5^th International Conference on Forensic Research & Technology Oct 31- Nov 02, 2016 San Francisco, California, USA

Biography:

Jeanne Marie Stumpf-Carome completed her PhD at University of California, Berkeley, following an MA in Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University in 1978 and an MS in Urban Studies, Cleveland State University in 1980. She has pursued Post-graduate study at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland from 1999 to the present. She is an Associate Professor teaching anthropology and sociology course. She is a Fulbright Scholar during 1988-89 in Singapore. She is the country specialist for Amnesty International USA, for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei from 1996 to present. She is the first Executive Director of The Flats Oxbow Association in Cleveland, Ohio.

Abstract:

Aspects of ongoing research exploring ecotourism practices related to “saving” endangered primates from extinction are considered in this presentation. Between July, 2008 and July 2015, ecotours to Sabah, Rwanda, Kenya, Madagascar, and Uganda were undertaken. The specific focus of these travels has been to explore the tourist’s participation in ecotourism practices geared toward the rehabilitation of orphaned and/or rescued primates, including environmental solutions, such as, habitat protection of endangered primates, i.e., orangutans, mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and lemurs. This presentation focuses on several features of ecotourism travel and practices: location, logistics and participation. In light of the consideration of emerging infectious diseases relating to zoonotic transmission, wildlife-to-human and/or human-to-wildlife, this presentation is offered as an opportunity for a forensic window for possible vectors of transmission. Ecotourism specific locations are usually out-of-the-range of local travel for the tourist while within a biome unique to wildlife which is “exotic” enough to be domiciled in zoological and research settings worldwide, and either unique by declining numbers and/or designation at some level of endangerment. Already, there is a rich literature emphasizing location and emerging pathogens which underscores these issues. Explored are some of the characteristics required to participate in this form of tourism, e.g., physical, financial, social, and emotional Highlighted, as an aspect of this specialized travel, are participant experiences encountering wildlife. Although the activities are designed for group participation, variations in participation exist as described. This author’s experiences in these varied settings are expanded upon in consideration of possible vectors for disease transmission

Biography:

Mihaela Brooks is the CEO of Investigative Research and Development Analytics of Canada and member of the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases. She collaborates with the Romanian IntellPsy Academy – Forensic Psychology Department and other Romanian institutions and professionals.

Abstract:

Only recently there were studies aimed at determining the elements of staging at crime scene. With homicide offenders being more forensically aware, it is essential to understand the crime scene action. Unlike other crime scenes, the staged crime scene displays the offender’s effort to stage a monothematic or polythematic crime with the sole intention of misdirecting the investigation.

A successful verbal and physical evidence crime scene staging represents a miscarriage of justice: the case is unsolved, the offender is not apprehended and free to offend again, the law enforcement agencies waste time and resources, and the families of the victims rightfully “feel cheated by the system.” The interdisciplinary homicide investigation coupled with the medical examiner’s findings need to identify the red flags indicative of staging. Although more research is necessary to determine the elements held in common by staged crime, from an investigative standpoint, it is essential to understand what staging is, what it entails, the types of alterations and how to detect the motive behind the act of staging

Biography:

Eve E Carson earned a BSIM from Purdue University. He volunteers on a crisis line for abuse victims, and is a speaker on criminal justice and abuse topics.

Abstract:

Forensic sociology is the analysis of evidence and research to determine negligence in criminal or civil cases. There is only limited research going on at present. Learning from the findings in past cases leads to innovative technology, reform, and procedures for crime resolution. Evidence contamination is not isolated or a rare event, but instead arises from systemic defects. The Innocence Project lists misconduct of Government actors as a contributing cause. The very people who are responsible for ensuring truth and justice, law enforcement officials and prosecutors, lose sight of these obligations and instead focus solely on securing convictions. While many law enforcement officers and prosecutors are honest and trustworthy, criminal justice is a human endeavor and the possibility for negligence, misconduct, and corruption exists. Forensic sociology identifies evidence contamination that undermines our justice system, and negates the forensic science of dedicated professionals in the pursuit of crime resolution. The Innocence Project lists common forms of misconduct. My study will illustrate with specific examples how misconduct was applied to the unresolved 1981 Joan Webster case. Common forms of misconduct by law enforcement officials include: 1. Employing suggestion when conducting identification procedures; 2. Coercing false confessions; 3. Lying or intentionally misleading jurors about their observations; 4. Failing to turn over exculpatory evidence to prosecutors; 5. Providing incentives to secure unreliable evidence from informants. Common forms of misconduct by prosecutors include: 1. Withholding exculpatory evidence from defense; 2. Deliberately mishandling, mistreating or destroying evidence; 3. Allowing witnesses they know or should know are not truthful to testify; 4. Pressuring defense witnesses not to testify; 5. Relying on fraudulent forensic experts; 6. Making misleading arguments that overstate the probative value of testimony.

Biography:

Lucy Love is the Assistant Medical Director for Mountain Healthcare, a major provider of forensic medical services for complaints of sexual assault in the UK. She has been a Sexual Offences Examiner for 20 years including the evaluation of child sexual abuse and she regularly appears in court as an expert witness. She is a recognized trainer of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Pediatric Medical Examiners in the UK.

Abstract:

DNA testing technology has rapidly advanced and is now so sensitive that it brings with it a risk of contamination, which could potentially lead to a miscarriage of justice. I reviewed environmental monitoring data from six SARCS [Sexual Assault Referral Centres] in the UK between 2013 and 2015 to assess contamination levels. Appropriate measures to reduce contamination in SARCs were then considered, in line with new guidelines produced by the Forensic Regulator for the UK.

Biography:

Roxann Wright is currently the Clinical Forensic Psychology Doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology for the Helping Professions and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. She is a member of the Golden Key and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She currently works as a therapist with court ordered clients at the Ness Counseling Center, a non-profit for court ordered and voluntary low income client. She will soon be joining the San Fernando Valley Mental Health Centers for Older Adult Services, providing mental health care for the elderly. She hopes to work for the court system, correctional system and/or law enforcement in the roles of assessment and psychological services upon graduating.

Abstract:

Teletherapy is the newest way computers can help to promote mental health services to a wider audience in the comfort of their own homes. One of the hardest parts of engaging in therapy for the average person is getting into a therapist chair at a time that is not conflicting with work and life schedules. Most therapist keep standard office/business hours. This limits the time that you can see your therapist and often includes taking off from work or can interfere with family/ social engagements. Mental health care should not hinder a person’s life but enhance it. Another bane for therapy can be the distance the person may have to drive to their desired therapist. This could tack on up to two hours to drive time especially in a larger city such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. By removing the one of the many barriers to mental health, psychologists can access a larger amount of the population to ensure that everyone has access to care. This session will discuss the pros and cons of the teletherapy industry focusing on innovation and future efficacy.

Biography:

Corena de Ber has completed her PhD in 2004 and holds the position of Senior Medical Scientist and Senior Lecturer in the Division of Medical Virology of Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. She started research on SUDI cases in collaboration with Forensic Pathology in 2009. She has published 32 papers, of which 3 were on SUDI. She has successfully supervised 18 Post-graduate students and is currently supervising 2 PhD, 2 MSc and 1 Honours BSc students. She serves on the Editorial Board of Annals of Forensic Research and Analysis and on several national review boards.

Abstract:

Sudden and unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is an under-researched field in South Africa. Identifying causes of death remains challenging despite full medico-legal investigations inclusive of autopsy, scene visit and ancillary studies. Viral and bacterial infections have been implicated repeatedly as risk factors for SUDI, but no standard laboratory investigation protocol exists in South Africa. SUDI cases from the Tygerberg Medico-legal Mortuary are being collected since 2014 and investigated for respiratory viruses and immunological markers of infection. Swab and tissue samples from the lungs and trachea are screened for histology and viral infections and blood from the heart is used to measure markers of infection in serum. More than 250 cases have been collected to date and demographic information confirmed several risk factors that correspond with the literature. Although multiplex PCR assays produce higher positive yields for respiratory viruses than routine shell vial culture, the incidence is very low. However, increased immunological markers, such as C-reactive protein, can suggest systemic infection or inflammation prior to death. It is not possible to measure viral loads on post-mortem samples, and virology results need to correlate with moderate to severe interstitial pneumonitis on lung histology to suggest a viral cause of death. Immunological markers are now being investigated to assess the presence of non-specific infection or inflammation prior to or at the time of death, due to the high incidence of negative virology results. Preliminary findings reconfirmed the need for different approaches in order to determine the cause of death in SUDI cases.

Biography:

Roxann Wright is currently the Clinical Forensic Psychology Doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology for the Helping Professions and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. She is a member of the Golden Key and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She currently works as a therapist with court ordered clients at the Ness Counseling Center, a non-profit for court ordered and voluntary low income client. She will soon be joining the San Fernando Valley Mental Health Centers for Older Adult Services, providing mental health care for the elderly. She hopes to work for the court system, correctional system and/or law enforcement in the roles of assessment and psychological services upon graduating.

Abstract:

Video training is bringing valuable training services to those within a budget. With the advent of technology and live streaming services, psychologists can offer seminars and trainings aimed at educating first responders, mental health practitioners and medical practitioners valuable resources to help them understand the challenges of a person in a mental health crises. Online courses have increased the ability to obtain CE credits from the comfort of the home and the flexibility of schedule that many who are in public service need. Hundreds of streaming and video services have become part of the communication and learning tree for continued education in America as well as Internationally. The access to video training can allow for on the job training sessions guided by a manager or facilitator playing the videos in sequence to facilitate a training seminar. The increase of use of video services serves to advance the field of psychology by collaborating with the important partners in battling mental health suffering.

Biography:

Siri Aas Rustad is a Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Trondheim, Norway. Her research interests include conflicts related to natural resources, post-conflict natural resource management, extractive industries in fragile areas, sexual violence related to natural resources and the geography of conflict.

