bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Calcium Monitoring in Minimally Invasive Radio-Guided Parathyroidectomy: Early Detection and Management of Hypocalcemia
Authors: Mehmood Abeera , Rupani Sukaina , Ying Teo Ruey , Redmond Henry
Published: February 2025

Background: The gold-standard treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism is Minimally invasive radio-guided para thyroidectomy (MIRP). It offers advantages such as minimal invasiveness and faster recovery. However, the incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia following MIRP remains inadequately explored, with existing guidelines on calcium level monitoring lacking clarity. Hypocalcemia, characterized by low serum calcium levels, can be transient, temporary, or permanent, resulting from surgical manipulation or hungry bone syndrome.
Objective: To investigate the incidence of transient hypocalcemia following minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) and to develop a structured protocol for postoperative calcium monitoring and management.
Methodology: This retrospective observational study analyzed 48 MIRP cases performed from January to November 2023 to determine the incidence of transient hypocalcemia. Data were collected on postoperative calcium levels, supplementation, and follow-up outcomes, with subgroup analysis comparing same-day discharge and overnight admission patients.
Results: 48 patients were analyzed, including 46 MIRP and 2 redo MIRP cases. Of these, 18 patients were admitted overnight. These 30 patients were discharged on a similar day. All patients got prophylactic supplements of calcium for two weeks postoperatively, with follow-up calcium levels measured on day six. Symptomatic hypocalcemia was 2.1% (one patient), managed effectively with increased calcium supplementation.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the risk of hypocalcemia following MIRP is low. Routine postoperative calcium investigations for same-day discharge patients can be safely omitted when calcium supplementation is provided, with follow-up monitoring ensuring safety. This study supports the adoption of outpatient MIRP with structured postoperative protocols, optimizing patient care and healthcare resources.
Keywords: Minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP), primary hyperparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, protocol, hungry bone syndrome
Change of nursing teaching strategies, 1950-2010
Authors: Tang Lee Chun
Published: February 2025

New nursing teaching strategies are adopted according to changes in social and health issues, classroom technologies, and students' characteristics. Based on the literature from 1950 to 2010, nursing teaching strategies had major changes around a decade, each had different direction, from focusing on nursing skill, to nursing critical thinking, to client centre, to experiential learning, to integrative learning. The literature review sheds lights on the history and factors of the changes. Nursing educators should keep examining own teaching to be up to date with the changes within and outside of nursing in order to meet the more and more diverse needs of students.
A bibliometric analysis of the publications in Macau Journal of Nursing
Authors: Mao Aimei
Published: February 2025

A bibliometric analysis was conducted on all the publications in Macau Journal of Nursing. The analysis would explore the publication features of the journal and help to develop improvement strategies for the journal's future. Method: All the academic articles published by the journal were reviewed in terms of background of the authors, styles of the articles, and citations in the articles. Result: Totally 286 academic articles have been published since the journal's launch in 2012. Out of the articles 35 were in English while the others were in Chinese. The articles were contributed by the authors from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China as well as other countries, with those from Macau accounting for 71.6% of the totality. These articles reported the results of various study designs but surveys composed 34% of all the articles. There were 4095 citations included in the 286 articles, 14 citations per article on average. The number of citations per article was higher with articles in English than that of articles in Chinese. The ratio of self-citation was 1.7%. The Price index was 53.5%. Conclusion: The journal seems to be more internationalized than other Chinese journals. It has its own cultural features and can act as the communication platform of nursing professionals from different regions of China. Yet the journal needs to increase its publications.
A brief introduction of palliative care practices in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Ka Lok , Ao Mei I
Published: February 2025

Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau launched the specialty course of "Hospice and Palliative Nursing" under the program "Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing Programme" (PDAN) with Hospital Authority of Hong Kong. The authors, as the students of this programme, had the opportunity to study in classes and clinic observations of palliative care in Hong Kong. Palliative care in Hong Kong covers a range of clinical areas and involves multi-parties, aiming to provide comprehensive and accessible services for patients and their family members. It is hoped that our sharing of palliative care practices in Hong Kong can evoke reflections on the way to improve the palliative care nursing in Macao.
The effect of smart phone fitness APP on college students' exercise habit
Authors: Xu Zhirong , Chao Fong Io , Yu Jie , Hoi Sut Man , Hu Xiao Xia
Published: February 2025

