Abuso sexual intrafamiliar, as Varas da Família e os meandros da perícia social em Serviço Social / Intrafamilial sexual abuse, Family Matters Courts and the intricacies of forensics in Social Work

Resumo: A intervenção de assistentes sociais em situações de abuso sexual intrafamiliar carece de sistematização, contemplando as mediações históricas fundamentais que perfazem as particularidades dessa atuação. A presente análise faz aproximações à interlocução do Direito e do Serviço Social, na especificidade das exigências das Varas da Família e dos desafios postos à perícia social em Serviço Social na complexidade da violência sexual, sexualidade e família. Os achados da análise empreendida apontam que é pela apreensão da sociabilidade familiar que podem emergir aspectos da violência e suas manifestações.

Abstract: The intervention made by social workers in situations of intrafamilial sexual abuse lacks a systematization that takes into account the fundamental historic mediations that characterize the particularities of such circunstances. This analysis establishes links between the Law and Social Work, in the specificities required by Family Matter Courts and the challenges presented to Forensics in Social Work within the complexity of sexual violence, sexuality and family. Findings from the analysis show that aspects of violence and its manifestations can surface when we apprehend family sociability,

Association between Facial Types and Handedness among Students of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences Bayero University, Kano

Background: Generally, a person's dominant hand is a simple and precise determinant of his preference for hand use in fine manual tasks. The main tools used in forensics are derived from the relationships between anthropometric features with important physical and /or biological traits. Objective: This study was to determine the association between facial types and handedness among students of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of Bayero University, Kano. Methodology: Cross-sectional study design with a consecutive sampling of 400 (180 males and 220 females) students (aged 18 and above) of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences Bayero University, Kano was carried out. Facial height (FH) and facial width (FW) were measured using established landmarks and the facial index (FI) was calculated from them. The dominant handedness of each participant was determined using the writing component of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. This procedure involved asking the participants to mention which of their hands was dominant. The participant was then asked to write a sentence regarding the activitieshe/she was carrying out at the point of recruitment to ascertain the claim made by the participants. The sentence was written separately using each hand. All the data obtained were analyzed using statistical software (SPSS version 20.0). Results: The study population was relatively young (21.76 ± 2.77 years). Right-handedness was the commonest hand dominance observed in both males (90.7%) and females (91.7%). The commonest types of face were the hypereuriproscopic 2 (0.5%), Euriproscopic 41 (10.3%), Mesoproscopic 78 (19.5%), Leptoproscopic 127 (31.8%) and Hyperleptoproscopic 152 (37%) facial types. The majority of the participants were right-handed and this was regardless of gender. The prediction of handedness based on facial types (ꭕ2 = 1.39, Df =3, P = 0.85) or facial index (P = 0.92, OR=0.99, CI = 0.82 ­ 1.19) was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The facial types identified among the study population were not associated with their handedness and thus it was not a good predictor of handedness

Estimation of dental age using Willems method and comparing it with Demirjian's method in 7–14-year-old children of Uttarakhand

Aim: The aim of this comparative study was to estimate the dental age using Willems method by assessing the developmental stages of left seven permanent mandibular teeth in 7–14 years of age groups with the help of digital orthopantomogram and comparing it with Demirjian's method to conclude which method was more appropriate and better in Indian population of Uttarakhand region. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 digital orthopantomogram films of patients in the age group of 7-14 years was collected over the study period of 3 years from July 2014 to January 2017 and was equally distributed by convenience sampling. Group I included 50 boys and Group II included 50 girls aging 7–14 years of age (as permanent 7 teeth in the 3rd quadrant were to be assessed and scored according to the Demirjian's table, the 7–14 age group was selected). The date of birth of the subject was documented against their allocated identification number. Dental age according to Willem's method was calculated using Willem's table and Demirjian and Goldstein's table scores were used to calculate dental age by Demirjian's method. Results: Willems method was more accurate and better than Demirjian's method as it showed less mean percentage error, i.e., 0.34% as compared to 15.94% obtained from Demirjian's method in Group II and 2.19% as compared to 8.05% obtained from Demirjian's method in Group I. Conclusion: The results suggested that Willems method of dental age estimation was an effective method of age estimation and was better and more accurate than Demirjian's method.

