Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-84).

Thesis (B. S.)--University of Wisconsin -- La Crosse, 2008. / Also available online. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 19-20).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-84) Also available in print.

Includes bibliography. / The discussion in this paper centers around the development of a paper-and-pencil fact sheet for collecting and systematizing forensic case material. This paper-and-pencil device is the prototype fact sheet that will be used to collect the data to form a computerized, forensic information system. The system, known as FOCIS, the Forensic Computerized Information System, will serve the largest Forensic Unit in the Western Cape, at Valkenberg Hospital, and the new unit that is being developed at Lentegeur Hospital. FOCIS will comprise case material from all forensic referrals to these two hospitals, under the present law: Sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of the 1st of July 1977. Additionally, FOCIS will develop dynamically, continuing to incorporate case material as referrals are made to these hospitals. The estimated 7500 cases that will constitute FOCIS by the time this project is completed, include all of the officially classified population groups of South Africa, i.e. the so-called 'black', 'coloured' and 'white' groups [POPULATION REGISTRATION ACT, 1982]. The prototype fact sheet has a schematic layout and uses a mixed-format for data collection, i.e. checklists, multiple choice answer-options and semi-structured narrative text.

With the evolution of forensic technology, methods for positive identification are vast and accurate. These methods allow for a corpse to be identified at almost any point of decomposition. The new technology and new methodology has led to a more creative and resourceful criminal. Although few cases have been documented where chemicals are the mode of disposal, this method provides a seemingly fool proof and effective approach to disposal. Several household chemicals contain harmful agents that when used may result in the masking of identity. The purpose of this study is to indicate which chemicals can be used in order to erode or dissolve the tissues making up the dentition and bone. Four chemicals, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) and sulfuric acid were chosen and tested on teeth and bone. The dentition and bone were exposed for a period of eight hours. Measurements including mass and caliper measurements were obtained at two-hour intervals. Of the common chemicals tested, muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) was the most effective for destroying the tissues.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques are currently used to quantify samples containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in forensic analyses. This technology can provide valuable information to an analyst regarding the amount of DNA present but lacks the ability to determine the quality of the sample. Electrochemistry-based biosensors that utilize screen-printed electrodes may provide a method to determine the number of DNA molecules and the length of those molecules in a single assay. This work aimed to create a biosensor by electrostatically loading TPOX oligonucleotides onto a carbon screen-printed electrode for the purpose of quantifying genomic DNA. Electrochemical signal was obtained via the indicating molecule bis-benzimide H33258, which preferentially interacts with double-stranded DNA and would indicate a hybridization event. Cyclic voltammetry was chosen to measure the current signal; peaks obtained using this technique can be analyzed with the Randles-Sevčik equation, which relates current signal with concentration of the target species. A large amount of signal variation and background charging current was observed when H33258 was used as the redox probe. This led to a study of the surface characteristics of the carbon electrodes themselves (i.e. effective surface area) by utilizing the reversible and well-characterized redox couple hexaammine ruthenium. The effect of electrode activation at high anodic potentials was also studied. Though highly recommended in the literature, activation of the carbon surface caused effective surface area and charging current to increase. While a larger electro-active surface is often desirable, the high background current generated when activation is used within the protocol can mask the signal of interest. Due to the low signal-to-noise ratio and inability to reuse the carbon electrode, it was concluded that carbon screen printed electrodes are not optimal forensic DNA biosensors.