Background: With the rapid development of internet technology and smart devices, people in modern society are more and more inclined to sedentary lifestyle. However, these technologies have also promoted physical activities, which attract increasing attention from the young generation. College students are the main group of smart phone users because they are quick to accept new things. The function of smart phone APP can enable college students to meet their exercise needs and provide a good platform to cultivate sports habits. Objective: This paper reviews the literature on the effects of smart phone APP on college students' exercise habits. Methods: Relevant studies were searched by using various keywords, including exercise, sports, fitness or smart phone APP, college or university students, exercise habits and other key words in both Chinese and English languages full text article which published in 2012 to 2018. The search was performed in both Chinese and English popular databases, such as CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, EBSCO and portal websites. Results: After eliminating irrelevant articles, 24 articles were identified , which included 15 Chinese and 9 English articles. These articles showed that APP had a positive influence for college students, the APP can help the students to cultivate exercising habits; it has improved the students' physical health indicators, such as body figure, physical skills and physical quality to varying degrees. However, the APP interventions described by the articles lasted no more than 15 weeks and as a result, the long-term effect remained to be observed. Conclusion: Smart phone APP interventions have positive impacts on college students' exercising habit and physical functioning on a short-term base. More research studies are needed to obverse long time effects.
Experiences of Infection Control Practitioners in dealing with COVID-19 in a hospital in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Shu Hui , Lin Chun Yu , Chang Hsiao Yun , Hung Ching Tzu
Published: February 2025

Taiwan experienced an unprecedented catastrophe during the SARS outbreak in 2003. That shock and sorrow experience enabled health professionals to learn many precious infectious preventions at the cost of some of their colleagues' lives. Evaluation mechanism on hospital infection inspections has been established, and efforts to evaluate the infection control have been strengthen in the past 17 years. Hospitals and their staff are now ready to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The authors of the article, as Infection Control Practitioners in a hospital, would share their experiences of involvement in the COVID-19 control. It is hoped that such sharing could inspire more frontline medical personnel to be aware of the necessity and the importance of hospital infection control.
Community-based preventions for COVID-19 in Macao and their effectiveness
Authors: Cheong Hao Ieng , Mao Aimei
Published: February 2025

Because of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, Macao responded quickly to this new infectious disease and has enacted a range of preventive strategies since January 2020, aiming to curtain imported cases as well as community transmissions. As of August 7, 2020, there were 44 imported cases, 2 import-related ones, and no community-transmitted ones in Macao, reflecting the effectiveness of the preventive strategies. This article describes the measures taken by the Macao government to prevent the community transmissions, including supply of masks for all residents, disseminations of preventive measures through multiple channels, restrictions of cross-border flow of people, and prevention of unnecessary gatherings. These strategies received well responses from the public. However, in the context of normalization of the epidemic situation, it is necessary for the Macao government and residents to review the current strategies and identify the weaknesses so that improvement can be made. Only when continuous efforts from the whole community are made, can Macao maintain a record of no community-transmitted cases, when there are re-surges of COVID-19 cases in the neighboring regions.
Analysis of the dementia population and their development trend in Macao
Authors: Wu Jianwei , Van Iat Kio , Vai Man Chi
Published: February 2025

Objective: To estimate the population of people with dementia in Macao and analyze the development trend for reference of policy development. Methods: Based on a meta-analysis model of the prevalence and incidence of dementia published by the Alzheimer's Disease International in 2015, the model was adjusted by using Macao's mid-term population data in 2016, and the prevalence and incidence were estimated according to the population data of Macao at the end of 2019. Results: The adjusted dementia prevalence of population aged 60 and above in Macao is 4.94% and the incidence is 10.69%. By using the population data of aged 60 and above at the end of 2019, it is estimated that there are currently more than 6,000 people with dementia and more than 1,000 new cases each year in Macao. Conclusions: Macao is facing a severe challenge of increased dementia population. It is recommended that future work be continued to promote community education and screen of dementia. These measures should be incorporated with prevention and control strategies for chronic diseases, multi-pronged approach to improve diagnosis rate of dementia and reduce the incidence.
Foreword
Authors: Winchester Janis M.
Published: February 2025

N/A
ESDA Effects in Light of Current Discussions
Authors: Licht Gary , Murano Ercole
Published: February 2025

Unknown parameters abound in the collection, preservation and interpretation of indented writings. One very useful method for visualizing these indented writings is through the use of electrostatic detection devices (EDD). In this paper, the instrument discussed is the Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA). The purpose of this work is two-fold. First, to develop an efficient and safe way to collect and develop impression evidence with little to no loss of reasonable and resolvable detail. Second, to provide some theoretical explanations as to the “why” of the results. Research presented here shows the effects of external factors that cause varying amounts of friction with a document, and how these effects are detrimental to the ability of the ESDA to detect handwriting impression. Some information is developed about why impressions may or may not be visualized with the ESDA whether they are visible with oblique lighting or not. A current theory of what makes writing impressions that are suitable for visualization is reviewed in light of empirical data from experiments and field observations in casework. Recent discussions of the effects of environmental factors, for instance gloves, are fit into the framework of the theory.
Examination of Counterfeit Banknotes Printed by All-in-One Color Inkjet Printers
Authors: Chim Joyce L. C. , Li Chi-Keung , Poon N. L. , Leung Sze-Chung
Published: February 2025

