Article
Anthropology
Adam Budziszewski
Summary: In recent years, the use of a set of sieves has become an important part of the methodology in studying burned human bone. This study aimed to analyze the impact of sieve mesh opening shape on the results achieved. Seiving human burned bones from two Polish archaeological sites using two sets of sieves with different mesh opening shapes revealed noticeable differences. The shape of the mesh openings and their distribution on the sieves' surface can significantly affect the results concerning burned bone fragmentation.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Tristan Krap, Loes Busscher, Roelof-Jan Oostra, Maurice C. G. Aalders, Wilma Duijst
Summary: The study demonstrates that thermally altered human bone fragments exhibit phosphorescence, with the phosphorescence being more dependent on temperature rather than exposure duration, surrounding medium, or skeletal element. Ultraviolet light provides the most temperature-related information among the wavelength bands used, showing changes in both phosphorescence intensity and emission spectrum.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Sandra Braun, Lara Indra, Sandra Loesch, Marco Milella
Summary: This study analyzed the use of computed tomography images in forensic anthropology and found that viewing images in 2D had advantages, although not all bone lesions were detected. There was a significant correlation between manner of death and certain parameters. The inclusion of imaging training in anthropological curricula is recommended to enhance the capabilities of forensic anthropologists.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. G. Manoj, M. K. Satheesh Kumar, K. T. Valsaraj, Soumya K. Vijayan, T. Nishanth
Summary: This study investigates the impact of air pollution on mortality during the second wave of COVID-19 in New Delhi, finding a high correlation between surface ozone concentration and mortality rate, and suggesting the need for preparation before the next wave of the pandemic.
Article
Medicine, Legal
Francesco Simonit, Ugo Da Broi, Antonio Colatutto, Lorenzo Desinan
Summary: An elderly man and his disabled wife were found drowned in a canal, showing injuries and signs consistent with a murder-suicide. The man's previous expressions of ending their misery suggested a spousal murder-suicide, despite initial hypotheses of a suicide pact or double accident. This case is rare in the literature.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC AND LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Kamryn Keys, Ann H. Ross
Summary: Burning human remains can lead to concealment of victim identity, formation of injury artifacts, or destruction of preexisting trauma. The study using domestic pigs as correlates found that fracture pattern was the most diagnostic variable to differentiate thermally induced alterations from blunt force fractures.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Alessandro Mauro Tavone, Giulia Ceccobelli, Giorgia Piizzi, Raimondo Vella, Gabriele Giuga, Andrea Cammarano, Giulia Petroni, Gian Luca Marella
Summary: Overkill refers to the presence of excessive wounds on the victim's body with no clear definition. The study found that victims and perpetrators of overkill cases share similar characteristics, mainly being males aged between 20 and 50 years, with a peak in the 50-55 years age range for victims. The type of damage can be attributed to the sole action of a cold weapon or the simultaneous use of multiple harmful tools. The most common motive is a dispute for futile reasons.
Article
Psychiatry
Robert Pudlo, Szymon Florek, Michal Blachut, Aleksandra Leksowska, Magdalena Piegza
Summary: This article describes a case of a 40-year-old woman who attempted suicide and killed her two children. The woman was examined by three teams of forensic psychiatrists and psychologists. After conducting double psychiatric and psychological examinations and analyzing the case files, the authors identified symptoms of dependent personality disorders and acute stress reaction, which resulted in a complete loss of the ability to recognize the meaning of the act and to manage proceeding.
PSYCHIATRIA POLSKA
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Wei-Lun Yan, Chiou-Herr Yang, Siew Hwa Tan, Chung-Yen Pai, Kan-Kun Li, Chen-Chou Chung
Summary: This study collected insect specimens from 114 forensic cases in Taiwan from 2011 to 2018 and summarized the data of forensically important species associated with human corpses. The study found that locations (indoor vs. outdoor), environments (urban vs. suburban), and temperatures are important factors affecting insect communities. The results of this study are beneficial for forensic practitioners and criminal investigations.
Editorial Material
Biology
Camilla Cecannecchia, Benedetta Baldari, Andrea Cioffi
Summary: The study of bone mineral density and fracture dating based on healing processes plays a crucial role in forensic anthropology. By emphasizing the importance of these parameters, researchers aim to reconstruct biological profiles, determine time and cause of death, and minimize the impact of medication or substance abuse during life. The introduction of pharmacological history as a correction factor in bone remains analysis, backed by scientific studies, aims to enhance specificity in understanding the effects of certain therapies on bone mass and remodeling speed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomasz Stepien, Janusz Heitzman, Teresa Wierzba-Bobrowicz, Pawel Gosek, Pawel Krajewski, Agnieszka Chrzczonowicz-Stepien, Jaroslaw Berent, Tomasz Jurek, Filip Bolechala
Summary: This study discussed the neuropathological characteristics of murder-suicides, revealing neurodegenerative changes in the brains of these suicide killers. The presence of these neurodegenerative changes at such a young age in some murderers may indicate preclinical lesions affecting cognitive functions and associated with depressed moods.
Article
Psychiatry
Jenna Ashley, Kawon Victoria Kim, Cayley Russell, Shannon Lange
Summary: This study compared solitary suicides, suicides following homicide, and suicide pacts in the United States, and found significant differences in demographic factors, method of suicide, preceding circumstances, mental health status, and toxicology findings.
Article
Medicine, Legal
Alan R. Felthous, Yasir Masood, Delavar Safari, Emily Rodgers, Navreet Chennu, Chanchal Kahlon, Mary Angly
Summary: This article discusses the subclassification of homicide-suicide, including psychopathology and intrafamilial homicide-suicides, as well as extrafamilial homicide-suicides. Extrafamilial homicide-suicides are further divided into adversarial, autogenic mass, cult, and terrorist homicide-suicides, with a more detailed classification based on the relationship between the victims and the actors.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Anna Roncallo, Rosario Barranco, Giulia Molinari, Martina Drommi, Francesco Ventura
Summary: Homicide-suicides are rare events predominantly involving elderly individuals, with a male perpetrator using firearms to commit the crime at home, typically motivated by compassion or pathological jealousy.
ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John F. Gunn, Paul Boxer, Tracy Andrews, Michael Ostermann, Stephanie L. Bonne, Michael Gusmano, Elizabeth Sloan-Power, Bernadette Hohl
Summary: This study explores the impact of firearm legislation on suicide and homicide rates, and finds a correlation between increases or decreases in firearm regulations and these rates. Even after controlling for other factors, it is found that states with more firearm laws have lower suicide and homicide rates compared to states with fewer laws. These findings highlight the importance of firearm legislation in reducing gun violence in the USA.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Heitor S. D. Correa, Ivano Alessandri, Andrea Verzeletti
Summary: This research assessed the usefulness of Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in analyzing bones. The techniques were found to be useful in molecular taphonomy studies and forensic genetics.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2024)