Effect of Temperature on the Visualization by Digital Color Mapping of Latent Fingerprint Deposits on Metal

Visualization of fingerprint deposits by digital color mapping of light reflected from the surface of heated brass, copper, aluminum, and tin has been investigated using Adobe^® Photoshop^®. Metals were heated to a range of temperatures (T) between 50°C and 500°C in 50°C intervals with enhancement being optimal when the metals are heated to 250°C, 350°C, 50°C, and 300°C, respectively, and the hue values adjusted to 247°, 245°, 5°, and 34°, respectively. Fingerprint visualization after color mapping was not degraded by subsequent washing of the metals and color mapping did not compromise the visibility of the fingerprint for all values of T. The optimum value of T for fingerprint visibility is significantly dependent of the standard reduction potential of the metal with Kendall's Tau (τ) = 0.953 (p < 0.001). For brass, this correlation is obtained when considering the standard reduction potential of zinc rather than copper.     

A Comparison of US and UK Asbestos Liability

This article compares the impact of asbestos liabilities in the U.S. with that in the U.K. The maximum exposure to asbestos in the U.S. occurred during the time period from the 1930s to the 1960s. In the U.K., the peak asbestos exposure likely occurred during the 1960s and the 1970s. Asbestos-related deaths are projected to have peaked before 1997 in the U.S. Asbestos-related deaths in the U.K. are projected to peak sometime before 2020—some 20 years after those in the U.S. In the U.S., asbestos-related claims are believed to have peaked around 2002. Given the anticipated peak in asbestos-related disease deaths in the U.K., the peak in asbestos-related claims in the U.K. will likely occur sometime after 2020. There are differences in judicial systems and victim compensation schemes (private and public) between the U.S. andthe U.K. However, trends in recent U.K. court decisions and regulatory activities (as well as increases in victim awareness, litigation, on-going discovery, victim support groups, and claim compensation) suggest that the U.K.'s current asbestos liability situation may be analogous to what the U.S. experienced in the mid-1980s, and that the impact on the U.K. courts and economy may be far from over.     

卫生纸上汗潜手印显现方法比较研究

目的通过比较实验来探寻卫生纸上汗潜手印的最佳显现方法,为实际工作提供指导性建议。方法选择市面上常见的四种卫生纸,在每种卫生纸上制作汗潜指印实验样本,分别将茚三酮溶液浸泡法与茚二酮溶液浸泡法、茚二酮溶液浸泡法与茚二酮溶液超声雾化法、茚二酮溶液超声雾化法与(对)-二甲(替)氨基肉桂醛(DMAC)显现纸冷熏法、茚二酮溶液浸泡法与红外加热显现法、茚二酮溶液超声雾化后加热显现法与室温显现法进行两两比较,分析显现效果。结果茚二酮显现的灵敏度和质量均优于其他几种方法,特别是超声雾化后室温显现,既能很好地显现手印又不影响后期的DNA检验。结论采取茚二酮超声雾化室温条件显现方法显现卫生纸上的汗潜手印具有显现效果好、设备条件要求低、操作性强的特点,在实际案件中可以借鉴应用。     

The Effectiveness of Trace DNA Profiling—A Comparison Between a U.S. and a U.K. Law Enforcement Jurisdiction

Recovery, profiling, and speculative searching of trace DNA (not attributable to a body fluid/cell type) over a twelve‐month period in a U.S. Crime Laboratory and U.K. police force are compared. Results show greater numbers of U.S. firearm‐related items submitted for analysis compared with the U.K., where greatest numbers were submitted from burglary or vehicle offenses. U.S. multiple recovery techniques (double swabbing) occurred mainly during laboratory examination, whereas the majority of U.K. multiple recovery techniques occurred at the scene. No statistical difference was observed for useful profiles from single or multiple recovery. Database loading of interpretable profiles was most successful for U.K. items related to burglary or vehicle offenses. Database associations (matches) represented 7.0% of all U.S. items and 13.1% of all U.K. items. The U.K. strategy for burglary and vehicle examination demonstrated that careful selection of both items and sampling techniques is crucial to obtaining the observed results.     

