Isotope analysis has become an increasingly valuable tool in forensic anthropology case-work over the past decade. Modern-day isotopic investigations on human remains have integrated the use of multi-isotope profiles ...Isotope analysis has become an increasingly valuable tool in forensic anthropology case-work over the past decade. Modern-day isotopic investigations on human remains have integrated the use of multi-isotope profiles (e.g. C, N, O, H, S, Sr, and Pb) as well as iso-topic landscapes ("isoscapes") from multiple body tissues (e.g. teeth, bone, hair, and nails) to predict possible region-of-origin of unidentified human remains. Together, data from various isotope analyses provide additional lines of evidence for human identification, including a decedent's possible region-of-birth, long-term adult residence, recent travel history, and dietary choices. Here, we present the basic principles of isotope analysis and provide a brief overview of instrumentation, analytical standards, sample selection, and sample quality measures. Finally, we present case studies that reflect the diverse applications of isotope analysis to the medicolegal system before describing some future research directions. As shown herein, isotope analysis is a flexible and powerful geolocation tool that can provide new investigative leads for unidentified human remains cases.展开更多
Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification(DVI)for over a century,but over the past decades,there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for th...Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification(DVI)for over a century,but over the past decades,there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist.The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process.This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions.Consequently,this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary,and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts.Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis,especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains,are also discussed.Additionally,consideration is given to the identification of survivors;the statistical basis of identification;the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios;and education and training.Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation,they never practice in isolation.The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and,therefore,has a close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.展开更多
This review covers previous and current literature on the impact of forensic anthropologists on the positive scientific identification of human remains and aims to provide an under-standing of what information a foren...This review covers previous and current literature on the impact of forensic anthropologists on the positive scientific identification of human remains and aims to provide an under-standing of what information a forensic anthropologist can contribute to an investigation. Forensic anthropologists looking to identify human remains study traits of the skeleton and any orthopedic devices present. In order to obtain a positive scientific identification, evi-dence that is both sufficiently unique to the individual and comparable to available ante-mortem data from that individual must be found. The increased availability of radiographs, scans and implants in recent decades has facilitated the identification process. When these records are unavailable, other techniques, such as craniofacial superimposition and facial approximation, can be employed. While these methods may assist the identification process, they are most useful for exclusion of certain individuals and gathering leads from the public. Forensic anthropologists have heavily relied on the skull and its complexities for identifica-tion – typically focusing on the frontal sinus and other unique traits. Post-cranial remains can provide important information about bone density, possible disease and other character-istics that may also be utilized. Techniques used to positively identify individuals are not limited to medicolegal death investigations, and have been useful in other legal contexts. In the future, a team approach, utilizing all the information gathered by multiple forensic scientists–including forensic anthropologists–will most likely become more common.展开更多
Bone is a mechanically active,three-dimensionally(3D)complex,and dynamic tissue that changes in structure over the human lifespan.Bone tissue exists and remodels in 3D and changes over time,introducing a fourth dimens...Bone is a mechanically active,three-dimensionally(3D)complex,and dynamic tissue that changes in structure over the human lifespan.Bone tissue exists and remodels in 3D and changes over time,introducing a fourth dimension.The products of the remodelling process,secondary and fragmentary osteons,have been studied substantially using traditional two-dimensional(2D)techniques.As a result,much has been learned regarding the biological information encrypted in the histomorphology of bone,yielding a wealth of information relating to skeletal structure and function.Three-dimensional imaging modalities,however,hold the potential to provide a much more comprehensive understanding of bone microarchitecture.The visualization and analysis of bone using high-resolution 3D imaging will improve current understandings of bone biology and have numerous applications in both biological anthropology and biomedicine.Through recent technological advancements,we can hone current anthropological applications of the analysis of bone microstructure and accelerate research into the third and fourth dimensional realms.This review will explore the methodological approaches used historically by anthropologists to assess cortical bone microstructure,spanning from histology to current ex vivo imaging modalities,discuss the growing capabilities of in vivo imaging,and conclude with an introduction of novel nonhistological modalities for investigating bone quality.展开更多
Forensic anthropologists perform specialised analysis,mainly involving skeletonised human remains,cadavers in advanced stages of decomposition,disassociated elements from the human body,and human remains in extreme ca...Forensic anthropologists perform specialised analysis,mainly involving skeletonised human remains,cadavers in advanced stages of decomposition,disassociated elements from the human body,and human remains in extreme carbonisation.The main objectives of the forensic anthropology expertise are human identification and assisting in determining the cause and manner of death.Estimating the time since death is also a priority for some cases,especially ones involving missing persons.This science works on individual cases,violent deaths,missing persons,mass disasters,suspected violations of human rights,and crimes against humanity.Forensic anthropological evidence is,in general,very sensitive.Thus,it is important to detail aspects relevant to the maintenance of the chain of custody at all phases of the investigation,as well as standardise the actions of the individuals involved.This aims to preserve the evidence integrity and sameness(Sameness:free translation of the Portuguese word“mesmidade”,derived from a Spanish word that does not possess a translation to Portuguese.Sameness of evidence is understood as the guarantee that the evidence under valuation(or under analysis of its probative value)is exactly and integrally the same one which was collected,corresponding,therefore,to“the same”(and not“part of”,“derived from”),safeguarding its value.Brazil Law No.13.964 of 14 December 2019 establishes and lists 10 phases related to the evidence chain of custody that must be followed.These newly introduced requirements resulted in the need for adaptation of the forensic,investigative,and legal actors involved in an investigation,and in the detailed description of the procedures for the different areas related to criminalistics,including forensic anthropology.The information provided in this article should be interpreted as recommendations,even though their non-compliance may weaken the investigative and forensic analysis processes in whole or in part.展开更多