An increasing number of cases related to counterfeit Hong Kong banknotes produced by all-in-one inkjet color printers have been encountered recently. Unlike those generated by color laser printers or photocopiers, characteristic dot patterns or irregularities are not present on counterfeit banknotes generated by color inkjet printers, thus creating difficulties in the identification of the printer. This paper describes the relationship between the counterfeit banknotes and printers seized in local clandestine factories. The conventional thin layer chromatography (TLC) method was employed to study the ink profiles of the inks present on the counterfeit banknotes and was found to be a useful tool for distinguishing different printer inks.
The Significant Contributions of Dr. Philip D. Bouffard to the Examination and Classification of Typewriting
Authors: Kelly Mary W.
Published: February 2025

In 1987, Dr. Philip Bouffard began his work on developing a personal computer-based classification system for typewriting, which later became known as “TYPE.” It was designed for classification of type-style specimens from the Haas Atlases. These atlases were created by Josef Haas beginning in 1972 in Germany. Dr. Bouffard’s system makes use of separate classification schemes for each of the major design groups.
The Differentiation of Color Laser Printers
Authors: Li Chi-Keung , Chan Wai-Chung , Cheng Yau-Sang , Leung Sze-Chung
Published: February 2025

A survey of color laser printers from different manufacturers (Canon, Epson, Fuji Xerox, Ricoh, Minolta, Hewlett-Packard, and Tektronix) resulted in the observation of dotted motifs of different patterns on the printouts from Canon, Epson, Fuji Xerox, and Ricoh color laser printers. Studies thus far found that the dotted motifs were different on the same model of Canon printers that each bore a different serial number. The data suggests that these distinctive dotted patterns are related to the serial numbers of the machines and could be used for the identification of a particular color laser printer. A feasibility study on the use of Raman spectroscopy for the differentiation of toners of different manufacturers of color laser printers was found to be unhelpful in discriminating printers.
Disguised Signatures: Random or Repetitious?
Authors: Durina Marie E.
Published: February 2025

In an effort to determine if people use the same disguise repeatedly, 62 writers at the San Diego Sheriff’s Crime Laboratory participated in a study and were asked to provide both a natural and a disguised signature on specimen checks. Approximately 1 month later, they were again asked to provide a disguised signature on another specimen check. In addition to documenting methods of disguise used, this study focused on determining whether people tend to disguise their signatures in the same manner each time. Results showed that approximately 89% of the participants disguised their signatures in the same way on each occasion. It is believed that information from this study will prove useful in caseswhere forensic document examiners encounter multiple cases involving repeated disguise of an individual’s signature.
The Uniqueness of Facsimile Documents Caused by Changes in Character Pixelation
Authors: Ngan Sze-Wing , McCormack Graeme , Novotny Michelle
Published: February 2025

The primary objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that every page transmitted individually by a fax machine will be unique due to changes in character pixelation. The secondary objective of the research was to test the hypothesis that the character pixelation changes can be accurately reproduced on a 1st-generation photocopy. The tertiary objective was to test the hypothesis that every page transmitted by the fax broadcast function will bear similar changes in character pixelation due to those documents sharing the same single-scanning process of the sending fax machine.The test documents were transmitted from 1 fax machine to individual fax machines located locally, interstate, and internationally. These documents were then returned, and microscopic comparisons were made of corresponding characters appearing on the respective documents. The results of this research demonstrate that each page transmitted individually by fax creates a unique pixelation pattern for each character and that this pattern was accurately reproduced on 1st-generation photocopies of these respective test fax pages.The research demonstrates that changes in character pixelation can assist document examiners to trace the source of a photocopy of a 1st-generation fax document back to the original received facsimile from which that copy(s) was produced.
Determining the Sequence of Original Ink Writing and Toner Printing
Authors: Novotny Michelle , Westwood Paul
Published: February 2025

