July 2017 - Page 22 of 25 - searchfortruth.info

Effect Of Alcohols On Decomposition Temperature Of Chloroform Hydrate

February 7, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

INTRODUCTION

In connection with the work being done on hydrocarbon hydrates in the physical chemistry laboratories of the University of Oklahoma, it became desirable to know what effect 2-propanol m1Iht have on the decomposition temperature of chloroform hydrate. The decomposition effect for ethanol had been 'determined by sampson (6).

Deaton and Prost (2) report the use of alcohols as inhibltors of hydrate formation In high-pressure natural las Unes. Alcohols are Injected into the Une to decompose any hydrate present or to inhibits formation and subsequent closure of the pipes by solid hydrate.

In some preliminary experiments with the l)'Stem water-chlorotorm-2- propanol, the question arose as to Whether or not 2-propanol would form a hydrate or inhib1its formation. Bampeon (6) had determined the decomposltion effect ethanol had on chloroform hydrate. Since literature searches and current investigations have indicated that ethanol does not form a lattice type hydrate, it was assumed that a...

Decompositional Odor Analysis Database – Phase I

January 18, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

ABSTRACT: This study, conducted at the University of Tennessee’s Anthropological Research Facility (ARF), describes the development of the Decompositional Odor Analysis (D.O.A.) Database and seeks to establish the chemical basis for canine’s scenting ability when detecting human remains. This database is composed of chemicals that are liberated during the decompositional process from buried human remains. This ‘living’ database currently spans the first year and a half of burial, providing identification, chemical trends and semi-quantitation of chemicals liberated below, above and at the surface of 1.5 – 2.5 ft graves for three individuals (two males and one female). A fourth male individual (buried in 1990) was also sampled to provide possible ‘endpoint’ information. In-ground, in-corpse thermocouples provided temperature information which can be used to correlate accumulated degree days (ADDs) to surface decompositional events and indicated an approximate 12 hour lag between equilibration of grave temperature with the surface air. Clear, sealed, hollow pipes were also placed in the grave vault providing viewing ports by which the burial...

Decomposition And Insect Succession On Cadavers Inside A Vehicle Environment

February 7, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Abstract

This study presents differences in rate of decomposition and insect succession between exposed carcasses on the soil surface and those enclosed within a vehicle following carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Nine 45-kg pigs were used as models for human decomposition. Six animals were sacrificed by CO gas, half of which were placed within the driver’s side of separate enclosed vehicles and half were placed under scavenger-proof cages on the soil surface. A further three animals were sacrificed by captive head bolt and placed under scavenger proof cages on the soil surface. The pattern of insect succession and rate of decomposition were similar between surface carcasses within trials regardless of the mode of death. Progression through the physical stages of decomposition was 3–4 days faster in the enclosed vehicle due to higher temperatures there compared to external ambient temperatures. Patterns of insect succession also differed between the vehicle and surface treatments. Carcass attendance by representatives of the Calliphoridae was delayed within the vehicle environment by 16–18 h, while oviposition...

Beyond The Grave – Understanding Human Decomposition

January 18, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Human decomposition begins approximately 4 minutes after death has occurred. The onset is governed by a process called autolysis – or self-digestion. As cells of the body are deprived of oxygen, carbon dioxide in the blood increases, pH decreases and wastes accumulate which poison the cells. Concomitantly, unchecked cellular enzymes (lipases, proteases, amylases, etc.) begin to dissolve the cells from the inside out, eventually causing them to rupture, and releasing nutrient-rich fluids. This process begins and progresses more rapidly in tissues that have a high enzyme content (such as the liver) and a high water content such as the brain, but eventually affects all the cells in the body. Autolysis usually does not become visually apparent for a few days. It is first observed by the appearance of fluidfilled blisters on the skin and skin slippage where large sheets of skin slough off the body. Meanwhile, the body has acclimated to ambient temperature (algor mortis), blood has settled in the body causing discoloration of the skin...

Analytical Separations Of Mammalian Decomposition Products For Forensic Science: A Review

January 18, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Abstract

The study of mammalian soft tissue decomposition is an emerging area in forensic science, with a major focus of the research being the use of various chemical and biological methods to study the fate of human remains in the environment. Decomposition of mammalian soft tissue is a postmortem process that, depending on environmental conditions and physiological factors, will proceed until complete disintegration of the tissue. The major stages of decomposition involve complex reactions which result in the chemical breakdown of the body’s main constituents; lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The first step to understanding this chemistry is identifying the compounds present in decomposition fluids and determining when they are produced. This paper provides an overview of decomposition chemistry and reviews recent advances in this area utilising analytical separation science.

