Cancer is a result of regulated cellular growth which eventually disrupts normal bodily function. With individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB), prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer both globally and in the United States. In an advance state, cancerous cells can metastasize—leave the primary cancer site—and survive in a new organ. In the case of PCa, the skeleton is a common site for metastasis. The toll that cancer, especially advanced metastatic cancer, takes on a person can lead to social and financial instability as those diagnosed with cancer are at a higher risk of depression, suicide, and loss of employment. Job loss may also lead to the loss of healthcare insurance which can limit or completely erase a person’s access to their treatment options. These factors can impact a person’s ability to maintain their livelihood, placing them in more vulnerable situations that are associated with higher rates of mortality due to unexpected and/or suspicious circumstances of forensic relevance. Forensic anthropology often employs medical imaging (e.g., radiographic imaging and computed tomography (CT)) to visualize unique internal features of skeletal remains to aid in identification. While certain skeletal elements like cranial sinuses are proven to be accurate and reliable in forensic identifications, research is increasing surrounding the use of pathological conditions for identifications. This research focuses on analyzing computed X-ray tomography of metastatic skeletal lesions in 14 PCa patients from Boston Medical Center (BMC) over a 10-year period to observe and record how the size, appearance, and anatomical location of skeletal metastatic lesions may change overtime. This preliminary research looks to better understand the evolution of cancerous metastatic bone disease in PCa patients and contemplate if these lesions may one day be a viable identification method in forensic anthropology, highlighting a unique forensic anthropological focus of this research compared to previous studies on PCa. The BMC PCa sample had lesion behavior comparable to previous clinical studies of PCa patients with metastatic bone disease. With the BMC PCa sample, metastatic lesions developed most in the spine, pelves, and rib cage, with the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae having the highest metastatic burden. The visual appearance and anatomical location of a lesion was usually stable across time unless is resolved or became too small for visual analysis at some point during the study. While no results were statistically significant, similar developments were seen across the sample. Once lesions developed in the lumbar vertebrae, it was most likely that those lesions would be present throughout the entire observation period, versus lesions that developed elsewhere in the skeleton. Metastatic lesions tended to increase in size than decrease or remain static, developing the largest in the pelvic region. Bone density and vascularity and/or type of therapeutic treatment received may factor in as influential aspects in lesion development. This study provides detailed research on the behavior and characteristics of metastatic skeletal lesions in PCa patient with the aim of investigating their potential use as a secondary means of identification in forensic anthropology. The results showed that the location appearance of the lesions was often stable, but their size could fluctuate over time. Though direct comparison between antemortem and postmortem radiographs of skeletal metastatic lesions may not be fully accurate at this time, the study suggests that further research in this area, and overall inclusion of pathological conditions in a forensic setting, would be valuable for forensic investigations and beneficial to other disciplines.

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) remains a global concern and is a particular burden in South Africa. Infections have been previously linked to SUDI deaths, but empirical data in a South African context is lacking. This study aimed to explore the burden and risk factors of infection-related infant death at Salt River Mortuary (SRM). To identify the types of infections associated with SUDI in a local setting, medico-legal files from SRM between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 were reviewed. Included cases involved infants between 1 day and 365 days old where an infectious cause of death was either suspected or confirmed (n=288). Variables pertaining to cause of death, scope of post-mortem investigation, clinical history and risk factors were collected from case files and assessed. Most infants (73.6%) demised within four months of age. The major modifiable risk factors were cosleeping (95.0%, n=264/278), side or prone sleeping position of the infant (73.3%, n=195/266), as well as tobacco smoke exposure (46.9%, n=122/260). Respiratory infection was the leading cause of death in this population, followed by gastroenteritis. Philippi area recorded the most gastroenteritis and respiratory infection-related deaths at 25.0% (n= 8/32) and 23.4% (n= 45/192), respectively. Milnerton and Gugulethu recorded 18.8% (n=6/32) and 15.6% (n=5/32) of gastroenteritis-related deaths, respectively. Nyanga and Mitchells Plain recorded 11.5% (n= 22/192) and 9.9% (n=19/192) of respiratory infection-related deaths, respectively. Despite infections being diagnosed as cause of death, microbial analysis was only requested in 22.9% (n= 66/288) and histology was only performed in 14.9% (n= 43/288) of the cases. Where microbial analyses were requested, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was the most common organism found, followed by Cytomegalovirus. However, due to the small numbers of microbial analyses, geographical hotspots could not be identified at the pathogen level. There is therefore a need to adopt a standard protocol for the investigation of SUDI to optimise the translation of mortality data into targeted public health interventions. The promotion of awareness in at-risk areas should be harnessed in a local context to develop preventive strategies and ultimately reduce infant death.

