Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Forensic laboratory'

South Africa has a very long history of gun violence, particularly politically motivated. The politically motivated gun violence did subside after 1994, however there was an increase in criminal gun violence. In 2004 Dr Liebenberg from the University of Cape Town conducted a study on the victimology and investigative outcomes of firearm deaths of 1999 in the Salt River Medico - Legal Laboratory drainage area. There were some compelling results, including a remarkably low conviction rate of 7.21%. In 2000 new legislation was enacted, which is the Firearms Control Act (1) of 2000 and from 2001 to 2005 there was a 13.6% decrease in firearm homicides which was consistent after the introduction of the new act, likely due to the decrease in the number of firearms in circulation. Because of the changes in firearm legislation and reported crime rates, it was decided to conduct a follow - up study one decade later, looking at the investigative outcomes of firearm deaths to see whether the decreased contribution of firearms in homicides and crime made an impact on the investigative and judicial process of the Salt River Medico - Legal Laboratory cases. In 2009 there were 281 firearm deaths investigated at Salt River Medico - Legal Laboratory as opposed to 532 in 1999. In 1999, 89.29% of firearm deaths were due to homicide as opposed to 86.12% in 2009. In 1999 the majority of firearm homicide victims were Black and Coloured males between the ages of 21 and 30 years, this is similar to what is seen in 2009, however there were fewer Coloured victims in 2009. In both years homicides occurred more often on weekends, at night time. In 1999 there were peaks in May and then from October through to December. In 2009 however, the peaks were in March, May and August. One might thin k that with such a large decrease in the number of firearm deaths (not considering other crime trends), the criminal justice system might have fewer cases to investigate and prosecute and that the investigative outcomes (particularly conviction rate) of th ese cases might improve. Even though there was a significant drop in the number of firearm deaths in 2009, there has been no improvement in the conviction rate, with 2009 having a rate of 5.69%. The number of cases still being investigated was also similar at 104 cases (37.01%) for 2009 versus 182 cases (34.54%) for 1999. In 2009 only 58 (20.64%) cases completed the judicial process by 2014, which includes the 16 cases (5.69%) that ended in a guilty verdict, 18 (6.41%) cases where a suspect was acquitted (not guilty) and also 24 (8.54%) cases that were withdrawn in court. Of the 281 cases for 2009, 10 (3.56%) were still in court, which was significantly less than the 59 (11.20%) cases in 1999. From 2009 there were 87 cases that reached an impasse (30.96%) by 2014, as opposed to the 114 (21.63%) cases from 1999 by 2004, which is a statistically significant difference.

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92).
The Forensic Chemistry Laboratory, Cape Town, analyses samples submitted by forensic pathologists in order to assist with determining the cause of death in cases of unnatural death. Many of these samples test positive for the presence of drugs and other toxic substances. Because of resource constraints, pathologists submit samples at their discretion and not on a routine basis. In this study, forensic and chemical aspects were combined and used as the motivation for the development of an improved extraction procedure for systematic toxicological analysis. The scope of the study was therefore twofold. Firstly, a study was undertaken of unnatural deaths in the greater Cape Town area for which samples would not normally have been submitted.

Sistemas digitais tornaram-se onipresentes, há cerca de um bilhão de computadores conectados à Internet, e essenciais às atividades humanas. Em consequência, aumentam os casos judiciais cuja solução depende do exame forense de dispositivos eletrônicos. A investigação de ilícitos é quase sempre presencial: oficiais de justiça e peritos coletam computadores suspeitos e os conduzem para laboratórios especializados mantidos pelo Estado (Institutos de Criminalística), por universidades ou pelos próprios peritos judiciais. Funcionários públicos ou especialistas nomeados pelos Juízes e, quando admissíveis, representantes dos autores e réus, conduzem exames técnicos segundo métodos e ferramentas forenses. O resultado é submetido ao Magistrado na forma de um laudo pericial cuja qualidade tem severa repercussão social por ser elemento de convencimento, decisão e julgamento nos processos judiciais. Essa qualidade é ameaçada pela demanda superior aos recursos disponíveis e pela crescente complexidade. Poucos centros de estudo reúnem recursos e competência apropriados ao desafio, além de quase sempre estarem distantes dos seus principais usuários: milhares de fóruns e delegacias espalhados pelo país. Impõe-se, portanto, que os meios acadêmicos lancem mão das mais recentes descobertas científicas para trazer inovações compatíveis com as novas demandas sociais. Uma das mais promissoras tecnologias nesse sentido é o laboratório acessível remotamente via internet, denominado WebLab, no Brasil alvo do projeto KyaTera, coordenado pela Fapesp. A presente dissertação explora e contextualiza esses temas e faz análise preliminar sobre uma alternativa que poderia, dependendo de estudos complementares futuros, proporcionar aos operadores do Direito, como juízes, peritos oficiais e assistentes técnicos das partes, acesso remoto a laboratórios especializados no exame de sistemas eletrônicos digitais e à sociedade uma ferramenta para tornar mais confiáveis os procedimentos periciais forenses.
Digital systems have become ubiquitous, there are nearly a billion computers connected to Internet, and essential for human activities. This leads to the increase of the number of legal cases whose solution depends on the forensic examination of electronic devices. The investigation of unlawful acts is almost always made on site: bailiffs and experts witness collect suspect computers and take them to specialized laboratories maintained by the governments (criminology institutes), universities or even by expert witnesses. Experts appointed by judges and, if eligible, representatives of the defendants and plaintiffs, conducts technical examinations based on forensic methods and tools. The result of this work is submitted to the Judge as an expert witness report whose quality has severe social repercussions as a matter of conviction and decision in the trial proceedings. This quality is under serious threat due to demand greater than available resources and due to growing complexity. Few centers of study have resources and enough technical skill enough to overcome these challenges, and those centers are often distant from users: thousands of courts and police stations throughout Brazil. It is really necessary the academic community engagement to bring solutions to those new social demands by means of latest scientific findings. One of the most promising technologies in this area is an Internet remotely accessible laboratory, using so called WebLab technology, in Brazil developed mainly by the Fapesp project KyaTera. This dissertation explores and contextualizes these themes and makes a preliminary analysis about an alternative which, depending on future complementary studies, may offer to legal professionals and especially to experts and technical assistants remote access to specialized laboratories for the examination of electronic digital systems, providing a tool to society that makes forensic exams more reliable.

