Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112816
Bruce Budowle , Max D. Morris , Todd J. Weller
A parametric signal detection theory model has been used in recent literature to model data collected from black-box studies of forensic examiner accuracy, and to predict how error rates might change if examiners were to be either more or less demanding in their requirements for making IDENTIFICATION or EXCLUSION calls. Such models depend on latent (i.e., unobservable) scores, summaries of which are only partially estimable from the data collected on categorical conclusion scales. As a result, inferences based on signal detection theory models are sensitive to the probability model used, and imprecise due to the limited information available about the latent scores. This paper explains some of these uncertainties, with the aim of demonstrating that they can be substantial in typical forensics applications.
{"title":"On the uncertainty associated with using a signal detection theory model to analyze data from forensic black-box studies","authors":"Bruce Budowle , Max D. Morris , Todd J. Weller","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A parametric signal detection theory model has been used in recent literature to model data collected from black-box studies of forensic examiner accuracy, and to predict how error rates might change if examiners were to be either more or less demanding in their requirements for making IDENTIFICATION or EXCLUSION calls. Such models depend on latent (i.e., unobservable) scores, summaries of which are only partially estimable from the data collected on categorical conclusion scales. As a result, inferences based on signal detection theory models are sensitive to the probability model used, and imprecise due to the limited information available about the latent scores. This paper explains some of these uncertainties, with the aim of demonstrating that they can be substantial in typical forensics applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112816"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112815
Pelin Erol , Yaşar Mustafa Karagöz
Background
Falls from height represent one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and death worldwide. Distinguishing between accidental, suicidal, and homicidal falls remains a major forensic challenge. Autopsy findings alone may not reveal the true origin, particularly in cases with inconsistent witness statements or complex injury mechanisms. Integrating biomechanical simulations with classical forensic methods offers an opportunity to strengthen interpretative accuracy.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 258 fall-from-height cases referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Akdeniz University, between 2007 and 2016. Demographic variables, fall height, injury patterns, and manner of fall were evaluated. Additionally, a representative case (25-year-old female, 7th-floor fall) was reconstructed using MADYMO and LS-DYNA in three scenarios: accidental backward fall, suicidal forward jump, and homicidal push. Detailed initial and boundary conditions—including friction coefficient (μ=0.60), restitution coefficient (e=0.15), and scenario-specific initial velocities—were defined. Simulation outputs (impact velocity, rotational components, HIC15, VC, AIS-based injury probabilities) were compared with autopsy findings.
Results
Of the 258 cases, 94.9 % were accidents, 4.7 % suicides, and 0.4 % suspected homicides. The mean fall height was 7.03 m, with head–neck trauma being the most common injury (49.2 %). In the representative case, the accidental scenario demonstrated the highest concordance (89 %) with autopsy findings, while suicide and homicide simulations produced inconsistent injury profiles. Biomechanical modeling showed increasing head accelerations and injury probabilities across accident (82 g; 54 %), suicide (94 g; 71 %), and homicide (110 g; 89 %) scenarios. Rotational motion around the railing pivot increased intermediate contact velocity, substantially affecting impact severity.
Conclusions
Accurate determination of fall origin requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating autopsy findings, scene investigation, and biomechanical simulations. Objective simulation-based metrics (HIC, VC, g-forces) complement classical forensic evaluation and improve the interpretative reliability of disputed or ambiguous cases.