Forensic facial reconstruction can assist identification by reconstructing a face of the unknown person with the aim of its recognition by his/her family or friends. In the facial reconstruction approach adopted in this study, a 3D average face template was digitally warped onto a 3D scanned skull image. This study was carried out entirely on an Egyptian population, and was the first of its kind. Aims: This study aimed to demonstrate that 3D facial reconstructions using the novel methodology described could show significant resemblance to the faces corresponding to the persons in question when they were alive. Moreover, using techniques previously validated for facial reconstruction, the aim was to compare them to the method developed, and to assess approaches used to determine the accuracy of 3D facial reconstructions. Methods: Initially, a pilot study was conducted using a database of laser scanned skulls and faces. The faces were reconstructed using an average facial template generated by merging a number of faces of similar population, sex, and age. The applicability, as well as the main components of the facial reconstruction method, the single and average facial templates, and the facial soft tissue thickness measurements, were investigated. Furthermore, in the main study, the faces of computed tomography (CT) scanned heads of an Egyptian population were reconstructed using average facial templates. The accuracy of the reconstructed faces was assessed subjectively by face pool, and face resemblance tests, and objectively by measuring the surface distances between the real and reconstructed faces. In addition, a number of novel subjective and objective assessment methods were developed. These included assessment of individual facial regions using subjective resemblance scores, and objective surface distance comparisons. A new objective method, craniofacial anthropometry, was developed by taking and comparing direct measurements from the skull, and comparing the measurements from the real and reconstructed faces. The studied cases were ranked according to all subjective, and objective, tests, and statistically correlated. Results and Conclusions: The average facial templates showed a higher identification rate than the single face templates. The approach of facial reconstruction used in this thesis showed a comparable accuracy to many other facial reconstruction methods, yet was superior in terms of its applicability, transferability, and ease of use. In the face pool tests, the younger assessors were able to correctly identify the reconstructed faces better than older assessors. Furthermore, the identification rate by the forensic anthropology experts was higher than the non-experts. The former group showed the highest agreement between the observers in giving the resemblance scores. Although there was a significant rank correlation between the subjective and objective assessment tests, the subjective tests are influenced by the assessors' subjective characteristics (e.g., age, professional experience), thus making objective assessment more reliable. However, in situations where subjective tests are used, it is better to use the face resemblance tests and consult forensic anthropologists. Also, Craniofacial Anthropometry, particularly the craniofacial angles, can successfully indicate the accuracy of the facial reconstructions. Importantly, this study shows that certain facial regions, particularly the cheek and the jaw, are more reliable than other areas in the subjective and objective assessment of the facial reconstruction.

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

South Africa has one of the highest prevalences of drug misuse and abuse in Africa. Salt River Mortuary (Cape Town, South Africa), along with other national Forensic Pathology Service providers, receives many cases of suspected drug-related deaths. In some cases, the traditional autopsy – when viewed together with the decedent's history – is not able to indicate whether a drug-related death is accidental or suicidal in relation to altered drug metabolism. Literature has shown that this can be investigated by sequencing gene(s) encoding the implicated metabolising enzyme(s) in a postmortem genetic analysis. However, as such an analysis would normally be performed following the obtainment of postmortem toxicological results, it is imperative to investigate whether blood samples retrieved back from a toxicology laboratory would be sufficient for the said genetic analysis, despite the handling involved in the process of toxicological investigation. To this end, blood samples from 30 deceased individuals in which drug use/abuse may have contributed to death, were collected into two red-top tubes (plain), two grey-top tubes (containing sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate) and one EDTAcontaining purple-top tube (control). DNA was immediately extracted from one of each colour tube, while the duplicate red-top and grey-top tubes first underwent a process of toxicological analyses, and then underwent DNA extraction. The concentration, degradation, purity, contamination, and quality of DNA were assessed using real-time PCR, spectrophotometry, forensic DNA profiling, and Sanger sequencing. In contrast to the grey-top tubes, the results showed that the red-top tubes were most suitable for the aforementioned genetic analysis. Overall, the study not only demonstrated that postmortem genetic analysis using samples retrieved from a toxicology laboratory is possible in the local context, but also provided guidelines around the pre-analytical phase of the analysis. These results illustrate the opportunity to investigate these toxicogenetic avenues further, particularly in future expansion of services currently provided at Salt River Mortuary, which may provide families more information about circumstances of their relative’s death.

