bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Test of the Phenice Method for the Estimation of Sex
Authors: Ubelaker DH , Volk CG 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The Phenice method for the estimation of sex of an individual from the pelvis was tested on 198 individuals of known sex from the Terry collection by an individual with training in the technique, but no additional training in forensic anthropology. Sex was correctly estimated in 88.4% of all individuals and more accurately estimated in females than in males. In a subsequent test of the same individuals by the same investigator utilizing additional nonmetric pelvic indicators, overall accuracy increased to 96.5%, with slightly greater accuracy for males. The study suggests that experience likely contributes to the accuracy of the Phenice method and that for inexperienced investigators, consultation of all pelvic indicators offers an advantage over using just the three variables in the Phenice method.
Variation in Midfacial Tissue Thickness of African-American Children
Authors: Williamson MA , Nawrocki SP , Rathbun TA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Forensic anthropologists use facial reconstruction to develop a likeness of an unknown individual in order to generate public interest that may lead to a positive identification. Tissue thicknesses of the face from living persons or cadavers are an essential part of the reconstruction method. The purpose of this study is to add to the growing database of tissue thicknesses along the facial midline of African-American children and to begin to examine the possibility of geographic differences between children of the same ancestral group. Results indicate that significant differences do not exist between males and females or between African-American females from the Midwest and Southeast U.S. Only age was determined to have a significant effect on mean tissue thickness variation, in our sample, with the majority of change occurring in the facial region.
Age Estimation by Measuring the Racemization of Aspartic Acid from Total Amino Acid Content of Several Types of Bone and Rib Cartilage: A Preliminary Account
Authors: Ohtani S , Matsushima Y , Kobayashi Y , Yamamoto T 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Age estimation has been often performed based on the rate of aspartic acid racemization using bones. In this study, we investigated various kinds of bone and a cartilage for suitability to estimate age by racemization. Ten male cadavers aged 22 to 77 years at death were selected, and bone specimens and cartilage were taken from seven sites in each individual. The rate of racemization of aspartic acid among total amino acid contained in each specimen was analyzed by gas chromatography. The correlation coefficient between the rate of racemization and chronological age was relatively high in the sternum, skull, and femur. The rates of aspartic acid racemization were high in the costal cartilage, femur, and skull. In addition, we found that the rate of racemization was only slightly lower after the second irrigation than after the first irrigation in femur and skull bone specimens, but those of others were significantly lower. These findings showed that among the six different bones and rib cartilage, the skull and femur might be used most effectively for age estimation using total amino acid fraction.
Detection of Pepper Spray Residues on Fabrics Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Reilly CA , Crouch DJ , Yost GS , Andrenyak DM 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The analysis of trace evidence for the presence of biological and nonbiological residues is an integral part of many criminal and civil investigations and the use of pepper spray self-defense weaponry by the general public, criminals, and law enforcement agents is increasing. Therefore, the possibility that pepper spray residues may be present as forensic evidence at crime scenes or from civil disturbances becomes more likely. We have investigated the effects of storage and washing on the detection of pepper spray residues (i.e., capsaicinoids) on cotton, cotton-polyester blend, wool, and nylon fabrics. The concentrations of the capsaicinoid analogues on the fabrics decreased between 5 to 60% during six months of storage when compared with samples of each fabric type that were prepared and analyzed at the onset of the stability study (Time 0). The rate of disappearance of the capsaicinoids was analogue specific. Degradation of the capsaicinoids was independent of fabric type and temperature of storage. We also investigated the effects of washing the fabrics on the detection of capsaicinoids. Fabrics were washed with water, 1% detergent, 1% bleach, or 5%Spray and Wash™. Water was the least effective method of removing the capsaicinoids from the fabric and bleach the most effective. Retention of the capsaicinoids on the fabrics following washing was affected by fabric type as well as the chemical properties of the individual capsaicinoid analogues. The uses and limitations of capsaicinoid residue evidence as an indicator of exposure to pepper sprays or use of pepper sprays are discussed.
An Approach to Individual Video Camera Identification
Authors: Kurosawa K , Kuroki K , Saitoh N 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This paper presents a method that can be used to determine whether or not questioned video images were recorded with a specific video camera. This type of identification can be made because the nonhomogeneous nature of dark currents in charge coupled devices (CCDs) can be detected by integrating multiple images and the distribution pattern of the nonhomogeneous dark currents is unique and intrinsic to a specific camera. The distribution patterns of the dark currents in nine cameras representing four different types were examined. In eight of the nine cameras (three types), unique detectable patterns were identified in recorded blank images, indicating that it should be possible to identify whether or not a given image had been recorded with a given camera. The method presented was used in an actual case to determine whether or not questioned video images of a criminal scene were recorded with the suspect's camera, and the results of that effort are reported.