{"title":"Falls from height in forensic medicine: Differentiating accident, suicide, and homicide through case analysis and biomechanical modeling","authors":"Pelin Erol , Yaşar Mustafa Karagöz","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Falls from height represent one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and death worldwide. Distinguishing between accidental, suicidal, and homicidal falls remains a major forensic challenge. Autopsy findings alone may not reveal the true origin, particularly in cases with inconsistent witness statements or complex injury mechanisms. Integrating biomechanical simulations with classical forensic methods offers an opportunity to strengthen interpretative accuracy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed 258 fall-from-height cases referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Akdeniz University, between 2007 and 2016. Demographic variables, fall height, injury patterns, and manner of fall were evaluated. Additionally, a representative case (25-year-old female, 7th-floor fall) was reconstructed using MADYMO and LS-DYNA in three scenarios: accidental backward fall, suicidal forward jump, and homicidal push. Detailed initial and boundary conditions—including friction coefficient (μ=0.60), restitution coefficient (e=0.15), and scenario-specific initial velocities—were defined. Simulation outputs (impact velocity, rotational components, HIC15, VC, AIS-based injury probabilities) were compared with autopsy findings.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 258 cases, 94.9 % were accidents, 4.7 % suicides, and 0.4 % suspected homicides. The mean fall height was 7.03 m, with head–neck trauma being the most common injury (49.2 %). In the representative case, the accidental scenario demonstrated the highest concordance (89 %) with autopsy findings, while suicide and homicide simulations produced inconsistent injury profiles. Biomechanical modeling showed increasing head accelerations and injury probabilities across accident (82 g; 54 %), suicide (94 g; 71 %), and homicide (110 g; 89 %) scenarios. Rotational motion around the railing pivot increased intermediate contact velocity, substantially affecting impact severity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Accurate determination of fall origin requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating autopsy findings, scene investigation, and biomechanical simulations. Objective simulation-based metrics (HIC, VC, g-forces) complement classical forensic evaluation and improve the interpretative reliability of disputed or ambiguous cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112815"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112814
Andrea Faragalli , Flavia Carle , Luca Aquilanti , Giorgio Rappelli , Erminia Coccia , Nikolaos Angelakopoulos , Roberto Cameriere , Valeria Santoro , Luigi Ferrante , Edlira Skrami
Background
Accurate age estimation is a critical component of forensic assessment in undocumented forced migrants, as it directly influences legal protection, social support, and immigration procedures.
Objectives
To develop and validate a statistical model for estimating chronological age and its probability distribution based on third molar maturity index values in forced migrants.
Material and Methods
In this observational study, we employed a Bayesian Calibration approach utilizing a Normal density and an expected value modeled by a Segmented function. The model underwent calibration using a training sample consisting of 481 orthopantomographs of healthy males, gathered during routine visits spanning from 2012 to 2017. A testing sample comprising 45 forced migrant males recruited from four Italian hosting centers in 2018 was utilized to validate the model.
Results
The two samples exhibited similar distributions in terms of age and dental maturity index. The model's breakpoint age was estimated at 18.6 years, suggesting a sharp decline in dental maturity rate beyond this threshold. For instance, the probability of a forced migrant being 18 years or older with a dental maturity index of 0.15 was 0.75. The mean error in age estimation was 1.57 years, with a variability of 2 years, and demonstrated a statistically significant increasing trend of 0.3 years.
Discussion
The model offers, in addition to estimated age, the likelihood that an individual is of a specific age or older, taking into account their dental maturity. This provides valuable supplementary information to authorities during the age assessment procedure. A web application has been launched to facilitate the retrieval of age estimates and associated probabilities when inputting the dental maturity index value.
{"title":"Age estimation using third molars in forced migrant populations: Determining age and probability","authors":"Andrea Faragalli , Flavia Carle , Luca Aquilanti , Giorgio Rappelli , Erminia Coccia , Nikolaos Angelakopoulos , Roberto Cameriere , Valeria Santoro , Luigi Ferrante , Edlira Skrami","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Accurate age estimation is a critical component of forensic assessment in undocumented forced migrants, as it directly influences legal protection, social support, and immigration procedures.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To develop and validate a statistical model for estimating chronological age and its probability distribution based on third molar maturity index values in forced migrants.</div></div><div><h3>Material and Methods</h3><div>In this observational study, we employed a Bayesian Calibration approach utilizing a Normal density and an expected value modeled by a Segmented function. The model underwent calibration using a training sample consisting of 481 orthopantomographs of healthy males, gathered during routine visits spanning from 2012 to 2017. A testing sample comprising 45 forced migrant males recruited from four Italian hosting centers in 2018 was utilized to validate the model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The two samples exhibited similar distributions in terms of age and dental maturity index. The model's breakpoint age was estimated at 18.6 years, suggesting a sharp decline in dental maturity rate beyond this threshold. For instance, the probability of a forced migrant being 18 years or older with a dental maturity index of 0.15 was 0.75. The mean error in age estimation was 1.57 years, with a variability of 2 years, and demonstrated a statistically significant increasing trend of 0.3 years.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The model offers, in addition to estimated age, the likelihood that an individual is of a specific age or older, taking into account their dental maturity. This provides valuable <span><span>supplementary information</span></span> to authorities during the age assessment procedure. A web application has been launched to facilitate the retrieval of age estimates and associated probabilities when inputting the dental maturity index value.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112814"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112806
M. Dalva , T.R. Moore , M. Kalacska , G. Leblanc
We examined the concentrations of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the pore air of a well-drained soil at which pig carcasses were buried over 12–13 years at depths between 50 and 100 cm. Sites included disturbed pits without carcasses, an undisturbed site, a mass grave (20 pigs) and single carcass graves buried at two depths with and without burial in a plastic bag. Twelve years after burial, the concentrations of CH4 were mostly below atmospheric values (∼ 2.0 ppm), showing that this gas was of little value in detecting graves under these conditions. Concentrations of CO2 were above values found under undisturbed conditions. Much of the increase is related to the decomposition of the carcasses, though disturbance during pit refilling and root respiration may account for part of the increase. The best indicator of burial over 13 years was increases in the concentration of N2O associated with inclusion of carcasses and with evidence of lateral flow of N2O in the soil. The N2O concentration is well above that of undisturbed or disturbed soils providing a detectible effect in sites with carcasses.
