A Review and Conceptual Model of Factors Correlated with Postmortem Root Band Formation

It is generally accepted within the forensic trace evidence community that a postmortem root band (PMRB) can appear in the root of hairs attached to remains during decomposition. Presently, the specific sequences of events and/or exact molecular signals that lead to the formation of a PMRB are not well understood. The published literature addressing the abiotic and biotic factors that correlate with the formation of PMRBs is reviewed and a conceptual model for the formation of PMRBs is proposed

The Forensic Analysis of Glass Evidence: Past, Present and Future

Book description: Concentrating on the natural science aspects of forensics, top international authors from renowned universities, institutes, and laboratories impart the latest information from the field. In doing so they provide the background needed to understand the state of the art in forensic science with a focus on biological, chemical, biochemical, and physical methods. The broad subject coverage includes spectroscopic analysis techniques in various wavelength regimes, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, electrochemical detection approaches, and imaging techniques, as well as advanced biochemical, DNA-based identification methods. The result is a unique collection of hard-to-get data that is otherwise only found scattered throughout the literature. Chapter summary: Glass is a ubiquitous material, and as a result it is frequently recovered as transfer evidence when glass objects are broken during the commission of a crime. There are three possible goals of forensic glass examination: classification, discrimination, and individualization. The physical matching of two or more broken glass fragments is the only forensic glass analytical method that is considered to establish an individualization of glass evidence, as it enables an association of known and questioned glass fragments to the exclusion of all other sources. In the absence of a physical match, the forensic analysis of glass consists of comparisons and measurements of various physical properties, optical properties, and/or chemical composition. The most commonly used techniques for elemental analysis are scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

C-13-Isotope ratio mass spectrometry as a potential tool for the forensic analysis of white architectural paint: A preliminary study

Paints have a dual role in society, to protect materials from environmental agents such as ultraviolet light, moisture and oxygen, and to make painted materials look more attractive. Variability in paint samples is often due to binder and pigment type within the sample. The most common resin used in decorative paints is drying oil alkyd resin, which incorporates soybean oil and vinyl acrylic based latexes. Traditional analytical methods used by forensic scientists may be able to say whether two paint samples are indistinguishable but cannot conclusively say that they both originate from the same source. To find out if isotopic composition can provide an added dimension of information, 28 different white architectural paints were analysed for C-13 abundance using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In addition, variations in application, drying time and thickness were also investigated to assess the discriminatory power of C-13 data from white paints with an unknown history. Preliminary results indicate that this method could aid screening of paint samples. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd