Detection of captopress and novopassit in forensic chemical analysis of cadaveric material

A method for identification of captopress and novopassit in drugs and biological objects is suggested. These agents are isolated by 90% ethanol or chloroform mixture with isopropanol. 11 color tests and thin-layer chromatography are suggested for identification. The threshold level of captopress detection is 0.1 mg%, that of novopassit 5 mg%.     

应用ABR法评定外伤性耳聋

本文通过对40例外伤性耳聋的症状、病变和听力检查,重点讨论了鼓膜损伤所致的听力障碍,其损伤程度不超过50dB,给法医学鉴定中耳损伤程度提供了客观数据。进一步验证了ABR检查在判定听力损失的意义,对夸大、伪聋的识别优于其它听力检查。从临床耳聋程度分类法就《人体重伤鉴定标准(试行)》中,关于听力损伤的重伤标准进行了探讨。     

The application of visible wavelength reflectance hyperspectral imaging for the detection and identification of blood stains

Current methods of detection and identification of blood stains rely largely on visual examination followed by presumptive tests such as Kastle–Meyer, Leuco-malachite green or luminol. Although these tests are useful, they can produce false positives and can also have a negative impact on subsequent DNA tests. A novel application of visible wavelength reflectance hyperspectral imaging has been used for the detection and positive identification of blood stains in a non contact and non destructive manner on a range of coloured substrates. The identification of blood staining was based on the unique visible absorption spectrum of haemoglobin between 400 and 500 nm. Images illustrating successful discrimination of blood stains from nine red substances are included. It has also been possible to distinguish between blood and approximately 40 other reddish stains. The technique was also successfully used to detect latent blood stains deposited on white filter paper at dilutions of up to 1 in 512 folds and on red tissue at dilutions of up to 1 in 32 folds. Finally, in a blind trial, the method successfully detected and identified a total of 9 blood stains on a red T-shirt.     

Identification of human semenogelin in membrane strip test as an alternative method for the detection of semen

Semenogelin (Sg), a protein originating in the seminal vesicles and a substrate for prostate specific antigen (PSA or p30), is a useful marker for the identification of semen. And detection of Sg has been available commercially in a membrane test recently. PSA is commonly used to detect semen in forensic significant samples taken from sexual assault cases. The strip PSA test has been available commercially from various manufacturers for many years. In this study, we evaluated two immunochromatographic membrane tests, one for Sg and the other for PSA by analyzing human semen, other human bodily fluids/materials including urine, blood, saliva, sweat, breast milk, vaginal secretion and fecal materials, semen from various animals and forensic casework samples. The data demonstrate that both Sg and PSA strip tests provide rapid and sensitive method for identification of seminal plasma. These results show that the immunochromatographic method for Sg detection is useful for the identification of seminal plasma in forensic samples, an alternative to the method for PSA detection.     

A Grass Molecular Identification System for Forensic Botany: A Critical Evaluation of the Strengths and Limitations*

Abstract: Plant material is frequently encountered in criminal investigations but often overlooked as potential evidence. We designed a DNA‐based molecular identification system for 100 Australian grasses that consisted of a series of polymerase chain reaction assays that enabled the progressive identification of grasses to different taxonomic levels. The identification system was based on DNA sequence variation at four chloroplast and two mitochondrial loci. Seventeen informative indels and 68 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms were utilized as molecular markers for subfamily to species‐level identification. To identify an unknown sample to subfamily level required a minimum of four markers or nine markers for species identification. The accuracy of the system was confirmed by blind tests. We have demonstrated “proof of concept” of a molecular identification system for trace botanical samples. Our evaluation suggests that the adoption of a system that combines this approach with DNA sequencing could assist the morphological identification of grasses found as forensic evidence.     

Developmental validation of RSID™-Semen: a lateral flow immunochromatographic strip test for the forensic detection of human semen

Abstract: Tests for the identification of semen commonly involve the microscopic visualization of spermatozoa or assays for the presence of seminal markers such as acid phosphatase (AP) or prostate‐specific antigen (PSA). Here, we describe the rapid stain identification kit for the identification of semen (RSID?‐Semen), a lateral flow immunochromatographic strip test that uses two antihuman semenogelin monoclonal antibodies to detect the presence of semenogelin. The RSID?‐Semen strip is specific for human semen, detecting <2.5 nL of semen, and does not cross‐react with other human or nonhuman tissues tested. RSID?‐Semen is more sensitive with certain forensic evidence samples containing mixtures of vaginal secretions and semen than either of the commercially available PSA‐based forensic semen detection tests or tests that measure AP activity that were tested in parallel. The RSID?‐Semen kit also allows sampling a fraction of a questioned stain while retaining the majority of the sample for further processing through short tandem repeat analysis.     