{"title":"The long-term capability of soil pore air sampling to detect graves","authors":"M. Dalva , T.R. Moore , M. Kalacska , G. Leblanc","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We examined the concentrations of methane (CH<sub>4</sub>), carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) in the pore air of a well-drained soil at which pig carcasses were buried over 12–13 years at depths between 50 and 100 cm. Sites included disturbed pits without carcasses, an undisturbed site, a mass grave (20 pigs) and single carcass graves buried at two depths with and without burial in a plastic bag. Twelve years after burial, the concentrations of CH<sub>4</sub> were mostly below atmospheric values (∼ 2.0 ppm), showing that this gas was of little value in detecting graves under these conditions. Concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub> were above values found under undisturbed conditions. Much of the increase is related to the decomposition of the carcasses, though disturbance during pit refilling and root respiration may account for part of the increase. The best indicator of burial over 13 years was increases in the concentration of N<sub>2</sub>O associated with inclusion of carcasses and with evidence of lateral flow of N<sub>2</sub>O in the soil. The N<sub>2</sub>O concentration is well above that of undisturbed or disturbed soils providing a detectible effect in sites with carcasses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112806"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112804
Kevin G. Gilmore , Geoffrey T. Desmoulin , Marc-André Nolette , Szymon Claridad , Theodore E. Milner
Forensic injury biomechanics involves the use of all relevant data in order to conduct analysis and draw conclusions about an incident under investigation. Video recordings of the scene can be especially helpful due to their objectivity and the wealth of information which can be garnered from them. We compared the accuracy of different analysis techniques and multiple camera views for measuring human joint angles. The analysis techniques were reverse projection and model-based image matching (MBIM). For this purpose, 8 static postures performed by a human subject were recorded with 4 cameras. One camera was placed so that its focal plane was aligned with the plane of the subject's movement and 3 cameras were placed at various out-of-plane locations. The knee and elbow joint angles were first measured using a goniometer and then compared to angle measurements made through reverse projection and MBIM employing both single and combined camera views. Overall, the results indicated that multi-camera solutions and single, in-plane camera views produced joint angle reconstructions with the highest accuracy when comparted to the single out of plane camera views. Moreover, there was no significant difference between in the MBIM and reverse projection techniques in regard to joint angle accuracy.
{"title":"Using 2D video analysis and model based image matching to measure joint angles for forensic biomechanical analysis","authors":"Kevin G. Gilmore , Geoffrey T. Desmoulin , Marc-André Nolette , Szymon Claridad , Theodore E. Milner","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112804","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forensic injury biomechanics involves the use of all relevant data in order to conduct analysis and draw conclusions about an incident under investigation. Video recordings of the scene can be especially helpful due to their objectivity and the wealth of information which can be garnered from them. We compared the accuracy of different analysis techniques and multiple camera views for measuring human joint angles. The analysis techniques were reverse projection and model-based image matching (MBIM). For this purpose, 8 static postures performed by a human subject were recorded with 4 cameras. One camera was placed so that its focal plane was aligned with the plane of the subject's movement and 3 cameras were placed at various out-of-plane locations. The knee and elbow joint angles were first measured using a goniometer and then compared to angle measurements made through reverse projection and MBIM employing both single and combined camera views. Overall, the results indicated that multi-camera solutions and single, in-plane camera views produced joint angle reconstructions with the highest accuracy when comparted to the single out of plane camera views. Moreover, there was no significant difference between in the MBIM and reverse projection techniques in regard to joint angle accuracy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112804"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Effective DNA recovery from bone material is essential for applications in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and forensic and archaeogenetic investigations. In this study, DNA isolation performance was evaluated in an exploratory manner in human bone samples representing three preservation states: fresh, cryopreserved, and ancient. All samples were processed using a unified bead mill homogenization and magnetic bead–based extraction workflow in order to maintain procedural consistency. DNA quantity and purity were evaluated by spectrophotometry, and amplifiability was assessed using nuclear and mitochondrial PCR assays as well as representative STR profiling. Fresh and cryopreserved samples yielded higher DNA concentrations and more consistent amplification than ancient specimens, in which recovery was primarily constrained by postmortem degradation. PCR success demonstrated a clear dependence on amplicon length, with shorter mitochondrial and nuclear targets amplifying more reliably across all sample types. Due to the limited sample size and the use of a single individual per preservation group, the results are presented as qualitative observations rather than as statistically generalizable conclusions. Within these constraints, the study demonstrates the feasibility of using a standardized mechanical disruption and extraction workflow across bone samples of differing preservation status and provides a methodological reference for future larger-scale studies involving both modern and degraded skeletal material.
