Results Of Forensic Analysis Research Articles

International Trends in the Field of Forensic Science Standardization, Forensic Science Standardization in Europe, Experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The subject of this work is to present forensic science standardization trends in the world and in Europe with special review of the application of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, which is a condition for forensic laboratory accreditation. Through the analysis of needs and constant efforts to make the forensic area simpler for cooperation and more practical for use, as well as to improve the quality of forensic analysis results and their acceptance beyond the borders of a country, the author will try to point out the significance of implementing this international standard, in terms of economics and cost-effectiveness, as well as overall rationality. Accepting and exchanging the best professional and scientific experiences, professional help and cooperation in the form of international exchange of forensic data bases, and unreserved acceptance of valid forensic laboratory results ensure the quality the forensic science and profession are striving for, as shown in the EU document titled “Creating a common European space for the forensic sciences 2020”. We believe that forensic activity standardization in Bosnia and Herzegovina will help in fighting terrorism and organized crime more effectively. In other words, the process of forensic analysis will be more valid and practical, forensic laboratories more competent, and court proceedings more effective through norming the forensic handling of evidence. Thus an important obligation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its way to European integration will be fulfilled, because once a forensic laboratory receives an affirmation for its results, it becomes a benchmark for forensic analyses and crime detection.

FORENSIC ASSESSMENT OF HOMEMADE AIRSOFT GRENADES

The paper presents the results of forensic analysis of improvised dummy grenades modeled after the airsoft hand grenade RGS-4 for use in tactical simulation wargames like «Airsoft». Initial testing by experts affiliated with a different system of forensic science institutes led to the conclusion that these devices are capable of producing explosions and causing fragmentation damage. The purpose of this study conducted by two forensic science centers of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation was to correct the classification of improvised devices as explosive devices. Results indicate that these devices that consist of a cardboard (paper) or rubber-like casing filled with dried peas, with a «Korsar-4» firecracker in the middle, have the formal characteristics of an explosive device but cannot be regarded as such (as per Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), since they are in effect typical imitation pyrotechnic devices similar to dummy hand grenades RGS-4 and display no significant damaging properties.

A Response to: 'Nist Experts Urge Caution in Use of Courtroom Evidence Presentation Method'

A press release from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) could potentially impede progress toward improving the analysis of forensic evidence and the presentation of forensic analysis results in courts in the United States and around the world. “NIST experts urge caution in use of courtroom evidence presentation method” was released on October 12, 2017, and was picked up by the phys.org news service. It argues that, except in exceptional cases, the results of forensic analyses should not be reported as “likelihood ratios”. The press release, and the journal article by NIST researchers Steven P. Lund & Harri Iyer on which it is based, identifies some legitimate points of concern, but makes a strawman argument and reaches an unjustified conclusion that throws the baby out with the bathwater.

Morphological Changes in the Heart with Clozapine Poisoning (Experimental Study)

Objective: to identify histomorphological changes in the heart for acute poisoning with clozapine and combined poisonings with ethanol and clozapine 3 and 24 hours after poisoning. Materials and methods: the experiments were performed in mongrel male rats weighing 290—350 g. Clozapine was administered at a dose of 150 mg/kg animal weight under anesthesia with chlorolase. After 3 hours and 24 hours the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. Histological sections of the heart of 5 rats that had received clozapine orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg and of 5 rats that had received ethanol and clozapine orally in the above doses 3 hours after the poisoning were examined. There was also a study of histological sections of the heart of rats (n=10) that had received similar preparations in the above doses and were withdrawn from the experiment 24 hours after the administration of the preparations. The comparison was performed by evaluating the histological sections of the heart of rats (n=5) that had not received the above substances. The presence of following morphological signs was evaluated: circulatory disorders (plethora, hemorrhages), eosinophilia, fragmentation of cardiomyocytes, cell reaction, and homogeneity of the cytoplasm. The evaluation was carried out using the Fisher criterion. The presence of a sign was considered reliable when it appeared in 4—5 cases in one group and was completely absent in another. Results: in the control group of animals the histological examination of the heart showed no circulatory disorders, eosinophilia, fragmentation of cardiomyocytes, or homogeneity of the cytoplasm. The earliest change in the heart with the effect of clozapine was blood circulation disorders that appeared already 3 hours after the administration of the medicine and increased by 24 hours. Eosinophilia of the myocardium, which is specific for clozapine poisoning, was observed in all experimental groups. In the clozapine and ethanol group, homogenization of the cytoplasm was observed after 3 hours, indicating cell death. In the group receiving clozapine as a monopreparation, similar changes were not observed. Perhaps, the appearance of such changes is associated with the influence of ethanol. In the group affected by clozapine and ethanol there were circulatory disorders (plethora of veins and venules, small pericapillary hemorrhages) after 3 hours. By 24 hours these disorders intensified. Arterial and venous plethora, periarterial and pericapillary hemorrhages were observed. Conclusion. The changes revealed by histological examination of the heart in animals receiving clozapine and a combination of ethanol and clozapine, together with the results of forensic analysis, can be used to diagnose relevant poisonings and to establish their prescription.