Anthropologists are often the custodians of long-term unidentified human remains though their positions as curators of university or museum skeletal collections.Various factors decrease the solvability of these legacy...Anthropologists are often the custodians of long-term unidentified human remains though their positions as curators of university or museum skeletal collections.Various factors decrease the solvability of these legacy cases including the passage of time,the loss of provenience for specific cases,and lack of documentation or case records.While anthropologists can contribute important information toward identification,it is often necessary to explore novel and cross-disciplinary strategies to resolve difficult cold cases.In long cold cases,the postmortem interval,in particular,may be difficult to estimate leading to further challenges in achieving identification.Modern advances in radiocarbon bomb pulse dating,isotope analysis,and actualistic studies have contributed to positive identification of unidentified human remains in some legacy cases,but may not be available to all forensic practitioners and law enforcement from resource-poor agencies.Pooling resources,as well as collaborating with professionals outside of forensic anthropology,is a useful strategy to pursue when anthropological methods are exhausted.The case study presented here demonstrates a collaborative approach between forensic anthropologists,forensic genetic genealogists,and law enforcement in a century-old homicide.The dismembered and mummified parts of a male body were recovered in a remote cave in 1979 and again in 1991.Despite forensic anthropologists creating and updating the biological profile over the decades from recovery to present,no identification was made until the application of forensic genetic genealogy(FGG)to the case in 2019.New interpretations of bone microstructure and trauma analysis are presented for the case,alongside the historical documentation and“proof of life”evidence used by the genealogy team.A review of the FGG methods underscores the challenges in this case(e.g.significant endogamy,multiple aliases used by the victim)and the steps taken toward resolution.Ultimately,a combined anthropology and genealogy approach resulted in a confirmed identity for a man who was murdered in 1916.展开更多
Estimation of age represents a central focus of forensic anthropological analysis of human skeletal remains and of the living. Advances registered in recent research include the topics of taphonomic impact, new anatom...Estimation of age represents a central focus of forensic anthropological analysis of human skeletal remains and of the living. Advances registered in recent research include the topics of taphonomic impact, new anatomical areas of interest, histology, population variation, the dental pulp chamber, technology, mathematical approaches, biochemical analysis and techniques specifically targeting the living. This article reviews the historical development of age estimation methods and considers likely future directions.展开更多
Anthropological analysis of fragmentary evidence can be challenging but diverse methods allow substantial information to be gleaned.Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy enables determinati...Anthropological analysis of fragmentary evidence can be challenging but diverse methods allow substantial information to be gleaned.Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy enables determination if bone and/or tooth tissue is present.Protein radioimmunoassay or DNA analysis can establish the species present.Histological analysis can assist in species determination and reveal information about thermal changes.Radiocarbon analysis with special reference to the modern bomb-curve can clarify the post-mortem interval.Anthropologists should also be aware that DNA analysis not only can enable positive identification but assist in the evaluation of sex and age at death.展开更多
Forensic anthropology casework frequently encounters evidence of animal scavenging asso-ciated with fragmentation and loss of skeletal material.Published research demonstrates that patterns of destruction in bone can ...Forensic anthropology casework frequently encounters evidence of animal scavenging asso-ciated with fragmentation and loss of skeletal material.Published research demonstrates that patterns of destruction in bone can suggest the size and type of animal involved.This study analyzes 107 cases reported on by the first author at the Smithsonian Institution to investigate patterns of scavenging in forensic anthropology casework.This investigation reveals that the extent of scavenger impact varies across the body,but primarily is concen-trated in the central body area.Although extensive animal scavenging can limit analysis,some evidence of foul play can be preserved.展开更多
The size,shape,and physical characteristics of the human skull are distinct when considering individual humans.In physical anthropology,the accurate management of skull collections is crucial for storing and maintaini...The size,shape,and physical characteristics of the human skull are distinct when considering individual humans.In physical anthropology,the accurate management of skull collections is crucial for storing and maintaining collections in a cost-effective manner.For example,labeling skulls inaccurately or attaching printed labels to skulls can affect the authenticity of collections.Given the multiple issues associated with the manual identification of skulls,we propose an automatic human skull classification approach that uses a support vector machine and different feature extraction methods such as gray-level co-occurrence matrix features,Gabor features,fractal features,discrete wavelet transforms,and combinations of features.Each underlying facial bone exhibits unique characteristics essential to the face’s physical structure that could be exploited for identification.Therefore,we developed an automatic recognition method to classify human skulls for consistent identification compared with traditional classification approaches.Using our proposed approach,we were able to achieve an accuracy of 92.3–99.5%in the classification of human skulls with mandibles and an accuracy of 91.4–99.9%in the classification of human skills without mandibles.Our study represents a step forward in the construction of an effective automatic human skull identification system with a classification process that achieves satisfactory performance for a limited dataset of skull images.展开更多