Document examiners are frequently called upon to determine the sequence in which intersecting entries were written. This paper arises from research undertaken to determine the sequence of intersecting original ink writings and toner-printed text. One might intuitively expect that writing over toner would not penetrate the toner. Tests were undertaken based on documents produced on a Hewlett Packard LaserJet printer and a combination of 70 different writing instruments. The subject intersections were prepared to test both sequences of ink before toner and ink after toner. The points of intersection were examined microscopically before and after the removal of the toner. Corresponding intersections for the 2 sequences were compared. It was found that the extent to which the ink penetrated the toner varied between different ink types.
Indentation Examination Enhancement
Authors: Lewis Jane A.
Published: February 2025

This research was conducted to test whether adding moisture directly to cascade developer beads would improve Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) results. The ESDA was used to detect latent indented impressions on 100 sheets of paper containing indentations. Fifty sheets were processed according to the ESDA manual instructions. Fifty sheets were processed with an additional step. The cascade developer beads were misted with a plant mist sprayer before being dispensed on the document. Results showed improved visualized indentations with the misting method of developing electrostatic images with ESDA.
Examination of Gel Pen Ink by Microspectrometry
Authors: Martin Paul , Lyter Albert H.
Published: February 2025

The examination of writing inks has been an integral part of questioned document examination since its inception. The types of inks and writing instruments of concern have progressed from pencil and nib pen to ballpoint and porous-point pens. The most recent development in both ink and writing instruments has been the gel-ink pen. This instrument is a marriage of the ball pen with polymeric gel ink containing both dyes and pigments as colorant and water-based gel. This paper looks at the feasibility of using a Craic Technologies Questioned Document System II (QDS II) microspectrometer as an analysis tool for the differentiation of gel-pen inks. Using several sample preparation methodologies over the full spectral range from ultraviolet to infrared, 7 different black gel inks were examined with the QDS II. Additionally, 2 blue gel inks (with common manufacture as several of the black inks) were also examined. Results of these examinations indicate the ability to differentiate, to varying degrees, the black gel inks and consistency between those inks of common manufacture (blue and black). The preferred sample preparation methodology was also identified and elucidated.
Examination of Gel Pen Inks Using Physical and Thin Layer Chromatographic Examination
Authors: Jasuja O. P. , Singla A. K. , Mand M. K. , Lyter Albert H.
Published: February 2025

The use of thin layer chromatography (TLC) in the examination of writing materials is well documented and a proven technique. As technology continues to develop new and better methods of manufacture, those methods will permeate society and give rise to different products. This has occurred within the field of writing materials, as both instruments and inks have changed over time from nib pens to ball pens and from natural inks of iron to inks of pigment suspensions in water-based polymer gels. This most recent development, gel pens, combines ball pens with pigmented polymer gel ink. The gel pen presents a challenge to the forensic examiner, which is addressed initially with this study, including both traditional physical examinations, chemical spot tests, and TLC. A total of 98 different samples of gel pens were examined and yielded examination results that provided for discrete discrimination of over 35% of the gel pens.
Review of Laws of Men and Laws of Nature – The History of Scientific Expert Testimony in England and America
Authors: Mohammed Linton A.
Published: February 2025

Golan, Tal (2004). Laws of Men and Laws of Nature—The History of Scientific Expert Testimony in England and America, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England, 325 pages, $45.00.
Linking Inkjet Printing to a Common Digital Source Document
Authors: Berger Charles E. H. , Koeijer Jan A. de , Glas Wendy , Madhuizen Henk T.
Published: February 2025

Minimal differences in a digital source document will drastically change the error diffusion dot pattern of an inkjet print. This study explains and demonstrates this effect and shows how this particular property of the error diffusion screening method can be used to link inkjet-printed documents to a common digital source. The results of the study were applied in a case.
UV Scanner
Authors: Orta M. Raymond
Published: February 2025

Examination of documents under ultraviolet radiation has become an important aid in determining possible modifications, substitutions, and/or alterations to documents. Forensic analysis of documents often involves creating illustrations of findings. It has not been uncommon to use ultraviolet film for this purpose. Ultraviolet film requires careful handling, special illumination, and occasional trial and error to obtain a good result. In addition, use of ultraviolet film is time consuming and expensive. In late 2000, experiments were undertaken to change a flatbed scanner into an ultraviolet (UV) scanner. The light tubes in several flatbed scanners were replaced, first with a short-range UV tube, then a longrange UV tube. Ultimately, excellent focused images resulted using 1 particular scanner. The UV scanner operates conventionally, although it acts on the radiation, intensity, and frequency band of the tube installed.
Micro-Raman Spectroscopy of Color Inkjet Printed Documents
Authors: Mazzella Williams David , Mathieu Adrien , Buzzini Patrick
Published: February 2025

