Molecular Identification of Indian Crocodile Species: PCR‐RFLP Method for Forensic Authentication*

Abstract: South East Asian countries are known for illegal poaching and trade of crocodiles clandestinely, to be used in skin, medicinal, and cosmetic industries. Besides crocodiles being listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, India has its Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for conservation of crocodile species. Hitherto, lack of any rapid and reliable technique for examinations of crocodile‐based crime exhibits such as skin, bones, etc. has been a major problem for an effective promulgation of law on illegal trade. DNA‐based identification of species using PCR‐RFLP technique for an apt identification of all the three Indian crocodile species namely, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris and Gavialis gangeticus is presented here. A 628 bp segment of cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel primers followed by restriction digestion with three enzymes i.e., HaeIII, MboI, and MwoI, separately and in combination. The technique has produced a species‐specific pattern for identifying the three crocodile species individually, which fulfills the requirement for its forensic application. It is expected that the technique will prove handy in identification of all the three Indian crocodile species and strengthen conservation efforts.     

Individual Camera Identification Using Correlation of Fixed Pattern Noise in Image Sensors

Abstract:  This paper presents results of experiments related to individual video camera identification using a correlation coefficient of fixed pattern noise (FPN) in image sensors. Five color charge-coupled device (CCD) modules of the same brand were examined. Images were captured using a 12-bit monochrome video capture board and stored in a personal computer. For each module, 100 frames were captured. They were integrated to obtain FPN. The results show that a specific CCD module was distinguished among the five modules by analyzing the normalized correlation coefficient. The temporal change of the correlation coefficient during several days had only a negligible effect on identifying the modules. Furthermore, a positive relation was found between the correlation coefficient of the same modules and the number of frames that were used for image integration. Consequently, precise individual camera identification is enhanced by acquisition of as many frames as possible.     

Mug Shot Exposure Effects: Does Size Matter?

This research tested whether mug book size moderates mug shot exposure effects. Witnesses to a simulated theft searched either a small, a large, or no mug book, followed by a perpetrator-absent lineup containing a critical foil from the mug book. Contrary to predictions of a transference effect, critical foil lineup identifications did not differ across conditions. To test for a commitment effect, only participants who selected the critical foil in the mug book were considered; there was evidence of a commitment effect in the large mug book condition. Finally, there were more lineup-correct rejections in the large mug book condition; this was explained in terms of the criterion for making mug book choices carrying over to lineup choices.

我国工伤保险程序存在的问题及完善

工伤保险自诞生以来就具有强大的影响力,原因之一在于其程序简便易行。然而在我国,劳动者申请工伤保险待遇却要历经多重程序,耗时之长、过程之艰难已经成为工伤保险制度优越性发挥的障碍,为此,应以法律人本主义理念改革我国的工伤保险程序。     

大型灾难事件中的DNA鉴定工作

大型灾难事件通常是由各种无法预料的因素引发,并可造成大量人员的伤亡和失踪。法医学DNA实验室首要的任务就是对这些遇难者进行身份的认定。本文通过回顾大型灾难事件以及相关研究,提出大型灾难事件中DNA鉴定的程序,包括样品的准备、收集、贮存、DNA的提取、DNA的分型、相关数据的分析和结果的解释等,并对DNA鉴定中的经验和问题进行了讨论。     

汶川地震相关的若干刑事问题研究

"5.12"汶川地震发生后,出现了很多疑难刑事法律问题,如建筑物毁损责任追究问题、趁灾造谣、非法经营、灾民哄抢救灾物资等行为的定性问题等,对于这些问题,应当区分不同情形,作出相应处理。     

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。     

利用激光、光敏印章机伪造印章印文的鉴定

利用激光刻章机雕刻、光敏印章机制印伪造印章印文是近年来出现的一种新的、仿真程度较高的伪造印章印文的方法。鉴定实践表明,这类伪造印章印文趋于专业化、技术化,且伪造的印章印文与真实印章印文的相似度较高。依据传统的鉴定依据和方法难以鉴别真伪,因此从该类伪造方法对其特点和鉴定依据、方法要点进行研究,尤其是对伪造形成方式及特点的研究,有助于科学的鉴定其真伪。     

Identification and analyses of female civilian victims of the 1991 war in Croatia from the Glina and Petrinja areas

Introduction

The process of recovering and identifying human remains from individual and mass graves has proven to be the most effective method of resolving the fate of missing individuals in the former Yugoslavia. These efforts have two primary objectives: medicolegal—to identify the cause of death, and humanitarian—to bring closure to living family members, thus supporting the human rights of both the living and the deceased. From 1996 to the present, the remains of 388 individuals killed during the 1991 War in Croatia were recovered from the Glina and Petrinja areas (Sisa?ko–Moslova?ka County). The purpose of this paper is to report on the demographic and taphonomic characteristics of the recovered remains, and identify factors responsible for the discrepancy in the identification ratios.

Methods

To identify factors potentially responsible for the noted discrepancy, data were collected on the taphonomic characteristics of the recovered remains, the types of burials, as well as the factors responsible for positive identification. These factors included: forensic DNA testing, dental criteria, special signs (healed fractures, etc.), clothing and personal artifacts.

Results

The age distributions between males and females in the sample are significantly different. The mean age-at-death for males is 51.6 years, for females 67.0 years. In both sexes the majority of identifications (62.9% in females and 45.9% in males) were established through a combination of biological and non-biological features. In terms of the types of graves from which the bodies were recovered, positive identification in both sexes was lowest in mass graves (61.2% for males, and 84.2% for females). Females from mass graves were, however, better preserved than males—36.6% of males recovered from mass graves were completely skeletonized, while the same was true for only 19.3% of females (χ² = 7.06, P < 0.029). Completely skeletonized remains were identified in only 65.1% of cases, while partially skeletonized and saponified bodies were identified in 80.1% of cases.

Conclusion

Since positive identification in both sexes is strongly correlated with preservation of the bodies, the reason why female identification frequencies in the Glina and Petrinja regions are higher than male frequencies lies in the fact that females recovered from mass graves were better preserved than males recovered from mass graves. Identification of the factors responsible for this is a challenge that needs to be resolved in future studies.