The systemic error in the vertical component of handgun bullet trajectory reconstructions
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 30. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15431. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTEstablishing the path or trajectory of a fired bullet is an often recurring part of shooting incident reconstruction. The current study describes how gravitational pull causes a systemic error on the vertical component of a trajectory reconstruction. Bullet drop, drop angle, and vertical offset are explained and calculated for 10 different handgun/ammunition combinations over a range of distances up to 100 m. The presented results are intended to provide forensic firearm examiners with a reference frame for the magnitude of error intro...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - December 1, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Wim Kerkhoff Frits R Broekhuis Erwin J A T Mattijssen Fabiano Riva Source Type: research
A "concrete" identification in a dismemberment case
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 30. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15428. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHomicide perpetrators can use concrete as a means to conceal their victims. When concrete encasement is encountered in the forensic field, albeit rarely, it is often coupled with postmortem dismemberment. This method of obscuring the evidence presents unique investigative obstacles, specifically related to identification. Various approaches to obtaining fingerprints from decedents encased in concrete have been suggested and implemented over the years. The presented case is that of an initially unidentified 44-year-old male, who was sub...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - December 1, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tiffany Sheganoski Michael T Wiltsey Timothy Horne Andrew Sheganoski Ian Hood Source Type: research
The relationship between pellet size and shotgun dispersion patterns
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 30. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15427. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTWhen reconstructing a shooting incident with a shotgun, the muzzle-to-target distance can be determined by relating the size of a dispersion pattern found on a crime scene to that of test shots. Ideally, the test shots are performed with the weapon and ammunition that were used in the incident. But sometimes examiners will have to resort to alternatives, such as using cartridges of the same brand and type but with another pellet size. For this reason, the relationship between pellet size and shotgun dispersion patterns was studied with...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - December 1, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Wim Kerkhoff Keanu Maitimu K Dieter H Pater Markus A de Jong Source Type: research
Cervicothoracic junction in disaster victim identification: Idiosyncrasies and relevance of body position for advanced chest radiograph comparisons
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Dec 1. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15436. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTStandard plain film medical radiographs often form a valuable line of evidence to identify individuals in large-scale fatality events. While commonly available, chest radiographs present a challenge that their analysis is somewhat more involved and complex than radiographic records of other body regions. For example, chest radiographs concern subtler morphological varieties of smaller anatomical features across a larger number of skeletal elements in contrast to frontal sinus comparisons that concern a large, (often) single, highly vari...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - December 1, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Carl N Stephan Jodi M Caple Susan S D'Alonzo Jaques John E Byrd Source Type: research
A rapid and non-destructive identification for paper cup evidence based on shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy and SOM clustering
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15397. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn order to achieve rapid, non-destructive, efficient, and accurate classification of paper cup samples, we propose a classification model that integrates shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) with self-organizing map (SOM) and Bayesian optimization-support vector machine (BO-SVM). We collected differential Raman data from 52 paper cup samples using SERDS, with an excitation wavelength range of 784-785 nm, a laser power of 440 mW, an integration time of 10 s, and a spectral range spanning from 280 to 2700 cm-1 . Subs...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 29, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Luchuan Tian Hong Jiang Xin Zhang Source Type: research
A rapid and non-destructive identification for paper cup evidence based on shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy and SOM clustering
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15397. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn order to achieve rapid, non-destructive, efficient, and accurate classification of paper cup samples, we propose a classification model that integrates shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) with self-organizing map (SOM) and Bayesian optimization-support vector machine (BO-SVM). We collected differential Raman data from 52 paper cup samples using SERDS, with an excitation wavelength range of 784-785 nm, a laser power of 440 mW, an integration time of 10 s, and a spectral range spanning from 280 to 2700 cm-1 . Subs...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 29, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Luchuan Tian Hong Jiang Xin Zhang Source Type: research
Microscopical recognition and characterization of solution dyed fibers
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSolution dyed fibers are synthetic fibers colored through the addition of insoluble pigmentation to the polymer prior to extrusion. This is in contrast to most textile fibers, which are traditionally colored via immersion in liquid dyebaths following extrusion. Solution dyed fibers are increasing in market share in numerous applications (e.g., apparel, carpet, upholstery), and thus, the microscopic characteristics and variety of pigments used to color them represent unexploited properties in forensic fiber comparisons. This paper prese...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kelly Brinsko-Beckert Skip Palenik Otyllia R Abraham Ethan Groves Christopher S Palenik Source Type: research
Forensic examination of security features of the CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card and suggested improvements to minimize counterfeiting
