scholarly journals DNA Transfer in Forensic Science: Recent Progress towards Meeting Challenges

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1766
Author(s):  
Roland A. H. van van Oorschot ◽  
Georgina E. Meakin ◽  
Bas Kokshoorn ◽  
Mariya Goray ◽  
Bianca Szkuta
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Dna Transfer ◽  
Related Activity

Understanding the factors that may impact the transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery of DNA (DNA-TPPR), and the availability of data to assign probabilities to DNA quantities and profile types being obtained given particular scenarios and circumstances, is paramount when performing, and giving guidance on, evaluations of DNA findings given activity level propositions (activity level evaluations). In late 2018 and early 2019, three major reviews were published on aspects of DNA-TPPR, with each advocating the need for further research and other actions to support the conduct of DNA-related activity level evaluations. Here, we look at how challenges are being met, primarily by providing a synopsis of DNA-TPPR-related articles published since the conduct of these reviews and briefly exploring some of the actions taken by industry stakeholders towards addressing identified gaps. Much has been carried out in recent years, and efforts continue, to meet the challenges to continually improve the capacity of forensic experts to provide the guidance sought by the judiciary with respect to the transfer of DNA.

The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Boseley ◽  
Daryl Howard ◽  
Mark Hackett ◽  
Simon Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metal ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Trace Metal Ions ◽  
Gun Barrel ◽  
Trace Metal Detection

In forensic science, knowledge and understanding of material transfer and persistence is inherent to the interpretation of trace evidence and can provide vital information on the activity level surrounding a crime. Detecting metal ions in fingermark residue has long been of interest in the field of forensic science, due to the possibility of linking trace metal ion profiles to prior activity with specific metal objects (e.g. gun or explosive handling). Unfortunately, the imaging capability to visualise trace metal ions at sufficient spatial resolution to determine their distribution within a fingermark (micron level) was not previously available. Here, we demonstrate for the first time transfer and persistence of metals in fingermarks, at micron spatial resolution, using synchrotron sourced x-ray fluorescence microscopy. Fingermarks were taken before and after brief handling of a gun barrel, ammunition cartridge case and party sparkler to demonstrate the transfer of metals. The results reveal increased metal content after contact with these objects, and critically, a differential pattern of metal ion increase was observed after handling different objects. Persistence studies indicate that these metals are removed as easily as they are transferred, with a brief period of hand washing appearing to successfully remove metallic residue from subsequent fingermarks. Preliminary work using x-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopic mapping highlighted the potential use of this technique to differentiate between different chemical forms of metals and metal ions in latent fingermarks. It is anticipated that these findings can now be used to assist future work for the advancement of trace metal detection tests and fingermark development procedures

scholarly journals DNA transfer in forensic science: A review

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 140-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland A.H. van Oorschot ◽  
Bianca Szkuta ◽  
Georgina E. Meakin ◽  
Bas Kokshoorn ◽  
Mariya Goray
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Dna Transfer

The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks

The Analyst ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Boseley ◽  
Daryl Howard ◽  
Mark Hackett ◽  
Simon W Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Material Transfer ◽  
Science Knowledge ◽  
Trace Evidence

In forensic science, knowledge and understanding of material transfer and persistence is inherent to the interpretation of trace evidence and can provide vital information on the activity level surrounding a...

Electron-Mirror Microscopic Aspects of Ferroelectric Domains of BaTiO3 And Ca2Sr (C2H5CO2)6

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 478-479
Author(s):  
Teruo Someya ◽  
Jinzo Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Surface Layer ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Quantitative Study ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Ferroelectric Domain ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Surface Pattern ◽  
Crystal Surfaces ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Ferroelectric Domains

Recent progress in the electron-mirror microscopy (EMM), e.g., an improvement of its resolving power together with an increase of the magnification makes it useful for investigating the ferroelectric domain physics. English has recently observed the domain texture in the surface layer of BaTiO3. The present authors ) have developed a theory by which one can evaluate small one-dimensional electric fields and/or topographic step heights in the crystal surfaces from their EMM pictures. This theory was applied to a quantitative study of the surface pattern of BaTiO3).

