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Council InformationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 31, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Events GuideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - August 31, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Erratum to “Recovery, analysis and identification of commingled human remains, B.J. Adams, J.E. Byrd, Humana Press (2008), 374 pp., ISBN: 978-59745-316-5, Hardback, £77”Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Publisher regrets that an incorrect author was credited for writing this book review. This book review was written by Sue Black, Dundee. The publisher apologies for any inconvenience. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 31, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: S. Black Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

Editorial BoardEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 31, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Standards for the formulation of evaluative forensic science expert opinionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Forensic Expert Opinion formulated in the Evaluative or Evidential mode across all scientific disciplines. It does not include investigative opinion or factual and technical reporting. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 25, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Association of Forensic Science Providers Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

Research, Evaluation & Interpretation: Robinson Executive Conference Centre, Wyboston, 31 October–2 November 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Convenor: Niamh Nic Daeid ‘Research, Evaluation and Interpretation’ (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - August 19, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Miriam Moffat Tags: Conference Report Source Type: journals

Scene This, Developed That, Enhanced Everything: Fire Investigation Centre, Washington Hall, Chorley, 30th January 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The 30th January saw the 3rd conference especially dedicated for younger members of the society as well as non-members and the young at heart! Past years were vastly different in their topics but were equally popular and this time was no different. A healthy number of people packed the main hall in the Fire Investigation Centre in Chorley to hear speakers from different areas of forensic science. The speakers included Nick Carey, a Specialist Fire Investigator speaking about fire safety, two colleagues from LGC Forensics in Oxfordshire, Jane Stevenson and Edward Jarman, speaking about the vast array of enhancement techniqu...
Source: Science and Justice - August 19, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Laura Hugh Tags: Conference Report Source Type: journals

Evaluation and professionalismEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In The Times of 19th December 2008, there were articles by Sir Harry Ognall and Professor David Canter that give much food for thought. Both had been written in response to the conviction of Robert Napper for the murder of Rachel Nickell; in particular, they both dealt with the attempts that had been made, some 14years previously, to secure the conviction of Colin Stagg for that very crime. There is one thread from these articles that struck a chord with me and which prompted the subject for this guest editorial: it is a tendency that has been evident in certain major investigations for the investigator to become focussed ...
Source: Science and Justice - August 16, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ian Evett Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

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…and what a great title for a book—just what the forensic industry needs at the minute. Very timely with such a lot of change and demand for a greater understanding and assessment of competency. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - June 21, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Brian W.J. Rankin Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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Source: Science and Justice - June 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Events GuideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - June 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Editorial BoardEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - June 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Anti-doping researchers should conform to certain statistical standards from forensic scienceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Anti-doping is currently viewed as a forensic science. However, close examination shows that the statistical treatment of evidence is inconsistent with that view. Here it is insisted that anti-doping researchers should conform to certain statistical standards from forensic science. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 28, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Klaas Faber, Marjan Sjerps Tags: Correspondence Source Type: journals

Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) — Discrimination of ammonium nitrate sourcesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: An evaluation was undertaken to determine if isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) could assist in the investigation of complex forensic cases by providing a level of discrimination not achievable utilising traditional forensic techniques. The focus of the research was on ammonium nitrate (AN), a common oxidiser used in improvised explosive mixtures.The potential value of IRMS to attribute Australian AN samples to the manufacturing source was demonstrated through the development of a preliminary AN classification scheme based on nitrogen isotopes. Although the discrimination utilising nitrogen isotopes alone was...
Source: Science and Justice - May 25, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sarah J. Benson, Christopher J. Lennard, Philip Maynard, David M. Hill, Anita S. Andrew, Claude Roux Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Stable isotope profiling of burnt wooden safety matchesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Arson is a significant problem around the world, and is a crime which results in a low number of convictions. The scene of an arson can be varied, commercial, residential or national park, and recently cases have been identified which were initiated by a lit match. Matches can be recovered from a scene, usually in a burnt condition. The benefit of analysing unburnt matches has been researched previously [1,2]. In most cases, burnt matches are recovered from scenes, and therefore the research was extended to investigate the potential of using IRMS to analyse burnt matches. This includes samples which have been exp...
Source: Science and Justice - May 12, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Nicola Farmer, James Curran, David Lucy, Niamh Nic Daeid, Wolfram Meier-Augenstein Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) — Preliminary study on TATP and PETNEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of this research was to investigate the application of light stable isotopes and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to solve complex forensic cases by providing a level of discrimination not achievable utilising traditional forensic techniques.Due to the current threat of organic peroxide explosives, such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP), research was undertaken to determine the potential of IRMS to differentiate samples of TATP that had been manufactured utilising different starting materials and/or manufacturing processes. In addition, due to the prevalence of pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN) in deton...
Source: Science and Justice - May 12, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sarah J. Benson, Christopher J. Lennard, Philip Maynard, David M. Hill, Anita S. Andrew, Claude Roux Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

EditorialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to be able to write the editorial for this special edition of Science and Justice which focuses on the forensic application of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and related disciplines. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 8, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sean Doyle Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

Forensic Science Society Diploma Awards 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - May 4, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Announcement Source Type: journals

Forensic toxicology — 18 April 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Joint Conference of the Forensic Science Society and the Centre for Forensic Investigation was held on the 18th April 2008 at the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough. It was held in the Innovation Centre and was attended by some 90 delegates from practitioners, police officers, academics and students. The focus of the one day Conference was to bring together front end scientists, instrument providers and renowned researchers within this highly specialised field. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 4, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Shirley Bayne, Michelle Carlin Tags: Conference reports Source Type: journals

Discrimination of document paper by XRF, LA–ICP–MS and IRMS using multivariate statistical techniquesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of inorganic analysis techniques for the discrimination of document (multipurpose office) paper. A set of 25 different multipurpose office papers from the European market was used for comparison. It appeared that for the single techniques LA–ICP–MS had the highest overall discriminating power. Despite its lower sensitivity, XRF also showed good discriminating power but the correlation with LA–ICP–MS is high. The combination of LA–ICP–MS and IRMS provides a powerful and strongly discriminating set of techniques. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - May 4, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: A. van Es, J. de Koeijer, G. van der Peijl Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Forensic DNA analysis — 17th April 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Reporter: Helen Jones Joint conference of the Forensic Science Society and the Centre for Forensic Investigation, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - April 29, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Conference reports Source Type: journals

Comparative analysis of 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), an amphetamine-type stimulant precursor, using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry: Presented in part as a poster at the 2nd meeting of the Joint European Stable Isotope User Meeting (JESIUM), Giens, France, September 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The isotope ratios of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) depend as well on the precursor as the synthetic pathway. For clandestine production of amphetamine and methamphetamine, 1-phenyl-2-propanone (P2P, benzylmethylketone) is a commonly used precursor.Our aim was to determine the variation of the isotope ratios within precursor samples of one manufacturer and to compare seized samples of unknown sources to these values. δ13CV-PDB, δ2HV-SMOW and δ18OV-SMOW isotope ratios were determined using elemental analysis (EA) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). The compariso...
Source: Science and Justice - April 6, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: S. Schneiders, T. Holdermann, R. Dahlenburg Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

The kinetics of colour change in textiles and fibres treated with detergent solutions: Part I—Colour perception and fluorescence microscopy analysisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess colour changes that occur in several types of commonly available textiles as a result of the long-term effects of various popularly used laundry detergents. A 14 day experiment was conducted using blue, red and grey/black cotton, wool, acrylic and polyester textiles. Colour changes were evaluated through the visual comparison of the colour of the textile samples against that of the untreated (control) material.The kinetics of the changes in the colour of the fibres were monitored using fluorescence microscopy (UV excitation filter). The conclusions include an assessment of the...
Source: Science and Justice - April 5, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jolanta Was-Gubala Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Development of a searchable major and trace element database for use in forensic soil comparisonsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Forensic soil comparisons are normally undertaken on the basis of several physical, chemical and biological properties, but in all cases the interpretation of results is dependent on the availability of relevant contextual information. This paper summarises the results of major and trace element analyses performed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry on the (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - March 31, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kenneth Pye, Simon J. Blott Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

