LinkedLegal: Investigating social media as evidence in courtrooms

The pervasive nature of social media suggests it would increasingly appear as evidence in the courtroom as it has increasingly documented daily life. This research examines the use of such evidence through the review of appellate judgments. It has identified 5,189 appeal cases in federal and state jurisdictions for the period from 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2017. California was used for the state jurisdictional analysis and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes California, was used for the federal. In 2017, there was a 350% increase in Ninth Circuit cases using social media evidence as compared to the first cases in 2010. There was a 3933% increase in the California state cases from the first cases in 2007. Photos/images evidence were used the most in State criminal cases and all Federal cases, while posts evidence was used the most in State civil cases.     

Extractive alkylation and gas chromatographic analysis of sulfide

A sensitive analysis of sulfide in blood was established, using an extractive alkylation technique. Pentafluorobenzyl bromide was used as the alkylating agent, tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride as the phase-transfer catalyst, and potassium dihydrogenphosphate as the buffer to suppress the formation of sulfide. Mass fragmentography was used to identify the sulfide derivative and gas chromatography with an electron capture detector was used for quantitative determination, with the lowest limit of detection being about 0.01 microgram/g. The blood level of rats exposed to hydrogen sulfide was also determined.     

北京地区1503例中毒尸检分析

<正> 北京地区迄今尚无大宗中毒尸检案例分析的报导。本文对北京地区29年来1503例中毒尸检材料进行总结与分析。资料统计本资料取自北京地区1959年1月至1988年8月法医检验的1503例中毒尸检材料。其中除3例食物中毒,8例有毒植物中毒本所尚未建立化验方法外,其余尸检例均经解剖提取心血、     

Mole gun--an unusual firearm, a case note

There are different kinds of types of firearms used worldwide and of different origin. This case note evaluates the mole gun, which cannot be found in the literature. This simple gun, which is usually used in the fields against moles, was used in an apartment as a trap against burglars. This instrument manufactured to be used as a trap against detrimental animals, and not to be used as a firearm, can create dangerous situations, if used for different purposes.     

Variability of bodily measures of normally dressed people using PhotoModeler Pro 5

Photogrammetry is used in forensic science to help identify perpetrators from crime scenes by way of surveillance video, but the reproducibility of manually locating hidden body-points such as the joints remains to be established. In this study, we quantified the inter- and intra-observer variability of bodily measures of clothed individuals in two different poses and examined whether body segment lengths could be used to distinguish between people of similar stature. Stature was reproduced within +/-1.5 cm in both the intra- and inter-observer study. Segment lengths were best reproduced when flexion in the joints was present in the intra-observer study, but only the length of the trunk could be used to distinguish between people of similar height. The reproducibility between the two poses was low. Other measures than stature should be used with caution and with the perpetrator and suspect in the same pose. Consistent guidelines for locating body-points should be developed.     

The combined use of pollen and soil analyses in a search and subsequent murder investigation

This case report shows how soil analyses (particularly petrology) can be used in conjunction with pollen in order to refine or strengthen an association. Soil samples from a car believed to have been used by the suspect in a missing persons case was subjected to soil and pollen analyses. The soil characteristics and petrology were used to redefine the search area using geology and soils maps, the pollen and vegetative remains were used to target woodlands with a particular species mix. As a result two bodies were located and the environmental evidence was used in the subsequent trial. In this case the history of the vehicle was well known and the wheel arches and footwells provided reliable soil traps. The advantage of combining the techniques is that soil evidence (both mineralogy and other inclusions) provides a geological/soils match while the pollen provides independent evidence of vegetation type providing a combination that may be rare or unique.     

日本多田氏法计算颅内血肿体积公式的适用范围

通过对日本多田氏法计算颅内血肿体积公式的理论来源论证,揭示了多田氏认识颅内血肿问题和解决颅内血肿体积问题的思维方式,明确界定了多田氏法计算颅内血肿体积公式的适用范围;并针对该体积公式适用范围以外的颅内血肿,首次提出了模拟血肿形体,然后计算其体积的简便方法。     

A new staining method for constriction marks in skin

A modified Poley's acid fuchsin-methyl green stain was used to demonstrate ligature marks in tissues taken at autopsy. This stain was compared in 30 cases with haematoxylin-eosin, Mallory's trichrome and Ogata's picro-indigocarmine stains. Using the modified Poley method, it was possible to demonstrate the compression mark in corpses even when post-mortem changes were advanced. The method was found useful in evaluating the cases when the force used was minimal or when the mark was atypical using the usual haematoxylin-eosin method.     