{"title":"Qualitative assessment of DNA isolation from fresh, frozen, and ancient human bone using a homogenizer-assisted workflow","authors":"Volkan Karaman , Fatih Tepgeç , Pulat Akın Sabancı , Ayça Dilruba Aslanger , Mehmet Görgülü , Duygu Dölen , Zehra Oya Uyguner","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective DNA recovery from bone material is essential for applications in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and forensic and archaeogenetic investigations. In this study, DNA isolation performance was evaluated in an exploratory manner in human bone samples representing three preservation states: fresh, cryopreserved, and ancient. All samples were processed using a unified bead mill homogenization and magnetic bead–based extraction workflow in order to maintain procedural consistency. DNA quantity and purity were evaluated by spectrophotometry, and amplifiability was assessed using nuclear and mitochondrial PCR assays as well as representative STR profiling. Fresh and cryopreserved samples yielded higher DNA concentrations and more consistent amplification than ancient specimens, in which recovery was primarily constrained by postmortem degradation. PCR success demonstrated a clear dependence on amplicon length, with shorter mitochondrial and nuclear targets amplifying more reliably across all sample types. Due to the limited sample size and the use of a single individual per preservation group, the results are presented as qualitative observations rather than as statistically generalizable conclusions. Within these constraints, the study demonstrates the feasibility of using a standardized mechanical disruption and extraction workflow across bone samples of differing preservation status and provides a methodological reference for future larger-scale studies involving both modern and degraded skeletal material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112807"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112803
Sunlin Hu , Liang Chen , Jie Ma , Liguang Li , Yang Ming , Jingjie Wu , Yang Liu , Siyun Guo , Yuchi Zhou
The diatom test has been a classical test for drowning diagnosis for over a century. While it is often regarded in literature as a reliable method—even a golden standard—its validity remains a subject of ongoing controversy. This paper emphasized that the major cause for the controversy is from the methodology of the test. Conventional methods for the test lack sufficient sensitivity and accuracy, making diatom analysis results difficult to be interpreted in both drowning and non-drowning cases. In contrast, the MD-VF-Auto SEM method—which integrates microwave digestion (MD), vacuum filtration (VF), and automated scanning electron microscopy (Auto SEM)—offers significantly improved sensitivity and accuracy. This enhanced method is capable of clarifying the relationship between diatom presence and drowning, thereby addressing key questions regarding the test’s validity. The rationale as well as related research findings are presented. In the end, we call for international collaborative effort to collectively resolve the long-standing “war-on-diatoms”.