Psicologia do trânsito: conquistas históricas, ADI 3481 e perspectivas para a área / Traffic psychology: historical achievements, ADI 3481, and prospects for the area / Psicología del tránsito: conquistas históricas, la ADI 3481 y las perspectivas para el área

Resumo O presente artigo visa apresentar, discutir e refletir a Psicologia do Trânsito sob o olhar de alguns marcos históricos. O primeiro período compreende desde o início da área no Brasil até a promulgação do Código de Trânsito Brasileiro de 1997; em um segundo momento são apresentados os avanços da área assim como sua consolidação e contribuição para um momento bastante promissor da Psicologia do Trânsito; tais avanços são discutidos em um terceiro período do artigo, que compreende de 2018 a 2021. Na sequência, são discutidos aspectos que têm impactado diretamente o trabalho dos profissionais da área da Psicologia do Trânsito como a pandemia do SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), a Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade 3481 no Supremo Tribunal Federal e o Projeto de Lei nº 3267/19 (transformado na Lei Ordinária nº 14.071/2020) que alterou o Código de Trânsito Brasileiro desde que passou a vigorar em 12 de abril de 2021. São propostas reflexões sobre esses novos desafios e são discutidas alternativas para o trabalho na área, visando uma adequação às novas demandas e realidade. Espera-se oferecer ao leitor a possibilidade de refletir novos caminhos para a área que visem um fazer ético, de qualidade e cujo objetivo principal seja preservar vidas. (AU)

Abstract This article aims to present, discuss, and reflect upon Traffic Psychology from the perspective of some historical milestones in three different periods. The first period refers to the origins of the field in Brazil until the promulgation of the 1997 Brazilian Traffic Code. Then, it approaches the advances within the field, as well as its consolidation and contributions - which will be discussed in-depth in the third period, including the years from 2018 to 2021. The article also discusses aspects that have impacted the professional practice of Traffic psychologists, namely the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the 3481 Direct Action of Unconstitutionality of the Supreme Court, and the 3267/19 Bill (Ordinary Law 14071/2020), transformed into the new Brazilian Traffic Code, published in 2020. This review reflects upon these new challenges, proposing alternatives for the field to adapt to the new demands and reality. With that, it seeks to stimulate reflections regarding possibilities for the field of Traffic Psychology, always grounded on an ethical and quality professional practice with the primary purpose of preserving lives. (AU)

Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar, discutir y reflexionar sobre la Psicología del Tránsito desde algunos marcos históricos. Los períodos abarcan desde el comienzo del área en Brasil hasta el momento de la publicación del Código de Tránsito Brasileño de 1997, después se presentan los avances del área y su consolidación, que contribuyeron para un momento bastante prometedor de la Psicología del Tránsito, el cual se discute en el tercer período que abarca de 2018 a 2021. En seguida, se discuten aspectos que pueden impactar e impactaron directamente el trabajo de los profesionales de la Psicología del Tránsito, como la pandemia del SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), la Acción Directa de Inconstitucionalidad del Supremo Tribunal Federal y el Proyecto de Ley 3267/19 (transformado en la Ley 14.071/2020) que alteró el Código de Tránsito Brasileño desde su vigencia el 12 de abril de 2021. Se proponen reflexiones sobre esos nuevos desafíos y se discuten alternativas para el trabajo en el área, con el objetivo de adecuarse a las nuevas demandas y nueva realidad. Se espera ofrecer al lector la posibilidad de reflexionar sobre nuevos caminos para el área, siempre pensando en un trabajo ético, de calidad y con el principal objetivo de preservar vidas. (AU)

Forensics in HIV Transmission Crimes / Medicina forense en delitos de transmisión del VIH

Abstract Forensic microbiology is a scientific area that has emerged with the need to investigate biocrimes, as in the case of intentional transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The present exploratory work aimed to demonstrate how biomedical technology, such as phylogenetics and quantification of viral load and CD4+ T lymphocytes, can be used to produce technical evidence that brings more certainty in determining the authorship and materiality of these criminal behaviors.