Automated and autonomous decisions of image classification systems have essential applicability in this modern age even.Image-based decisions are commonly taken through explicit or auto-feature engineering of images.I...Automated and autonomous decisions of image classification systems have essential applicability in this modern age even.Image-based decisions are commonly taken through explicit or auto-feature engineering of images.In forensic radiology,auto decisions based on images significantly affect the automation of various tasks.This study aims to assist forensic radiology in its biological profile estimation when only bones are left.A benchmarked dataset Radiology Society of North America(RSNA)has been used for research and experiments.Additionally,a locally developed dataset has also been used for research and experiments to cross-validate the results.A Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)-based model named computer vision and image processing-net(CVIP-Net)has been proposed to learn and classify image features.Experiments have also been performed on state-of-the-art pertained models,which are alex_net,inceptionv_3,google_net,Residual Network(resnet)_50,and Visual Geometry Group(VGG)-19.Experiments proved that the proposed CNN model is more accurate than other models when panoramic dental x-ray images are used to identify age and gender.The specially designed CNN-based achieved results in terms of standard evaluation measures including accuracy(98.90%),specificity(97.99%),sensitivity(99.34%),and Area under the Curve(AUC)-value(0.99)on the locally developed dataset to detect age.The classification rates of the proposed model for gender estimation were 99.57%,97.67%,98.99%,and 0.98,achieved in terms of accuracy,specificity,sensitivity,and AUC-value,respectively,on the local dataset.The classification rates of the proposed model for age estimation were 96.80%,96.80%,97.03%,and 0.99 achieved in terms of accuracy,specificity,sensitivity,and AUC-value,respectively,on the RSNA dataset.展开更多
As a subversive concept,the metaverse has recently attracted widespread attention around the world and has set off a wave of enthusiasm in academic,industrial,and investment circles.However,while the metaverse brings ...As a subversive concept,the metaverse has recently attracted widespread attention around the world and has set off a wave of enthusiasm in academic,industrial,and investment circles.However,while the metaverse brings unprecedented opportunities for transformation to human society,it also contains related risks.Metaverse is a digital living space with information infrastructure,interoperability system,content production system,and value settlement system as the underlying structure in which the inner core is to connect real residents through applications and identities.Through social incentives and governance rules,the metaverse reflects the digital migration of human society.This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the metaverse from the perspective of electronic data forensics.First,from the perspective of Internet development,the background and development process of the metaverse is discussed.By systematically elaborating on the concept and connotation of the metaverse,this paper summarizes the different views of current practitioners,experts,and scholars on the metaverse.Secondly,from the perspective of metaverse security,the social risk and crime risks of the metaverse are discussed.Then the importance of metaverse forensics is raised.Third,from the perspective of blockchain,smart wearable devices,and virtual reality devices,the objects and characteristics of metaverse forensics have been studied in depth.Taking smart wearable devices as an example,this paper gives the relevant experimental process of smart bracelet forensics.Finally,many challenges faced by metaverse forensics are summarized by us which provide readers with some exploratory guidance.展开更多
Objective In this study,we aimed to assess the characteristics of the P3 component from an event-related potential(ERP)that was induced by visual acuity(VA)processing.Furthermore,we sought to provide electrophysiologi...Objective In this study,we aimed to assess the characteristics of the P3 component from an event-related potential(ERP)that was induced by visual acuity(VA)processing.Furthermore,we sought to provide electrophysiological evidence for the objective evaluation of VA.Methods We recruited 32 participants with myopia-related ametropia.They reported no other ocular diseases and had an uncorrected VA of 4.0 in both eyes.We used the block letter“E”at different visual angles and orientations as the graphic stimuli.The oddball paradigm,consisting of 4 modules,was used for ERP analysis.The standard stimuli of each module were identical,with a visual angle of 1°15′.The visual angles of the target stimuli were 1°15′,55′,24′,and 15′.The VA test was performed on each eye separately for all participants,and all characteristics of the P3 component were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 1°15′group and the 55′group,or between the target stimulation angle 24′group and the 15′group.There was a significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 1°15′group and the 24′group as well as the 15′group.There was a significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 55′group and the 24′group as well as the 15′group.No significant differences were observed in the P3 amplitude between modules.Conclusion In the oddball paradigm,P3 elicitation indicated a cognitive response to the target stimuli.These data showed that the characteristics of P3 can be used as an objective evaluation of VA.展开更多
This paper presents dynamic-behavior comparisons and related forensic analyses of a submerged floating tunnel(SFT)between numerical simulation and physical experiment under regular and irregular waves.The experiments ...This paper presents dynamic-behavior comparisons and related forensic analyses of a submerged floating tunnel(SFT)between numerical simulation and physical experiment under regular and irregular waves.The experiments are conducted in the 3Dwave tank with 1:33.3 scale,and the corresponding coupled time-domain simulation tool is devised for comparison.The entire SFT systemconsists of a long concrete tunnel and 12 tubular aluminummooring lines.Two numerical simulation models,the Cummins equation with 3D potential theory including second-order wave-body interaction effects and the much simpler Morison-equation-based formula with the lumped-massbased line model,are designed and compared.Forensic analyses for mooring-line adjustments in the simulation are carried out in view of the best representation of the physical system.After that,the measured pre-tension distribution and systemstiffness of twelvemooring lines arewell reproduced in the numericalmodel.Subsequently,the dynamic responses and mooring tensions of the SFT are compared under regular and irregular waves.The measured and simulated results coincide reasonably well for both regular-and irregular-wave conditions.展开更多
