Objective:The aim of the study was to introduce the development of forensic pathology for social-oriented forensic-identification institutions,using the Academy of Forensic Science as an example.Methods:Cases were col...Objective:The aim of the study was to introduce the development of forensic pathology for social-oriented forensic-identification institutions,using the Academy of Forensic Science as an example.Methods:Cases were collected from the Forensic Pathology Section of the Academy of Forensic Science and classified and organized according to gender,source,type,manner of death,and virtual autopsies of the cases over the years.Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and Excel tables so as to summarize forensic pathology for social-oriented services.Results:A total of 12,161 cases were collected from the forensic pathology department;the most cases were from the People’s Public Security sources,and the fewest cases were from the Department of Health;the most cases were commissioned for the examination of cadaver surface in forensic medicine(8323 cases),and the fewest were for injury examination(72 cases)and diatom examination(78 cases);there were a total of 322 cases of virtual autopsy examination during the 11-year period,of which 33 cases were performed for target-organ arteriography;the highest number of cases for accidental death examinations(8122 cases).Conclusion:The Academy of Forensic Science and other social-service-oriented identification organizations undertake identification work on cases commissioned to them by the local and local people’s public security,people’s procuratorates,and people’s court systems.Virtual autopsy technology and other new technologies,new methods,and new standards to make up for the shortcomings of the traditional autopsy,to provide identification and research support,and subsequent prospective research to provide a database.展开更多
Short tandem repeats have been essential and fundamental genetic markers used in forensic individual discrimination and paternity testing since their discovery,especially those used in the Combined DNA Index System.Ne...Short tandem repeats have been essential and fundamental genetic markers used in forensic individual discrimination and paternity testing since their discovery,especially those used in the Combined DNA Index System.Nevertheless,in cases of complex kinship identification,such as full-sibling,half-sibling,and uncle-niece relationships,the combined application of additional short tandem repeat loci is necessary to reach reliable identification conclusions.In this study,we evaluated the efficiency of an updated novel short tandem repeat genotyping system for kinship identification in the Eastern Chinese Han population.This 23-plex short tandem repeat system demonstrated strong discrimination power among individuals in the target population,with a combined power of discrimination and cumulative probability of exclusion of 1-2.1071×10-27 and 0.999999999800,respectively.When 74 short tandem repeats were used and the threshold log10(likelihood ratio)was set to 4,the system efficiency reached 0.9999 and 0.7073 for simulated full-sibling and half-sibling pairs,respectively.Furthermore,in two real secondary kinship identification cases,incorporation of the novel 23-plex short tandem repeat system increased the probabilities of the prior kinship hypotheses from 154.2595 and 1031.6995 to 56597.1184 and 134829.7915,respectively,yielding reliable identification conclusions.Hence,it is evident that the novel 23-plex short tandem repeat system has notable potential as a tool for forensic kinship identification in the Eastern Chinese Han population and could serve as a complementary set of short tandem repeat loci for the identification of distant kinship.展开更多
X-chromosomal short tandem repeats are indispensable in specific cases,distinct from autosomal and Y chromosome genetic markers.SureID®X37 is an innovative six-colour fluorescence multiplex detection system th...X-chromosomal short tandem repeats are indispensable in specific cases,distinct from autosomal and Y chromosome genetic markers.SureID®X37 is an innovative six-colour fluorescence multiplex detection system that can simultaneously amplify 36 X-chromosomal short tandem repeat loci(including DXS6795,DXS7132,DXS8378,DXS10101,DXS10103,DXS10079,DXS10134,GATA165B12,GATA172D05,HPRTB,DXS6810,DXS10135,DXS6797,DXS10074,DXS7424,DXS9902,DXS7423,DXS10148,DXS10162,DXS6809,DXS10159,GATA31E08,DXS6803,DXS10075,DXS6807,DXS10164,DXS6789,DXS10146,DXS7133,DXS6804,DXS981,DXS9895,DXS101,DXS6800,DXS9907,and DXS8377)and the Amelogenin locus.In this study,we validated its suitability for forensic identification per Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods guidelines,including PCR conditions,precision,accuracy,case-type samples,sensitivity,repeatability,reproducibility,species specificity,stability,stutter calculation,and DNA mixtures.Additionally,577 Chinese Han individuals were used to investigate the utility of the system in forensic population genetics.The results indicated that the system is sensitive,stable,and reliable and is suitable for typical forensic cases.Subsequent population investigations confirmed that it serves as a potent supplementary tool in forensic applications.展开更多
With the rapid development of interdisciplinary studies in recent decades,science and technology has achieved both greater breadth and greater spe-cialization,and the number of manuscripts pub-lished annually has incr...With the rapid development of interdisciplinary studies in recent decades,science and technology has achieved both greater breadth and greater spe-cialization,and the number of manuscripts pub-lished annually has increased year on year[1].展开更多
Massive parallel sequencing(MPS)has rapidly emerged as a promising technique for forensic DNA typing due to its capacity to simultaneously detect numerous genetic markers and samples in a single reaction,allowing the ...Massive parallel sequencing(MPS)has rapidly emerged as a promising technique for forensic DNA typing due to its capacity to simultaneously detect numerous genetic markers and samples in a single reaction,allowing the direct acquisition of sequence information.In this current investigation,the FGID forensic four-in-one DNA typing kit was employed on the DNBSEQ-G99RS high-throughput sequencing platform to simultaneously analyse two types of forensic genetic markers一short tandem repeat(STR)and single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP).A total of 306 DNA markers,comprising Amelogenin,66 autosomal STR(A-STR)loci,29 X chromosomal STR(X-STR)loci,75 Y chromosomal STR(Y-STR)loci,and 135 SNP(132 A-SNP and 3 Y-SNP)Ioci,were genotyped for 100 unrelated individual samples(50 males and 50 females).As a result,sequence-based STR typing identified 940 alleles on A-STRs,378 alleles on X-STRs,and 519 alleles on Y-STRs.In comparison with length-based alleles,the number of unique alleles based on sequence increased by 58.18%.Additionally,97 new sequence variations were observed at 29 STR loci,and MPS sequence information was obtained for the first time at 42 STR loci.Furthermore,when utilizing sequencebased data,forensic parameters exhibited a notable increase in combined power of discrimination(CPD)and combined power of exclusion for A-STR,a slight increase in CPD and combined mean exclusion chance for X-STR,and a marginal increase in discrimination capacity for Y-STR.Moreover,information data for 132 A-SNPs were acquired.As anticipated,our findings highlight the advantages of MPS in forensic genetic applications while contributing novel genetic data for Asian populations in forensic practice.展开更多
