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1
Yokchue, Tanasiri. "In vitro studies of drug transformations : application to forensic toxicology." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2016. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7490/.
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The forensic toxicologist faces challenges in the detection of drugs and poisons in biological samples due to transformations which occur both during life and after death. For example, changes can result from drug metabolism during life or from the use of formalin solution for post mortem embalming purposes. The former requires the identification of drug metabolites and the latter the identification of chemical reaction products in order to know which substances had been administered. The work described in this thesis was aimed at providing ways of tackling these challenges and was divided into two parts. Part 1 investigated the use of in vitro drug metabolism by human liver microsomes (HLM) to obtain information on drug metabolites and Part 2 investigated the chemical reactions of drugs and a carbamate pesticide with formalin solution and formalin-blood. The initial aim of part I was to develop an in vitro metabolism method using HLM, based on a literature review of previous studies of this type. MDMA was chosen as a model compound to develop the HLM method because its metabolism was known and standards of its metabolites were commercially available. In addition, a sensitive and selective method was developed for the identification and quantitation of hydrophilic phase I drug metabolites using LC/MS/MS with a conventional reverse-phase (C18) column. In order to obtain suitable retention factors for polar drug metabolites on this column, acetyl derivatives were evaluated for converting the metabolites to more lipophilic compounds and an optimal separation system was developed. Acetate derivatives were found to be stable in the HPLC mobile phase and to provide good chromatographic separation of the target analytes. In vitro metabolism of MDMA and, subsequently, of other drugs involved incubation of 4 µg drug substance in pH 7.4 buffer with an NADPH generating system (NGS) at 37oC for 90 min with addition of more NGS after 30 min. The reaction was stopped at 90 min by the addition of acetonitrile before extraction of the metabolites. Acetate derivatives of MDMA metabolites were identified by LC/MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Three phase I metabolites (both major and minor metabolites) of MDMA were detected in HLM samples. 3,4-dihydroxy-methamphetamine and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine were found to be major metabolites of MDMA whereas 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine was found to be a minor metabolite. Subsequently, ten MDMA positive urines were analysed to compare the metabolite patterns with those produced by HLM. An LC/MS method for MDMA and its metabolites in urine samples was developed and validated. The method demonstrated good linearity, accuracy and precision and insignificant matrix effects, with limits of quantitation of 0.025 µg/ml. Moreover, derivatives of MDMA and its metabolites were quantified in all 10 positive human urine samples. The urine metabolite pattern was found to be similar to that from HLM. The second aim of Part 1 was to use the HLM system to study the metabolism of some new psychoactive substances, whose misuse worldwide has necessitated the development of analytical methods for these drugs in biological specimens. Methylone and butylone were selected as representative cathinones and para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) was chosen as a representative ring-substituted amphetamine, because of the involvement of these drugs in recent drug-related deaths, because of a relative lack of information on their metabolism, and because reference standards of their metabolites were not commercially available. An LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of methylone, butylone, PMA and their metabolites was developed. Three phase I metabolites of methylone and butylone were detected in HLM samples. Ketone reduction to β-OH metabolites and demethylenation to dihydroxy-metabolites were found to be major phase I metabolic pathways of butylone and methylone whereas N-demethylation to nor-methylone and nor-butylone were found to be minor pathways. Also, demethylation to para-hydroxyamphetamine was found to be a major phase I metabolic pathway of PMA whereas β-hydroxylation to β-OH-PMA was found to be a minor pathway. Formaldehyde is used for embalming, to reduce decomposition and preserve cadavers, especially in tropical countries such as Thailand. Drugs present in the body can be exposed to formaldehyde resulting in decreasing concentrations of the original compounds and production of new substances. The aim of part II of the study was to evaluate the in vitro reactions of formaldehyde with selected drug groups including amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA), benzodiazepines (alprazolam and diazepam), opiates (morphine, hydromorphone, codeine and hydrocodone) and with a carbamate insecticide (carbosulfan). The study would identify degradation products to serve as markers for the parent compounds when these were no longer detectable. Drugs standards were spiked in 10% formalin solution and 10% formalin blood. Water and whole blood without formalin were used for controls. Samples were analysed by LC/MS/MS at different times from the start, over periods of up to 30 days. Amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA were found to rapidly convert to methamphetamine, DMA and MDDMA respectively, in both formalin solution and formalin blood, confirming the Eschweiler-Clarke reaction between amine-containing compounds and formaldehyde. Alprazolam was found to be unstable whereas diazepam was found to be stable in both formalin solution and water. Both were found to hydrolyse in formalin solution and to give open-ring alprazolam and open-ring diazepam. Other alprazolam conversion products attached to paraformaldehyde were detected in both formalin solution and formalin blood. Morphine and codeine were found to be more stable than hydromorphone and hydrocodone in formalin solution. Conversion products of hydromorphone and hydrocodone attached to paraformaldehyde were tentatively identified in formalin solution. Moreover, hydrocodone and hydromorphone rapidly decreased within 24 h in formalin blood and could not be detected after 7 days. Carbosulfan was found to be unstable in formalin solution and was rapidly hydrolysed within 24 h, whereas in water it was stable up to 48 h. Carbofuran was the major degradation product, plus smaller amounts of other products, 3-ketocarbofuran and 3-hydrocarbofuran. By contrast, carbosulfan slowly hydrolysed in formalin-blood and was still detected after 15 days. It was concluded that HLM provide a useful tool for human drug metabolism studies when ethical considerations preclude their controlled administration to humans. The use of chemical derivatisation for hydrophilic compounds such as polar drug metabolites for analysis by LC/MS/MS with a conventional C18 column is effective and inexpensive, and suitable for routine use in the identification and quantitation of drugs and their metabolites. The detection of parent drugs and their metabolites or conversion and decomposition products is potentially very useful for the interpretation of cases in forensic toxicology, especially when the original compounds cannot be observed.
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Tabor, Kimberly Lane. "Succession and Development Studies on Carrion Insects of Forensic Importance." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/11188.
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Forensic entomological field and laboratory studies were conducted to obtain data currently missing or conflicting in the literature. The first goal of this project was to identify and qualitatively assess the major taxa of forensic importance in southwest Virginia. Carcasses of the domestic pig, Sus scrofa L., were placed in field conditions and allowed to decompose until they reached the advanced stage of decay. Over 50 taxa were collected and identified, with Phormia regina, Phaenicia coeruleiviridis, Phaenicia sericata, Calliphora spp., Sarcophaga utilis, Musca domestica, Hydrotaea leucostoma, Stearibia nigriceps, Prochyliza xanthostoma, and Meroplius minutus among the most commonly observed fly species, and Creophilis maxillosus, Platydracus maculosus, Aleochara lata, Oiceoptoma noveboracense, Necrodes surinamensis, and Necrophila americana among the most commonly observed beetle species.
The second objective of this study was to analyze successional patterns of taxa collected and identified in the carrion-insect succession studies. Occurrence matrices were constructed for the successional patterns of insect taxa during 21 sampling intervals in the spring and eight intervals in the summer studies. Permutation analyses of the occurrence matrices showed that the successional patterns of insect taxa were similar between spring 2001 and 2002 (P = 0.001) and between summer 2001 and 2002 (P = 0.007). Results indicated that the successional patterns appear to be typical for the seasonal periods.
The third objective of this study was to analyze the effects of antemortem ingestion of ethanol by pigs on insect successional patterns and development rates. Pigs were dosed with a mixture of 95% ethanol and saline. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to euthanasia. The carcasses then were placed at an open
field site and allowed to decompose. Insect samples were collected from carcasses for ten days post-mortem and the collected data were used to develop occurrence matrices. Permutation analysis to test the null hypothesis of no similarity between successional patterns of taxa from treated and untreated pigs showed that the successional patterns were similar. Loin meat from the carcasses was used as a rearing medium for field development studies of the black blow fly, Phormia regina. Development rates of 3rd instar P. regina maggots feeding on meat from treated pigs were significantly different from development rates of maggots feeding on meat from untreated pigs. No significant differences were detected in 1st and 2nd instars.
Finally, the effect of relative humidity (RH) on egg hatch time and percent hatch rate of Phormia regina and Phaenicia coeruleiviridis was tested using saturated salt solutions. The global ANOVA of mean hatch times and percent hatch was found to be significant for P. regina at 20°C and 30°C and P. coerulieviridis at 20°C among RH levels at á = 0.05. T-test (LSD comparisons) results detected significant differences between some but not all RH levels within all three data series tested. Percent hatch observed varied widely, depending on the RH level. Of the levels tested, the lowest RH where hatch rate was observed was 53% (20°C) for P. coeruleiviridis, where only 1% of the eggs hatched. At 90+% RH, almost all of the eggs hatched for both species.Ph. D.
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鍾灼輝 and Cheuk-fai Bell Chung. "The use of forensic hypnosis in criminal investigation." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2002. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31979300.
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Sallah, David K. "A study of outcomes measures in forensic mental health." Thesis, Aston University, 1999. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/10724/.
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Outcomes measures, which is the measurement of effectiveness of interventions and services has been propelled onto the health service agenda since the introduction of the internal market in the 1990s. It arose as a result of the escalating cost of inpatient care, the need to identify what interventions work and in what situations, and the desire for effective information by service users enabled by the consumerist agenda introduced by Working for Patients white paper. The research reported in this thesis is an assessment of the readiness of the forensic mental health service to measure outcomes of interventions. The research examines the type, prevalence and scope of use of outcomes measures, and further seeks a consensus of views of key stakeholders on the priority areas for future development. It discusses the theoretical basis for defining health and advocates the argument that the present focus on measuring effectiveness of care is misdirected without the input of users, particularly patients in their care, drawing together the views of the many stakeholders who have an interest in the provision of care in the service. The research further draws on the theory of structuration to demonstrate the degree to which a duality of action, which is necessary for the development, and use of outcomes measures is in place within the service. Consequently, it highlights some of the hurdles that need to be surmounted before effective measurement of health gain can be developed in the field of study. It concludes by advancing the view that outcomes research can enable practitioners to better understand the relationship between the illness of the patient and the efficacy of treatment. This understanding it is argued would contribute to improving dialogue between the health care practitioner and the patient.
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Nilsson, Gunnel. "Stability of zopiclone in whole blood : Studies from a forensic perspective." Licentiate thesis, Linköping University, Linköping University, Clinical Pharmacology, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-58997.
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Bio‐analytical results are influenced by in vivo factors like genetic, pharmacological and physiological conditions and in vitro factors like specimen composition, sample additives and storage conditions. The knowledge of stability of a drug and its major metabolites in biological matrices is very important in forensic cases for the interpretation of analytical results. Many drugs are unstable and undergo degradation during storage.
