Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 64 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Tan GJ, Sulong G, Rahim MSM
    Forensic Sci Int, 2017 Oct;279:41-52.
    PMID: 28843097 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.07.034
    This paper presents a review on the state of the art in offline text-independent writer identification methods for three major languages, namely English, Chinese and Arabic, which were published in literatures from 2011 till 2016. For ease of discussions, we grouped the techniques into three categories: texture-, structure-, and allograph-based. Results are analysed, compared and tabulated along with datasets used for fair and just comparisons. It is observed that during that period, there are significant progresses achieved on English and Arabic; however, the growth on Chinese is rather slow and far from satisfactory in comparison to its wide usage. This is due to its complex writing structure. Meanwhile, issues on datasets used by previous studies are also highlighted because the size matter - accuracy of the writer identification deteriorates as database size increases.
  2. Nik-Hussein NN, Kee KM, Gan P
    Forensic Sci Int, 2011 Jan 30;204(1-3):208.e1-6.
    PMID: 20869825 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.08.020
    BACKGROUND: One of the most commonly used method for dental age assessment is the method reported by Demirjian and coworkers in 1973. It was later modified by Willems and coworkers whereby they “performed a weighted ANOVA” in order to adapt the scoring system.
    AIM: To evaluate the applicability of Demirjian and Willems methods for dental age estimation for Malaysian children and to correlate the accuracy of the findings with the chronology of tooth development of premolars and second molars.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 991 dental panoramic radiographs of 5-15-year-old Malaysian children were included in the study. The mean Demirjian and Willems estimated ages were compared to the mean chronological age.
    RESULTS: The mean chronological age of the sample was 10.1±2.8 and 9.9±3.0 years for males and females respectively. Using the Demirjian method, the mean estimated dental age was 10.8±2.9 years for males and 10.5±2.9 years for females. For Willems method, the mean estimated age was 10.3±2.8 years males and 10.0±3.0 years respectively.
    CONCLUSIONS: Willems method was more applicable for estimating dental age for Malaysian children. Overestimation in Demirjian method could be due to advanced development of second bicuspids and molars.
  3. Balla SB, Banda TR, Galic I, N NM, Naishadham PP
    Forensic Sci Int, 2019 Apr;297:243-248.
    PMID: 30844636 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.009
    The aims of the present study were to validate the discriminatory potential of Cameriere's third molar maturity index (I3M) cut-off value of I3M 
  4. Khoo LS, Hasmi AH, Mahmood MS, Vanezis P
    Forensic Sci Int, 2016 Sep;266:e4-e9.
    PMID: 27567043 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.08.019
    An underwater disaster can be declared when a maritime accident occurred or when an aircraft is plunged into water area, be it ocean, sea or river. Nevertheless, handling of human remains in an underwater recovery operation is often a difficult and demanding task as working conditions may be challenging with poor to no visibility, location of remains at considerable depths and associated hazards from surrounding water. A case of the recent helicopter crash, into a famous river in Sarawak, domiciled by huge crocodiles, is discussed in this paper. Search and recovery team as well as the combat divers from the Special Elite Troop Commando, known as VAT 69, were deployed to the scene to perform the underwater recovery to search for all the victims on board involving five Malaysians with a pilot of Philippines nationality. This paper highlights the limitations and challenges faced during the underwater search and recovery. All the bodies recovered were in moderate decomposition stage with crushed injuries and mutilated face and body. A simple and conventional fingerprint technique were used to record the fingerprint. The prints impressions were later photographed using a smartphone and transferred back to the RMP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for fingerprint match by using WhatsApp Messenger, a phone application. All the first five victims were identified within an average of 10min. The last victim recovered was the pilot. For foreign nationals, the Immigration Department of Malaysia will record the prints of both index fingers only. The lifting of the fingerprint of the last victim was the most challenging in which only one index finger left that can be used for comparison. A few techniques were attempted using the black printer's ink, glass and tape techniques for the last victim. Subsequently, images of the prints impression were taken using the same smartphone with additional macro lens attached to it to enhance the resolution. The images were transferred to the RMP headquarters through WhatsApp Messenger. The prints were confirmed to be the pilot 20min later.
  5. Hadi H, Wilkinson CM
    Forensic Sci Int, 2014 Apr;237:149.e1-149.e7.