Forensic science is defined as the application of scientific or technical practices to the recognition, collection, analysis, and interpretation of evidence for criminal and civil law or regulatory issues. A combination of computer science in the field of 3D reconstruction and molecular biology science and techniques were employed in this research aims to document and record a complete picture of the body decomposition process including the changes of the microbiome over the decomposition process. In this thesis, the possibility to reconstruct the crime scene and the decomposition process was investigated. In addition, a 3D model aiming to integrate the biological and thanatological information was generated. The possibility of utilising Autodesk 123D Catch software as a new tool for 3D reconstruction of a crime scene was thoroughly evaluated. First experiments demonstrated that the number of photos required to obtain the best result was specified to be from 20 to 30 photos as a minimum. In addition, significant experiments were performed in different conditions of sizes, locations, and different involved materials. The measurements were obtained from the models using the same software were compared with the real measurements of the tested objects. The result of the correlation between real and estimated measurements showed a very strong agreement ranging from 0.994 to 1.000. With reference to the documentation of the decomposition process, there are different factors, intrinsic and extrinsic, have been reported affecting the decomposition of a carrion/body. These factors mainly interact with the rates of the biological and chemical reaction happening after death. The biological reactions are mainly due to the activity of microorganism and insects. Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) were used as a model for human studies and the results obtained have been applied to other mammals without considering the effect of fur on the decomposition process and on the insect and microbial colonisation. In order to investigate this point, rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with and without fur were used in two sets of experiments at Huddersfield in summer 2014 and in spring 2015. The results obtained in this study showed a similarity of the decomposition stages between animals with and without fur. However, the decomposition process was faster during the summer due to the fast of insect colonisation and activity. In addition, the entomological data collected during the summer and spring experiments were demonstrated that the same taxa nearly were present in both seasons, except Hydrotaea (Diptera, Muscidae), which was presented only in the summer experiment, moreover, only one sample of Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae) was detected in the spring season. Differences in colonisation time were observed only in spring experiment; animals without fur were colonised two days before animals with fur. The season could have affected the insect’s activity and the spread of the decomposition volatiles. The microbial communities during the decomposition process were investigated using BIOLOG EcoPlateTM and the hypervariable V1-3 region of 16S rRNA gene was used for their molecular identification based on pyrosequencing. Eurofins Genomic Operon using 454-GS Junior pyrosequencing platform (Roche) carried out these analyses. The functional diversity of the bacterial communities on all carcasses samples showed a considerable variability depending on the stage of the decomposition and the sampling region (Oral cavity, skin and interface-sand-carrion) in both seasons. Furthermore, over the molecular analyses of bacterial communities at the phylum level, four main phyla of bacteria were detected among analysed carrion during the decomposition process. These phyla were changed significantly during the stages of the decomposition and between sampling regions. While no difference was observed due to presence or absence of fur. On the other hand, the analysis at the family level was able to highlight differences at the temporal scale but as well as carrion with and without fur. The statistical analysis results showed a significant difference in the bacterial community family distribution among the presence of fur and among the decomposition stages, with significant differences among sampling regions and seasons.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is a component of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Questioned Document Unit (QDU) is a section within the FSL. It has been practice in the QDU to recruit members of the SAPS for training as Questioned Document Examiners within the FSL. Although the SAPS has a policy on education, training and development, it is not applied. Even after the establishment of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), the QDU and the rest of the FSL continued their training practices at the workplace outside the outcomes-based paradigm. As part of standard practice, the FSL has taken content experts (forensic analysts) and turned them into trainers. These forensic experts had no training qualifications and little or no facilitation skills. Their knowledge of outcomes-based education (OBE) and adult learning was also either inadequate or non-existent. This shortcoming has influenced the quality of learning in this environment. In 2004 the Forensic Science Laboratory began to give some members an opportunity to be trained as trainers, assessors and moderators of learning. However, this has been a disjointed effort. Generally, learners have had to endure a frustrating period of more than four years of internal training before being certified as competent to act as examiners. Before 1994 the QDU employed mostly white personnel as examiners. Most black personnel still occupy the lower salary levels amongst examiners. There are no black trainers. At present (2006) in the FSL, the tendency is that white personnel hold senior positions and black personnel are juniors. There is covert racial tension among the members. In the QDU, the training manager has always been a trainer as well. In the training environment at the QDU there have been obvious problems, namely – 􀂾���������� poor practice of OBE and adult learning; 􀂾���������� relationship problems between trainer and learners; 􀂾���������� distrust and a lack of communication and dialogue between trainer and learners; and 􀂾���������� underlying racial tension. The action research process on which we (the learners, training manager and I) embarked was aimed at – 􀂾���������� opening dialogue/communication between the training manager and learners; 􀂾���������� increasing learner participation in the process; and 􀂾���������� providing the opportunity for both the learners and the training manager to increase their knowledge of adult learning and OBE. We hoped that by making the entire action research process transparent we could create a platform for the learners and the training manager to build relationships in order to bring about an improvement in learning practice. We used an action research process that included participation by both the learners and the training manager. Change occurs within the action component of the action research process, while the research component is meant to generate knowledge. We used a cyclic method that entailed stages of planning, action, observation and reflection. Continuity was achieved by the reflection stage of one cycle informing the planning stage of the next. The action research process used in this setting has supported the existing theory and assumptions that adult learners want to participate, be involved in decision-making, and learn by doing. It has also shown that they are critically aware. The learning practice at the QDU has improved. The action research process that took place at the unit can serve as a powerful case study for trainers who endeavour to improve practice in other environments.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Forensiesewetenskapslaboratorium (FWL) is 'n komponent van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD), terwyl die Betwistedokumente-Eenheid (BDE) ʼn afdeling binne die FWL is. Sedert die stigting van die BDE was dit algemene praktyk om lede van die SAPD te werf en hulle binne die FWL as eksaminatore van die BDE op te lei. Alhoewel die SAPD ʼn beleid het ten opsigte van onderwys, opleiding en ontwikkeling, word dit nie toegepas nie. Selfs ná die totstandkoming van die Suid-Afrikaanse Kwalifikasieowerheid (SAKO) en die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk (NKR), het die BDE en die res van die FWL hul werkgebaseerde opleidingspraktyke buite die paradigma van uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys voortgesit. Die FWL het tot dusver forensiese skeikundiges in opleiers omskep. Hulle het geen kwalifikasies in opleiding gehad nie en hul kennis van uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys (UGO) en volwasseneleer, asook hulle fasiliteringsvaardighede, was onvoldoende. In sommige gevalle het dit geheel en al ontbreek. Hierdie tekortkoming het ʼn nadelige invloed op die gehalte van leer gehad. Onlangs (2004) het die FWL begin om sommige polisielede die geleentheid te bied om as opleiers, assessors en moderators van leer opgelei te word, maar hierdie pogings is nog nooit behoorlik gestruktureer nie. Binne die huidige opset is daar leerders wat meer as vier jaar interne opleiding moes ondergaan voor hulle as bevoeg gesertifiseer is om as opleiers op te tree. Die BDE het in die verlede meesal wit personeel in diens geneem as eksaminatore. Die meeste van die swart eksaminatore in die BDE is op die laer salarisvlakke, en daar is geen swart opleiers nie. Tans (2006) is daar hoofsaaklik wit personeel in die seniorposte in die FWL, met die swart personeel meesal in juniorposte. Daar is onderliggende rassespanning onder die lede. In die BDE was die opleidingsbestuurder nog altyd ook ʼn opleier. Die volgende probleme is in die opleidingsomgewing van die BDE geïdentifiseer: 􀂾��������� swak praktyk t.o.v. UGO en volwasseneleer; 􀂾��������� troebel verhoudings tussen die opleier en die leerders; 􀂾��������� wantroue en gebrekkige kommunikasie en dialoog tussen die opleier en die leerders; en 􀂾��������� onderliggende rassespanning. Die aksienavorsingsproses wat ons (ek, die leerders en die opleidingsbestuurder) aangepak het was daarop gemik om – 􀂾��������� dialoog/kommunikasie tussen die opleidingsbestuurder en die leerders te vestig; 􀂾��������� leerderdeelname in die proses te verhoog; en 􀂾��������� vir beide die leerders en die opleidingsbestuurder die geleentheid te bied om hul kennis van volwasseneleer en UGO uit te brei. Deur die hele aksienavorsingsproses deursigtig te maak, het ons gehoop om vir alle rolspelers ʼn geleentheid te skep om verhoudinge te bou ten einde ʼn verbetering in die leerpraktyk teweeg te bring. ʼn Aksienavorsingsproses is aangewend wat deelname deur beide die leerders en die opleidingsbestuurder ingesluit het. In aksienavorsing vind verandering binne die aksiekomponent van die proses plaas, terwyl die navorsingskomponent daarop gemik is om kennis vir die deelnemers – en as deel van die proses self – te genereer. Ons het ʼn sikliese metode gebruik wat beplanning, handeling, waarneming en refleksie behels het. Kontinuïteit is verseker deurdat die refleksiestadium van een siklus die basis gelê het vir die beplanningstadium van die volgende. Die aksienavorsingsproses wat in hierdie opset gebruik is, het die bestaande teorie en aannames ondersteun dat volwasse leerders wil deelneem, dat hulle by besluitneming betrokke wil wees, dat hulle wil leer deur te doen, en dat daar ‘n groter kritiese bewussyn is. Die leerpraktyk aan die BDE het verbeter. Die aksienavorsingsproses aan die BDE kan ʼn betekenisvolle gevallestudie wees vir diegene wat poog om hul praktyk in ander omgewings te verbeter.