A new staining method for constriction marks in skin.

A modified Poley's acid fuchsin-methyl green stain was used to demonstrate ligature marks in tissues taken at autopsy. This stain was compared in 30 cases with haematoxylin-eosin, Mallory's trichrome and Ogata's picro-indigocarmine stains. Using the modified Poley method, it was possible to demonstrate the compression mark in corpses even when post-mortem changes were advanced. The method was found useful in evaluating the cases when the force used was minimal or when the mark was atypical using the usual haematoxylin-eosin method.     

A Physical Match of a Metallic Chip Found on a Bolt Cutters’ Blade

Bolt cutters are known as devices which are used for cutting hard objects and rigid materials such as padlocks and bars. They are commonly used in instances of forced entries. In this case study, a bolt cutter was found in the car of two suspects in a grocery burglary. This study indicates how the presence of a small metallic chip found on a suspected bolt cutter can prove that the tool was used in the crime scene. During the initial examination, a metallic chip from the cut shackle padlock was found stuck to one of the bolt cutters’ blades. By comparing the metallic chip's microscopic edge and the breaking (fracture) line of the padlock's shackle, a full physical match was noticed. We wish to report here how residue, even the smallest, can be used to link burglary tools to a crime scene with a high level of certainty.     

The use of human skin in the fabrication of a bite mark template: two case reports

Comparison of a suspected biter's dental arches with the patterned injury of a bite mark is especially difficult when the bite occurs in an anatomic location with a small radius of curvature or with complex or compound curves. The authors present two case reports in which human skin was used as a template for the reproduction of a bite. In one case the victim's skin was used; in the other, the skin of a anatomically similar person was used. The use of inked dental casts, photography, and transparent overlays significantly reduced the errors common to analysis of bite marks in these highly curved areas.     

全血中扎来普隆两种萃取方法的比较

目的建立血样中扎来普隆的液液萃取和固相萃取方法。方法液液萃取方法是在碱性条件下用二氯甲烷提取。固相萃取是采用OasisHLB固相萃取柱提取,萃取液均用GC/NPD检验,并对其进行比较。结果血样中扎来普隆固相萃取平均回收率达89%以上,液液萃取平均回收率为84%,GC/NPD最低检出限为2×10-2μg.mL-1。结论两种方法均能满足实际检案的需求,而固相萃取方法在减少仪器损耗和内源性杂质干扰方面具有较大的优势。     

Toxicological analysis of thiamylal in biological materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A reliable and sensitive method to analyze thiamylal in biological materials was developed, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A quantitative determination was made by use of mass fragmentography with the lower detection limit of 0.01 microgram/g. Thiopental was used as the internal standard. Distribution of the drug in the blood and body tissues of rats was examined. The method was then used to detect thiamylal in tissues from an autopsied patient and concentration of this drug in the body materials was evaluated, from medico-legal aspects.     

Unified gas chromatography method for the detection of volatile toxicants in biological samples

A method was designed to identify and quantify the volatile toxicants in cadaveric samples; it is based on analyzing the equilibrium of the gas-vapor phase. A system comprising 3 gas chromatography columns with different polarities and without preliminary isolation of an analyzed substance is used in toxicants' identification. 0.2% n-propanol solution was used in quantification of fresh biological samples, while methanol solution was used in cases of purulence-affected materials. The method sensitivity provides for detecting some of the toxicants, like acetaldehydes, acetone as well as ethyl and higher alcohols at the level of their natural content. The method has been tested for as long as 15 years at expertise objects.     

Determination of dimethoate in blood and hemoperfusion cartridge following ingestion of formothion: a case study

A 57-year-old male who had ingested not more than 22 g of formothion was semicomatose on admission to hospital, approximately 1.5 h after ingestion. Dimethoate, a hydrolyzed formothion, was found in blood samples collected from the patient and in the charcoal column in the direct hemoperfusion cartridge which was used 6 to 7.5 h after ingestion. It was extracted and purified by Extrelut column extraction. A gas chromatograph, equipped with a flame photometric detector and a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, were used to detect and confirm the presence of dimethoate. The blood dimethoate concentrations which were taken approximately 1.5 and 6 h after ingestion were 21.4 and 12.7 micrograms/g, respectively. A blood dimethoate concentration of 21.4 micrograms/g would appear to indicate a high level of formothion intoxication. The total amount of dimethoate found in the charcoal column used was 15 mg.     