Inkjet printed documents produced by 22 different brands and models of color inkjet printers available on the Swiss market were analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy using a near infrared (NIR) excitation wavelength of 785 nm. The magenta components were discriminated into 11 groups, but the cyan inks could not be further distinguished. The yellow inks did not exhibit significant Raman scattering; however, the cyan inks could not be further distinguished. The yellow inks did not exhibit significant Raman scattering, but the signals may have been concealed due to strong interference from the paper background.
Using TLC and GC-MS to Determine Whether Inks Came from the Same Manufacturing Batch
Authors: Aginsky Valery N
Published: February 2025

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), being a well proven analytical method of determining the qualitative composition of multi-component systems, is effective for the analysis of inks, most of which are complex mixtures of chemical compounds. A combination of thin-layer chromatography (TLC), which analyzes ink colored components, and GC-MS, which analyzes ink noncolored components, demonstrates high discriminating power with regard to writing inks that can be distinguished neither by nondestructive techniques nor by TLC. Case examples are considered in which coupling of TLC and GC-MS allowed one to discriminate between ink indistinguishable by TLC and to determine that the inks on questioned documents came from the same manufacturing batch.
A Study on the Levels of Difficulty in the Simulation of Individual Characteristics in a Signature
Authors: Lee Gek-Kwee , Yap Bei-Sing , Yang Chiew-Yung , Lee Lee-Tiang , Tan Sock-Kim , Tan Koon-Puay
Published: February 2025

This study looks at the levels of difficulty in simulating a signature with respect to 12 selected individual characteristics in a model signature. The objective was to find out which of these features in the signature were relatively easy or difficult to simulate and to compare the results with those expected based on the team’s knowledge and experience in forensic handwriting and signature examination. Sixty-two volunteers took part in the study. The results of the analysis show that the experimental data is generally in agreement with the expected relative levels of difficulty of the characteristics studied. This study provides good evidence that the principles and knowledge applied in forensic handwriting and signature examination are sound and reliable and that characteristics in a person’s signature are individualized.
Capillary Electrophoresis of Ballpoint Pen Inks
Authors: Egan James M , Brewer Jason D , Hagan Kristin A , Strelko Cheryl L
Published: February 2025

Two capillary electrophoretic (CE) methods have been designed to differentiate and identify organic and inorganic dyes present in black and blue ballpoint pen inks. CE was chosen because the technique provides chemical information that can provide better discrimination between ink formulations than thin-layer chromatography (TLC) when comparing ink samples during document analysis. One CE buffer was designed to separate and analyze 10 blue ballpoint pen ink formulations. An alternative buffer was designed to separate and analyze 15 black ballpoint pen inks and 2 different inkjet cartridge products from the same manufacturer. The capillary detection method using a photo-diode array (PDA) to acquire absorbance data (190-600 nm) provides lambda max ((λmax) and characteristic UV-Vis spectra for analytes. Simultaneous spectral data collection avoids the necessity for densitometry measurements.Mobility values (μep) calculated from a migration time replace hand-measured TLC Rf values. The sample electropherograms are reproducible with 2 μg/mL concentration limits of detection, which is superior when compared to TLC separations. Specific chemical identification can be determined based on spectral and mobility value match to reference dye standards. All inks were differentiated from one another in the respective category (blue, black, or inkjet formulation). When possible, chemical compounds were identified in a particular ink to aid characterization. CE offers additional advantages over TLC, including lower reagent consumption, smaller sample requirements, lower detection limits, quantitative analysis, method automation, direct reference comparison, electronic data storage, and searchable spectral libraries. Other complimentary techniques (TLC, positive- and negativeionmode electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry) can be performed because little sample (20 nL) is consumed for CE analysis. The same CE buffers formulated for ballpoint pen inks have been applied to color inkjet printer formulations, food dyes, gel pen inks, and textile dyes.
Examination of Newspapers
Authors: Makris John D. , Krezias Spiridon A. , Athanasopoulou Vasiliki T.
Published: February 2025

This paper addresses the significance of applying a combination of tests involving paper, ink, writing offsets (image transfers), folds, printing processes, and defects to determine whether there were alterations within 3 newspapers. A brief overview of the examination methods is provided in a step-by-step analysis of this unusual case involving disputed inserts of a daily local newspaper. The examination revealed conclusively that the initially incorporated inserts had been replaced with the disputed ones.
Thinking Outside the Box
Authors: Mohammed Linton A. Mohammed , Richards Gerald B.
Published: February 2025

To prevent the possibility of any bias developing, many forensic document examiners are taught that they should get as little background information on a case as possible. In some cases, the lack of background information can be both misleading and detrimental to discovering the truth. This paper describes a case history in which background information on a medical record was necessary to resolve the case. The information was obtained after all examinations had been completed. However, if known beforehand, the information may have saved both valuable time and resources. Giving an opinion is easy; finding the truth may be much more difficult.
Design and Security Features of the Euro
Authors: McClary Carl R.
Published: February 2025