Zopiclone is a short‐acting hypnotic drug, introduced as a treatment for insomnia in the 1980s. However, this drug is also subject to abuse and can be found in samples from drug‐impaired drivers, recreational drug users and forensic autopsy cases. Zopiclone is analyzed in biological materials using different analytical methods. It is unstable in certain solvents and depending on storage conditions unstable in biological fluids. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the stability of zopiclone in human whole blood and to compare stability between authentic and spiked samples. Interpretation of zopiclone concentrations in whole blood is important in forensic toxicology. The following investigations were performed to study the stability of zopiclone in both spiked and authentic human blood.
First, different stability tests were performed. Spiked blood samples were stored at –20°C, 5°C and 20°C and the degradation of zopiclone was investigated in long‐ and short‐term stability. Authentic and spiked blood samples were stored at 5°C and differences in zopiclone stability were studied. Processed sample stability and effect of freeze/thaw cycles were also evaluated.
Second, influence of pre‐analytical conditions on the interpretation of zopiclone concentrations in whole blood was investigated. Nine volunteers participated in the study. Whole blood was obtained before and after oral administration of 2 x 5 mg Imovane®. Aliquots of authentic and spiked blood were stored under different conditions and zopiclone stability was evaluated. In this study, the influence from physiological factors such as drug interactions, matrix composition and plasma protein levels were minimized.
Analyses of zopiclone were performed by gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorous detection and zopiclone concentrations were measured at selected time intervals. Degradation product of zopiclone was identified using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry.
The first study showed that zopiclone degrades in human blood depending on time and temperature and may not be detected after long‐term storage. The degradation product 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridine was identified following zopiclone degradation. The best storage condition was at –20°C even for short storage times, because freeze‐thaw had no influence on the results. In butyl acetate extracts, zopiclone was stable for at least two days when kept in the autosampler. However, in blood samples stored at 20°C a rapid decrease in concentration, was noticed. This rapid degradation at ambient temperature can cause an underestimation of the true concentration and consequently flaw the interpretation.
The second study showed no stability differences between authentic and spiked blood but confirmed the poor stability in whole blood at ambient temperature. The results showed that zopiclone was stable for less than 1 day at 20°C, less than 2 weeks at 5°C, but stable for 3 months at –20°C. This study, demonstrates the importance of controlling pre‐analytical conditions from sampling to analysis to avoid misinterpretation of toxicological results.
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Woods, Phil. "The Behavioural Status Index (BSI) : descriptive studies within a forensic context." Thesis, Anglia Ruskin University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.300347.
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Lukhozi, Sipho Michael. "Dual obligations in clinical forensic medicine." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/86537.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis discusses ethical dilemmas faced by district surgeons in South Africa. District surgeons render clinical forensic services, which means that they deal mainly with detainees and victims of crime. The main functions of district surgeons are the collection of forensic evidence from patients and the care of detainees. So the focus is to assist in the administration of justice rather than improvement of patient wellbeing. The district surgeon may therefore find himself in a situation where patients’ interests are in conflict with those of law enforcement agencies. Being a medical practitioner in clinical forensic medicine, the district surgeon has an obligation to assist in the administration of justice, as opposed to the traditional obligation to care for patients and put patient’s interests first. This allegiance to both administration of justice as well as patient wellbeing lead to an ethical dilemma of dual loyalties. A dual obligations presents an ethical dilemma for the district surgeon, especially if they are in conflict and mutually exclusive. I discuss the detention and subsequent death of Steve Biko to illustrate how dual obligations can lead to serious human rights violations and even death. Dual obligations are however not limited to detainees and police custody settings, and I demonstrate this by discussing three other scenarios commonly encountered by district surgeons. There is a lack clear guidance for district surgeons who are faced with a conflict of obligations. I explore several ethical theories including consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics, in search of an ethical framework suitable for resolving conflicts in clinical forensic medicine. I therefore argue that a duty based ethical framework is central to clinical forensic medicine and the resolution of loyalty conflicts. I recommend the resolution of conflicts by using an approach developed by Benjamin (2006). This approach involves weighing -up the different duties in conflict, applying philosophical reasoning and then amelioration. By adopting a structured and wellreasoned ethical framework, district surgeons will be able to deal with conflicts of obligations better.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bespreek etiese dilemmas wat in die gesig gestaar word deur distriksgeneeshere in Suid-Afrika. Distriksgeneeshere lewer kliniese forensiese dienste, wat beteken dat hulle handel hoofsaaklik oor die gevangenes en slagoffers van misdaad. Die belangrikste funksies van distriksgeneeshere is die insameling van forensiese getuienis van pasiënte, en die sorg van gevangenes. Met hierdie benadering is die fokus om te help met die administratiewe doeleindes van geregtigheid, eerder as die verbetering van die pasiënt se welstand. Die distriksgeneesheer kan hom dus in 'n situasie vind waarby die pasiënte se belange in konflik is met dié van wetstoepassingsagentskappe. As 'n geneesheer in kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, het die distriksgeneesheer 'n verpligting om te help met die administrasie van geregtigheid, in teenstelling met die tradisionele verpligting om te sorg vir hul pasiënte, en hul welstand eerste te plaas. Hierdie getrouheid gaan gepaard met beide regspleging, sowel as die welstand van die pasiënt, wat kan lei tot 'n etiese dilemma van dubbele lojaliteit. Dubbele verpligtinge bied 'n etiese dilemma vir die distriksgeneesheer, veral as hulle in konflik en wedersyds uitsluitend is. Ek bespreek die aanhouding en die daaropvolgende dood van Steve Biko om te illustreer hoe dubbele verpligtinge kan lei tot ernstige skending van menseregte en selfs die dood. Dubbele verpligtinge is egter nie beperk tot die gevangenes en polisie-aanhouding instellings nie, en ek demonstreer dit deur die bespreking van drie ander “scenario's” wat oor die algemeen eervaar word deur distriksgeneeshere. Daar is 'n gebrek aan duidelike riglyne vir distriksgeneeshere wat 'n botsing van verpligtinge in die gesig staar. Ek verken verskeie etiese teorieë insluitende konsekwensialisme, deontologie en deugde-etiek, op soek na 'n etiese raamwerk geskik vir die oplossing van konflikte in kliniese geregtelike geneeskunde. Ek argumenteer dus dat 'n pligsgebaseerde etiese raamwerk sentraal is tot kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, en die resolusie van lojaliteit konflikte. Ek beveel die oplossing van konflikte deur die gebruik van 'n benadering wat ontwikkel is deur Benjamin (2006). Hierdie benadering behels 'n gewigsoorweging tussen die verskillende pligte in konflik, die toepassing van filosofiese redenasie en verbetering. Deur die aanneming van 'n gestruktureerde en beredeneerde etiese raamwerk, sal distriksgeneeshere dus in staat wees om konflikte van verpligtinge beter te hanteer.
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Lunt, Nicola. "Applied studies of some Southern African blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006202.
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Three major aspects of blowfly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) research were the focus of this study. Firstly, the phylogenetic relationships of 40 oestroid species from a variety of geographical localities were investigated using Cytochrome Oxidase b subunit I (COl) gene sequences. Maximum parsimony (MP) and Jukes-Cantor neighbor-joining (NJ) analyses both extracted a paraphyletic Calliphoridae, with the Calliphorinae-Luciliinae clade being sister to the Sarcophagidae. Short branch lengths within Chrysomya indicate a recent rapid radiation of this genus. Phormia and Protophormia either formed a sister clade to Chrysomya, or were embedded in this genus. Tree topologies were comparable between MP and NJ trees, but the positions of some genera were ambiguous. Secondly, developmental parameters and behaviour were investigated for four southern African species of forensically important blowflies viz. Chrysomya chloropyga, C. putoria, C. megacephala and Lucilia sericata, and ad hoc observations were made for Calliphora croceipalpis, Chrysomya marginalis and the predatory C. albiceps. Choice of oviposition substrate differed between species, mirroring substrate preferences in the field. Sexual dimorphism and dwarfism within a cohort complicated ageing maggots using size, but the use of developmental events (e.g. ecdysis) allowed ages to be determined unambiguously. Separate species status was supported for the previously synonymised C. chloropyga and C. putoria, by differences in maggot behaviour, larval growth rates and temperature optima. The proportion of total development time assigned to each larval instar and pupariation was variable among temperatures, but similar between congeneric species. Thirdly, since a negative linear relationship was found to occur between the developmental constant (K) and developmental zero (D₀) for both Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae, the potential for predicting physiological parameters of unstudied taxa was investigated. Species and genera of Palaearctic origin generally had high K's and low D₀'s, and the reverse was true for the tropical taxa. It was found that both K and D₀ can be estimated for "unknown" taxa using the Felsenstein's Independent Contrasts (FIC) method of PDTree (Garland et al. 200 I), provided that branch lengths are relatively short and the phylogenetic position of the estimated taxon is unambiguous.
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Brandes, Sarina. "Near-infrared spectroscopic studies of human scalp hair in a forensic context." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2009. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/30399/1/Sarina_Brandes_Thesis.pdf.
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Human hair is a relatively inert biopolymer and can survive through natural disasters. It is also found as trace evidence at crime scenes. Previous studies by FTIRMicrospectroscopy and – Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) successfully showed that hairs can be matched and discriminated on the basis of gender, race and hair treatment, when interpreted by chemometrics. However, these spectroscopic techniques are difficult to operate at- or on-field. On the other hand, some near infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) instruments equipped with an optical probe, are portable and thus, facilitate the on- or at –field measurements for potential application directly at a crime or disaster scene. This thesis is focused on bulk hair samples, which are free of their roots, and thus, independent of potential DNA contribution for identification. It explores the building of a profile of an individual with the use of the NIRS technique on the basis of information on gender, race and treated hair, i.e. variables which can match and discriminate individuals. The complex spectra collected may be compared and interpreted with the use of chemometrics. These methods can then be used as protocol for further investigations. Water is a common substance present at forensic scenes e.g. at home in a bath, in the swimming pool; it is also common outdoors in the sea, river, dam, puddles and especially during DVI incidents at the seashore after a tsunami. For this reason, the matching and discrimination of bulk hair samples after the water immersion treatment was also explored. Through this research, it was found that Near Infrared Spectroscopy, with the use of an optical probe, has successfully matched and discriminated bulk hair samples to build a profile for the possible application to a crime or disaster scene. Through the interpretation of Chemometrics, such characteristics included Gender and Race. A novel approach was to measure the spectra not only in the usual NIR range (4000 – 7500 cm-1) but also in the Visible NIR (7500 – 12800 cm-1). This proved to be particularly useful in exploring the discrimination of differently coloured hair, e.g. naturally coloured, bleached or dyed. The NIR region is sensitive to molecular vibrations of the hair fibre structure as well as that of the dyes and damage from bleaching. But the Visible NIR region preferentially responds to the natural colourants, the melanin, which involves electronic transitions. This approach was shown to provide improved discrimination between dyed and untreated hair. This thesis is an extensive study of the application of NIRS with the aid of chemometrics, for matching and discrimination of bulk human scalp hair. The work not only indicates the strong potential of this technique in this field but also breaks new ground with the exploration of the use of the NIR and Visible NIR ranges for spectral sampling. It also develops methods for measuring spectra from hair which has been immersed in different water media (sea, river and dam)
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Brandes, Sarina. "Near-infrared spectroscopic studies of human scalp hair in a forensic context." Queensland University of Technology, 2009. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/30399/.
