bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection and Correction of a Migration Anomaly on a 310 Genetic Analyzer
Authors: Shewale JG , Richey SL , Sinha SK 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
During STR analysis on the 310 Genetic Analyzer, retarded migration of GS500ROX size standards and alleles in some samples was observed. The contribution of reagents, capillary and performance optimized polymer POP 4 to the observed anomaly was experimentally eliminated. Variation in electrophoresis temperature between 55°C and 65°C did not alter the rate of migration of GX500ROX size standard and sample alleles. An eroded connector for the cathode mounted on the heat plate assembly caused the abnormal migration. Hence, it is important to verify the mobility of all fragments in the size standard for each sample to avoid any erroneous allele calls by the automated data analysis software.
Review of: Enclosure Fire Dynamics
Authors: Hill SM 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Understandably, one of the prilnary requirements for all individuals involved in any aspect of modern fire safety and fire protection engineering, including fire scene investigation and reconstruction, is to understand how a fire behaves in an enclosed space. Enclosure Fire Dynamics addresses, in a clear and logical manner, physical changes in such an environment. The book is a collaboration of two internationally renowned experts in the field of fire protection engineering and presents the reader with an academic understanding of the dominating mechanisms influencing fires in compxtments, or enclosures.
Investigating the Effect of Changing Ammunition on the Composition of Organic Additives in Gunshot Residue (OGSR)
Authors: MacCrehan WA , Patierno ER , Duewer DL , Reardon MR 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The measurement of the organic additives in smokeless gunpowder is an attractive approach for the detection of handgun use because it provides compositional information that can help associate residues and unfired gunpowder. We investigate several factors that will be required to advance the characterization of organic gunshot residue (OGSR) as a useful forensic tool, including evaluating residue contamination from previously fired ammunition, particle-to-particle compositional variability, and compositional features resulting from the type of firing primer used. Using ammunition loaded with known smokeless powders containing different stabilizers, a sequence of shots was fired from a .357 magnum revolver, and the muzzle exit residues were collected. Compositional analysis of the residues, both in bulk and as single particles, showed only a trace of the previously fired powder in the first shot and none in subsequent shots. In an additional experiment testing conventional leaded and the new lead-free firing primers, the OGSR composition was found not to depend on the primer type.
Continuous Quality Improvement as a Management Concept for Death Investigation Systems
Authors: Dibdin JD 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Continuous quality improvement (CQI) represents a management technique where the basic approach to managing quality consists of setting a standard for a work process, measuring variation in the work process in relation to the standard, and then implementing programs to decrease variation and improve end results. Everyone providing a service becomes involved both in understanding how quality is measured and in discussing how to improve quality. A team approach is adopted and instead of focusing on poor quality outcomes and how to avoid them, the team becomes involved in setting continuously improving standards for better performance and in finding ways to meet those standards. The objective is to meet or exceed consumer or user expectations.
Relevant related concepts such as survey research, needs determination and outcomes analysis, and the importance of a mission statement are discussed using a medical examiner system as an example.
Using Brain MERMER Testing to Detect Knowledge Despite Efforts to Conceal
Authors: Farwell LA , Smith SS 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This experiment examined the accuracy and reliability of the memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response (MERMER) technique for detecting information related to events subjects have experienced, despite subjects' efforts to conceal that knowledge. Information obtained through interviews was used to develop stimulus sets consisting of words and phrases presented to subjects visually by computer. Sets were composed of three types of stimuli: life experience-related (Probes), stimuli the subject was asked to memorize and respond to (Targets), and irrelevant information (Irrelevants). Each set of stimuli was tested on two individuals: (1) one individual who had participated in the event in question—and thus had the relevant information stored in his/her brain, and (2) one who had not. Six subjects were tested. Electrical brain responses to the stimuli were recorded non-invasively from the scalp and analyzed. MERMERs, (memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic responses), of which the P300 is a sub-component, were used to determine whether the subject had the relevant information stored in his brain (information present) or not (information absent), thus indicating whether or not each subject had participated in the real-life event in question. Bootstrapping was used to analyze and compare the responses to the three types of stimuli. As predicted, MERMERs were elicited by Probe stimuli only in the subjects who had participated in the investigated event, by Target stimuli in all subjects, and in no case by Irrelevant stimuli. For each of the six subjects, brain MERMER testing correctly determined whether the subject had participated in and consequently knew about the event in question (information present) or had not participated (information absent). The statistical confidence for this determination was 99.9% in five cases and 90.0% in one case. The article concludes with a discussion of areas of future research and the potential for using this new technology as an investigative tool in criminal cases.