The largest monetary changeover in Europe’s history occurred on January 1, 2002, when 12 European Union (EU) countries converted their national currencies to a common monetary policy. With this conversion, sophisticated design and security features were implemented, together with counterfeit tracking. Although counterfeits rose remarkably within the first few years, they are now considered stable. Since 2002, 13 out of the 27 EU countries have withdrawn their own notes and coinage from circulation and replaced them with the euro. The changes were not without controversy. However, the result is a more unified Europe and better integration in world financial markets. This paper will describe the latest security features such as foil, printing, watermarks, and holograms found in the new currency. Familiarity with the design and security features of the euro will assist the document examiner in the examination of counterfeit currency or in providing basic information for investigative purposes.
Invisible Ink: A Refresher for Document Examiners
Authors: Streeter James L. , Kettering Greg P. , Zercie Kenneth B.
Published: February 2025

With recent publicity concerning imprisoned gang members using invisible ink to communicate instructions for murdering rival gang members, it is anticipated that other inmates will “copy-cat” this “secret communication” technique. This paper reviews the history of invisible ink, discusses materials most commonly used in correctional facilities to produce invisible inks, and explains the various methods for identifying and developing the writing produced by these substances.
A Study on the Influence of Wearing a Glove on Handwriting by Chinese in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Yau-Sang Patrick
Published: February 2025

A person’s writing might be affected by a number of factors. These factors could be internal or external. This paper investigates the effects of wearing a glove when writing English cursive and block letters, Arabic numerals, Chinese, and when drawing geometric figures. Three types of gloves were chosen for the study: disposable glove, thin cotton glove, and thick cotton glove. Writing characteristics, line quality, and fluency of writing were not affected to any appreciable extent by the wearing of the 3 types of gloves. However, the influence of glove wearing on handwriting did affect writing pressure, size of words, word spacing, line spacing, and margin relationship. In addition, occasional pen slips and awkward lettering and strokes were noted in some handwriting samples. The results serve as a reference for document examiners when examining handwriting of a person writing or suspected of writing while wearing a glove(s).
Neurosciences Applied to Handwriting Examination
Authors: Orta M. Raymond , Ezcurra G. Magdalena
Published: February 2025

Some difficult cases for forensic document examiners can be related to brain illnesses that affect handwriting. As a brain-governed function, handwriting has been studied by medical science for many years. Those studies could be crucial to guiding the expert in evaluating causes of variability in handwriting. A. R. Luria was a neuropsychologist at the University of Moscow who studied consequences of different injuries to the human brain. Part of Luria’s work focused on the handwriting of patients with brain wounds. Our objective was to review some of Luria’s most relevant findings compiled in the book, Th Working Brain, An Introduction to Neuropsychology. Some neuroscience findings from other authors who studied handwriting from a medical point of view are also included.
The Next Wave from the Critics
Authors: Beal Bonnie L.
Published: February 2025

The defense hired Professor Denbeaux to challenge the handwriting analysis for a case going to trial. Before the hearing, Professor Denbeaux provided to the court the results of a “test” he had conducted utilizing the Collaborative Testing Services, Inc. 06-524 proficiency examination. This article will examine this “test” and review its results. In his attempt to discredit the proficiency of forensic document examiners, Denbeaux instead corroborated Dr. Kam’s research.
Left-hand Writing vs. Right-hand Writing
Authors: Conrad Marianne
Published: February 2025

Determining whether a questioned text was written by a right- or left-hand writer can provide useful investigative information. Especially early in an investigation, such information can be a useful tool for rapid screening and narrowing the pool of potential suspects. In this study the writings of 30 left-hand and 30 right-hand writers were analyzed in order to find out if there are diagnostic characteristics upon which the document examiner can rely to establish the handedness of the writer. Direction of certain horizontal strokes and, to a lesser extent, the direction in which circular structures were formed were found to be useful indicators.
Is Atomic Force Microscope a Suitable Tool for Studying Crossing Lines?
Authors: Ezcurra Magdalena
Published: February 2025

This work is a preliminary inquiry into the usefulness of atomic force microscope (AFM) to determine the sequence of crossing lines. Intersecting lines were prepared using different types of pens and printers and studied with AFM to discover whether any diagnostic feature could be found that would reliably indicate which line lay on top. The effect of the age of the ink/printer lines was also studied. Specimens were created with elapsed times between the applications of the 1st line and the 2nd line in seconds, days, weeks, and months in order to study whether the period of time elapsed between the entries, with possible hardening of resin components of certain inks, affected observations.
Dual Mode Polarizing Pellicle
Authors: Daniels James R.
Published: February 2025