Full textAbstract:
Human hair is a relatively inert biopolymer and can survive through natural disasters. It is also found as trace evidence at crime scenes. Previous studies by FTIRMicrospectroscopy and – Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) successfully showed that hairs can be matched and discriminated on the basis of gender, race and hair treatment, when interpreted by chemometrics. However, these spectroscopic techniques are difficult to operate at- or on-field. On the other hand, some near infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) instruments equipped with an optical probe, are portable and thus, facilitate the on- or at –field measurements for potential application directly at a crime or disaster scene. This thesis is focused on bulk hair samples, which are free of their roots, and thus, independent of potential DNA contribution for identification. It explores the building of a profile of an individual with the use of the NIRS technique on the basis of information on gender, race and treated hair, i.e. variables which can match and discriminate individuals. The complex spectra collected may be compared and interpreted with the use of chemometrics. These methods can then be used as protocol for further investigations. Water is a common substance present at forensic scenes e.g. at home in a bath, in the swimming pool; it is also common outdoors in the sea, river, dam, puddles and especially during DVI incidents at the seashore after a tsunami. For this reason, the matching and discrimination of bulk hair samples after the water immersion treatment was also explored. Through this research, it was found that Near Infrared Spectroscopy, with the use of an optical probe, has successfully matched and discriminated bulk hair samples to build a profile for the possible application to a crime or disaster scene. Through the interpretation of Chemometrics, such characteristics included Gender and Race. A novel approach was to measure the spectra not only in the usual NIR range (4000 – 7500 cm-1) but also in the Visible NIR (7500 – 12800 cm-1). This proved to be particularly useful in exploring the discrimination of differently coloured hair, e.g. naturally coloured, bleached or dyed. The NIR region is sensitive to molecular vibrations of the hair fibre structure as well as that of the dyes and damage from bleaching. But the Visible NIR region preferentially responds to the natural colourants, the melanin, which involves electronic transitions. This approach was shown to provide improved discrimination between dyed and untreated hair. This thesis is an extensive study of the application of NIRS with the aid of chemometrics, for matching and discrimination of bulk human scalp hair. The work not only indicates the strong potential of this technique in this field but also breaks new ground with the exploration of the use of the NIR and Visible NIR ranges for spectral sampling. It also develops methods for measuring spectra from hair which has been immersed in different water media (sea, river and dam)
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Savolainen, Peter. "Mitochondrial DNA : analysis of the control region in forensic and population genetic studies /." Stockholm : Tekniska högsk, 1999. http://www.lib.kth.se/abs99/savo0611.pdf.
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Yusseff, Sohath Zamira. "Distribution, Dna Barcoding And Phylogenetics Of Caribbean Calliphoridae Flies: Tools For Forensic Studies." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2018. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/847.
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Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are among the most dominant and conspicuous insects in the decomposition process. They are important in forensic entomology to determine time of death and, in certain situations, cause of death or relocation of a body. Insects are now included as standard operating procedures in crime scene investigations in many countries, however, this is not standard procedure in the Caribbean area due to lack of knowledge of insects involved in cadaveric decomposition. Successful application of forensic entomology depends on solid underlying data. Our main goal is to advance the knowledge of Calliphoridae in the Caribbean to enable forensic entomology studies. We performed a mega-transect across the Caribbean and extensively collected flies attracted to rotten meat baits during five years from 2011 to 2015. Overall we collected 61,332 flies of which 34,650 were Calliphoridae. We sampled 16 of the 18 species of forensically important Caribbean Calliphoridae and three continental species. We determine the diversity and distribution of Calliphoridae in the Caribbean. We also present a thorough DNA barcode dataset, covering the geographic range of most species in the region. Finally we established phylogenetic relationships among Calliphoridae species and test biogeographical hypotheses, and patterns of diversification and endemism in the Caribbean. In sum, this is the most comprehensive study of the family Calliphoridae from the Caribbean that will open the door for future research on forensic entomology in the region.
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Inglis, Pamela. "Discourse and forensic learning disability nursing practice : ideology, paradox and truth." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2009. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/136/.
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Central to successful therapeutic relationships in working with people with a learning disability is the language used by nurses; the discourses which they create and perpetuate; and resultant implications for practice. These are key issues in the current investigation. Employing retrospective data obtained during an action research programme carried out in a medium security forensic unit (MSU), it analyse types of discourse employed by the men who reside there and the staff. Part of the analysis shows having a learning disability as viewed through the eyes of the men themselves in a study extending over twenty months. Literary analyses on method, representations of learning disabilities, security and discipline, and forensic practice were carried out concurrently. Aims These are to (1) develop a critical and a post-modern approach to investigating given 'truths' about; the positives of learning disability; men with learning disability who offend; and the nature of forensic nursing: (2) develop a socio-political overview by applying critical discourse analysis to examine micro discourses and macro models associated with learning disabilities, related national and local policies, and models of nursing and disability: (3) combine the products of (1) and (2) to illustrate discourse, repertoires, paradoxes and practical ideologies justifying treatment in the MSU, revealing ideologies and beliefs regarding learning disabilities in this setting. Theory and method Foucault shows how linguistic constructions, written protocols and customary oral dialogue are used to create and sustain dominant views of 'reality' — and may also be used to challenge these. Retrospective data regarding six men living in the MSU and their staff [total N=17] were obtained using diaries, observational notes, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and evaluations originally collected as part of an action research project. National and local policies were also interrogated. Data were then reanalysed using critical discourse-analytic techniques. Outcomes Findings suggest that the men are viewed paradoxically. On one hand, they are seen negatively as different, dangerous, lacking ability: and staff as custodians restricting their rights. Paradoxically, affirmative discourse is also abundant — the men are talented and pleasant companions. Repertoires illustrate warm therapeutic relationships existing between the men and staff, demonstrating 'good nurse' characteristics expressed within a complex and restrictive environment, with humour playing an important part. These paradoxical repertoires reveal practical ideologies which defend forensic practice and justify treatment. Results have implications for the men (their views are acknowledged and disseminated); for practice through enhancing the evidence base; for nurse education through reflection on ideologies and justifications on which forensic practice is based.
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Al, Jaber Jaber. "Forensic and clinical toxicology studies focusing on drug analysis in hair and other biological matrices." Thesis, Queen Mary, University of London, 2013. http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/8507.
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Clinical and forensic toxicology analysts rely heavily in their daily tests on the analysis of the conventional samples (blood and urine). However, these specimens are limited in the time scale they reflect with regard to drug intake history and also in terms of drug stability within the matrices. Alternative matrices such as hair, oral fluids and dried blood spots (DBS) provide new horizons and new opportunities. Drugs incorporated within hair are very stable. Hair also provides a very long detection window, for at least one year, if not a lot longer. Oral fluids on the other hand are non-intrusive, easy to collect and much cleaner sample matrix than blood or urine. DBS also offer great drug stability, are easy to collect, faster to analyse and suitable for automated analysis. However, a number of studies are needed to assess the limits of these alternative samples in terms of the correlation of their results with the results of conventional samples and with regard to drug stability. Such studies will enable a more reliable and confident interpretation of results obtained from these matrices especially for medico-legal purposes. The main aims of this research were: to develop and validate analytical methods for detection and quantitation of drugs of use and abuse in hair, oral fluids, blood and DBS samples, to investigate the correlation between dose and drug concentration in hair, blood and oral fluids after controlled chronic drug administration, to investigate the stability of anti-psychotic drugs in DBS (from patients) stored under different conditions and the effect of addition of preservative, and to investigate the alcohol intake prevalence among Kuwaiti drug addicts and correlate these results with selfreported intake. As the majority of drugs were basic, an extraction method based on methanolic incubation was developed for detection of basic/weak basic drugs in hair. It was compared to alkaline digestion (with NaOH) followed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Detection was achieved by LC-MS/MS (Sciex2000) after separation on a C18 column. When applying both methods on positive authentic hair samples the results showed that the methanolic method was capable of extracting most basic drugs in hair but only partially, while the alkaline digestion method was found to degrade V some unstable drugs like sulpiride, but was capable of fully extracting the alkaline stable drugs such as quetiapine. After development and validation of the LLE-LC-MS(Exactive) method for the analysis of anti-psychotics in blood, oral fluids and hair, an investigation was carried out on the correlation pattern between trough concentrations in those three matrices. The most significant correlation coefficients (r) found were those between blood and hair concentrations, procyclidine r=0.83 (18 subjects p=<0.001), risperidone r=0.96 (14 subjects p=<0.001), haloperidol r=0.90 (10 subjects p=<0.001), OH-risperidone r=0.24 (13 subjects p=>0.44), quetiapine r=0.28 (14 subjects p=>0.33) and chlorprothixene r=0.32 (13 subjects p=>0.32). Among the interesting results was the strong correlation found between drugs half-lives and the mean ratio of hair concentration/dose (r=0.96, p=<0.003). The stability of anti-pyschotics in DBS from patients’ samples was assessed by storing them at four different temperatures (25, 4, -20 and -80°C) with and without prior impregnation of the DBS cards with sodium fluoride. After development and validation of the LLE-LC-MS method, samples were analysed at days 0, 45, 90 and 180. Results showed good stability of all the compounds (procyclidine, quetiapine, risperidone, OH-risperidone, chlorprothixene and haloperidol) in all the different storage conditions and no significant increase or decrease in drug concentrations with sodium fluoride impregnation. Finally, after trials with five different HPLC columns, two SPE cartridges, two LLE extraction procedures and two mass spectrometer instruments, a method was developed and validated for the detection and quantitation of alcohol’s minor and specific metabolite in hair, ethyl glucuronide (EtG). The method has a limit of detection (LOD) of 3pg/mg and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 9pg/mg. This method was applied to 59 hair samples from patients at a general addiction centre and alcohol prevalence was investigated and its correlation with self-reported use was investigated.
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May, Suepattra Grace. ""Whatever she wants": An ethnography of American women, sex and the internet." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2010. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3398881.
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Hoffman, Tricia Marie. "The Use of Elemental Databases in Forensic Science: Studies on Vehicle Glass Interpretation and Milk Powder Provenancing." FIU Digital Commons, 2018. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3812.