SPME结合衍生化检测尿液中吗啡成份

目的　建立尿液中吗啡检验的方法。方法　利用固相微萃取头富集尿液中吗啡 ,经醋酸酐衍生后进行GC/MS分析。结果　利用此方法可检测到吗啡含量为 5ug/ml的尿样。结论　该方法可用于吸毒人员尿液中吗啡的快速检验。     

Investigating mobility patterns for repetitive sexual contact in adult child sex offending

In the present study, geographic mobility exhibited by child sex offenders was examined. Geographic mobility was defined as the use of multiple locations to obtain repetitive sexual contact with the same victim. The sample consisted of 77 adult offenders convicted for having committed a sexual offence against a child, and who agreed to provide confidential self-report data concerning their offending behaviours. Based on a set of offence characteristics, offenders who used a single location were compared to offenders who used multiple locations for sexual contact. Results showed that offenders who used multiple locations are more likely to isolate the victim, use violence, involve the victim in several sexual episodes, abuse the victim for a period exceeding one year, and make the victim participate and perform sexual behaviours on them during sexual episodes. Examining more closely offenders who used multiple locations for abuse, three offence patterns were further identified (i.e., familial-low mobility offence, non familial-high mobility offence, and familial-high mobility offence). Going for a car ride was also found to be a common location/situation used in the familial-low mobility offence subgroup, while the use of outdoor locations on a regular basis was found to be rare in high mobility patterns subgroups.     

SEM/EDS法和XRF法在电工胶带检验中的应用

目的探索电工胶带带基的元素检验方法。方法利用扫描电镜/能谱法（SEM/EDS）对电工胶带带基中的主体元素进行定量分析,通过SPSS软件对SEM/EDS定量分析法检测出的主体元素（Cl和Ca）相对含量进行统计分析;利用X射线荧光光谱法（XRF）对电工胶带带基中的微量元素进行定性分析。结果34个品牌红色电工胶带组成的561组样品对通过SEM/EDS定量分析法可以区分539组,区分率达到96.1%;根据XRF法定性分析测出的Mg、Al、Si、S、Ti、Sb、Ba、Pb微量元素的不同组合可将34种电工胶带分成11组,两种方法结合可使不同品牌红色电工胶带的区分率达到98.4%。结论SEM/EDS法和XRF法结合可以实现同种颜色、不同品牌电工胶带的高效区分。     

Morphological and spectroscopic measurements of plastic bags for the purpose of discrimination

The discrimination of noncolored transparent polyethylene bags was studied by several nondestructive and semidestructive analytical methods. X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and optical microscopy (differential interference contrast microscopy and phase contrast microscopy) were applied to polyethylene films. X-ray diffraction was used to distinguish variations in the crystalline phase, infrared spectroscopy was used to distinguish variations in the molecular components, and optical microscopy was used to distinguish the different surface morphologies. The results show that X-ray diffraction classifies the crystalline phase of the film depending on whether it is made from low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, or high-density polyethylene; that infrared spectroscopy is useful to distinguish the molecular components and it is the most discriminating technique; and that optical microscopy discriminate films easily by their morphological differences.     

Family in Dutch migration policy 1945–2005

This article looks at how and why the concept of ‘family’ was used in Dutch migration policy in the period between 1945 and 2005. Throughout this period differences were made between migrant women and migrant men. Whereas the migration of men was associated with labour migration, the migration of women was equated with family migration. Migrant women were constructed as wives and mothers (and not as workers). This construction of women was combined with a victimhood discourse in which women were presented as victims of repressive religion (usually Islam), domestic violence, trafficking and prostitution, and discriminatory government policy. The victimhood discourse was successfully used to acquire rights for migrant women (mostly the right to stay), but as a result all migrant women came to be seen as vulnerable and in need of protection. In this article, I show how this combined family and victimhood discourse was used by governments, by (migrant) organizations and, to a lesser extent, in court cases to create differences between migrant men and women. The ‘success’ of the victimhood discourse is not only explained by the fact that it fitted (Western) ideas on femininity. It was also used to give a humanitarian face – albeit beneficial to women only – to an essentially restrictive immigration policy.