Authorship verification is a crucial task in digital forensic investigations,where it is often necessary to determine whether a specific individual wrote a particular piece of text.Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs)h...Authorship verification is a crucial task in digital forensic investigations,where it is often necessary to determine whether a specific individual wrote a particular piece of text.Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs)have shown promise in solving this problem,but their performance highly depends on the choice of hyperparameters.In this paper,we explore the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the performance of CNNs for authorship verification.We conduct experiments using a Hyper Tuned CNN model with three popular optimization algorithms:Adaptive Moment Estimation(ADAM),StochasticGradientDescent(SGD),andRoot Mean Squared Propagation(RMSPROP).The model is trained and tested on a dataset of text samples collected from various authors,and the performance is evaluated using accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score.We compare the performance of the three optimization algorithms and demonstrate the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the accuracy of the CNN model.Our results show that the Hyper Tuned CNN model with ADAM Optimizer achieves the highest accuracy of up to 90%.Furthermore,we demonstrate that hyperparameter tuning can help achieve significant performance improvements,even using a relatively simple model architecture like CNNs.Our findings suggest that the choice of the optimization algorithm is a crucial factor in the performance of CNNs for authorship verification and that hyperparameter tuning can be an effective way to optimize this choice.Overall,this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the performance of CNNs for authorship verification in digital forensic investigations.Our findings have important implications for developing accurate and reliable authorship verification systems,which are crucial for various applications in digital forensics,such as identifying the author of anonymous threatening messages or detecting cases of plagiarism.展开更多
Age estimation using forensics odontology is an important process in identifying victims in criminal or mass disaster cases.Traditionally,this process is done manually by human expert.However,the speed and accuracy ma...Age estimation using forensics odontology is an important process in identifying victims in criminal or mass disaster cases.Traditionally,this process is done manually by human expert.However,the speed and accuracy may vary depending on the expertise level of the human expert and other human factors such as level of fatigue and attentiveness.To improve the recognition speed and consistency,researchers have proposed automated age estimation using deep learning techniques such as Convolutional Neural Network(CNN).CNN requires many training images to obtain high percentage of recognition accuracy.Unfortunately,it is very difficult to get large number of samples of dental images for training the CNN due to the need to comply to privacy acts.A promising solution to this problem is a technique called Generative Adversarial Network(GAN).GAN is a technique that can generate synthetic images that has similar statistics as the training set.A variation of GAN called Conditional GAN(CGAN)enables the generation of the synthetic images to be controlled more precisely such that only the specified type of images will be generated.This paper proposes a CGAN for generating new dental images to increase the number of images available for training a CNN model to perform age estimation.We also propose a pseudolabelling technique to label the generated images with proper age and gender.We used the combination of real and generated images to trainDentalAge and Sex Net(DASNET),which is a CNN model for dental age estimation.Based on the experiment conducted,the accuracy,coefficient of determination(R2)and Absolute Error(AE)of DASNET have improved to 87%,0.85 and 1.18 years respectively as opposed to 74%,0.72 and 3.45 years when DASNET is trained using real,but smaller number of images.展开更多
Privacy preservation(PP)in Digital forensics(DF)is a conflicted and non-trivial issue.Existing solutions use the searchable encryption concept and,as a result,are not efficient and support only a keyword search.Moreov...Privacy preservation(PP)in Digital forensics(DF)is a conflicted and non-trivial issue.Existing solutions use the searchable encryption concept and,as a result,are not efficient and support only a keyword search.Moreover,the collected forensic data cannot be analyzed using existing well-known digital tools.This research paper first investigates the lawful requirements for PP in DF based on the organization for economic co-operation and development OECB)privacy guidelines.To have an efficient investigation process and meet the increased volume of data,the presented framework is designed based on the selective imaging concept and advanced encryption standard(AES).The proposed framework has two main modules,namely Selective Imaging Module(SIM)and Selective Analysis Module(SAM).The SIM and SAM modules are implemented based on advanced forensic format 4(AFF4)and SleuthKit open source forensics frameworks,respectively,and,accordingly,the proposed framework is evaluated in a forensically sound manner.The evaluation result is compared with other relevant works and,as a result,the proposed solution provides a privacy-preserving,efficient forensic imaging and analysis process while having also sufficient methods.Moreover,the AFF4 forensic image,produced by the SIM module,can be analyzed not only by SAM,but also by other well-known analysis tools available on the market.展开更多
Despite the extensive empirical literature relating to the Internet of Things (IoT), surprisingly few attempts have sought to establish the ways in which digital forensics can be applied to undertake detailed examinat...Despite the extensive empirical literature relating to the Internet of Things (IoT), surprisingly few attempts have sought to establish the ways in which digital forensics can be applied to undertake detailed examinations regarding IoT frameworks. The existing digital forensic applications have effectively held back efforts to align the IoT with digital forensic strategies. This is because the forensic applications are ill-suited to the highly complex IoT frameworks and would, therefore, struggle to amass, analyze and test the necessary evidence that would be required by a court. As such, there is a need to develop a suitable forensic framework to facilitate forensic investigations in IoT settings. Nor has considerable progress been made in terms of collecting and saving network and server logs from IoT settings to enable examinations. Consequently, this study sets out to develop and test the FB system which is a lightweight forensic framework capable of improving the scope of investigations in IoT environments. The FB system can organize the management of various IoT devices found in a smart apartment, all of which is controlled by the owner’s smart watch. This will help to perform useful functions, automate the decision-making process, and ensure that the system remains secure. A Java app is utilized to simulate the FB system, learning the user’s requirements and security expectations when installed and employing the MySQL server as a means of logging the communications of the various IoT devices.展开更多
This summary paper will discuss the concept of forensic evidence and evidence collection methods. Emphasis will be placed on the techniques used to collect forensically sound digital evidence for the purpose of introd...This summary paper will discuss the concept of forensic evidence and evidence collection methods. Emphasis will be placed on the techniques used to collect forensically sound digital evidence for the purpose of introduction to digital forensics. This discussion will thereafter result in identifying and categorizing the different types of digital forensics evidence and a clear procedure for how to collect forensically sound digital evidence. This paper will further discuss the creation of awareness and promote the idea that competent practice of computer forensics collection is important for admissibility in court.展开更多