Abstract:

The natural resource abundance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has featured in policy debates as the prime example of ‘conflict minerals’ driving conflict-related sexual violence. This narrative has dominated how the conflict in the eastern part of the country has been portrayed in the media and by high-level policy-makers. Despite increased attention to research on mining and gender, systematic analyses of the links between mining, conflict, and sexual violence are scarce. This paper contributes to filling this gap by exploring how artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and sexual violence are related in Eastern DRC. We combine new subnational data on the geographical location of ASM sites with detailed survey data from the 2013/2014 Demographic and Health survey of women aged 15-49 on their exposure to sexual violence committed by their intimate partners and by others (non-partners). The results indicate that women living in close proximity to ASM are indeed more likely to experience sexual violence of both types, although the effect is stronger for non-partner sexual violence. In the Kivus and Maniema, the risk of experiencing non-partner sexual is particularly high for women that live close to a mine with the presence of an armed actor.

Biography:

Stephen J. Morewitz is an Associate Professor with experience of over 18 years in assessing disability/stress, rehabilitation, sexual harassment profiles, sexual harassment impact, and sexual harassment policies/procedures. He is an author of the book, SEXUAL HARASSMENT & SOCIAL CHANGE (1996) and other publications in the areas of psychosocial disability, stress, and assessment. He is a consultant to organizations in sexual harassment prevention and program development. –I Who's Who in Medicine & Healthcare, 1999-2000, Who's Who in America, 1999-2000, and other honors, Certified behavioral scientist.

Abstract:

Researchers are increasingly studying the ways in which the police determine foul play in cases involving death, arson, missing persons, abuse and neglect, and other possible crimes. Using the results of The Police Classification of Foul Play Project, the following study relies on a case series of death incidents in which a body is found at the site of the death incident. The results from the case series reveal that the police are more likely to classify a death incident as involving suspected play rather than due to natural causes when a body is found at the death incident site. This study analyzes other socio-demographic, psychological, and physical factors that may affect the ways in which police suspect foul play in death cases related to bodies that are found at death incident sites.

Biography:

Armon J Tamatea is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waikato University and former Senior Advisor for psychological research with the Department of Corrections, New Zealand. Some of his research and practice interests include criminal justice and forensic psychology, institutional violence, psychopathy and personality disorders, the role of culture in psychological practice, gang communities, and intervention with serious violent and sexual offenders. He currently divides his professional time between teaching, research, clinical practice, and supervision

Abstract:

Forensic and correctional psychology as applied disciplines, have made significant advances in its efforts to develop more empirical, standardized, and consistent approaches to managing offenders. Despite this, these psychologies derive from a cultural basis that privileges certain types of knowledge and promotes certain forms of practice that are incommensurate with the outlook and realities of some offenders and their communities. Just as crime occur in a cultural context, so do community responses to crime. This presentation discusses cultural difference in relation to the services that correctional psychologists offer to indigenous peoples. It is argued that peoples who have experienced the significant, long-term, and often negative, impacts of colonization warrant special attention due to the sustained injustices that have been endured – and yet, the application of psychology to criminal justice concerns, as is currently practiced, has not reached the level of conceptual maturity required to address the spectrum of localized criminal justice issues that offenders from these communities often present with.

Biography:

Armon J Tamatea is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waikato University and former Senior Advisor for psychological research with the Department of Corrections, New Zealand. Some of his research and practice interests include criminal justice and forensic psychology, institutional violence, psychopathy and personality disorders, the role of culture in psychological practice, gang communities, and intervention with serious violent and sexual offenders. He currently divides his professional time between teaching, research, clinical practice, and supervision.

Abstract:

Gangs have been part of New Zealand communities since the 1950s and because of the relationship between gang membership and crime, these groups have been an ongoing focus for Police, Courts, Corrections, and local government, resulting in a number of policies and practices across these agencies designed to address antisocial behaviour or even ban collective assembly in public places. International research indicates that involvement in gangs increases an individual’s risk of offending behaviour, not least due to socialisation into a community that holds and supports pro-criminal norms. However, these groups are also likely to be burdened by histories of socioeconomic disadvantage and structural inequality. While the behaviour of these groups poses a challenge to law enforcement and criminal justice institutions, their marginality means that there are other less visible impacts that membership can exert on members themselves and their families with regard to personal (e.g., self-concept, identity), family (e.g., parenting, education, health), and social (e.g., employment, crime reduction) outcomes. Whilst much has been said about these groups in the popular media, research with gang communities in New Zealand is sorely lacking. Understanding the negative effects that are consequent to gang involvement as well as pathways out involves an understanding of gangs in the context in which they exist. This presentation discusses key issues and the development of methodologies to understand specific factors that act as barriers to valued outcomes and pathways to better facilitating outcomes such as reduced crime, reduced violence, and enhanced family and social cohesion.

Biography:

Nargis Canturk has completed her MD from Istanbul University, Faculty of Medicine and is now Assoc. Prof. in Ankara University Institute of Forensic Sciences. She is the Director of Criminalistics Department in Forensic Sciences Institute. She has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Femicide which is considerably difficult to take under control is the most brutal dimension of violence against women which is a very heatedly debated social problem.  Murdering women is the most extreme form of women rights violation. Femicide is a serious social problem which has been taking place all around the world throughout history irrespective of language, religion, nation, level of education and socio-economic status.  While violence that weakens the women, isolates them from social life, and trivializes their presence in the community as individuals, is an irrepressible concern in the world, several serious measures have been taken since 1970s in order to prevent violence against women, however, the consequences do not sustain the expectations. In Turkey, one third of the women are exposed to physical violence. High Criminal Courts handle cases related to aggravated life imprisonment, life sentence, and cases requiring more than 10 years imprisonment. Homicide and homicidal attempts are the most indictable offences taken up by Heavy Panel Courts. In this study, 44 case documents of 102 settled cases directly associated with femicide and femicidal attempts took place between 2010 and 2014 proceeded by Ankara High Criminal Courts, and decision sheets of 58 cases whose case documents could not be reached, were scrutinized. SPSS 16.0 program was made use of to analyze the collected data.  At the end of the study, it was found that the average age of women who were the victims of femicide or femicidal attempts was 39.74 (SD=17.15), average age of perpetrators was 40.59 (SD=13.2). There is no statistically significant correlation between the difference in the average ages of injured parties and perpetrators (p <0.05). It was shown that the proportion of injured parties exposed to violence by their partners was %62.7, and there is a significant correlation between both parties marital status (p<0.001). Women who were murdered or attempted to be murdered were exposed to this situation by their husbands’ %46.1, their boyfriends’ %11.8, and their ex-husbands %4.9. Femicide is a bleeding wound in both in Turkey and all over the world. Although, with the help of government and non-governmental organizations, there have been persevering attempts to end it, however, the rate of femicide takes place every year is increasing. An increase in the number of people, both males and female, who can reach qualified education all over the country, ensuring gender equality in the society and development in the socio-economic status of individuals are required measures to stop femicide and any kinds of violence against women.

Biography:

Devinder Singh did his PhD in 1986 and has been a faculty member for the last 29 years. He was awarded a Post-doctoral fellowship by the Govt. of India for undertaking research in the laboratory of the legendary forensic entomologist Prof. Bernard Greenberg, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. He has been actively involved in the field of Forensic Entomology for the last 23 years. 17 students have completed PhD under his supervision and 9 major research projects have been sanctioned to him by various funding agencies. 130 research papers have been published by him in national and international journals of repute.

Abstract:

Forensic entomology is the comprehensive field where civil and criminal legal investigations profit by insect evidence. Estimation of minimum time since death or postmortem interval (PMI) is the most vital task under its purview. Blow flies are the earliest colonizers of corpses and the development rate of their immature stages is being extensively utilized in PMI calculations. Blow fly larvae feeding on the dead bodies that contain foreign substances, such as illegal or prescription drugs, or poisons, will often sequester these substances in their own bodies. Therefore, entomotoxicology is another medicolegal application of forensic entomology in which the gut contents of the larvae and pupae sampled from human remains can be analyzed for foreign substances. Additionally, these toxins may induce changes in their development rate that could be enough to significantly alter PMI_­ estimates. It may lead to errors if overlooked and not taken into account during a death investigation.Suicide and deliberate self harm using pesticides is a major but under recognized public health problem in the developing world. Each year 250,000–370,000 thousand people die from deliberate ingestion of pesticides. The WHO now recognizes pesticide poisoning to be the single most important means of suicide worldwide. Out of total 1,31,666 cases of suicides reported from India in 2014, 14,352 cases (10.9%) correspond to deaths caused by deliberate consumption of insecticides (NCRB, 2014). Carbofuran is a broad spectrum carbamate pesticide that kills insects, mites, and nematodes on contact or after ingestion. With their widespread use in agriculture and forestry, Carbamates, after Organophosphates, are most commonly associated with unnatural deaths caused by either accidental or incidental poisoning. Bearing in mind the above facts, the effect of Carbofuran on the development of Chrysomya megacephala, a blow fly of forensic significance, has been investigated in the present study.

Biography:

Ekin Özcan received her undergraduate degree in Physics at Ege University in Ä°zmir, Turkey. She received her Master’s degree in Physical Examination and Criminalistics in Forensic Science Institute at Ankara University. Her area of interest includes forensic documents, on which she wrote her thesis. Currently, she is a PhD student at Ankara University. She has unpublished papers on forensic documents, health low, toxicology and nanotechnology in forensic sciences presented in various national and international congresses.

Abstract:

Being a consciously done movement, writing starts with the imitation of the letters, it gradually continues with shaping of the personal esthetic emotions of the letter images appearing in the mind of the person writing it. Maturity of one’s handwriting in other saying shaping of the character depends on the learnt writing system, school, teacher, profession, time, setting and, personal and cultural competency of the writer. Frequency of the use of writing and professional life requiring writing affects the maturity level of writing. The purpose of this study is to observe the reflection of handwriting samples, which have been gotten from the texts that persons have written in their native language, an already-known foreign language and unknown language, on language dominance thorough evaluation of the forensic document parameters. 60 volunteer participants whose mother tongues use Latin alphabet, have written the same text given in their mother tongue, an already-know foreign language and unknown language using the standard white A4 size paper, same brand and model of 0.5 mm black pen. Factors like inclination, sketching, continuity, pen pressure, pacing, tidiness, and punctuation and caption styles have been evaluated three times repeatedly by the same researcher with the repeated-measure method on average values SPSS 16.0 program through analyzing starting-ending gaps, tracking, capitalization, letter length line blanking and capital letter size with LED loop table lamp, functional magnifying glass and digital compass. Eventually, a meaningful difference have been found in sketching, pacing and punctuation parameters (respectively; p=0,001 and p=0.002). The level of language dominance used in the writing affects sketching, pacing and punctuation. These criteria have a great role for determining the frequency of use of writing in daily life in forensic document.