The organisational literature explaining tacit knowledge as a whole has remained conceptual and there is now a need to know empirically about the nature of tacit knowledge at the process level where the knowledge worker carries out work. This doctoral research case study empirically examines the tacit dimensions of knowledge that occur between knowledge worker practitioners especially within an explicit environment of codified standardisedo, perating proceduresa nd intranet knowledge databases. In this case the evidence comes from a multi-method approach. The empirical findings are based on a case study of a forensic science community of practice, at the micro-level between knowledge workers, where quantitative social network analysis and qualitative interviewing, ethnographic studies, and document review were carried out. The quantitative picture, using social network analysis was used to give a fixed perspective on the actors sharing tacit knowledge during advice seeking transactions within the communities. An interpretive qualitative approach was used where the intent was to understand the relational dimensions of tacit knowledge being shared between the same actors. Social theories of learning perspectives are used, in particular with the emphasis on communities of practice as a framework, to study structured relational mechanisms that shape tacit knowledge flows. Organisational learning can be seen as a function of relationships between actors within a dynamic environment of social interaction, and matter most when collegiate interactions involve the exchange of tacit knowledge. Within a micro-level case study of a highly technical forensic science expert community, this research emphasizes the relational tacit dimensions of knowledge provided by human social capital surrounding and encircling the standardised organisational production process. Trust, respect, friendship, identity and ii social norms are the kinds of personal relationships people have developed through a history of interactions, which have been discussed in the literature. Answering the call of researchers, for the empirical analysis of knowledge sharing practices using the relational thinking concept, this doctoral case study has found more, including processual, experiential, capability, mentoring, informal, helping, openness/sharing, approachability, respect, proximal, cohort/clique, interpretative and bureaucratic structural relationships, and unique to forensic scientists, an adversarial relationship. Most of the literature within the community of practice teachings describes the performative advantages of such communities but there has been very little discussion on the rich tacitness embodied within the actual processes of how such communities work, especially those within a quality management structure. Eventhough processes are explicit by nature there is still a tacit element attached where a base line of minimum acceptable performance from protocols is supplemented by interactions with colleagues and one's own thought processes. Such concepts are only being discussed at a nascent level in the Quality Management System literature, where the tacit world has not yet diffused into the very explicit world found in qualitative management writings. In looking at the process level, findings are presented with respect to the interplay of the explicit knowledge within standard operating procedures and the practitioners' tacit knowledge requirements needed in actually completing the process. Ultimately these findings will help improve the way process is carried out in a knowledge intensive environment by having insights in how tacit knowledge works, and make conclusions on tacit knowledge within the world of process governed by standard operating procedures.

The inclusion of lime in burials is observed in historical and archaeological records, in contemporary mass graves and forensic cases. Clearly there are controversies within the literature and there is a general misconception of the effects of lime on decomposition. Recent casework in Belgium and the UK involving the search for human remains buried with lime, have demonstrated the need for a more detailed understanding of the effect of different types of lime on cadaver decomposition and its micro-environment. Field and laboratory experiments using pigs as human body analogues were undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the taphonomic processes that govern lime burials. The changes observed in the experiments were related back to archaeological parallels in which white residues have been found. The combined results of these studies demonstrate that despite conflicting evidence in the literature, hydrated lime and quicklime both delay the initial stages of the decay process but do not arrest it completely. The end result is ultimately the same: skeletonisation. Furthermore this study stresses the importance of the specific microenvironment in taphonomic research and highlights the need for chemical analysis of white residues when encountered in a burial. Not all white powder is lime. White residue could be identified as calcium carbonate, building material, body decomposition products, minerals or degraded lead. This study has implications for the investigation of clandestine burials and for a better understanding of archaeological plaster burials. Knowledge of the effects of lime on decomposition processes also have bearing on practices involving the disposal of animal carcasses and potentially the management of mass graves and mass disasters by humanitarian organisation and DVI teams.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the University of Bradford

The inclusion of lime in burials is observed in historical and archaeological records, in contemporary mass graves and forensic cases. Clearly there are controversies within the literature and there is a general misconception of the effects of lime on decomposition. Recent casework in Belgium and the UK involving the search for human remains buried with lime, have demonstrated the need for a more detailed understanding of the effect of different types of lime on cadaver decomposition and its micro-environment. Field and laboratory experiments using pigs as human body analogues were undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the taphonomic processes that govern lime burials. The changes observed in the experiments were related back to archaeological parallels in which white residues have been found. The combined results of these studies demonstrate that despite conflicting evidence in the literature, hydrated lime and quicklime both delay the initial stages of the decay process but do not arrest it completely. The end result is ultimately the same: skeletonisation. Furthermore this study stresses the importance of the specific microenvironment in taphonomic research and highlights the need for chemical analysis of white residues when encountered in a burial. Not all white powder is lime. White residue could be identified as calcium carbonate, building material, body decomposition products, minerals or degraded lead. This study has implications for the investigation of clandestine burials and for a better understanding of archaeological plaster burials. Knowledge of the effects of lime on decomposition processes also have bearing on practices involving the disposal of animal carcasses and potentially the management of mass graves and mass disasters by humanitarian organisation and DVI teams.

In forensic anthropology, laboratory-based (LBM) and field-based (FM) models can be used to develop new methods and to research the stability and rate at which bio-molecules degrade. In this study, both these methods were used to investigate the effects that temperature, time after death (TAD) and other environmental factors had on the concentration of and change in molecular structure (increase in free pyrrole content, ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN) and iron). of collagen, haemoglobin (Hb) and DNA in porcine teeth For the LBM, porcine teeth were heated at 900C for 0-4 hours, 1 hour intervals, (total number of teeth n=35). A porcine FM was established at the Miertjie Le Roux Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria. From the decomposing pigs, teeth were collected at TAD intervals of 20 days (n=35). The morphology of the teeth were evaluated and recorded. Methods for collagen and DNA isolation, quantification of protein, collagen, haemoglobin (Hb), free pyrrole content (FPC), ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN), total iron, Fe2+ and Fe3+ as well as a real-time PCR method for the detection of mitochondrial cytb gene in porcine teeth were established. These methods were used to determine the concentration and structural integrity of these molecules in the LBM and FM teeth. The morphology of the LBM teeth was regular with only minor changes in colour with time heated. The collagen and Hb concentration did not change with time. A decrease in total iron (not statistically significant) and Fe3+ (p=0.014; R2=0.74) was found and was associated with an increase in Fe2+ (p=0.014; R2=0.965). No change in free pyrolle content was found. The total protein concentration determined using the Biuret method showed a decrease with time (p=0.009; R2=0.99). For DNA, a linear decrease in concentration (p=0.00; R2=0.93) was found. This DNA could still be used for the successful amplification of the cytb gene. As for DNA a similar decrease in NRN (p=0.00; R2=0.99) was also found whether this is related to protein or DNA degradation is unknown. From this data the total protein, DNA and NRN showed a definite time related change in concentration. For the field model the teeth were brown, cracked, weathered and corroded. As for LBM, there were no time related changes in mass and collagen content. A significant decrease in total protein concentration (p=0.00; R2=0.52) and FPC (p=0.01; R2=0.98) was observed. Hb, FPC and iron levels (total iron, Fe3+ and Fe 2) did not change with time but concentrations FPC and iron were higher than those found in the LBM. Also total protein concentration although it decreases with time was also increased when compared to the LBM (sentence is awkward, re-word). This could be due to increase bacteria activity that results in an increase in protein biomass, iron accumulation and pyrolle synthesis. In contrast Hb levels were the same as LBM and are species specific and not related to increased bacterial activity. NRN showed a time related decrease in concentration (p=0.09; R2=0.99) and was also twice that found in the LBM. This is related to decomposition of porcine protein and DNA as well as that derived from bacteria. A decrease in DNA concentration with time was found (p=0.00; R2=0.88). DNA from all samples and could be used for the amplification of cytb. In conclusion the LBM allows for rapid method development and the investigation of the effect of single factors on the integrity of bio-molecules such as protein and DNA. The FM can then be used to further investigate the effect of many additional environmental factors on the concentration and structure of the same bio-molecules. Using both models, it was found that total protein, DNA and NRN showed a time related change in concentration while the concentration of collagen and Hb remained constant. Copyright
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Anatomy
unrestricted

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references.
Death of women whilst pregnant and in the post-partum period is a huge burden of disease in South Africa. All confidential enquiries and research into pregnancy related deaths in South Africa have focused on examining the cases based on the WHO definition of maternal death and have excluded deaths from incidental or accidental causes. Pregnancy related deaths due to suicide, homicide and accidental causes have predominantly only been studied in first world countries. There is minimal data available for developing countries like South Africa.

