Journals Portal Naif Arab University for Security Sciences
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Automated Offline Arabic Signature Verification System using Multiple Features Fusion for Forensic Applications
No full textThe signature of a person is one of the most popular and legally accepted behavioral biometrics that provides a secure means for verification and personal identification in many applications such as financial, commercial and legal transactions. The objective of the signature verification system is to classify between genuine and forged signatures that are often associated with intrapersonal and interpersonal variability. Unlike other languages, Arabic has unique features; it contains diacritics, ligatures, and overlapping. Because of lacking any form of dynamic information during the Arabic signature’s writing process, it will be more difficult to obtain higher verification accuracy. This paper addresses the above difficulty by introducing a novel offline Arabic signature verification algorithm. The key point is using multiple feature fusion with fuzzy modeling to capture different aspects of a signature individually in order to improve the verification accuracy. State-of-the-art techniques adopt the fuzzy set to describe the properties of the extracted features to handle a signature’s uncertainty; this work also employs the fuzzy variables to describe the degree of similarity of the signature’s features to deal with the ambiguity of questioned document examiner judgment of signature similarity. It is concluded from the experimental results that the verification system performs well and has the ability to reduce both False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and False Rejection Rate (FRR)
A Suitable Method for DNA Extraction from Bones for Forensic Applications: A Case Study
No full textHuman identification techniques are constantly developing. Before the discovery of DNA, anthropology accompanied with odontology was the most applicable technique for human identification. With the new era of molecular biology and the revolution of DNA and PCR techniques, DNA profiling has become the core of the human forensic identification process. Different types of samples can be exploited in forensic DNA analysis. In some extreme cases, bone samples are the only accessible samples of DNA due to the bad conditions of putrefaction or degradation of other biological materials and tissues. Therefore, an appropriate method should be determined to yield a full and clean profile. A case study is presented here in order to identify human remains and conclude the most appropriate method of DNA extraction from human remains. In addition, this study looks at the best part of the skeletal remains to be considered in the extraction of DNA for the purposes of identification. A suspect admitted that he buried his aborted son six months ago. The remains were recovered and DNA analysis was performed in order to determine any genetic link of the remains to the suspect and the female who delivered the baby. Two extraction methods were compared, the standard organic (phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol) and automated extraction using magnetic beads coated with silica (Qiagen EZ1 Advanced XL). Two bone parts, femur and clavicle, were also compared in terms of DNA yield. The efficiency of the two methods of DNA extraction from bones is illustrated quantitatively and qualitatively. Paternity testing was performed and the suspect was excluded from being the alleged father
The Role of Lipsticks and Blush Sticks in Genetic Profiling for Human Identification
No full textThe core objectives of the current study are to generate human DNA profiles from used lipsticks and blush sticks of various brands available in Pakistan. A total of 12 international and local brands of lipsticks and blush sticks were selected. The lipsticks and blush sticks were applied by twenty different healthy female volunteers of 21-30 years of age. The heads of used lipsticks and blush sticks were swabbed with dry sterile cotton swabs. The qualitative and quantitative analysis was done by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using a Quantifiler® Duo DNA Quantification Kit on Real Time PCR ABI™ 7500. Samples were amplified for 16 STR loci using an AmpFlSTR® Identifiler® PCR amplification kit on Thermocycler ABI 9700. The amplified product was run on Applied Biosystems 3130™ Genetic Analyzer. The genetic profiles were analyzed on GeneMapper® ID-X software version 1.0. The quantification results showed that the yield of DNA obtained from lipstick samples was greater than that of DNA obtained from blush stick samples. The real-time PCR results showed that only 16% of cosmetic samples had shown inhibition. The DNA profiles obtained from all blush stick samples were of good quality compared to those from lipstick samples. No profile was obtained from one blush stick sample (DNA 0.001 ng/μL) and four lipstick samples (DNA 0.001-0.003 ng/μL) because the amount of DNA in each of these samples was less than the amount required for successful amplification. DNA profiles were successfully generated from most of the samples of various available brands of lipsticks and blush sticks. This is the first study proving that DNA profiles can be generated from various lip and face cosmetics
Toxicological Analysis of Exhumed Specimens: A Challenge for Toxicologists
No full textThe objective of this work is to describe the type of biological samples submitted for toxicological analysis after exhumation. Forensic toxicologists receive a variety of biological samples, but exhumed biological specimens with varying degrees of putrefaction pose a greater challenge for analysis. Usually, immunoassay and colorimetric screening are the first line approach for toxicological analysis. Suitable samples can be selected for direct analysis using chromatographic techniques with a mass spectrometer, providing reliable results. The authors report two case studies where exhumed specimens were submitted for the determination of possible intoxication. The deceased were severely injured and remained hospitalized for more than 24 hours before death. Their corpses were exhumed for chemical analysis. For the toxicological analysis, selected samples were analyzed by immunoassay and a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS) with electron impact ionization. Although the samples were negative for drugs of abuse (benzodiazepines and opiates), by immunoassay, midazolam (benzodiazepine) was detected in putrefied material using GC/MS, thus indicating the hospitalization before death
Forensic Pathology and Newborn Screening for Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Implications for the Middle East
No full textWe report the postmortem findings of two infants and one child who died in Iraq. In each case, a specific clinical diagnosis was never established and all died at home. None of the cases had undergone newborn screening tests for inherited diseases. In case 1, a 3-day old neonate died without ever passing meconium. Autopsy revealed complete small intestinal obstruction due to meconium ileus. This was most likely due to cystic fibrosis. In case 2, a 6 month old boy died suddenly and unexpectedly after developing dehydration from vomiting. Autopsy revealed marked hepatomegaly with fatty infiltration that also involved the myocardium and kidney. This was most likely due to Medium Chain Aacyl Co-A dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency. In case 3, a 12-year-old boy died after a progressive neurological disorder of childhood. At autopsy, the body showed cachexia and flexion contractions. The brain showed loss of white matter bulk and thinning of the corpus callosum. The major organs showed no abnormalities. Histologic examination revealed only mild spongy change of the white matter. These findings indicate that the child likely had an organic acidemia, most probably phenylketonuria (PKU). These cases highlight the critical importance of newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism in Iraq, including laboratory testing for PKU, MCAD deficiency and cystic fibrosis. Such screening can prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality in infants and children. On this basis, forensic pathologists should advocate for widespread newborn screening in the Middle East