Biography:

Duygu Yavuz received her undergraduate degree in Biology at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. She is studying for her Master’s degree in Forensic Biology at Forensic Science Institute, Ankara University. She is expected to receive the degree at the end of July. This study is her thesis project.

Abstract:

Suicide is a big health problem in the world. Studies have shown that suicidal behavior has psychiatric, sociological, economic and biological causes. In this thesis project, possible relationship between suicidal behavior and genetic structure was analyzed. Studies in the literature have shown that serotonergic system affects the behaviors of people. Hence, polymorphic variant of rs1800532, rs7305115, rs6355, rs1386494 regarding TPH-1, TPH-2 and SLC6A4 genes having important roles in serotonin production and degradation pathways were selected for analysis. 100 completed suicide samples and 100 healthy control samples were included in this study. Age (18-65) and the gender distribution were selected to be similar in suicide and control groups. Absence of psychiatric disorder history other than depression, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, mental retardation, chronic illness, drug and alcohol addiction were noted in sample selection. DNA isolation was made from blood samples and then polymorphic variants, rs6355, rs1800532, rs7305115, rs1386494, of TPH-1, TPH-2 and SLC6A4 genes were analyzed by KASP (Competitive Allele Specific PCR) method. No significant difference in gender and age distribution was observed between suicide and control groups. Our results showed that genotype and individual allele frequencies of polymorphic variants (rs1800532, rs7305115, rs6355, rs1386494) were not significantly different in two groups. In conclusion, no association between TPH-1, TPH-2 and SLC6A4 gene polymorphisms was observed in completed suicide samples.

Biography:

Bamidele Kolude is a Consultant Oral Pathology Senior Lecturer at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. His research focus includes Salivary Gland Cancers, Forensic Odontology & Orofacial pain. He has more than 60 academic publications in reputable journals.

Abstract:

The Yoruba ethnic group is predominant in south-western Nigeria while the Igbo ethnic group is predominant in south-eastern Nigeria. Yoruba ethnic group worldwide were estimated to be about 30 million in the year 2010, while there were approximately 24 million of Igbo ethnicity. Global distribution of these two ethnic groups is as a result of slave trade, educational and business determination. The palatal rugae pattern is unique to humans and may be specific to ethnic groups and/or gender hence the suggestion for its use in population and gender identification in forensic dentistry. These rugae patterns are well protected by the lips, the buccal pad of fat and teeth. They are said to be stable throughout life following completion of growth and they can be used effectively in post mortem identification provided, an ante-mortem record exists. Human identification is required for certification of death and for personal, social, legal and humanitarian reasons. This becomes particularly important in mass disasters involving individuals of different races or ethnicities. In the background of few studies on the forensic role of palatal rugae in West Africa, we aim to compare the rugae patterns between two major ethnic groups contrasted with gender in Ibadan, Nigeria to establish any peculiarities.

Biography:

Marcelo Firmino de Oliveira has completed his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Universidade Estadual Paulista – Instituto de Química, Brazil. He is a Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Universidade de São Paulo – Departamento de Química - FFCLRP, Brazil. He has published 51 papers in reputed journals. His research group – GEEQFOr – works with electrochemical analysis and the development of new sensors for illicit drugs.

Abstract:

LSD is the abbreviation of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, a hallucinogenic commonly found in blotter, whose numbers associated to its consumption are rising, mainly in internet market. Despite of various studies in the electrochemical detection for seized drugs, LSD has not been widely explored. Voltammetric determination provides specific and reliable results, with a simple experimental procedure. In the present study, we analyzed LSD by Cyclic Voltammetry, with a glassy carbon as working electrode without any surface modification, using ammonium perchlorate in methanol in the presence of water, composing the supporting electrolyte solution, in the proportion 95:5 v/v in a potential range from -0.5 V to 1.8 V. From this condition, it was possible to establish a linear relation between the oxidation peak and the concentration of LSD, with a Limit of Quantification equal to 1.64 x 10^-6 mol L^-1, equivalent to a blotter with just 3.18 µg. After all validation process was applied, it was possible to obtain the quantification of LSD in a seized sample from the police laboratory. Voltammetric determination might be seen as a promissive alternative for drug analysis, with portability and quickness as some characteristics for its quantification. From the analytical point of view, the present methodology ensures trustful and specific results.

Biography:

Pierrick NUN has completed his PhD in 2009 from Montpellier University, France, where he worked on the application of alternative methodologies as mechanochemistry in organic solvent-free synthesis. After Post-doctoral positions at St. Andrews University, Scotland, on gold catalysis and University of Caen, France, on phosphine-boranes reactivity, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor in Nantes in 2012. He is currently working on applications of iqNMR in environmental and pharmaceutical sciences and has published 27 papers and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals.

Abstract:

Isotopic quantitative NMR (iqNMR) has been successfully applied to ²H since the 80’s (SNIF-NMR). Recently, EBSI team has been able to extend it to ¹³C.¹ It is now possible to measure with a precision as low as 1‰, the ¹³C/¹²C ratio on each carbon (δ¹³C_i), giving a lot more information than the global ¹³C/¹²C ratio on the whole molecule (δ¹³C_g) obtained from isotope ratio measurement by mass spectrometry (irm-MS). Indeed, only knowing the mean δ¹³C_g could be misleading. If the measured value is null, is it because there is no fractionation or because there is counteractive normal and inverse isotopic effects on different positions? Quantitative ¹³C NMR has already been successfully applied to a range of molecules including glucose, vanillin, paracetamol and aspirin and used to show the position-dependent isotopic fractionation occurring during reactions or purifications. We developed new applications of this powerful technique. In environmental studies, ¹³C iqNMR can be used to study the fate of pollutants. As an example, oxidation of a fuel additive, Methyl tert-butyl ether has been done. MTBE was oxidized by potassium permanganate and the eventuality of a position-specific fractionation has been investigated. In the actual debate around the origin of Tramadol, natural or anthropogenic, mean values cannot give a clear answer and ¹³C iqNMR can help to establish a possible biosynthetic pathway. The isotopic fingerprint could provide a unique tool for the authentication of drugs, depending of their synthesis, manufacturer or the origin of reactants

Biography:

George W Adams is a former National Director of National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs, 2011/2015), Program Manager at University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (2005/2011) and the author of “Utilizing Forensic Technologies for Unidentified Human Remains: Death Investigation Resources, Strategies, and Disconnects” (Taylor & Francis, 2015). He holds a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice (UTA -2013) and Bachelor of Business Administration (1972), and a member of Texas Municipal Police Officers Association. His research pursues two vectors – unbiased understanding of forensic DNA application and elevating the empirical nature of criminal investigations

Abstract:

There appears to be little understanding of the necessity of principle-based ethics in forensic science, and its application is uncommon. Literature is replete with discussions of forensic science ethical practices and exemplars in general and within specific disciplines. Current literature and discussions focus mainly on codes of conduct of associations, organizations and roles of scientific, technical working groups. Ethical codes of conduct are thus established on organizational mandates, rules, competency/proficiency guidelines, legal interpretations, and negotiated guidelines of credentialing or authoritative entities. It is additionally argued that the current status ethics in forensic science is of a values-based nature, void of necessary foundational principles (as presented). Values-based ethics are subjective in nature that morphs via specific discipline, circumstance, or resulting outcomes – right or wrong depending on one’s values or culture. As such forensic science has suffered a loss of confidence with its application in the criminal justice system by the public with recent revelations of problems with hair analysis, bite mark testimony, bullet lead analysis, CODIS allele frequency errors, and DNA mixture interpretations. Principles are objective natural laws of the human experience that do not change with situation, time, culture or circumstance, and are at the core of every successful individual, entity and institution. The rise, fall and impact of CPI/E in DNA mixture interpretation will be presented from the perspective of principle-based ethics that have been known for hundreds of years to help restore the public’s confidence in the application of forensic science in the criminal justice environment.

Biography:

Yeonhee Lee is a researcher of Analytical Chemistry at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) since 1995. She has completed her PhD at University of Pittsburgh and a Post-doctorate at the Argonne National Laboratory. Her research interests are in surface modification and characterization of various materials. She is also investigating the applications of TOF-SIMS in the analysis of the archeological materials and forensic trace evidences. In Korean SIMS community, she currently serves as an organizing committee from 2002.

Abstract:

Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) is well established surface technique which provides both elemental and molecular information from several monolayers of a sample surface while also allowing depth profiling or element mapping to be carried out. The use of TOF mass analyzer has improved the mass range, surface sensitivity, and mass resolution of SIMS. The static TOF-SIMS with these improved performances has expanded the application of SIMS to the study of a variety of organic, biological, and forensic materials. The TOF-SIMS analyses of Asian sealing-inks on paper surfaces were investigated. TOF-SIMS spectra were employed to identify elements and organic compounds in Asian sealing-inks. An analysis was performed on thirteen sealing-inks of red and purple color manufactured in Korea, Japan, and China. Overlapped area of sealing-ink, ball point pen, and laser toner in the document was also investigated to determine the order of recording. TOF-SIMS also provides a method of elemental and organic analysis that can distinguish between cosmetic samples of the same or nearly the same color. TOF-SIMS is a reliable, micro-destructive, and small area analyzing method for characterization of the elemental and organic composition of cosmetic smears. TOF-SIMS spectra and images were used to characterize different types of hair products and their results were compared with the conventional analysis. Therefore, a systematic study of various trace evidences via TOF-SIMS and other surface techniques can provide critical information in forensic laboratories for criminal cases.