Allele Frequencies for Four STR Loci (D16S539, TH01, TPOX, and CSF1PO) in African American and Caucasian Populations from Marion County, Indiana, USA
Authors: Balamurugan K , Granoff M , Budowle B , Tahir MA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Allele Frequencies for Four STR Loci (D16S539, TH01, TPOX, and CSF1PO) in African American and Caucasian Populations from Marion County, Indiana, USA
Postmortem Assessment of Fetal Diaphyseal Femoral Length: Validation of a Radiographic Methodology
Authors: Adalian P , Piercecchi-Marti MD , Bourliere-Najean B , Panuel M , Fredouille C , Dutour O , Leonetti G 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Depending on the general condition of fetal remains, forensic specialists might face difficulties concerning age estimation. Reference tables and regression equations are helpful devices in this task, although they are generally applied for complete fetuses or fetal remains including soft tissues. However, the problem of age estimation stays for osseous remains, both for entire bones and ossified parts, since most of the reference tables come from ultrasonographic measurements, which are not easily reproducible on fetal osseous remains. Furthermore, the ultrasonographic measurements contain slight errors in comparison to the real anatomical ones. This study describes a radiographic protocol and a measurement technique that facilitate and improve bone measurements, and therefore, facilitate age estimation, too. A qualitative criterion, namely a clear-cut bony endplate, was defined and tested. Its reliability (repeatability and reproducibility) turned out to be good, showing nonsignificative differences to the threshold of 0.05, with average errors of 0.26 and 0.44 mm respectively. Moreover, concerning the test of eventual size differences between the right and left femurs showed a P value &lt; 0.0001. The test of the qualitative criterion was based on the comparison of the radiographic in situ femur measurements and the radiographic measurements of the same bones after dissection. The results were satisfactory, since an average error of 0.58 mm was obtained, which did not give any significant differences to the threshold of 0.05. It was concluded that this methodology provides an easy and precise new measurement tool for forensic practice, and can allow us to establish some nonultrasonographic tables, which fit our population.
Processes Involved in the Development of Latent Fingerprints Using the Cyanoacrylate Fuming Method
Authors: Lewis LA , Smithwick RW , Devault GL , Bolinger B , Lewis SA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Chemical processes involved in the development of latent fingerprints using the cyanoacrylate fuming method have been studied. Two major types of latent prints have been investigated—clean and oily prints. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used as a tool for determining the morphology of the polymer developed separately on clean and oily prints after cyanoacrylate fuming. A correlation between the chemical composition of an aged latent fingerprint, prior to development, and the quality of a developed fingerprint has been observed in the morphology. The moisture in the print prior to fuming has been found to be more important than the moisture in the air during fuming for the development of a useful latent print. In addition, the amount of time required to develop a high quality latent print has been found to be within 2 min. The cyanoacrylate polymerization process is extremely rapid. When heat is used to accelerate the fuming process, typically a period of 2 min is required to develop the print. The optimum development time depends upon the concentration of cyanoacrylate vapors within the enclosure.
Adhesive Tape Analysis: Establishing the Evidential Value of Specific Techniques
Authors: Maynard P , Gates K , Roux C , Lennard C 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This study investigated the evidential value of specific methods of analysis for packaging tapes and clear adhesive tapes available in Australia. Fifty-eight adhesive tapes were analyzed using a wide range of optical, physical, and chemical techniques. The results were collated for the purpose of creating an Australian database of adhesive tapes, which would be of assistance in criminal investigation. Each technique was evaluated for its discriminating power, both for comparative purposes and for the identification of adhesive tapes by comparing unknown samples with the database. The combined discriminating power of the techniques applied is very high. It is possible to individually identify the source of an unknown adhesive tape sample in many instances by searching the database. It is also possible to form an opinion on the significance of a failure-to-discriminate result in comparative casework. Further work is still needed to expand and update the database, as well as compiling data on the relative market share of various products.
Enhancement of an Insufficient Dye-Formation in the Ninhydrin Reaction by a Suitable Post Treatment Process
Authors: Ramminger U , Nickel U , Geide B 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
A study of the reaction between ninhydrin and alanine has been carried out taking into account that, adhered on the surface of a dry porous medium such as paper, a quasi-heterogeneous reaction has to take place. Instead of amino acids released from human sweat glands, aqueous solutions of alanine were taken to deliver a given amount of amino acid to the sample. The dye density, obtained after using a standard development process, could noticeably be increased by setting a drop of water on the dye dot, thus indicating that not all the alanine had been used for dye formation during the usually applied process. The incomplete reaction can be explained by the problem of bringing the reactants into contact with each other when both are in the solid phase in the porous surrounding. The temporary presence of water allows a reorientation of the insoluble reactants. With fingerprints an increase in both the rate of development and the final dye density could be obtained when the sample was post treated after the developing process with the blank solvent, thus also the background coloration could be decreased. The ideas presented in this paper may form the basis for a modification of developing processes with ninhydrin in order to increase the proportion of amino acids present (in the sample) used in dye formation without data loss.