Identification and evaluation of potential forensic marker proteins in vaginal fluid by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Vaginal fluid is one of the most common body fluids found at crime scenes. Discriminating vaginal fluid from other body fluids is important in forensic science; however, few potential protein markers have been reported to date. Proteomic methods for identifying protein markers have gained attention, although few reports have applied this technology to forensic protein markers. Therefore, to identify characteristic vaginal proteins, we examined various body fluids (nasal secretions, saliva, urine, semen, vaginal fluids, and sweat) using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting. We identified three components (average molecular mass values 17,237 ± 2, 18,063 ± 2, and 15,075 ± 1) detectable only in vaginal samples: two human small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3) isoforms and a human fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) with an acetylated (+42) N-terminal region lacking the initiator methionine residue (-131). Using ELISA, these yielded markedly high average values in vaginal fluids. The mass spectra of these proteins were not detected in infant saliva but were detected in the vaginal fluid throughout the menstrual cycle. The results of forensic analysis (detection limit, mixed body fluid samples, casework samples, and blind samples) suggest that these proteins are potential forensic markers. In conclusion, high SPRR3 and FABP5 expression levels, which may be used as potential markers for vaginal fluid identification in forensic science, were detected in vaginal fluids from healthy adults.

Forensic Assessment of Refined Tar-Based Sealers as a Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Sediments

Atmospheric deposition of particles and their subsequent transport by stormwater are a major source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban sediments. Recently, the results of forensic analysis have been used to promote a hypothesis that refined tar-based pavement sealers (RT-sealers) are another significant source. To evaluate this hypothesis, a suite of forensic methods was applied to a wider range of PAH data for this study. Sediments PAH profiles are no more similar to RT-sealers than they are to a number of other environmental inputs. While RT-sealers were not eliminated as a potential source in some locations, forensic methods did not differentiate their contribution from other sources of PAHs, indicating RT-sealers are not a unique or readily quantifiable source of PAHs to the urban environment.

Digital forensics research: The next 10 years

Today’s Golden Age of computer forensics is quickly coming to an end. Without a clear strategy for enabling research efforts that build upon one another, forensic research will fall behind the market, tools will become increasingly obsolete, and law enforcement, military and other users of computer forensics products will be unable to rely on the results of forensic analysis. This article summarizes current forensic research directions and argues that to move forward the community needs to adopt standardized, modular approaches for data representation and forensic processing.

Postmortem interval (PMI) determined by study sarcophagous biocenoses: three cases from the province of Venice (Italy)

This paper presents and discusses three cases of cadavers found, unburied, in the province of Venice, Northern Italy. In each case, all insect species playing some role in carrion decay processes, both sarcophagous and their predators, found on or in the bodies, were collected and determined. In one case, many larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) were found and are reported, for the first time in Italy, as necrophagous. Experimental breeding of some fly species was also carried out in controlled temperature and humidity conditions. In particular, it was of interest to know how the Neotropical black soldier fly modified its life-cycle to adapt to a temperate climate. It was thus possible to establish the rate of larval growth and timing of pupation, emergence, oviposition and hatching in various external conditions. The postmortem interval (PMI) established by identifying the life-cycle stages of dipterofauna were later confirmed in all cases through police investigations and the results of forensic analyses.