSE136992 were downloaded, the limma of R software was used to screen differentially expressed mRNA in different tissue samples of SIDS and ISDI decedents for overlapping analysis. The clusterProfiler of R software was used to conduct gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING database, while the hub gene was screened by cytoHubba plug-in. Compared with the control group, there were 19 significant differentially expressed genes in the tissue samples of SIDS and ISDI decedents, among which 16 in the heart tissue and 3 in the liver tissue, and the astrotactin 1 (ASTN1) gene expression difference in the heart tissue was most significant. The PPI network identified Ras homolog family member A (RHOA), integrin subunit alpha 1 (ITGA1), and H2B clustered histone 5 (H2BC5) were hub genes. The analysis of GO and KEGG showed that differentially expressed genes were enriched in the molecular pathways of actin cytoskeleton regulation, focal adhesion and response to mycophenolic acid. ASTN1, RHOA and ITGA1 may participate in the development of SIDS and ISDI. The enrichment of differentially expressed genes in immune and inflammatory pathways suggests a common molecular regulatory mechanism between SIDS and ISDI. These findings are expected to provide new biomarkers for molecular anatomy and forensic identification of SIDS and ISDI.

Expanding the scope of methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme (MSRE) PCR for forensic identification of body fluids through the novel use of methylation-dependent restriction enzymes (MDRE) and the combination of autosomal and Y-chromosomal markers

Methylation-sensitive/-dependent restriction enzyme (MSRE/MDRE) PCR can be performed to detect hypomethylated or hypermethylated CpG sites. With the combined use of different tissue-specific CpG markers, MSRE/MDRE-PCR leads to tissue-specific methylation patterns (TSMPs), enabling the correlation of DNA samples to their source tissue. MSRE/MDRE assays can use the same platform as forensic STR typing and offer many advantages in the field of forensic body fluid detection. In the present study, we aimed to establish MSRE assays for the detection of blood, saliva, vaginal secretion, and semen, using markers from literature and from our own database search. We designed two different MSRE test-sets, which include two novel Y-chromosomal non-semen markers, and enable differentiation between female and male non-semen samples. Furthermore, we established an MSRE/MDRE semen approach, which includes only Y-chromosomal non-semen and semen markers. This Y-semen multiplex PCR utilizes the novel combination of the methylation-sensitive enzyme SmaI and the methylation-dependent enzyme GlaI, which enables more sensitive detection of male body fluids within male/female DNA mixtures. Our validation tests confirmed that MSRE/MDRE assays exhibit high sensitivity, similar to that of STR typing.

The uselessness of using salivary microbiota in forensic identification purposes of a person with recent antibiotic use

The detection of microbial flora changes in saliva samples because of antibiotic use through advanced molecular genetic analysis is important for forensic and clinical applications. This study aims to reveal the variability in the microbial structure of human saliva after antibiotic use with metagenomic analysis techniques from a forensic point of view. Within the scope of the study, saliva samples were collected from patients who were under the effect of regional anesthesia to be administered a standardized course of antibiotic therapy that lasted for a week. The analysis was conducted on 56 saliva samples from 14 individuals over four different time intervals. Isolation of the 16S rRNA region and PCR analysis were performed prior to sequence analysis to determine the microbiome structure of the samples at phylum, genus, and species levels. As expected, changes were observed in bacterial species found in saliva samples after administration of antibiotics and this was linked to the specific type of antibiotics that were administered. This change was statistically significant for Firmicutes, Spirochetes, and Verrucomicrobiota. Furthermore, although the oral microbiome tends to return to its former state at the phylum and genus level within a 4-week period after the start of antibiotic use, it is observed that the change, especially in some bacterial species, still continues. The findings of this study show that because of the inability of stabilization at species-level in a period of 4 weeks from the start of antibiotic use, it is not suitable to assess saliva samples at species-level for forensic identification.

Forensic Identification of the source of the morphed image: A case study on serious female disgrace

Forensic Identification of the source of the morphed image: A case study on serious female disgrace