Robert Ndou obtained his PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand where he is a Lecturer. His research focuses on the skeletal system and makes use of the Raymond A Dart Skeletal Collection housed at the University of the Witwatersrand. One of his research interest areas is human variation with respect to the skeletal system and its forensic anthropological applications.

South Africa is a country of diverse populations consisting of the indigenous Blacks, Whites (individuals of European descent) and mixed ethnic groups (descendants of Whites, Blacks and Khoisan people), among others. These groups have different physical features. As such, we queried whether upper limbs bones would have different dimensions in these 3 populations. A total of 1175 paired dry humeri and ulnae from 596 skeletonized individuals were analyzed. Limbs of both sides were included for 579 individuals, whereas 17 individuals had only a single side present. These bones are from three South African groups; 126 Whites, 232 Mixed ethnicity and 238 Blacks housed at the University of the Witwatersrand, Raymond A Dart Human Skeletal Collection. The following measurements were taken from the humerus: head circumference, shaft circumference at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile marks of the humerus length, epicondylar breadth and humerus length. From the ulnar, the olecranon process length, coronoid process length, trochlear notch depth, olecranon-coronoid distance and ulnar length. A discriminant function analysis was conducted to determine the upper limb skeletal parameters that contribute to population variation. The structure matrix showed that both the humeral and ulna variables made major contributions to population variability. However, the olecranon fossa depth and the humeral head circumference contributed the most to population variability. The model correctly classified 78.9% of the individuals as White, 68% as Mixed and 79% as Black. Therefore, this study forms a basis for future research that may have forensic anthropological applications in these population groupings.

Jin Myung Lee has completed her Master’s degree from The Catholic University of Korea. She is the researcher of National Forensic Service at Forensic DNA Division. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are the most powerful tools for human identification in the field of forensic genetics. Recently, the multiplex GlobalFilerTM PCR Amplification kit (Applied Biosystems) and PowerPlex® Fusion system (Promega) were released with 24 loci, including the CODIS core, the European Standard Set and additional male-specific markers. In Korea, a DNA database has been constructed based on 13 STR CODIS core loci, and we are aiming to expand the number of testable STR loci in accordance with the expanded CODIS core loci. Therefore, in this study, we estimated the performance of the GlobalFilerTM PCR Amplification kit and PowerPlex® Fusion system for application of the expanded STR loci for DNA database generation and forensic casework analysis. For the validation, we performed five experiments, including sensitivity, stochastic, scale-down, inhibitor, and mixture studies, and compared the results of both multiplex kits. Five genotyping discrepancies between the GlobalFilerTM PCR Amplification kit and PowerPlex® Fusion system were observed due to allelic drop-out (null alleles) or microvariants. With the expanded markers, both new kits were shown to provide robust genetic information and are suitable tools for DNA database and forensic analyses, such as human identity and parentage testing.

Sathisha Kamanna is pursuing 3rd year PhD at Flinders University, South Australia. His PhD project is “Mass Spectrometry-based proteomics applications in forensic body fluids analysis”. He has 7 years’ work experience in biological mass spectrometry and is involved in the forensic analysis of body fluids and identification of protein/miRNA biomarkers using mass spectrometry based analytical techniques. He has 8 international publications (author/co-author) in reputed journals.

Body fluids such as blood, seminal fluid, urine or saliva are very important in the investigation of crimes against the person such as murder and rape. Whereas DNA profiling is extremely reliable in establishing from whom the body fluid originated, tests to positively identify the type of fluid involved (e.g., whether it is semen or saliva or a mixture of them) are much less refined and can be ambiguous. Our recently submitted article describes a streamlined and simplified direct approach for the identification of body fluids using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS) that avoids pre-fractionation or isolation of proteins. Microliter quantities (or less) of neat fluids or their extracts or deposits of them in situ on tufts of fibers plucked from evidence (such as garments) can be analysed directly and quickly. Here we describe extensions of our direct approach in regards to the examination of other fluids, both human and non-human, and explore its combination with analysis of miRNA.

Michael Radford is a graduate student at Texas Tech University Institute for Forensic Science. He has a B.S. degreed in Criminal Justice from University of Maryland University College. He served on active duty in the United States Maring Corps from 2005 to 2009 and is currently employed as a detective at the Lubbock Police Department.

Despite emerging DNA techniques, fingerprint evidence remains to be valuable in criminal investigations. Many fingerprinting techniques have been developed over the years; however, previous forensic work has limited research studies geared at the examination of fingerprint visualizing methods for the forensic analysis of condoms. Using common fingerprint powdering techniques, we are attempting to determine the optimal method of visualizing fingerprints on this specific substrate of vital importance in sexual assault crimes. All of the methods consist of prolonged cyanoacrylate exposure followed by application of black fingerprint powder, bi-chromatic powder, and phosphorescent powder using the fiberglass brush. Another method consists of cyanoacrylate exposure followed by application of black magnetic powder using the magnetic wand. Novel approaches being presented in this study is the handling of the ‘used’ condoms prior to treatment. The samples being analyzed are placed over large plastic tubes after cyanoacrylate treatment prior to powdering application. This handling procedure has proven to be instrumental in attaining quality results. Furthermore, the analytical methodology also evaluated four different time variables after fingerprint deposition to assess the effect of fingerprint aging with respect to the tested powdering techniques. The analytical validation of various fingerprint powdering techniques for condom substrate samples can improve and further validate the use of this trace evidence and help establish the availability of fingerprint details that may lead to increased rates of prosecution within the criminal justice system as it relates to sexual assault crimes.