1. Introduction

The study of mammalian soft tissue decomposition is an emerging area in forensic science, with a major focus of the research being the use of various chemical and biological methods to study the fate of human remains in the environment. Such techniques have major roles to play in locating clandestine gravesites assisting in the estimation of postburial interval...

Forensic DNA Identification from Human Remains Submerged in Water

January 18, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

ABSTRACT: We describe the successful identification of the remains of a saponified body found in a dam by typing of nuclear DNA. Whereas DNA extracted from soft tissues yielded negative PCR results, DNA extracted from the bone by a slightly modified Qiagen procedure allowed the typing of sex (AMG locus) and of 10 additional STR loci. An identity document was found belonging to a man missing for 3 years and comparison of the results to the DNA profiles of his son and wife confirmed the identity. The longest delay reported until now for successful nuclear DNA genotyping after immersion in river water was 18 months. This case demonstrates a delay of up to 3 years.

Recovery of human DNA from bones of severely decomposed bodies was reported for the identification of unidentified bodies like murder victims (1) or ancient human remains (2). Nevertheless, few studies concern genotyping of bodies immersed in water,the longest reported delay for successful identification being...

Additional Resource: Skeletal Remains Presumed Submerged in Water for Three Years Identified Using PCR-STR Analysis (3851 downloads )

Dilemma for Autopsy Surgeon

January 8, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Introduction:

Forensic medicine is best learned by a judicious combination of theoretical and practical knowledge. A good forensic expert is one who has not merely a vast experience in conducting autopsies, but one who has trained himself to make precise and correct interpretation of the findings. One must not allow dogmatism or inflexibility to cloud one’s judgment. A self- opinionated expert is a poor expert. There are several inherent pitfalls that must be avoided in the course of medicolegal autopsies which can lead to erroneous or fallacious conclusions. Every forensic pathologist must familiarize himself with these postmortem artefacts that are liable to misinterpretation. Postmortem Artefacts are due to any change caused or features introduced in a body after death. The artefacts are physiologically unrelated to the natural state of the body or tissues or the disease process, to which the body was subjected to before death. Ignorance and misinterpretation of such postmortem artefacts leads to:...

Decompositional Odor Analysis Database

February 7, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

ABSTRACT: This study, conducted at the University of Tennessee’s Anthropological Research Facility (ARF), describes the establishment of the Decompositional Odor Analysis (DOA) Database for the purpose of developing a man-portable, chemical sensor capable of detecting clandestine burial sites of human remains, thereby mimicking canine olfaction. This “living” database currently spans the first year and a half of burial, providing identification, chemical trends and semi-quantitation of chemicals liberated below, above and at the surface of graves 1.5 to 3.5 ft deep (0.45 to 1.0 m) for four individuals. Triple sorbent traps (TSTs) were used to collect air samples in the field and revealed eight major classes of chemicals containing 424 specific volatile compounds associated with burial decomposition. This research is the first step toward identification of an “odor signature” unique to human decomposition with projected ramifications on cadaver dog training procedures and in the development of field portable analytical instruments which can be used to locate human remains buried in shallow graves.

Establishing Identity Using Cheiloscopy And Palatoscopy

February 12, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Abstract Establishing a person's identity can be a very difficult process. Dental, fingerprint and DNA comparisons are probably the most common techniques used in this context, allowing fast and secure identification processes. However, since they cannot always be used, sometimes it is necessary to apply different and less known techniques. In this paper, the authors describe two unusual techniques: cheiloscopy and palatoscopy. It is known that due to their special features, both lip grooves and palatal rugae can be used successfully in human identification. This paper reviews the techniques of cheiloscopy and palatoscopy, and describes the different classifications and their advantages and limitations....

Attorney General’s Opinion

November 9, 2018July 5, 2017 by admin

Is the state or a county responsible for the payment of the costs of (1) a report required before a court may consider suspension of a defendant’s sentence, where the defendant has been convicted of a lewd or lascivious act on a minor under 14, (2) an examination of a defendant’s mental competency, (3) an examination of a defendant, who has been convicted of a felony, to determine whether an involuntary civil commitment should be made due to narcotics addiction, (4) an examination of a person, in the absence of a criminal proceeding, to determine whether a civil commitment should be made due to narcotics addiction, (5) an examination and testimony in connection with an involuntary civil commitment of a person believed to be imminently dangerous to others, (6) evaluations and counsel regarding a civil commitment due to an inmate being a sexually violent predator, and (7) an examination of a...