文摘Isotope analysis has become an increasingly valuable tool in forensic anthropology case-work over the past decade. Modern-day isotopic investigations on human remains have integrated the use of multi-isotope profiles (e.g. C, N, O, H, S, Sr, and Pb) as well as iso-topic landscapes ("isoscapes") from multiple body tissues (e.g. teeth, bone, hair, and nails) to predict possible region-of-origin of unidentified human remains. Together, data from various isotope analyses provide additional lines of evidence for human identification, including a decedent's possible region-of-birth, long-term adult residence, recent travel history, and dietary choices. Here, we present the basic principles of isotope analysis and provide a brief overview of instrumentation, analytical standards, sample selection, and sample quality measures. Finally, we present case studies that reflect the diverse applications of isotope analysis to the medicolegal system before describing some future research directions. As shown herein, isotope analysis is a flexible and powerful geolocation tool that can provide new investigative leads for unidentified human remains cases.
文摘Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification(DVI)for over a century,but over the past decades,there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist.The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process.This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions.Consequently,this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary,and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts.Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis,especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains,are also discussed.Additionally,consideration is given to the identification of survivors;the statistical basis of identification;the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios;and education and training.Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation,they never practice in isolation.The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and,therefore,has a close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.
文摘This review covers previous and current literature on the impact of forensic anthropologists on the positive scientific identification of human remains and aims to provide an under-standing of what information a forensic anthropologist can contribute to an investigation. Forensic anthropologists looking to identify human remains study traits of the skeleton and any orthopedic devices present. In order to obtain a positive scientific identification, evi-dence that is both sufficiently unique to the individual and comparable to available ante-mortem data from that individual must be found. The increased availability of radiographs, scans and implants in recent decades has facilitated the identification process. When these records are unavailable, other techniques, such as craniofacial superimposition and facial approximation, can be employed. While these methods may assist the identification process, they are most useful for exclusion of certain individuals and gathering leads from the public. Forensic anthropologists have heavily relied on the skull and its complexities for identifica-tion – typically focusing on the frontal sinus and other unique traits. Post-cranial remains can provide important information about bone density, possible disease and other character-istics that may also be utilized. Techniques used to positively identify individuals are not limited to medicolegal death investigations, and have been useful in other legal contexts. In the future, a team approach, utilizing all the information gathered by multiple forensic scientists–including forensic anthropologists–will most likely become more common.
基金supported by the Canada Foundation for InnovationNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada+4 种基金the University of Saskatchewanthe Government of SaskatchewanWestern Economic Diversification Canadathe National Research Council Canadathe Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
文摘Bone is a mechanically active,three-dimensionally(3D)complex,and dynamic tissue that changes in structure over the human lifespan.Bone tissue exists and remodels in 3D and changes over time,introducing a fourth dimension.The products of the remodelling process,secondary and fragmentary osteons,have been studied substantially using traditional two-dimensional(2D)techniques.As a result,much has been learned regarding the biological information encrypted in the histomorphology of bone,yielding a wealth of information relating to skeletal structure and function.Three-dimensional imaging modalities,however,hold the potential to provide a much more comprehensive understanding of bone microarchitecture.The visualization and analysis of bone using high-resolution 3D imaging will improve current understandings of bone biology and have numerous applications in both biological anthropology and biomedicine.Through recent technological advancements,we can hone current anthropological applications of the analysis of bone microstructure and accelerate research into the third and fourth dimensional realms.This review will explore the methodological approaches used historically by anthropologists to assess cortical bone microstructure,spanning from histology to current ex vivo imaging modalities,discuss the growing capabilities of in vivo imaging,and conclude with an introduction of novel nonhistological modalities for investigating bone quality.
文摘Forensic anthropologists perform specialised analysis,mainly involving skeletonised human remains,cadavers in advanced stages of decomposition,disassociated elements from the human body,and human remains in extreme carbonisation.The main objectives of the forensic anthropology expertise are human identification and assisting in determining the cause and manner of death.Estimating the time since death is also a priority for some cases,especially ones involving missing persons.This science works on individual cases,violent deaths,missing persons,mass disasters,suspected violations of human rights,and crimes against humanity.Forensic anthropological evidence is,in general,very sensitive.Thus,it is important to detail aspects relevant to the maintenance of the chain of custody at all phases of the investigation,as well as standardise the actions of the individuals involved.This aims to preserve the evidence integrity and sameness(Sameness:free translation of the Portuguese word“mesmidade”,derived from a Spanish word that does not possess a translation to Portuguese.Sameness of evidence is understood as the guarantee that the evidence under valuation(or under analysis of its probative value)is exactly and integrally the same one which was collected,corresponding,therefore,to“the same”(and not“part of”,“derived from”),safeguarding its value.Brazil Law No.13.964 of 14 December 2019 establishes and lists 10 phases related to the evidence chain of custody that must be followed.These newly introduced requirements resulted in the need for adaptation of the forensic,investigative,and legal actors involved in an investigation,and in the detailed description of the procedures for the different areas related to criminalistics,including forensic anthropology.The information provided in this article should be interpreted as recommendations,even though their non-compliance may weaken the investigative and forensic analysis processes in whole or in part.