This research examined the behavior of avian scavenger bone dispersal in a New England environment. The furthest distance that avian species can carry bone elements can be used by search investigators by providing possible distances maximum dispersal. The sizes of bones dispersed by avian species provides context on how bone elements differing in size are transported from the initial site of deposition. The project utilized two locations with elements of varying sizes (large, intermediate, and small) with tracking tags attached to determine the distance and pattern of scavenger displacement. Scavenging was also recorded with motion-sensing game cameras that allowed for differentiation between which species scavenged on which elements, allowing for the distance carried to be associated with individual species. The most common avian scavengers were the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), and blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata). The furthest element that was displaced and recovered was a pig rib approximately 62 meters from its initial placement location and it was moved by a crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). The second furthest element displaced was a pig rib moved approximately 41.5 meters by a Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii). In addition, six other elements were removed from the platform by birds and not recovered due to possible displacement outside of the search radius and tracking application radius. Overall, 55.0% of elements were recovered within 1 meter of their initial placement location. For elements dispersed under 1 m, Rayleigh z-statistical tests (z =1.328; α = 0.05) for the site location in a wooded area indicated that directionality was not statistically significant, while the location in the wetlands was determined to be statistically significant (z = 20.656; α = 0.05). In addition, a Watson’s U2 Two-Sample Test of Homogeneity (U2 = 0.374) revealed the two groups of average directions are significantly different at α = 0.05. This indicates a difference in direction of displacement between the platforms. For Platform 1 (forested location), the results of the Mann-Whitney U-Test (z = -2.638) indicated that the distances of displacement between the spring and summer seasons are significantly different between the two seasons at α = 0.05. For Platform 2 (wetland location), the results of the Mann-Whitney U-Test (z = -0.859) indicate the distances of displacement between the two seasons were not significantly different between the two seasons at the α = 0.05 value. In addition, Kruskal-Wallis H tests revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the platform location and the number of site visits for the majority of species. Only two species, cardinals (z = -2.04; α = 0.05) and song sparrows (z = -2.208; α = 0.05), were determined to have a statistically significant difference between the location and the number of site visits.

<p>Although sharp force trauma is not the most common form of homicide in the United States, it accounts for the majority of violent crimes committed in the United Kingdom, and the frequency of knife related crimes has been increasing over several decades. Despite the prevalence of sharp force trauma in forensic literature, there is still a large gap linking weapons to skeletal injuries. Although there have been forensic studies on the effects of fabric during decomposition, very little data exist on the effects of fabric and bodily coverings on wounds during stabbing events. In a significant number of homicide cases, victims are clothed. Therefore, understanding the effects of bodily coverings is crucial to better understanding a number of forensic contexts. In this thesis, a preliminary pilot study and a skeletal cut mark analysis study with a guided-drop impacting device were used to address this issue by analyzing the effects of fabric resistance during stabbing events. The results indicated that weapon type and fabric type significantly altered kerf mark appearance (p&lt;0.05). Weapon type had a significant effect on kerf wall gradients, marginal distortion, width, and depth (p&lt;0.05). Fabric type significantly altered wall gradients, width, and depth (p&lt;0.05). Finally, low powered standard light microscopy was shown to be an accurate and inexpensive method for examining cut marks on bone. </p>

<p> Forensic scientists, archaeologists, and paleontologists are interested in understanding fluvial bone transport respectively to find human remains, determine if human behavioral information persists in skeletal assemblages, or to estimate the temporal and spatial resolution of fossil assemblages. This dissertation reviews what we think we understand about fluvial bone transport, then tests the hypotheses that: 1. Elongate and concave bones adopt preferred orientations relative to flow, 2. There is a relationship between bone shape and relative transportability, and 3. There is a relationship between bone density and relative transportability. Generally two research techniques prevail, 1. Flume observations, and 2. Fluvial seeding trials. Flume data are often poorly reported, have small sample sizes, and the conditions within the flume are usually incompletely reported. Fluvial seeding trial results are characterized by a series of well documented anecdotes, largely due to specimen loss causing small sample sizes. The results from these techniques are contradictory so research to clarify what conclusions are valid is needed. Three techniques were utilized to address these problems, river surveys, river seeding trials, and river seeding trials using bone casts. No correlation between elongate bone orientation (N=157) and flow direction was observed, though concave bones (N=89) oriented &sim;70% concave down, while flat bones lay flat against the bed. Similarly, there was no association between bone shape and transportability. Denser bones were less transportable than less dense bones however there was substantial overlap in transportability between dense and less dense bone casts. These results suggest our understanding of bone transport is simplistic and incomplete. This is probably because most research has utilized flumes which provide unrealistically uniform conditions, so flume results are a poor analog for the heterogeneous natural environment. Moreover, bones are constantly changing density which is a variable previous authors have more or less assumed was constant. This simplifying assumption is violated so frequently that this assumption has led the scientific community to assume bone transport behaviors that are not frequently observed in natural systems. Ultimately the analytical tools based on this incomplete understanding of bone transport should be discontinued or validated to avoid spurious conclusions when interpreting skeletal assemblages.</p>

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