An initial evaluation of stable isotopic characterisation of post-blast plastic debris from improvised explosive devicesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: A number of two-way radios, similar to those which have been employed to initiate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), were acquired from a commercial supplier and grouped into four pairs. Samples of plastic material were collected from five distinct regions of each radio and analysed by Infrared and Raman spectroscopy to identify the nature of the material. One radio of each pair was then subjected to detonation with a commercially available plastic explosive. The combination of radio and explosive was considered to be representative of the components of an IED. Following detonation, fragments were recovered and...
Source: Science and Justice - March 27, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Anthony T. Quirk, John M. Bellerby, James F. Carter, Fay A. Thomas, Jenny C. Hill Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Forensic applications of stable isotope analysis: Case studies of the origins of water in mislabeled beer and contaminated diesel fuelEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: This paper describes the use of oxygen (18O) isotope analysis of water contained in two different materials — beer and diesel fuel — involved in the resolution of two separate cases. In the first case study, it was possible to demonstrate that a sample of beer labelled as premium brand in fact belonged to a cheap brand. The second case related to the contamination of diesel fuel from a service station. The diesel fuel contained visible amounts of water, which caused vehicles that had been filled up with it to become defective. For insurance purposes, it was necessary to determine the source of water. The δ18...
Source: Science and Justice - March 26, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Wolfgang Papesch, Micha Horacek Tags: Case Reports Source Type: journals

Stable isotope analysis of white paints and likelihood ratiosEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Architectural paints are commonly found as trace evidence at scenes of crime. Currently the most widely used technique for the analysis of architectural paints is Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). There are, however, limitations to the forensic analysis of white paints, and the ability to discriminate between samples.Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) has been investigated as a potential tool for the analysis of architectural white paints, where no preparation of samples prior to analysis is required. When stable isotope profiles (SIPs) are compared, there appears to be no relationship betwee...
Source: Science and Justice - March 12, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: N. Farmer, W. Meier-Augenstein, D. Lucy Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Identification of a disinterred grave by molecular and stable isotope analysisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Confirmation of a potential disinterred grave was sought by GC and GC/MS analyses of lipid extracts of whole soils and white particulate matter. Fatty acid profiles and concentrations determined for three of the soils correlated with the deposition of a large amount of exogenous organic matter, most likely adipocere and/or decomposed body fat. Determination of C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acid δ13C values by GC/C/IRMS revealed the input to be isotopically distinct from common British domesticated animals, plotting closely to values determined for adipose fat obtained from of a murder victim. By considering the differen...
Source: Science and Justice - March 2, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ian D. Bull, Robert Berstan, Arpad Vass, Richard P. Evershed Tags: Case Reports Source Type: journals

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Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

Events guideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

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Developing a forensic pathology textbook that is specifically aimed at addressing the issues of trauma allows for a more detailed presentation of such topics in contrast with that encountered in general forensic pathology textbooks. By focusing on the common problems encountered by autopsy pathologists who deal with trauma, one creates a volume that can only be of great benefit to those who are now gaining experience in forensic pathology as well as those who regularly apply such experience in their everyday practice. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Alfredo E. Walker Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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This book covers a wide range of forensic topics within the crime scene to court investigative process. Written for the High school/Middle school in the United States and roughly equivalent to ‘A’ level/first year undergraduate in the United Kingdom. Possibly more appropriate for those who aren't particularly strong in science, it does occasionally go from the simple science to the much more complex. The book is written with teachers very much in mind (not that they are not strong in science!) but the chapters have very clear learning objectives at the start with a series of test questions and a further reading list a...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Brain Rankin Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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This is another in a growing list of document examination focused books recently published in the United States. As such the text is written from an American perspective and some aspects will not be particularly relevant to UK practitioners. The initial chapters deal with some interesting historical information about handwriting written at a reasonably basic level. The author then moves on to deal with types of document case work encountered concentrating specifically on handwriting. The section on laboratory equipment (chapter 8) is also at a very basic level and does not discuss some more recent development in the indust...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: N.Nic Daéid Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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This text is split between the analysis of cannabis and cannabinoids and the medical and pharmacological aspects of use/misuse of the material. Each chapter deals with a specific topic related to cannabis and the cannabinoids and all are informative and very well researched and well referenced. The chapters which may have particular interest to the forensic chemist or toxicologist include the chemical fingerprinting of cannabis, an investigation into the smoke condensate, the use of immunoassays for cannabis detection, mass spec methods for cannabis detection and driving impairment relating to cannabis use. Other chapters ...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: N.Nic Daéid Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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The issue of links between violence and sexual abuse is one which is coming to the fore in professional discussions, and a comprehensive text addressing these lists is to be welcomed. It soon becomes apparent however that Johnson's text is not it. Its construction is haphazard (surprisingly given the eminence of the Publisher), its value base is confrontational and punitive and its regard for current theory and research is, at best, patchy. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Roger Kennington Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