Shark attacks on humans are increasing every year, and due to this fact, it is important to understand the damage that these predators can inflict on bone. The present study examined the striation patterns that shark teeth leave behind on bones during an attack or scavenging event and determined whether they can be used to identify the species of shark involved. The present study examined twelve different species of sharks including white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), and bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), as there are high incidences of attacks reported of these species. Striations were made in dental wax using the teeth of these species, as well as nine others including blue shark (Prionace glauca), tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus), blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus), dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), java shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis), gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus), cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), and lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), to compare morphologies, their serration patterns, and what striations would be left on bone. It was hypothesized that the striations left in the impressions would be distinct to each species and would provide another method to identify species implicated in attack and scavenging events on humans. The results of this study suggest a statistically significant difference between the patterns of serrations found between some species of sharks examined. The white shark and the tiger shark can be distinguished from the other species in the present study. Further research on this method should be conducted, so future scientists can identify species involved in predation events and scavenging using striation patterns.

The use and abuse of fentanyl has risen drastically over the last several decades. The abuse of this substance has created a hazardous situation for law enforcement and first responders because they could arrive at locations and not necessarily know that they will encounter fentanyl or a fentanly analog. Fentanyl analogs are substances that have a similar structure to fentanyl, and while the analogs may have additional or altered groups on the molecule, the backbone structure remains the similar. This work focuses on the electrochemical characterization of fentanyl as a stepping stone for the detection of both fentanyl and later fentanyl analogs by electrochemistry. The metabolic reaction of fentanyl is an N-dealkylation to norfentanyl, occurring in the liver, and can be mimicked by electrochemistry through the irreversible oxidation of fentanyl. This electrochemical reaction is hypothesized to generate electroactive metabolites in solution. The combination of the visualization of both the irreversible oxidation with the development of the additional metabolic redox peaks would constitute a unique electrochemical signiture for fentanyl and fentanyl analogs towards a universal rapid screening assay. The electrochemical behavior of fentanyl was characterized in depth using multiple electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The optimization of the supporting electrolyte, the potential range, and methods to decrease the background current were explored with CV. To work toward a more portable system, screen printed electrodes were used. The observation of the metabolic peaks remained challenging, and different methods were attempted to achieve it. The quantification of fentanyl was successfully demonstrated using the different electrochemical systems proposed in this work. The electrochemical characterization of fentanyl and the optimization of multiple experimental parameters were the first step in developing a universal, rapid, electrochemical sensing method for the detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. <br>

An analog study was devised to examine perceived differences between psychiatrists and psychologists in providing expert testimony on the insanity defense. The effects of issue involvement and initial attitude were also assessed. Subjects who had been exposed to the differences in training between the professionals were used. In a pilot investigation, subjects were exposed to identical testimony from a defense expert identified either as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Medical bias, as measured by the tendency to concur with the expert recommendations and endorse attitudes consistent with the M.D., was confirmed. This finding was especially strong among pro insanity defense subjects with low issue involvement. The failure to find a similar pattern among anti-insanity defense subjects with low issue involvement was thought to be an artifact of the absence of opposing testimony. The overall failure of highly involved anti insanity defense subjects to reach verdicts consistent with their initial attitudes, was also thought to result from the lack of opposing testimony. The primary study was designed to clarify the findings of the pilot investigation and to approximate a more authentic court situation by including an opposing expert. Witness credentials were manipulated while testimony remained constant. Some subjects were exposed to the Ph.D. for the defense and M.D. for prosecution and others to the M.D. for the defense and Ph.D. for the prosecution. Medical bias was evident in this study, again measured by the tendency to follow the recommendations of the M.D. and endorse attitudes consistent with those recommendations. Additionally, subjects tended to evaluate the psychiatrist more favorably than the psychologist. Subjects with low issue involvement were more susceptible to the influence of the medical expert. Highly issue involved subjects maintained their initial attitudes. Attitudes, issue involvement and credentials seemed to affect memory for facts of the case. In some instances, initial attitudes became stronger when mock jurors were exposed to the opposing view (polarization). Implications and limits of these findings were explored.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3546. Adviser: Beth Quill. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Göttingen, 1974. / Includes bibliographical references (p. i-ix).