Kinship testing is widely needed in forensic science practice. This paper reviews the definitions of common concepts, and summarizes the basic principles, advantages and disadvantages, and application scope of kinship analysis methods, including identity by state (IBS) method, likelihood ratio (LR) method, method of moment (MoM), and identity by descent (IBD) segment method. This paper also discusses the research hotspots of challenging kinship testing, complex kinship testing, forensic genetic genealogy analysis, and non-human biological samples.
DNA Fingerprinting ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Forensic Sciences ; Pedigree ; Humans

Individual identification is one of the research hotspots in the practice of forensic science, and the judgment is usually built on the comparison of the unique biological characteristics of the individual, such as fingerprints, iris and DNA. With the dramatic increase in the number of cases related to video image investigations, there is an increasing need for the technology to identify individuals based on the macroscopic comparison of facial appearance biometrics. At present, with the introduction of computer three-dimensional (3D) modeling and 3D superimposition comparison technology, considerable progress has been made in individual identification methods based on macroscopic comparison of facial appearance biometrics. This paper reviews individual facial appearance biometric methods based on macroscopical comparison, comprehensively analyzes the advantages and limitations of different methods, and puts forward recommendations and prospects for subsequent research.
Biometric Identification ; Biometry/methods* ; Face/anatomy & histology* ; Forensic Sciences/methods* ; Humans

Age estimation from skeletal remains is an important step in forensic biological identification. The main objective of this study is to develop an age estimation equation for the Thai population from vertebral osteophytes. Each vertebra in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments was scored for degree of osteophyte formation. Classification was carried out in accordance with the criteria established by Snodgrass and Watanabe, and used a new modified score of the length of vertebral osteophyte for age estimation. The sample included 400 individuals (262 males, 138 females) ranging in age from 22 to 97 years. A sample of Thai vertebral columns was used, the columns being divided into the following groups of vertebrae: cervical (C2–C7), thoracic (T1–T12), and lumbar (L1–L5). Each vertebra was scored for the degree of osteophyte formation and the accumulated data was analyzed statistically. Correlation coefficients and R-squared from mean in lumbar vertebrae for females of criteria established by the method of Snodgrass and Watanabe, the new modified score by length of vertebral osteophytes were 0.801 and 0.642 (P<0.01); 0.755 and 0.57 (P<0.01); 0.786 and 0.618 (P<0.01), respectively. This study presents all 23 subcategories (C2–L5) of the vertebrae to apply in real situations, showing all age estimation equations for males, females and combined sexes of unknown sex. One application of this study is age estimation when dealing with forensic cases in the Thai population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Methods ; Osteophyte ; Research Design ; Spine ; Thailand

PURPOSE: This study aimed to clarify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of forensic nursing competency.METHOD: Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis was used to analyze twenty nine articles on forensic nursing based on a systematic review of theology, medicine, psychology, and nursing literature.RESULTS: Forensic nursing competency consists of the following seven attributes: awareness of the medico-legal problem, multi-disciplinary integrated knowledge, education and training in forensic science, professional career development, evidence based practice in forensic nursing, collaborative forensic nursing with community partner, safety and security effective communication, and supportive relationships. Finally, we could explain the consequences of forensic nursing competency on knowledge construction in nursing, enhancing professional nursing, and establishing a human rights and social justice based approach. The antecedents of forensic-nursing competency were forensic science interest, forensic science experience, and nurses' view of person in forensic-works.CONCLUSION: Based on these results, we recommend the development of a Korean version of a scale to assess forensic nursing competency.
Concept Formation ; Education ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Forensic Nursing ; Forensic Sciences ; Human Rights ; Humans ; Methods ; Nursing ; Psychology ; Social Justice ; Theology

While radioactive isotope analysis has proved to be a useful method in disciplines such as archaeology and forensic anthropology, more recently, radiocarbon dating has allowed for a more nuanced biological profile of human skeletal remains. Radiocarbon dating has been made possible by the above ground nuclear bomb test conducted in 1963, which raised the level of atmospheric radiocarbon concentration to almost twice the natural level. Because the annually measured tropospheric ¹⁴C concentrations are integrated into the bomb peak curve, the time of birth and death of an individual can be estimated by comparing the radiocarbon content of a skeletal sample to the bomb-curve value. In July 2017, about 1,000 skeletal remains were excavated at the construction site of Sokcho. For medico-legal purposes, we conducted anthropological and odontological examinations of all the human remains. We then conducted the radiocarbon analysis on seven femora (head and body portions), five mandibular teeth, and soil from the site through a request to the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. The results demonstrated that the estimated year of birth or death was prior to the 1950s. Due to the diverse distribution of results, we deduced that the human remains were from the local mass grave. This study supports and suggests the use of radiocarbon dating more frequently in the analysis of human skeletal remains.
Archaeology ; Bombs ; Earth Sciences ; Forensic Anthropology ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Miners ; Parturition ; Radiometric Dating ; Soil ; Tooth