Legal and Forensic Medicine is the application of medical knowledge and methodology for the resolution of legal questions and problems for individuals and society[1].In the Categories&Collections Scope Notes on We...Legal and Forensic Medicine is the application of medical knowledge and methodology for the resolution of legal questions and problems for individuals and society[1].In the Categories&Collections Scope Notes on Web of Science Core Collection in the Web of Science(WoS)Master Journal List,the category“Medicine,Legal”is described as“covering resources on all aspects of medical legal issues,including government regulations and policies,malpractice,toxicological and pharmacological regulations,clinical therapeutic patents and other critical legal issues at the interface of law,medicine,and healthcare”.This also“covers resources dealing with the various branches of forensic science”[2].In this study,we aimed to illustrate those journals included in the category of“Medicine,Legal”in the WoS Core Collection,and to assess the rapid development of the journal Forensic Sciences Research(FSR)by comparing it with other related journals to determine whether FSR can fill a gap in the category“Medicine,Legal”of Science Citation Index Expanded(SCIE)in the WoS Core Collection.展开更多
Hair analysis has been mainly used to document drug use history in abusers,drug-facilitated crime cases,doping control analysis and postmortem toxicology in the fields of forensic toxicology,clinical toxicology,and do...Hair analysis has been mainly used to document drug use history in abusers,drug-facilitated crime cases,doping control analysis and postmortem toxicology in the fields of forensic toxicology,clinical toxicology,and doping control.Hair analysis has also gained more attention in the last 30 years in China.Relevant technology has been promoted as more research has appeared concerning hair analysis,and consensus has been sought among forensic toxicologists regarding aspects such as hair decontamination treatment,detection of abused substances in hair,segmental hair analysis and interpretation of analytical results.However,there are still some limitations in the estimation of drug intake time and frequency by segmental hair analysis due to the different growth cycles evident within a bundle of hairs,the drug incorporation mechanism and sampling errors.Microsampling and imaging mass spectrometry(iMS)technology based on a single hair may be a good choice to estimate drug intake time more accurately.Analysis of hair root samples may also be used to document acute poisoning in postmortem toxicology,and the analysis of the hair shaft can document long-term use of drugs depending on the length of the hair being evaluated.展开更多
It is important to measure scars in forensic and clinical medicine.In practice,scars are mostly manually measured,and the results are diverse and influenced by various subjective factors.With the development of digita...It is important to measure scars in forensic and clinical medicine.In practice,scars are mostly manually measured,and the results are diverse and influenced by various subjective factors.With the development of digital image technology and artificial intelligence,noncontact and automatic photogrammetry has been gradually used in some practical applications.In this article,we propose an automatic method for measuring the length of linear scars based on multiview stereo and deep learning,which combines the 3D reconstruction algorithm of structure from motion and the image segmentation algorithm based on a convolutional neural network.With a few pictures taken by a smart phone,automatic segmentation and measurement of scars can be realized.The reliability of the measurement was first demonstrated through simulation experiments on five artificial scars,giving errors of length<5%.Then,experiment results on 30 clinical scar samples showed that our measurements were in high agreement with manual measurements,with an average error of 3.69%.Our study demonstrates that the application of photogrammetry in scar measurement is effective and that the deep learning technique can realize the automation of scar measurement with high accuracy.展开更多
Accurate sex estimation is crucial to determine the identity of human skeletal remains effectively.Here,we developed convolutional neural network(CNN)models for sex estimation on virtual hemi-pelvic regions,including ...Accurate sex estimation is crucial to determine the identity of human skeletal remains effectively.Here,we developed convolutional neural network(CNN)models for sex estimation on virtual hemi-pelvic regions,including the ventral pubis(VP),dorsal pubis(DP),greater sciatic notch(GSN),pelvic inlet(PI),ischium,and acetabulum from the Han population and compared these models with two experienced forensic anthropologists using morphological methods.A Computed Tomography(CT)dataset of 862 individuals was divided into the subgroups of training,validation,and testing,respectively.The CT-based virtual hemi-pelvises from the training and validation groups were used to calibrate sex estimation models;and then a testing dataset was used to evaluate the performance of the trained models and two human experts on the sex estimation of specific pelvic regions in terms of overall accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,F1 score,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Except for the ischium and acetabulum,the CNN models trained with the VP,DP,GSN,and PI images achieved excellent results with all the prediction metrics over 0.9.All accuracies were superior to those of the two forensic anthropologists in the independent testing.Notably,the heatmap results confirmed that the trained CNN models were focused on traditional sexual anatomic traits for sex classification.This study demonstrates the potential of AI techniques based on the radiological dataset in sex estimation of virtual pelvic models.The excellent sex estimation performance obtained by the CNN models indicates that this method is valuable to proceed with in prospective forensic trials.展开更多
A forensic validation study of the Early Access HuaxiaTM Platinum Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)kit was completed to document the performance capabilities and limitations.The genotyping of DNA samples was consistent a...A forensic validation study of the Early Access HuaxiaTM Platinum Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)kit was completed to document the performance capabilities and limitations.The genotyping of DNA samples was consistent across a large range of template DNA concentrations,with complete profiles obtained at 0.125 ng;however,no more than 2 mm×1.2 mm punches of samples would be recommended for direct amplification.The size precision and accuracy test revealed the genotyping ability;while consistent results were obtained when comparing the kit with other commercially available systems.In addition,the whole PCR amplification can finish within approximately 45 min,making the system suitable for fastdetection.However,only partial profiles may be obtained with challenging samples,including DNA stored on Foam-Tipped Applicators(FTA)cards or some case samples.For the forensic application in ethnic groups,a total of 282 and 229 alleles were obtained in Han and Mongolia,respectively.Since the 23 short tandem repeats were independent from each other,the cumulative power of exclusion in duos was 0.999999157188 and the cumulative power of exclusion in trios was 0.999999999859 in the Han group while the cumulative power of exclusion in duos(CPEduo)was 0.99999884826 and cumulative power of exclusion in trios(CPEtrio)was 0.99999999979 in the Mongolia group.And good internal consistency was found between the two investigated groups and the Sichuan Han,Hui,Tibetan and Uygur according to available reference data.展开更多