This article describes techniques for using an angled glass pellicle to merge the path of light reflected from a sample with the line of view, permitting glare-angle lighting/observation view normal to the surface. Among other applications, reflective properties of ballpoint and some other writing inks, observed under such conditions, may permit determination of stroke sequence at intersections with other media.
Does My Output Change with Age?
Authors: Moussa Candice , Novotny Michelle
Published: February 2025

Document examiners are often asked to determine whether multiple documents or pages of the same document were produced on the same printer or on different printers. There are several aspects of the document that can be examined in that regard. Documents produced on different laser printers can exhibit differences in the microscopic appearance of the surface of the toner printing, while documents produced on the same laser printer at the same time do not exhibit such differences. This study assesses whether there are any appreciable differences in the microscopic appearance of the surface of the toner printing produced using the same laser facsimile machine over a period of approximately 5 years. No appreciable differences were observed.
Analysis of Bic Cristal Medium Ballpoint Pen Inks
Authors: Ezcurra G. Magdalena , Velasco Itxaso , Góngora Juan M. G. , Maguregui M. Itxaso , Alonso Rosa M.
Published: February 2025

This work studies the ink composition of 26 BIC Cristal Medium ballpoint pens, 13 blue and 13 black, purchased from various countries around the world in 2008. The volatile components of these inks were studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) preceded by a liquid-solid extraction, with the use of retention time locking (RTL) for the 1st time in the forensic field. The RTL tool assures reproducible retention times, and the realignment of the chromatograms assures rescaling of the time axis of the chromatogram. In order to determine the qualitative composition of dyes present in each ink, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used, followed by the identification of those colorants by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). The study revealed that at least 2 different blue-ink formulations were used around the world in this period of time but that the formulation of the black inks was identical for all the studied pens. The differences found in the blue-ink formulations regard not only volatile components but also dyes. The great differences found in the concentration of the volatile component phenoxyethanol (PE) present in the 2 blue-ink formulations lead to important differences in the natural aging process of these 2 blue formulations as measured by the loss of the amount of PE against the time. The amount of PE varied depending on the BIC ink formulation between 221.9 μg and 84.7 μg per lineal centimeter of ink stroke 1 day after the ink was deposited on the paper.
Relative Difficulty of Freehand Simulation of Four Proportional Elements in Arabic Signatures
Authors: Alkahtani Abdulaziz Al-Musa , Platt Andrew W. G.
Published: February 2025

This article compares the success with which 901 Arabic writers were able to simulate 4 proportional elements—size, slant, baseline, and spacing—in 2 Arabic signatures. Significant differences in ease of simulation were found among all 4 elements: slant was significantly more successfully simulated than the other 3; baseline was significantly more successfully simulated than spacing or size; and spacing was significantly more successfully simulated than size. The order of ease of simulation was found to be slant > baseline > spacing > size. This similarity between Arabic and Roman script data raises the possibility that slant and baseline, and possibly all 4 elements, might show similar relative rankings in other cursive scripts.
The Determination of Authorship from a Homogenous Group of Writers
Authors: Durina Marie E. , Caligiuri Michael P.
Published: February 2025

Forensic document examiners may encounter challenges when examining specimens from homogeneous writing populations and may need to identify potential sources of errors when rendering conclusions of authorship on such writings. A research project was conducted in which samples of writing were obtained from 52 adult writers who grew up in the same neighborhood, were taught the same copybook style, at the same Catholic elementary school, by the same teachers, approximately 4 decades ago. The specimen writings were subsequently examined and compared by 49 forensic document examiners throughout the world. The examiners rendered conclusions of authorship on the writings and submitted their conclusions for evaluation of accuracy. The results of the study offered evidence to support that there is a high degree of inter-writer variation among writers, even in populations where the driving forces for variation were low; and among these homogeneous writing populations, forensic document examiners were able to extract features from the writing samples that enable them to attribute authorship. The study examined effects of certain factors such as examiner experience, geographic location of examiner, and length of the questioned documents and how these factors affected accuracy. The research addressed criticisms that earlier studies on the individuality of handwriting did not include populations from homogeneous writing communities and relied on computer analysis of handwriting rather than on human examiners.
Evaluation of Loss of Phenoxyethanol from a Ballpoint Pen Ink over Time by GC-MS Depending on the Location of the Signature on the Document
Authors: Ezcurra G.Magdalena , Góngora Juan M. G. , Maguregui Itxaso , Alonso Rosa
Published: February 2025