    PMID: 24613011 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.12.014
    The post-mortem resilience of facial creases was studied using donated bodies in order to establish the efficacy of crease analysis for identification of the dead. Creases were studied on normal (pre-embalmed) and bloated (embalmed) cadavers at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) to establish whether facial bloating would affect facial crease visibility. Embalming was chosen to simulate the effects produced by post-mortem bloating. The results suggested that creases are resilient and changes were only detected for creases located on the periphery of the face, particularly at areas where the skin is thick, such as at the cheeks. Two new creases not previously classified were identified; these creases were called the vertical superciliary arch line and the lateral nose crease. This research suggests that facial creases may be resilient enough after death to be utilised for human identification.
  6. Mohd Noor MS, Khoo LS, Zamaliana Alias WZ, Hasmi AH, Ibrahim MA, Mahmood MS
    Forensic Sci Int, 2017 Sep;278:410.e1-410.e9.
    PMID: 28698062 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.05.014
    The first ever mass identification operation of skeletal remains conducted for the clandestine graves in Malaysia consisted of 165 individuals unearthed from 28 human trafficking transit camps located in Wang Kelian, along the Thai-Malaysia border. A DVI response was triggered in which expert teams comprising of pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists and DNA experts were gathered at the identified operation centre. The Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah, located approximately 75km away from Wang Kelian, was temporarily converted into a victim identification centre (VIC) as it is the nearest available forensic facility to the mass grave site. The mortuary operation was conducted over a period of 3 months from June to September 2015, and was divided into two phases; phase 1 involving the postmortem examination of the remains of 116 suspected individuals and for phase 2 the remains of 49 suspected individuals. The fact that the graves were of unknown individuals afforded the mass identification operation a sufficient duration of 2 weeks as preparatory phase enabling procedurals and daily victim identification workflow to be established, and the setting up of a temporary body storage for the designated mortuary. The temporary body storage has proven to be a significant factor in enabling the successful conclusion of the VIC operation to the final phase of temporary controlled burials. Recognition from two international observers, Mr. Andréas Patiño Umaña, from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Prof. Noel Woodford from Victoria Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) had proven the mortuary operation was in compliance to the international quality and standards. The overall victim identification and mortuary operation identified a number of significant challenges, in particular the management of commingled human remains as well as the compilation of postmortem data in the absence of antemortem data for future reconciliation. CF Index in this DVI operation is 9%, indicating the primary identifications in this operation were effective. Limitations and further improvements of the mass identification operation will be discussed. This paper details the planning, preparations and management of the mass identification operation on the exhumed human remains which was also a forensic humanitarian service for the dead with dignity and respect.
  7. Damas S, Wilkinson C, Kahana T, Veselovskaya E, Abramov A, Jankauskas R, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int, 2015 Dec;257:504-508.
    PMID: 26482539 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.045
    Craniofacial superimposition, although existing for one century, is still a controversial technique within the scientific community. Objective and unbiased validation studies over a significant number of cases are required to establish a more solid picture on the reliability. However, there is lack of protocols and standards in the application of the technique leading to contradictory information concerning reliability. Instead of following a uniform methodology, every expert tends to apply his own approach to the problem, based on the available technology and deep knowledge on human craniofacial anatomy, soft tissues, and their relationships. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of different craniofacial superimposition methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches to this type of identification. With all the data generated, some of the most representative experts in craniofacial identification joined in a discussion intended to identify and agree on the most important issues that have to be considered to properly employ the craniofacial superimposition technique. As a consequence, the consortium has produced the current manuscript, which can be considered the first standard in the field; including good and bad practices, sources of error and uncertainties, technological requirements and desirable features, and finally a common scale for the craniofacial matching evaluation. Such a document is intended to be part of a more complete framework for craniofacial superimposition, to be developed during the FP7-founded project MEPROCS, which will favour and standardize its proper application.
  8. Ibáñez O, Vicente R, Navega DS, Wilkinson C, Jayaprakash PT, Huete MI, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int, 2015 Dec;257:496-503.
    PMID: 26060056 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.05.030
    As part of the scientific tasks coordinated throughout The 'New Methodologies and Protocols of Forensic Identification by Craniofacial Superimposition (MEPROCS)' project, the current study aims to analyse the performance of a diverse set of CFS methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches when dealing with a common dataset of real-world cases. Thus, a multiple-lab study on craniofacial superimposition has been carried out for the first time. In particular, 26 participants from 17 different institutions in 13 countries were asked to deal with 14 identification scenarios, some of them involving the comparison of multiple candidates and unknown skulls. In total, 60 craniofacial superimposition problems divided in two set of females and males. Each participant follow her/his own methodology and employed her/his particular technological means. For each single case they were asked to report the final identification decision (either positive or negative) along with the rationale supporting the decision and at least one image illustrating the overlay/superimposition outcome. This study is expected to provide important insights to better understand the most convenient characteristics of every method included in this study.
