隨著個人資料保護法即將正式實行，許多國內相關單位開始重視數位鑑識，以處理及因應未來與日俱增之資訊安全事件。數位鑑識實驗室的建置目前尚未有各國皆遵循的標準和流程，國內鑑識人員大多僅能按照所屬組織的規範和建議流程進行鑑識作業。本論文將藉由參考國際針對一般實驗室訂定的ISO17025及數位鑑識相關實務經驗，提出符合規範和適合實際鑑識流程的鑑識實驗室建構及處理標準之建議。 / With the Personal Information Protection Act will be formally implemented, many organization pay more attention to digital forensics to face information security events growing. But there is no standards and processes to build a digital forensics lab and investigators can only follow their teams’ specifications and process. This paper will give suggestions about the structure of digital forensics lab and standard operation process of digital forensics base on ISO17025 and practical experience.

Approximating the facial features for forensic facial approximation is challenging, especially the nose. Numerous methods have been published to position the tip of the nose in profile with variable results. Gerasimov’s two-tangent method is the most commonly used. However, a recent article published by Ullrich and Stephan (2011) states that the method was not properly performed and provides new guidelines. This research used a sample of CT scans from a Denmark population (N=66) to determined which of Gerasimov’s literal translation or Ullrich and Stephan’s (2011) new version of the two-tangent method is the most accurate. A combination of the two methods was also evaluated to determine the effect of each tangent independently, and the effect of intraobserver error. It was determine that the new guidelines result in smaller mean difference but no method can accurately position the tip of the nose due to the lack of experience from the practitioner.

Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The use of biological agents as potential weapons has been a concern of security agencies for many years. Security agencies require alternative field protocols for handling forensic samples that could be contaminated with biological weapons. In this study, manual and automated DNA extractions were compared for the ability to remove biological agents and for their effectiveness and consistency when samples were contaminated with bacteria, spores or toxins. Purified DNA was evaluated for the absence of the agents, and for the effects of the process on the isolated human DNA. Results demonstrated that incubation of samples in a cell lysis solution eliminated bacteria and toxins, but an additional 0.22 µm filtration step was necessary to successfully remove bacterial spores. Blood and buccal swab samples exposed to some bacteria showed DNA loss and/or degradation. The automated extraction procedure would be preferable over the manual protocol to isolate human DNA contaminated with biological weapons.

Thesis (M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

<p> This thesis evaluates how environmental stressors affected three groups (Nasca, Loro, and Chakipampa) that lived in Nasca during the Early Intermediate Period (ca. A.D. 1-750) and the Middle Horizon (ca. A.D. 750-1000). Using fluctuating asymmetry analysis as a proxy for developmental instability, biological evidence is assessed for differential stress levels incurred by groups occupying the Peruvian south coast. This study found high levels of stress in the Middle Horizon, supporting the hypothesis that populations living in Nasca were unfavorably affected by Wari colonizers. However, stress was found to be highest among the Chakipampa. This is attributed to Wari imperialistic occupation and extraction of resources. Conversely, the contemporaneous Loro affiliated population, who presumably avoided Wari influence, experienced the lowest levels of stress among the samples. This research reveals a large distinction between the effects of environmental stressors on the two Middle Horizon groups.</p>

The identification of the sex and age-at-death of an individual is of primary importance in the analysis and description of adult human skeletal remains in both forensic and archaeological contexts. Many current methods of sex and age determination have been derived on a very small number of skeletal collections and critical evaluations of their reliability on material of different provenance have been few. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the utility of methods (a) in widespread use for age and sex estimation, or (b) even if not in widespread use but offering particular advantages and (c) derived during the course of this investigation with a view designed to improving accuracy of prediction and ease of application. Three European skeletal series of documented age and sex of different temporal origins were used for this evaluation. Only non-destructive tests were evaluated. For sex determination metric and non-metric observations from the innominate were tested, as it is generally considered the most dimorphic area of the adult skeleton. The discriminatory potential of long bone dimensions was also assessed since they tend to survive inhumation better than the innominate and may be the only skeletal material represented in fragmentary remains. Pubic symphyseal metamorphosis is probably the most frequently used method for age-at-death estimation and its utility as a predictor of chronological age was examined as was the degree of degenerative joint disease as evidenced from the long bones. A method was devised based on estimates of bone loss from radiographs and densitometric traces of the humerus. It provided the lowest standard error of estimate in age-at-death assessment. Many of the methods in current use proved less efficient in sex and age identification in the samples investigated than on the material on which they were derived. The reasons for this, and the implications for the reconstruction of biological identity from skeletal remains are discussed and recommendations for age and sex estimations on the innominate and long bones are made.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48). / v, 48 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

In Australia, the 0.22 calibre ammunition is the most encountered ammunition type found at a crime scene [1]. Previous analysis of gun shot residue (GSR) and unfired propellant has involved studying the inorganic constituents by Scanning Electron Microscopy or similar technique. However, due to the heavy metal build up that comes with some ammunition types, manufacturing companies are now making propellant that is safer to use. Therefore, it has become appropriate to study and analyse unfired propellant by other means. One such technique is unfired propellant analysis by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This technique focuses on the organic constituent make up of the propellant paying particular attention to diphenylamine, ethyl centralite and dibutyl phthalate. It was proposed that different batches of ammunition could be discriminated or matched to each other by using this technique. However, since the main constituents of unfired propellant are highly reactive, it was not possible to accomplish batch determination of ammunition. However, by improving extraction techniques and by removing oxygen (a catalyst for the degradation of diphenylamine) a superior method was established to help in the analysis of unfired propellant. Furthermore, it was shown that whilst differentiating batches of the same ammunition was not possible, the improved methods have helped identify different types of the same brand of ammunition. With the aid of future studies to fully explore this avenue, the analysis of unfired propellant could one day become an integral part of forensic science.

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)