The Investigator 24plex QS Kit(QIAGEN,Hilden,Germany)is a 6-dye fluorescent chemistry short tandem repeat(STR)polymerase chain reaction(PCR)amplification system that simultaneously amplifies 20 of the expanded Combine...The Investigator 24plex QS Kit(QIAGEN,Hilden,Germany)is a 6-dye fluorescent chemistry short tandem repeat(STR)polymerase chain reaction(PCR)amplification system that simultaneously amplifies 20 of the expanded Combined DNA Index System(CODIS)core STR loci,SE33,DYS391,and the standard sex-determining locus,amelogenin,as well as two special internal performance quality sensor controls(QS1 and QS2),which are included in the primer mix to check the PCR performance.This study was designed to be a pilot evaluation of this STR-PCR kit in a Chinese Han population regarding the PCR conditions,sensitivity,precision,accuracy,repeatability,reproducibility,and concordance;tolerance to PCR inhibitors;applicability to real“forensic-type”samples;species specificity;mixture,balance and stutter analyses,and utility in a population investigation.The exhaustive validation studies demonstrated that the Investigator 24plex QS system is accurate,sensitive and robust for STR genotyping.In addition,these genetic markers in the population data in our study indicated that they can also be useful for forensic identification and paternity testing in the Chinese Han population.展开更多
Forensic science is crucial for the administration of justice and case investigation.in China,political-legal organizations,including the courts,public security,procuratorate,and judicial administration,developed thei...Forensic science is crucial for the administration of justice and case investigation.in China,political-legal organizations,including the courts,public security,procuratorate,and judicial administration,developed their own forensic practices before 2004.As a result,the frequent and repeated appraisals undermined judicial authority and credibility.Thus,a law was published in 2005 to improve the uniform forensic management system by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,leading to the establishment of the Forensic Administration of the Ministry of Justice in 2006.During this process,the increased accreditation and interflow highlighted the role of consensus in forensic standards for forensic service providers to avoid uncertainty regarding the methods used and interpretation of results.in 2017,a policy document was promulgated again to strengthen the importance of the uniform standards,which also proposed to establish a new national technical committee for the standardization of forensic science by the General Office of the State Council.in 2018,despite the continuing problems concerning uniformity,the Forensic Administration of the Ministry of Justice was merged into the Public Legal Services Administration.Yet,there is still a long way to go for the national technical committee for the standardization of forensic science.This paper analyses the evolution of forensic standards internationally and nationally,discusses the existing problems,and proposes relative solutions.Moreover,it discusses the future of standards development with the deepening of the reformation of both the national standardization and judicial system.展开更多
Forensic biomechanics gradually has become a significant component of forensic science.Forensic biomechanics is evidence-based science that applies biomechanical principles and methods to forensic practice,which has c...Forensic biomechanics gradually has become a significant component of forensic science.Forensic biomechanics is evidence-based science that applies biomechanical principles and methods to forensic practice,which has constituted one of the most potential research areas.in this review,we introduce how finite element techniques can be used to simulate forensic cases,how injury criteria and injury scales can be used to describe injury severity,and how tests of postmortem human subjects and dummy can be used to provide essential validation data.This review also describes research progress and new applications of forensic biomechanics in China.展开更多
Y-chromosome short tandem repeats(Y-STRs)have a unique role in forensic investigation.However,low–medium mutating Y-STRs cannot meet the requirements for male lineage differentiation in inbred populations,whereas rap...Y-chromosome short tandem repeats(Y-STRs)have a unique role in forensic investigation.However,low–medium mutating Y-STRs cannot meet the requirements for male lineage differentiation in inbred populations,whereas rapidly mutating(RM)high-resolution Y-STRs might cause unexpected exclusion of paternal lineages.Thus,combining Y-STRs with low and high mutation rates helps to distinguish male individuals and lineages in family screening and analysis of genetic relationships.In this study,a novel 6-dye,41-plex Y-STR panel was developed and validated,which included 17 loci from the Yfiler kit,nine RM Y-STR loci,15 low–medium mutating Y-STR loci,and three Y-InDels.Developmental validation was performed for this panel,including size precision testing,stutter analysis,species specificity analysis,male specificity testing,sensitivity testing,concordance evaluation,polymerase chain reaction inhibitors analysis,and DNA mixture examination.The results demonstrated that the novel 41-plex Y-STR panel,developed in-house,was time efficient,accurate,and reliable.It showed good adaptability to directly amplify a variety of case-type samples.Furthermore,adding multiple Y-STR loci significantly improved the system’s ability to distinguish related males,making it highly informative for forensic applications.In addition,the data obtained were compatible with the widely used Y-STR kits,facilitating the search and construction of population databases.Moreover,the addition of Y-Indels with short amplicons improves the analyses of degraded samples.展开更多
Short tandem repeats(STRs)are the most common genetic markers in forensic and human population genetics due to their high polymorphism,rapid detection,and reliable genotyping.To adapt the rapid growth of forensic DNA ...Short tandem repeats(STRs)are the most common genetic markers in forensic and human population genetics due to their high polymorphism,rapid detection,and reliable genotyping.To adapt the rapid growth of forensic DNA database and solve problems in disputed cases,a panel of 23 autosomal STR loci with high discriminating ability was constructed recently.The Tai-Kadai-speaking Gelao is the most ancient indigenous minority in Guizhou province,however,the forensic efficiency and population genetic structure remain poorly explored.490 Guizhou Gelao individuals from Southwest China were genotyped with the panel of 23 STRs using the Huxia Platinum Kit.A total of 265 alleles were screened.The combined discrimination power and the combined probability of paternity were 0.9999 and 0.9999,respectively.This indicated the 23 loci had higher discrimination power in Guizhou Gelao and could be applied to forensic practice.Comprehensive population structures with reference populations from China and abroad using the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree(N-J tree),multidimensional scaling,principal component analysis and heatmap demonstrated that Guizhou Gelao was genetically closer to Guizhou Han than other populations.Moreover,our results showed that a complex phylogenetic model was influenced by ethnic,geographic,and linguistic factors.展开更多