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The first study focuses on the development of a laser based method for the elemental analysis of solid milk powder. Milk powder samples originating from five different countries were analyzed to determine any geographic differences. A LA-ICP-MS method was developed and compared to k0-INAA for several milk samples as well as a reference sample. Precision of 10% RSD or better and a bias of 10% was achieved for both techniques for most elements with LA-ICP-MS producing lower limits of detection (~ 1 ppm) for Sr. The comparison of LA-ICP-MS to k0-INAA showed overlap of the 95% confidence intervals for all comparison samples. The data for 68 authentic milk powder samples representing 5 different countries (Argentina, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, and the United States) was collected and used as a preliminary database. Principle component analysis (PCA) shows different groupings for the United States, Argentina, Singapore, and Slovenia. However the large number and geographic distribution of samples from Russia were not able to be distinguished from the samples from the United States and Slovenia.
The second study focuses on the use of trace element databases for the objective interpretation of forensic glass evidence. Ten laboratories conducting analysis of glass participated in three inter-laboratory exercises. The aims of these exercises were to evaluate the use of a standard method for the analysis and comparison of glass evidence and to investigate different statistical approaches for interpreting results. Elemental analysis was performed on 420 vehicle windshield samples collected from 210 different vehicles representing manufacturing dates between 2004-2017 and 26 vehicle manufacturers. Using a variation of a previously reported comparison criterion for comparing samples to a database, the false exclusion rate and false inclusion rate for the new vehicle database were calculated to be 1.9% and 0.1 % respectively. This criterion was used to calculate the frequency of an elemental profile for the case scenarios distributed as part of the inter-laboratory exercises. Similarities were observed between labs that calibrated their data the same way, thus showing it is possible for labs to use a central database.
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Naidoo, Jason. "An action research inquiry into outcomes-based education and training in an adult learning environment at the Forensic Science Laboratory." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17404.
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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.
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Lee, Mihan R. "Investigating Socioeconomic Disparities in Patient Experiences of Infertility in the US." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33493420.
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Infertility is a common problem in the US, affecting approximately 1 in 8 couples of childbearing age, or over 7 million women nationwide. But while infertility affects women from across the socio-economic spectrum, it is by no means egalitarian in its distribution, nor uniform in its lived experience. Rather, evidence shows significant disparities by race, income, and educational status, in terms of overall prevalence of infertility, drivers and underlying causes of infertility, access to infertility services, and success rates after receiving infertility treatments.
This dissertation seeks to examine some of the specific mechanisms and pathways by which these disparities arise and persist. First, I report findings from a document review of online reproductive health materials, concluding that information about the risks of infertility is differently available and targeted to different sectors of the population. This can lead to disadvantaged women having less information about strategies to prevent infertility, as well as being less likely to have symptoms of an infertility-causing condition diagnosed and treated in a timely way. The second paper builds upon and extends these hypotheses, investigating through key informant interviews how such targeted provision of infertility information comes to affect lived patient experiences of infertility. Finally, the third paper examines disparities in the way patients find and receive social support during an infertility journey. It undertakes a “cyber-ethnography” of an online infertility patient forum, examining how the forum’s discourse produces dominant and counter narratives of infertility, and enforces categories of belonging that impact how support is offered to users of the site.Health Policy
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Towghi, Fouzieyha. "Scales of marginalities: Transformations in women's bodies, medicines, and land in postcolonial Balochistan, Pakistan." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2007. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3289320.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco with the University of California, Berkeley, 2007.Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: A, page: 4757. Advisers: Sharon Kaufman; Vincanne Adams.
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Pitt, Alison Patricia. "Comparison of Middle Eastern Bedouin genotypes with previously studies populations using polymorphic Alu insertions." University of Western Australia. Centre for Forensic Science, 2009. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0119.
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[Truncated abstract] Polymorphic Alu insertions (POALINs) are known to contribute to the variation and genetic diversity of the human genome. In this report specific POALINs of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) were studied. Previous population studies on the MHC POALINs have focused on individuals of African, European and Asian descent. In this study, we expand the research by studying a new and previously uncharacterised population, focusing on the Bedouin from the Middle East. Specifically we report on the individual insertion frequencies of four POALINs within the MHC class I region of this population. POALINs are members of a young Alu subfamily that have only recently been inserted into the human genome. POALINs are either present or absent at particular sites. Individuals that share the inserted (or deleted) polymorphism inherited the insertion (or deletion) from a common ancestor, making Alu alleles identical by decent. In population genetics a comparison of the resulting products from each population can then be done by comparing the lengths of the PCR products in a series of unrelated individuals and may also detect polymorphisms with regard to the presence or absence of the Alu repeats. As a direct result of their abundance and sequence identity, they promote genetic recombination events that are responsible for large-scale deletions, duplication and translocations. The deletions occur mostly in the A-T rich regions and have found to be unlikely to have been created independently of the insertions of the Alu elements (Callinan et al, 2005) The easy genotyping of the POALINs has proven to be very valuable as lineage markers for the study of human population genetics, pedigree and forensics as well as genomic diversity and evolution. POALINs have been used in a range of applications, primarily focusing on anthropological analysis of human populations. As a result of its ease of use and its utility as a marker in human evolutions studies, combining the POALINs along with other markers used in forensics could lead to improved identity testing in forensic science. More specifically, in combination with more traditional markers, race specific genotypes and haplotypes could be used for profiling crime scene samples. ... This is supported by previously reported molecular data using various types of genetic markers. In a study using six separate Alu genes, Antunez-de-Mayolo et al were able to generate a phylogenetic tree, in which the biogeographical groups followed a pattern. The biogeographical groups started with African populations that were found to relate closely to the hypothetical ancestral African population. The African populations were then followed in order by Southwest Asian populations, European populations which include Middle Eastern groups (Antunez-de-Mayolo et al, 2002). This study shows the similarities and differences between the frequencies of the Middle Eastern Bedouin and the rest of the compared populations. Though no clear results were determined, the information from the POALINs along with information provided from other genetic markers can lead to further research on the Bedouin population and the improvement of the forensic population database in order to accurately test individual ethnic background of samples to be analysed.
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Strandberg, Joakim. "Toxicological studies of opiate-related death /." Stockholm, 2007. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2007/978-91-7357-191-3/.
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Nicoletti, Marcela, Andréia Isabel Giacomozzi, and Maria Fernanda Cabral. "Analysis of two case studies of sexual abuse committed by mothers." Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2017. http://repositorio.pucp.edu.pe/index/handle/123456789/102356.
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This article aimed to analyze two cases of sexual abuse against girls, one with three years old and another with six years old, which was perpetrated by their progenitors, and examined by a psychosocial team of a South Brazilian Forum. In both cases the mothers had a family history of incestuous sexual abuse, were living alone with their daughters and the proper disclosure of the abuse committed against the girls only happened after the guard reversal. The fathers showed a passive behavior against the ex-wives and they were still sexually attached to them. With regard to the sexual violence, they had trouble believing it had been perpetrated by the mothers. It was also observed the difficulty of specialized services (police stations) to receive and register the complaintEste artículo tuvo como objetivo analizar dos casos de abuso sexual contra niñas, una con 3 y la otra con 6 años de edad, cometidos por sus progenitoras, y que fueron periciados por el equipo psicosocial de un Foro del sur de Brasil. En ambos casos las madres abusivas tenían una historia familiar de abuso sexual incestuoso y vivían solas con sus hijas, la revelación del abuso ocurrió solamente después de la reversión de guardia. Los padres de las niñas tenían un comportamiento pasivo en relación a las ex mujeres, aun siendo sexualmente unidos a ellas. En relación a la violencia sexual, los padres tenían problemas para creer lo que había sido perpetrado por ellas. Se observó también la dificultad de servicios especializados (comisarías de policía) para recibir y registrar la denuncia.
Este artigo teve como objetivo analisar dois casos de abuso sexual contra meninas, uma com 3 e a outra com 6 anos de idade, cometidos por suas genitoras, que foram periciados por equipe psicossocial de um Fórum do Sul do Brasil. Em ambos os casos as mães abusivas tinham uma historia familiar de abuso sexual incestuoso e viviam sozinhas com as filhas e a revelação do abuso ocorreu somente depois da reversão de guarda. Os pais das meninas apresentavam comportamento passivo em relação as ex mulheres ainda estando sexualmente ligados a elas. Em relação a violência sexual, eles tinham dificuldade em acreditar que havia sido perpetrada por elas. Se observou ainda a dificuldade dos serviços especializados (delegacias de policia) de receber e registrar a queixa.
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Radosteva, Alesya. "Cultural Consultations in Criminal Forensic Psychology:A Thematic Analysis of the Literature." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1536856667462656.
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Krummel, Jordan Andrea. "Holt Cemetery| An anthropological analysis of an urban potter's field." Thesis, Tulane University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1522757.
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Holt Cemetery is a historic potter's field in New Orleans that has been in active use for several centuries. One of the few below-ground cemeteries in New Orleans, it is one of the most culturally fascinating burial places in the city. In spite of being frequently visited by families (evidenced by the unique votive material left on grave plots) and the final resting place of several historic figures, Holt is threatened by a lack of conservation so extreme that the ground surface is littered with human remains and the cemetery is left unprotected against grave robbing. Many locals have expressed concern that occult rituals take place within Holt, promoting the theft of human bones, while others have expressed concern that the skeletal material is stolen to be sold. Attempts to map and document the cemetery were originally undertaken by archaeologists working in the area who intended to create a searchable database with an interactive GIS map. Additionally, the nonprofit group Save Our Cemeteries, which works to restore New Orleans' cemeteries and educate the public about their importance, has taken part in conservation work. As of today all the projects and preservation efforts involving the cemetery have ceased. This thesis documents and analyzes the skeletal material within the cemetery alongside the votive material and attempts to explain why Holt is allowed to exist in its current state of disrepair while still remaining a place of vivid expressive culture.
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Marwah, Elizabeth VP. "Understanding How Young People Experience Risk with Online-to-Offline Sexual Encounters| A Second Qualitative Phase for the CH T Project." Thesis, University of South Florida, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1604797.
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This study investigates how heterosexual young people understand and manage risks related to meeting sexual partners online in the United States. The purpose of this study is to help inform the development of culturally-appropriate sexual risk communication and health promotion messages for young people by linking public health knowledge of adolescent sexual health and eHealth with anthropological theories of risk. With qualitative data from two rounds of semi-structured interviews and two group interviews with university students in central Florida, this study shows how young people experience and prioritize more social-emotional risks in meeting online-to-offline sexual partners compared to physical risks. The prominence of these social-emotional risks implies the need for more health promotion messages that incorporate both physical and social-emotional health risk communication.
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Martin, Mary-Anne. "Psychological assessment for the courts : A survey of psychologists." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1999. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1262.
