Mauricio Chase*, Sarah Fieldhouse, Stephen Bleay and Neil Lamont
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the use of Acid Dyes (ADs) Acid Black 1 (AB1), Acid Yellow 7 (AY7), and Acid Violet 17 (AV17) identified by the UK home office as common enhancement agents for blood-contaminated fingermark impressions. Various factors which can influence AD bloodmark enhancement are reported in scientific literature, including sequence of application, time and temperature, dye formulation, substrate features, processing times and bloodmark volume, contaminants, fingermark age, deposition pressure and donor variation. While these dyes have demonstrated excellent capability on porous (excluding AY7) and non-porous substrates, this review has identified several gaps in understanding and application. Firstly, the effect of blood volume on the fixing and staining times of these dyes, particularly for marks associated with high volumes of blood, requires exploration. Additionally, factors such as air-to-surface temperature, substrate colour, composition, coating and degree of porosity need a comprehensive study to improve practitioner awareness and best practice capabilities. Research into the effects of temperature on AD staining times should also be probed to evaluate the performance and suitability of different dye formulations under operational conditions and their response to temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, examining the effect of proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous contaminants on blood mark visualisation substances is encouraged. Accurate modelling and regulation of deposition pressures and contact durations are also suggested to understand blood matrix responses and their influence on enhancement due to the likely impact on operational marks. Addressing these knowledge gaps will provide valuable insights, optimizing the selection and proficiency of AB1, AY7 and AV17 for blood mark application, thereby benefiting practitioners and researchers alike.
Vidhi Soni
A disaster or catastrophe is an impulsive devastating event that utterly disrupts the functioning of a community, a society comprising of widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. The death of a loved one leaves an indelible mark on the survivors, and unfortunately, because of the lack of information, the families of the deceased suffer additional harm due to the inadequate ways in which the bodies of the deceased are handled. These secondary injuries are unacceptable, particularly when they are under the consequences of direct authorization or action on the part of the authorities or those responsible for humanitarian assistance. The most serious aspect is that these measures are being carried out without respecting identification procedures or preserving the individuality and dignity of the deceased. Disaster victim identification (DVI) is an intensive and arduous task which needs the contribution of specialists from various disciplines. Here in these exotic situations, forensic facial recognition may act as a boon for revealing the identity of the victims. A lot of face recognition algorithms, along with their modifications, have been developed during the past decades. This paper seeks to present a review of the existing literature in this domain and discuss several aspects, significance and requirements for forensic face recognition systems particularly focusing the various advances and trends of facial imaging which may provide a great beneficiary value in face recognition mechanism of victims in the case of different fatalities.
Journal of Forensic Medicine received 165 citations as per Google Scholar report
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