As a result of the many developments in information technology,digital evidence plays an increasingly important role in criminal and civil litigation.Because digital evidence is necessary for litigation,the judicial s...As a result of the many developments in information technology,digital evidence plays an increasingly important role in criminal and civil litigation.Because digital evidence is necessary for litigation,the judicial system must be assured of its accuracy,reliability,and verifiability,which can be assured by accreditation.This paper focuses on a comparison of the evolution of the accreditation of digital forensics internationally and domestically,discusses the existing problems that such accreditation encounters,and proposes the corresponding solutions.Moreover,this paper discusses the future of digital forensic laboratory accreditation and its implementation.展开更多
Full-sibling(FS)identification is a crucial aspect of kinship analysis.However,current FS identification methods need to be more accurate and effective for routine FS identification.In this study,the optimal cut-off v...Full-sibling(FS)identification is a crucial aspect of kinship analysis.However,current FS identification methods need to be more accurate and effective for routine FS identification.In this study,the optimal cut-off values for FS identification by incorporating both the identical by state(IBS)and likelihood ratio(LR)methods under four different levels of error rates were assessed.The corresponding sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,and effectiveness were calculated for different numbers of short tandem repeats(STRs),ranging from 19 to 55.The identified cut-off values were validated using authentic pedigrees from the Han population in East China.It was determined that the cut-off values derived from the IBS method and LR method with an error rate below 0.01% were dependable and practical.The study also explored the impact of half-sibling relationships and the inclusion of reference relatives in FS identification.Currently,an updated technical specification for FS identification in China was released,serving as a valuable resource for FS testing in forensic applications.展开更多
The analysis of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)is suitable for fingernail/hair shaft samples in forensic science.A successful mtDNA forensic analysis depends on the quantity and quality of the mtDNA.The application of massiv...The analysis of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)is suitable for fingernail/hair shaft samples in forensic science.A successful mtDNA forensic analysis depends on the quantity and quality of the mtDNA.The application of massively parallel sequence techniques to the analysis of mtDNA has the potential to improve the recovery of genetic information from difficult forensic specimens and to increase the discrimination potential of mtDNA by capturing and comparing full mtGenomes.In this study,we constructed mtDNA-specific standard curves using real-time PCR.The 105-base pair target sequence facilitates the amplification of degraded DNA and is minimally homologous to non-human mtDNA.The results indicated that the assay enables the absolute quantification of down to 10 copies of mtDNA and provides a dynamic range of eight orders of magnitude.Whole mtGenome sequencing experiments demonstrated that as few as 2000 mtDNA copies resulted in a successful full region amplification and sequencing.Moreover,the frequency of point heteroplasmy from one donor showed that hairs from the same donor have been found to differ within and among themselves and from other tissues,which could impact the interpretation of the results obtained in a forensic investigation.展开更多
Insertion/deletion polymorphisms(InDels)have been treated as a prospective and helpful genetic marker in the fields of forensic human identification,anthropology and population genetics for the past few years.In this ...Insertion/deletion polymorphisms(InDels)have been treated as a prospective and helpful genetic marker in the fields of forensic human identification,anthropology and population genetics for the past few years.In this study,we developed a six-dye multiplex typing system consisting of 34 autosomal InDels and Amelogenin for forensic application.The contained InDels were specifically selected for Chinese population with the MAF≥0.25 in East Asia,which do not overlap with the markers of Investigator■DIPplex kit.The typing system was named as GoldeneyeTM DNA ID System 35InDel Kit,and a series of developmental validation studies including repeatabilityeproducibility,concordance,accuracy,sensitivity,stability,species specificity and population genetics were conducted on this kit.We confirmed that the 35InDel kit is precise,sensitive,species specific and robust for forensic practice.Moreover,the 35InDel kit is capable of typing DNA extracted from forensic routine case-type samples as well as degraded samples and mixture samples.All markers are proved to be highly polymorphic with an average observed heterozygosity(He)of 0.4582.The combined power of discrimination(CPD)is 0.999999999999978 and the combined power of exclusion in duos(CPED)and trios(CPET)are 0.978837 and 0.999573,respectively,which are higher than those of the Investigator■DIPplex kit.Thus,the GoldeneyeTM DNA ID System 35InDel kit is suitable for forensic human identification and could serve as a supplementary typing system for paternity testing.展开更多
The Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms(Y-STRs)are the male-specific markers.The characteristics of paternal lineages make it a valuable tool for tracing familial relationships[1-3].Y-STR analysis has been...The Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms(Y-STRs)are the male-specific markers.The characteristics of paternal lineages make it a valuable tool for tracing familial relationships[1-3].Y-STR analysis has been widely used for identifying genealogical DNA testing and to identify missing persons,assess paternal relationships,and investigate sexual assault cases[4,5].展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Central Research Institute Public Project(GY2024D-1,GY2024Z-1)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82171872)+5 种基金Shanghai Yangfan Special Programme(23YF1448700)Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine(21DZ2270800)Shanghai Forensic Service Platform,Key Laboratory of Forensic Science,Ministry of Justice,the Project of Shanghai Association of Forensic Science(SHSFJD2023-008)the 2023 Open Foundation of Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology,Ministry of Public Security,P.R.China(GAFYBL202308)Guizhou“Hundred”High-level Innovative Talent Project,Qian Science Platform Talents(2020)6012-2Guizhou Scientific Support Project,Qian Science Support(2023)General 452.