Revisiting the Thermal Development of Latent Fingerprints on Porous Surfaces: New Aspects and Refinements*

Abstract: Although the ability to develop latent fingerprints on paper using heat alone has been noted previously, it has been considered impractical for casework and inferior to other techniques. Here a new refinement of the technique is demonstrated for the high quality development of latent fingerprints on porous surfaces such as paper. Fingerprints deposited on various papers were developed by exposing them to hot air with a temperature in the vicinity of 300°C, for periods of c. 10–20 sec. Several different heating methods were tested. The novel observation was made that after shorter heating times, fluorescent prints could be observed. These became visible after longer heating times, as noted by earlier workers, but with greatly improved contrast compared with their results. Prints from various donors (and aged prints) were developed with excellent ridge contrast. Direct heating methods (such as with a hot plate or press) produced inferior results. The refined technique, which is simple, safe and inexpensive compared with conventional methods, has great potential for use in forensic laboratories.     

Fluorescence and Structural Degradation in Composite Resins as a Function of Temperature*

Abstract: Detecting composite resin upon postmortem examination can be difficult. Ultraviolet illumination has been suggested to ease location of this material; however, this may not be advisable in incineration situations. Understanding of the chemical and physical properties of resin as a function of temperature is an important parameter in identification of this material in incineration circumstances. Twenty-seven discs of resin, Quixx (Dentsply), Filtek Supreme (3 M), and Tetric Ceram (Ivoclar) were prepared and exposed to increasing heating conditions of 200°C–900°C in 100°C increments for 30 min. Analysis was performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and UV illumination. Characterization of the material occurred at each temperature range. The organic components and the fluorescence properties were lost at temperatures above 300°C. The inorganic component remained through 900°C. This information can aid in detection of resin in high temperature circumstances.     

Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy‐Dispersive X‐Ray (SEM/EDX): A Rapid Diagnostic Tool to Aid the Identification of Burnt Bone and Contested Cremains

This study investigates the use of Scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) as a diagnostic tool for the determination of the osseous origin of samples subjected to different temperatures. Sheep (Ovis aries) ribs of two experimental groups (fleshed and defleshed) were burned at temperatures of between 100°C and 1100°C in 100°C increments and subsequently analyzed with the SEM‐EDX to determine the atomic percentage of present elements. Three‐factor ANOVA analysis showed that neither the exposure temperature, nor whether the burning occurred with or without soft tissue present had any significant influence on the bone's overall elemental makeup (p > 0.05). The Ca/P ratio remained in the osseous typical range of between 1.6 and 2.58 in all analyzed samples. This demonstrates that even faced with high temperatures, the overall gross elemental content and atomic percentage of elements in bone remain stable, creating a unique “fingerprint” for osseous material, even after exposure to extreme conditions.     

AGE AND ITS RELATION TO CRIME IN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES: INVARIANT,OR DOES CULTURAL CONTEXT MATTER?*

Current empirical and theoretical understanding of the relation between age and crime is based almost entirely on data from the United States and a few prototypical Western societies for which age‐specific crime information across offense types is available. By using Western databases, Hirschi and Gottfredson (1983) projected that the age distribution of crime is always and everywhere robustly right‐skewed (i.e., sharp adolescent peak)—a thesis that is both contested and widely accepted in criminology and social science writings. In the study described here, we tested this age–crime invariance thesis by comparing age–crime patterns in Taiwan (a non‐Western Chinese society) with those in the United States. In light of Taiwan's collectivist culture versus the U.S. individualist gestalt, we anticipated more divergence than homogeneity in their age–crime schedules. Our findings show robust divergence in Taiwan's age–crime patterns compared with U.S. patterns and the reverted J‐shaped norm projected by Hirschi and Gottfredson. Implications for research and theory on the age–crime relation and for studying human development or life‐course topics more broadly are discussed.     

Photo‐ and Thermal‐Degradation Studies of Select Eccrine Fingerprint Constituents

Abstract: Photo‐ and thermal‐degradation studies on eccrine fingerprint components are presented herein. Dilute distinct solutions of urea, lactic acid, and seven amino acids were deposited on steel coupons and Teflon^® disks, exposed to artificial sunlight or heat, extracted, and analyzed. This aim of this study was to determine whether the investigated eccrine components, previously determined to be Raman active for a parallel study, experienced photo‐ or thermally induced degradation, and if so, to determine the rate and identify any detectable products. Neither the amino acids nor urea exhibited photo‐degradation; however, when heated for a period of three minutes, the onset of thermal‐degradation was initiated at 100°C for the amino acids and 100°C for urea. Lactic acid, the major polymerization initiator of superglue fuming, showed photochemical and thermal‐degradation. These results could be used for future development of new latent fingerprint visualization methods, especially when lactic acid is degraded.     