Resumen La microbiología forense es un área científica que ha surgido con la necesidad de investigar los delitos biológicos, como en el caso de la transmisión intencional del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Este trabajo exploratorio tuvo como objetivo demostrar cómo la tecnología biomédica, como la filogenética y la cuantificación de la carga viral y los linfocitos T CD4+, puede usarse para producir evidencia técnica que brinde más certeza para determinar la autoría y la materialidad de estas conductas criminales.

Assessment of ROOT Dentin Translucency For age Estimation: The First Comparative Study of Conventional, Stereomicroscopic & Digital Methods

Introduction: Age estimation has always been a crucial concern in permissible and scandalous investigations for establishing one’s identity. Assessment of chronological age of an individual by dental hard tissues is an important specialty in the turf of forensics especially in enigmatic conditions including mass disasters and festering postmortem residues. Teeth bestowing the properties of hardness, resilience prove to be the reliable material for age estimation in the identification of the unknown. Translucency in root dentin is considered to be one of the best criteria for estimation or assessment of dental age. Objectives: The present investigation evaluates and compares the effectiveness of conventional, stereomicroscopic and digital methods for age estimation by measuring root dentin translucency & concluding the best method among them. Methods: A total of 30 permanent teeth of the age group 21- 80 years were sectionioned longitudinally of thickness 250µm & translucency in root dentin was calculated using conventional, stereomicroscopic & digital methods and was compared. Results: There was no statistically considerable difference (p=0.584) observed in translucency length obtained by the three methods. Linear regression equations derived from the three methods revealed most accurate method as digital followed by conventional and stereomicroscopic to assess age. The digital method is statistically significant with highest accuracy allowing better visualization, easy to use and less time consuming. Conclusion: Taking into consideration the benefits, the present study recommends the use of digital method to assess translucency for age estimation.

Characteristics of Pattern Visual Evoked Potential in Two Eyes with Varying Visual Acuity in One Eye and Forensic Application / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In this study,we aimed to study the pattern visual evoked potentials (P-VEPs) in two eyes with varying visual acuity in one eye and to provide an objective estimation of visual acuity by comparing P-VEPs in one and two eyes.Thirty subjects were chosen,who had one eye with an acuity of 5.0,4.85,4.6,4.0,or scieropia and obstructed vision and the other eye with an acuity of 5.0,respectively.P-VEPs were detected under the large grating stimuli at 3×4 spatial frequency,moderate grating stimuli (12× 16 spatial frequency) and small grating stimuli (48×64 spatial frequency).Under large grating stimuli,there was no significant difference in P100 peak latency between the groups,nor was there a significant difference between the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye.Under moderate and small grating stimuli,there was a significant difference in P100 peak latency between the group with both eyes having an acuity of 5.0 and the group with visual acuity below 4.0 in one eye.There was a significant difference in P100 amplitude between the group with visual acuity of 5.0 in both eyes and the group with one normal-vision eye.There was no significant difference in the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye between any other two groups.In forensic identification,characteristics and variability of P-VEPs in one and two eyes can be used to identify malingering or decline in visual acuity.

Characteristics of Pattern Visual Evoked Potential in Two Eyes with Varying Visual Acuity in One Eye and Forensic Application / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In this study,we aimed to study the pattern visual evoked potentials (P-VEPs) in two eyes with varying visual acuity in one eye and to provide an objective estimation of visual acuity by comparing P-VEPs in one and two eyes.Thirty subjects were chosen,who had one eye with an acuity of 5.0,4.85,4.6,4.0,or scieropia and obstructed vision and the other eye with an acuity of 5.0,respectively.P-VEPs were detected under the large grating stimuli at 3×4 spatial frequency,moderate grating stimuli (12× 16 spatial frequency) and small grating stimuli (48×64 spatial frequency).Under large grating stimuli,there was no significant difference in P100 peak latency between the groups,nor was there a significant difference between the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye.Under moderate and small grating stimuli,there was a significant difference in P100 peak latency between the group with both eyes having an acuity of 5.0 and the group with visual acuity below 4.0 in one eye.There was a significant difference in P100 amplitude between the group with visual acuity of 5.0 in both eyes and the group with one normal-vision eye.There was no significant difference in the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye between any other two groups.In forensic identification,characteristics and variability of P-VEPs in one and two eyes can be used to identify malingering or decline in visual acuity.