摘要Objective:The aim of the study was to introduce the development of forensic pathology for social-oriented forensic-identification institutions,using the Academy of Forensic Science as an example.Methods:Cases were collected from the Forensic Pathology Section of the Academy of Forensic Science and classified and organized according to gender,source,type,manner of death,and virtual autopsies of the cases over the years.Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and Excel tables so as to summarize forensic pathology for social-oriented services.Results:A total of 12,161 cases were collected from the forensic pathology department;the most cases were from the People’s Public Security sources,and the fewest cases were from the Department of Health;the most cases were commissioned for the examination of cadaver surface in forensic medicine(8323 cases),and the fewest were for injury examination(72 cases)and diatom examination(78 cases);there were a total of 322 cases of virtual autopsy examination during the 11-year period,of which 33 cases were performed for target-organ arteriography;the highest number of cases for accidental death examinations(8122 cases).Conclusion:The Academy of Forensic Science and other social-service-oriented identification organizations undertake identification work on cases commissioned to them by the local and local people’s public security,people’s procuratorates,and people’s court systems.Virtual autopsy technology and other new technologies,new methods,and new standards to make up for the shortcomings of the traditional autopsy,to provide identification and research support,and subsequent prospective research to provide a database.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China[grant number 2022YFC3302004]the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality[grant number 23DZ2202300。
摘要Short tandem repeats have been essential and fundamental genetic markers used in forensic individual discrimination and paternity testing since their discovery,especially those used in the Combined DNA Index System.Nevertheless,in cases of complex kinship identification,such as full-sibling,half-sibling,and uncle-niece relationships,the combined application of additional short tandem repeat loci is necessary to reach reliable identification conclusions.In this study,we evaluated the efficiency of an updated novel short tandem repeat genotyping system for kinship identification in the Eastern Chinese Han population.This 23-plex short tandem repeat system demonstrated strong discrimination power among individuals in the target population,with a combined power of discrimination and cumulative probability of exclusion of 1-2.1071×10-27 and 0.999999999800,respectively.When 74 short tandem repeats were used and the threshold log10(likelihood ratio)was set to 4,the system efficiency reached 0.9999 and 0.7073 for simulated full-sibling and half-sibling pairs,respectively.Furthermore,in two real secondary kinship identification cases,incorporation of the novel 23-plex short tandem repeat system increased the probabilities of the prior kinship hypotheses from 154.2595 and 1031.6995 to 56597.1184 and 134829.7915,respectively,yielding reliable identification conclusions.Hence,it is evident that the novel 23-plex short tandem repeat system has notable potential as a tool for forensic kinship identification in the Eastern Chinese Han population and could serve as a complementary set of short tandem repeat loci for the identification of distant kinship.
基金supported by grants from the National Nat-ural Science Foundation of China[grant number 82293654,82202080]the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Fund[grant number 21DZ2202700]the Public Interest Research Grant Programs of National Research Institutes[grant number GY2022G-6]。
摘要X-chromosomal short tandem repeats are indispensable in specific cases,distinct from autosomal and Y chromosome genetic markers.SureID®X37 is an innovative six-colour fluorescence multiplex detection system that can simultaneously amplify 36 X-chromosomal short tandem repeat loci(including DXS6795,DXS7132,DXS8378,DXS10101,DXS10103,DXS10079,DXS10134,GATA165B12,GATA172D05,HPRTB,DXS6810,DXS10135,DXS6797,DXS10074,DXS7424,DXS9902,DXS7423,DXS10148,DXS10162,DXS6809,DXS10159,GATA31E08,DXS6803,DXS10075,DXS6807,DXS10164,DXS6789,DXS10146,DXS7133,DXS6804,DXS981,DXS9895,DXS101,DXS6800,DXS9907,and DXS8377)and the Amelogenin locus.In this study,we validated its suitability for forensic identification per Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods guidelines,including PCR conditions,precision,accuracy,case-type samples,sensitivity,repeatability,reproducibility,species specificity,stability,stutter calculation,and DNA mixtures.Additionally,577 Chinese Han individuals were used to investigate the utility of the system in forensic population genetics.The results indicated that the system is sensitive,stable,and reliable and is suitable for typical forensic cases.Subsequent population investigations confirmed that it serves as a potent supplementary tool in forensic applications.
基金This study was supported by grants from Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund[grant number GY2019G-5]the National Key R&D Program of China[2016YFC0800701]the Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality[17DZ2273200/19DZ2290900]。
摘要With the rapid development of interdisciplinary studies in recent decades,science and technology has achieved both greater breadth and greater spe-cialization,and the number of manuscripts pub-lished annually has increased year on year[1].
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Fund of China[grant numbers 82293654,82202080]the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Fund[grant number 21DZ2202700]the Public Interest Research Grant Programs of National Research Institutes[grant number GY2022G-6].
摘要Massive parallel sequencing(MPS)has rapidly emerged as a promising technique for forensic DNA typing due to its capacity to simultaneously detect numerous genetic markers and samples in a single reaction,allowing the direct acquisition of sequence information.In this current investigation,the FGID forensic four-in-one DNA typing kit was employed on the DNBSEQ-G99RS high-throughput sequencing platform to simultaneously analyse two types of forensic genetic markers一short tandem repeat(STR)and single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP).A total of 306 DNA markers,comprising Amelogenin,66 autosomal STR(A-STR)loci,29 X chromosomal STR(X-STR)loci,75 Y chromosomal STR(Y-STR)loci,and 135 SNP(132 A-SNP and 3 Y-SNP)Ioci,were genotyped for 100 unrelated individual samples(50 males and 50 females).As a result,sequence-based STR typing identified 940 alleles on A-STRs,378 alleles on X-STRs,and 519 alleles on Y-STRs.In comparison with length-based alleles,the number of unique alleles based on sequence increased by 58.18%.Additionally,97 new sequence variations were observed at 29 STR loci,and MPS sequence information was obtained for the first time at 42 STR loci.Furthermore,when utilizing sequencebased data,forensic parameters exhibited a notable increase in combined power of discrimination(CPD)and combined power of exclusion for A-STR,a slight increase in CPD and combined mean exclusion chance for X-STR,and a marginal increase in discrimination capacity for Y-STR.Moreover,information data for 132 A-SNPs were acquired.As anticipated,our findings highlight the advantages of MPS in forensic genetic applications while contributing novel genetic data for Asian populations in forensic practice.