{"title":"Technical note MD-VF-Auto SEM: A method of the forensic diatom test that may help end the longstanding “war-on-diatoms”","authors":"Sunlin Hu , Liang Chen , Jie Ma , Liguang Li , Yang Ming , Jingjie Wu , Yang Liu , Siyun Guo , Yuchi Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The diatom test has been a classical test for drowning diagnosis for over a century. While it is often regarded in literature as a reliable method—even a golden standard—its validity remains a subject of ongoing controversy. This paper emphasized that the major cause for the controversy is from the methodology of the test. Conventional methods for the test lack sufficient sensitivity and accuracy, making diatom analysis results difficult to be interpreted in both drowning and non-drowning cases. In contrast, the MD-VF-Auto SEM method—which integrates microwave digestion (MD), vacuum filtration (VF), and automated scanning electron microscopy (Auto SEM)—offers significantly improved sensitivity and accuracy. This enhanced method is capable of clarifying the relationship between diatom presence and drowning, thereby addressing key questions regarding the test’s validity. The rationale as well as related research findings are presented. In the end, we call for international collaborative effort to collectively resolve the long-standing “war-on-diatoms”.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112803"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112805
Amandine Fort , Clémence Delteil , Virginie Scolan , Gilbert Ferretti , Emilie Reymond , Marc Blancher , Pascal Adalian
Avalanches are a major cause of death in mountainous regions, primarily from asphyxia. However, increased recreational activities and climate change may be leading to more traumatic injuries, such as bone fractures, which are currently understudied. This study compared two distinct bone fracture classification systems, to better understand specific injury mechanisms in avalanche victims. We conducted a retrospective analysis of post-mortem CT scans from 13 adult avalanche victims in Grenoble, France, all with at least one bone fracture. Using MIP, MPR, and 3D reconstructions, we systematically classified fractures across ten major anatomical regions, representing the entire body. We analyzed each fracture to determine its traumatic mechanism using both the surgical AO/OTA and the anthropological Galloway et al. (2014) classification systems. The study included 13 individuals (61.5 % male; mean age: 37 years), with a total of 265 fractured bones. Fractures were most frequently observed in the thorax (52 %), spine (21 %), and skull (14 %). We found that multiple injury mechanisms, such as impact and compression, often occurred simultaneously. Both classification systems consistently identified six "burst"-type spinal fractures. However, for five open-book pelvic fractures, only the Galloway et al. system precisely described the specific injury mechanism. Our findings indicate that the AO/OTA and Galloway et al. classifications are complementary. The AO/OTA system offers standardized clinical utility, while the Galloway et al. system enhances forensic and anthropological interpretation by elucidating trauma mechanisms. These preliminary insights into bone injury mechanisms in avalanche events emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches to improve victim care and safety.
{"title":"Characterizing bone injuries in avalanche fatalities in the French Alps: Comparing anthropological and surgical classifications","authors":"Amandine Fort , Clémence Delteil , Virginie Scolan , Gilbert Ferretti , Emilie Reymond , Marc Blancher , Pascal Adalian","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avalanches are a major cause of death in mountainous regions, primarily from asphyxia. However, increased recreational activities and climate change may be leading to more traumatic injuries, such as bone fractures, which are currently understudied. This study compared two distinct bone fracture classification systems, to better understand specific injury mechanisms in avalanche victims. We conducted a retrospective analysis of post-mortem CT scans from 13 adult avalanche victims in Grenoble, France, all with at least one bone fracture. Using MIP, MPR, and 3D reconstructions, we systematically classified fractures across ten major anatomical regions, representing the entire body. We analyzed each fracture to determine its traumatic mechanism using both the surgical AO/OTA and the anthropological Galloway et al. (2014) classification systems. The study included 13 individuals (61.5 % male; mean age: 37 years), with a total of 265 fractured bones. Fractures were most frequently observed in the thorax (52 %), spine (21 %), and skull (14 %). We found that multiple injury mechanisms, such as impact and compression, often occurred simultaneously. Both classification systems consistently identified six \"burst\"-type spinal fractures. However, for five open-book pelvic fractures, only the Galloway et al. system precisely described the specific injury mechanism. Our findings indicate that the AO/OTA and Galloway et al. classifications are complementary. The AO/OTA system offers standardized clinical utility, while the Galloway et al. system enhances forensic and anthropological interpretation by elucidating trauma mechanisms. These preliminary insights into bone injury mechanisms in avalanche events emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches to improve victim care and safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112805"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112801
Ziyan Liu , Tae Mo Kang , Jieun Park , Kwang Soo Ko , Young Kyu Park , Seong Hwan Park
Estimating the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) is an essential task in practical forensic entomology. mPMI estimation is carried out using information on the species recovered at the scene, appropriate developmental data, and the developmental stages of those species. In this study, we obtained developmental data for Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae), a synanthropic species that inhabits human-associated environments and is also encountered in forensic entomology cases. Musca domestica was reared at constant temperatures ranging from 16 to 34 °C, and we generated developmental data, estimated a thermal summation model, and subdivided third instar development based on time-dependent changes in the posterior spiracle. Musca domestica completed development across all tested temperatures (706.5 h at 16 °C; 163.6 h at 34 °C). For the entire developmental period, the lower developmental threshold and total thermal requirement were estimated as 11.43 °C and 3350.2 accumulated degree hours, respectively. We also documented time-dependent changes in third instar posterior spiracle structures—the peritreme, spiracular plate, slits, and scar—and proposed developmental substages centered on the scar and surrounding morphology. The third instar was subdivided into four substages based on externally observable features of these structures. Through this work, we provide developmental data for Korean populations of the forensically important species M. domestica and propose third instar substages that enable more precise estimation of developmental time and can be applied using simple microscopic observations in forensic casework.
