The study and forensic significance of drill bit use indicators

Abstract:  A case study involving an improvised pipe bomb with a drilled fuse hole is presented. This case study and its accompanying research details drill bit use and/or nonuse indicators. These indicators are then further classified to develop relevant conclusion criteria. These criteria are: (1) trace deposits in the form of particulate and/or smears on the drill bit, especially inside the flute and the tip area, (2) physical damage including chipping, abrasion, and fissuring on the drill bit which mostly occurred on the flute edge bevels and lip edges, and (3) thermal damage. One or any combination of these indicators could be used as effective criteria for concluding drill bit usage. This study also determined that a drill bit produces well-defined toolmarks on swarf shavings that could be identified back to that particular tool, and there is no mechanical break-in period for obtaining reproducible toolmarks on newly manufactured or unused bits.     

遥控类爆炸装置的爆炸残片分析

目的为了推断遥控爆炸犯罪案件中所制作的遥控爆炸装置种类;方法首先制作常见的两类共3种遥控爆炸装置,进行爆炸实验;接着通过对爆炸残片的检验,研究各种遥控爆炸装置的爆炸残片特征;结果在不多于400克药量的常见炸药爆炸后,3种遥控爆炸装置爆炸后都可以在现场收集到大多数的爆炸装置残片可供检验;结论通过对爆炸残片的特征检验,基本上可以推断遥控爆炸装置的种类与外包装的种类,以及是否使用电池电源。     

Manual and Automated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): A Comparison of Associated Injury Patterns,

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare patterns of trauma associated with AutoPulse^® CPR and manual CPR. Finalized autopsy records from 175 decedents brought to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences were reviewed, 87 received manual‐only CPR, and 88 received AutoPulse^® CPR (in combination with manual CPR as per standard protocol). The characteristic pattern observed in manual‐only CPR use included a high frequency of anterior rib fractures, sternal fractures, and midline chest abrasions along the sternum. The characteristic pattern observed in AutoPulse^® CPR use included a high frequency of posterior rib fractures, skin abrasions located along the anterolateral chest and shoulder, vertebral fractures, and a few cases of visceral injuries including liver lacerations, splenic lacerations, and hemoperitoneum. Knowledge of the AutoPulse^® CPR injury pattern can help forensic pathologists differentiate therapeutic from inflicted injuries and therefore avoid an erroneous assessment of cause and manner of death.     

A Physical Match of a Metallic Chip Found on a Bolt Cutters’ Blade

Bolt cutters are known as devices which are used for cutting hard objects and rigid materials such as padlocks and bars. They are commonly used in instances of forced entries. In this case study, a bolt cutter was found in the car of two suspects in a grocery burglary. This study indicates how the presence of a small metallic chip found on a suspected bolt cutter can prove that the tool was used in the crime scene. During the initial examination, a metallic chip from the cut shackle padlock was found stuck to one of the bolt cutters’ blades. By comparing the metallic chip's microscopic edge and the breaking (fracture) line of the padlock's shackle, a full physical match was noticed. We wish to report here how residue, even the smallest, can be used to link burglary tools to a crime scene with a high level of certainty.     

语言情感功能的实现方式

在近些年来的语言学研究中,人们越来越关注对语言功能的研究,但是针对语言功能的实现方式的研究却相对少些,有的只是研究众多潜在实现方式中的一个层面。通过对日常语言的具体应用的分析,在收集整理了大量语料的基础上,本文试图系统地讨论语言情感功能的几个基本的实现方式,它们是:词汇选择,语音特点以及修辞手法。探讨语言功能的实现方式,不仅可以加深对语言的认识,而且对语言的实际应用也具有现实的指导意义。     