La criminalistique peut être définie comme l’application de procédés techniques aux investigations judiciaires permettant l’étude scientifique des traces et des indices retrouvés sur les scènes de crime.Depuis la découverte de l’empreinte génétique par Sir Alec Jeffreys en 1984, le monde judiciaire s’est profondément ancré dans l’ère de l’ADN en raison d’évolutions technologiques successives dans le domaine de la biologie moléculaire et ses applications en criminalistique. Le besoin de réponse instantanée est omniprésent dans les esprits. La mise en œuvre de techniques d’analyses simples, sensibles, fiables et permettant d’obtenir des résultats dans les plus brefs délais sont les clés du succès.Au cours des processus techniques, la collecte du matériel biologique, et donc de l’ADN au sein de la trace, constitue une étape incontournable et cruciale qui va conditionner la réussite des analyses. Ce travail de recherche a donc consisté à développer des solutions performantes de prélèvements de matériels biologiques soit en détournant de leur fonction initiale des solutions existantes soit en développant des solutions simples mais innovantes combinant les avantages des solutions existantes. Ces travaux ont permis de donner naissance au micro-écouvillon GendSAG. Les potentialités de GendSAG permettent de proposer une solution alternative aux solutions commerciales de systèmes intégrés d’analyses rapide d’ADN. Cette solution alternative d’analyse rapide et haut débit de l’ADN mise en œuvre dans un laboratoire mobile au plus près de la scène de crime répond non seulement à la grande majorité des avantages des systèmes intégrés mais également à toutes leurs limitations
Forensic sciences can be defined as the used of technical processes to judicial investigations allowing the scientific study of traces and evidences found on crime scenes.Since the discovery of DNA fingerprinting by Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984, the legal world has become deeply rooted in the DNA by successive technological developments in molecular biology and its applications in forensic. The need for instant response is omnipresent in the minds. The key to success is the implementation of simple, sensitive, reliable analytical techniques that enable results to be achieved in the shortest possible time.During these technical processes, the collection of biological samples, is an unavoidable and a crucial step that will condition the analysis success rate. This study consisted in developing efficient biological collecting solutions either by diverting from their original function the existing solutions or by developing simple but innovative solutions combining the advantages of the existing solutions. This allowed developing the micro-swab GendSAG. The potentialities of GendSAG make it possible to propose an alternative solution to the commercial rapid DNA analysis integrated systems. This rapid, cost effective and high-throughput DNA analysis solution performed in a dedicated mobile laboratory directly into the crime scene enables the large majority of the rapid DNA analysis integrated systems benefits and also all of their limitations

The universally controversial issue of deaths in custody is especially pertinent to South Africa. This study was prompted due to the increasingly diminishing ability for a concerted effort at tackling this issue by all parties involved. The 5 year retrospective, descriptive case audit performed at the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory aimed to evaluate the current medico-legal investigation of deaths in custody in Pretoria, South Africa. Over half of the deaths (52%) occurred as a result of police action, 30% in police custody and 18% in correctional services custody. Gunshot wounds and hangings were the number 1 and 2 most common causes of death, respectively, with homicide and suicide being the 2 most common manners of death, respectively. The principal conclusion from the results is the presence of a flawed and malfunctioning medico-legal investigation system. The introduction of a formal protocol is urgently required to provide a framework for these investigations.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
Forensic Medicine
MSc
Unrestricted

Inom Polisen finns ett behov av att renodla verksamheten, då de med åren fått ökade administrativa kostnader. Ett projekt startades inom Polisen och Statens kriminaltekniska laboratorium, där all ekonomi- och personaladministration ute på myndigheterna samlades på ett och samma ställe i ett servicecenter förlagt till Linköping. Syftet med studien är att utvärdera hur måluppfyllelsen för de mål som sattes upp för projektet upplevs. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär, med en fallstudieliknande ansats, där 18 intervjuer genomfördes med de anställda på servicecentret, samt flertalet ur projektets styrgrupp.

Resultatet av studien är att organisationen har kommit långt med måluppfyllelsen, men att man inte har nått riktigt ända fram då studien visar att åtta av elva mål är helt uppfyllda i nuläget. Tre mål är alltså ännu inte helt uppfyllda, vilket kan bero på att många av målen är otydliga, kan tolkas olika och inte är så väl förankrade hos de anställda. Att utgå från några kriterier för hur mål bör formuleras tros förbättra måluppfyllelsen, men då organisationen ändå har lyckats uppfylla målen relativt väl är det ingen förutsättning för att lyckas. Då centret ännu inte är helt färdigt, utan på några års sikt skall utökas till att omfatta alla polismyndigheter i landet, tros många mål leva kvar och en bättre måluppfyllelse uppnås allt eftersom fler myndigheter ansluter sig till centret.

The Swedish Police has increased its administrative costs during the years making the ordinary police work suffer. A project started within The Swedish Police and The Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science. The project aimed to establish a shared service center for personnel and business administration. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the goals of the project have been reached or not. The study has a qualitative approach and is mainly based on 18 interviews with the employees at the shared service center and the directors of the four authorities. The result of the study is that the organization has come a long way in reaching the goals, and has today reached 8 out of the 11 goals for the project. The reasons for there being 3 goals left to reach may be that the goals are unclear and not so well anchored among the employees. Using criterias in formulating goals is thought to make it easier to fulfil the goals. Since the organization has fulfilled the goals quite well even though it has not followed all of the criterias, there is no guarantee for success to follow the criterias in formulating goals. Since the shared service center is not yet complete, but should in a few years include all police authorities in the country. Some goals should still be used and the goals will probably reach better goal performance as more authorities are added to the shared service center.