Approaches to setting up the Center for identification of exhumed bodies in Chechen Republic

The authors participated in the activity of a group of European experts who visited Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and Grozny in September 2005 to clarify situation with identification of exhumed unknown dead bodies of the civil population. The European experts recommend to set up Center for Identification in Chechen Republic (in Grozny). The authors propose to make DNA identification tests in the Russian Federation Center for Forensic Medical Evaluation in Moscow which has much experience and staff skilled in identification of unknown exhumed bodies and can solve the problem of genetic identification of unidentified bodies of people missed in the Chechen Republic more effectively.     

An unusual case of identification by DNA analysis of siblings

A badly decomposed body required identification by means of DNA analysis. A brother and sister of the deceased were available as reference subjects. Although investigation of Y-chromosomal markers established an exclusion condition, autosomal markers suggested a positive identification. In order to increase the reliability of the tests, X-chromosomal markers were also investigated. This analysis showed the body to have an XXY genotype (Klinefelter's syndrome). A number of hypotheses were assessed using biostatistical methods, ultimately resulting in a definite identification. The special aspect of Klinefelter's syndrome proved highly useful for biostatistical analysis.     

Use of amelogenin test for DNA sex appurtenance in analysis of mixed biological traces

Theoretical and experimental study of amelogenin tests system for identification of DNA sex appurtenance has been performed. In many cases amplification can fail to reflect the true quantitative ratio between the mixture components during typing sex-specific variants of amelogenin gene in DNA preparations of mixed sex appurtenance. In practical studies these properties of the amelogenin system can lead to difficulties and errors in interpretation of the results of forensic medical expert evaluations, and we therefore studied the use of amelogenin DNA test for identification of sex appurtenance of mixed biological traces and compared the characteristics of autosomal PDAF system and amelogenin system for sex identification in analysis of DNA mixtures.     

刑事案件DNA检验采样与鉴定立法现状

人类DNA遗传特征多态性使DNA技术成为各国警方侦办案件的重要技术手段,但DNA检验鉴定采样合法性和结论可采性须由立法规定。众多国家和地区针对DNA采样和鉴定结论应用制定了相关法律法规。我国相关法律细则尚处空白,因此,应尽快制定我国DNA鉴定采样与应用法规,规范DNA鉴定样本采集与证据采信。     

Remote spectroscopic identification of bloodstains

Blood detection and identification at crime scenes are crucial for harvesting forensic evidence. Unfortunately, most tests for the identification of blood are destructive and time consuming. We present a fast and nondestructive identification test for blood, using noncontact reflectance spectroscopy. We fitted reflectance spectra of 40 bloodstains and 35 nonbloodstains deposited on white cotton with spectroscopic features of the main compounds of blood. Each bloodstain was measured 30 times to account for aging effects. The outcome of the blood measurements was compared with the reflectance of blood-mimicking stains and various body fluids. We found that discrimination between blood and nonblood deposited on white cotton is possible with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 98%. In conclusion, a goodness of fit between the sample's reflectance and the blood component fit may allow identification of blood at crime scenes by remote spectroscopy.     

认知伪装的事件相关电位研究进展

在司法精神医学鉴定中,由于涉及个人的利益,有40%～60%的被鉴定人会夸大认知受损的程度。各种心理测验虽然有一定的甄别作用,但对伪装高手的甄别能力有限。本文总结前人利用事件相关电位(event-related potential,ERP)技术研究认知伪装的实验模式、结果及其ERP效应,发现ERP技术对甄别伪装高手具有较高的敏感性和特异性。因此认为,ERP是一种更客观的生理学指标,ERP技术是一种有希望的甄别认知伪装的客观技术。     

A Meta-Analytic Review of the Effects of High Stress on Eyewitness Memory

In the past 30 years researchers have examined the impact of heightened stress on the fidelity of eyewitness memory. Meta-analyses were conducted on 27 independent tests of the effects of heightened stress on eyewitness identification of the perpetrator or target person and separately on 36 tests of eyewitness recall of details associated with the crime. There was considerable support for the hypothesis that high levels of stress negatively impact both types of eyewitness memory. Meta-analytic Z-scores, whether unweighted or weighted by sample size, ranged from –5.40 to –6.44 (high stress condition–low stress condition). The overall effect sizes were –.31 for both proportion of correct identifications and accuracy of eyewitness recall. Effect sizes were notably larger for target-present than for target-absent lineups, for eyewitness identification studies than for face recognition studies and for eyewitness studies employing a staged crime than for eyewitness studies employing other means to induce stress.     

