Forensic scientist’s blog

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Conclusion: Positive circumstantial indications of a self-inflicted injury, which are often cited in the literature are less conclusive for the medico-legal decision finding. The detailed anatomic description of any lesions and the alleged accident mechanism as initially described by the patients in the emergency setting is the basis for any later accident reconstruction. (Source: Forensic Science International)

(Source: Forensic Science International)

Abstract: Glomerular sclerosis is one of the age-related causes of nephron damage. Histological studies of cadaver kidneys in several ethnic groups have shown that there is a consistent relationship between the percentage of sclerotic glomeruli (PSG) and age. However, no study regarding this relationship in the Japanese population has been reported to date. Here, we investigated such relationship in 150 Japanese cadavers that were selected regardless of clinical history. The straight line regression was estimated as follows: Age=23.3+1.36×APSG (APSG: arcsine-transformed PSG). The R2 value of the regression line was 0.598.The diagnostic test with the PSG value (cutoff=0.6%) for the age stratum (cutoff=33 years old) showed very high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (97.6%). From the resul...

Abstract: In India, age estimation of living individuals is gaining importance, particularly in cases of child labour, ascertaining majority status and to assess disputed age in criminals. Previous studies on adult age prediction in Indians have focused on histological parameters, which are invasive in nature and not feasible in the living. Methods for age estimation in living adults make use of radiographs to indirectly measure the rate of secondary dentine deposition and studies have focused on ratios of linear measurements rather than absolute dimensions per se. Recently, the ratio of the pulp/tooth area of canines was suggested by a group in Italy who developed regression formulas for age estimation . The present study has assessed the usefulness of one of the formulas on an Indian sam...

Abstract: Gelatine is a reliable tissue simulant in wound ballistic experiments. The projectile penetrating the gelatine transfers energy and causes radial cracks according to the temporary cavity. Thus the crack length is a function of the energy spent in the medium. In practice the fissures are poorly contrasted for which reason an enhancement of contrast was searched.A series of six shoots with expanding bullets (9mm×19 Action-5, 9mm×19 Quick Defense 1, 5.56mm×45 Styx Action) was realized on 10% gelatine blocks at 4°C temperature. Three blocks were marked with acryl paint on the front, three blocks were shot native. The blocks were cut in slices of 1cm thickness and optically scanned. The evaluation was performed according to Fackler's wound profile, the total crack length method an...

Abstract: Firearm injuries to the head and neck have a potential for fatal complications caused by damage to neurovascular structures in the region. We herewith present a case of a missile injury to the face, caused by a bullet from a rifle with high muzzle energy that slackened while penetrating a vehicle before hitting the victim. The bullet advanced through the retrofacial spaces following a non-linear course and was retained within the opposite parapharyngeal region without injuring any vital structure. The resultant damage was a â€�?low-velocity injury’. However, it is noteworthy that the missile had still retained enough energy to penetrate the tissue and travel in a â€�?dissecting’ fashion. It is likely that the blunting of the missile during vehicle penetration and the compactnes...

Thirty-six years ago, on September 11, 1973, Augusto Pinochet ascended to power in Chile in a military coup. Within days, thousands of citizens were arrested, tortured and summarily executed. A Chilean folk singer named Victor Jara, was held prisoner in Santiago’s soccer stadium, a place used as a detention and torture center.
According to the testimony [...]

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Abstract: A convenient mass spectrometric approach for the identification of toxicologically relevant compounds in tablets and tablet residues is presented. For comprehensive forensic-toxicological analysis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was accomplished in positive as well as in negative ion mode on a quadrupole–quadrupole–time-of-flight instrument. Dissolved samples were introduced into the mass spectrometer by flow-injection. Mass spectra as well as tandem mass spectra were acquired. A data-dependent acquisition strategy was used to switch between the mass spectrometric modes. Identification was accomplished via search within a tandem mass spectral library. The applied database contained 8252 spectra collected from 836 compounds in positive ion mode as well as 1023 spectr...