Ricin je prirodni protein, toksin koji spada među najpristupačnije i najsmrtonosnije otrove. Nalazi se u biljci Ricinus (Ricinus communis), sa najvećim sadržajem u semenu (1-5 %). Ricin se smatra potencijalnim bioterorističkim oružjem i prema riziku za ljudsko zdravlje svrstan je u B kategoriju biološkog oružja. U novije vreme korišćen je za konstruisanje imunotoksina protiv tumorskih ćelija u terapiji maligniteta. Dokumentovana su mnoga trovanja ricinom, kako zadesna, tako i samoubilačka i ubilačka. U tu svrhu koristilo se intaktno seme ricinusa ili ekstrahovani ricin. Osim ricina, u semenu ricinusa je prisutan toksični alkaloid ricinin u količini 0.3-0.8 %. Ricinus je jedini poznati prirodni izvor ricinina, koji se ko-ekstrahuje sa ricinom iz semena biljke. Ricinin se jednostavno detektuje u kliničkim uzoracima metodom tečne hromatografije i masene spektrometrije i, s obzirom na komplikovanu identifikaciju ricina u biološkim uzorcima, smatra se biomarkerom za intoksikaciju ricinusom, odnosno ricinom. Osnovni ciljevi ovog istraživanja su da se uz pomoć HS-GC metode i patohistološkom  analizom dokaže prisustvo ricinina u krvi laboratorijskih pacova u odnosu na vremenski interval koji je protekao od oralne aplikacije suspenzije do vremena žtvovanja, da se odredi distribucija i koncentracija ricinina u organima laboratorijskih pacova u različitim vremenima žrtvovanja, kao i da se utvrdi da li postoji značajna razlika u razvoju patomorfoloških promena na organima laboratorijskih pacova u različitim vremenima žrtvovanja. Istraživanje je bilo otvoreno, randomizirano i prospektivnog tipa. Laboratorijski pacovi su u istom vremenu oralno tretirani suspenzijom koja je sadržaja subletalnu koncentraciju ricina. Nakon žrtvovanja u precizno definisanim vremenskim intervalima uzeti su uzorci krvi i unutrašnjih organa radi daljih analiza. Odgovarajući uzorci su analizirani metodom HC-GS u cilju određivanja koncentracije i distribucije ricinina, kao pouzdanog markera trovanja ricinom, u krvi i unutrašnjim organima. Takođe je izvršena patohistološka analiza uzoraka tkiva unutrašnjih organa u cilju utvrđivanja promena izazvanim delovanjem ricina u odnosu na vreme proteklo od aplikacije suspenzije. Dobijeni rezultati su obrađeni odgovarajućim statističkim metodama. Rezultati istraživanja omogućavaju standardizaciju postupaka odabira reprezentativnih uzoraka prilikom sumnje na trovanje ricinusom i metode dokazivanja akutnog trovanja. Na taj način može se pouzdano i efikasno dokazati trovanje ricinusom.
Ricin is a naturally occurring protein, a toxin which belongs to the category of the most accessible and the most lethal poisons. It is obtained from the castor oil plant ( Ricinus communis), whose seeds contain its highest content (1-5%). Ricin is also thought to be a potential weapon of bioterrorism and taking into account the risk for human health, it is classified as a biological weapon category B. Lately it has been used for the construction of the immunotoxins against tumor cells in the therapy of malignant diseases. Numerous poisonings using ricin have been documented, not only accidental poisoning, but also in case of suicides and homicides. In those cases, intact ricin seeds or extracted ricin were used. Apart from ricin, castor oil plants also contain a toxic alkaloid ricinine (0.3-0.8%). Castor oil plants are the only known natural source of ricinine, which is co-extracted with ricin from the seeds of this plant. Ricinine is simply detected in clinical samples by using the method of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Taking into account a complicated identification of ricin in biological samples, it is considered to be a biomarker for the intoxication by castor oil plant, or ricin itself. The main aim of this research is to use the HS-GC method and pathohistological analysis in proving the existence of ricinine in the blood of experimental rats in relation to the time interval between the oral application of solution of castor seeds in water and the time of sacrificing, to determine the distribution and concentration of ricinine in the organs of experimental rats, as well as to establish whether there was a significant difference in the development of pathomorphological changes on the organs of experimental rats at various points of sacrificing. The research was open, randomised and prospective. Experimental rats were simultaneously orally tested by the solution which contained sublethal concentration of ricin. After sacrificing, blood samples were taken from inner organs in specifically defined intervals of time and used for further analysis. The appropriate samples were analysed by HC-GS method in order to determine the concentration and distribution of ricinine as a reliable marker of ricin poisoning in blood and inner organs. Also, pathohistological analysis of the samples of inner organ tissues was made with the purpose of establishing the changes caused by the effects of ricinine in relation to time which passed from the application of the solution. The obtained results were processed by appropriate statistical methods. The results of this research allow for the standardisation of the actions in selecting the representative samples in case there is a possibility of ricin poisoning and the method of proving the acute poisoning. Following these steps, ricin poisoning can be proved in a reliable and an efficient way.

Orientadores : Nelson Massini, Eduardo Daruge Junior
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-02T02:36:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mocellin_EniaraPimenta_M.pdf: 5694453 bytes, checksum: d5e201f4a201b9c8a3387bc174ec8dcf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002
Resumo: No presente trabalho realizou-se uma revisão das normas e cuidados técnicos referentes a biossegurança em laboratórios de pesquisa de DNA forense. o laboratório de extração, análise e digestão de DNA, é um local de constante aprendizado e constantes riscos para a equipe que atuam nestes. Conhecer tais riscos e a maneira mais eficiente de evitá-Ios, é uma necessidade. Buscou-se ainda reunir o maior número possível de informações que visam minimizar tais riscos. Estes se dividem em riscos físicos, biológicos, químicos, ergonômicos e riscos de acidentes. Os riscos físicos podem estar relacionados com a umidade, calor, ruídos, radiações (ionizantes e não ionizantes) presentes nos equipamentos de manuseio constante do laboratório forense. Os riscos biológicos são decorrentes da exposição a produtos e subprodutos de animais, vegetais e microorganismos. Entre os agentes de risco biológico, podemos citar os mais importantes: bactérias, fungos, leveduras, vírus, protozoários e metazoários. Esses agentes podem estar presentes no ambiente laboratorial veiculados sob diversas formas que oferecem risco biológico, tais como: aerossóis, poeira, alimentos, instrumentos de laboratório, água, culturas, amostras biológicas, sangue, urina, escarro, secreções, entre outros. Para os riscos químicos podemos citar produtos químicos em geral tais como: álcoois, formaldeído, glutaraldeído, compostos liberadores de cloro, fenóis sintéticos, iodóforos, além de gases e poeiras. Conclui-se que existe necessidade do estabelecimento de normas de conduta mais abrangentes dentro dos laboratórios forenses, principalmente no que tange à coleta, manuseio e guarda de amostras e tratamento e descarte de resíduos; há a necessidade de um correto entrosamento entre o coordenador do laboratório e o corpo de auxiliares; há a necessidade da elaboração de um correto mapa de riscos, elaborado de forma clara, concisa e evidente; e principalmente há a necessidade do estabelecimento de tarefas ao corpo de auxiliares, onde cada um deverá efetuar uma única tarefa, porém deverão deter o conhecimento global do serviço a ser realizado, cabendo ao coordenador do laboratório a inspeção de execução de cada tarefa ou fase
Abstract: A review of the norms and technical precautions referring to the bio-safety in forensic DNA research laboratories was made in the present study. The laboratory for extracting, analyzing and digesting the DNA is a place of constant learning and risks for the teams who work there. Knowing such risks is the most efficient way to avoid them and that is a necessity. It was tried to gather as much information as possible aiming to minimize such risks. Those are divided in physical, biological and chemical risks. The physical risks can be related to humidity, heat, noise, radiations (ionizing and non-ionizing) found in the equipment constantly used in the Forensic Laboratory. The biological risks are due to the exposure to animal products and byproducts, vegetable and microorganisms. Among the agents of biological risks, we can cite the most important ones: bacteria, fungus, leaven, viruses, protozoan and metazoan. These agents can be present in the laboratory environment carried under several forms that offer biological risk such as aerosols, dust, food, laboratory instruments, water, cultures, biological samples, blood, urine, mucus, secretion among others. For the chemical risks we can cite alcohol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, composites releasing chloride, synthetic phenol, iodous and others. We conclude that there is the need to establish more comprising norms of conduct inside forensic laboratories, mainly concerning the cOllection, handling and keeping of samples; the need of a correct understanding between the laboratory coordinator and his staff; the need to develop a correct map of risks, made in a clear, concise and evident way; and mainly the need to assign tasks to the staff, and each one will perform one task only, however they must have a general knowledge of the services to be done. It will be the responsibility of the laboratory coordinator to inspect the performance of each phase or task
Mestrado
Mestre em Odontologia Legal e Deontologia

M.Tech.
It is the responsibility of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Pretoria to analyse and store (DNA) evidence. This includes evidence received from the South African Police Service (SAPS), evidence in process and DNA stored for future analysis. Evidence is eventually presented and questioned in court and the flow of the evidence from the crime scene to the courts must be validated by ensuring that contamination does not take place at any point during the evidence supply chain, including the collecting, handling and documenting thereof. Rectifying mistakes in this process could be costly to the judicial system, not only in monetary terms, but in time and resources. The main purpose of this study has therefore been to investigate the FSL as a storage facility and to identify the warehousing activities that take place. In order to fulfil this purpose, the study covers the following aspects: the role and importance of the evidence supply chain the storage of evidence at the FSL the warehousing activities and procedures of the FSL, for example: the tracking and order picking of evidence the storage facilities and systems of the FSL, for example: the Electronic Management System (EMS) the customer service provided by the FSL conclusions and recommendations regarding the flow of DNA evidence from receipt of evidence up to delivering the findings after analysis of evidence at the FSL. The study includes detailed case studies of DNA evidence and its uses, as well as information of the storage and warehousing of DNA evidence at the FSL.