Sem/X-Ray Applications to the Forensic Science Field

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 390-391
Author(s):  
K. Culbreth
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Depth Of Field ◽  
Surface Phenomena ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Science Field ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hit And Run ◽  
Evaluation Of Evidence ◽  
Scanning Electron

The introduction of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis to forensic science has provided additional methods by which investigative evidence can be analyzed. The importance of evidence from the scene of a crime or from the personal belongings of a victim and suspect has resulted in the development and evaluation of SEM/x-ray analysis applications to various types of forensic evidence. The intent of this paper is to describe some of these applications and to relate their importance to the investigation of criminal cases.The depth of field and high resolution of the SEM are an asset to the evaluation of evidence with respect to surface phenomena and physical matches (1). Fig. 1 shows a Phillips screw which has been reconstructed after the head and shank were separated during a hit-and-run accident.

Forensic Identifications Aided by Scanning Electron Microscopy of Silicone-Epoxy Microreplicas of Calcified and Cornified Structures

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 678-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Sognnaes
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
George Washington ◽  
Epithelial Surface ◽  
Extended Application ◽  
Tissue Surfaces ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Scanning Electron ◽  
Surface Changes

Sufficient experience has been gained during the past five years to suggest an extended application of microreplication and scanning electron microscopy to problems of forensic science. The author's research was originally initiated with a view to develop a non-destructive method for identification of materials that went into objects of art, notably ivory and ivories. This was followed by a very specific application to the identification and duplication of the kinds of materials from animal teeth and tusks which two centuries ago went into the fabrication of the ivory dentures of George Washington. Subsequently it became apparent that a similar method of microreplication and SEM examination offered promise for a whole series of problems pertinent to art, technology and science. Furthermore, what began primarily as an application to solid substances has turned out to be similarly applicable to soft tissue surfaces such as mucous membranes and skin, even in cases of acute, chronic and precancerous epithelial surface changes, and to post-mortem identification of specific structures pertinent to forensic science.

The Nature of Oxide Surfaces: Topographic and Electronic Structure

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 966-967
Author(s):  
Dawn A. Bonnell ◽  
Yong Liang
Keyword(s):  
Transition Metal Oxides ◽  
Electronic Structures ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Spatial Localization ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Scanning Tunneling ◽  
Oxide Surfaces ◽  
Tunneling Microscopy ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Complete Understanding

Recent progress in the application of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to oxide surfaces has allowed issues of image formation mechanism and spatial resolution limitations to be addressed. As the STM analyses of oxide surfaces continues, it is becoming clear that the geometric and electronic structures of these surfaces are intrinsically complex. Since STM requires conductivity, the oxides in question are transition metal oxides that accommodate aliovalent dopants or nonstoichiometry to produce mobile carriers. To date, considerable effort has been directed toward probing the structures and reactivities of ZnO polar and nonpolar surfaces, TiO2 (110) and (001) surfaces and the SrTiO3 (001) surface, with a view towards integrating these results with the vast amount of previous surface analysis (LEED and photoemission) to build a more complete understanding of these surfaces. However, the spatial localization of the STM/STS provides a level of detail that leads to conclusions somewhat different from those made earlier.

Specificity determinants of phosphoprotein phosphatases controlling kinetochore functions

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitriya H. Garvanska ◽  
Jakob Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Binding Affinities ◽  
Mitotic Kinases ◽  
Anaphase Onset ◽  
Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ◽  
Linear Motifs ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Kinetochore Function

Abstract Kinetochores are instrumental for accurate chromosome segregation by binding to microtubules in order to move chromosomes and by delaying anaphase onset through the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Dynamic phosphorylation of kinetochore components is key to control these activities and is tightly regulated by temporal and spatial recruitment of kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs). Here we focus on PP1, PP2A-B56 and PP2A-B55, three PPPs that are important regulators of mitosis. Despite the fact that these PPPs share a very similar active site, they target unique ser/thr phosphorylation sites to control kinetochore function. Specificity is in part achieved by PPPs binding to short linear motifs (SLiMs) that guide their substrate specificity. SLiMs bind to conserved pockets on PPPs and are degenerate in nature, giving rise to a range of binding affinities. These SLiMs control the assembly of numerous substrate specifying complexes and their position and binding strength allow PPPs to target specific phosphorylation sites. In addition, the activity of PPPs is regulated by mitotic kinases and inhibitors, either directly at the activity level or through affecting PPP–SLiM interactions. Here, we discuss recent progress in understanding the regulation of PPP specificity and activity and how this controls kinetochore biology.

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