An investigation into the use of a portable cyanoacrylate fuming system (SUPERfume®) and aluminum powder for the development of latent fingermarks

Abstract: Few techniques offer “in situ” methods of friction ridge skin mark development. “In situ” development reduces mark transportation, degradation, and often cost. The effectiveness of cyanoacrylate fuming using the SUPERfume^® and dusting with aluminum powder for latent fingermark development on several nonporous surfaces, stored in various temperature environments for time periods up to 52 weeks, was investigated. Five thousand and four hundred latent fingermarks were deposited under controlled conditions and graded. The results suggested that cyanoacrylate fuming (SUPERfume^®, Foster and Freeman, U.K.) was more effective at developing latent fingermarks on textured and smooth plastic surfaces and for marks stored in temperatures of 37°C, whereas aluminum powder was more effective on glass, enameled metal paint, and varnished wood, and for storage temperatures below 20°C. There were no significant benefits to using either technique for marks older than 24 h, but it was possible to develop fingermarks following 52 weeks of storage using both techniques.     

Effects of Different Temperatures on the Development of Dermestes Frischii and Dermestes Undulatus (Coleoptera,Dermestidae): Comparison Between Species

Dermestidae could be useful in forensic investigations to assess the PMI as adults and larvae colonize dried remains. We reared two species of Dermestidae (Dermestes frischii and Dermestes undulatus) to understand the effects of different temperatures on the length of their whole life cycle and on their immature stages. Both species were reared at 23°C ± 0.5, RH 75% and at 26°C ± 0.5, 75% RH. Our result shows that the temperature is the main factor that influences the development of those species; in fact, increasing temperature leads to a shorter development cycle (59.8 ± 0.5 and 38.1 ± 0.2 for D. frischii; 50.6 ± 0.6 and 36.2 ± 0.2 for D. undulatus). Furthermore, we found that the number of the molts before the pupa decreases from 5–7 to 5–6 for D. frischii and from 4–6 to 4–5 for D. undulatus, respectively, at 23°C and 26°C.     

Estimating the Temperature of Heat‐exposed Bone via Machine Learning Analysis of SCI Color Values: A Pilot Study

Determining maximum heating temperatures of burnt bones is a long‐standing problem in forensic science and archaeology. In this pilot study, controlled experiments were used to heat 14 fleshed and defleshed pig vertebrae (wet bones) and archaeological human vertebrae (dry bones) to temperatures of 400, 600, 800, and 1000°C. Specular component included (SCI) color values were recorded from the bone surfaces with a Konica‐Minolta cm‐2600d spectrophotometer. These color values were regressed onto heating temperature, using both a traditional linear model and the k‐nearest neighbor (k‐NN) machine‐learning algorithm. Mean absolute errors (MAE) were computed for 1000 rounds of temperature prediction. With the k‐NN approach, the median MAE prediction errors were 41.6°C for the entire sample, and 20.9°C for the subsample of wet bones. These results indicate that spectrophotometric color measurements combined with machine learning methods can be a viable tool for estimating bone heating temperature.     

A Calibration Test for Latent Fingerprint Development on Thermal Paper

A calibration test is described for monitoring the operation of equipment used to develop latent fingerprints on thermal paper by the application of either controlled or uncontrolled heat. A working solution of a water/glycerol emulsion and butylene glycol is applied to thermal paper by means of either a vinyl stamp and pad, or a marker pen. Varying the amount of butylene glycol enables the thermal paper to change color at different temperatures between approximately 40 and 60°C, which is below the normal color change temperature of the paper. The described test may be used to verify the correct operation, at different temperatures, of a controlled heat source during and after fingerprint development (such as the Hot Print System) or to monitor the paper temperature with an uncontrolled heat source (such as a warm air blower), thereby avoiding unintentional coloring of the entire paper surface.     

Determining Volumetric Shrinkage Trends of Burnt Bone Using Micro-CT

Understanding the degree and pattern of shrinkage undergone by bone when subjected to heating is crucial to accurately deduce a biological profile from incinerated remains. X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) enables a nondestructive insight into hard tissue structural changes, while allowing for an accurate documentation of volumetric and trabecular shrinkage. Sheep ribs were experimentally burned at temperatures between 400 and 1000°C in 100°C increments and their volumetric shrinkage was calculated. Observed shrinkage ranged from 14.0% at 400°C to 45.5% at 1000°C. Bones burned at temperatures up to 600°C showed no significant difference, whereas the 700 and 800°C samples exhibited higher shrinkage. Bones burnt at 900 and 1000°C showed significantly higher shrinkage than the other temperature groups. Findings signify the potential of micro-CT in research on the effects of factors such as diagenesis or burning on the bone density, morphology and microarchitecture.     