  9. Kuppuswamy R
    Forensic Sci Int, 2006 Jun 2;159(2-3):210-7.
    PMID: 16219441
    A series of experiments was conducted by exposing negative film in brand new cameras of different make and model. The exposures were repeated at regular time intervals spread over a period of 2 years. The processed film negatives were studied under a stereomicroscope (10-40x) in transmitted illumination for the presence of the characterizing features on their four frame-edges. These features were then related to those present on the masking frame of the cameras by examining the latter in reflected light stereomicroscopy (10-40x). The purpose of the study was to determine the origin and permanence of the frame-edge-marks, and also the processes by which the marks may probably alter with time. The investigations have arrived at the following conclusions: (i) the edge-marks have originated principally from the imperfections received on the film mask from the manufacturing and also occasionally from the accumulated dirt, dust and fiber on the film mask over an extended time period. (ii) The edge profiles of the cameras have remained fixed over a considerable period of time so as to be of a valuable identification medium. (iii) The marks are found to be varying in nature even with those cameras manufactured at similar time. (iv) The influence of f/number and object distance has great effect in the recording of the frame-edge marks during exposure of the film. The above findings would serve as a useful addition to the technique of camera edge-mark comparisons.
  10. Jayaprakash PT, Srinivasan GJ
    Forensic Sci Int, 2013 Jun 10;229(1-3):166.e1-13.
    PMID: 23582744 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.03.038
    Forensic identification of juvenile skulls is a problem area. Although the skull suture patterns have been suggested for use in individualizing human remains by comparing antemortem and postmortem radiographs, the age at which such patterns stabilize and can be useful for identification had been indicated as 7 years. Subsequent researchers have also concurred that antemortem and postmortem radiographs taken after the 7th year would be sufficient to meet the Daubert standard criteria for identifying skulls using radiographs. The suggestions regarding the lower age limit for stabilization of suture patterns have not been verified so far. In this research, the patterns of the sutures in the ectocranial and endocranial surfaces of the lambdoid region in 22 juvenile skulls (age range 1-10 years) and 100 adult skulls (age range 17-70 years) were studied for the relative incidence of different types of suture patterns. The radiographic recordings of the suture patterns in the juvenile skulls were also compared with the patterns seen in the ectocranial and endocranial surfaces. The findings of this study support the proposition that the suture patterns are plastic during the juvenile stage and that they undergo significant remodeling during growth into adulthood. Indicating the possibility of growth related alterations in the sutural morphology, the onset of adulthood is suggested as the age for stabilization of suture patterns in the context of prescribing standards for such criteria as those relating to Daubert.
  11. Nayak VC, Rastogi P, Kanchan T, Yoganarasimha K, Kumar GP, Menezes RG
    Forensic Sci Int, 2010 Apr 15;197(1-3):67-9.
    PMID: 20071110 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.055
    The fingerprints are very typical for a human being. The present study was undertaken to study the gender differences in fingerprint ridge density in Chinese and Malaysian population. The study done on 200 subjects (100 males and 100 females) of Chinese origin and 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females) of Malaysian origin revealed that significant gender differences occur in the finger ridge density. Fingerprint mean ridge density of 12 ridges/25 mm(2) or less is found to be more likely to be of males and a mean ridge count of more the 13 ridges/25 mm(2) is more likely of female origin in Chinese subjects. Fingerprint mean ridge density of 11 ridges/25 mm(2) or less is found to be more likely to be of males and a mean ridge count of more the 13 ridges/25 mm(2) is more likely of female origin in Malaysian subjects.
  12. Lim KB, Jeevan NH, Jaya P, Othman MI, Lee YH
    Forensic Sci Int, 2001 Jun 01;119(1):109-12.
    PMID: 11348801
    Allele frequencies for the nine STRs genetic loci included in the AmpFlSTR Profiler kit were obtained from samples of unrelated individuals comprising 139-156 Malays, 149-153 Chinese and 132-135 Indians, residing in Malaysia.
  13. Ang HC, Sornarajah R, Lim SE, Syn CK, Tan-Siew WF, Chow ST, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int, 2005 Mar 10;148(2-3):243-5.
    PMID: 15639622
    Allele frequencies for the 13 CODIS (Combined DNA Index System, USA) STR loci included in the AmpFISTR Profiler Plus and AmpFISTR Cofiler kits (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA) were determined in a sample of 197 unrelated Malays in Singapore.
  14. Seah LH, Jeevan NH, Othman MI, Jaya P, Ooi YS, Wong PC, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int, 2003 Dec 17;138(1-3):134-7.