Cytological Detection of Spermatozoa: Comparison of Three Staining Methods
Authors: Allery J-P , Telmon N , Mieusset R , Blanc A , Rougé D 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. This paper compares three of the most commonly used staining methods cited in the scientific literature: Christmas tree, hematoxylin-eosin, and alkaline fuchsin. The population studied was composed of 174 consenting women seen at the Male Infertility Center in Toulouse, France. The date of their last sexual intercourse was accurately known. Alkaline fuchsin did not seem effective in detecting spermatozoa in vaginal samples. Compared with hematoxylin-eosin, Christmas tree stain appeared to be the most useful test in the first 72 h. Two external factors were associated with decreased detection of spermatozoa: time since intercourse and sperm volume.
Absorption of Ignitable Liquids into Polyethylene/Polyvinylidine Dichloride Bags
Authors: Kocisko MJ 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Clear plastic bags are often used for the collection, sampling and storage of ignitable liquid evidence. They are popular because they are easy to store, transport and are inexpensive. Cryovac and Globus brand polyethylene/polyvinylidine dichloride bags were tested for suitability in storing ignitable liquid evidence. Standards of diesel, kerosene and gasoline were placed in the bags and sampled by passive headspace adsorption. The bags were then heated to determine if absorbed components of the standards could be released upon heating. Recovered extracts were analyzed by GC and GCMS. These bags were found to absorb components of diesel, kerosene, and gasoline, and were also found to produce interfering by-products that obstruct the chromatographic results. Evidence containers need to be tested to ensure that low levels of ignitable liquids are not missed.
Survey of Stalking at WPI
Authors: LeBlanc JJ , Levesque GJ , Richardson JB , Berka LH 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the amount of stalking taking place on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) campus in which computers play such a huge role in the lives of the students. Our results were then compared with those reported in a stalking study done at West Virginia University (WVU). Surprisingly (to us), a smaller percentage of both females and males were stalked at WPI. The use of the Internet did not play a major role in stalking as we had expected. Results reported in a TV news report and a newspaper article indicate, however, that much less stalking occurs among the general population than does at WVU and WPI.
Suicidal Deaths Using Fireworks
Authors: Blanco-Pampín JM 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The use of commercial explosives is an unusual method of commiting suicide, and only a few cases have been described in the medicolegal literature. In this paper, two cases of suicide are considered that reflect backgrounds of financial problems and psychological illnesses, respectively. Both individuals comitted suicide by detonating an explosive (fireworks). In the first case putting the explosive on his head and in the second case into his mouth. In both cases the cause of death was the destruction of the central nervous system. The following cases emphasize the importance of the forensic pathologist in the recognition of the scene, as well as the systematical collection of trace evidence of the explosion for their subsequent study in the laboratory and their correlation with the autopsy findings.
Allele Frequencies for Three STR Loci in a Population Sample from Catalonia (Spain) Using a Simple Manual Triplex PCR Method
Authors: Gené M , Borrego N , Piqué E , Mazzara R , Corbella J , Huguet E , Moreno P 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Allele Frequencies for Three STR Loci in a Population Sample from Catalonia (Spain) Using a Simple Manual Triplex PCR Method
Bootstrap Methods for Sex Determination from the Os Coxae Using the ID3 Algorithm
Authors: McBride DG , Dietz MJ , Vennemeyer MT , Meadors SA , Benfer RA , Louanna Furbee N 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This study presents a method for identifying small subsets of morphological attributes of the skeletal pelvis that have consistently high reliability in assigning the sex of unknown individuals. An inductive computer algorithm (ID3) was applied to a bootstrapped training set/test set design in which the model was developed from 70% of the sample and tested on the remaining 30%. Relative accuracy of sex classification was evaluated for seven subsets of 31 morphological features of the adult os coxae. Using 115 ossa coxarum selected from the Terry Collection, a selected suite of the three most consistently diagnostic attributes averaged 93.1% correct classification of individuals by sex over ten trials. Attribute suites developed collaboratively with three well known skeletal experts averaged 87.8, 91.3, and 89.6% correct. The full set of 31 attributes averaged 90.0% accuracy. We demonstrate a small set of three criteria, selected and ordered by ID3, that is more accurate than other combinations, and suggest that ID3 is a useful approach for developing identification systems.