Forensic Implications of Biting Behavior: A Conceptually Underdeveloped Area of Investigation
Authors: Webb DA , Sweet D , Hinman DL , Pretty IA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Within the context of a criminal investigation the human bitemark traditionally provides the forensic dentist with both physical and biological evidence. In recent years, however, examples exist where in addition to discussing physical and biological evidence, expert witnesses have also testified in court regarding the behavioral aspects of biting behavior. Interested in this additional source of evidence, the authors reviewed the research literature from which biting behavior could be explained. The review found a hiatus of empirical knowledge in this respect, with only two papers seemingly related to the topic.
With this dearth of knowledge in mind, the authors present a framework for further analysis and tentatively suggest reasons for biting behaviors, using a range of psychological models. The article ends with a cautionary note that vague and often misleading behavioral assumptions must not be applied to bitemark testimony until further data are available.
Application of Lamendin's Adult Dental Aging Technique to a Diverse Skeletal Sample
Authors: Prince DA , Ubelaker DH 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Lamendin et al. (1) proposed a technique to estimate age at death for adults by analyzing single-rooted teeth. They expressed age as a function of two factors: translucency of the tooth root and periodontosis (gingival regression). In their study, they analyzed 306 singled rooted teeth that were extracted at autopsy from 208 individuals of known age at death, all of whom were considered as having a French ancestry. Their sample consisted of 135 males, 73 females, 198 whites, and 10 blacks. The sample ranged in age from 22 to 90 years of age. By using a simple formulae (A _ 0.18 _ P _ 0.42 _ T _ 25.53, where A _ Age in years, P _ Periodontosis height _ 100/root height, and T _ Transparency height _ 100/root height), Lamendin et al. were able to estimate age at death ith a mean error of _ 10 years on their working sample and _ 8.4 years on a forensic control sample.
Lamendin found this technique to work well with a French population, but did not test it outside of that sample area. This study tests the accuracy of this adult aging technique on a more diverse skeletal population, the Terry Collection housed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Our sample consists of 400 teeth from 94 black females, 72 white females, 98 black males, and 95 white males, ranging from 25 to 99 years. Lamendin's technique was applied to this sample to test its applicability to a population not of French origin. Providing results from a diverse skeletal population will aid in establishing the validity of this method to be used in forensic cases, its ideal purpose.
Our results suggest that Lamendin's method estimates age fairly accurately outside of the French sample yielding a mean error of 8.2 years, standard deviation 6.9 years, and standard error of the mean 0.34 years. In addition, when ancestry and sex are accounted for, the mean errors are reduced for each group (black females, white females, black males, and white males).
Lamendin et al. reported an inter-observer error of 9 _1.8 and 10 _ 2 years from two independent observers. Forty teeth were randomly remeasured from the Terry Collection in order to assess an intra-observer error. From this retest, an intra-observer error of 6.5 years was detected.
Dental Participants in Mass Disasters—A Retrospective Study with Future Implications
Authors: Pretty IA , Webb DA , Sweet D 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Mass casualty incidents continue to require the services of forensic dentists to determine the identity of victims. Across North America and Europe, teams of forensic dentists train, using mock disaster exercises, to prepare for such duties. It is vital that these mock exercises simulate the features of real disaster situations as far as possible. In order to inform those responsible for the design and implementation of mock exercises, a study was undertaken to determine the features of actual disasters that dental personnel had attended. Using a questionnaire, data were solicited from 38 odontologists. The average number of disasters attended by the respondents was eight, with an average casualty number of 94. Aircraft crashes were the most frequent cause of disasters that were attended by the odontologists. The authors conclude that future mock disaster exercises should replicate features of aircraft crashes as closely as possible by using commingled, fragmented, and burned remains. In addition, mock disasters should require the identification of a realistic number of individuals to ensure authenticity and the maximum logistical preparedness of participants.
Ecstasy (MDMA) Deaths in New York City: A Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gill JR , Hayes JA , deSouza IS , Marker E , Stajic M 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
MDMA (“ecstasy”) has gained renewed popularity as a drug of abuse. To access the epidemiology and causes of death of MDMA-positive fatalities, all deaths investigated by the OCME that tested positive for MDMA (22 deaths) between January 1997 and June 2000 were reviewed. There were three deaths in each 1997 and 1998, eleven in 1999, and five in the first part of 2000. Of these 22 deaths, 13 were due to acute drug intoxications, 7 due to mechanical injury (blunt trauma, gunshot wounds), and 2 due to a combination of natural disease and acute drug intoxication. Evidence of recent opiate and/or cocaine use was found in 7 of the acute intoxication deaths and in none of the traumatic or combination natural/intoxication deaths. The race of all decedents was White between the ages of 17–41 years, and 18 of 22 were men.