Advances in the research of predicting the time since deposition of evidentiary stains / 中国法医学杂志

In addition to obtaining DNA-STR typing of an evidentiary stain for individual identification and paternity tests, knowing the time since deposition (TSD) is also highly desired in forensics. To provide a reference for the research of predicting the TSD, this article reviews the reported optical, cell biological and molecular biological methods of determining the age of bloodstains domestic and overseas, and also introduces the application of microbial forensics, a new field of forensic science, to provide space-time clues of evidentiary stains.

Challenge and solution to medical damage idntification / 中国法医学杂志

By the end of 2017, the Supreme People's Court issue a judical interpretation called Tort law of China·Medical damage liability. It formulates some new rules about identification. It stipulates qualification of new appraiser; clears requirement of medical fault judgment; clears the requirement of causal relationship; defines procedure of medical damage identification and so on. However, there exist the dual identification model. Under the new rules, medical damage identification will face new challenges, especially some stipulates about qualification of appraisers, and expert assistants' views become the basis of the verdict. Those will effect medical examiners' working directly in China. So, I put forward following suggestions: ①Medical identification must be scientific, public welfare, normative.②It is trend for medical damage identification back to peer review. ③A unified library of clinical expert appraisers should be establised. ④We should reasearch the theorys, principles and methods of medical damege identification.

Aspectos médico legales a considerar del cáncer ocupacional: revisión bibliográfica / Legal medical aspects to consider in occupational cancer: bibliographical review

ResumenEl cáncer ocupacional es sin duda uno de los temas mas controversiales a valorar, dentro de la amplia gama de posibles pericias a las que puede enfrentarse en su diaria labor el médico forense. Es importante recalcar que el establecimiento del nexo de causalidad es la piedra angular cuando se habla de cáncer ocupacional, siendo de suma importancia que el médico forense se concentre en primera instancia en conocer la fisiopatología de cada una de las posibles patologías así como de sus posibles complicaciones radicando la importancia del médico forense en la capacidad de poder establecer o descartar la existencia de una relación de causalidad entre el diagnóstico clínico y los hechos narrados.

AbstractOccupational cancer is undoubtedly one of the most controversial issues to evaluate, within the wide range of possible expertise that can be faced in your daily work forensics. It is important to emphasize that the establishment of the causal link is the cornerstone when it comes to occupational cancer, and it is of the utmost importance that the forensic physician should concentrate in the first instance on the pathophysiology of each of the possible pathologies as well as their possible Complications rooting the importance of the medical examiner in the ability to establish or rule out the existence of a causal relationship between the clinical diagnosis and the events reported.

Study on SNP Genotyping of Degraded DNA by Fluorescence-labeled Multiplex LDR-PCR Amplification / 中国医科大学学报

Objective In this study,a multiplex PCR amplification system was constructed based on fluorescent labeling PCR and LDR,to provide a new strategy for analyzing severely degraded DNA.Methods Eight SNP loci (rs10802248,rs10516197,rs10488372,rs2278945,rs4757318,rs4887255,rs4889002,and rs9304473) were selected.Their LDR probes and PCR primers of linked products were designed and synthesized.Ligase detection reaction,PCR amplification,and capillary gel electrophoresis (CEG) were performed to establish the multiplex LDR-PCR amplification system.Results The genotypes of these 8 loci were obtained simultaneously by the fluorescence-labeled multiplex LDR-PCR amplification method.The loci profiles obtained by fluorescence-labeled multiplex LDR-PCR amplification were in accordance with those obtained by direct sequencing of the polymorphic regions in samples from all individuals.By fluorescence-labeled multiplex LDR-PCR amplification,the 8 SNP loci were efficiently amplified from the severely degraded FFPET DNA.Conclusion Eight SNP loci results could be obtained simultaneously by using the multiplex LDR-PCR amplification system,which is a simple,efficient,and practical SNP genotyping method with accurate and reliable results for highly degraded samples.