基金This study was supported by grants from Central Publicinterest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund[grant number GY2019G-5]the National Key R&D Program of China[2016YFC0800701]the Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality[17DZ2273200/19 DZ2290900].
摘要Legal and Forensic Medicine is the application of medical knowledge and methodology for the resolution of legal questions and problems for individuals and society[1].In the Categories&Collections Scope Notes on Web of Science Core Collection in the Web of Science(WoS)Master Journal List,the category“Medicine,Legal”is described as“covering resources on all aspects of medical legal issues,including government regulations and policies,malpractice,toxicological and pharmacological regulations,clinical therapeutic patents and other critical legal issues at the interface of law,medicine,and healthcare”.This also“covers resources dealing with the various branches of forensic science”[2].In this study,we aimed to illustrate those journals included in the category of“Medicine,Legal”in the WoS Core Collection,and to assess the rapid development of the journal Forensic Sciences Research(FSR)by comparing it with other related journals to determine whether FSR can fill a gap in the category“Medicine,Legal”of Science Citation Index Expanded(SCIE)in the WoS Core Collection.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 81772022]Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine[grant number 17DZ2273200]Shanghai Forensic Service Platform[grant number 19DZ2292700].
摘要Hair analysis has been mainly used to document drug use history in abusers,drug-facilitated crime cases,doping control analysis and postmortem toxicology in the fields of forensic toxicology,clinical toxicology,and doping control.Hair analysis has also gained more attention in the last 30 years in China.Relevant technology has been promoted as more research has appeared concerning hair analysis,and consensus has been sought among forensic toxicologists regarding aspects such as hair decontamination treatment,detection of abused substances in hair,segmental hair analysis and interpretation of analytical results.However,there are still some limitations in the estimation of drug intake time and frequency by segmental hair analysis due to the different growth cycles evident within a bundle of hairs,the drug incorporation mechanism and sampling errors.Microsampling and imaging mass spectrometry(iMS)technology based on a single hair may be a good choice to estimate drug intake time more accurately.Analysis of hair root samples may also be used to document acute poisoning in postmortem toxicology,and the analysis of the hair shaft can document long-term use of drugs depending on the length of the hair being evaluated.
基金Gradation of Personal Injury-caused Disability,Standards project,Ministry of Justice,P.R.C[grant number SF20181312].
摘要It is important to measure scars in forensic and clinical medicine.In practice,scars are mostly manually measured,and the results are diverse and influenced by various subjective factors.With the development of digital image technology and artificial intelligence,noncontact and automatic photogrammetry has been gradually used in some practical applications.In this article,we propose an automatic method for measuring the length of linear scars based on multiview stereo and deep learning,which combines the 3D reconstruction algorithm of structure from motion and the image segmentation algorithm based on a convolutional neural network.With a few pictures taken by a smart phone,automatic segmentation and measurement of scars can be realized.The reliability of the measurement was first demonstrated through simulation experiments on five artificial scars,giving errors of length<5%.Then,experiment results on 30 clinical scar samples showed that our measurements were in high agreement with manual measurements,with an average error of 3.69%.Our study demonstrates that the application of photogrammetry in scar measurement is effective and that the deep learning technique can realize the automation of scar measurement with high accuracy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81801873,81722027,81671869,82072115 and 81922041)grants from the Ministry of Finance(No.GY2020G-2)Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.17DZ2273200 and 19DZ2292700).
摘要Accurate sex estimation is crucial to determine the identity of human skeletal remains effectively.Here,we developed convolutional neural network(CNN)models for sex estimation on virtual hemi-pelvic regions,including the ventral pubis(VP),dorsal pubis(DP),greater sciatic notch(GSN),pelvic inlet(PI),ischium,and acetabulum from the Han population and compared these models with two experienced forensic anthropologists using morphological methods.A Computed Tomography(CT)dataset of 862 individuals was divided into the subgroups of training,validation,and testing,respectively.The CT-based virtual hemi-pelvises from the training and validation groups were used to calibrate sex estimation models;and then a testing dataset was used to evaluate the performance of the trained models and two human experts on the sex estimation of specific pelvic regions in terms of overall accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,F1 score,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Except for the ischium and acetabulum,the CNN models trained with the VP,DP,GSN,and PI images achieved excellent results with all the prediction metrics over 0.9.All accuracies were superior to those of the two forensic anthropologists in the independent testing.Notably,the heatmap results confirmed that the trained CNN models were focused on traditional sexual anatomic traits for sex classification.This study demonstrates the potential of AI techniques based on the radiological dataset in sex estimation of virtual pelvic models.The excellent sex estimation performance obtained by the CNN models indicates that this method is valuable to proceed with in prospective forensic trials.
基金This study was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China[grant number 2016YFC0800703]the National Natural Science Fund of China[grant numbers 81625013 and 81772028]+2 种基金the Shanghai Technology Stan-dard Programme[grant number 16DZ0501600]the Shang-hai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine[grant number 17DZ2273200]the Shanghai Forensic Service Platform[grant number 16DZ2290900].
