New perspectives in the use of ink evidence in forensic science: Part III: Operational applications and evaluation

The research reported in this series of article aimed at (1) automating the search of questioned ink specimens in ink reference collections and (2) at evaluating the strength of ink evidence in a transparent and balanced manner. These aims require that ink samples are analysed in an accurate and reproducible way and that they are compared in an objective and automated way. This latter requirement is due to the large number of comparisons that are necessary in both scenarios. A research programme was designed to (a) develop a standard methodology for analysing ink samples in a reproducible way, (b) comparing automatically and objectively ink samples and (c) evaluate the proposed methodology in forensic contexts.This report focuses on the last of the three stages of the research programme. The calibration and acquisition process and the mathematical comparison algorithms were described in previous papers [C. Neumann, P. Margot, New perspectives in the use of ink evidence in forensic science—Part I: Development of a quality assurance process for forensic ink analysis by HPTLC, Forensic Sci. Int. 185 (2009) 29–37; C. Neumann, P. Margot, New perspectives in the use of ink evidence in forensic science—Part II: Development and testing of mathematical algorithms for the automatic comparison of ink samples analysed by HPTLC, Forensic Sci. Int. 185 (2009) 38–50].In this paper, the benefits and challenges of the proposed concepts are tested in two forensic contexts: (1) ink identification and (2) ink evidential value assessment. The results show that different algorithms are better suited for different tasks. This research shows that it is possible to build digital ink libraries using the most commonly used ink analytical technique, i.e. high-performance thin layer chromatography, despite its reputation of lacking reproducibility. More importantly, it is possible to assign evidential value to ink evidence in a transparent way using a probabilistic model. It is therefore possible to move away from the traditional subjective approach, which is entirely based on experts’ opinion, and which is usually not very informative.While there is room for the improvement, this report demonstrates the significant gains obtained over the traditional subjective approach for the search of ink specimens in ink databases, and the interpretation of their evidential value.     

New families,new governance and old habits

In December 2011, the UK Government formally launched its ‘troubled families’ initiative. This is a focused programme of interventions, coordinated at local level and paid for by results. It has been described by the Prime Minister as a part of the ‘social recovery’ that has to be set alongside the economic recovery that is his government's priority. It is illustrative of a decisive shift in the nature of the welfare state as it reflects the neo-liberal political project. It also reflects a purposed shift in social attitudes towards troubled and troublesome families, driven to a considerable degree by a vicious popular press. It is indicative of a marked shift in the pendulum from ‘rehabilitation’ to ‘rescue’ as the focus of welfare practice with children and families. Recent developments in the promotion of adoption of children in the UK should be viewed in this light. This paper considers how those families with tense or divergent relationships with the state are to be governed in the context of a state and a set of social attitudes that represents a decisive break with the post-war welfare consensus.     

The potential of artificial aging for modelling of natural aging processes of ballpoint ink

Artificial aging has been used to reproduce natural aging processes in an accelerated pace. Questioned documents were exposed to light or high temperature in a well-defined manner in order to simulate an increased age. This may be used to study the aging processes or to date documents by reproducing their aging curve. Ink was studied especially because it is deposited on the paper when a document, such as a contract, is produced. Once on the paper, aging processes start through degradation of dyes, solvents drying and resins polymerisation. Modelling of dye's and solvent's aging was attempted. These processes, however, follow complex pathways, influenced by many factors which can be classified as three major groups: ink composition, paper type and storage conditions. The influence of these factors is such that different aging states can be obtained for an identical point in time. Storage conditions in particular are difficult to simulate, as they are dependent on environmental conditions (e.g. intensity and dose of light, temperature, air flow, humidity) and cannot be controlled in the natural aging of questioned documents. The problem therefore lies more in the variety of different conditions a questioned document might be exposed to during its natural aging, rather than in the simulation of such conditions in the laboratory. Nevertheless, a precise modelling of natural aging curves based on artificial aging curves is obtained when performed on the same paper and ink. A standard model for aging processes of ink on paper is therefore presented that is based on a fit of aging curves to a power law of solvent concentrations as a function of time. A mathematical transformation of artificial aging curves into modelled natural aging curves results in excellent overlap with data from real natural aging processes.     

