The ‘canine rescue’ phenomenon

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242095507
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard ◽  
Neil EI Langlois
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
News Sources ◽  
Dangerous Situation ◽  
Forensic Investigations ◽  
Serious Injury ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
House Fires ◽  
Internet Databases

While deaths caused by interactions with dogs in medico-legal situations most often involve trauma from attacks, in certain circumstances, deaths may occur from sharing environmental hazards that the animal has been exposed to during attempted rescues. Search of the Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), Australia, autopsy database over a 16-year period from 2004 to 2020 found three such cases, including two women aged 46 and 61 years who were both killed in separate incidents after being struck by vehicles when they attempted to rescue dogs that had strayed onto busy roads. The final case was a 53-year-old man who drowned in a river while trying to rescue his dog. A review of Internet databases and news sources revealed other cases where would-be dog rescuers had drowned in rivers and the sea or had succumbed to hypothermia in frozen lakes and waterways. Other hazardous situations involve house fires, falls from heights, electrocution and envenomation. The characteristic features of these cases are of a dog (often a pet) getting itself into, or being found in, a dangerous situation, with owners or bystanders then attempting rescue. The dangers of the situation are either ignored or underestimated by the rescuers who often also misjudge the capacity of dogs to survive/self-rescue. Cases may therefore be encountered in forensic investigations where death or serious injury has occurred during attempts to protect an animal from particular types of environmental dangers. Unlike the owners, it is not infrequently documented that the dogs have survived the danger unharmed.

How common are suicides using nitrous oxide?

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Byard ◽  
Karen Heath
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Relative Ease ◽  
Plastic Bag

Analysis of autopsy cases of suicide from Forensic Science South Australia files (2003–2017) where helium, nitrogen or nitrous oxide gas had been used revealed that only 2/58 (3.5%) cases utilised nitrous oxide; the remainder of cases had used helium or nitrogen. The two cases are presented here. In case 1, a 48-year-old man was found completely encased in a plastic bag with a hose connected to an opened cylinder of nitrous oxide. In case 2, a 27-year-old woman was found with a plastic bag over her head, tied around her neck, with a tube connected to a small canister of nitrous oxide. There were approximately 20 empty canisters of nitrous oxide nearby. Death in both cases was due to nitrous oxide augmentation of plastic bag asphyxia, manner suicide. The relative ease with which helium and nitrogen cylinders containing large amounts of gas can be obtained may explain the low numbers of suicides utilising nitrous oxide.

scholarly journals Forensic Anthropology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Purva Wagisha Upadhyay ◽  
Amarnath Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Forensic Anthropology ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Physical Anthropology ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Since Death ◽  
Characteristic Features

Physical anthropology has been making progress in the field of forensic science. Forensic anthropology is the study of identifying and establishing identity of the skeletal remains present at the crime scene. The purpose of the chapter is to throw a light on the field of forensic anthropology as it seeks data like age, sex, ethnic groups, and other characteristic features after the examination of the skeletal remains. Forensic anthropology helps in determining the manner and cause of death, and if the body is still in the decompositions stage, time since death can also be estimated. Advancement in forensic anthropology will not only help to solve the case but it will also increase the opportunity to work in this area. In this chapter, there is an explanation of some of the methods used in forensic anthropology for the analysis of identification and other purposes.

Potential significance of swastika tattoos in a medico-legal setting

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242097353
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
White Supremacist ◽  
Potential Significance ◽  
Religious Background ◽  
Unnatural Death ◽  
Asian Male