Ecotoxicological evaluation of sediments applied to environmental forensic investigation / Avaliação ecotoxicológica de sedimentos aplicada à perícia criminal ambiental

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the potential for using toxicity assays with sediment samples for the detection of water pollution caused by the discharge of tannery effluents into water bodies and its application to environmental forensic investigation. The study included ecotoxicological evaluation of sediments, survey of benthic organisms in the field, as well as chromium, cadmium and lead dosage which provided data for a sediment quality triad evaluation. The sediment samples showed acute and chronic toxicity to the bioindicators, low biodiversity of benthic macrofauna and high chromium concentration, reaching up to 4365 mg.Kg–1. A close relationship was observed between the separate results of ecotoxicological sediment evaluation and the sediment quality triad. The sediment ecotoxicological assessment proved to be applicable to tracking sources of contamination related to tanneries and similar activities in environmental forensics.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o potencial de aplicação de ensaios de toxicidade com amostras de sedimento para constatação de poluição aquática causada por lançamentos de efluentes de curtumes em cursos d’água e seu emprego na perícia criminal ambiental. O estudo incluiu avaliação ecotoxicológica de sedimentos, avaliação da fauna bentônica local e dosagem de cromo, cádmio e chumbo que forneceram dados para avaliação da tríade de qualidade dos sedimentos. As amostras de sedimentos mostraram efeito de toxicidade aguda e crônica aos bioindicadores, baixa biodiversidade da macrofauna bentônica e altas concentrações de cromo que chegaram a 4365 mg.Kg–1. Houve uma estreita relação entre os resultados isolados da avaliação ecotoxicológica e a tríade de qualidade de sedimentos. A avaliação ecotoxicológica demonstrou ser aplicável na identificação de fontes de contaminação relacionadas a curtumes e atividades similares em perícias ambientais.

Whiplash syndrome and forensic approach. A case report / Síndrome de latigazo cervical y abordaje forense: reportaje de un caso

The same day as being involved in a traffic incident as a pedestrian hit by a car, a middle-aged woman accessed emergency medical care and was later discharged. After two days the patient returned to emergency with complaints of neck pain. X-rays were conducted was immobilized with a cervical collar. Since the pain persisted, she was examined a few days later by physiatry, where a limitation in the arc of motion of the neck was found and whiplash was considered a possibility. This type of cases related to chronic posttraumatic pain are relatively common in clinical consultation and represent a great challenge for physicians, mainly in the forensic field, since there are often many symptoms and very few signs to identify the damage. Therefore, a forensic doctor must recur to the clinical history and carefully examine the mechanism of injury and the evolution of the clinical presentation, in addition to calling on other disciplines such as orthopedics, physiatry, psychiatry and pain medicine to issue a definitive concept.

Una mujer de edad mediana sufrió un accidente de tránsito como peatón al ser arrollada por un automóvil, este mismo día recibió atención mediante el servicio médico de urgencias dándosele de alta posteriormente. A los dos días la mujer consultó nuevamente el servicio de urgencias por dolor cervical, le realizaron radiografías y le inmovilizaron con cuello ortopédico. Dada la persistencia de dolor cervical, días después fue valorada por fisiatría, donde encontraron limitación para arcos de movimiento del cuello y se consideró posible síndrome de latigazo cervical. Este tipo de casos relacionados con dolor crónico postraumático es relativamente frecuente en la consulta clínica y reviste un gran reto para los médicos, principalmente en el campo forense, ya que con frecuencia hay muchos síntomas y muy pocos signos que logren objetivar el daño. De esta manera, el médico forense debe recurrir a la historia clínica y escudriñar detalladamente el mecanismo de lesión y la evolución del cuadro clínico, además de pedir el concepto de varias disciplinas como ortopedia, fisiatría, psiquiatría y medicina del dolor, para emitir su concepto definitivo.

Importancia de la criminalística en el manejo de cadáveres en las labores de protección civil en México / The importance of forensics in the handling of corpses during civilian protection tasks in Mexico / Importância da criminalística no manejo de cadáveres nos trabalhos de proteção civil no México

Ante todo evento catastrófico en el cual existan víctimas mortales se requiere una respuesta y atención coordinada por parte de las autoridades encargadas de la protección civil. La criminalística de campo y los sistemas de identificación pueden considerarse disciplinas auxiliares en el caso del manejo e identificación de cadáveres tras situaciones de desastre, a la vez que proporcionan criterios válidos que refutan la idea de que los cadáveres representan un riesgo para la salud pública. Al tomar como base un plan estratégico de atención post desastre, emitido por el gobierno mexicano, en este artículo se proponen lineamientos que se deben seguir por los responsables de la protección civil en cuanto al manejo e identificación de cadáveres tras la ocurrencia de un desastre, y se exponen brevemente los conceptos relacionados desde el punto de vista criminalístico, que demuestran la utilidad de su inclusión en la normatividad sobre protección civil en México.