Cardiomyopathies as a Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in Egypt: Recognition and Preventive Strategies Needed
No full textThis study aimed at evaluating the epidemiological characteristics and pathological features of different types of cardiomyopathies in Egypt, highlighting the role of the forensic pathologist in identifying cases of cardiomyopathies and initiating for their families a possible genetic study aiming at prevention of sudden death. All cases with sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to cardiomyopathies during the period from the beginning of January 2010 until the end of December 2014 (5 years) were included in this study. All hearts underwent detailed gross and histological examination. Circumstances of death, medical history, and post-mortem pathological findings were thoroughly investigated. Out of 535 cases of sudden cardiac death, there were 22 cases (4.1%) diagnosed as having cardiomyopathies; sudden death was their first presentation. Eighteen cases (81.8%) were male, with the 4th decade (11 cases, 50%) being the most affected age; severe physical activity and exertion were evident in death circumstances of 14 cases (63.6%); pathological evaluation revealed that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the most frequent type, being diagnosed in 10 cases (45%). Cardiomyopathies are an infrequent cause of sudden cardiac death. Most deaths are in children and adults, so cases are of high social impact that demands multidisciplinary research and resources. In all cases of SCD, forensic autopsy should be done. Forensic study is the key to identifying an affected family and the starting point regarding assessing them
The International Letters Rogatory between Criminal Justice Requirements and the Imperatives of Regional Sovereignty
No full textThe International letters rogatory in criminal matters, the most important forms of international judicial cooperation, which aims to effective legal protection in response to the requirements of criminal justice, and that access to the completing all the various investigative procedures, even if they are beyond the scope of the regional authority, This Job Role faced difficulties in implementation, because of the sovereignty of the state, but the international agreements has been able overcome through the expansion of the subject of representation and also methods of implementation
Enhancement of Handwritings on Selected Charred Documents using Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)
No full textQuestioned documents are documents whose authenticity is disputed. Documents are destroyed by fires and other means to conceal criminal activities. Charred or burnt documents are a type of questioned document that are likely to contain vital information. These documents are mainly linked to ransoms, forgery, fraud, suicide and other white collar offences. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC-6000) for the enhancement of writings on charred documents and to determine the effectiveness of flood light and white spot beam in VSC on charred documents. A passage was written by different types of writing instruments on different types of writing paper available in Malaysia. Then the handwritten documents were burned until the writings became invisible. The charred documents were viewed under flood light and the white beam by adjusting the wavelengths. Results showed that the writings on the charred document exhibited appreciable enhancement suitable for forensic investigation. The writings were comparatively more visible under the white spot beam than the flood light beam. These findings were recorded through photography. The present study provides a promising method and an effective alternative way to enhance writings on charred documents
Criminal Liability for Multiple Medical Errors
No full textMedical errors that result in the harm or death of patients are still a major problem in health sectors all over the world. Identifying the cause of a medical error can be a difficult task because a large number of medical procedures involve the intervention of a number of medical experts. Consequently, it can also be difficult to identify the individual responsible for a medical error. In addition to this, further complications arise when there are a number of medical errors made by numerous individuals that result in the harm or death of a patient. Taking this into account, laws, regulations, and judicial procedures must be effective enough to overcome the complexity of these cases and ensure that those responsible for medical errors are correctly identified and appropriately judged. This paper presents two topics: The first is a discussion of general laws related to cases involving multiple medical errors, and the second is an examination of the applications of these laws in cases involving multiple medical errors from Saudi and Egyptian law. This study found that when multiple medical errors made by a number of individuals contribute to the harm or death of a patient, then it is a legal obligation to hold each of those individuals responsible for the resulting harm or death caused
2nd Arab Forensic Science & Forensic Medicine Meeting, ASFSFM 2016: Meeting Report
No full textOne of the main objectives of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) is to enhance peace, security, and justice in Arab societies through education, research, and advanced professional training in various disciplines of security and forensic sciences. NAUSS strives to improve the academic and professional skills of forensic scientists and security personnel to combat crime and terrorism by utilizing all the available tools of modern technology. NAUSS also realizes the importance of scientific research in the social, economic, and technological development of a society and is, therefore, committed to encouraging and supporting research at every level. NAUSS has given the fields of forensic sciences and forensic medicine a top priority and the attention they deserve. In pursuit of its objectives, and in cooperation with other Arab member organizations, NAUSS launched the Arab Society for Forensic Sciences and Forensic Medicine (ASFSFM) in 2013. The Society had the honour of being officially launched by His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Honorary President of the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Council of NAUSS. The 2nd Arab Forensic Science & Forensic Medicine Meeting (ASFSFM Meeting 2016) was yet another part of the efforts and concern of NAUSS to advance the skills and knowledge of Arab specialists and to facilitate cooperation among forensic scientists and institutions engaged in the practice, education and research of forensic sciences and forensic medicine at various levels