{"title":"Temperature-dependent development of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) and posterior spiracle–based substaging of third instar larvae","authors":"Ziyan Liu , Tae Mo Kang , Jieun Park , Kwang Soo Ko , Young Kyu Park , Seong Hwan Park","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112801","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estimating the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) is an essential task in practical forensic entomology. mPMI estimation is carried out using information on the species recovered at the scene, appropriate developmental data, and the developmental stages of those species. In this study, we obtained developmental data for <em>Musca domestica</em> Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae), a synanthropic species that inhabits human-associated environments and is also encountered in forensic entomology cases. <em>Musca domestica</em> was reared at constant temperatures ranging from 16 to 34 °C, and we generated developmental data, estimated a thermal summation model, and subdivided third instar development based on time-dependent changes in the posterior spiracle. <em>Musca domestica</em> completed development across all tested temperatures (706.5 h at 16 °C; 163.6 h at 34 °C). For the entire developmental period, the lower developmental threshold and total thermal requirement were estimated as 11.43 °C and 3350.2 accumulated degree hours, respectively. We also documented time-dependent changes in third instar posterior spiracle structures—the peritreme, spiracular plate, slits, and scar—and proposed developmental substages centered on the scar and surrounding morphology. The third instar was subdivided into four substages based on externally observable features of these structures. Through this work, we provide developmental data for Korean populations of the forensically important species <em>M. domestica</em> and propose third instar substages that enable more precise estimation of developmental time and can be applied using simple microscopic observations in forensic casework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112801"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112798
Myriam Bertrand- Ndoye , Hugo Girard , Florian Hakim , Alexandr Gish , Caroline Ghoul , Yann Delannoy , Quentin Scanvion , Valéry Hédouin , Jean-Michel Gaulier
In forensic thanatology, post-mortem blood is often stored for long periods, leading to in vitro variations in drug concentrations. This study evaluated the use of dried blood microsampling supports dried (Dried Blood Spot – DBS and Volumetric Absorptive MicroSampling (VAMS) as an alternative to conventional tubes. 72 bodies were sampled, including 35 analyzed toxicologically. 6 categories of substances (26 molecules) were quantified using LC-MS/MS or LC-HRMS. Heroin, several benzodiazepines, and cocaine showed excellent stability on DBS, while they degraded or disappeared in conventional tubes. In some cases, the absence of a micro-sample would have prevented the diagnosis of intoxication. For other molecules, concentration differences between DBS and conventional tubes did not alter the medico-legal interpretation, with equivalent values for morphine, codeine, and tramadol. THC and its metabolites remained difficult to extract from DBS. Microsampling has improved the qualitative detection of unstable drugs in post-mortem blood in routine forensic thanalogic sampling practice.
{"title":"Use of blood micro-samples in forensic thanatology","authors":"Myriam Bertrand- Ndoye , Hugo Girard , Florian Hakim , Alexandr Gish , Caroline Ghoul , Yann Delannoy , Quentin Scanvion , Valéry Hédouin , Jean-Michel Gaulier","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic thanatology, <em>post-mortem</em> blood is often stored for long periods, leading to <em>in vitro</em> variations in drug concentrations. This study evaluated the use of dried blood microsampling supports dried (Dried Blood Spot – DBS and Volumetric Absorptive MicroSampling (VAMS) as an alternative to conventional tubes. 72 bodies were sampled, including 35 analyzed toxicologically. 6 categories of substances (26 molecules) were quantified using LC-MS/MS or LC-HRMS. Heroin, several benzodiazepines, and cocaine showed excellent stability on DBS, while they degraded or disappeared in conventional tubes. In some cases, the absence of a micro-sample would have prevented the diagnosis of intoxication. For other molecules, concentration differences between DBS and conventional tubes did not alter the medico-legal interpretation, with equivalent values for morphine, codeine, and tramadol. THC and its metabolites remained difficult to extract from DBS. Microsampling has improved the qualitative detection of unstable drugs in <em>post-mortem</em> blood in routine forensic thanalogic sampling practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 112798"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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