Ante todo evento catastrófico em que vítimas mortais existem é preciso ter uma resposta e atenção coordenada pelas autoridades responsáveis da proteção civil. A criminalística de campo e os sistemas da identificação podem se considerar disciplinas auxiliares no caso da manipulação e a identificação de cadáveres após situações do desastre, enquanto fornecem critérios válidos que refutam a ideia que os cadáveres representam um risco para a saúde pública. Baseado no plano estratégico da atenção após o desastre, emitido pelo governo mexicano, neste artigo vão se propor diretrizes que devem se seguir pelas pessoas responsáveis da proteção civil no relacionado com a manipulação e a identificação de cadáveres após a ocorrência de um desastre, e expõe brevemente os conceitos relacionados do ponto de vista criminalístico, que demonstram a utilidade da sua inclusão na normatividade na proteção civil no México.

Fast response and coordinated care are required from the authorities in charge of civilian protection actions in the face of any catastrophic event resulting in the death of a number of victims. Field criminalistics and identification systems can be seen as auxiliary disciplines in the handling and identification of corpses after the occurrence of disaster situations and, in turn, they may provide valid criteria disputing the assumption that dead bodies pose a public health hazard. By using a strategic post-care plan launched by the Mexican Government as a basis, this article intends to examine outlines that should be followed by those responsible for civilian protection in the areas of casualty handling and identification after the occurrence. Some related concepts are briefly exposed from a forensic point of view showing the usefulness of including them in the legislation dealing with civilian protection in Mexico.

Forensic odontology in the era of computer and technology.

We are living in the era of science and technology and it have infused with many aspects of our everyday life. With the advent of newer technologies the criminals have made full use of it which sometimes facade a challenging task to investigators such as forensic experts to catch the crime. This paper will discuss the need for computer forensics and application of technologies to be practiced in an effective and legal way, formalize basic technical issues, and point to references for further reading. It promotes the idea that the proficient practice of computer forensics and awareness of applicable laws is essential for today’s networked organizations.

DNA Methylation-Based Age Estimation in the Forensic Field / 대한법의학회지

The estimation of age is an important issue in forensic science, and the forensic community has attempted many times to establish methods for solving this issue. Aging leads to alterations in tissues and organs at the molecular level. These alterations at the molecular level may aid forensic scientists to estimate the age of a living person or a dead body. Initially, the focus was on the genetic components of aging, but recently, epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as the key contributors to the alterations in genome structure and function that accompany aging. In particular, DNA methylation is one of the best-understood mechanisms, and it has been suggested as a promising biomarker for age estimation in many studies. In this review, we summarize the recent studies on age-associated DNA methylation changes in different tissues and discuss its possible and practical applications in forensics.

Microbial forensics: An upcoming investigative discipline.

Microorganisms make good weapons and bioterorism has been known to exist since centuries. This has most recently been highlighted by the terrorist attack using anthrax in the fall of 2001 in U.S. Although such attacks of bioterrorism are few, forensic evidence to criminally prosecute the perpetrator is necessary. To strengthen defence against bio crimes, a comprehensive technological network involving various fields needs to be developed. Microbial forensics is one such new discipline combining microbiology and forensic science. It uses advanced molecular techniques like microarray analysis and DNA fingerprinting etc. to associate the source of the causative agent with a specific individual or group by measuring variations between related strains. High quality assurance and quality control standards for microbial forensics will ensure highly reliable results that will stand up in the court of law. The more precise and refined a microbial system becomes, the more proper guidelines for investigations will be defined. An integrated approach towards developing this field of microbial forensics needs to be followed, to meet the challenges of bioterrorism more effectively.