    PMID: 14642733
    Allele frequencies for the 15 STR loci in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit were determined and compared for the three main ethnic groups of the Malaysian population comprising 210 Malays, 219 Chinese and 209 Indians. Blood was placed on FTA paper and DNA was purified in-situ.
  15. Bong YU, Kuppuswamy R
    Forensic Sci Int, 2010 Feb 25;195(1-3):86-92.
    PMID: 20022189 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.11.018
    Restoration of obliterated engraved marks on high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy (AA7010) surfaces by etching technique was studied. The alloy surfaces were mechanically engraved with some identification marks using "Gravograph". The marks were then erased by removing the metal to different levels up to and below the depth of engraving. Five metallographic reagents were tested on the obliterated surfaces by etching. The following two methods (i) immersion in 10% aq. phosphoric acid and (ii) alternate swabbing of 60% HCl and 40% NaOH were found to be quite effective to reveal the obliterated marks. These two procedures were also able to show effectively the marks obliterated by over-engraving and centre punching. Of the two techniques immersion in phosphoric acid provided more contrast. Interestingly, alternate swabbing of 60% HCl and 40% NaOH presented itself to be the common reagent for restoration on pure aluminium as well as its alloy surfaces. This is evident from our own current experiments and those of earlier researchers [G. Peeler, S. Gutowski, H. Wrobel, G. Dower, The restoration of impressed characters on aluminium alloy motor cycle frames, J. Forensic Ident. 58 (1) (2008) 27-32; M. Izhar M. Baharum, R. Kuppuswamy, A.A. Rahman, Restoration of engraved marks on aluminium surfaces by etching technique, Forensic Sci. Int. 177 (2008) 221-227]. The findings have assumed importance as engines and chassis of cars and frames of firearms are currently made of high strength aluminium alloys and recovery on these surfaces by current methods is not satisfactory.
  16. Zaili MA, Kuppuswamy R, Harun H
    Forensic Sci Int, 2007 Aug 24;171(1):27-32.
    PMID: 17088038
    It is known that restoration of erased engraved identification marks on the engine and the chassis of a car or on a firearm has low success rate. Unlike stamping, engraving on a metal surface leaves no pronounced, permanent subsurface deformation in the crystalline structure, also called dislocation that can be revealed by suitable methods. Hence, the current research work investigated whether metallographic reagents used in the restoration of stamp (compression) marks could be applied to recover engraved marks on steel surfaces and also to establish the sensitivity and effectiveness of some of these reagents for the restoration of the marks. Experiments were conducted by mechanically engraving alphanumeric characters on several steel plates using a computer controlled engraving machine called Gravograph. The markings were later erased from the above steel plates by removing the metal in stages of 0.01 mm through 0.04 mm below the bottom of the engraving. Several plates were thus prepared wherein each one had been abraded to a specific depth. Then eight metallographic reagents were tested on each one of the above erased plates using a swabbing technique. The results had shown that while most of the reagents were able to restore marks up to certain levels of erasure, the reagent 5 g copper sulphate, 60 ml water, 30 ml concentrated ammonium hydroxide and 60 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid restored marks erased to a depth of 0.04 mm below the engraving depth, thus presenting itself the most sensitive reagent. Quite significantly, the above reagent was also able to decipher successfully the original engraved marks that had been erased and engraved with a new number, or obliterated by centre punching. The results of this research work should benefit the forensic practitioners engaged in the serial number recovery on vehicles, firearms and other objects.
  17. Khoo LS, Lai PS, Saidin MH, Noor Z, Mahmood MS
    Forensic Sci Int, 2018 Jul;288:242-255.
    PMID: 29783180 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.04.017
    Cadaver body bags are the conventional method to contain a human body or human remains, which includes the use for storage and transportation of the deceased at any crime scene or disaster scene. During disasters, most often than not, the first responders including the police will be equipped with cadaver body bags to do scene processing of human remains and collection of personal belongings at the disaster site. However, in an unanticipated large scale disasters involving hundreds and thousands of fatalities, cadaver body bags supplies may be scarce. The authors have therefore innovated the cling film plastic wrap as an alternative for the cadaver body bag used at the disaster site. The plastic wrap was tested on six different experimental subjects, i.e. both adult and child mannequins; body parts of the mannequin figure (arm and hand); a human adult subject and an unknown dead body. The strengths of the cling film plastic wrap are discussed in comparison with the cadaver body bag in the aspects of costing, weight, duration of the wrap, water and body fluid resistant properties, visibility and other advantages. An average savings of more than 5000% are noted for both adult body wrap and child body wrap compared to the cadaver body wrap. This simply means that the authors can either wrap 25 adult dead bodies or 80 children dead bodies with the cost of 1 cadaver body bag. The cling film plastic wrap has proven to have significant innovation impact for dead body management particularly by the first responders in large scale disasters. With proper handling of dead bodies, first responders can manage the dead with dignity and respect in an overwhelmed situation to facilitate the humanitarian victim identification process later.