Biography:

Djillali Benouar is Professor of Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Risk Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering USTHB. He obtained his PhD at Imperial College, University of London (England) and his Master’s in Stanford University, California (USA) and completed his Postdoctoral studies at the University of Tokyo (Japan). He received two international awards for his research from UNESCO and Thomson Reuters. He has published 40 publications in internationally reputed journals and has over 100 papers in international conferences. He is a founding member of the Algerian Academy of Science and Technology (AAST).

Abstract:

This paper attempts, as a case study, to investigate, in a forensic style, the Ghardaia (Algeria) floods and debris flows of 1 October 2008 of which the official assessment of the catastrophe is very significant. Eight of the 13 districts of the surrounding Ghardaia province have been affected by the floods and 600 homes have been inundated in the town. However, considering the scale of the disaster – eight willayas were affected in a diameter of 30 kms along the River M’Zab and approximately 2,000 families in need. The floods also left about a 1,000 of people homeless and many other people are missing. Hundreds of people had to be rescued by helicopters and up to 600 houses are estimated to be destroyed in the rains of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It was reported in the press that 80 % of human and material losses, caused by the flood, are mainly due to human error. It affirms, in this connection, it is the collapse of the walls of the dam of El Djarref Adira, 25 km distant from the town of Ghardaia, which caused the death of 44 people and the disappearance of dozens of other. Heavy rains have caused the accumulation of water on over two kilometers in the dam. The water pressure caused a 70 meter opening in the dam and the flood run at more 1200 m³/s on Ghardaia city. This is a huge quantity of water. It was an exceptional flood as it reached sebkhet Sefioune which is over 180 km far from Ghardaia city. At Metlili city, a height of 6 m was recorded, while downstream of Ghardaia city, it was just under 8 m. It is recommended to make a detailed analysis to determine the causes and reasons that led to the collapse of the walls of the dam of El Djerraf built there barely ten years. Regarding flooding of the river, it was reported that the enterprise which made the development works of the river has seriously damaged the natural course of the river and its banks, without any preliminary planning made. Furthermore than the dam failure, the M'Zab Valley has to be considered in its entirety in order to explain the combination of failures that produced this scale damage. There is also the fact that all the rivers operated at full capacity this: rivers Labiod, Erguedane, Laadiret, Noumirt and Nssa. At the time of the surge, the waters in their have encountered sewage system filled of garbage, tree trunks, plastic bottle and bags, etc. Urban fabric has been involved seriously in the amplification of this disaster as well as the lack of a warning system as the huge amount of water came from the city of Hassi Rmel at 126 kms of the site of Ghardaia. A catastrophe of such a scope cannot have a single cause. It can be only the result of several failures and thus need a forensic style of investigations to determine the root causes of the disaster.

Biography:

Majdah Alotaibi is an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia and is in the final year of her PhD at University of Bath, UK.  Her project is focused on “impurity profiling of illicit drugs” using different techniques, e.g. HPLC, NMR, EA-IRMS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS and Polarography.  She has 3 years experience in the quantitative analysis of illicit drugs.

Abstract:

Forensic analysis of amnesty bins provides reliable and quantitative data on identity and purity of drug substances.  Identification of cutting agents and their ratios can help link directly to a manufacturer or trafficking network.  ATR-FTIR equipped with the TICTAC drug identification database was evaluated in this study and compared to NMR to provide a rapid, precise test for identifying substances and their impurities in an amnesty bin.  The Glastonbury music festival (2013) amnesty bin samples were obtained from the Drug Expert Action Team (DEAT), Avon and Somerset Constabulary, UK.  ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analysis was performed on a Bruker FT-IR spectrometer (ALPHA Bruker Optics, Billerica, MA, USA).  ¹H NMR data were collected on a Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrometer and NMReady-60 PRO (Nanalysis Corp., Canada). ATR-IR was successfully used to identify a wide variety of illicit drug samples, e.g. ketamine (22), mephedrone (33), flephedrone (4), cocaine (13), heroin (10), MDMA (76), methylone (1), and popper (14).  Both ATR-IR and NMR discriminated between mephedrone and flephedrone, but benzocaine as a cutting agent was not recognized by ATR-IR. The possible diversion of street ketamine samples from legal sources was investigated by detecting the low levels of preservatives, down to 5µg/mL, present in pharmaceutical formulations using ¹H NMR when ATR-IR could not detect such concentrations of these preservatives.  Although ATR-IR provides a quick non-destructive method to identify illicit drugs in seized samples, NMR provides rapid and quantitative information on drugs, preservatives, cutting agents, and impurities.

Biography:

Giles S is a Crime Scene Investigator for Thames Valley Police, the largest non-metropolitan police force in the UK and a part-time Forensic Anthropology PhD student at Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. She has been an operational Crime Scene Investigator since February 2014 and has so far examined approximately 600 crime scenes. She holds a distinction MSc in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology and a First Class BSc in Medical Sciences from the University of Leeds. During her MSc, she secured a research scholarship at the Anthropology Research Facility (“The Body Farm”), Knoxville, University of Tennessee. Here she developed a new method to estimate the time since death from decomposition states and conducted research utilising the William Bass Skeletal Collection. Following her Master’s, she was awarded the “Forensic Science Society Prize”, “Head of School Prize”, “Inforce Prize”, “Top Student on the Forensic Programme Award” and the “Cranfield Forensic Institute Distinction Prize”. She holds Assosicate Membership of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

Abstract:

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting the human skeleton. A growing body of literature has assessed the use of osteoarthritic markers to assist in the estimation of age-at-death in physical or forensic anthropology.  Current aging methods in adults include the observation of the pubic symphysis, the auricular surface of the ilium, and sternal rib ends, which often result in broad age ranges encompassing young as well as older adult individuals, and have decreasing predictive power as age increases. The prevalence or absence of osteoarthritis in the human skeleton could assist in providing more accurate age estimations after the fourth decade of life and may have useful applications to partially recovered remains in a forensic setting. This study aimed to assess the presence of osteoarthritis in a sample of 120 skeletonised individuals with known age-at-death between 25 and 99 years from the William M Bass Donated Skeleton Collection house at the University of Tennessee’s Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC). Using a modified version of a previously published osteoarthritis scoring system, evidence of osteoarthritic markers were recorded of the hip, knee and shoulder joints, totaling 1852 observations. A Bayesian network was used to produce a novel tool for estimating the age-at-death in unknown cases. Preliminary results suggest that osteoarthritic markers are strongly correlated with age, with a presence in the >40 year old and therefore may serve, once again, as a useful complimentary method to assist in the estimation of age-at-death in a forensic context.

Biography:

M A Garcia Corro graduated from I M Sechenov First, Moscow State Medical University in 2013 and has completed Master’s degree in Forensic Medicine. Currently, she works in Moscow Bureau of Forensic Medicine in Criminology laboratory. Also she conducts research in age changes of sella turcica, frontal and sphenoid sinuses.

Abstract:

The report focuses on the importance of skull base study in personal identification, abilities of determining age by morphological and morphometric features of skull base bone structures, using the main reference points such as the sella turcica, clivus, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. 223 computer-aided tomography scanning images were selected for the analysis of skull base bone structures in lateral projection. Also a morphometric study of sella turcica was done on 103 cadavers prepared for autopsy with sectional sawing of the skull. No pathology was revealed of skull base bones of selected material. The age range was from 18 to 88 years. For measurements on Ct-scanning images EFILM Workstation 3.4 and Аdobe Рhotoshop CS5 extended have been used, on cadavers-caliper with scale 0.1 mm. Morphology and morphometry of sella turcica, clivus and sinuses are very individual, nevertheless were observed features of these structures that vary in regular manner with age. Differences in development of postnatal ontogenesis of the frontal and the sphenoid sinuses allow establish correlations in age using the ratio of measurements of the frontal sinus to sphenoid sinus to determine the age period. The combined quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the individual features of skull base bone structures: sella turcica, clivus, frontal and sphenoid sinuses can be used as points for identification, also their configuration slightly changes with age. The stability of some features and variability of the other throughout life enables to develop new diagnostic criteria for the purposes of personal identification, particularly human biological age.

Biography:

Hongxia Hao is an Assistant Professor of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), a member of the “2011 Plan” of the PRC national government. She has a BSc in Chemistry and received MSc and PhD in Medicine and Toxicology analysis from the Chinese People’s Public Security University. In 2012, she worked in the University of Toronto as a Visiting Scholar. She currently is in charge of Forensic Science Instrument Research Center, developing the technologies of on-the-spot quick detection on drug and explosives, also with 8 patents and 40 published papers about surface plasmon resonance sensor, immunoassay and biosensor.

Abstract:

At present, there are varied detection methods for TNT, which can be mainly divided into the traditional technology and new type of micro trace detection technology. The common ways of bulk explosive quick detecting technology are X-ray detection technology, THZ spectroscopy, ion mobility spectrometry, portable Raman spectroscopy and so on, which generally have flaws like high costs, weak sensitivity, defeating in recognize the mixture and complex, a false positive or false negative, bulky, expensive. Herein, a novel quick testing method was developed using DNA aptamer and surface plasma resonance technology (SPR). The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used to enhance the surface plasma resonance signal (SESS), so that TNT can be detected directly and rapidly by highly sensitive SPR sensor. TNT aptamer screened by System ligand evolution technology (SELEX) was added to modify on AuNPs. Based on adapter competition between TNT and TNP–gly, microtrace of TNT in the solution can be detected with LOD of 10^-9M. The linear ship of TNT concentration is 10^-9-10^-6M (r²=0.989). Herein it is the first time that aptamer was used with SPR sensor chip modified by nanoparticles to detect TNT. This method help forensic scientist discover trace explosive with portable instrument.