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15425. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States released the CDC-issued vaccination card to document the status of immunizations. It eventually was used as a verification system to allow patrons to safely access public venues. This is/was apparently a simple printed piece of paper with minimal security features which made it an easy target for counterfeiters with little expertise required. Those unvaccinated who wished to enter areas that required proof of the COVID-19 vaccine were soon finding alternative illegal methods to do so whic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Devansh Sheth Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul Source Type: research
Microscopical recognition and characterization of solution dyed fibers
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSolution dyed fibers are synthetic fibers colored through the addition of insoluble pigmentation to the polymer prior to extrusion. This is in contrast to most textile fibers, which are traditionally colored via immersion in liquid dyebaths following extrusion. Solution dyed fibers are increasing in market share in numerous applications (e.g., apparel, carpet, upholstery), and thus, the microscopic characteristics and variety of pigments used to color them represent unexploited properties in forensic fiber comparisons. This paper prese...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kelly Brinsko-Beckert Skip Palenik Otyllia R Abraham Ethan Groves Christopher S Palenik Source Type: research
Forensic examination of security features of the CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card and suggested improvements to minimize counterfeiting
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15425. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States released the CDC-issued vaccination card to document the status of immunizations. It eventually was used as a verification system to allow patrons to safely access public venues. This is/was apparently a simple printed piece of paper with minimal security features which made it an easy target for counterfeiters with little expertise required. Those unvaccinated who wished to enter areas that required proof of the COVID-19 vaccine were soon finding alternative illegal methods to do so whic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Devansh Sheth Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul Source Type: research
Microscopical recognition and characterization of solution dyed fibers
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSolution dyed fibers are synthetic fibers colored through the addition of insoluble pigmentation to the polymer prior to extrusion. This is in contrast to most textile fibers, which are traditionally colored via immersion in liquid dyebaths following extrusion. Solution dyed fibers are increasing in market share in numerous applications (e.g., apparel, carpet, upholstery), and thus, the microscopic characteristics and variety of pigments used to color them represent unexploited properties in forensic fiber comparisons. This paper prese...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kelly Brinsko-Beckert Skip Palenik Otyllia R Abraham Ethan Groves Christopher S Palenik Source Type: research
Forensic examination of security features of the CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card and suggested improvements to minimize counterfeiting
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15425. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States released the CDC-issued vaccination card to document the status of immunizations. It eventually was used as a verification system to allow patrons to safely access public venues. This is/was apparently a simple printed piece of paper with minimal security features which made it an easy target for counterfeiters with little expertise required. Those unvaccinated who wished to enter areas that required proof of the COVID-19 vaccine were soon finding alternative illegal methods to do so whic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Devansh Sheth Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul Source Type: research
Microscopical recognition and characterization of solution dyed fibers
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSolution dyed fibers are synthetic fibers colored through the addition of insoluble pigmentation to the polymer prior to extrusion. This is in contrast to most textile fibers, which are traditionally colored via immersion in liquid dyebaths following extrusion. Solution dyed fibers are increasing in market share in numerous applications (e.g., apparel, carpet, upholstery), and thus, the microscopic characteristics and variety of pigments used to color them represent unexploited properties in forensic fiber comparisons. This paper prese...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kelly Brinsko-Beckert Skip Palenik Otyllia R Abraham Ethan Groves Christopher S Palenik Source Type: research
Forensic examination of security features of the CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card and suggested improvements to minimize counterfeiting
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15425. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States released the CDC-issued vaccination card to document the status of immunizations. It eventually was used as a verification system to allow patrons to safely access public venues. This is/was apparently a simple printed piece of paper with minimal security features which made it an easy target for counterfeiters with little expertise required. Those unvaccinated who wished to enter areas that required proof of the COVID-19 vaccine were soon finding alternative illegal methods to do so whic...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Devansh Sheth Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul Source Type: research
Microscopical recognition and characterization of solution dyed fibers
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSolution dyed fibers are synthetic fibers colored through the addition of insoluble pigmentation to the polymer prior to extrusion. This is in contrast to most textile fibers, which are traditionally colored via immersion in liquid dyebaths following extrusion. Solution dyed fibers are increasing in market share in numerous applications (e.g., apparel, carpet, upholstery), and thus, the microscopic characteristics and variety of pigments used to color them represent unexploited properties in forensic fiber comparisons. This paper prese...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - November 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kelly Brinsko-Beckert Skip Palenik Otyllia R Abraham Ethan Groves Christopher S Palenik Source Type: research
