Journal of Forensic Research

The DNA trace has been playing a crucial role in identifying or exonerating potential suspects. While single source DNA traces face interpretational challenges, the evaluation of a forensic DNA mixture trace faces much greater challenges especially with increased allele sharing and homozygosity. The present report describes a challenging case where eight potential suspects could not be excluded in a simulated mixed DNA analysis. Even though relevant frequency datasets and an inbreeding coefficient were considered and expert DNA mixture analysis software was used, statistical analysis falsely supported the inclusion of non-contributors. The present case shed the light on the effect of allele sharing and homozygosity on the evaluation of DNA mixtures especially in consanguineous and endogamous populations. Recommendations as to DNA mixture analysis were issued for local forensic uses and for other similar populations.

Without consistent development and progress, such words as progress, accomplishment, and achievement have no importance. The Journal of Forensic Research (ISSN: 2157-7145) is developing consistently from recent years. It is our pleasure to declare that during year 2019, all issues of volume 10 were published online on schedule and the print issues were additionally brought out and dispatched inside 30 days of publishing the issue on the web.

Journal of Forensic Research (JFR) during this year also brought out 22^nd World Congress on Nursing Education and Patient Safety and 6^th International Conference on forensic Research and technology conference proceedings, which consisted of ˜50 abstracts.

All published articles of this journal are included in the indexing and abstracting coverage of Index Copernicus, Google Scholar, Global Impact Factor (GIF), CiteFactor, Electronic Journals Library, RefSeek, International committee of medical journals editors (ICMJE), Hamdard University, EBSCO A-Z, Virtual Library of Biology (vifabio). Studies receiving funding from a funding organization that is included on the list of PMC and Research Funder Policies or authors having NIH grant were submitted to PubMed.

During the calendar year 2019, JFR received a total of 60 papers, out of which 28 articles (58%) were rejected in the preliminary screening due to plagiarism or being out of the format and peer review process. During 2019 around 32 articles were subjected for publication after they are accepted in the peer review process. In the 4 issues of Volume 10 published during the year 2019, articles were published from authors all around the world. A total of 110 research scientists from all over the world reviewed the 32 articles published in volume 10. Average publication lag time of an article was further reduced to 2-3 weeks.

Forensic Research also announces its new association with Hilaris group for Archiving, Journal maintenance, financial purpose and support. However the journal will be running its original website www. hilarispublisher.com/forensic-research.html parallel for Editorial and review work process so as to maintain its highest standard of scientific work.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of Editor-in- Chief: Peter Gill (Norway), Jianye Ge (USA), Jian Tie (Japan), during the final editing of articles published and the support rendered by the editorial assistants: Dr Jawahar Mehta, Hiroshi Ikegaya and Scott Reed in bringing out issues of JFR on time. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, the publisher, the advisory and the editorial board of JFR, the office bearers for their support in bringing out yet another volume of JFR and look forward to their unrelenting support to bring out the Volume 11 of JFR on scheduled time.