Quantification of the loss of phenoxyethanol (PE) once an ink is deposited on the paper is 1 of the methods currently used to determine the relative ages of inks on paper. This work reports an in-depth study on differences in the aging curves, based on the loss of PE, between an ink placed on the 1st page or an ink placed on an internal page of the document. A possible cross-contamination in the values of PE has been also studied, taking into account the amount of PE absorbed and retained by the paper fibres in the pages preceding the page on which the signature is placed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been used to evaluate the PE.
Using Adobe Photomerge™ for Demonstrative Evidence
Authors: Mohammed Linton A. , Ostrum R. Brent
Published: February 2025

Demonstrative evidence is of utmost importance to forensic document examiners (FDEs). This paper describes the use of Adobe PhotomergeTM as a means of producing large charts from a combination of smaller images. The paper gives a step-by-step description, including caveats, and gives a case example where the technique was used in court.
An Update of the Typestyle Classification Program (TYPE) into a Windows® Based Format (WinType)
Authors: Nobles Karen J.
Published: February 2025

In the late 1980s, Dr. Philip D. Bouffard began development of the 1st computer-based typewriter typestyle classification program, which he called “TYPE.” This program, based on the manual typewriter classification systems of the time, required a DOS-based operating system and used a searchable database to limit the number of known type specimens that had to be compared with a questioned typewritten text. Dr. Bouffard gave his time and this program to the forensic document examination discipline in order to further the science. Over the years, this author has used Dr. Bouffard’s program to solve many typewriter questions and, in appreciation, endeavors to update the program to run in the current Windows® environment so that the forensic document community can continue to benefit from Dr. Bouffard’s foresight and generosity.
What is the Basis for a Handwriting Elimination?
Authors: Morris Ronald N. , Richards Gerald B.
Published: February 2025

This paper reviews the basic elements necessary to eliminate an individual as having written a questioned body of writing based on that person’s handwriting characteristics. In addition, a review of the pertinent literature and foundational basis necessary to reach such definitive opinions will be thoroughly discussed.The essence of this paper is to research the literature regarding the elimination of a person as the author of handwriting by means of a handwriting examination, to delve into what may be the cause for an forensic document examiner’s (FDE’s) opinions relating to eliminations that are in error, and to delineate the criteria necessary to eliminate a writer based on established principles. The authors have observed over the years that some FDEs have either lacked sufficient training in what constitutes the basis for elimination or have not fully understood the criteria necessary to make that determination.It has became apparent to the authors through their own case work, discussions at technical meetings, and general feedback from other qualified FDEs that elimination-type opinions are too frequently offered without a sound demonstrative basis for such opinions. In some instances we have observed that the eliminations are a product of insufficient training by the FDE offering the opinion; a poor understanding of the criteria necessary for an elimination; or, in some matters where training is proper, an improper application of the principle that the FDE had learned in training.Although the determination of identification and elimination are on opposite ends of the opinion scale, the criteria needed to reach these opinions are considerably different. However, both are based on a writer’s skill level; the characteristics, qualities, and features of the writing; the quantity and complexity of the examined writing; the full range of variation of the writer; and the occurrence of outside or accidental factors that can influence a writer and subsequently the writing. To conclude that a known writer did not write a questioned handwriting, the FDE must determine that the known writer could not and did not write the questioned writing under any circumstances, including, but not limited to, intentional or accidental distortion, more than one writing style, writing position, drugs, or other transitory or permanent factors, etc. In most instances involving signatures and short writings, the evidence in the writing is insufficient to make such a determination. The key element to eliminating a writer is for the FDE to fully understand that it is the combination of differences, taken collectively, that determines the truly significant differences that provide the basis for the elimination. The authors have noted that even minor variations in writing characteristics, qualities, and features have been deemed so significant and individualistic by some FDEs that they have maintained that these superficial differences are sufficient to eliminate a writer.
The Frequency of Occurrence of Specific Handwriting Characteristics within a Limited Population
Authors: Savoie Kate
Published: February 2025

This study was designed to determine how frequently a specific population continues to use the class characteristics of certain cursive words, numbers, or letter combinations from the learned copybook style or the frequency at which the population deviates from that copybook style. Nine different elements were evaluated, including three words, two numbers, two capital letters, and two letter combinations. For each of the nine elements, three to five class characteristics were classified according to the copybook style and a side by side comparison was conducted to determine if a research participant within the population studied retained the characteristics taught to them, or if they deviated from that style. The results were tabulated and calculated to determine the frequency with which the participants used or did not use the copybook style five years after graduating from high school.