Biography:

Giles S is a Crime Scene Investigator for Thames Valley Police, the largest non-metropolitan police force in the UK and a part-time Forensic Anthropology PhD student at Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. She has been an operational Crime Scene Investigator since February 2014 and has so far examined approximately 600 crime scenes. She holds a distinction MSc in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology and a First Class BSc in Medical Sciences from the University of Leeds. During her MSc, she secured a research scholarship at the Anthropology Research Facility (“The Body Farm”), Knoxville, University of Tennessee. Here she developed a new method to estimate the time since death from decomposition states and conducted research utilising the William Bass Skeletal Collection. Following her Master’s, she was awarded the “Forensic Science Society Prize”, “Head of School Prize”, “Inforce Prize”, “Top Student on the Forensic Programme Award” and the “Cranfield Forensic Institute Distinction Prize”. She holds Assosicate Membership of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

Abstract:

Current methods to estimate the time since death focus heavily on indicators of early decomposition and have proved fairly accurate at estimating the time-since death in the early post-mortem period under experimental conditions. Translation of these methods into forensic practice has proved difficult and as it stands there is no standard methodology to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) for forensic investigators to use when they encounter decomposed remains at unexplained death scenes. This study used photographs and daily recordings to assess the early to moderate decomposition states of 13 cadavers placed at varying time intervals between July and October 2015 at the Anthropology Research Facility at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Preliminary results suggest that variability in the decay rate is dependent on both accumulated-degree days and intrinsic body factors. These findings assisted in the development of the Giles-Harrison (GH) Decomposition Scale which can be used by forensic investigators to assist in their estimation of the PMI when dealing with early to moderate decomposed remains.

Biography:

Zabihollah Rezaee is the Thompson-Hill Chair of Excellence and Professor of Accountancy at the University of Memphis. He received his BS degree from the Iranian Institute of Advanced Accounting, his MBA from Tarleton State University in Texas, and his PhD from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Rezaee holds ten certifications including CPA and CFE, published 11 books, more than 215 articles in business and accounting and 11 book chapters. His recent books and articles are in the areas of business sustainability, corporate governance, forensic accounting and professional ethics.

Abstract:

We examine the adoption of the Big Data Framework in forensic accounting for detecting financial statement fraud (FSF) and the relevance and efficacy of Data Science principles and predictive algorithms in detecting, predicting, and preventing FSF. Business organizations lose about 5% of their revenues to fraud each year, which can exceed 3.5 trillion (USD) worldwide. The existence and persistence of financial statement fraud (FSF) is detrimental to the safety, soundness, and efficiency of our financial markets. Our study is intended to improve audit efficacy in discovering FSF by using Big Data and data analytics and algorithms. We conduct our analyses in four stages. In the first stage, we capture as much data as possible from a variety of sources to identify factors and potential signals that can lead to FSF. In the second stage we focus on identifying specific phenomena, characteristics, and symptoms that could trigger fraudulent incidents. In the third stage, we process the data using the Big Data Apache Spark platform to process the captured data and turn them into usable and relevant information in predicting and detecting FSF. In the fourth stage we use a Data Science approach and develop a suite of machine learning algorithms to estimate the probability of FSF occurrence. Big Data requires the use of sophisticated analytical tools and platforms such as Apache Spark to effectively and accurately identify potential risks that may trigger FSF. Corporations should proactively search for irregularities in Big Data and manage their risk profile in discovering FSF

Biography:

Ronn Johnson is licensed and board certified clinical psychologist with extensive experience in academic and clinical settings. Doctor Johnson is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has served as a staff psychologist in community mental health clinics, hospitals, schools and university counseling centers. The University of Iowa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Central Oklahoma, and San Diego State University are among the sites of his previous academic appointments. His forensic, scholarship, and teaching interests include: ethical-legal issues, police psychology, women death penalty, and contraterrorism.

Mihaela Brooks is starting on 12.15.2014, the new Director of Forensic Psychology at Psychological Profiler Academy. In this capacity, Ms. Mihaela Brooks will coordinate and direct the work will involve training Psychology of Terrorism, Forensic Psychology, Psychological Autopsy course participants Psychological Profiler, being unique in Europe, founded and supported by associate Prof. dr. Ion Duvac psychologist in 2009. The new partnership enhances the international input of expertise in profiling's area, providing a significant strengthening of our community of experts in Psychological Profiler.

Abstract:

Policing in the 21st Century means that departments must consistently be mindful of perceptions and misperceptions of bias as it relates of police officer safety. In this case, recurring incidents of alleged police misconduct and excessive use of force along with what is viewed as a lack of accountability have been ongoing subjects of dispute for many years in diverse communities worldwide. For example, high profile incidents occurring in Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland and Charleston, South Carolina are problematic in that a significant amount of erosion in the trust in their own police departments and concerns about negligent hire or retention as well as officer safety. The complaints about police officers range from a variety of issues, with a sharpened focus on the selection of police officers. This discontent has resulted in communities feeling less confident in the process by which police officers are screened, selected, trained and supervised. When perceived high profile excessive force incidents occur, the screening and selection process of police officers is often questioned. High profile misconduct incidents occurring in Ferguson and Baltimore have sparked a series of protests due to the incidents raising questions among the public surrounding police misconduct. For example, the Ferguson incident started when two individuals were asked by the responding police officer Darren Wilson to move from where they were walking. One of these individuals (i.e., Michael Brown) fit the description of a man who was previously identified as a suspect in a convenience store theft. After Officer Wilson called out a dispatch about Brown, an altercation ensued which resulted in Wilson firing multiple shots ultimately killing Michael Brown. Wilson’s testimony indicated that he believed Brown was reaching for a gun and charged toward him before he was shot. Although some witnesses on the scene stated that this was not the case, the officer claimed that he feared for his life. In time, a grand jury chose to not indict Officer Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. The failure of the grand jury to indict Wilson seemed to fuel a “wave of anger” in the public. Buildings were set on fire, and there was widespread looting of businesses nearby. Officer safety was threatened as protestors threw a variety of objects at police officers, and the officers retaliated by using military-style equipment and tear gas to disperse crowds. This presentation uses a forensic psychological perspective to explore what has been dubbed the Ferguson Effect with respect to officer safety.

Biography:

Alper GümüÅŸ, MD, medical biochemistry specialist. He is currently chief assistant in medical biochemistry laboratory of Haseki Training and Research Hospital. He is interested in postmortem biochemistry and estimation of postmortem interval by using biochemical parameters.

Abstract:

Post mortem chemistry can provide quantitative results for determining post mortem interval (PMI). As a result of losing the function of the vital center in the brain stem cessation of respiration and circulation, known as somatic death. The development of this anoxic condition causes the death of cell and is called molecular cell death. The sudden interruption of ATP turnover leads to shock on the energy dependent mechanisms. One of the first affected organelle is cell membrane, the detoriation of active transport results in Na influx and K efflux because of loose of membrane permeability and leads to failure of membrane ion gradient. The catastrophic entrance of Ca in cytosol from organelles and cell exterior activates the phoslipases and causes to membrane rupture. With the loose of membrane integrity, fluid and soluble substance shift between compartments occur. Based on this phenomenon, levels of variety of parameters evaluated for PMI determination. Glucose is one of the most commonly analyzed parameters since the beginning of the post mortem chemistry. It has been reported that post mortem serum glucose levels in portal vein inferior vena cava and right atrium tend to decrease in vitrous humour. Degradation of liver glycogen molecules into free glucose with the subsequent diffusion of glycose to adjacent vessels has been reported as the cause of increment in the glucose levels. According to classical biochemistry knowledge, glycogenolysis is well organized metabolic process which is ATP dependent and advancing with the conjugate reactions. We planned an animal model study to determine why glucose levels increase in some tissues and decrease in others and we tried to determine the source of glucose in the tissues that exhibit increasing glucose after death. At the end of our study, we observed that post mortem glucose levels decreased in hepatic and muscle tissues and increased in renal and brain tissues. We observed that glycogen levels did not change in tissues by time. We were unable to confirm glycogen degradation. The cause of the glucose increase in vessels and organs adjacent to the liver is the diffusion of free glucose that is in the hepatic tissue during the antemortem period. We tried to estimate PMI using our findings. We created an ROC curve and the exact times of death of the subjects were used as the gold standart. The area under curve was 0.95, the slope of changes per unit time was highest for hepatic glucose levels. We determined cut-off levels with optimal sensitivity and specificity. Based on these calculations if a hepatic glucose levels is above the 279 mg/gprot death occurred with in 24 h with 90 % sensitivity and 92% specificity. If a glucose level is fewer than 163 mg/gprot death occurred more than 36 h. According to our studies, it is possible that an estimation of the PMI can be made using a biochemical marker. Our results are valid for selected environmental conditions. To accumulate sufficient data regarding this subject, additional studies should be performed using alternative tissues, parameters, and variable environmental conditions.

Biography:

Beena Jose has completed her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Calicut, India and Postdoctoral studies from Santa Clara University, USA. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals. Currently she is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Vimala College, India.

Abstract:

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second major cause of death in the western world and in European countries, each year over three quarters of a million people die from cancer. Although chemotherapy is effective in detecting cancer at a very early stage, the side effects and resistance towards drug are a major problem. The use of natural products has an exceptional value in the control of cancer and its eradication program. The compounds obtained from natural products significantly reduce tumor size and enhance the survival time. Wrightia tinctoria R. Br. belongs to family Apocynaceae commonly called as “Jaundice curative tree” in South India. In Siddha system of medicine, it is used for psoriasis and other skin diseases. In the present study leaf oil (Oil B) and ethyl acetate bark extract (EAB) of Wrightia tinctoria have been analyzed for in vitro cytotoxic properties by trypan blue dye exclusion technique using Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cell line. In vivo anti-tumor activity was studied against Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells in Swiss albino mice by monitoring parameters like tumor volume measurement, survival time and tumor cell growth inhibition. The study revealed that both EAB and Oil B exhibited significant cytotoxic effect to DLA tumor cell lines. It has been found that the EAB at the dose of 200 mg/kg b. wt. and 50 mg/kg b. wt. significantly decreases tumor volume, increases life span of DLA induced ascites tumor bearing Swiss albino mice and reduces tumor cell growth rate in comparison to those of the standard cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg b. wt.). In vitro anti-oxidant potentiality was tested using DPPH radical scavenging test, total phenol and flavonoid content and reducing power determination assays. The extracts showed significant antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. Anti-tumor properties of W. tinctoria could be linked with the presence of these antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. This may be used to develop effective therapeutic approaches towards the prevention or treatments of various immune conditions and different types of cancer. Recent studies revealed that the silver nanoparticles synthesized from Wrightia tinctoria showed remarkable antioxidant activity and silver nanoparticle are used in biosensors and numerous assays where silver nanoparticle materials can be used as biological tags for quantitative detection. This can help identify fingerprints, sources of ink and even residue from gunshots. The use of Wrightia tinctoria derived nanoparticles might be the future thrust in the field of forensic nanotechnology.