Ink dating,part I: Statistical distribution of selected ageing parameters in a ballpoint inks reference population

The development of ink dating methods requires an important amount of work in order to be reliably applicable in practice. Major tasks include the definition of ageing parameters to monitor ink ageing. An adequate parameter should ideally fulfil the following criteria: it should evolve as a function of time in a monotonic way, be measurable in a majority of ink entries, be as accurate and reproducible as possible, and finally it should not be influenced too much by transfer and storage conditions. This work aimed at evaluating the potential of seven ageing parameters for ink dating purposes: the phenoxyethanol quantity, relative peak areas (RPA), three solvent loss ratios (R%, R%*, NR%) and two solvent loss parameters (R_NORM, NR_NORM). These were calculated over approximately one year for 25 inks selected from a large database to represent different ageing behaviours. Ink entries were analysed using liquid extraction followed by GC/MS analysis. Results showed that natural ageing parameters (NR% and NR_NORM) were not suitable ageing parameters for ink entries older than a few weeks. RPA used other compounds present in ink formulations in combination to PE in order to normalise the results. However, it presented particular difficulties as they could not be defined for all inks and were thus applicable only for 64% of the studied inks. Finally, the PE quantity, R% and R_NORM allowed to follow the ageing of the selected inks over the whole time frame and were identified as the most promising. These were thus selected to test three different interpretation models in the second part of this article. The possibilities and limitations of ink dating methods will be discussed in a legal perspective.     

Study on the Method Used to Display Self‐fading Lines and Erasable Lines

Two new kinds of writing tools are popular in China's market. One is a self‐fading pen, and another is an erasable pen. The ink of the two kinds of writing tools has a remarkable characteristic that it can gradually fade or disappear under heat or be rubbed off. How to reveal the disappeared written lines is a very important question for document examiners. In this article, three series of ink line samples were made with five types of self‐fading pens, 18 types of erasable pens, and three types of papers. Temperature, humidity, and lighting are known as influential factors of the process, and the effect of fading was examined. Luminescence, ultraviolet (UV), sidelight, electrostatic indentation development,low temperature, and solution revealing methods are found to be effective methods used to reveal the disappeared written lines. The best operating conditions for each method were obtained from the conducted experiments.     

PRAXIS—combined μ-Raman and μ-XRF spectrometers in the examination of forensic samples

Recently, two analytical techniques – Raman and XRF spectroscopy – have been often applied in criminalistic examinations of different kinds of trace evidences. In this paper, the application of the new combined μ-Raman and μ-XRF spectrometer in analysis of multilayer paint chips, modern inks, plastics and fibres was evaluated. It was ascertained that the apparatus possesses real advantages and could be helpful in the identification of examined materials after some modifications, i.e. by adding an extra laser and decreasing the spot size of the X-ray beam.     

The English protoindustrial family: old and new perspectives

English research on protoindustrial communities in general and the protoindustrial family in particular has fallen somewhat behind that in many continental countries. Constrained by inadequate sources and a historiographical literature that has constantly placed the small and simple nuclear unit at the heart of English residential arrangements, English historians have often seen the protoindustrial family as little different in form and function from those to be observed in rural areas or market towns. This article uses sources generated by the English poor law to offer different perspectives. Focusing on Lancashire, as the protoindustrial phase of its development began to truly break down in the early 19th century, the article suggests that the English protoindustrial family was volatile in form and size and that the nature of underlying protoindustrial demography and the communal welfare system provided a powerful impetus to a process that saw the constant redistribution of kin between related households. It concludes that in Lancashire the expectation among protoindustrial families must have been volatility and that complex families rather than simple nuclear families have long held the English imagination.     

Fax machines and social surveys: Teaching an old dog new tricks

Fax machines offer solutions to many of the disadvantages associated with other methods of administering surveys. Faxes are faster than mail methods, offer more control than personal interviews, and require fewer resources than phone surveys. Fax surveys are not without their drawbacks, however. This research note examines the issues that surround this technique of conducting such a survey and considers its suitability as a survey method of the future.     