Although the increasing popularity of tattoos has challenged the previous associations with criminality and psychiatric illness, particular subsets of tattooed individuals may still have an association with unnatural deaths in a forensic context. A retrospective review of the autopsy database at Forensic Science South Australia was undertaken over a 23-year period from 1997 to 2019 for cases with swastika tattoos. Twenty-six cases (23 males and 3 females) were identified, ranging in age from 19 to 67 years ( Mage = 36 years). The cases comprised seven (27%) suicides, seven (27%) accidents (including five vehicle crashes), five (19%) drug-related deaths (toxicity/overdose), four (15.4%) natural deaths and three (11.5%) homicides. There were significantly more unnatural deaths in the group with swastika tattoos compared to tattooed controls ( p < 0.01). Multiple swastikas, expletives and white supremacist sentiments were also present in a number of cases. However, in one Asian male, the presence of a sacred Buddhist tattoo suggested that the swastika tattoo instead had religious rather than antisocial/racist significance. This study shows that in the population of individuals undergoing forensic autopsies, subgroups may be identified by their tattoos who have a predisposition to violent and unnatural death. Evaluation of this risk has to be tempered by considering the cultural/religious background of a decedent, as the symbol may have completely different connotations for certain religious groups such as Jains, Hindus and Buddhists.

A Jewish Collaborator in Nazi Germany: The Strange Career of Georg Kareski, 1933–37

1975 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert S. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Jewish Community ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Final Solution ◽  
Political Opportunity ◽  
Public Employment ◽  
Jewish Leader ◽  
Dangerous Situation ◽  
Serious Injury ◽  
German Jewish ◽  
German Jewry

Hitler's takeover of power in January 1933 created a new and dangerous situation for German Jewry. Nazi policy developed gradually, but before the spring of 1933 was well advanced there could be little doubt that serious injury was intended toward the Jewish community. The “wildcat” anti-Semitic actions of undisciplined SA men were followed by the national boycott of Jewish businesses conducted on April 1. Legislative and administrative measures, preceded and accompanied by “unofficial” and “illegal” actions tending in the same direction, began the process that drove Jews from public employment, from medicine, law, and teaching, from cultural, political, and journalistic pursuits, and that severely hampered their economic activity in any form. Long before any sane observer could have glimpsed the outlines of the “final solution,” the leaders of the German Jewish community were faced with a situation demanding the utmost of their political and organizational talents. As a leading Jewish participant put it, the situation provided a classic case of Toynbee's “challenge” and “response.” To one German Jewish leader, Georg Kareski, it was a great and positive political opportunity.

Major organ loss from post-mortem animal predation: Issues arising from emptied body cavities

2021 ◽  
pp. 002580242110202
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Significant Problem ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Extreme Situation ◽  
Major Organ ◽  
Insect Activity

The feeding of animals on bodies after death – so-called post-mortem animal predation – may complicate autopsy interpretations when there has been removal of significant amounts of skin and tissues. An extreme situation which sometimes arises is the complete evisceration and/or consumption of all major cavity organs. Search of autopsy files at Forensic Science South Australia was undertaken for examples of this phenomenon. Although such a finding at autopsy may suggest the actions of larger animals such as dogs or sharks, it may also occur when groups of smaller animals, such as cats, act in concert. Complete loss of organs may also occur if significant insect activity accompanies decomposition. Empty body cavities may therefore result from of a wide variety of animal activities involving a range of species in quite different environments. A significant problem once organs have been removed or consumed is in identifying or excluding natural diseases or injuries that may have played a role in the lethal episode.

scholarly journals A review on the role of emerging revolutionary nanotechnology in forensic investigations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 582-591
Author(s):  
Francis Tambo ◽  
Dorcas Naa Odarley Ablateye
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Forensic Sciences ◽  
Drug Detection ◽  
Forensic Biology ◽  
Crystalline Semiconductor ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Forensic Investigations ◽  
Novel Applications