Biography:

Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh has completed his PhD in Chemistry and Post doctorates from Brazil and Malaysia. He has been awarded “Young Chemist Award” by IUPAC in Italy in 2007 and selected as “Young Scientist” by TWAS in Egypt and IAP in Germany in 2010, Young Scientist by IAP/World Economic Forum in 2010 in China and Young Researcher in 2013 by the Council for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. He has been awarded IUPAC-2015 Award as an Outstanding Chemist from developing countries. He has published 80 papers, published/edited 18 books, issued/filed 06 US patents. He has also received Research Productivity Awards.

Abstract:

In this study a very simple and cheap method was used to synthesize the iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) with the extract of Cinnamon zeylanicum plant via the conventional heating method. The nanoparticles were characterized using TGA, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, AFM and XRD. Development of Latent Finger marks was done using plant powder and FeNps. The powdering method was used for finger printing development; powder obtained by grinding the barks and iron nanoparticles synthesized using the same plant extract was applied on different surfaces for the detection and development of latent finger marks such as simple paper, cardboard, metallic surface, filter paper, glass surface, aluminum foil and disposable cup. It was observed that FeNPs shows better results in development of finger marks as compared to plant powder obtained by grinding the barks. Antibacterial activities were also determined.

Biography:

Clemente is a Brazilian professor, judicial expert and is a current post-doc researcher in Forensic Anthropology (University of Coimbra), with background in Dentistry and Law. He is a maxillofacial surgeon and specialist in Forensic Dentistry; he holds a Master degree in Maxillofacial Prosthesis, a PhD degree in Dental Sciences and a post-doc in International Health Law. Leader of the “Nucleus of Forensic Sciences, Bioethics, Biolaw and Ethics in Science and Technology” and “Brazilian Group of Forensic Imaging and Radiology”. He is Associate Researcher at the Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Brazil. Professor in São Paulo State University, of Bioethics, Deontology, Forensic Dentistry and Forensic Anthropology and New Technologies in Human Identification. Professor in post-graduation, MSc and PhD courses. Author of many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.His research interests involve the application of new technologies to the forensic field, in special to human identification. Clemente is also very interested in 2D and 3D Forensic Facial Reconstruction, in Virtual Forensic Anthropology, especially in the use of 3D surface scanners in Forensic Anthropology, and in developing a protocol to help and facilitate the work of experts that are in the daily routine of Institutes of Criminalistics and Legal Medicine.

Abstract:

Forensic Facial Reconstruction (FFR) corresponds to the facial reconstruction of an individual, from an unidentified dry skull. Its objective is to to recreate the face of a subject from his/her skull. It is a recognition method, and not an identification method. It is a useful tool especially when there is no suspicion of the identity of a found body. Facial Reconstruction may be performed in two or three dimensions, made manually (sculpted on a replica of the skull) or by computer (digitally). Traditional methods employ manual techniques, both 2D and 3D. Digital methods use 2D manipulating software, and 3D manipulating software. Once performed, the FFR is divulgated in the media. The purpose of this divulgation is that someone recognizes the face as a dissapeared friend or relative. If, for example, four families recognize the face, there will be four suspects. The next step will be to ask for antemortem data of the suspects, in order to perform identification methods (as dental records or DNA). The authors present preliminary data concerning facial recognition of FFR performed with 2D digital technique, 3D manual and digital techniques. No matter the employed technique, it is important (indeed, it is the objective of the FFR) to have the face recognized, so it allows a posterior the positive identification.

Biography:

Mônica is a Brazilian professor and researcher, with background in Dentistry, Letters and Law, specialist in Forensic Dentistry. She holds a Master and a PhD degree in Dentistry, and post-docs in Bioethics, in International Health Law and in Forensic Anthropology. Leader of the “Nucleus of Forensic Sciences, Bioethics, Biolaw and Ethics in Science and Technology” and “Brazilian Group of Forensic Imaging and Radiology”. She is Associate Researcher at the Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Brazil. Professor in São Paulo State University, of Bioethics, Deontology, Forensic Dentistry and Forensic Anthropology and New Technologies in Human Identification. Former Head of the Social Dentistry Department. Professor in postgraduation, MSc and PhD courses. Author of many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her research interests involve the application of new technologies to the forensic field, in special to human identification. Mônica is also very interested in 2D and 3D Forensic Facial Reconstruction, in Virtual Forensic Anthropology, especially in the use of 3D surface scanners in Forensic Anthropology, and in developing a protocol to help and facilitate the work of experts that are in the daily routine of Institutes of Criminalistics and Legal Medicine.

Abstract:

The development of information technologies brought new possibilities to several different areas. New technologies can be applied to Forensic Sciences, in particular to Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Dentistry and Legal Medicine. 3D surface scanners can copy bones and produce tridimensional images, which can be manipulated on computers, with the use of 3D image software. Data can be electronically stored and sent by the web. There are situations in which there is a high probability of losing the physical bones, due to the obligation to return them to justice or to the family, or even due to bone degradation, among other reasons. Having the tridimensional digitalized images will help to recuperate the due information, if necessary, in the future. It can also be sent by the web and be printed in somewhere else, if necessary. The authors present a proposal of a Protocol for Virtual Forensic Anthropology through the employment of 3D surface scanners, additive manufacturing, and the performance of digital three-dimensional measurements. Forensic anthropological measurements can be performed virtually, in the computer, using scanned images. It is being developed a research project, in order to verify and validate the mentioned Protocol. Preliminary data, obtained at the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology of the University of Coimbra, on skeletons of the Identified Collection of the XXI Century, will be presented.

Biography:

Wan Lihua graduated from Chongqing Medical University in 1982 and then worked in Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau until 2004. He has been serving as Criminal police unit group commander of Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau and has been hired as forensic experts by ministry of public security of China. He has worked as Professor at Chongqing Medical University since 2004 and training 60 postgraduates. He is committee member of Chinese Forensic Medicine Association (CFMA) and chairman of committee Crime Scene Science of CFMA

Abstract:

During autumn in 1980, a heavy rain caused landslide in a city in southwestern China. Hundred pieces of bone were found in the fallen mud by a local citizen. In those bones, the police found that human bones were fragmentized and mixed with other animal’s bones. After all the fragment of human bones has been screened out, the police were not able to extract any DNA from those bones for personal identification. The skull of the victim had been fragmentized and only half of the fragments have been found. The photographic superimposition is a mature technology in personal individual and the result of photographic superimposition is an evidence of personal identity in China. The 36 bony landmarks on the skull and the 36 facial features on photo would match with each other if they belong to the same person. It is generally accepted that a broken or incomplete skull cannot be used in photographic superimposition. But according to a previous study, we found that some of the landmarks on the skull were extremely symmetry. The skull defects were fixed with reference to the complete part and the number of landmarks on skull was reduced to 23 in photographic superimposition. According to the data of previous study, the location of the landmarks on the skull was revised after fragments of the skull had been joined together and the defect had been fixed. Finally, the victim had been identified, and the murder has been involved.

Biography:

Dr. Ajay Kumar Rana has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from Jawaharlal Nehru University and postdoctoral studies from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. He is currently working as Scientific Assistant at State Forensic Science Laboratory, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Jharkhand, India. He has published more than 8 papers in reputed journals and has members of several scientific societies.

Abstract:

Predicting human behaviour, discerning monozygotic twins or left over remnant tissues/fluids of a single human source remains a big challenge in forensic science. Recent advances in the field of DNA methylations which are broadly chemical hallmarks in response to environmental factors can certainly help to identify and discriminate various single source DNA samples collected from the crime scenes. In this review cytosine methylation of DNA has been methodologically discussed with its broad applications in many challenging forensic issues like body fluid identification, race/ethnicity identification, monozygotic twins dilemma, addiction or behavioural prediction, age prediction, or even authenticity of the human DNA. With the advent of next generation sequencing techniques, blooming of DNA methylation datasets and together with standard molecular protocols, the prospect of investigating and solving the above issues and extracting the exact nature of the truth for reconstructing the crime scene events would undoubtedly helpful in defending and solving the critical crime cases.

Biography:

Surendra P. Goyal, M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Zoology) is working with the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun 248001, India for last 27 years. He worked on a number of species ranging from Fruit bats to elephant. Dr. Goyal is Nodal Officer, Wildlife Forensic Cell of the Institute. One of the important tasks is to develop protocols for species identification which is needed in implementation of national laws and International treaties. He has initiated a research work on Panthera tigris genome: Implications in forensics” mainly to establish reference genetic database to determine geographic origin of poaching cases and has immense global signficance. He has widely traveled across world to acquire new technologies for use in developing wildlife forensics and in other issues of wildlife conservation.

Abstract:

Wildlife poaching has been serious threats to the conservation of species and lack of appropriate wildlife forensics has precluded proper implementation of national laws and international treaties in the south and south-east Asia. A beginning in establishing wildlife forensics was made through a collaborative project of USFWS for better implementation of laws and treaties. Of the 3000 cases received by the Institute since 1986, 46 cases were of bears. Of these 56 percent were of Himalayan black bears (HBB) whereas remaining were of sloth bear (SB). Reported parts in Bears offences were bear bile (40.0%), canine (3.1%), skin (12.3%) bones (15.4%), paws (6.2% ) penis ( 1.5%), claws (6.2%), fat (1.5% ), meat (10.8%) and others. 92% bile of HBB were only from Uttarakhand and most of the seizures were from 1 to 14 bile and in 20 per cent cases, bile were traded along with the pods of musk deer. The majority of cases of were of Police and seizure were made through information provided by the informer. Hence, we suggest for establishing a strong network of intelligence collection in the range states of HBB. Given international demand for bear parts, we discuss the development of protocols for identifying species using hair characteristics (13 to 17 characters) in cluster analysis, claw characteristics and measurements in Discriminate Function Analysis, TLC and DNA-based techniques. For avoiding false positive, we used three genes (Cyt b, 12s and 16s RNAs) for identifying species having unique SNPs between 4 to 16 among four bear species. We also suggest using multiple analytical approaches for the conclusion. We discuss observed sex in the bile of HBB and likely implications for population demography. Our optimized protocols may be shared through training with other enforcement agencies of the south and south-east Asia countries for effective implementation laws and treaties. We need to establish fatty acid signatures of all the bear species for dealing with offences related to body fats.

