Abstract This article describes the composition of fingermark residue as being a complex system with numerous compounds coming from different sources and evolving over time from the initial ...composition (corresponding to the composition right after deposition) to the aged composition (corresponding to the evolution of the initial composition over time). This complex system will additionally vary due to effects of numerous influence factors grouped in five different classes: the donor characteristics, the deposition conditions, the substrate nature, the environmental conditions and the applied enhancement techniques. The initial and aged compositions as well as the influence factors are thus considered in this article to provide a qualitative and quantitative review of all compounds identified in fingermark residue up to now. The analytical techniques used to obtain these data are also enumerated. This review highlights the fact that despite the numerous analytical processes that have already been proposed and tested to elucidate fingermark composition, advanced knowledge is still missing. Thus, there is a real need to conduct future research on the composition of fingermark residue, focusing particularly on quantitative measurements, aging kinetics and effects of influence factors. The results of future research are particularly important for advances in fingermark enhancement and dating technique developments.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, VSZLJ
Abstract Despite the recurrence of fingermark dating issues and the research conducted on fingermark composition and aging, no dating methodology has yet been developed and validated. In order to ...further evaluate the possibility of developing dating methodologies based on the fingermark composition, this research proposed an in-depth study of the aging of target lipid parameters found in fingermark residue and exposed to different influence factors. The selected analytical technique was gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The effects of donor, substrate and enhancement techniques on the selected parameters were firstly evaluated. These factors were called known factors, as their value could be obtained in real caseworks. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and univariate exponential regression, this study highlighted the fact that the effects of these factors were larger than the aging effects, thus preventing the observation of relevant aging patterns. From a fingermark dating perspective, the specific value of these known factors should thus be included in aging models newly built for each case. Then, the effects of deposition moment, pressure, temperature and lighting were also evaluated. These factors were called unknown factors, as their specific value would never be precisely obtained in caseworks. Aging models should thus be particularly robust to their effects and for this reason, different chemometric tools were tested: PCA, univariate exponential regression and partial least square regression (PLSR). While the first two models allowed observing interesting aging patterns regardless of the value of the applied influence factors, PLSR gave poorer results, as large deviations were obtained. Finally, in order to evaluate the potential of such modelling in realistic situations, blind analyses were carried out on eight test fingermarks. The age of five of them was correctly estimated using soft independent modelling of class analogy analysis (SIMCA) based on PCA classes, univariate exponential linear regression and PLSR. Furthermore, a probabilistic approach using the calculation of likelihood ratios (LR) through the construction of a Bayesian network was also tested. While the age of all test fingermarks were correctly evaluated when the storage conditions were known, the results were not significant when these conditions were unknown. Thus, this model clearly highlighted the impact of storage conditions on correct age evaluation. This research showed that reproducible aging modelling could be obtained based on fingermark residue exposed to influence factors, as well as promising age estimations. However, the proposed models are still not applicable in practice. Further studies should be conducted concerning the impact of influence factors (in particular, storage conditions) in order to precisely evaluate in which conditions significant evaluations could be obtained. Furthermore, these models should be properly validated before any application in real caseworks could be envisaged.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract Lipids available in fingermark residue represent important targets for enhancement and dating techniques. While it is well known that lipid composition varies among fingermarks of the same ...donor (intra-variability) and between fingermarks of different donors (inter-variability), the extent of this variability remains uncharacterized. Thus, this work aimed at studying qualitatively and quantitatively the initial lipid composition of fingermark residue of 25 different donors. Among the 104 detected lipids, 43 were reported for the first time in the literature. Furthermore, palmitic acid, squalene, cholesterol, myristyl myristate and myristyl myristoleate were quantified and their correlation within fingermark residue was highlighted. Ten compounds were then selected and further studied as potential targets for dating or enhancement techniques. It was shown that their relative standard deviation was significantly lower for the intra-variability than for the inter-variability. Moreover, the use of data pre-treatments could significantly reduce this variability. Based on these observations, an objective donor classification model was proposed. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted on the pre-treated data and the fingermarks of the 25 donors were classified into two main groups, corresponding to “poor” and “rich” lipid donors. The robustness of this classification was tested using fingermark replicates of selected donors. 86% of these replicates were correctly classified, showing the potential of such a donor classification model for research purposes in order to select representative donors based on compounds of interest.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, VSZLJ
Highlights • μ-FTIR was used in attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode. • The wavenumbers 1000–1850 and 2700–3600 cm−1 were targeted for the data processing. • The substrate and lighting conditions ...affected fingermark aging. • However, reproducible aging models were built using chemometrics (PCA and PLSR). • These results are promising from a fingermark dating perspective.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
One of the most important postulates in the field of forensic science goes “tout contact laisse une trace” (Locard 1920), or “every contact leaves a trace”. While committing a crime, it is difficult, ...if not downright impossible, to avoid all contact, no matter whether the form of the committed crime is traditional (physical) or modern (electronic transaction). The aforementioned postulate can therefore be adapted as follows: “Each crime leaves a trace”. The desire to track down criminals is probably as old as humanity itself, and several personalities have dedicated their life to this subject, including Hans Gross in Austria, Alphonse Bertillon and Edmond Locard in France, and Paul Kirk in the United States. This article deals with one such man who, despite his merits, has remained somewhat unknown, especially in the German-speaking countries: Rudolf Archibald Reiss. Reiss put his entire life at the service of science, more precisely at the service of forensic science, and became an important pioneer in his field at the beginning of the 20th century. But who is Reiss? What are his achievements and why does he deserve special attention when it comes to the definition of modern forensic science? The purpose of this article is to discuss these questions. We start by providing important definitions before presenting Reiss’s life and work. Based on the aspects of Reiss’s work, which form the fundamentals of modern forensic science, the article then looks at the international status and practical application of forensic science and describes necessary developments. The conclusion emphasises the need to (further) spread Reiss’s vision around the world in order to reach a better understanding of criminality and its traces, as well as better communication between the various actors in the field of forensic science.