Bodies Found in the Waterways of New York City
Authors: Lucas J , Goldfeder LB , Gill JR 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
We reviewed the case records for all decedents recovered from the waterways of New York City over a three year period (1997–2000). The epidemiological profile, circumstances, toxicology findings, putrefactive changes, date of recovery, length of immersion, and injuries were examined. There were 123 deaths: 52 suicides, 50 undetermined, 16 accidents, and five homicides. The causes of death included: 97 drownings, 13 undetermined, and 13 other. Of all the floating decedents, 27% were without putrefactive change. All found after two or more weeks of immersion were recovered from November to May. The detection of ethanol and illicit drugs was 53% in the accident, 41% in the suicide, and 33% in the undetermined groups. Detection of ethanol and/or drugs of abuse is not a reliable criterion to distinguish suicide from accident. The identification of the deceased is pivotal for determining the manner of these deaths. Therefore, a great reliance is placed upon the medical investigator and the police (including the missing persons bureau) to determine the circumstances and identification of the decedent.
Time of Submergence Using Aquatic Invertebrate Succession and Decompositional Changes
Authors: Hobischak NR , Anderson GS 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Pig carcasses were placed in pond and stream habitats in the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge, B.C. for approximately one year, to examine the development, species, and sequence of invertebrates associated with the carrion. An invertebrate successional database was created for pond and stream habitats for potential use in estimating time of submergence in water related death investigations. Analysis has shown that a predictable succession of invertebrates colonize the carrion. However, whether or not this succession is carrion dependent or seasonal is unknown. There is a difference in the species composition between pond and stream habitats. Habitats influence invertebrate fauna, therefore, species colonizing carrion are habitat-specific. In both habitats, no one organism can determine time of submergence alone. Decompositional descriptions from this research were compared with 15 freshwater related death investigations. Similarities were seen in the earlier decompositional characteristics including bloat, discoloration, and nail shedding; however, the human descriptions were so vague that they had little value in determining time of submergence and hence time of death.
Disposition of Citalopram in Biological Specimens from Postmortem Cases
Authors: Jenkins AJ , Gubanich K 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Citalopram is a bicyclic phthalate compound approved in 1998 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. It is a highly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that appears to have little effect on noradrenaline or dopamine reuptake. Since this drug has only recently been released on the U.S. market, information regarding therapeutic, toxic, and lethal concentrations is sparse. This study reports the detection of citalopram in 22 postmortem cases. Citalopram was identified and quantitated by capillary column gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection after basic liquid-liquid extraction. Confirmation was achieved by full scan electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In the 22 cases studied, heart blood citalopram oncentrations ranged from 0.09 to 1.64 mg/L (n _ 22, mean_ SD _ 0.51 _ 0.43, median _ 0.34); femoral blood concentrations ranged from 0.09 to 0.76 mg/L (n _ 14, mean _ SD _ 0.34_ 0.23, median _ 0.28); and urine concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 276.00 mg/L (n _ 13). Liver was analyzed in three cases with citalopram concentrations ranging from 2.22 to 8.08 mg/kg. The average heart blood/femoral blood ratio was 1.26 (range 0.75 to 1.98, n _ 14). In each case, the cause of death was not considered to be related to citalopram toxicity. These data may therefore provide a basis for establishing post mortem citalopram concentrations following therapeutic doses.
New Formulae for Estimating Stature in the Balkans
Authors: Ross AH , Konigsberg LW 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRecent studies of secular change and allometry have observed differential limb proportions between the sexes, among and within populations. These studies suggest that stature prediction formulae developed from American Whites may be inappropriate for European populations. The purpose of this investigation is to present more appropriate stature prediction equations for use in the Balkans to aid present-day identifications of the victims of genocide. The reference sample totals 545 white males obtained from World War II data. The Eastern European sample totals 177 males and includes both Bosnian and Croatian victims of the recent war. Mean stature for Eastern Europeans was obtained from the literature.Results show that formulae based on Trotter and Gleser systematically underestimate stature in the Balkans. Because Eastern Europeans are taller than American Whites it is appropriate to use this as an “informative prior” that can be applied to future cases. This informative prior can be used in predictive formulae, since it is probably similar to the sample from which the Balkan forensic cases were drawn. Based on Bayes' Theorem new predictive stature formulae are presented for Eastern Europeans.