Age estimation is important in the practice of forensic science to establish the identity of human remains, as well as with living persons. Particularly in Korea, age estimation in adults has been increase in the demand for incorrect birth records in order to be entitled to civil liability, social benefits, employment. The reduction of pulp cavity size as a result of secondary dentin deposit with increasing age could be used to estimate age. This regressive change can be analyzed using radiological techniques; thus, a variety of methods for dental age estimation based on this approach have been proposed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the concurrence between the Drusini's method and the Jeon's method using the mandibular first molar on orthopantomographs (OPGs) in Korean adults. A total of 232 OPGs (91 females and 141 males) of Korean individuals with ages ranging from 20 to 69 years were analyzed using Drusini's method and Jeon's method. Our results revealed that the correlation of the two methods with age was statistically significant (r=0.501). Both Drusini's method and Jeon's method showed significant correlation with chronological age, and Jeon's method showed a greater correlation with chronological age (r=0.738) than Drusini's method (r=0.586). The mean absolute error was 7.99 years for Jeon's method and 9.79 years for Drusini's method. Our results demonstrate that Jeon's method using the mandibular first molar on OPGs is a practical and suitable method for age estimation in Korean adults.
Adult* ; Age Determination by Teeth ; Birth Certificates ; Dentin ; Dentin, Secondary ; Employment ; Female ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods* ; Molar* ; Radiography

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-IMS) has been a classical technique for studying proteomics in present and a tool for analyzing the distribution of proteins and small molecules within biological tissue sections. MALDI-TOF-IMS can analyze multiple unknown compounds in biological tissue sections simultaneously through a single measurement which can obtain molecule imaging of the tissue while maintaining the integrity of cellular and molecules in tissue. In recent years, imaging mass spectrometry technique develops relatively quickly in all biomedical domain. This paper based on the relevant data and reviews the present developing level of MALDI-TOF-IMS, the principle of imaging mass spectrometry, methology and the prospect in forensic pathology.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Forensic Sciences/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Proteins ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

The finite element method （FEM） is a numerical computation method based on computer technology, and has been gradually applied in the fields of medicine and biomechanics. The finite element analysis can be used to explore the loading process and injury mechanism of human body in traffic injury. FEM is also helpful for the forensic investigation in traffic injury. This paper reviews the development of the finite element models and analysis of brain, cervical spine, chest and abdomen, pelvis, limbs at home and aboard in traffic injury in recent years.
Accidents, Traffic ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Finite Element Analysis ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Biological ; Pelvis ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: To establish a method for rapid identification of bloodstain age. METHODS: Under laboratory conditions （20 ℃, 25 ℃ and 30 ℃）, an integrating sphere ISR-240A was used as a reflection accessory on an UV-2450 UV-vis spectrophotometer, and a standard white board of BaSO₄ was used as reference, the reflection spectrums of bloodstain from human ears' venous blood were measured at regular intervals. The reflection radios R₅₄₁ and R₅₇₇ at a specific wavelength were collected and the value of R₅₄₁/R₅₇₇ was calculated. The linear fitting and regression analysis were done by SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: The results of regression analysis showed that R² of the ratios of bloodstain age to UV visible reflectivity in specific wavelengths were larger than 0.8 within 8 hours and under certain circumstances. The regression equation was established. The bloodstain age had significant correlation with the value of R₅₄₁/R₅₇₇. CONCLUSIONS The method of inspection is simple, rapid and nondestructive with a good reliability, and can be used to identify the bloodstain age within 8 hours elapsed-time standards under laboratory conditions.
Blood Stains ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrum Analysis/methods* ; Time Factors ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of three methods for forensic diatom test, namely strong acid digestion-centrifuge enrichment-light microscopy (SD-CE-LM), microwave digestion-membrane filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-ME-SEM), and microwave digestion-membrane filtration-light microscopy (MD-MF-LM).

METHODSSixty samples were randomly divided into 3 groups for diatom test using three methods, and the sample preparation time, degree of digestion and recovery rate of diatoms were compared.

RESULTSThe sample preparation time was the shortest with MD-MF-LM and the longest with SD-CE-LM (P<0.05). MD-ME-SEM and MD-MF-LM allowed more thorough tissue digestion than SD-CE-LM. MD-ME-SEM resulted in the highest total recovery rate of diatom, followed by MD-MF-LM and then by SD-CE-LM (P<0.05); the recover rate of different diatom species was the highest with MD-ME-SEM, followed by MD-MF-LM and SD-CE-LM (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSD-CE-LM has a low recovery rate of diatoms especially for those with lengths shorter than 40 µm or densities less than 1/5. With a high recovery rate and accuracy in diatom test, MD-ME-SEM is suitable for diagnosis of suspected drowning cases. MD-MF-LM is highly efficient, sensitive and convenient for forensic diatom test.

Centrifugation ; Diatoms ; isolation & purification ; Drowning ; Forensic Sciences ; methods ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microwaves ; Specimen Handling