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The literature relevant to legal standards in criminal, family, and civil settings in relation to psychological assessments for the courts is reviewed. Although over the past twenty years, a number of specialised forensic instruments have been developed for use in forensic settings, it appears that they are infrequently used. Surveys of test use patterns reveal that psychological test use in forensic settings is virtually identical to that in clinical settings, despite the different nature of the referral questions. The debate about the use of psychological tests in forensic assessments, and research on the use of tests in these assessments is also discussed. Research into the quality of forensic evaluations and psychological evidence in court was explored. Literature about evaluation practices and the experiences of psychologists within legal settings is also discussed. Australian psychologists who do forensic assessments for the courts were surveyed about their work settings, experience, training, evaluation practices, and experiences of the legal system. Responses were received from 79 participants who worked in institutional and/or private practice settings. In general, psychologists who do forensic work are satisfied with their experiences in court. This suggests that psychological evidence is well accepted by the courts. The implications of unquestioning acceptance of psychological evidence by the courts are discussed. The results revealed a high use of neuropsychological tests (seven of the top ten most frequently used tests) in forensic assessments in comparison to results from studies in USA and UK. These results highlight the need for a focus on neuropsychology in forensic courses. The survey offers a profile of Australian psychologists providing psychological assessments for the courts.
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Tise, Meredith L. "Craniometric Ancestry Proportions among Groups Considered Hispanic: Genetic Biological Variation, Sex-Biased Asymmetry, and Forensic Applications." Scholar Commons, 2014. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5141.
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Today, groups considered Hispanic in the United States consist of populations whose complex genetic structures reflect intermixed diverse groups of people who came in contact during Spanish colonization in Latin America. After coming in contact and wiping out most of the Native Americans who occupied North and Latin America, the Spanish also introduced West African individuals for labor to begin developing crops to be shipped back to Europe, resulting in the Trans-Atlantic African slave trade. These migration events and differential gene flow among males and females that occurred throughout Latin America have led to populations that have been genetically transformed from what they were prior to Spanish arrival (Madrigal, 2006).
Genetic research commonly refers to individuals considered Hispanic as "tri-hybrids" of Native American, European, and African ancestry (Bertoni et al., 2003; Gonz[aacute]lez-Andrade et al., 2007). This research focuses on populations from present-day Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, all of whom experienced various population histories as these three ancestral groups came in contact. Published genetic research demonstrates that individuals from Mexico tend to have the highest mean proportion of Native American ancestry, while Puerto Rican individuals have the highest mean proportion of European ancestry, and Cuban individuals have the highest mean proportion of African ancestry (Bonilla et al., 2005; Lisker et al., 1990; Mendizabal et al., 2008; Tang et al., 2007; Via et al., 2011). The present research utilizes craniometric data from these three groups to determine whether the cranial morphology reflects similar population relationships and mean ancestry proportions as found in genetic research through Mahalanobis distance (D2), canonical discriminant function, and normal mixture cluster analyses. Sex-biased ancestry asymmetry was also tested by separating each group by sex and running the same analyses.
The results show that all three groups considered Hispanic (Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba) are significantly different from each other; however, when proxy ancestral groups are included (Guatemalan Mayan, Indigenous Caribbean, Spanish, and West African), the Mexican and Guatemalan Mayan samples are the most similar, followed by the Mexican and Indigenous Caribbean samples and the Puerto Rican and Cuban samples. The results of the normal mixture analyses indicate that Mexico has the highest mean ancestry proportion of Native American (Guatemalan Mayan) (72.9%), while the Puerto Rican and Cuban samples both have a higher mean European ancestry proportion, with 81.34% and 73.6% respectively. While the Cuban sample is not reflective of the genetic research in regards to ancestry proportion results, with the highest proportion of African ancestry over European and Native American ancestry, it does have the highest proportion of African ancestry among the three groups (18.4%). When separated by sex, the results indicate that the Mexican and Puerto Rican samples may show some evidence in sex-biased ancestry proportions, with the male individuals having a larger proportion of European ancestry and the female individuals having a larger proportion of Native American or African ancestry. Cuba, on the other hand, does not follow this trend and instead displays a higher proportion of European ancestry in females and a higher proportion of Native American and African ancestry in the males.
Techniques in the field of forensic anthropology in the United States are constantly being reanalyzed and restructured based on the changing demographics of the population, especially with the arrival of individuals from Latin America (Ennis et al., 2011). Recent samples of American Black and White individuals were included in the Mahalanobis distance (D2) and canonical discriminant function analyses in place of the ancestral proxy groups to determine the craniometric relationship of the groups within the United States. The results show that the Mexico and Guatemala samples are the most similar (D2=2.624), followed by the Cuba and American Black samples (D2=3.296) and the Puerto Rico and American White samples (D2=4.317), which each cluster together in pairs. These results reflect the population histories that took place during colonialism, with the largest amount of slave trade occurring in Cuba over the other two countries. From an applied perspective, clarification is needed in the biological definition of Hispanic and the degree of heterogeneity in each social group, as well as the relationship among groups, in order to accurately develop techniques in forensic anthropology for human identification.
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Hodges, Stanley Keith. "Forensic Gunshot Residue Distance Determination Testing Using Identical Make and Model Handguns and Different Ammunitions." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2008. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1915.
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The determination of how far a firearm was from a victim or target when it was discharged is a frequent request to crime laboratories. This determination requires test firing the firearm at various distances to compare gunshot residue patterns made during the test with patterns on the victim or target. Crime laboratories stipulate that the same firearm and ammunition used in commission of the crime must be used for this testing; however, little empirical evidence exists supporting this requirement. It was the purpose of this study to determine if there were any significant differences using different firearms and different ammunition in distance determination testing. The findings indicated that no significant differences occurred with different firearms but there were significant differences with different brands of ammunition.
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Haley, Jamalieh. "Escalating Language at Traffic Stops: Two Case Studies." PDXScholar, 2017. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3887.
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In recent years, the public has seen a rise in recorded footage of violent encounters between police and Black American citizens, partially due to technology such as cell phones, dash-cameras, and body-cameras. This linguistic study examines how these encounters get escalated to the point of violence by asking 1) what kind of directives were used, 2) how were they responded to, 3) how the directives contributed to escalation, and 4) how might power and authority have played a role. I use two case studies to analyze directives and their responses. Findings reveal that repetition of directives on the part of the officers, as well as the rejections to those directives on the part of the motorists tend to aggravate the conversation. I conclude that a variety of directives may represent a variety of reasons the officer might have for a motorist to comply with their directives and that police authority might be better understood and agreed to by the motorist if a variety of linguistic resources were used.
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Nordström, Annika. "Violent offenders with schizophrenia : quantitative and qualitative studies focusing on the family of origin." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Psykiatri, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-298.
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The focus of the thesis is on violent offenders with schizophrenia and their relatives. The aims were to explore incidence of violent crimes, the extent to which family members were victims, to investigate individual background factors among violent offenders, and to identify psychotic symptoms and triggering factors associated with fatal violence. In addition, parents were interviewed to build an understanding of their experiences and emotional reactions. One study examined all 369 male individuals who had committed a violent crime (assault, homicide or attempt to any of these crimes), who in a pre-trial forensic psychiatric evaluation (FPE) during 1992-2000 were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and who were referred to forensic psychiatric treatment. Although the majority of the 615 victims was unacquainted to the offenders, family members or male acquainted were most at risk of being severely injured or killed as victims. Background factors were studied for the 207 Swedish offenders who for their first time were subjects of a FPE during the study period. There were indications that those offenders who targeted family members had an earlier onset and more severe course of their mental illness. During the study period, 48 offenders committed homicides. Of the 52 victims, 83% were family members or acquainted to the offender. Those who killed a family member had more often delusions and/or hallucinations, were less often intoxicated, had to a lesser extent committed a previous violent crime and they were younger at the time of the homicide. Parents, who were interviewed, were very emotionally involved in their adult sons, although they were not living together. Ignorance regarding the diagnosis of their son and his criminality negatively influenced the contacts, both between parent and son and between parent and professionals in psychiatry. However, the referral to forensic psychiatric treatment gave the parents hope for a positive development.
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Bull, Sofia. "A Post-genomic Forensic Crime Drama : CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Cultural Forum on Science." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för mediestudier, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-81474.
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This thesis examines how the first 10 seasons of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS, 2000–) engage with discourses on science. Investigating CSI’s representation of scientific practices and knowledge, it explicitly attempts to look beyond the generic assumption that forensic crime dramas simply ‘celebrate’ science. The material is analysed at three different levels, studying CSI’s wider cultural discursive context, genre linkages, and audio-visual form. In order to fully account for the series’ specificity, the thesis undertakes comparative analyses of earlier forensic crime dramas and other relevant audio-visual material. Close textual readings of certain thematic tropes, narrative devices and visual imagery in CSI are thus supplemented by historical studies of their extended generic backgrounds. This textual-historical approach generates a general argument that CSI dramatizes and evokes a number of different, and often contradictory, scientific ideas, perspectives and discursive shifts. The thesis concludes that CSI stages a transnational cultural forum, simultaneously engaging with residual, dominant and emergent discourses on science. Throughout, close attention is paid to the multiple perspectives and viewpoints that allow the series to appeal to a wide and heterogeneous global audience. Furthermore, the thesis asserts that CSI specifically articulates a post-genomic structure of feeling, which begins to express the wider cultural implications of an emergent discursive shift whereby the instrumentalisation of molecular science seemingly offers more possibilities for human intervention into biological processes. Thus, the study demonstrates how CSI’s discourse on science treats recent scientific developments as engendering a cultural process of redefinition, questioning foundational concepts such as truth, identity, body, kinship and emotions.
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Martin, Bertha Louise. "High pressure liquid chromatography ion exchange studies on bile relating to the postmortem interval." Scholarly Commons, 1987. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2141.
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It is the purpose of this, then, to investigate the feasibility of using the changes of concentrations of small iconic decomposition products in bile as indicators of time since death. High pressure liquid chromatography was selected for measurement of these changes.
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Khanafer, Dani. "Towards an understanding of sudden, unexplained, prolonged pain in a Muslim context." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/27638.
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This thesis examines how Shia Muslims react to sudden, unexplained, and prolonged pain. In doing so, the thesis frames physical pain not only as physiological phenomenon but also as a phenomenon that is defined by historical, cultural and social context. Sudden, unexplained and prolonged pain not only produces physical hurt, it also has the capacity to interrupt individuals' social activities and as a consequence their identities and the meanings with which they are associated. For this reason, it is argued that biomedicine and psychology are not always capable of giving satisfactory accounts of the experience of pain. This failure frequently leads individuals who succumb to sudden, unexplained and prolonged pain to look for meaning in religious or quasi-religious experience. The thesis first explores historically divergent conceptions of pain. It then gives an overview of biomedical, psychological and sociological and anthropological conceptions of pain. A theoretical framework is developed that connects the experience of pain with broader social meanings, identity and the body. This framework is used to analyse qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with Shia Muslim scholars and Shia Muslim respondents who have experienced or are experiencing sudden unexplored pain. It is shown that the religious worldview provides believers with cultural resources that allow them to negotiate the crisis of meaning and identity provoked by the experience of sudden, unexplained, prolonged pain.