基金Funding was provided for DNA extraction/sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy through donations to the DNA Doe Project.
文摘Anthropologists are often the custodians of long-term unidentified human remains though their positions as curators of university or museum skeletal collections.Various factors decrease the solvability of these legacy cases including the passage of time,the loss of provenience for specific cases,and lack of documentation or case records.While anthropologists can contribute important information toward identification,it is often necessary to explore novel and cross-disciplinary strategies to resolve difficult cold cases.In long cold cases,the postmortem interval,in particular,may be difficult to estimate leading to further challenges in achieving identification.Modern advances in radiocarbon bomb pulse dating,isotope analysis,and actualistic studies have contributed to positive identification of unidentified human remains in some legacy cases,but may not be available to all forensic practitioners and law enforcement from resource-poor agencies.Pooling resources,as well as collaborating with professionals outside of forensic anthropology,is a useful strategy to pursue when anthropological methods are exhausted.The case study presented here demonstrates a collaborative approach between forensic anthropologists,forensic genetic genealogists,and law enforcement in a century-old homicide.The dismembered and mummified parts of a male body were recovered in a remote cave in 1979 and again in 1991.Despite forensic anthropologists creating and updating the biological profile over the decades from recovery to present,no identification was made until the application of forensic genetic genealogy(FGG)to the case in 2019.New interpretations of bone microstructure and trauma analysis are presented for the case,alongside the historical documentation and“proof of life”evidence used by the genealogy team.A review of the FGG methods underscores the challenges in this case(e.g.significant endogamy,multiple aliases used by the victim)and the steps taken toward resolution.Ultimately,a combined anthropology and genealogy approach resulted in a confirmed identity for a man who was murdered in 1916.
文摘Estimation of age represents a central focus of forensic anthropological analysis of human skeletal remains and of the living. Advances registered in recent research include the topics of taphonomic impact, new anatomical areas of interest, histology, population variation, the dental pulp chamber, technology, mathematical approaches, biochemical analysis and techniques specifically targeting the living. This article reviews the historical development of age estimation methods and considers likely future directions.
文摘Anthropological analysis of fragmentary evidence can be challenging but diverse methods allow substantial information to be gleaned.Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy enables determination if bone and/or tooth tissue is present.Protein radioimmunoassay or DNA analysis can establish the species present.Histological analysis can assist in species determination and reveal information about thermal changes.Radiocarbon analysis with special reference to the modern bomb-curve can clarify the post-mortem interval.Anthropologists should also be aware that DNA analysis not only can enable positive identification but assist in the evaluation of sex and age at death.
文摘Forensic anthropology casework frequently encounters evidence of animal scavenging asso-ciated with fragmentation and loss of skeletal material.Published research demonstrates that patterns of destruction in bone can suggest the size and type of animal involved.This study analyzes 107 cases reported on by the first author at the Smithsonian Institution to investigate patterns of scavenging in forensic anthropology casework.This investigation reveals that the extent of scavenger impact varies across the body,but primarily is concen-trated in the central body area.Although extensive animal scavenging can limit analysis,some evidence of foul play can be preserved.
基金The work of I.Yuadi and A.T.Asyhari has been supported in part by Universitas Airlangga through International Collaboration Funding(Mobility Staff Exchange).
文摘The size,shape,and physical characteristics of the human skull are distinct when considering individual humans.In physical anthropology,the accurate management of skull collections is crucial for storing and maintaining collections in a cost-effective manner.For example,labeling skulls inaccurately or attaching printed labels to skulls can affect the authenticity of collections.Given the multiple issues associated with the manual identification of skulls,we propose an automatic human skull classification approach that uses a support vector machine and different feature extraction methods such as gray-level co-occurrence matrix features,Gabor features,fractal features,discrete wavelet transforms,and combinations of features.Each underlying facial bone exhibits unique characteristics essential to the face’s physical structure that could be exploited for identification.Therefore,we developed an automatic recognition method to classify human skulls for consistent identification compared with traditional classification approaches.Using our proposed approach,we were able to achieve an accuracy of 92.3–99.5%in the classification of human skulls with mandibles and an accuracy of 91.4–99.9%in the classification of human skills without mandibles.Our study represents a step forward in the construction of an effective automatic human skull identification system with a classification process that achieves satisfactory performance for a limited dataset of skull images.