The Utilization of MS-MS Method in Detection of GSRs
Authors: Wu Z , Tong Y , Yu J , Zhang X , Yang C , Pan C , Deng X , Wen Y , Xu Y 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This paper describes a novel method to detect gunshot residues (GSRs). The components contained in the double-based smokeless powder were separated by using a HPLC system with UV detection at 223 nm. The result indicated that there are mainly two kinds of organic ingredients in the double-base smokeless powder used. These two organics do not include nitrocellulose because it has no evidential value in the HPLC-UV trace of the smokeless powder sample. By matching retention times of these two compounds with that of the five standards occurring in smokeless powder, the compounds are tentatively identified as methyl centralite (MC) and nitroglycerin (NG). These two compounds were finally identified by using MS spectrum. This MS-MS method was developed to detect MC since MC is less commonly found in the environment than NG. In Chinese ammunition, MC is widely used as a stabilizer instead of EC. Sixteen samples were used to evaluate the reliability of the method. The mean (±SD) MC level in the eight samples is 520.1 ± 271.9 pg/µL and that in the blanks is 31.0 ± 20.8 pg/µL. The result (P = 0.0007) shows that there is a significant difference between the two serial data. Sampling hands over a 24 h period showed that GSR could be detected even after 8 h with a 75% decrease in the level of MC. The result of the washing test shows that it is still possible to apply the proposed method to detect GSRs on a shooter's hands even if their hands have been washed three times. Another test shows that if the shooters wear gloves while firing, MC on the gloves can be easily detected using the proposed method.
Human and Insect Mitochondrial DNA Analysis from Maggots
Authors: Wells JD , Introna F , Di Vella G , Campobasso CP , Hayes J , Sperling FAH 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
During the course of our forensic investigations, we have encountered situations where it would have been useful to have evidence, other than direct contact between the two, for concluding that a carrion-fly maggot developed on a particular human victim. If a maggot collected during a death investigation did not develop on the victim, then its age is not relevant to estimating the postmortem interval. In this study we demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data can be obtained from the dissected gut of a maggot that had fed on human tissue. These data can be used to identify both the human corpse upon which the maggot had been feeding and the species of the maggot itself.
Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome—Pathological Manifestations and Autopsy Considerations
Authors: Byard RW , Schliebs J , Koszyca BA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
An 18-year-old university student with Osler-Weber-Rendu disease collapsed in the bathroom. Attempted resuscitation was unsuccessful. Her past history included recurrent epistaxes, mucosal telangiectasias, intracranial arteriovenous malformations with previous hemorrhage, a single pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, recent onset of grand mal seizures, and depression. There was a positive paternal family history. At autopsy the pulmonary arteriovenous malformation was confirmed. In addition, within the brain there were widespread areas of gliosis with hemosiderin deposition and small vascular malformations. No other significant abnormalities were detected and toxicological screening revealed only moderately elevated levels of carbemazepine. Death was attributed to epilepsy associated with glial scarring from previous microhemorrhages. The detection of vascular malformations in the lung or brain at autopsy should prompt careful examination of all tissues for similar lesions. Given the possibility of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease in such cases, fibroblast cultures should be undertaken to enable molecular studies to proceed. The heritable nature of this disorder necessitates accuracy of diagnosis at autopsy; once the diagnosis is confirmed family screening should be recommended.
Review of: Dead Reckoning: The Art of Forensic Detection
Authors: Horvath F 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Capable, seasoned investigators, whether they articulate it or not, apply “dead reckoning”—the practice of determining one's position (in this book, in a homicide investigation) by usefully combining knowledge, skill, and experience—in their search for a successful conclusion to each of the cases they work. In this volume, the author, one of the finest minds in the forensic investigation field, reveals the “art” of dead reckoning in the context of investigations in which he has been involved. He shows how logical method and scientific scrutiny are applied by those who have learned to trust their powers of observation.
Developing a Quantitative Extraction Technique for Determining the Organic Additives in Smokeless Handgun Powder
Authors: Reardon MR , MacCrehan WA 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Compositional analysis of the organic additives in smokeless handgun powder can provide forensic information to associate known and questioned samples. A reliable method for the quantitative extraction of smokeless powder additives would strengthen these measurements. To achieve quantitative recovery, both supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) were evaluated as candidate techniques. Following a detailed evaluation of the solvent choice, the recovery of spiked additive compounds, and the effect of the powder matrix, a reliable USE technique was developed. When quantitative USE recovery of the target analytes, nitroglycerin (NG), diphenylamine (DPA), and ethyl centralite (EC), is coupled with additive measurement by micellar capillary electrophoresis (CE), compositional information can be obtained in less than 1 h.