刑事案件DNA检验采样与鉴定立法现状

人类DNA遗传特征多态性使DNA技术成为各国警方侦办案件的重要技术手段，但DNA检验鉴定采样合法性和结论可采性须由立法规定。众多国家和地区针对DNA采样和鉴定结论应用制定了相关法律法规。我国相关法律细则尚处空白，因此，应尽快制定我国DNA鉴定采样与应用法规，规范DNA鉴定样本采集与证据采信。     

The rapid determination of cocaine and other local anesthetics using field tests and chromatography

The application of field tests and chromatography to the detection of cocaine and some other local anesthetics that have been used to adulterate cocaine is described. Initial screening of samples by field tests, followed by concurrent TLC and GC, enables rapid identification of these compounds to be achieved. In particular, the use of flow-programmed GC shortens the time for analysis compared with conventional GC and requires negligible equilibration time between consecutive runs [12]. The method gives reliable quantitative data.     

How leadership enhances employees’ knowledge sharing: the intervening roles of relational and organizational identification

Knowledge exchange among employees is crucial to organizational effectiveness. Leadership can enhance or detract from employees’ willingness to share knowledge. This study examines how leadership affects knowledge sharing in a knowledge-intensive work setting. It proposes and tests a model which posits that (1) transformational leadership affects the extent to which employees identify with their manager; (2) this relational identification, mediated by the quality of LMX (Leader-Member Exchange), leads to greater identification with the organization and its goals, which in turn results in greater knowledge sharing. The sample consisted of two hundred and three R&D employees engaged in advanced technological projects. Path analysis results indicated that there are both direct and indirect (through LMX) relationships between transformational leadership and relational identification: relational identification promotes organizational identification which, in turn, is positively related to knowledge sharing. These results highlight the importance of transformational leadership and LMX for promoting relational and organizational identification, thereby facilitating employee knowledge sharing.     

Sequential lineup presentation promotes less-biased criterion setting but does not improve discriminability

When compared with simultaneous lineup presentation, sequential presentation has been shown to reduce false identifications to a greater extent than it reduces correct identifications. However, there has been much debate about whether this difference in identification performance represents improved discriminability or more conservative responding. In this research, data from 22 experiments that compared sequential and simultaneous lineups were analyzed using a compound signal-detection model, which is specifically designed to describe decision-making performance on tasks such as eyewitness identification tests. Sequential (cf. simultaneous) presentation did not influence discriminability, but produced a conservative shift in response bias that resulted in less-biased choosing for sequential than simultaneous lineups. These results inform understanding of the effects of lineup presentation mode on eyewitness identification decisions.     

Practical use of the molecular-genetic technologies in solving the tasks of forensic medical identification of remains in emergencies with huge human death toll

Previously, we have developed different variants, for the expert use, of information technologies, i.e. of computer automated analytical systems, to ensure an effective analysis of huge bulwarks of molecular-genetic expert findings. The results obtained in the above research significantly advanced the possibilities of expert evaluation related with personality identification under the conditions of a big death toll; they also cleaned the ground for the introduction of such methodological approaches in the practice of investigations of emergency accidents involving huge death tolls. Described within the present case study is a practical experience of forensic medical identification of unrecognized remains in air crashes with huge human death tolls implemented through computer-assisted complex molecular-genetic tests on the basis of indirect DNA identification involving the establishment of blood relationship.     

Application of hypervariable genetic markers to forensic identification of 'wild' from hatchery-raised red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

Forensic identification of 'wild' versus hatchery-produced (cultured) red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), an economically important marine fish in the southern United States, was assessed using hypervariable nuclear-encoded microsatellites and sequences of mitochondrial DNA. Both genotype exclusion and likelihood-ratio tests successfully identified 'wild' and 'cultured' individuals within requisite error bounds and within the context of complete parental sampling. Of the two, genotype exclusion was more effective, producing satisfactory results with fewer microsatellites and larger allowable error rates. Assignment tests proved ineffective, most likely because of the low level of genetic divergence between the sampled populations. An optimal, minimum set of ten markers that will reduce potential genotyping costs is identified. Results of the study should allay concerns regarding identification of 'wild'-caught fish sold illegally.