摘要A forensic validation study of the Early Access HuaxiaTM Platinum Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)kit was completed to document the performance capabilities and limitations.The genotyping of DNA samples was consistent across a large range of template DNA concentrations,with complete profiles obtained at 0.125 ng;however,no more than 2 mm×1.2 mm punches of samples would be recommended for direct amplification.The size precision and accuracy test revealed the genotyping ability;while consistent results were obtained when comparing the kit with other commercially available systems.In addition,the whole PCR amplification can finish within approximately 45 min,making the system suitable for fastdetection.However,only partial profiles may be obtained with challenging samples,including DNA stored on Foam-Tipped Applicators(FTA)cards or some case samples.For the forensic application in ethnic groups,a total of 282 and 229 alleles were obtained in Han and Mongolia,respectively.Since the 23 short tandem repeats were independent from each other,the cumulative power of exclusion in duos was 0.999999157188 and the cumulative power of exclusion in trios was 0.999999999859 in the Han group while the cumulative power of exclusion in duos(CPEduo)was 0.99999884826 and cumulative power of exclusion in trios(CPEtrio)was 0.99999999979 in the Mongolia group.And good internal consistency was found between the two investigated groups and the Sichuan Han,Hui,Tibetan and Uygur according to available reference data.
基金supported by the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 81625013 and 81772028]the Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leaders Plan[grant number 2017485]the Shanghai Talent Development Funding[grant number 2017115].
摘要The Investigator 24plex QS Kit(QIAGEN,Hilden,Germany)is a 6-dye fluorescent chemistry short tandem repeat(STR)polymerase chain reaction(PCR)amplification system that simultaneously amplifies 20 of the expanded Combined DNA Index System(CODIS)core STR loci,SE33,DYS391,and the standard sex-determining locus,amelogenin,as well as two special internal performance quality sensor controls(QS1 and QS2),which are included in the primer mix to check the PCR performance.This study was designed to be a pilot evaluation of this STR-PCR kit in a Chinese Han population regarding the PCR conditions,sensitivity,precision,accuracy,repeatability,reproducibility,and concordance;tolerance to PCR inhibitors;applicability to real“forensic-type”samples;species specificity;mixture,balance and stutter analyses,and utility in a population investigation.The exhaustive validation studies demonstrated that the Investigator 24plex QS system is accurate,sensitive and robust for STR genotyping.In addition,these genetic markers in the population data in our study indicated that they can also be useful for forensic identification and paternity testing in the Chinese Han population.
基金This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Justice[grant number 20SFB4017]the Shanghai science and Technology Innovation Fund[grant number 19DZ2201400]State Administration for Market Regulation[grant number 2019MK139].
摘要Forensic science is crucial for the administration of justice and case investigation.in China,political-legal organizations,including the courts,public security,procuratorate,and judicial administration,developed their own forensic practices before 2004.As a result,the frequent and repeated appraisals undermined judicial authority and credibility.Thus,a law was published in 2005 to improve the uniform forensic management system by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,leading to the establishment of the Forensic Administration of the Ministry of Justice in 2006.During this process,the increased accreditation and interflow highlighted the role of consensus in forensic standards for forensic service providers to avoid uncertainty regarding the methods used and interpretation of results.in 2017,a policy document was promulgated again to strengthen the importance of the uniform standards,which also proposed to establish a new national technical committee for the standardization of forensic science by the General Office of the State Council.in 2018,despite the continuing problems concerning uniformity,the Forensic Administration of the Ministry of Justice was merged into the Public Legal Services Administration.Yet,there is still a long way to go for the national technical committee for the standardization of forensic science.This paper analyses the evolution of forensic standards internationally and nationally,discusses the existing problems,and proposes relative solutions.Moreover,it discusses the future of standards development with the deepening of the reformation of both the national standardization and judicial system.
基金The study was financially supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Plan[grant number 2016YFC0800702]Council of National Science Foundation of China[grant numbers 81701863,81722027]+3 种基金Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine[grant number 17DZ2273200]Shanghai Forensic Service Platform[grant number 19DZ2290900]Central Research Institute Public Project[grant numbers GY2020G4,GY2019Z2]Opening Project of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence[grant number 2019XCWZK03].
摘要Forensic biomechanics gradually has become a significant component of forensic science.Forensic biomechanics is evidence-based science that applies biomechanical principles and methods to forensic practice,which has constituted one of the most potential research areas.in this review,we introduce how finite element techniques can be used to simulate forensic cases,how injury criteria and injury scales can be used to describe injury severity,and how tests of postmortem human subjects and dummy can be used to provide essential validation data.This review also describes research progress and new applications of forensic biomechanics in China.
基金supported by grants from the National Youth Top-notch Talent of Ten Thousand Program(WRQB2019)the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Fund(21DZ2202700)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(81930056)Open Project of Ministry of Justice of China(KF202010).
摘要Y-chromosome short tandem repeats(Y-STRs)have a unique role in forensic investigation.However,low–medium mutating Y-STRs cannot meet the requirements for male lineage differentiation in inbred populations,whereas rapidly mutating(RM)high-resolution Y-STRs might cause unexpected exclusion of paternal lineages.Thus,combining Y-STRs with low and high mutation rates helps to distinguish male individuals and lineages in family screening and analysis of genetic relationships.In this study,a novel 6-dye,41-plex Y-STR panel was developed and validated,which included 17 loci from the Yfiler kit,nine RM Y-STR loci,15 low–medium mutating Y-STR loci,and three Y-InDels.Developmental validation was performed for this panel,including size precision testing,stutter analysis,species specificity analysis,male specificity testing,sensitivity testing,concordance evaluation,polymerase chain reaction inhibitors analysis,and DNA mixture examination.The results demonstrated that the novel 41-plex Y-STR panel,developed in-house,was time efficient,accurate,and reliable.It showed good adaptability to directly amplify a variety of case-type samples.Furthermore,adding multiple Y-STR loci significantly improved the system’s ability to distinguish related males,making it highly informative for forensic applications.In addition,the data obtained were compatible with the widely used Y-STR kits,facilitating the search and construction of population databases.Moreover,the addition of Y-Indels with short amplicons improves the analyses of degraded samples.
