An ideal material for the preparation of known toolmark test impressions

Traditionally, toolmark test exemplars are produced by applying a tool's working surface to a piece of soft metal such as lead. Soft, pliable metals are primarily used for this purpose because they will replicate the microscopic grooves present on a tool's working surface without damaging the tool. In this paper the authors present an alternative material for the preparation of test toolmarks. Jewelry modeling or carving waxes are utilized in this study. These waxes are designed for the jewelry modeling industry to create very fine, highly detailed wax models of jewelry pieces that will be cast in various metals utilizing the lost wax casting method. Jeweler's waxes have been found to be ideal for preparing test toolmarks from exemplar tools. The test tool's working surface is applied to a piece of the appropriate wax in a manner consistent with the tool's design. The replicas obtained are exact, highly detailed, 1:1, negative impressions of the exemplar tools working surface, have a long shelf-life, and are suitable for use in toolmark examination and comparison cases.     

Forensic value of pattern and particle transfers from deployed automotive airbag contact

Many automobile manufacturers began installing airbags on the driver's side in the late 1980's. Passenger side airbags followed in the early 1990's. Most airbags use a solid-propellant type of material that produces a hot gas to inflate the airbags. The gas in the driver side airbag leaves the inflator at a temperature as hot as 600 degrees C. The hot gas escapes through the vent holes after deployment, but it can also leak through the stitching seams in the front and singe a pattern on the occupant's clothing characteristic of the seam pattern. The singe patterns from the driver and passenger side airbags will be different. Cornstarch, which is used as a lubricant in some driver side airbags, can transfer to the driver's shirt. Hairs, fibers and make-up can transfer from the driver or passenger to the surface of the deployed airbags. Two cases are presented, illustrating singe patterns and particle transfers, and how they helped determine who a driver or passenger were.     

Detection of reladorm and donormil in forensic-medical examination of cadavers

A method was suggested for identifying reladorm and donormil in pharmaceutical drugs and biological objects. The above substances are isolated by 96% ethanol or by mixture of chloroform and isopropanol. 7 color reactions, 3 microcrystalloscopic reactions and chromatography in thin sorbent layer are suggested for identification.     

Assessment of edema fluid distribution in the brain

The technique is proposed allowing quantitation of brain edema and typing of liquor distribution in different parts of brain tissue. In combination with other assays this test can determine a variant of tanatogenesis, detect cause of death and duration of the terminal period. The method application is illustrated by the study of brain hydration in mechanical strangulation asphyxia. It is shown that this death is associated with hypohydration of cerebral structures, especially pronounced in the cortical compartments.     

Forensic medical diagnostics of nitrate and nitrite intoxication

Nitrates and nitrites, accumulating in toxic concentrations in soil, plants, water and foodstuffs, can cause lethal intoxication. The method of isolation, identification and quantitation has been elaborated for their diagnosis. It is based on the isolation of water and subsequent chromogenic test plus photoelectrocolorimetry.