Dorra Amira is professor of Toxicology at the university of Pharmacy in Monastir _Tunisia. I’m responsable for the toxicology lab at assistance medical care and Emergency center, Tunis- Tunisia.

In Tunisia, women use para-phenylenediamine (PPD) as an additive to henna in order to intensify the black temporary tattoos unaware of its deleterious effect. In this work we present a case report of poisoning by the PPD in order to highlight its noxious effects and discuss the complications resulting from PPD poisoning. Description case: A young women was admitted to the emergency services. The patient was suffering from vomiting, muscle pain, motor deficit in the lower limbs and Paresthesia. The medical interrogatory confirmed the ingestion of unknown substance. Material and Methods: The toxicological investigation was conducted on fresh urine sample and on the ingested product. A preliminary screening was performed on both matrices by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The presence of PPD was further confirmed by (GC/MS). Biochemical analysis was performed by immunoassay (COBAS INTEGRA 400 plus®). Results: The screening by TLC and GC/MS confirmed the presence of PPD in the ingested product. Besides, its metabolite N-N'-diacetyl-PPD was also identified in urine sample collected from the first dialysis performed 48 hours after ingestion of the toxic product. The urine samples collected 72 and 96 hours were negative. The biochemical analysis showed rhabdomyolysis reflected by an increasing of CPK and LDH levels (> 200,000 IU / L, 13000 IU / L) 48 H after ingestion. Abnormal liver function and kidney disease have been reported. Conclusion: Rhabdomyolysis with respiratory, renal and heart disease are considered as the main signs of PPD poisoning. The therapy requires adequate medical care assistance.

Hana Eliasova completed her PhD at Charles University. She is an authorized expert in forensic anthropology and the head of the Department of Anthropology, Biology and Physiodetection in the Institute of Criminalistics Prague (Czech Republic). Her research work is focused on human remains examination and identification according to bones and teeth. She is a member of the National Disaster Victim Identification Team. She is an external educator at the Charles University in Prague and at the Masaryk University in Brno (forensic anthropology, trichology). She has published papers in reputed journals and also she is a member of an editorial board

With the global migration of whole families, it is nowadays important to determine the actual chronological age (CA) of children and young people. Dental age (DA) is preferred for the estimation of CA in children. Knowledge of dental age also significantly helps in endocrinologic diagnoses in children and in the design of orthodontic treatments. The assessment of DA is significant within the scope of the identification process of unknown dead bodies. Dental age estimation is based on the establishment tooth development stages. The Demirjian methods to the assessment of the dental age are based on analysis of the orthopantomograms. 505 Czech healthy boys and girls aged 3-18.99 were radiographically examined at the Charles University, 2nd Medical Faculty, Department of Stomatology, Prague. The factors of underlying diseases influence on the accuracy of the dental age estimation were mentioned. Descriptive statistics were used for statistical evaluation to compare deviations of the mean values chronological and dental age in each age group. Based on our results, methods Demirjian - original 7 teeth 1973 and Demirjian - revised 7 teeth 1976, appear to be the best methods for calculating the DA of healthy Czech children of both genders. The mean of paired t-tests for difference between DA and CA showed no statistically significant SD in either gender. Acknowledgement: This research was supported by IGA MZCR 13351-4, 00064203 (FN Motol) and VF20152015041 (Institute of Criminalistics Prague).

Yang Jung Kim is the chief of Busan Forensic DNA Smart Lab, National Forensic Service. She has completed her Master’s degree at the age of 25 years from from Busan National University and She has worked for more than 15years at Forensic DNA Division, National Forensic Service

DNA profiles from evidence found at crime scenes can be instrumental for identify a criminal in criminal investigations. But the key evidence from crime scenes often contains very little DNA or degraded DNA by heat and light. Fire investigation is the examination of fire-related incidents and similar to the examination of crime scenes. Fire investigation also include surveying the damaged scene to establish the origin of the fire and eventually establishing the cause and the fire whether or not a crime-related. It is difficult to determine whether arson has occurred because fire debris including the key evidence of fire origin is often seriously damaged or contaminated by fire fighting water, fire extinguisher besides fire. To clarify the correlation of DNA detection rates and evidence collection rates according to fire exposure temperature-time and distance to ignition point, in this study we first analyzed fire investigation cases including arson cases in Busan metropolitan city where 350 million people live. For this purpose, we also conducted fire simulation experiments of DNA evidence samples. In addition, we performed a quantitative PCR(qPCR) assay to quantify total DNA and the extent of DNA degradation and we compared detection rates of STR profiles of blood, saliva samples in the fire exposure temperature condition at 100 ℃ to 800 ℃ and distance to ignition point from 1 m to 3 m. STR profiles of blood sample were obtained in the fire exposure condition at 300 ℃, 10sec to 60sec. STR profile has not been detected or evidence disappeared in the fire exposure condition above 300 ℃, 60sec. The distance to ignition point is farther, more complete STR profiles and evidences were obtained.