基金supported by Shanghai Key Lab of Forensic Medicine,Key Lab of Forensic Science,Ministry of Justice,China(Academy of Forensic Science),Open Project(No.KF202109)National Natural Science Foundation(No.81401562)+2 种基金Science and Technology Project of Guizhou Provincial Health Commission(No.gzwkj2021-533)Science and Technology Cooperation Project of Zunyi Science and Technology and big data Bureau(No.HZ2022-237)Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province of China(No.QKHJC-ZK[2023]582).
摘要Short tandem repeats(STRs)are the most common genetic markers in forensic and human population genetics due to their high polymorphism,rapid detection,and reliable genotyping.To adapt the rapid growth of forensic DNA database and solve problems in disputed cases,a panel of 23 autosomal STR loci with high discriminating ability was constructed recently.The Tai-Kadai-speaking Gelao is the most ancient indigenous minority in Guizhou province,however,the forensic efficiency and population genetic structure remain poorly explored.490 Guizhou Gelao individuals from Southwest China were genotyped with the panel of 23 STRs using the Huxia Platinum Kit.A total of 265 alleles were screened.The combined discrimination power and the combined probability of paternity were 0.9999 and 0.9999,respectively.This indicated the 23 loci had higher discrimination power in Guizhou Gelao and could be applied to forensic practice.Comprehensive population structures with reference populations from China and abroad using the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree(N-J tree),multidimensional scaling,principal component analysis and heatmap demonstrated that Guizhou Gelao was genetically closer to Guizhou Han than other populations.Moreover,our results showed that a complex phylogenetic model was influenced by ethnic,geographic,and linguistic factors.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China[grant number 2016YFC0800705]the Shanghai Forensic Service Platform[grant number 16DZ2290900]the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine[grant number 17DZ2273200].
摘要As a result of the many developments in information technology,digital evidence plays an increasingly important role in criminal and civil litigation.Because digital evidence is necessary for litigation,the judicial system must be assured of its accuracy,reliability,and verifiability,which can be assured by accreditation.This paper focuses on a comparison of the evolution of the accreditation of digital forensics internationally and domestically,discusses the existing problems that such accreditation encounters,and proposes the corresponding solutions.Moreover,this paper discusses the future of digital forensic laboratory accreditation and its implementation.
基金supported by grants from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality[grant number 23DZ2202300]the Ministry of Finance of China[grant number GY2021G-2].
摘要Full-sibling(FS)identification is a crucial aspect of kinship analysis.However,current FS identification methods need to be more accurate and effective for routine FS identification.In this study,the optimal cut-off values for FS identification by incorporating both the identical by state(IBS)and likelihood ratio(LR)methods under four different levels of error rates were assessed.The corresponding sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,and effectiveness were calculated for different numbers of short tandem repeats(STRs),ranging from 19 to 55.The identified cut-off values were validated using authentic pedigrees from the Han population in East China.It was determined that the cut-off values derived from the IBS method and LR method with an error rate below 0.01% were dependable and practical.The study also explored the impact of half-sibling relationships and the inclusion of reference relatives in FS identification.Currently,an updated technical specification for FS identification in China was released,serving as a valuable resource for FS testing in forensic applications.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant numbers 81930056 and 82293654]the Shanghai Scientific and Technological Innovation Project[grant number 21ZR1481700].
摘要The analysis of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)is suitable for fingernail/hair shaft samples in forensic science.A successful mtDNA forensic analysis depends on the quantity and quality of the mtDNA.The application of massively parallel sequence techniques to the analysis of mtDNA has the potential to improve the recovery of genetic information from difficult forensic specimens and to increase the discrimination potential of mtDNA by capturing and comparing full mtGenomes.In this study,we constructed mtDNA-specific standard curves using real-time PCR.The 105-base pair target sequence facilitates the amplification of degraded DNA and is minimally homologous to non-human mtDNA.The results indicated that the assay enables the absolute quantification of down to 10 copies of mtDNA and provides a dynamic range of eight orders of magnitude.Whole mtGenome sequencing experiments demonstrated that as few as 2000 mtDNA copies resulted in a successful full region amplification and sequencing.Moreover,the frequency of point heteroplasmy from one donor showed that hairs from the same donor have been found to differ within and among themselves and from other tissues,which could impact the interpretation of the results obtained in a forensic investigation.
基金This study was supported by grants from the National Youth Top-Notch Talent of Ten Thousand Program[grant number WRQB2019]the Youth Science and Technology Innovation Leader of Ten Thousand Program[grant number 2018RA2102],China.
摘要Insertion/deletion polymorphisms(InDels)have been treated as a prospective and helpful genetic marker in the fields of forensic human identification,anthropology and population genetics for the past few years.In this study,we developed a six-dye multiplex typing system consisting of 34 autosomal InDels and Amelogenin for forensic application.The contained InDels were specifically selected for Chinese population with the MAF≥0.25 in East Asia,which do not overlap with the markers of Investigator■DIPplex kit.The typing system was named as GoldeneyeTM DNA ID System 35InDel Kit,and a series of developmental validation studies including repeatabilityeproducibility,concordance,accuracy,sensitivity,stability,species specificity and population genetics were conducted on this kit.We confirmed that the 35InDel kit is precise,sensitive,species specific and robust for forensic practice.Moreover,the 35InDel kit is capable of typing DNA extracted from forensic routine case-type samples as well as degraded samples and mixture samples.All markers are proved to be highly polymorphic with an average observed heterozygosity(He)of 0.4582.The combined power of discrimination(CPD)is 0.999999999999978 and the combined power of exclusion in duos(CPED)and trios(CPET)are 0.978837 and 0.999573,respectively,which are higher than those of the Investigator■DIPplex kit.Thus,the GoldeneyeTM DNA ID System 35InDel kit is suitable for forensic human identification and could serve as a supplementary typing system for paternity testing.
摘要The Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms(Y-STRs)are the male-specific markers.The characteristics of paternal lineages make it a valuable tool for tracing familial relationships[1-3].Y-STR analysis has been widely used for identifying genealogical DNA testing and to identify missing persons,assess paternal relationships,and investigate sexual assault cases[4,5].