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Drew, Rose. "Managing human skeletal collections : a rapid assessment system." Thesis, University of Winchester, 2015. http://repository.winchester.ac.uk/855/.
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Research Imperative: This project describes an observation-based protocol to rapidly assess skeletonised human remains. Up to 60% of British museums are unaware of the quality and quantity of their holdings; almost all lack databases. Thousands of remains are disturbed annually during commercial and private development, but funding, time and skills rarely align to provide basic assessments, a true impediment to research. Several well-known collections are examined repeatedly, with others under-studied or inspected randomly; data accumulates haphazardly as scholars research specific questions. A rapid assessment system is needed. Aims: This ‘Rapid Assessment System’ (RAS) aims to capture information using affordable and available resources: curators, students and volunteers. RAS answer sheets offer multiple options using non-specialist language. In this way, basic data about a skeleton can be collected. Methods: Volunteers without osteological training were provided with RAS answer sheets and specimen skeletons to examine. Observations were ‘correct’ when in agreement with the author. The RAS was divided into an Inventory segment, assessing presence, absence and condition of skeletal elements, and assessing traits associated with age and sex; and a Paleopathology segment assessing normal and abnormal appearance of teeth and bones. In Winchester, 37 volunteers (undergraduates, semi-retired amateur archaeologists) trialed the RAS over three weekly two-hour sessions, with 22 volunteers assessing at least three skeletons: 91 RAS answer sheets were analysed. Results: Pooling results for all three weeks, volunteers were correct 70.4% of the time for Inventory, and 75.3% of the time in the third week. Paleopathology results were mixed: some participants attained 85.2% correct, others less than 10%. Overall condition of remains, a primary assessment recommended by English Heritage enjoyed 90% success (score of 81 from 91 forms). Assessing skull condition was correct 96.2% (87.5/91). Differentiating between ‘robust’, ‘gracile’ and ‘moderate’ long bones was 79.7% effective (72.5/91); recognising tooth wear (none, mild, moderate) accomplished 78.6% (71.5/91). Robusticity and dental wear inform on estimations of sex and age at death. Implications: Basic data can be accurately amassed by novices. Two separate forms are proposed: Inventory for general use; complex Paleopathology assessments for workers with some training or considerable patience. The Paleopathology segment can act as an aid for early-stage researchers and students and help them avoid missing out observations when examining large collections. The RAS can be tailored to assess specific diseases such as leprosy or tuberculosis. Future versions should utilise electronic formats to simplify processing. If adopted by commercial firms, universities and museums, data can be captured, permitting information to be shared, and reducing handling of these delicate, poignant and unique ‘artefacts’.
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Abrahams, Zainonesa. "Development and validation of Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems suitable for forensic case work in South Africa." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/2657.
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Magister Scientiae - MScThe objective of this study was to develop and validate a six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system and to determine its suitability for forensic casework in South Africa. In Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems, smaller PCR products are amplified and the primers are positioned as close as possible to the repeat region. For this reason, these systems can be valuable in a variety of scenarios including complex paternity cases, missing persons work, and mass fatality disasters.
South Africa
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Nordström, Annika. "Violent offenders with schizophrenia : quantitative and qualitative studies focusing on the family of origin /." Umeå : Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Univ, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-298.
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Benedicto, Eduardo de Novaes. "Validação de três métodos para estimativa de idade de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/23/23153/tde-27112017-111916/.
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A estimativa de idade é um importante recurso em Odontologia Legal. Entre as diversas formas de se obter uma estimativa de idade, pesquisadores podem fazê-la por meio da análise do estágio de mineralização dos dentes permanentes. Este tipo de análise, torna possível que uma simples radiografia panorâmica possa fornecer dados relevantes para identificar um indivíduo falecido, por exemplo. Este estudo propõe a validação, análise da acurácia e a construção de fórmulas baseadas nos métodos de Liliequist e Lundberg com a adaptação de Hägg e Matsson (LLH), Haavikko (HKK) e Mornstad et al. (MSW) para a estimativa de idade pelo estágio de mineralização dos dentes permanentes em crianças e adolescentes brasileiros. Para alcançar este resultado, foram selecionadas radiografias panorâmicas de brasileiros em uma amostra contendo 1.009 radiografias (387 do sexo masculino e 622 do sexo feminino) com idade entre 8-15,99 anos. Destas radiografias, foram selecionadas apenas as que cumpriram com todos os requisitos dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Após a aplicação das metodologias, os resultados foram inseridos e trabalhados no Programa Excel, Pacote Estatístico STATA 13.0. (StataCorp LP, College Station, Texas, EUA) e MedCalc (Medcalc® Software, Mariakerke, Bélgica) de acordo com as necessidades do estudo. As amostras foram divididas sem distinção quanto ao sexo, com distinção quanto ao sexo, e com distinção quanto ao sexo e idade. A comparação dos métodos foi realizada pela diferença de médias da idade dentária com a idade cronológica (ID-IC). A acurácia foi analisada pela Diferença Absoluta (DA). O teste normalidade de Skewness e Kurtosis foi empregado e, dependendo do resultado, os dados foram submetidos ao Test t de Student, ou ao teste de Wilcoxon, para amostras pareadas. Como resultado das comparações sem qualquer distinção quanto ao sexo, a melhor acurácia foi obtida por LLH (DA = 0,97 e ID-IC = 0,58), HKK (DA = 1,42 e ID-IC = -1,35) e MSW (DA = 2,48 e ID-IC = 3,08). Com distinção quanto ao sexo, os valores para o masculino foram: LLH (DA = 0,91 e ID-IC = -0,45), HKK (DA = 1,80 e ID-IC = -1,75) e MSW (DA = 2,74 e ID-IC = 1,17); e para o feminino LLH (DA = 1,01 e ID-IC = -0,67), HKK (DA = 1,17 e ID-IC = -1,09) e MSW (DA = 2,31 e ID-IC = 0,53). Na comparação com distinção entre sexo e idade houve um predomínio respectivamente da técnica de LLH, seguida de HKK e MSW. As equações de regressão aplicadas na mesma amostra apresentaram em média DA = 0,72 e ID-IC = -0,01. Também, algumas fórmulas de regressão múltipla foram construídas a partir dos dados apresentados para as metodologias de LLH e HKK, exceto para MSW que não forneceu dados suficientes para o software criar equações. Ao final, foi possível concluir que é possível a validação das metodologias apresentadas para a população brasileira e que a metodologia que mais se aproximou da população brasileira foi o método de Liliequist e Lundberg com a adaptação de Hägg e Matsson.Age estimation is an important resource in Forensic Dentistry. Among several ways to obtain the age estimation, researchers may do it by analyzing the mineralization stage of permanent teeth. This type of analysis allows that a simple panoramic radiograph to provide relevant data to identify a deceased individual, for example. This study proposes the validation, accuracy analysis and construction of formulas based on the methods Liliequist and Lundberg with the adaptation of Hägg and Matsson (LLH), Haavikko (HKK) and Mornstad et al. (MSW) for the estimation of age by the stage of mineralization of permanent teeth in Brazilian children and adolescents. To achieve the results, panoramic radiographs of Brazilians were selected in a sample containing 1009 radiographs (387 males and 622 females) aged 8-15.99 years. Of these radiographs, it was selected only those that fulfilled all the requirements of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After applying the methodologies, the results were inserted and worked in the Excel Program, Statistical Package STATA 13.0. (StataCorp LP, College Station, Texas, USA) and MedCalc (Medcalc® Software, Mariakerke, Belgium) according to the needs of the study. The samples were divided without splitting sex, with splitting sex and with splitting sex and age. The comparison of methods was performed by the mean differences between dental age and chronological age (DA-CA). Accuracy was analyzed by Absolute Difference (AD). The Skewness e Kurtosis normality test was employed and the Student t test, or the Wilcoxon test, for paired samples was submitted depending on the results. The results of comparisons informed, without any distinction as to sex, the best accuracy was obtained by LLH (AD = 0.97 and DA-CA = 0.58), HKK (AD = 1.42 and DA-CA = -1.35) and MSW (AD = 2.48 and DA-CA = 3.08). With distinction to sex the values for male were: LLH (AD = 0.91 and DA-CA = -0.45), HKK (AD = 1.80 and DA-CA = -1.75) and MSW (AD = 2.74 and DA-CA = 1.17); and for female: LLH (AD = 1.01 and DA-CA = -0.67), HKK (AD = 1.17 and DA-CA = -1.09) and MSW (AD = 2.31 and DA-CA = 0.53). In the comparison with distinction between sex and age, there was a predominance of the LLH technique, followed by HKK and MSW, respectively. The regression equations applied in the same sample presented mean AD = 0.72 and DA-CA = -0.01. In addition, some multiple regression formulae were constructed from the data presented for LLH and HKK methodologies, except for MSW, which did not provide enough data for the software to create equations. At the end, it was possible to conclude that it is possible to validate the methodologies presented in the Brazilian population and the methodology that most approached the Brazilian population was the Liliequist and Lundberg method with the adaptation of Hägg and Matsson.
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Jones, Eric Douglas. "Forensic Investigation of Stamped Markings Using a Large-Chamber Scanning Electron Microscope and Computer Analysis for Depth Determination." TopSCHOLAR®, 2013. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1237.
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All firearms within the United States are required by the Gun Control Act to be physically marked with a serial number; which is at least 0.003” in depth and 1/16” in height. The purpose of a serial number is to make each firearm uniquely identifiable and traceable. Intentional removal of a serial number is a criminal offense and is used to hide the identity and movements of the involved criminal parties. The current standard for firearm serial number restoration is by chemical etching; which is time & labor intensive as well as destructive to the physical evidence (firearm). It is hypothesized that a new technique that is accurate, precise, and time efficient will greatly aid law enforcement agencies in pursuing criminals. This thesis focuses on using a large chamber scanning electron microscope to take secondary electron (SE) images of a stamped metal plate and analyzing them using the MIRA MX 7 UE image processing software for purposes of depth determination. An experimental peak luminance value of 77 (pixel values) was correlated to the known depth (273 μm) at the bottom of the sample character. Results show that it is potentially possible to determine an unknown depth from a SEM image; using luminance values obtained in the MIRA analysis.
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Wilson, Tierra. "Courtroom Psychology during Criminal Trials and its Therapeutic Role on Victims and Offenders." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7099.