“Flashburning” — Interpreting the presence of heat damage to a suspect's clothing and footwear in the investigation of fires

When volatile flammable vapours are released, they can mix with surrounding air and form a vapour cloud. Ignition of this fuel/air mixture will produce a flame front that will flash through the vapour. Items exposed to the flame front, including a suspect's clothing and footwear, may sustain superficial heat damage. At The Forensic Science Service Ltd this is referred to as flashburning. This paper describes the concept of flashburning, the laboratory methodology used to identify it and how an assessment on the overall distribution of that damage may allow a scientist to evaluate its evidential significance. Two anonymised casework examples are used to demonstrate how this information has been interpreted and used in evidence in United Kingdom courts of law.     

Latent Fingermark Development on Thermal Paper using 1,2‐Indanedione/Zinc and Polyvinylpyrrolidone,

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been used in combination with 1,2‐indanedione (1,2‐IND) and ZnCl₂ (Zn) to develop latent fingermarks. The results show that the optimal ratio of 1,2‐IND/Zn:PVP is 1.0:0.4 (the concentration of PVP is 8%) for developing fingermark. The developed formulation was tested on the surfaces of 12 kinds of thermal papers. The variation in the fingermark development efficiency was observed within the same and among different kinds of thermal papers. The fingermark development efficiency was mostly better on the thermally sensitive surface compared to the thermally nonsensitive surface. However, similar or even better development was observed from a few thermally nonsensitive surfaces. The present method has shown better efficiency compared to the three other proposed methods on the thermally sensitive surface. In contrast, the present method was proven not the best for the thermally nonsensitive surface.     

利用放射性核素骨显像检查鉴别鼻部骨折新旧程度回顾性法医学分析

目的 利用放射性核素骨显像检查鉴别鼻部骨折的新旧程度.方法 对48例疑似陈旧性鼻部骨折伤者放射性核素全身骨显像、局部断层骨显像及CT融合图像在鼻部骨折处放射性分布、浓聚情况的分析,鉴别鼻部骨折的新旧程度.结果 48例中8例放射性核素全身骨显像、局部断层骨显像及CT融合图像在鼻部骨折处显示放射性分布增高、浓聚区,诊为新鲜骨折,评定为轻伤;40例在鼻部骨折处未见明显异常放射性分布增高、浓聚区,诊为陈旧骨折,与本次外伤无因果关系.结论 放射性核素骨显像检查在鉴别鼻部骨折新旧程度方面可得到满意结果.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system of records--SSA, HHS

In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a (e)(4], we are issuing public notice of our intent to establish a new system of records: the "Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Demonstration Projects and Experiments System, HHS/SSA/ ORSIP . 09-60-0218." The purpose of the proposed system is to maintain information which we will use to conduct demonstrations and experiments of approaches to encourage individuals receiving either DI benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) or SSI disability payments under title XVI of the Act to find gainful employment. We also are proposing to establish routine uses of information which will be maintained in the proposed system as discussed below. We invite public comments on this proposal.     

Investigational new drug, antibiotic, and biological product applications; clinical hold and termination--FDA. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final regulation that provides additional grounds for placing an investigation on "clinical hold" and for terminating an investigational new drug application (IND). Under this rule, FDA may require sponsors to cease distributing an experimental drug in an open, nonconcurrently controlled investigation if any of several specified conditions exist. This final rule is part of the Public Health Service's(PHS's) efforts to make promising drugs widely available to people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related disease who lack satisfactory alternative therapies, while simultaneously ensuring that the adequate and well-controlled clinical trials essential to establishing a new drug's safety and effectiveness are expeditiously conducted.     

欧盟公司确定资本制度改革之必要与路径——维持原状、废旧立新还是新旧整合

欧盟作为跨法系实体，欲统一其公司法律制度，关于公司确定资本制度改革刻不容缓。公司确定资本制度既会极度阻碍效益增长，又难切实保障市场安全。纵观债权人利益事前保护、事中保护、事后保护三大环节，公司确定资本制度划定最低资本额所带来的事前保护作用非但不可或缺而且不能取代，将之与到期债务能力测试或资产负债比例原则的事中保护和破产制度的事后保护相结合，债权人法律保护的体系化效用就将彰显无疑。