Biography:

Clemente is a Brazilian professor, judicial expert and is a current post-doc researcher in Forensic Anthropology (University of Coimbra), with background in Dentistry and Law. He is a maxillofacial surgeon and specialist in Forensic Dentistry; he holds a Master degree in Maxillofacial Prosthesis, a PhD degree in Dental Sciences and a post-doc in International Health Law. Leader of the “Nucleus of Forensic Sciences, Bioethics, Biolaw and Ethics in Science and Technology” and “Brazilian Group of Forensic Imaging and Radiology”. He is Associate Researcher at the Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Brazil. Professor in São Paulo State University, of Bioethics, Deontology, Forensic Dentistry and Forensic Anthropology and New Technologies in Human Identification

Mônica is a Brazilian professor and researcher, with background in Dentistry, Letters and Law, specialist in Forensic Dentistry. She holds a Master and a PhD degree in Dentistry, and post-docs in Bioethics, in International Health Law and in Forensic Anthropology. Leader of the “Nucleus of Forensic Sciences, Bioethics, Biolaw and Ethics in Science and Technology” and “Brazilian Group of Forensic Imaging and Radiology”. She is Associate Researcher at the Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Brazil. Professor in São Paulo State University, of Bioethics, Deontology, Forensic Dentistry and Forensic Anthropology and New Technologies in Human Identification. Former Head of the Social Dentistry Department.

Abstract:

The 3D Digital Forensic Facial Reconstruction (3D DFFR) is currently performed by different authors, using various techniques and different software. Each software has its own tools, characteristics, properties, advantages, disadvantages and costs. The authors present a proposal for a protocol to perform 3D DFFR that starts by the forensic anthropological examination to the craniofacial superimposition techniques, based on evidence. It starts with the establishment of the biological profile (sex, ancestry and age at death), after the due forensic anthropological examination. Then, three software are employed: 3ds Max® (Autodesk), ZBrush (Pixologic) and Adobe Photoshop (Adobe). It is a new application for these software, that are usually employed for other purposes. The American Method is performed, with the positioning of craniometric landmarks, according to a specific table of soft tissue thickness. The authors developed a generic head, by means the 3ds Max software, that can be adapted over the skull 3D image, with the mentioned landmarks. The basic features are performed using one software, the retopology is conducted in the other one, and postproduction is performed with the employment of the third one. Once the 3D DFFR is completed and there is a suspect, superimposition techniques can be used to verify the match between the individual image and the Facial Reconstruction.

Biography:

Gilbert Lau is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) and a Clinical Associate Professor with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He is a practising forensic pathologist and concurrently Director of Professional Practice at the Forensic Medicine Division, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore. A member of the editorial boards of the Forensic Science International and Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, he has also reviewed papers for the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine and the Journal of Clinical Pathology. His professional and academic interests are in the areas of iatrogenic injury, fatal falls from heights, pulmonary thromboembolism and maternal deaths.

Abstract:

Primum non nocere – First, do no harm – is an age-old dictum which not only enshrines the primacy of ethical conduct among medical practitioners, but also implicitly emphasises the fundamentally hazardous nature of medical practice. In reality, every form of medical intervention carries a risk of an adverse outcome, one which is heightened by a combination of multi-morbidity and polypharmacy and further aggravated by a prevailing clinical penchant to treat gravely ill patients at both ends of the age spectrum with intrinsically toxic or invasive methods, which inevitably predispose them to considerable iatrogenic risk. There can be little doubt that healthcare has become extremely complex, both in terms of practice and delivery, with individual and systemic errors conspiring to negate this very guiding principle. Moreover, it could be argued that over-reliance on technology and clinical pathways or protocols might engender a false sense of security, while, in essence, heightening the risk of iatrogenesis and medical errors. The medico-legal investigation of almost any iatrogenic death could well present a forensic pathologist with a challenging prospect, as it often extends beyond the conduct of a complete autopsy, supplemented by various ancillary investigations – including post-mortem histopathology, which does not particularly excite this species of pathologists – to include a protracted process of clinico-pathological correlation. In principle, not all fatal adverse medical events are necessarily iatrogenic in nature. Even when an iatrogenic injury is demonstrable at autopsy, the attending pathologist is obliged to weigh the implications of such a finding against the underlying natural disease processes that prevailed at the time to death, so as to determine its actual significance in relation to the causation of death, which may be due to a combination of iatrogenic and natural causes. While it is not given to a forensic pathologist to opine on matters pertaining to standards of care, it is entirely proper for one to draw attention to any cause for concern revealed by the post-mortem examination. As the information obtained from these, admittedly tedious and onerous, autopsies serves to inform medical audit and enhance patient safety, the entire process may be regarded as an expansion of the traditional roles of forensic pathology in serving the administration of justice and promoting public safety in general.

Biography:

Szde Yu is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Wichita State University, USA. His research is centered on the use of computers in crime and investigation.

Abstract:

The present study is aimed to evaluate the reliability in using existing forensic methods to detect the possibility of digital photos being altered deliberately either to conceal evidence or to add misleading information. Does modern photographic technology make such detection more difficult? Does professional editing software such as Photoshop make such detection more unreliable? These questions are important to answer as they directly pertain to the credibility of digital evidence presented in court. We recruit forensic experts to examine a batch of digital photos in jpeg format, some of which have been deliberately altered digitally by a variety of software. The photos are generated from a variety of devices including cell phones of different brands and digital cameras of different brands. The experts are allowed to use whatever methods or tools at their disposal to determine which photos have been altered and more importantly what content has been altered. We then calculate the accuracy rate in these experts’ efforts. The end is to explore whether a certain method is more reliable regardless of the expert and whether a certain type of device poses more challenges regardless of the expert. The preliminary findings do not bode well for the forensic community due to the low accuracy rates. For the most part, the expert’s proficiency is not at fault. Rather, the true challenges seem to stem from the rapid advances of modern technologies in both the development of photography-related hardware and software.

Biography:

Deivison Pinheiro Franco is a Master in Technological Innovation, specialist in Forensic Sciences (Emphasis in Computer Forensics), in Computers Networks Support and Internet Technologies and graduated in Data Processing. He is a IT Scientific Technician - Senior Analyst at the Executive Secretariat of Information Technology of Amazônia Bank. He is a Member of the Brazilian Society of Forensic Sciences (SBCF) and of the IEEE Information Forensics and Security Technical Committee (IEEE IFS-TC). He is a Professor at College Estácio of Belém - Campus IESAM of disciplines like: Cryptography, Data Communication, Computer Architecture and Operating Systems. Computer Forensic Expert with the certifications: CEH, CHFI, CIFI, CFCE, DSFE and ISO / IEC 27002 Foundation.

Abstract:

This technique aims to propose a method to do authenticity verification of handwritten signatures based on the use of digital image processing and artificial neural networks techniques through the backpropagation learning algorithm with 500 and 901 approaches, in order to optimize this verification process and act as a decision support tool, in an automated way. The results showed an average percentage error of 20% in the first and of 5.83% in the second, while the performance of a trained professional for that has an average error of 6.67%. Thus, we could observe the efficiency of the proposed method, as well as the difference and evolution of approaches through the relevance of the results.

Biography:

Yulai Xie received the B.E. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China, in 2007 and 2013, respectively. He was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2010 and a visiting scholar at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2015. He is now an assistant professor in school of computer from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in China. His research interests mainly include digital provenance, network storage and computer architecture.

Abstract:

The existing host-based intrusion detection methods are mainly based on recording and analyzing the system calls of the invasion processes (such as exploring the sequences of system calls and their occurring probabilities). However, these methods are not efficient enough on the detection precision as they do not reveal the inherent intrusion events in details (e.g., where are the system vulnerabilities and what causes the invasion are both not mentioned). On the other hand, though the log-based forensic analysis can enhance the understanding of how these invasion processes break into the system and what files are affected by them, it is a very cumbersome process to manually acquire information from logs which consist of the users' normal behavior and intruders' illegal behavior together. In this talk, we propose to use provenance, the history or lineage of an object that explicitly represents the dependency relationship between the damaged files and the intrusion processes, rather than the underlying system calls, to detect and analyze intrusions. Provenance more accurately reveals and records the data and control flow between files and processes, reducing the potential false alarm caused by system call sequences. Moreover, the warning report during intrusion can explicitly output system vulnerabilities and intrusion sources, and provide detection points for further provenance graph based forensic analysis. Experimental results show that this framework can identify the intrusion with high detection rate, lower false alarm rate, and smaller detection time overhead compared to traditional system call based method. In addition, it can analyze the system vulnerabilities and attack sources quickly and accurately.

Biography:

Abiodun, Adeyinka is currently a PhD student in Computer science in the University of Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. She is presently working in the area of computational forensics and pattern recognition. She is also a lecturer in the department of computer science and information technology  Bowen University Iwo, Osun State Nigeria.

Abstract:

Signature is a well-accepted method to authenticate the identity of people. The research community is interested in signature verification for centuries. Traditionally, signature analysis is performed by experienced Forensic Handwriting Expert (FHE) and pattern recognition community (PRC). The requirement for both communities are different while there is an increasing demand of automatic systems in forensic handwriting examination departments, various factors contributes to the wide gaps between both communities.

This paper proposes different techniques to bridging the gap between both communities from terminology to result presentation in order to present a shared conceptualization regarding automatic signature verification systems for FHE and PRC taking into consideration and resolving the shortcomings between both communities. We also propose fuzzy logic for the classification of different dataset.

At the end of this research, we hope to have come up with a state-of-the-art signature verification system that caters for the needs and requirements of both communities.