  18. Abdul Rahim AH, Davies JA, Liversidge HM
    Forensic Sci Int, 2023 May;346:111654.
    PMID: 37011430 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111654
    Reliability, or repeatability, of permanent tooth staging techniques is usually expressed as Cohen's Kappa. This single value obscures information about the quantity and allocation of disagreements. In this study we assess and compare intra-observer reliability of permanent tooth staging techniques described by Nolla, Moorrees et al. and Demirjian et al. The sample was panoramic radiographs of healthy dental patients made up of 100 males and 100 females aged 6-15 years. All permanent teeth on the left side (excluding third molars) were scored twice. Weighted Kappa and percentage agreement were calculated. Results show Kappa values for all teeth combined as 0.918, 0.922 and 0.938 for Demirjian (number of teeth N = 2682), Nolla (N = 2698) and Moorrees (N = 2674) respectively. A comparison of Kappa values between upper and lower teeth showed marginally higher values for upper incisors and lower molar for all three scoring methods. Small differences in Kappa values were noted between tooth types with the upper first molar having smaller values than other teeth. Percentage agreement ranged from 81 % (Moorrees), 86 % (Nolla) to 87 % (Demirjian). Tooth stage differences between first and second assessments were not more than one stage. Our findings show that Demirjian scoring is marginally more reliable than Nolla or Moorrees. We suggest that (1) data for reliability are tabulated in full to show the quantity and allocation of disagreement between first and second readings, and (2) that the reliability sample is sufficiently large with a wide age range to include multiple different tooth stages.
  19. Jayaprakash PT, Hashim N, Yusop RA
    Forensic Sci Int, 2015 Aug;253:131.e1-10.
    PMID: 26103927 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.04.026
    Video vision mixer based skull-photo superimposition is a popular method for identifying skulls retrieved from unidentified human remains. A report on the reliability of the superimposition method suggested increased failure rates of 17.3 to 32% to exclude and 15 to 20% to include skulls while using related and unrelated face photographs. Such raise in failures prompted an analysis of the methods employed for the research. The protocols adopted for assessing the reliability are seen to vary from those suggested by the practitioners in the field. The former include overlaying the skull- and face-images on the basis of morphology by relying on anthropometric landmarks on the front plane of the face-images and evaluating the goodness of match depending on mix-mode images; the latter consist of orienting the skull considering landmarks on both the eye and ear planes of the face- and skull-images and evaluating the match utilizing images seen in wipe-mode in addition to those in mix-mode. Superimposition of a skull with face-images of five living individuals in two sets of experiments, one following the procedure described for the research on reliability and the other applying the methods suggested by the practitioners has shown that overlaying the images on the basis of morphology depending on the landmarks on the front plane alone and assessing the match in mix-mode fails to exclude the skull. However, orienting the skull relying on the relationship between the anatomical landmarks on the skull- and face-images such as Whitnall's tubercle and exocanthus in the front (eye) plane and the porion and tragus in the rear (ear) plane as well as assessing the match using wipe-mode images enables excluding that skull while superimposing with the same set of face-images.
  20. Baharum MI, Kuppuswamy R, Rahman AA
    Forensic Sci Int, 2008 May 20;177(2-3):221-7.
    PMID: 18313246 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.01.004
    A study has been made of the characteristics of restoration of obliterated engraved marks on aluminium surfaces by etching technique. By etching different reagents on 0.61mm thick sheets of aluminium (99wt%) on which some engraved marks had been erased to different depths it was found that the reagent 60% hydrochloric acid and 40% sodium hydroxide on alternate swabbing on the surfaces was found to be the most sensitive one for these metal surfaces. This reagent was able to restore marks in the above plates erased down to 0.04mm below the bottom of the engraving. The marks also presented excellent contrast with the background. This reagent was further experimented with similar aluminium surfaces, but of relatively greater thickness of 1.5mm. It was noticed that the recovery depth increased slightly to 0.06mm; this suggested the dependence of recovery depth on the thickness of the sheet metal. Further, the depth of restoration decreased in cases where the original number was erased and over which a new number was engraved; the latter results are similar to those of steel surfaces reported earlier [M.A.M. Zaili, R. Kuppuswamy, H. Harun, Restoration of engraved marks on steel surfaces by etching technique, Forensic Sci. Int. 171 (2007) 27-32].
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links