Thermal Modifications of Root Transparency and Implications for Aging: A Pilot Study

Root transparency has proven to be related to age and has been considered by different odontological methods for age estimation. Very little is known concerning possible variations of root transparency with heat, although the applicability of the method to burnt remains depends on the possible modifications of this specific variable. This pilot study presents the results of an experiment performed on 105 teeth obtained from dental patients and autopsy material, heated in an industrial oven at 50°C, 100°C, 150°C and 200°C. Root transparency was measured before and after the charring experiment. The heating process proved to radically modify root transparency, which decreased in 20% of samples at 50°C, in 34.6% at 100°C, in 50% at 150°C, in 77% at 200°C. The overall correlation index (CI) between decrease in root transparency and increase in temperature amounted to 0.96. These results show that heat may modify root transparency and suggest caution in using methods based on root transparency for age estimation.     

Development of a PCR High‐Resolution Melt Assay for Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood) and a Triplex Assay with Two Additional “Unregulated Legal High” Species Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) and Merremia tuberosa (Hawaiian Woodrose),

Artemisia absinthium (wormwood), a common ingredient in absinthe, contains the compound thujone, which is unregulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Thujone can cause an “unregulated legal high” in higher concentrations. The European Union limits thujone from Artemisia species to 35 mg/kg while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires less than 10 ppm to be “thujone‐free.” However, individuals can smoke or ingest A. absinthium in different forms. This study developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) high‐resolution melt (HRM) assay to detect and identify A. absinthium based on primer specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and robustness. A triplex assay was performed with three “unregulated legal high” species: Datura stramonium, Merremia tuberosa, and A. absinthium; the PCR HRM assay detected and identified each plant at melt temperatures 77.42 ± 0.20°C, 83.88 ± 0.22°C, and 87.77 ± 0.15°C, respectively. The primer set developed distinguished A. absinthium from a variety of plant species and was successfully triplexed.     

各国市场操纵证明问题的横向比较

在行政执法中,市场操纵的证明是行政机关、当事人和其它行政程序参与人按照法定的范围、方式、标准和程序,运用证据查明、阐明和认定与市场操纵相关的特定事实或争议事实的法律活动,是连接行为事实与法律责任的核心环节,在证券执法领域具有极其重要的意义。本文将从证明构成要素的各个层面,对美国、德国、英国、澳大利亚、香港和中国内地行政执法中市场操纵的证明机制进行比较研究,总结和提炼出一般原则和主要特点,以期为中国的证券执法提供有益的借鉴。     

A Comparison of Cleaning Regimes for the Effective Removal of Fingerprint Deposits from Brass

Abstract:  Effective removal of fingerprint deposits is crucial for experimentation related to the corrosion of metals by fingerprint deposits. Such removal is also necessary prior to deposition of test fingerprints. The effectiveness of four regimes in removing fingerprint deposits from brass is considered. Sustained wiping of the deposit with a tissue at applied pressures of up to c . 1430 Pa or rubbing while the brass was immersed in acetone both failed to remove completely all traces of fingerprint deposits. Heating the brass to 600°C was an effective remover; however, this also oxidized the surface of the metal except where inhibited by fingerprint deposits. The most effective regime, and the only one of the four that removed all traces of deposit without affecting the properties of the metal surface, was immersion in warm soapy water while rubbing with a tissue. We propose this as the preferred method for fingerprint removal.     

The effects of deprivation on the time spent examining crime scenes and the recovery of DNA and fingerprints

DNA and fingerprint identifications are now accepted as an integral part of the investigation of a wide range of criminal offences from burglary and auto crime to serious and major crime. Despite this, there is still much variation between U.K. police forces in the recovery of fingerprint and DNA material from crime scenes. Analysis of burglary and auto crime data for Northamptonshire, U.K., during a 3-year period has enabled an examination of the relationship between the deprivation of the neighborhood in which the crime was committed and the level of service provided by Crime Scene Examiners. The results indicate that the time spent examining a crime scene for forensic evidence is not affected by the deprivation of the neighborhood. Further, there is no statistical significance between deprivation and the recovery of fingerprints from the crime scene. The relationship between deprivation and DNA recovery is, however, statistically significant with DNA being recovered more frequently from less deprived neighborhoods.