Bringing Geography to the Practice of Analyzing Crime Through Technology

January 8, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

Mapping, Spatial Analysis and Geography at the National Institute of Justice

In 1997, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) established the Crime Mapping Research Center (CMRC) using funds for technology assistance from the fiscal year (FY) 1996 Appropriations Act. CMRC was established under the Institute’s behavioral sciences division, the Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE). The center’s primary focus was on using geographic information systems to visualize crime data and understand spatial patterns of criminal activity. Its target constituency was and is state and local law enforcement and other criminal justice organizations. In 2002, NIJ transformed CMRC into the Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (MAPS) program. The MAPS program works toward integrating spatial statistics into the measurement of geographic crime patterns. When the program was expanded into NIJ’s Office of Science and Technology (OST), it began to examine emerging technologies (beyond software) that would be key tools in the study of crime. With mature visualization and statistical techniques for analyzing geographic data, the...

Hospital Versus Medicolegal (Forensic) Autopsies

January 8, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

I. Overview

A. One of the most important facts that must be recognized by pathologists is that hospital autopsies and medicolegal autopsies differ in many important respects.
B. Competency in hospital autopsy performance does not necessarily equate to competency in medicolegal autopsy performance.
C. Understanding the important differences between hospital and medicolegal autopsies is essential in being able to recognize cases that should be handled as medicolegal cases. In certain instances, hospital pathologists might wish to refer the case to someone with more forensic expertise.
D. It is also important to recognize that, depending on the jurisdiction and the type of medicolegal death investigation system, a local, hospital-based, nonforensic pathologist might be considered by all persons involved (including police) as the person with the most expertise in forensic pathology. As such, all pathologists should be aware of the basic requirements and expectations when performing medicolegal autopsies.
E. Following a brief synopsis of some more general differences between hospital and medicolegal autopsies and a discussion of when a hospital autopsy is recognized as a medicolegal autopsy, the remainder...

Analysis of Suspected Trace Human Remains from an Indoor Concrete Surface

January 8, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

ABSTRACT:

This paper describes the sequence of analyses used to determine the nature of a stain located on the floor of room in the former Athens Mental Health and Retardation Hospital in Athens, OH. The location of the stain was reported to be the position in which a decomposing body was discovered on January 11, 1979. The current stain is found to contain strong evidence for both natural decomposition products and deliberate adulteration. Microscopic analyses, solubility tests, FTIR, ICP-OES, pyrolysis-MS, and derivatization GC-MS were consistent in determining the removable parts of the stain to be composed mostly of calcium and sodium salts of free fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, consistent with previous descriptions of adipocere. The free fatty acids could have been formed via known bacterial degradation pathways or via saponification through the basic environment caused through contact with the concrete. To our knowledge, adipocere formation on an exposed indoor environment has not been described before. The stain and concrete also show signs of being chemically...

Shattered: Analysis Of Forensic Glass

January 22, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

By: Vincenzo D. Crawford Bs. Forensic Science Vincenzo D. Crawford Bs. Forensic Science University of Technology (U-Tech), Jamaica
GLASS ANALYSIS
TYPES OF GLASS, HOW TO DETERMINE THE DENSITY OF GLASS, AND ANALYSIS OF GLASS FRACTURE PATTERNS
Glass can be considered as hard liquid. It is a hard material but brittle in its formation; defined by the online Oxford English dictionary as an inorganic product of fusion which has been cooled to a rigid condition to become a non-crystalline solid and which makes glass amorphous in nature. Its melting point is not definite and glass is quite complicated in its molecular composition. This laboratory experiment was executed in light of a scenario that conveyed a car accident which occurred, resulting in the breaking of the head lamp of a car owner, who was suspected to be in the wrong. Pieces of glass from the crime sceneand edges of the suspect’s headlamp were collected for analysis.

Additional Resource: Ch 5 Forensic Analysis Of Glass (5399 downloads )

Curbing Diversion of Prescription Opioids

January 8, 2019July 5, 2017 by admin

He didn’t know it at the time, but Dr Andrew Kolodny had begun to witness the beginnings of a major drug addiction crisis in the United States of America (USA). A public health expert on drug dependency at New York City’s health department in the early 2000s, Kolodny worked in poor neighbourhoods from South Bronx to central Brooklyn blighted by crack cocaine and heroin. “It was while we were working on the illicit drugs problem that we noticed drug overdose deaths were increasing in middle-class communities in the New York City area,” he says. Before 1995, the prescription of opioid painkillers in the USA was limited to people with pain from advanced cancer, severe injuries or after major surgery. That restraint was founded on the fear that patients might become addicted and the bitter experience of two opioid epidemics: in the early 1900s when heroin was sold legally for various ailments and an epidemic of illegal heroin dependency in the 1960s during the Vietnam War....

Additional Resource: Curbing Prescription Opioid Dependency (4919 downloads )