Eines der wichtigsten Postulate im Bereich der Forensik lautet „tout contact laisse une trace“ (Locard 1920), was so viel wie „jeder Kontakt hinterlässt eine Spur“ bedeutet. Während der Begehung ...einer Straftat ist es schwierig, wenn nicht gar unmöglich, jeglichen Kontakt zu vermeiden, ganz gleich, ob es sich um eine traditionelle (physische) oder moderne (elektronische Transaktion) Form der Tatbegehung handelt. Das oben erwähnte Postulat kann daher wie folgt angepasst werden: „Jedes Verbrechen hinterlässt eine Spur“. Der Wunsch, den Verbrechern auf die Spur zu kommen, ist wahrscheinlich so alt wie die Menschheit selbst und mehrere Persönlichkeiten haben ihr Leben dieser Aufgabe gewidmet, wie z.B. Hans Gross in Österreich, Alphonse Bertillon und Edmond Locard in Frankreich oder auch Paul Kirk in den Vereinigten Staaten. Dieser Aufsatz befasst sich mit einem solchen Mann, der jedoch und trotz seiner Verdienste eher unbekannt geblieben ist, insbesondere im deutschsprachigen Raum: Rudolf Archibald Reiss. Reiss stellte sein ganzes Leben in den Dienst der Wissenschaft, genauer gesagt in den der Forensik und wurde Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts zu einem wichtigen Vorreiter auf seinem Gebiet. Aber wer ist Reiss? Was sind seine Errungenschaften und warum verdient er besondere Aufmerksamkeit, wenn es um die Definition der modernen Forensik geht? Gegenstand des vorliegenden Aufsatzes ist es, diese Fragen zu erörtern. Dafür werden zunächst wichtige Definitionen gegeben, bevor Reiss’ Lebensweg und Lebenswerk dargestellt werden. Basierend auf den Aspekten von Reiss’ Arbeit, die die Grundlagen der modernen Forensik bilden, werden dann der aktuelle internationale Stellenwert und die praktische Verwendung der Forensik kritisch beleuchtet und notwendige Entwicklungen beschrieben. Die den Text beschließende Conclusio hebt die Notwendigkeit hervor, Reiss’ Vision international (weiter) zu verbreiten, um ein besseres Verständnis der Kriminalität und ihrer Spuren, sowie eine bessere Kommunikation zwischen den verschiedenen Akteuren der Forensik, zu ermöglichen.
Exome sequencing (ES) has revolutionized diagnostic procedures in medical genetics, particularly for developmental diseases. The variety and complexity of the information produced has raised issues ...regarding its use in a clinical setting. Of particular interest are patients' expectations regarding the information disclosed, the accompaniment provided, and the value patients place on these. To explore these issues in parents of children with developmental disorders and no diagnosis with known etiology, a multidisciplinary group of researchers from social and behavioral sciences and patient organizations conducted a mixed-methodology study (quantitative and qualitative) in two centers of expertise for rare diseases in France. The quantitative study aimed to determine the preferences of 513 parents regarding the disclosure of ES results. It showed that parents wished to have exhaustive information, including variants of unknown significance possibly linked to their child's disorder and secondary findings. This desire for information could be a strategy to maximize the chances of obtaining a diagnosis. The qualitative study aimed to understand the expectations and reactions of 57 parents interviewed just after the return of ES results. In-depth analysis showed that parents had ambivalent feelings about the findings whatever the results returned. The contrasting results from these studies raise questions about the value of the information provided and parents' high expectations regarding the results. The nature of parental expectations has emerged as an important topic in efforts to optimize accompaniment and support for families during the informed decision-making process and after disclosure of the results in an overall context of uncertainty.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Generation and subsequently accessibility of secondary findings (SF) in diagnostic practice is a subject of debate around the world and particularly in Europe. The French FIND study has been set up ...to assess patient/parent expectations regarding SF from exome sequencing (ES) and to collect their real-life experience until 1 year after the delivery of results. 340 patients who had ES for undiagnosed developmental disorders were included in this multicenter mixed study (quantitative N = 340; qualitative N = 26). Three groups of actionable SF were rendered: predisposition to late-onset actionable diseases; genetic counseling; pharmacogenomics. Participants expressed strong interest in obtaining SF and a high satisfaction level when a SF is reported. The medical actionability of the SF reinforced parents' sense of taking action for their child and was seen as an opportunity. While we observed no serious psychological concerns, we showed that these results could have psychological consequences, in particular for late-onset actionable diseases SF, within families already dealing with rare diseases. This study shows that participants remain in favor of accessing SF despite the potential psychological, care, and lifestyle impacts, which are difficult to anticipate. The establishment of a management protocol, including the support of a multidisciplinary team, would be necessary if national policy allows the reporting of these data.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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