Espectrometría de masas en condiciones ambientales con ionización por desorción con electrospray / Desorption electrospray ionization ambient mass spectrometry

La espectrometría de masas (MS) en condiciones ambientales es un campo nuevo de gran utilidad y de rápido crecimiento que provee espectros de masas de alta sensibilidad directamente a partir de superficies a presión atmosférica. Para ello se utilizan diversas técnicas de ionización, entre ellas: la ionización por desorción con electrospray (DESI: desorption electrospray ionization), el análisis directo en tiempo real (DART: direct analysis in real time), la ionización por desorción asistida por plasma (PADI: plasma assisted desorption ionization) y la ionización extractiva por electrospray (EESI: extractive electrospray ionization). Este trabajo se refiere en particular a los fundamentos y aplicaciones de DESI-MS con espectrometría de masas de imágenes. Entre otras aplicaciones, DESI es utilizado para el análisis directo de medicamentos y formulaciones farmacéuticas, muestras de fluidos biológicos, análisis forense, impresiones digitales, alimentos, cultivos de bacterias, identificación y distribución espacial de compuestos químicos en tejidos de origen animal y vegetal, y análisis de biomarcadores moleculares. Se destaca la posibilidad de combinación con cromatografía en capa delgada y con electroferogramas a fin de identificar mediante espectrometría de masas los compuestos presentes. Esta técnica no requiere preparación de las muestras y no implica el uso de matrices de ionización. Esto simplifica enormemente el procedimiento experimental y evita la redistribución de los analitos durante la deposición de la matriz. Se discute el análisis forense realizado con DESI-MS y DESI-MS/MS, respecto a: la detección de explosivos y agentes simulantes de guerra química en superficies sólidas cerca o a distancia del espectrómetro, análisis de telas o vestimenta en busca de explosivos y drogas, análisis de imágenes para la verificación de documentos, análisis sobre piel humana, análisis de residuos de disparos, análisis de gases tóxicos industriales y de agentes simulantes de guerra, de destilados de petróleo y de polímeros sintéticos. Se analizan las aplicaciones efectuadas en el campo de la lipidómica, proteómica y metabolómica. Por último, se brinda la información existente sobre el análisis cuantitativo realizado mediante DESI-MS.

Ambient mass spectrometry is a useful and rapidly growing new field that provides high sensitivity mass spectra directly from surfaces at atmospheric pressure. Various ionization techniques, including desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), direct analysis in real time (DART), plasma assisted desorption ionization (PADI) and extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) have been used. This paper refers particularly to the fundamentals and applications of DESI-MS based on imaging mass spectrometry. Among other applications, DESI is used for direct analysis of drugs and pharmaceutical formulations, samples of biological fluids, forensics, fingerprints, food, cultures of bacteria, identification and spatial distribution of chemicals in animal and plant tissues, and molecular biomarkers. It highlights the possibility of combination with thin layer chromatography and electropherograms to identify the compounds by mass spectrometry. This technique requires no sample preparation, and does not involve the use of matrix of ionization. It simplifies greatly the experimental procedure and avoids the redistribution of analytes during matrix deposition. The forensic analysis carried out by DESI-MS and DESI-MS/MS is discussed, including the detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents on solid surfaces near or at a distance from the mass spectrometer, analysis of fabric or clothing for explosives and drugs, image analysis for verification of documents, analysis of human skin, gunshot residue analysis, analysis of toxic gases and industrial warfare agent simulants, petroleum distillates and synthetic polymers. Aplications in the field of lipidomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are analyzed. Finally, current information on the quantitative analysis performed by DESI-MS is provided.

Sex related homicides and offenders: A medico-legalists view.

The advances in criminalistics and forensic psychiatry in these present times and the combined studies of workers of the specialties of Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry has led to renewed interest in investigating and documenting sex crimes. The term offender is used for a person who actively takes part in an offence or goes blatantly against the law. The term can be simultaneously / interchangeably used for a criminal. Sex related homicides include rape murders, serial murders, killings involving both of anal and oral sodomy and other acts of sexual perversions terminating in homicide. In this paper a brief summarization of sex related crimes, their psychodynamics and offender profile is detailed with comparative comments vis-à-vis the Indian and Western scenarios.