Typing of the Locus DYS19 from DNA Derived from Fingernail Clippings Using PCR Concert™ Rapid Purification System
Authors: Gangitano DA , Garófalo MG , Juvenal GJ , Budowle B , Padula RA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
DNA extracted from the fingernails of female victims of a violent or aggressive act may assist in the identification of the male. Sometimes with the current autosomal STR loci, however, the victim's profile may mask the perpetrator's DNA profile or the perpetrator's DNA may be substantially lower in quantity than that of the victim's DNA. Thus, under these conditions, no characterization is possible. In this paper, an alternative DNA extraction procedure was employed, and the application of an STR locus residing on the Y chromosome DYS19 was typed to allow for genetic characterization of the perpetrator in such cases.
Photographic Evidence Protocol: The Use of Digital Imaging Methods to Rectify Angular Distortion and Create Life Size Reproductions of Bite Mark Evidence
Authors: Bowers CM , Johansen RJ 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Bite mark evidence seen in skin injuries or objects is commonly photographed for evidentiary documentation, preservation, and analysis. Distortion in forensic evidence photographs diminishes the outcome of analytical procedures available to the forensic odontologist. Inaccurate positioning of the evidence, camera, or measurement reference scale creates perspective and parallax distortion of the captured image. These variables must be eliminated, if possible, to ensure reliable results derived from comparison of the suspect teeth and the bite mark. Detection and measurement of camera/evidence/scale misalignment is the threshold step in evidence evaluation, and is possible through digital imaging methods coupled with established methods. Correction (rectification) of perspective distortion is possible through the application of additional digital editing techniques. This study establishes type categories of perspective and parallax distortion seen in bite mark evidence, validates the use of the digital imaging tools of Adobe® Photoshop® to correct certain types of distortion, and establishes a forensic protocol to verify the accuracy of evidence photographs requiring dimensional accuracy.
Estimation of Postmortem Interval from Hypoxic Inducible Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Authors: Thaik-Oo M , Tanaka E , Tsuchiya T , Kominato Y , Honda K , Yamazaki K , Misawa S 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most important tasks in forensic medicine. Five autopsy organ tissues such as brain, lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys were taken at the time of forensic autopsy from 19 known PMI cases with a range of postmortem intervals ranging from 1 to 120 h (the mean was 25.81 h), and the time-course of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was measured. The human hepatoma-derived Hep 3B cell line was used as a control.
The levels of VEGF increased linearly with the PMI up to 20 h in lung (r = 0.95 and in kidney (r = 0.89), and up to 15 h PMI in liver (r = 0.88). The VEGF levels fell after 24 h PMI, and then remained stable. In brain, the levels of VEGF started to increase after 24 h PMI and increased linearly with PMI up to 40 h in brain (r = 0.94) and then begin to fall. In heart, there was no clear correlation between the PMI and VEGF level. Some variations occurred in selected cases, such as the infant and asphyxial deaths.
In conclusion, measurement of hypoxia-inducible levels of VEGF in various body organs appears to be a useful method of estimating the PMI up to 24 h in forensic medicine and pathophysiology. This method is also probably applicable in ischaemia in clinical and basic medicine.
Identification of Stolen Rare Palm Trees by Soil Morphological and Mineralogical Properties
Authors: Lee BD , Williamson TN , Graham RC 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The San Diego County District Attorney's office requested our help to investigate the theft of palm trees from a private collection of exotic plants. Circumstantial evidence led investigators to the suspect's residence where 33 palm trees were found. Because the victim raised all palms from seed in the same potting mix, we compared morphologic and mineralogic properties of soil samples collected from the root balls of palms that were at the victim's and suspect's residences. Analyses of soil color, reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid, particle size, heavy:light mineral ratios, and mineral speciation of the _2.86 g cm_3 fine sand fraction, indicated that 25 of 33 soil samples collected from palm trees at the suspect's residence were very similar to soil samples from palm trees at the victim's residence. After a pretrial hearing at which the soil evidence was presented, the suspect changed his innocent plea to guilty.
Chemical Analysis of Vegetable Oils Following Spontaneous Ignition
Authors: Coulombe R 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Two cases of spontaneous ignition of vegetable oil in fabrics after being washed and dried are reported. In both cases, the analysis revealed the consumption of unsaturated fatty material and the recovery of higher proportions of saturated fatty material along with saturated fatty diacids. The investigators reported that in the first case the origin of the fire was in a plastic container filled with cotton towels and in the second case, a garbage bag. In both cases, the fabrics had been washed and were freshly dried. In the second case, the recovery of the nonpolar volatile fraction disclosed the presence of 1-phenylalkanes along with oxygenated species.