文摘Automated and autonomous decisions of image classification systems have essential applicability in this modern age even.Image-based decisions are commonly taken through explicit or auto-feature engineering of images.In forensic radiology,auto decisions based on images significantly affect the automation of various tasks.This study aims to assist forensic radiology in its biological profile estimation when only bones are left.A benchmarked dataset Radiology Society of North America(RSNA)has been used for research and experiments.Additionally,a locally developed dataset has also been used for research and experiments to cross-validate the results.A Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)-based model named computer vision and image processing-net(CVIP-Net)has been proposed to learn and classify image features.Experiments have also been performed on state-of-the-art pertained models,which are alex_net,inceptionv_3,google_net,Residual Network(resnet)_50,and Visual Geometry Group(VGG)-19.Experiments proved that the proposed CNN model is more accurate than other models when panoramic dental x-ray images are used to identify age and gender.The specially designed CNN-based achieved results in terms of standard evaluation measures including accuracy(98.90%),specificity(97.99%),sensitivity(99.34%),and Area under the Curve(AUC)-value(0.99)on the locally developed dataset to detect age.The classification rates of the proposed model for gender estimation were 99.57%,97.67%,98.99%,and 0.98,achieved in terms of accuracy,specificity,sensitivity,and AUC-value,respectively,on the local dataset.The classification rates of the proposed model for age estimation were 96.80%,96.80%,97.03%,and 0.99 achieved in terms of accuracy,specificity,sensitivity,and AUC-value,respectively,on the RSNA dataset.
基金supported by 2021 Jiangsu Police Institute Scientific Research Project(2021SJYZK01)High-Level Introduction of Talent Scientific Research Start-Up Fund of Jiangsu Police Institute(JSPI19GKZL407)+2 种基金Jiangsu Provincial Department of Public Security Science and Technology Project(2021KX012)Open Project of Criminal Inspection Laboratory in Key Laboratories of Sichuan Provincial Universities(2023YB03)Major Project of Basic Science(Natural Science)Research in Higher Education Institutions in Jiangsu Province(2020232001),2023‘Jiangsu Science and Technology Think Tank Youth Talent Plan’.
文摘As a subversive concept,the metaverse has recently attracted widespread attention around the world and has set off a wave of enthusiasm in academic,industrial,and investment circles.However,while the metaverse brings unprecedented opportunities for transformation to human society,it also contains related risks.Metaverse is a digital living space with information infrastructure,interoperability system,content production system,and value settlement system as the underlying structure in which the inner core is to connect real residents through applications and identities.Through social incentives and governance rules,the metaverse reflects the digital migration of human society.This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the metaverse from the perspective of electronic data forensics.First,from the perspective of Internet development,the background and development process of the metaverse is discussed.By systematically elaborating on the concept and connotation of the metaverse,this paper summarizes the different views of current practitioners,experts,and scholars on the metaverse.Secondly,from the perspective of metaverse security,the social risk and crime risks of the metaverse are discussed.Then the importance of metaverse forensics is raised.Third,from the perspective of blockchain,smart wearable devices,and virtual reality devices,the objects and characteristics of metaverse forensics have been studied in depth.Taking smart wearable devices as an example,this paper gives the relevant experimental process of smart bracelet forensics.Finally,many challenges faced by metaverse forensics are summarized by us which provide readers with some exploratory guidance.
基金This project was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China during the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan period(No.2016YFC0800701-4-2).
文摘Objective In this study,we aimed to assess the characteristics of the P3 component from an event-related potential(ERP)that was induced by visual acuity(VA)processing.Furthermore,we sought to provide electrophysiological evidence for the objective evaluation of VA.Methods We recruited 32 participants with myopia-related ametropia.They reported no other ocular diseases and had an uncorrected VA of 4.0 in both eyes.We used the block letter“E”at different visual angles and orientations as the graphic stimuli.The oddball paradigm,consisting of 4 modules,was used for ERP analysis.The standard stimuli of each module were identical,with a visual angle of 1°15′.The visual angles of the target stimuli were 1°15′,55′,24′,and 15′.The VA test was performed on each eye separately for all participants,and all characteristics of the P3 component were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 1°15′group and the 55′group,or between the target stimulation angle 24′group and the 15′group.There was a significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 1°15′group and the 24′group as well as the 15′group.There was a significant difference in the P3 peak letencies between the target stimulation angle 55′group and the 24′group as well as the 15′group.No significant differences were observed in the P3 amplitude between modules.Conclusion In the oddball paradigm,P3 elicitation indicated a cognitive response to the target stimuli.These data showed that the characteristics of P3 can be used as an objective evaluation of VA.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea Government(MSIT)(No.2017R1A5A1014883).
文摘This paper presents dynamic-behavior comparisons and related forensic analyses of a submerged floating tunnel(SFT)between numerical simulation and physical experiment under regular and irregular waves.The experiments are conducted in the 3Dwave tank with 1:33.3 scale,and the corresponding coupled time-domain simulation tool is devised for comparison.The entire SFT systemconsists of a long concrete tunnel and 12 tubular aluminummooring lines.Two numerical simulation models,the Cummins equation with 3D potential theory including second-order wave-body interaction effects and the much simpler Morison-equation-based formula with the lumped-massbased line model,are designed and compared.Forensic analyses for mooring-line adjustments in the simulation are carried out in view of the best representation of the physical system.After that,the measured pre-tension distribution and systemstiffness of twelvemooring lines arewell reproduced in the numericalmodel.Subsequently,the dynamic responses and mooring tensions of the SFT are compared under regular and irregular waves.The measured and simulated results coincide reasonably well for both regular-and irregular-wave conditions.
基金Prince Sultan University for funding this publication’s Article Process Charges(APC).