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This is one of those books that will enable you to astound your friends and colleagues with superior knowledge of the universe, anthropology, evolution, aliens, relativity, and just about any other topic with a scientific base. It is a small book with many pages that explores the processes by which science has developed. Did you know, for example, that Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), thanks to psychic communication, discovered that there were two intelligent races on the planet Venus each occupying a hemisphere? One group were deeply spiritual and the other far from it. Moreover, would you like to know all the possible s...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: B. Caddy Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

The 4th Young Forensic Scientists Seminar (YFSS) ecology, maggots, mandibles and murder: 3rd September 2008, Cranfield University at Shrivenham (Defence Academy of the UK)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The venue chosen for the 4th conference provided an ideal setting for an exciting, informative range of lectures and workshops. An unusual theme was chosen for the day bringing a range of interesting and possibly less well known disciplines to the attention of eager delegates. A wide variety of people ranging from young forensic scientists, to police officers to those aspiring to become part of the forensic field attended the conference, which, just as in past years, proved to be extremely popular. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jane Stevenson Tags: Conference reports Source Type: journals

Summer Conference Report “Is What You See What You Get” 4–6 July 2008 The Derbyshire Hotel, DerbyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Callum Sutherland La Plante Productions, Dr John Manlove and Dr Anna Sandiford, Manlove Forensics In this workshop, Callum described how the bodies of murder victims and missing persons can be discovered and recovered from various types of environments, including deep or shallow graves, surface dumps or in water, to name but a few. He demonstrated by case examples that it is often the case that investigators do not prepare by considering the possible scenarios by which a high risk missing person or murder victim may be found and thus rather than being ‘one step ahead of the game’, it is often the case that the recover...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Shauna McCusker Tags: Conference reports Source Type: journals

Forensic Science Society Diploma Awards 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Announcement Source Type: journals

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Forensic science and mickey mouse. I write in response to Professor Cassella's reply (Forensic Science on Trial – still!) to your editorial Educating the next generation' Science and Justice, 48 (2008) 59–60. Good forensic science, like good research, is based on (amongst other things) the discovery of reliable facts on which to test hypotheses and base logical arguments. Reliable facts are rare in Professor Cassella's letter which is characterized more by celebratory rhetoric, lack of rigorous argument and patronizing ignorance. There are so many assertions made that it is virtually impossible to deal with them all i...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jim Fraser Tags: Correspondence Source Type: journals

A novel approach to condom lubricant analysis: In-situ analysis of swabs by FT-Raman Spectroscopy and its effects on DNA analysisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Current methods for the analysis of swabs for condom lubricants require a portion of the swab to be extracted. This requirement causes issues for those who require the swab for DNA extraction. A novel method is presented that facilitates analysis of the swab without the need for extraction. The method was shown to be equivalent to the traditional methods in terms of its sensitivity and discriminating power.The impact of the method on subsequent DNA extraction of swabs was assessed and no detrimental effects were observed.The method was used to conduct a survey of the current market for the supply of condoms in th...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tiernan Coyle, Naveed Anwar Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Characterisation of forward stutter in the AmpFlSTR® SGM Plus® PCREmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: PCR amplification of tetrameric short tandem repeats (STRs) can lead to Taq enzyme slippage and artefact products typically one repeat unit less in size than the parent STR. These back stutter or n−4 amplification products are low-level relative to the amplification of the parent STR but are widely seen in the forensic community where tetrameric STRs are employed in the generation of DNA profiles. To aid the interpretation of DNA mixtures where minor contributor(s) might be present in comparable amounts to the back stutter products, the typical amounts of back stutter generated have been well characterised and ...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Andrew J. Gibb, Andrea-Louise Huell, Mark C. Simmons, Rosalind M. Brown Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