碩士
國立高雄師範大學
資訊教育研究所
101
With the continuous increase of the network bandwidth and the quality improvement of the connection, cloud computing provides a stable network environment and an innovative thinking platform. Through the high-speed and stable network platform, applications can response dynamic demand and require the cloud resources quickly. 　　Digital forensics including obtain, preserve, analyze, and document digital evidence in a court of law. Analyzing digital evidence needs a fundamental network infrastructure and large capacity computing power, so we design and implement a digital forensic laboratory (DFL) based on cloud computing platform. 　　The proposed system generates forensic report automatically and it not only provides a centralize storage for digital evidence but also performs multiple forensic tools for analyzing evidence. We use the proposed DFL to support the compute and storage needs.

The relationship between the organisation and its members is governed by what motivates them to work and the fulfilment they derive from it. The manager needs to know how best to elicit the co-operation of staff and direct their performance towards achieving the goals and objectives of the organisation. Managers need to understand the nature of human behaviour and how best to motivate staff so that they can work willingly and effectively. This study was conducted at the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL-KZN). The aim of the study was to evaluate and investigate the status of employee motivation within this environment. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect and influence of employee recognition, communication processes and social interaction on employee motivation. The relationship between the organisational reward systems and employee motivation was also investigated as well as identifying current motivating and de-motivating factors. The quantitative method was used for this study. Information was gathered from the sample which comprised of employees from all levels of the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL-KZN). The population for this study was 163 FSL-KZN employees, of which 79 actually completed and returned the questionnaires (n=79). The research instrument (questionnaire) comprised 3 demographic questions, 22 closed ended likert scale type questions and 3 open ended questions. The simple random sampling technique was employed in this study which was then statistically analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. The key statistical findings of the study were the organisation needs to urgently improve its career ‘pathing’ strategy and a significant percentage cited an improvement was urgently needed in terms of communication and social aspects within the organisation. A fair percentage also recommended improved financial rewards and incentive programmes as the general consensus was that management fails to effectively recognise employee contribution and input to the organisation and most employees are of the view that they are not suitably rewarded for their efforts. Though the study was too small for the results to be generalized to other forensic science laboratories, the recommendations made will certainly address current and pertinent issues at the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory.
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

碩士
國立臺北教育大學
資訊科學系碩士班
101
With the rapid advancement of information technology and the popularity of Internet development, laboratory information management system (Laboratory Information Management System-LIMS), is by using of computers, networks, and database storage technology to process data quickly, and manage the laboratory computer hardware and software systems for all-round. Through this system, Laboratory can achieve the goal of automation, electronic management and paperless office ,then improve efficiency and reduce costs. Forensic science laboratory is based on scientific knowledge method to analyze, evaluate and explain the evidence. The integrity of evidence preservation will affect experimental results, and judgments of judge. To manage the evidence more effectively in this study, LIMS is based on concept development model. According to the analysis of system, we establish a way of evidence management for forensic science laboratory It combines computers, networks, data library and barcode encoding information technology, and enhance the related systems and workflow. Significantly it reduce the human error and waste of time, control progress of officers and cases, meet the targets of comprehensive integrated evidence information and paperless office, and thus achieve the purpose of effective management for evidence.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
資訊管理系
103
The development of information and communication technologies has led to the gradual replacement of traditional evidence by digital evidence as substantiating proof for crime committed. However, due to the characteristics of the digital data, digital evidence has not only caused increased difficulties in the preservation of evidence integrity and the processing of forensics but has also frequently become points of contention in courts of law. In addition to personnel training, equipment acquisition and technological development, digital forensic laboratories should also adopt consistent approaches to quality assurance so as to keep various factors that could impact the accuracy of forensic results under control. Not only that, competent 3rd parties should also appraise digital forensic laboratories for their competencies and capabilities in order to prevent oversights from self-monitoring and thereby reduce the risks of invalid digital evidence. 　Laboratory accreditation institutes in Taiwan have adopted ISO/IEC 17025 as a common standard for laboratory accreditation. However, the number of accredited digital forensic laboratories today is still limited at best even after accreditation applications have been made available for forensic sciences in 2007. Using case studies of local digital forensic laboratories that have received accreditations as examples, this research has gathered and compiled relevant accreditation documentations, records and observations by researchers that are available during the period between September 2009 and December 2014. Coupled with the theoretical bases from literary reviews for analysis, the study aims to determine the benefits of implementing accreditation systems and suggestions for actual practices in the hopes of offering useful references for relevant sectors. 　The study found that the determination and participation of high-ranking supervisors, the communication and supervision of promotion team and the consensus of creating documentations and systems in the order of “action, speech and writing” among all members involved to be beneficial for digital forensic laboratories looking to receive accreditation. At the phase of “QA Audit” and “Record Control” establishment as prescribed by laboratory accreditation regulations, laboratories could perfect their operation of document recording, which is vital for digital forensics. This would not only enhance the accuracy of forensic results but also offer reliable basis for 3rd party audit and reconstruction. Finally, concerning the key aspects that digital forensic laboratories must focus on in order to ensure the quality of their forensic results, the research has come to the following conclusions: (1)Verify personnel qualifications, competence and training needs in order to evaluate and monitor their general work performance. (2)Monitor and keep logs of all working areas for forensic works to ensure that all personnel follow relevant protocols. (3)Adopt SOPs that match the needs of forensic operations and verify their accuracy and stability beforehand. (4)Establish corresponding systems for equipment maintenance/repair, functional checks, anomaly handling and operation authorization. (5)Implement full monitoring of all processes, including digital evidence identification, flow, verification, handling and preservation. (6)Establish stringent and thorough QA audit system to prevent the submission of erroneous forensic results. (7)Audit reports for their completeness, accuracy and readability and attach relevant records to enhance evidence credibility.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Architecture: Professional)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2012.
This design dissertation deals with the creation of a DNA Database reservoir for the South African Police Services (SAPS) in Rustenburg and the Northwest Province at large. The project acts as a catalyst for the creation of a national DNA Database for the purpose of matching crime scene evidence with the profiles on the database to link possible suspects, victims and to exonerate innocent individuals. Since the proposed facility will form part of a national network, it will serve as a regional bank for the said province. A Forensic DNA laboratory is proposed at the foot of Kwaggapan Hill in the city of Rustenburg, a location of historic significance and scenic imagery that has been stained by acts of crime. For the maximum efficiency of the functions of the facility, the building programme explores the use of two contrasting facilities that are interconnected with specific functional requirements to work together as one.

"Synthetic Cannabinoids are among newly synthetized drugs that have become widely known throughout the United States and around the world. Originally, these compounds were used by researchers to isolate the medicinal effects of natural cannabis. Ultimately these compounds found their way into the illicit drug market as an alternative to marijuana. Unfortunately, the pharmacology of synthetic cannabinoids is not known in detail but it has been confirmed that they elicit stronger, more often times negative effects compared to natural cannabis. The use of these compounds have resulted in cases of overdose and even death. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) collects drug report information involving narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, cannabis, and emerging drugs such as anabolic steroids, phenethylamines, and synthetic cannabinoids, to name a few. They receive drug reports from forensic laboratories and perform statistical analysis to establish the prevalence of these drugs through out the United States. Specifically, the use of published NFLIS data sets from 2009-2013 and unpublished data set from 2013-2014 provided prevalence information from laboratories that have received synthetic cannabinoids in their forensic casework. The use of additional surveys and databases to supplement NFLIS data sets were used to better understand which particular groups of people are most likely to consume synthetic cannabinoids and in what specific regions. Understanding how common the abuse of synthetic cannabinoids provides information on how best to control them and potentially prevent health risks associated with their use. The prevalence of synthetic cannabinoid use has demonstrated an increasing-decreasing-increasing pattern throughout the years. The specific synthetic cannabinoids that have been identified in drug cases have changed over time to bypass the drug control laws. The future prevalence of these drugs is uncertain but knowledge of current patterns may help us to understand the state of this issue and plan for the future cases our forensic drug chemistry laboratories will face."