抗战胜利后中国对台澎地区日本海军的接收

抗战胜利后,国民政府海军奉命参加光复台湾行动,主要任务是接收台澎地区的日本海军。经过数月的努力,赴台海军官兵在人员少、任务重的情况下,基本上完成了收缴日本海军武器及军用物资、集中并监管日本海军战俘等各项接收工作,实现了在台湾恢复领海主权的目标。但由于海军在接收前准备不足,接收人员的素质也参差不齐,加之同时发生的中央海军领导机关重组风波,又在一定程度上影响和干扰了海军在台澎地区的接收工作,以致接收成效并不尽如人意。     

Increased hematocrit after applications of conducted energy weapons (including TASER(®) devices) to Sus scrofa

Conducted energy weapons (CEWs) are used by law enforcement personnel to incapacitate individuals quickly and effectively, without intending to cause lethality. CEWs have been deployed for relatively long or repeated exposures in some cases. In laboratory animal models, central venous hematocrit has increased significantly after CEW exposure. Even limited applications (e.g., three 5-sec applications) resulted in statistically significant increases in hematocrit. Preexposure hematocrit was significantly higher in nonsurvivors versus survivors after more extreme CEW applications. The purpose of this technical note is to address specific questions that may be generated when examining these results. Comparisons among results of CEW applications, other electrical muscle stimulation, and exercise/voluntary muscle contraction are included. The anesthetized swine appears to be an acceptable animal model for studying changes in hematocrit and associated red blood cell changes. Potential detrimental effects of increased hematocrit, and considerations during law enforcement use, are discussed.     

Planned Complex Occupation‐related Suicide by Captive‐bolt Gunshot and Hanging*

Abstract: Planned complex suicides are committed by using two or more previously planned methods simultaneously to make sure that death will occur even if one method fails. Herein, we presented a case of occupation‐related planned complex suicide, committed by captive‐bolt gunshot and hanging. A 29‐year‐old man, who worked as a butcher, was found dead in the stable, hanging by the neck with a captive‐bolt gun embedded in the forehead region of his head. The hanging was complete. Along the bolt canal were bone fragments, and at the end of the path was the punched‐out fragment of the skin and soft tissue. There were no fractures of the hyoid bone and laryngeal cartilages, and a superficial hemorrhage was present in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle. Our case underlines the utility of forensic autopsy and death scene investigation in reconstructing the mechanism of death, as well as the dynamics of the event.     

Role of orthopedic implants and bone morphology in the identification of human remains

When conventional methods of identification, such as visual recognition and dental comparison, cannot be used to identify a deceased person, it becomes necessary to consider alternative methods. The presence of an orthopedic implant in a body may assist identification if ante-mortem medical records are available for comparison. Another method of identification involves comparison of ante-mortem and postmortem radiographs. Eight cases are reported from Forensic Science SA where the presence of orthopedic implants and/or ante-mortem radiographs were used to try to establish identification. In six cases, positive identification was established, and in two cases with upper limb orthopedic implants, the bones remained unidentified. Manufacturers were unable to provide any information about the distribution and use of the implants that could be of use with identification, as there are no requirements in Australia for individual medical implants to be tracked. Such a system has the potential to aid postmortem identification if serial codes were etched onto implants that could then be traced to manufacturers, surgeons, and recipients of these devices.     

USB Storage Device Forensics for Windows 10

Significantly increased use of USB devices due to their user‐friendliness and large storage capacities poses various threats for many users/companies in terms of data theft that becomes easier due to their efficient mobility. Investigations for such data theft activities would require gathering critical digital information capable of recovering digital forensics artifacts like date, time, and device information. This research gathers three sets of registry and logs data: first, before insertion; second, during insertion; and the third, after removal of a USB device. These sets are analyzed to gather evidentiary information from Registry and Windows Event log that helps in tracking a USB device. This research furthers the prior research on earlier versions of Microsoft Windows and compares it with latest Windows 10 system. Comparison of Windows 8 and Windows 10 does not show much difference except for new subkey under USB Key in registry. However, comparison of Windows 7 with latest version indicates significant variances.