The prevalence of drugs and alcohol found in road traffic fatalities: A comparative study of victimsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Researchers have studied the involvement of drugs and alcohol in fatal road traffic incidents, but with particular emphasis on the possible impairment of the driver. This paper describes a comparative study of drug and alcohol findings in various victim groups (drivers of cars, vans or lorries, car passengers, motorcyclists, motorcycle passengers, cyclists and pedestrians) between 2000 and 2006. Post-mortem blood and urine specimens submitted were analysed by immunoassay, GC–NPD, GC–FID, GC–MS and HPLC–DAD. The results of 1047 cases indicated 54% of all victims were positive for drugs and/or alcohol, with...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Simon Elliott, Helen Woolacott, Robin Braithwaite Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

The discrimination of (non-denim) blue cottonEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was conducted to determine the degree of discrimination obtained between non-denim blue cotton fibres using visible–UV range microspectrophotometry alone. To this end, samples of fibres were taken from 100, non-denim, blue cotton, outer garments, including t-shirts, trousers and jumpers and subjected to analysis by both visible and UV range microspectrophotometry. The results obtained from the samples of each garment were compared to determine if they ‘matched’ or not. From an initial visual comparison of the garments it was possible to subdivide the samples into two populations consisting of 73 ‘dark bl...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Ray Palmer, William Hutchinson, Verity Fryer Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Dynamics of latent fingerprints: The effect of physical factors on quality of ninhydrin developed prints — A preliminary studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: The conditions under which latent fingerprints are deposited affect the process of development that can be used to effectively recover these marks. The conditions which can play a part include environmental conditions, the type of surface on which latents are deposited, the ability of the donor to deposit fingerprints, contact time, force of contact with the object etc. Very little previous work is available in the scientific literature addressing these conditions and therefore, an attempt has been made in this present study to assess the effect of some of these criteria and their effect on the ability of ninhydr...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Om Prakash Jasuja, M.A. Toofany, Gagandeep Singh, G.S. Sodhi Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

The interpretation of elemental composition measurements from forensic glass evidence IIIEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: In this paper we introduce a permutation testing approach to the interpretation of evidence which consists of elemental composition measurements, with glass evidence as an example. This work extends previous work of Curran et al. [J.M. Curran, C.M. Triggs, J.R. Almirall, J.S. Buckleton and K.A.J. Walsh, The interpretation of elemental composition measurements from forensic glass evidence, Science and Justice 37 (1997) 241–244.] and shows how we may remove some of the constraints that limited the applicability of the previous results. We provide the reader with tools for evidence pre-screening that may aid in th...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Gareth P. Campbell, James M. Curran Tags: Scientific and technical papers Source Type: journals

Lessons from the pastEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Forensic Science Society is fifty years old this year. It was founded in 1959 when conducting police investigations and the role of the scientist in such investigations were very different to how they are today. Having said that, reading some of the earliest editorials in ‘The Journal of the Forensic Science Society’ as it was then, illustrates that some of the areas of difficulty within the crime scene to court process really haven't changed all that much over the years. The interaction between science and the law was as difficult then as it can sometimes be now, with the closing comments of the very first editori...
Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: N. Nic Daéid Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

Editorial BoardEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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Source: Science and Justice - March 1, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: journals

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There has been an increasing interest in the use of typing DNA from non-human sources and hence this book is timely and is aimed at a gap in the market. My own research interests are focused on typing mammalian and avian DNA samples and therefore I was keen to read this book. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 23, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Adrian Linacre Tags: Book reviews Source Type: journals

The “Nudes Murders” 1959–1965Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article relates to the murders of eight women between 1959 and 1965. All of the victims were prostitutes and some, possibly all, appear to be the victim of the same killer. The Senior Investigating Officer utilised what resources that were available at the time, many of these we take for granted today. One such resource was to have provided a car fitted with a police radio. Read on. (Source: Science and Justice)
Source: Science and Justice - February 23, 2009 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Terry Keating, Alan Jackaman Tags: Case report Source Type: journals