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017
Transcription factors are proteins that are involved in the regulation of gene expression and are responsible for the tight control of transcription allowing a cell to react to changes in its environment. Transcription factors are thus highly regulated by a variety of mechanisms which include phosphorylation. Forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) is a transcription factor expressed in multiple tissues during embryonic development. FOXP2 like other FOX proteins contains a DNA binding domain known as the forkhead domain (FHD). The effect of phosphorylation of serine 557 in the FHD on the structure and DNA binding was done using a glutamate mutant (to mimic phosphorylation) and an alanine mutant (as a control). Structural characterisation was performed using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), intrinsic fluorescence and far-UV circular dichroism. The effect of phosphorylation on DNA binding was observed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Far-UV circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence of the mutants and wild type did not reveal any significant secondary or tertiary structural changes. SEC however revealed a decrease in dimerisation propensity in the Ser557 mutants when compared the wild type (WT). EMSA revealed that DNA binding of S557E is only observed at protein concentrations 40 times in excess of the DNA. DNA binding of the WT and S557A mutants is observed at 5 times and 20 times excess protein respectively. However, using ITC no DNA binding is observed for either S557E or S557A FOXP2 FHD. Thus, it is possible that phosphorylation of serine 557 in the FOXP2 FHD could be a mechanism for inactivation of FOXP2.
XL2017

We present a three-dimensional, forward model of blood droplets in ight. The proposed model is based on a set of ordinary di erential equations (ODEs) incorporating viscous drag and gravitational forces. We validate the model against laboratory experiments in which a mock crime scene is constructed. The experiments consist of a ballistics gel containing transfer blood or porcine blood shot by a riot ball from a paintball gun constituting a simulated bloodletting event. The experiments are captured using highspeed stereo camera pair from which three-dimensional trajectories can be extracted using tracking software. The long-term goal is to develop an accurate framework for forensic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA).
UOIT

Dissertação de Erasmus Mundus para obtenção do grau de mestre em Técnicas Laboratoriais Forenses
Secure preservation of DNA-extracts has been an issue at forensic laboratories for a long time. DNA-extracts are commonly stored at either -20°C or -80°C, but storage at these temperatures is not without risk of failure, environment unfriendly and costly. The Laboratório de Polícia Científica (LPC; Forensic Science Laboratory) of the Polícia Judiciária (PJ; Judicial Police) in Lisbon, Portugal is currently looking into new ways of storing their DNA-extracts at room temperature. Both DNAstable® and GenTegra-DNA®, two commercially available products for the storage of DNA-extracts at ambient temperatures, have been evaluated. DNA samples with extremely low concentrations of DNA (0.1 ng/μL, 0.05 ng/μL and 0.025 ng/μL) and DNA-extracts extracted from buccal swabs with the SwabSolution™ kit (Promega, Madison, USA) have been stored in standard polypropylene tubes, DNAstable® tubes and GenTegra-DNA® tubes for 8 days at four different conditions, i.e., -20°C, 4°C, at room temperature and at 60°C. Besides this, randomly selected DNA-extracts that have been stored at -20°C since 2006, 2009 or 2013 have been reanalyzed with the currently at the LPC used techniques in order to assess the level of degradation after long-term storage at -20°C. Results showed that DNA degrades over time at -20°C, with recovery levels found as low as 20% after three years of storage at -20°C. DNAstable® and GenTegra-DNA® both showed to be able to preserve DNA dried at room temperature and 60°C. Given the short period of storage full DNA-profiles have also been obtained from samples stored in standard polypropylene tubes at room temperature. Significant differences were found between DNA-extracts stored at 60°C with either DNAstable® or GenTegra-DNA® and those stored in unprotected tubes, showing that both DNAstable® and GenTegra-DNA® are capable of storing DNA at room temperature for long periods of time with a similar or even higher level of protection compared to those achieved with conventional storage at -20°C. Nevertheless, more research is needed before a switch can be made from frozen storage at -20°C to the storage of DNA-extracts at room temperature with products such as DNAstable® and GenTegra-DNA®.

Dissertação de Erasmus Mundus para obtenção do grau de mestre em Técnicas Laboratoriais Forenses
The first steps in human remains identification are the determination of age, sex, ancestry and stature. Of these, determination of age is crucial as it facilitates the development of a biological profile be it in archaeological remains or recent forensic matters. Teeth with their hard exterior can protect useful information and store this information for years after death, though environmental conditions may affect the information within. In addition to developing and optimizing a method for quantifying and determining the proportional ratio of amino acids present in teeth by Gas-Chromatography-Mass spectrometry. An introduction of new techniques for the diastereoisomeric separation of D- and Lenantiomers of aspartic acid were tested for use with GC-MS with and achiral column and GCFID with a chiral column. On top of this a novel technique was used to determine the racemic mixture percentage of D- and L- aspartic acid. Circular Dichroism was used to measure the racemic content in samples which were submitted to various temperatures in pH solutions of 3, 5 and 9 for a time interval of 72hours. Results obtained demonstrate occurrence of racemization in temperatures of 80 ℃ and above as well as the differential effect produced by acidic and alkaline pH solutions. It would be interesting to discover if with a more sensitive technique, such as GC-MS, and an experiment with a longer time interval a significant change between pH could be demonstrated as well as comparing the difference in racemization rate between free and bound aspartic acid.

Ambient ionization mass spectrometry enables rapid in-situ analysis of a plethora of analytes that are relevant to the forensic and defense communities. As the arsenal of ambient ionization techniques, aimed at solving specific targeted problems, continues to expand, the adoption of these techniques into non-academic settings has been relatively slow. At times, although the technique can provide answers in a more rapid and cheaper manner, the technique does not pass all of the required legal rules for a particular analysis when dealing with forensic evidence. This can be demonstrated with the rapid detection of drugs by paper spray ionization mass spectrometry. Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry can have drugs deposited onto the paper substrate, the paper can wipe a surface for trace analytes, and there are commercial and automated ionization sources for this process. While analysis by paper spray is rapid, the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) states that a minimum of two instrumental techniques need to be utilized. Utilizing paper substrates that have nanoparticles embedded for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, that can also be utilized for paper spray ionization mass spectrometry, makes ambient ionization more appealing as it completes that first legal requirement.

Other times, the slow adoption of these new ambient ionization techniques is due to specific communities not being aware of ambient ionization, and specific applications have not yet been demonstrated. Swab touch spray ionization mass spectrometry follows similar processes as paper spray ionization, as the swab acts both as the sampling substrate and the ionization source and can swab for analytes in a manner where the paper substrate may be damaged and unable to perform the ionization for analysis. This can be seen for the swabbing of organic gunshot residues and explosives, both of which current methods already use a swab for sampling but then need lengthy extraction techniques. The applicability of paper spray ionization and swab touch spray ionization for these forensic and defense analyses is only furthered by the fact that they both couple extremely well with portable mass spectrometers for analysis in the field.

