Assessment of Wear‐Related Features of the Kerf Wall from Saw Marks in Bone*†

Abstract: Analyses of saw marks in bone may yield important information about the class characteristics of saws used in postmortem dismemberments, yet little research has been directed at identifying saws’ individualizing characteristics. This study adds to existing saw mark analysis methodologies by examining wear‐related features of kerf walls using light‐ and environmental scanning electron microscopy. A crosscut saw and hacksaw were used to create sequences of 30 cuts in bone; these sequences reveal patterns of progressive loss of fine details of kerf wall morphology with increasing saw blade wear, because of the rounding of sharp points and edges. Nevertheless, diagnostic kerf wall features used to establish class characteristics persist despite these wear‐related changes. Unsuccessful attempts at statistical analysis of wear‐related changes, based on striae width and density, suggest these patterns are not readily quantifiable. Additionally, despite the scanning electron microscope’s superior imaging capabilities, it provided few practical, methodological gains over traditional light microscopy.     

Discharge of a Pistol Out a Car Window with the Breech Within the Interior of the Car: Analysis of Gunshot Residue on a Car's Interior Surfaces

The defendant, the driver of the questioned car, allegedly extended his right arm over the passenger seat and fired a single shot from a 380 pistol out the passenger window with the pistol's breech within the car. A simulation of this shooting scenario using the same model car, but different year, was conducted to quantitate gunshot residue (GSR) contamination of interior surfaces within the car. The test car's dash and headliner/window frame above the pistol had the heaviest GSR contamination. The dash GSR from airborne deposition documents a firearm discharge within the vehicle. Transfer from GSR‐contaminated hands or clothing to the dash is unlikely. The heavy GSR contamination of the headliner/window frame above the pistol likely documents the window from which the pistol was fired, but additional experiments are needed to verify.     

Fate and Behavior of Gunshot Residue: Recreational Shooter Vehicle Distribution

The susceptibility for recreational shooters to transfer gunshot residue (GSR) to both the interior and exterior of a vehicle is investigated. A comprehensive sampling protocol was used to assess the most likely areas of GSR transfer from recreational shooter contact, such as the steering wheel and the area, the firearms were stored (the trunk). Up to 315 characteristic GSR, particles were found in several locations throughout the interior of a vehicle. As many as 876 characteristic particles were found throughout a single vehicle. The data indicate that vehicles frequently occupied by firearms users are a potential source for inadvertent transfer of GSR to persons unrelated to firearm activity. In criminal cases where vehicles have been used, such transfer processes for GSR need to be considered within the context of any case interpretation. The implications for subsequent contamination and transfer processes from such vehicles require further investigation.     

手枪射击入口残留物与射击距离的关系

在持枪犯罪案件中,常需要对射击距离进行认定。由于不同客体的结构以及表面吸附能力不同,其形成的烟晕大小、药粒的分布及射击入口的大小有差异。文章作者选择9种具有代表性的客体进行实验,用实体显微镜观察其差异,找不同客体的规律,在此基础上推断射击距离。     

11例脑皮质挫伤远区及脑干病变的光镜和扫描电镜观察报告

本文报告11例因脑外伤致死的案例。肉眼观察10例有轻重不等的大脑皮质挫伤；10例有蛛网膜下腔出血；3例有脑干出血；1例有视丘下部出血。光镜及扫描电镜下见大脑皮质挫伤10例；其余挫伤，在距大脑皮质挫伤3cm的脑白质6例，视丘下部8例，丘脑、中脑各6例，桥脑5例，延髓4例，侧脑室壁8例及视神经4例。镜下检查挫伤远较肉眼为多。10例神经细胞有不同程度变性、坏死及缺血性病变。9例大脑及脑干轴索、髓鞘有不同程度断裂、变性、排列紊乱、崩解及坏死，其中7例轴索断端查见收缩球。作者对脑外伤死因及法医学鉴定应注意的问题作了简要的讨论。     

Quantitative analysis of glasses used within Australia

An initial 134 glasses have been collected from eleven classifications of glass used within Australia. These include both local and imported glasses. Quantitative elemental analyses of the glasses have been determined using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The current program provides for an elemental analysis for Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S or Pb, Cl, K, Ca, Ba or Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn expressed as oxides, and has a sensitivity down to approximately 0.1%. The data for the six most commonly occurring elements, namely, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K and Ca, together with the refractive index are presented for each class of glass in terms of their mean value and standard deviation from the mean, and also in histogram form.     

子弹弹头及弹壳成分比较研究

目的对子弹物证进行成分分析可为涉枪案件的侦查提供科学依据。本实验旨在通过研究子弹弹头及弹壳的元素组成快速区分不同子弹,为推断子弹来源提供关键信息。方法收集不同厂家在1958-2019年不同批次生产的多种型号的子弹样品53份,应用扫描电镜能谱法(SEM/EDX)对样品的弹头内芯、弹头披甲和弹壳金属成分进行研究。结果结果显示多数子弹弹头内芯由纯铅构成,部分批次较晚的弹头为铅锑合金,另有两枚批次较早子弹为铁弹头;除六枚5.6mm运动步枪弹的弹头披甲以及四枚791厂样品的弹壳无明显特征外,其余子弹的弹头披甲和弹壳均为三类铜锌合金中的一种:含铜量83.7%~84.7%、87.6%~90.6%以及67.0%~69.8%的铜锌合金。同型号同厂家子弹所使用弹头披甲及弹壳材料的特征相似,同型号不同厂家、同厂家不同型号的子弹弹头披甲和弹壳材料则具有一定差异。近六十年来121厂样品子弹弹头披甲均为含铜量87.6%~90.6%的铜锌合金,弹壳材料为含铜量67.0%~69.8%的铜锌合金,其为该厂固定使用的铜锌合金原材料的可能性较高。791厂样品中有四种型号的子弹弹壳均为含锰量0.7%~0.9%的铁锰合金,这种合金在其他厂家并未出现,其为791厂弹壳特征原材料的可能性较高。结论掌握子弹弹头及弹壳的元素组成特征可以对不同子弹进行有效识别。     

A Novel Forensic Investigation Applied to Bone Remains Exhumed near to Quirra Interforce Firing Range

The need to implement novel techniques, able to support a causal link between exposure and pathology, has been emerged over the recent years. The application of scanning electron microscope coupled with probe X‐ray microanalysis (by means of an energy‐dispersive spectroscopy) has been developed by our research group for the bone remains investigation. It was aimed to testify the exposure to microsized and nanosized pollutions, due to military activities in the Quirra interforce firing range, of a Sardinian shepherd, died of acute leukemia. Metallic debris with a combustive morphology and with an oncogenic potential has been surely detected inside his bone marrow canal. This novel technique has proved to be able to bring to light a source of past exposure preserved over time within the bone marrow canal. It can be useful for postmortem analyses, delivering a new avant‐garde approach to modern forensic science.     

The characterization of automobile body fillers

Body fillers are sometimes encountered with paint evidence from hit-and-run accidents. Little forensic research has been conducted and published on the subject since 1986. The objective of this study was to determine if chemical and physical differences in body fillers from various manufacturers existed and could be identified. Thirty-three samples of light-weight automobile body fillers and spot putties were obtained. The fillers and putties were compared using light microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), and pyrolysis gas chromatography (pyGC). Results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis placed the samples into five groups and differentiated six samples. Light microscopy placed the samples into one of five color groups. PyGC placed the samples into three groups and differentiated one sample. SEM-EDX placed the samples into four groups and differentiated 13 samples. Using these analysis methods, 19 of the 33 samples could be discriminated. The best discriminatory tool was found to be SEM-EDX.     

Electrical Pulse Generated Upon Discharging a Firearm and Its Implication for Gunshot Residue Analysis

Ammunition primers consisting of a mixture of lead styphnate, barium nitrate, and antimony (III) sulfide, upon deflagration, lead to the formation of inorganic gunshot residue (GSR). The cations, from their predeflagration form, undergo reduction reactions during burning to form the classic spheroidal, micron-sized particles indicative of GSR. However, the rapidly changing pressure and temperature of the reaction zone implies that the reactions cannot go to completion. In this study, we use a conductivity detector to show that GSR produces an electrical pulse which corroborates the incomplete redox chemistry. We find that the shape of some GSR formed in an electric field also suggests its nonneutral character. Tantalizingly, the formation of GSR might be a result of Coulombic repulsion shattering the molten droplets in to smaller spheroids. Lastly, we suggest that deposition or transfer of GSR could be influenced by static electricity, an area which should be further studied.