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In the legal and mental health fields little is known about the therapeutic impact of courtroom psychology during criminal trials. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the inter-relating factors of law and psychology throughout criminal trials as experienced by lawyers and psychologists. Research questions explored the influence of courtroom psychology on criminal trial proceedings and challenges as experienced by both criminal trial attorneys in presenting mental health evidence, and by psychologists when testifying during criminal trials. Further exploration focused on the significance of courtroom psychology, and how lawyers and psychologists perceived courtroom psychology impacting justice for victims and influencing offender rehabilitation sentencing decisions. Procedural justice was the conceptual framework utilized in this investigation, and therapeutic jurisprudence was the theoretical base that guided this study. A qualitative-phenomenological research design was applied by interviewing 4 criminal law attorneys and 4 clinical forensic psychologists. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the data collected: (a) an increase in the enhancement of psycho-legal services, (b) a need for additional education, (c) a desire to improve professional relationships through collaborative efforts, and (d) a demand for requiring advanced training. These results may serve as a foundation for professionals to provide ethically effective and relevant legal-therapeutic services for progressing courtroom psychology measures. Implications for positive social change from this research include recommendations to government, legal, and mental health system entities to consider generating and readjusting standards of practice that govern criminal trial proceedings.
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Razzak, Junaid A. "The potential of ambulance records for a road traffic safety agenda in low-income cities : studies from Karachi, Pakistan /." Stockholm, 2005. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2005/91-628-6608-7/.
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Doying, Annette. "Differentiation of Labor-Related Activity by Means of Musculoskeletal Markers." Scholar Commons, 2010. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1618.
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This study tests whether musculoskeletal markers are attributable to occupational categories. It is hypothesized that individuals over the age of 30 years with a lifetime occupation as a laborer will demonstrate a significantly different pattern of activity markers from individuals in the white collar classifications. A sample of n=69 from the Maxwell Museum's Documented Skeletal Collection are investigated.
Upper and lower extremities were scored for MSM type (robusticity, stress lesions, and ossification exostoses) and severity (grades 0 - 3) following Hawkey and Merbs (1995) visual reference system. To evaluate methodological approaches to MSM scoring, ossification exostoses and stress lesions were also scored using the Mariotti et al. (2004) proposed methods. Upper limb muscle insertion sites on the humerus, radius, and ulna and lower limb insertion sites on the femur, fibula, patella, calcaneus, and tibia were studied.
The Kruskal Wallis test was used to predict occupational class according to an individual's aggregate MSM z-score. The Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison of aggregate MSM z-scores between the two occupational categories and for comparison of aggregate MSM z-scores between males and females. The Spearman correlation was used for non-parametric correlation analysis of aggregate MSM z-scores and the occupational categories of white collar and labor. The data were analyzed using the statistical software program SPSS (version 17.0).
Results of this study show that musculoskeletal markers cannot statistically predict, nor can they be used to distinguish between, occupational categories of white collar and labor. Comparison of MSM shows no significant difference in the overall patterns of enthesopathies between individuals who report an occupation of white collar or those who report an occupation of laborer as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel. Comparison of MSM in this population shows no significant difference between males and females, regardless of occupational category, a finding which runs counter to many earlier studies.
Using dichotomous data it is revealed that laborers develop MSM symmetrically, evidence of whole-body activity. Further, white collar MSM can be associated with sitting and elevating the arm. Laborer's MSM are associated with lifting, twisting, pushing, squatting, walking, running and standing.
Recommendations on methodology are provided.
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Alvi, Atiq H. "Rehabilitation of Precast Deck Panel Bridges." Scholar Commons, 2010. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3581.
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USF completed a research study in 2005, which prioritized the replacement of 85 deteriorating composite precast deck panel bridges. This thesis re-evaluates the original recommendations in the wake of failures of two of these bridges in 2007. Since funding will not allow all identified bridges to be replaced, it was necessary to determine the most effective repair methods. To assess USF’s recommendations, a forensic study was undertaken in which the most current inspection and work program documents on the two failed bridges were reviewed and FDOT personnel interviewed. The best repair procedures were determined by reviewing repair plans, specifications, reports and site visits. The study found the two bridges that failed had been correctly prioritized by USF (No. 1 of 18 and No. 8 of 15). A new, accelerated repair method encompassing complete bay replacement was developed in a pilot project funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.
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Gualtero, Ivan A. "Deterioration Process and Deck Failure Mechanism of Florida’s Precast Deck Panel Bridges." Scholar Commons, 2004. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1058.
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During the late 70's and early 80's, several precast deck panel bridges were constructed in Florida. These utilize prestressed precast panels as stay-in-place forms and are designed to act compositely with a cast-in-place deck which is poured subsequently. Such bridges offer advantages of quicker construction and lower costs. However, several such bridges built in Florida developed extensive cracking and spalling. Following localized failures, the Florida Department of Transportation has decided to replace all 127 precast panel deck bridges in Districts 1 and 7. Since deck replacement is contingent on funding, it is necessary to develop a rational procedure to decide the order in which they are replaced. This requires a better understanding of the deterioration process and failure mechanism in such bridge decks. The methodology used in this study was to first analyze in detail 5 cases of sudden localized deck failures to identify the causes of the failures and any common factors in the failed bridges. Also, forensic studies were conducted on eight bridges scheduled for deck replacements during 2003 and 2004. In these studies it was possible to investigate in detail the condition of the deck at different stages of deterioration. Based on the information collected, a deck failure model was developed.
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Carlin, Michelle. "Development and evaluation of an LC-ESI-MS method for the simultaneous detection of five major opium alkaloids." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2015. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/27317/.
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The aim of this work was to establish an analytical method for the simultaneous detection of five major opium alkaloids in poppy seeds by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Once opium alkaloids were detected in poppy seeds, toxicological studies were carried out to establish if these compounds were detected in oral fluid (OF) of participants who ingested muffins containing poppy seeds. It is known that the ingestion of poppy seeds has caused positive opiate drug test results and much work has been reported in the scientific literature in the last 20 years. Researchers in the field have investigated alternatives to differentiate between heroin administration and that of other opiate drugs versus poppy seed ingestion. Most of the work which has been carried out relates to establishing illicit heroin use by examining biological matrices for the presence of acetylcodeine, thebaine, papaverine, noscapine and their associated metabolites. The research methodology consisted of establishing an LC-ESI-MS method for the simultaneous detection of five major opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine). A deuterated internal standard (morphine-d3) was used for the quantitation of alkaloids in harvested poppy seeds and oral fluid samples. Due to technical difficulties, 3 LC-MS instruments were employed in this work. Electrospray ionisation was employed in all mass spectrometers but the analysers included an ion trap with octopole, a triple quadrupole and a hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap. Suitable extraction procedures were determined and harvested seeds purchased from a number of supermarkets were analysed for the presence of five alkaloid compounds using the LC-MS method. A small scale pilot study with 6 participants was carried out to establish if it was possible to fail an OF drug test for opiates after consuming poppy seed muffins. OF samples were collected post ingestion using Quantisal™ kits and the level of each of the opiates was monitored. The findings were that an LC-ESI-MS method was established for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of five major alkaloids. However, the method development process involved finding a solution to co-elution of morphine and codeine. The process also included resolving the issue of thebaine producing two peaks with identical mass spectra and separated by a difference of 6 minutes in retention time. Varying levels of alkaloids were identified in harvested poppy seeds: levels of these compounds differed considerably within and between batches of poppy seeds. These findings could be attributed to a number of factors, for example, where and how the plants were grown and methods of harvesting. Two poppy seed muffins were consumed as part of a toxicology study. Morphine was detected in the 5 minute sample in 5 out of the 6 participants with concentrations in OF of 0.5-0.8 ng mL-1; codeine was detected in 2 of the 6 participants at 1.5 and 2.6 ng mL-1. Thebaine, noscapine and papaverine were also detected in OF of a number of participants, which has not been previously reported in the literature. However, it should be noted that the values calculated are only estimated since the peak area ratios obtained were found to be less than the lowest concentration (10 ng mL-1) in the linear calibration range. In conclusion, an LC-ESI-MS method for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of five major opium alkaloids has been established and has been used to detect alkaloids in harvested poppy seeds and oral fluid samples. From a small pilot toxicology study, oral fluid results indicate that levels of morphine and codeine do not exceed the SAMSHA 40 ng mL-1 cut-off after ingestion of a realistic amount of poppy seeds contained within bakery products.
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Dotson, Meryle Akeara. "Postnatal Dental Mineralization: a Comparative Analysis of Dental Development Among Contemporary Populations of the Southeastern United States." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3079.
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Due to the strong genetic component of dental development, research has shown that mineralization patterns of the human dentition are relatively buffered against environmental influences that normally affect bone growth and development. It is because of this resistance to environmental factors and the continuous growth of the permanent dentition throughout childhood and adolescence that the evaluation of dental development patterns has become the preferred method of age estimation in living and deceased children.
Researchers (Harris and Mckee 1990; Tompkins 1996; Blankenship et al. 2007; Kasper et al. 2009) have suggested that the timing of dental development varies by ancestral descent and geographic populations. However, further evaluations of these perceived differences in the timing of dental development among populations are necessary as classical statistical methods result in age estimations that are biased toward the age structure of the reference population. However, the Bayesian approach is beneficial since it incorporates relevant prior knowledge into the analysis and formalizes the relationship between assumptions and conclusions (Buck et al. 1996). Therefore, the purpose of this research is to incorporate methods in Bayesian analysis to compare the timing of dental development between two contemporary populations of the Southeastern United States, as well as test the accuracy of dental development age parameters devised by Moorrees et al. (1963) on a contemporary Florida Population.
For this study, 51 panoramic radiographs of individuals from a contemporary Florida population ranging in age from 7.7-20.4 years were reviewed. Statistical analyses incorporated a Bayesian approach to compare the timing of dental development for individuals comprising the contemporary Florida sample with the timing of dental development for a contemporary Middle Tennessee population by utilizing the age structure of the Middle Tennessee population as informed prior knowledge, otherwise referred to as an informed prior. Transition distributions for age, given stage of dental development, were also modeled for individuals comprising the contemporary Florida sample. The accurate observation and comparison of probability density distributions for age can serve as a noninvasive method for evaluating the probability of whether or not an unknown individual is a particular age, given the stage of dental development.
Results of this research indicate that there is a consistent underestimation of age for individuals comprising the contemporary Florida population when the age structure of the Middle Tennessee population is utilized as an informed prior. Additionally, the results of this thesis indicate that there is a consistent underestimation of age when utilizing age parameters of Moorrees et al. (1963) for the estimation of age for individuals from a contemporary Florida population. By incorporating a Bayesian approach to compare two contemporary populations of the Southeastern United States, a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between age and stage of dental development can be achieved. Therefore, the results of this thesis support Bayesian analysis as an appropriate method of evaluating perceived differences in the timing of dental development between contemporary populations. Furthermore, the results of this research are beneficial to the field of forensic anthropology as the observation of advanced stages of molar development utilizing panoramic radiographs serves as a noninvasive method in estimating age for unknown juveniles and young adults, and can also assist courts within the United States in determining whether or not an individual is legally considered a minor or an adult.