There are also many fields that ambient ionization is just starting to take its place in the analytical toolbox. Two such defense fields that are just beginning to expand into ambient ionization are the analysis of pyrotechnics and microelectronics. Pyrolysis gas-chromatography mass spectrometry methods have been developed and utilized for environmental tests for pyrotechnic formulation, but they are slow and there is an abundance of cleaning steps between analyses to prevent carry over and contamination. Using paper and swabs as the collection device and ionization source for environmental analysis of these pyrotechnics allow for them to be functioned at ambient conditions at the scale at which will be utilized in the field by the Warfighter. Similarly, authenticating microelectronics by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry removes the subjectivity of the current methods, while rendering the integrated circuit intact enabling future use if deemed as a genuine part. By taking slower or more subjective tests, in a field that has not utilized ambient ionization heavily in the past and adding these new capabilities to their tool chest expands the acceptance and future applications of the technique.

As acceptance and utilization of ambient ionization grows, the next generation of scientists need to have hands on training in these techniques. Through the development of new teaching laboratories that couple both the fundamentals of the technique at hand, while also examining an interesting application to better engage the students, a number of laboratory exercises have been developed. The creation of new laboratory exercise utilizing the next generation of instrumentation and analytical techniques is vital for the future and rapid application of these techniques. The work discussed herein chronicles the utilization and demonstration of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in monitoring clandestine activities, supporting the Warfighter, and redeveloping chemical laboratory education.

No
Contradictions and misconceptions regarding the effect of lime on the decay of human remains have demonstrated the need for more research into the effect of different types of lime on cadaver decomposition. This study follows previous research by the authors who have investigated the effect of lime on the decomposition of human remains in burial environments. A further three pig carcasses (Sus scrofa), used as human body analogues, were observed and monitored for 78 days without lime, with hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) and with quicklime (CaO) in the taphonomy laboratory at the University of Bradford. The results showed that in the early stages of decay, the unlimed and hydrated lime cadavers follow a similar pattern of changes. In contrast, the application of quicklime instigated an initial acceleration of decay. Microbial investigation demonstrated that the presence of lime does not eliminate all aerobic bacteria. The experiment also suggested that lime functions as a sink, buffering the carbon dioxide evolution. This study complements the field observations. It has implications for the investigation of time since death of limed remains. Knowledge of the effects of lime on decomposition processes is of interest to forensic pathologists, archaeologists, humanitarian organisations and those concerned with disposal of animal carcasses or human remains in mass disasters.

碩士
國防大學管理學院
資訊管理學系
100
With advances in technology and changing times, today's instruments of crime may be a computer or smart phone, the subject of criminal behavior is evidence of electromagnetic record file, the traditional forensic tools and methods, may not be collected for a valid digital evidence to face bottlenecks. In view of this, several countries have developed high-tech forensic tools to deal with the crime scene information stored in the device key evidence, a court order to be able to become valid and probative evidence in court to avoid the poisonous fruit of poisonous tree theory and not for the court are admissible, the standard forensic procedures, professional staff and has a legitimate forensic certified digital forensics lab, is now become a national crime prevention and crime investigation, the most urgent needs. In view of this, Executive Yuan also enacted in January 1998, "the development of national information security program (98-101)", the "sustainable development of digital forensics energy" as an important action, and "build digital forensic laboratory "as an important development plan and performance indicators; Therefore, how to build a complete and consistent standards for digital forensics lab, has become very urgent and important issues worth exploring. This study attempts to focus the use of Focus Group method and Delphi method to collate, study and build a complete specification of the standard digital forensics laboratory should have the project, and considering the actual needs, build schedule, training, budget, access, etc. Factors, on how a phased plan to build a digital forensics laboratory, and does not affect the schedule for building the various stages of task execution and certification results, while a risk management perspective, combined with state-level analysis provided by intention to build forensic practice laboratory units of a practical and consistent with accreditation standards or guidelines proposed building.

Pre-detonation technical nuclear forensics techniques for research reactor spent fuel were developed in a collaborative project with Savannah River National Lab ratory. An inverse analysis method was employed to reconstruct reactor parameters from a spent fuel sample using results from a radiochemical analysis. In the inverse analysis, a reactor physics code is used as a forward model. Verification and validation of different reactor physics codes was performed for usage in the inverse analysis. The verification and validation process consisted of two parts. The first is a variance analysis of Monte Carlo reactor physics burnup simulation results. The codes used in this work are MONTEBURNS and MCNPX/CINDER. Both utilize Monte Carlo transport calculations for reaction rate and flux results. Neither code has a variance analysis that will propagate through depletion steps, so a method to quantify and understand the variance propagation through these depletion calculations was developed. The second verification and validation process consisted of comparing reactor physics code output isotopic compositions to radiochemical analysis results. A sample from an Oak Ridge Research Reactor spent fuel assembly was acquired through a drilling process. This sample was then dissolved in nitric acid and diluted in three different quantities, creating three separate samples. A radiochemical analysis was completed and the results were compared to simulation outputs at different levels ofdetail. After establishing a forward model, an inverse analysis was developed to re-construct the burnup, initial uranium isotopic compositions, and cooling time of a research reactor spent fuel sample. A convergence acceleration technique was used that consisted of an analytical calculation to predict burnup, initial 235U, and 236U enrichments. The analytic calculation results may also be used stand alone or in a database search algorithm. In this work, a reactor physics code is used as a for- ward model with the analytic results as initial conditions in a numerical optimization algorithm. In the numerical analysis, the burnup and initial uranium isotopic com- positions are reconstructed until the iterative spent fuel characteristics converge with the measured data. Upon convergence of the sample’s burnup and initial uranium isotopic composition, the cooling time can be reconstructed. To reconstruct cooling time, the standard decay equation is inverted and solved for time. Two methods were developed. One method uses the converged burnup and initial uranium isotopic compositions along in a reactor depletion simulation. The second method uses an isotopic signature that does not decay out of its mass bin and has a simple production chain. An example would be 137Cs which decays into the stable 137Ba. Similar results are achieved with both methods, but extended shutdown time or time away from power results in over prediction of the cooling time. The over prediction of cooling time and comparison of different burnup reconstruction isotope results are indicator signatures of extended shutdown or time away from power. Due to dynamic operation in time and function, detailed power history reconstruction for research reactors is very challenging. Frequent variations in power, repeated variable shutdown time length, and experimentation history affect the spectrum an individual assembly is burned with such that full reactor parameter reconstruction is difficult. The results from this technical nuclear forensic analysis may be used with law enforcement, intelligence data, macroscopic and microscopic sample characteristics in a process called attribution to suggest or exclude possible sources of origin for a sample.

This study sought to explore the significance of efficient murder crime scene processing. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with investigators who investigate murder cases in the Nyanga South African Police Service (SAPS) cluster in the Western Cape, to stimulate knowledge of the significance of efficient murder scene processing. A literature study relating to aspects of crime scene management and crime scene processing was conducted. From the results of this research, it appears that participants did realise the significance of efficient murder scene processing. It is, however, apparent that they experienced challenges and shortcomings with regard to efficiently processing murder scenes. Reasons for this are inexperienced investigators, overload of murder scenes to investigate, lack of human resources, and lack of cooperation between investigators and crime scene experts. The study makes recommendations that could assist the Nyanga SAPS cluster in improving the processing of murder scenes.
Police Practice
M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

It is important to have a method of experimentally calculating fission product yields. Statistical calculations and simulations produce very large uncertainties. Experimental calculations, depending on the methods used, tend to produce lower uncertainties. This work set up a method to calculate fission product yields using gamma ray spectroscopy. In order to produce a method that was theoretically sound, a simulation was set up using OrigenArp to calculate theoretical concentrations of fission products from the irradiation of natural uranium. From these concentrations, the fission product yields were calculated to verify that they would agree with expected values. Moving forward in the work, the total flux at the point of irradiation, in the pneumatic transfer system, was calculated and determined to be 3.9070E+11 ± 6.9570E+10 n/cm^2/s at 100 kW. Once the flux was calculated, the method for calculating fission product yields was implemented and yields were calculated for 10 fission products. The yields calculated were in very good agreement (within 10.04%) with expected values taken from the ENDF-349 library. This method has strong potential in nuclear forensics as it can provide a means for developing a library of experimentally-determined fission product yields, as well as rapid post-nuclear detonation analysis.
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