Due to the unique properties of nanoparticles, it has gained prominence in lots of fields with extensive research being carried around it. With lots of novel applications arising from this field, Forensic science seems to be one of the fast-growing fields in nano research applications. The growing and extensive use of nanotechnology being applied in forensic investigations is promising and could soon be the tipping point in the discipline. Applications mainly have been related to evidence identification and analysis in the broad major fields in Forensic Science such as single-crystalline semiconductor CdS nano slabs for explosives detection, functionalized TiO2 nanorods for organophosphorus chemical warfare agents in Forensic Chemistry, the use of Nanopowders for latent print visualization in Forensic physics and Gold nanoparticle protein nanopore for detection of single-stranded DNA in Forensic biology. Nanotechnology has also been employed in illegal drug detection in recent times. These and other applications of Nanotechnology provides prompt and precise results with reduced methods due to the limited instruments used for analyzing evidence as well as providing sensitive and selective ways of detecting evidence. As evidence is notable in forensic investigations, nanotechnology’s use in identifying and detecting these has potential in enhancing and providing efficient and rapid means for investigations and unravelling leads into crimes. This review emphasizes some disciplines in forensic sciences in which nanotechnology is having an impact, novel methods and newly developed instruments and also takes into account its challenges as well as perspectives into the future.

scholarly journals The interface between forensic science and technology: how technology could cause a paradigm shift in the role of forensic institutes in the criminal justice system

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1674) ◽  
pp. 20140264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ate Kloosterman ◽  
Anna Mapes ◽  
Zeno Geradts ◽  
Erwin van Eijk ◽  
Carola Koper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Forensic Investigations

In this paper, the importance of modern technology in forensic investigations is discussed. Recent technological developments are creating new possibilities to perform robust scientific measurements and studies outside the controlled laboratory environment. The benefits of real-time, on-site forensic investigations are manifold and such technology has the potential to strongly increase the speed and efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, such benefits are only realized when quality can be guaranteed at all times and findings can be used as forensic evidence in court. At the Netherlands Forensic Institute, innovation efforts are currently undertaken to develop integrated forensic platform solutions that allow for the forensic investigation of human biological traces, the chemical identification of illicit drugs and the study of large amounts of digital evidence. These platforms enable field investigations, yield robust and validated evidence and allow for forensic intelligence and targeted use of expert capacity at the forensic institutes. This technological revolution in forensic science could ultimately lead to a paradigm shift in which a new role of the forensic expert emerges as developer and custodian of integrated forensic platforms.

scholarly journals APPLICATIONS OF EPIGENETICS IN FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS: A BRIEF REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Ullah ◽  
A Ali ◽  
N Hussain ◽  
A Malik
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Criminal Investigation ◽  
Environmental Interaction ◽  
Criminal Investigations ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Probable Impact ◽  
Forensic Investigations

Forensic science is a discipline that has the capacity to be merged with every promise to offer a solution to a criminal investigation to help the legal system. Epigenetics is a branch of genetics that deals with the study of environmental interaction with the genome. The emerging field of forensic epigenetics has a variety of applications in criminal investigations. It provides an addictive tool to solve criminal activity-related issues. In this review, we have showcased the brief use of epigenetics to sort out forensic-related issues and help the legal system. We have briefly taken a snapshot of genetics, epigenetics, and application of epigenetics in forensic science that how it could offer solutions to queries of forensic nature. Also, potential future developments in the field and their probable impact have been anticipated. It has many potential applications which are still to be explored. It complements forensic science at many potential levels.

Ultrastructural modification of cellular interactions in cancer tumor

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-319
Author(s):  
N. P. Dmitrieva
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Human Thyroid ◽  
Adjacent Cell ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Cellular Interactions ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Cancer Tumor ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Characteristic Features

One of the most characteristic features of cancer cells is their ability to metastasia. It is suggested that the modifications of the structure and properties of cancer cells surfaces play the main role in this process. The present work was aimed at finding out what ultrastructural features apear in tumor in vivo which removal of individual cancer cells from the cell population can provide. For this purpose the cellular interactions in the normal human thyroid and cancer tumor of this gland electron microscopic were studied. The tissues were fixed in osmium tetroxide and were embedded in Araldite-Epon.In normal human thyroid the most common type of intercellular contacts was represented by simple junction formed by the parallelalignment of adjacent cell membranees leaving in between an intermembranes space 15-20 nm filled with electronlucid material (Fig. 1a). Sometimes in the basal part of cells dilatations of the intercellular space 40-50 nm wide were found (Fig. 1a). Here the cell surfaces may form single short microvilli.

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