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Strömstedt, Isabelle. ""How do you know all this crap?" : The Representation of Cognitive Processes and Knowledge in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Sherlock." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för studier av samhällsutveckling och kultur, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-122771.
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In contemporary crime drama there has been a shift of main character from the forensic scientist to the consultant. This put the representation of knowledge in a different light. In this study the focus is on how, and what kind of cognitive processes and knowledge are represented in two crime dramas with consultants as main characters; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Sherlock. Basing the analysis on concepts of cognitive processes and knowledge, it becomes evident that due to the shift in main character the representation of knowledge also has changed; from an institutionalized and science based view on knowledge to the legitimization of a personal, uncritical and fast way of gathering knowledge.
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Almeida, Emerson Rodrigo. "Análise da tomografia de micro-ondas em dados GPR sob condições controladas: aplicações em arqueologia e estudos forenses." Universidade de São Paulo, 2016. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/14/14132/tde-04062018-170248/.
Full textAbstract:
Nesta pesquisa de doutorado foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de análise e interpretação de dados GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) empregando a tomografia de micro-ondas. Esta ferramenta foi empregada com o objetivo de detectar e estimar a geometria de alvos que simulam artefatos comumente encontrados em sítios arqueológicos brasileiros e de um alvo orgânico que simula um corpo humano em decomposição visando estudos forenses sob condições controladas. Os dados de interesse arqueológico foram adquiridos sobre o Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa (SCGR) do IAG/USP. Os dados de interesse forense foram adquiridos sobre um experimento controlado conduzido no campus da USP em Pirassununga (SP), onde um porco de aproximadamente 80 kg foi enterrado e a sua decomposição foi monitorada com o método GPR ao longo de 18 meses. Os cálculos necessários para a execução da inversão dos dados GPR através da tomografia foram implementados em linguagem Matlab, juntamente com ferramentas de remoção de background que se mostraram úteis para auxiliar a interpretação dos resultados. O programa de imageamento tomográfico foi validado a partir de dados sintéticos gerados no software GprMax a partir de modelos que simulam os alvos de interesse arqueológico instalados no SCGR. A geometria dos alvos do SCGR pôde ser bem estimada, exceto pelo alvo representado pelo muro de tijolos. Feições no solo associadas às escavações para instalação dos alvos puderam ser observadas com clareza nas imagens tomográficas. A geometria do porco, bem como o processo de decomposição foram mapeados através da tomografia mesmo em condições de baixo contraste entre as suas propriedades elétricas e as do solo. Em ambos os casos estudados as imagens tomográficas de dados GPR de 270 MHz, 400 MHz e 900 MHz permitiram extrair mais informações acerca dos alvos do que pelo uso do processamento convencional. Os resultados mostram que a tomografia de micro-ondas possui um grande potencial para aplicação em sítios arqueológicos brasileiros, bem como para aplicações forenses.In this research a methodology for analysis and interpretation of GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) data using microwave tomography was developed. This tool was used for detection and geometry evaluation of targets which simulate artifacts usually found at Brazilian archaeological sites and also of one organic target which simulates a decomposing human body for forensic studies under controlled conditions. The data of archaeological interest were acquired on the Geophysical Test Site (SCGR) at IAG/USP. The data of forensic interest were acquired on an experiment developed at the USP campus in Pirassununga (SP) city. In this experiment a pig with about 80 kg was buried and its decomposition was monitored through GPR profiles during 18 months. The calculations required for the GPR data inversion through microwave tomography were implemented in Matlab language, with background removal tools which were helpful for the interpretation of resulting images. The tomographic imaging program was validated using synthetic data generated by the software GprMax. The models simulate targets of archaeological interest buried at the SCGR. The geometry was well estimated for all the targets, except for the brick wall. Ground features associated to excavations done for the installation of the targets were clearly observed in the tomographic images. The pig geometry and its decomposition process were mapped through microwave tomography even under conditions of low contrast between its electric properties and those from the soil. In both studied cases the tomographic images from GPR data of 270 MHz, 400 MHz and 900 MHz allowed to extract more information about the targets than just using the conventional processing. The results show that microwave tomography has a great potential to be applied at Brazilian archaeological sites, as well as for forensic applications.
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Pope, Melissa A. "Differential decomposition patterns of human remains in variable environments of the Midwest." Scholar Commons, 2010. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/1741.
Full textAbstract:
Where do people die alone when they remain undiscovered for extended periods of time? Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is critical to reconstructing the events surrounding a person's death and this is an area in which forensic anthropologists have played a leading role. This thesis applied an anthropological framework that takes a comprehensive approach to analyzing the demography of unaccompanied deaths, the relationships and timing of decomposition in multiple depositional contexts, and created a model for the prediction of accumulated degree days (ADD) for bodies within enclosures. While there have been extensive experimental and case study reviews on decomposition in outdoor environments, very little data exist for enclosed spaces. A retrospective analysis of 2003-2008 Nebraskan autopsy records demonstrates that most people dying alone are within their homes.
Of the 87 forensic cases reviewed, 69 unaccompanied deaths occurred within enclosed environments. The value of retrospective studies in combination to experimental research is that the large number of variables that affect decompositional rates may be explored in a natural context. Multivariate models put emphasis on the dynamics of decompositional change and comprehensively address death and decomposition within an anthropological framework. For enclosed depositions, the PMI ranged from 1 - 66 days (n= 64, X¯=4.84, s.d.=9.1037) and the ADD ranged from 0 - 786 ADD (n=64, X¯=67.43, s.d.=120.275). Bass' (1997) model for outdoor surface decay was found to be an adequate predictor of the PMI for this sample (r=0.829, n=64, p
These results provided support for the prediction of ADD as a measure of the rate of decomposition. Relationships among ADD and multiple intrinsic, extrinsic and epidemiological variables were identified and considered for a multiple linear regression model. Variables selected by the model included: decomposition odor, use of air conditioning/heat, marbling, brain liquefaction, and mummification. The model was found to account for 95.2% of the variation in ADD (Adjusted R² =0.952; F=40.807, df=5, 5 and p
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Scheuermann, Melina. "Animated Memories : A case study of the animated documentary 'Saydnaya – Inside a Syrian Torture Prison' (2016) and its potential within social memory." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Filmvetenskap, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-185061.
Full textAbstract:
Through its ability to create images of non-representable incidents animation expands the range and depth of what documentary can represent and how. This master thesis investigates the potential of animated documentary within social memory exemplified by the interactive animated documentary Saydnaya – Inside a Syrian Torture Prison (Forensic Architecture, 2016). By applying a feminist spatial approach, I aim to contribute to the understanding of the role of animated documentary images within social memory.Embodied and haptic spectatorship as well as haptic materiality are crucial in this case study due to the nature of the virtual screen images and interactive navigation (compared to montage) of the architectural 3D model. Testimonies and evidence presented in documentary film require a discursive establishment of truth. Indexicality is discussed in this regard and eventually a theoretical shift towards movement suggested. I demonstrate that Saydnaya extends the strategies in animated documentary that have been in focus so far, such as representing mental states and subjective experiences, by deploying methods of forensic aesthetics. This opens up novel ways to establish truth claims and persuasion in documentary filmmaking that require future research.
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Lima, Felícia de Araujo. "Estudo da associação de genes de pigmentação com cor da pele, cabelo e olhos para fenotipagem forense em amostra brasileira." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/5/5160/tde-31072017-155249/.
Full textAbstract:
A pigmentação humana é uma característica variável e complexa determinada por fatores genéticos e hormonais, exposição à radiação ultravioleta, idade, doenças, entre outros. Alguns polimorfismos em genes de pigmentação têm sido associados com a diversidade fenotípica de cor da pele, cabelo e olhos e em populações homogêneas. A técnica denominada Fenotipagem Forense pelo DNA (FDP) vem beneficiando a ciência forense em vários países e auxiliando investigações criminais por ser capaz de sugerir, com boa precisão, os possíveis fenótipos para as características externamente visíveis (EVCs) em amostras de origem desconhecida. No presente trabalho foram avaliadas as associações entre os SNPs presentes nos genes SLC24A5 (rs1426654; rs16960620; rs2555364), TYR (rs1126809) e ASIP (rs6058017) com cor de pele, cabelo e olhos em indivíduos da população brasileira para apontar o possível uso desses marcadores na prática forense em populações miscigenadas. Os voluntários responderam um questionário no qual fizeram a autodeclaração dessas características e estes dados foram usados para as comparações entre genótipos e fenótipos. Os resultados mostraram que para os SNPs rs2555364 e rs1426654 o alelo ancestral esteve associado com as características cor de pele negra, cabelos castanhos ou pretos e olhos castanhos. Além disso, o alelo ancestral do SNP rs6058017 foi significativamente associado com cor de pele negra e olhos castanhos. Inversamente, os alelos variantes destes SNPs são correlacionados com características de pigmentação clara para as EVCs avaliadas, corroborando os estudos prévios realizados em diferentes populações. Esses resultados mostram que a informação molecular pode ser útil para a inferência de EVCs, e a técnica de FDP é uma importante ferramenta para estudos forenses em amostra brasileiraHuman pigmentation is a variable and complex trait determined by genetic and hormonal factors, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, age, diseases, among others. Some polymorphisms in pigmentation genes have been associated with the phenotypic diversity of skin, hair and eyes color in homogeneous populations. Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) is benefiting forensic science in several countries, helping in criminal investigations due to its ability to suggest, with good accuracy, the possible phenotypes for externally visible characteristics (EVCs) in samples of unknown origin. Herein, we evaluated the associations between the SNPs present in the genes SLC24A5 (rs1426654; rs16960620; rs2555364), TYR (rs1126809) and ASIP (rs6058017) with skin, hair and eyes color in individuals of the Brazilian population in order to point out the possible use of these markers in forensic practice in admixed populations. The volunteers answered a questionnaire in which they self reported these characteristics for comparison between genotypes and phenotypes. The results showed that for the SNPs rs2555364 and rs1426654 the ancestral allele was associated with characteristics of black skin color, brown or black hair and brown eyes. In addition, the ancestral allele of the SNP rs6058017 was significantly associated with black skin color and brown eyes. Inversely, the variant alleles of these SNPs are correlated with fair pigmentation characteristics for the evaluated EVCs, corroborating the previous studies performed in different populations. These results show that molecular information may be useful for the inference of EVCs, and the FDP technique is an important tool for forensic studies in a Brazilian sample