文摘Authorship verification is a crucial task in digital forensic investigations,where it is often necessary to determine whether a specific individual wrote a particular piece of text.Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs)have shown promise in solving this problem,but their performance highly depends on the choice of hyperparameters.In this paper,we explore the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the performance of CNNs for authorship verification.We conduct experiments using a Hyper Tuned CNN model with three popular optimization algorithms:Adaptive Moment Estimation(ADAM),StochasticGradientDescent(SGD),andRoot Mean Squared Propagation(RMSPROP).The model is trained and tested on a dataset of text samples collected from various authors,and the performance is evaluated using accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score.We compare the performance of the three optimization algorithms and demonstrate the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the accuracy of the CNN model.Our results show that the Hyper Tuned CNN model with ADAM Optimizer achieves the highest accuracy of up to 90%.Furthermore,we demonstrate that hyperparameter tuning can help achieve significant performance improvements,even using a relatively simple model architecture like CNNs.Our findings suggest that the choice of the optimization algorithm is a crucial factor in the performance of CNNs for authorship verification and that hyperparameter tuning can be an effective way to optimize this choice.Overall,this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of hyperparameter tuning in improving the performance of CNNs for authorship verification in digital forensic investigations.Our findings have important implications for developing accurate and reliable authorship verification systems,which are crucial for various applications in digital forensics,such as identifying the author of anonymous threatening messages or detecting cases of plagiarism.
文摘Age estimation using forensics odontology is an important process in identifying victims in criminal or mass disaster cases.Traditionally,this process is done manually by human expert.However,the speed and accuracy may vary depending on the expertise level of the human expert and other human factors such as level of fatigue and attentiveness.To improve the recognition speed and consistency,researchers have proposed automated age estimation using deep learning techniques such as Convolutional Neural Network(CNN).CNN requires many training images to obtain high percentage of recognition accuracy.Unfortunately,it is very difficult to get large number of samples of dental images for training the CNN due to the need to comply to privacy acts.A promising solution to this problem is a technique called Generative Adversarial Network(GAN).GAN is a technique that can generate synthetic images that has similar statistics as the training set.A variation of GAN called Conditional GAN(CGAN)enables the generation of the synthetic images to be controlled more precisely such that only the specified type of images will be generated.This paper proposes a CGAN for generating new dental images to increase the number of images available for training a CNN model to perform age estimation.We also propose a pseudolabelling technique to label the generated images with proper age and gender.We used the combination of real and generated images to trainDentalAge and Sex Net(DASNET),which is a CNN model for dental age estimation.Based on the experiment conducted,the accuracy,coefficient of determination(R2)and Absolute Error(AE)of DASNET have improved to 87%,0.85 and 1.18 years respectively as opposed to 74%,0.72 and 3.45 years when DASNET is trained using real,but smaller number of images.
基金The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through research group no(RG-1441-531).
文摘Privacy preservation(PP)in Digital forensics(DF)is a conflicted and non-trivial issue.Existing solutions use the searchable encryption concept and,as a result,are not efficient and support only a keyword search.Moreover,the collected forensic data cannot be analyzed using existing well-known digital tools.This research paper first investigates the lawful requirements for PP in DF based on the organization for economic co-operation and development OECB)privacy guidelines.To have an efficient investigation process and meet the increased volume of data,the presented framework is designed based on the selective imaging concept and advanced encryption standard(AES).The proposed framework has two main modules,namely Selective Imaging Module(SIM)and Selective Analysis Module(SAM).The SIM and SAM modules are implemented based on advanced forensic format 4(AFF4)and SleuthKit open source forensics frameworks,respectively,and,accordingly,the proposed framework is evaluated in a forensically sound manner.The evaluation result is compared with other relevant works and,as a result,the proposed solution provides a privacy-preserving,efficient forensic imaging and analysis process while having also sufficient methods.Moreover,the AFF4 forensic image,produced by the SIM module,can be analyzed not only by SAM,but also by other well-known analysis tools available on the market.
文摘Despite the extensive empirical literature relating to the Internet of Things (IoT), surprisingly few attempts have sought to establish the ways in which digital forensics can be applied to undertake detailed examinations regarding IoT frameworks. The existing digital forensic applications have effectively held back efforts to align the IoT with digital forensic strategies. This is because the forensic applications are ill-suited to the highly complex IoT frameworks and would, therefore, struggle to amass, analyze and test the necessary evidence that would be required by a court. As such, there is a need to develop a suitable forensic framework to facilitate forensic investigations in IoT settings. Nor has considerable progress been made in terms of collecting and saving network and server logs from IoT settings to enable examinations. Consequently, this study sets out to develop and test the FB system which is a lightweight forensic framework capable of improving the scope of investigations in IoT environments. The FB system can organize the management of various IoT devices found in a smart apartment, all of which is controlled by the owner’s smart watch. This will help to perform useful functions, automate the decision-making process, and ensure that the system remains secure. A Java app is utilized to simulate the FB system, learning the user’s requirements and security expectations when installed and employing the MySQL server as a means of logging the communications of the various IoT devices.
文摘This summary paper will discuss the concept of forensic evidence and evidence collection methods. Emphasis will be placed on the techniques used to collect forensically sound digital evidence for the purpose of introduction to digital forensics. This discussion will thereafter result in identifying and categorizing the different types of digital forensics evidence and a clear procedure for how to collect forensically sound digital evidence. This paper will further discuss the creation of awareness and promote the idea that competent practice of computer forensics collection is important for admissibility in court.