Biography:

Xavier Riaud has obtained his DDS and PhD degree in History of Sciences and Techniques. He is the Laureate and Associate Member of the National Academy of Dental Surgery and Free Member of the National Academy of Surgery. He has written 24 books and more than 400 articles in 5 languages.

Abstract:

On April 14, 1865, at about 10:10 pm, a man shot Abraham Lincoln in the back of his head at point blank range. His name was John Wilkes Booth. The President of the United States died the following day. Meanwhile, a man broke into William Seward’s office, the Secretary of State and seriously wounded his face. The attacker’s name was Lewis Thornton Powell. Both of these men succeeded in leaving the American capital without any trouble. However, few days later, Booth was arrested in a farm in Virginia and was summarily executed. His body was repatriated and an autopsy was conducted on April 27, 1865. While the report was absolutely positive concerning the murderer’s identification, the journalists remained doubtful. Were we definitely sure it was Booth’s body? As for Powell, he was arrested three days later. He was judged and sentenced to death. But examinations resulting from his trial have shown dental idiosyncrasies which turned to be crucial in the identification of a skull discovered several years later.

Biography:

Alan Diego Briem Stamm, Dentist completed his school diploma graduate specialization in Legal Dentistry (University of Rosario, Argentina), diploma school graduate specialization in Forensic Medicine (University of Corrientes, Argentina), diploma school postgraduate level 1 and 2 course of Forensic Odontology (University of Córdoba, Argentina). He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in dentistry at 3rd cohort at the University of Corrientes, Argentina. He is Chairman Iberoamerican Society of Forensic Odontostomatology (SOFIA), Teacher of "Legal Dentistry" at the University of Corrientes, Argentina, Teacher “Forensic Dentistry" in Course University Forensic Assistant at the University of Cordoba, Argentina, Professor of Forensic Odontology School Police Corrientes, Argentina, Sub Director "Forensic Science International Management" Worldwide Group Policy. He is a Professor of Forensic Odontology at level 1 and 2 course international forensic science at the University of Cordoba, Argentina.

Abstract:

Background: As a result of the multiple manifestations of violence, dental forensic identification can be difficult to conduct due to the state of a body or human remains, caused by damage of soft tissues, removal of fingerprints, and tooth decay. There is also the possibility that the individuals are edentulous and wear dentures, which can be an obstacle. However, this condition can be solved by using effective denture labeling recognition methods for identification.
Aim: To describe techniques, tags, and tagging devices of dentures and analyze their usefulness for dental forensic identification processes and medical-legal documentation in edentulous individuals who were rehabilitated with dentures. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed through PubMed of publications describing a technique, label, or marking device used as a means of identification within the dental forensic context.
Results: 53 publications describing techniques, labels, or marking devices of dental prostheses, which have been introduced since 1958, were obtained.
Conclusions: The marking of dentures provides ante-mortem information to guide the identification of individuals and/or their human remains. However, the definite identification of a corpse is not only important for humanitarian and emotional reasons, but also for legal and administrative purposes. During the human identification process, all necessary information is gathered from the unknown body of the victim and hence that an objective reconstructed profile can be established. Denture marking and labeling systems are being used in various situations, and a number of direct and indirect methods are reported. Is proposed that national identity number (IDN) be incorporated in all removable and fixed prostheses, so as to adopt a single and definitive personal identification code with the aim of achieving a uniform, standardized, easy, and fast identification method in patients treated at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Buenos Aires for forensic identification.

Biography:

Jitendra Kumar has completed his MBBS from Darbahnga Medical College, Bihar and he is pursuing MD Forensic Medicine from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi.

Abstract:

Currently, mainly due to problems arising from globalization, forensic age estimation becomes increasingly important. In fact, in a developing country like India with doubtful information regarding their birth dates also increasing problem of both inter-state migration and migration from neighboring countries makes forensic age estimation necessary in several contexts, mainly in the course of criminal, civil, or asylum proceedings. We usually require determining age older to 14, 16, 18 or 21 year. For this we do a clinical examination, performing anthropometric measures and assessment of sexual maturity signs; X-ray radiography of the epiphyseal ends of long bones; a dental evaluation with a clinical examination and analysis of an orthopantogram (OPG); an X-ray examination or CT scan of the clavicle when hand skeletal development is completed. In these situations, to determine age beyond 18 years, third molars are the only teeth able to provide valuable information, since all the remaining teeth have finished their developmental process. To overcome the above problem some alternate methodologies have been proposed. One of which is the use of Stage H of the eight-grade Demirjian scheme to assess the mineralization process of third molar. It was found to be useful for diagnosing an age equal to or older than 18 years, in both males and females.Olze et al referred to the use of the periodontal ligament in lower third molars as potential age estimation criterion. The result indicated stage 3 of periodontal ligament visibility could be used to state that a male is over 21 year of age. Olze et al described another methodology, using radiographic visibility of the root pulp in the lower third molars. According to the authors, this methodology can be useful for determining an age over 18 years. In the present study we are going to observe and stage changes in root pulp as well as periodontal ligament of lower third molar in age group of 15 to 30 years, and analyze results in order to determine the suitability of this methodology in forensic age assessment.

Biography:

Shaul M. Gabbay has completed his Ph.D at Columbia University and a Post Doctorate at the University of Chicago. He thought classes and conducted his research in numerous Universities around the world. For ten years he was the Director of a Middle East Institute at the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies where he is currently a Senior Scholar. He published numerous books and papers and is a frequent commentator in national and international media. Professor Gabbay has been qualified in hundreds of Court proceedings as a Muslim World Expert - www.muslimworldexpert.com

Abstract:

Since acquiring independence in 1991, Ukraine has suffered the consequences of never fully assimilating into Western Europe and has had to grapple with its corrosive relationship with Russia. The past twenty-four years have been tumultuous on many levels for Ukrainian citizens as the pursuit of a Western, democratic political structure was/has never been fully attained. Economic depression, political corruption and violent revolutions have greatly hampered Ukraine’s ability to prosper independently as a liberal democracy. As this paper will show, the increasingly volatile political atmosphere in the Ukraine that climaxed with a violent revolution and forced exile of the Ukrainian president in combination with Russia’s insurgence into Crime equates directly to a spike in religiously motivated political and physical attacks on Ukraine’s religious minorities’ infrastructure, livelihood and civilians. In this paper, we focus on the situation Ukraine’s Tartar Muslim population faces.

Biography:

Teaching & Research at Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma

Abstract:

Rarely a day passes without reports of women or minors raped across the country women and girls are raped everywhere at the slightest opportunity – at homes, with intimate partners, in university campuses, robbery sites, war situations, in their farm lands and even market places. It appears rape in Nigeria is more of norm than deviation. The incidence continues at an alarming rate, giving the impression that it’s a crime that goes unchecked and unsanctioned. Most importantly a reasonable percentage of the crime goes unreported because of the culture of silence based on stigmatization. Currently in Nigeria, rape appears to be gender specific to women and girl child only. As the law stands presently (Section 359-363 of the criminal code) it appears that only women are capable of being raped, but we know that men and young boys are also susceptible to this act. In this paper, attention is focused on the female sex because of the frightening increase of the incidence on women. We examined the investigative process which falls largely on police department who are constitutionally responsible for the investigation and collation of evidence for prosecution. We also examined the input of medical and forensic experts and how it affects prosecution. We commend the training of police officers in medical and forensic investigation, specialized legislation rather than reliance on the limited provisions of the criminal code and finally the establishment of female desk in all police unit for such offences, so that women can speak with confidence in confidence with their fellow women. A situation where a woman has to narrate her ordeal to man, intrudes into her privacy and creates a high level of inhibition in reporting such cases

Biography:

Akindutire, Adeshina Francis is wokring in Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria

Abstract:

Sexual assault is often considered as the most extreme form of violence that degrades and humiliates women life in society. It is a widespread public health and psychological problem in Nigeria. Criminologically, sexual assaults have been considered as one of the several violent crimes targeted specifically at women and perpetrated by men. This paper attempt to examine the types of sexual assaults in Nigeria, strategies used by the offenders, causes, the psychological effects on the victims and possible solution of sexual assaults. This work also, examine the law prohibiting sexual assault in Nigeria. The authors, made use of three theories: The Victim Precipitation Approach, Feminist Approach and Psychological Approach which explain why sexual assault take place in the society. Finally, it takes the Stockholm Syndrome into consideration (the treatment of victims).

Biography:

Derek Layder received his PhD from the London School of Economics in 1976. He has been Lecturer (1974), Reader (1993), Professor (1997), Emeritus Professor (2001), at the University of Leicester UK. He held several visiting appointments and have authored 15 books and numerous articles, mainly on social theory and research methods. He is interested in integrating agential and structural (or ‘systemic’) approaches to society and social behaviour. To this end he developed the ‘theory of social domains’ (1997 & 2006) and ‘adaptive theory and method (1993,1998, 2014). When combined he refer this as Investigative Research.

Abstract:

‘Investigative research’ (Layder 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2017) is a sociology-based framework but eminently suited to forensic science. Criminal behaviour or activity (violence, extortion, robbery, or serial murder) is understood as an outcome of the intersecting influences of four principal social domains -along with their sub-dimensions of power and temporality. 1]‘Psychobiography’ traces ‘perpetrators’ psychological states of mind, intertwined with social involvements, emotions and preferred modes of interpersonal control -as they unfold over time. 2] ‘Situated activity’ examines face to face encounters (between victims and perpetrators) and the importance of emergent meanings.3] ‘Social settings’ are the proximate social locations of criminal activities and significantly influence criminal conduct 4] ‘Contextual resources’ (wider societal influence of such factors as -class gender, ethnicity, age) in both material (money, goods) and symbolic (values, beliefs) forms. Additionally, different (domain) forms of ‘power & control’ and ‘temporality’ significantly affect the unfolding narratives of crime. The strengths of such a programme are: 1] Brings together sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology and other strands of forensic science to form a unified interdisciplinary research programme, 2] Common focus around emotion and interpersonal control (Layder 2004). 3] Integrated approach allows diverse, but complementary theories and research approaches, to work in unison, 3] Based on a unique combination of theory-testing and theory-generating approaches in the context of multi-strategy and mixed methods research.