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Sharif S, Wunder C, Amendt J, Qamar A. Variations in cuticular hydrocarbons of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) empty puparia: Insights for estimating late postmortem intervals. Int J Legal Med 2024:10.1007/s00414-024-03296-y. [PMID: 39103637 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03296-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Necrophagous flies, particularly blowflies, serve as vital indicators in forensic entomology and ecological studies, contributing to minimum postmortem interval estimations and environmental monitoring. The study investigates variations in the predominant cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) viz. n-C25, n-C27, n-C28, and n-C29 of empty puparia of Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, (Diptera: Calliphoridae) across diverse environmental conditions, including burial, above-ground and indoor settings, over 90 days. Notable trends include a significant decrease in n-C25 concentrations in buried and above-ground conditions over time, while n-C27 concentrations decline in buried and above-ground conditions but remain stable indoors. Burial conditions show significant declines in n-C27 and n-C29 concentrations over time, indicating environmental influences. Conversely, above-ground conditions exhibit uniform declines in all hydrocarbons. Indoor conditions remain relatively stable, with weak correlations between weathering time and CHC concentrations. Additionally, machine learning techniques, specifically Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), are employed for age estimation of empty puparia, yielding accurate predictions across different outdoor and indoor conditions. These findings highlight the subtle responses of CHC profiles to environmental stimuli, underscoring the importance of considering environmental factors in forensic entomology and ecological research. The study advances the understanding of insect remnant degradation processes and their forensic implications. Furthermore, integrating machine learning with entomological expertise offers standardized methodologies for age determination, enhancing the reliability of entomological evidence in legal contexts and paving the way for future research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swaima Sharif
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Forensic Biology, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, U.P, India
| | - Cora Wunder
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Forensic Biology, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Am Pulverturm 3, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Forensic Biology, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ayesha Qamar
- Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, U.P, India.
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2
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León-Morán LO, Pastor-Belda M, Viñas P, Arroyo-Manzanares N, García MD, Arnaldos MI, Campillo N. Discrimination of Diptera order insects based on their saturated cuticular hydrocarbon content using a new microextraction procedure and chromatographic analysis. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024; 16:2938-2947. [PMID: 38668806 DOI: 10.1039/d4ay00214h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The nature and proportions of hydrocarbons in the cuticle of insects are characteristic of the species and age. Chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons allows species discrimination, which is of great interest in the forensic field, where insects play a crucial role in estimating the minimum post-mortem interval. The objective of this work was the differentiation of Diptera order insects through their saturated cuticular hydrocarbon compositions (SCHCs). For this, specimens fixed in 70 : 30 ethanol : water, as recommended by the European Association for Forensic Entomology, were submitted to solid-liquid extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, providing preconcentration factors up to 76 for the SCHCs. The final organic extract was analysed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and GC coupled with mass spectrometry was applied to confirm the identity of the SCHCs. The analysed samples contained linear alkanes with the number of carbon atoms in the C9-C15 and C18-C36 ranges with concentrations between 0.1 and 125 ng g-1. Chrysomya albiceps (in its larval stage) showed the highest number of analytes detected, with 21 compounds, while Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina the lowest, with only 3 alkanes. Non-supervised principal component analysis and supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed and an optimal model to differentiate specimens according to their species was obtained. In addition, statistically significant differences were observed in the concentrations of certain SCHCs within the same species depending on the stage of development or the growth pattern of the insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- L O León-Morán
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - M Pastor-Belda
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - P Viñas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - N Arroyo-Manzanares
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - M D García
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty de Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - M I Arnaldos
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty de Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - N Campillo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
- External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECyTeF), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
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3
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Shang Y, Feng Y, Ren L, Zhang X, Yang F, Zhang C, Guo Y. Pupal Age Estimation of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) at Different Constant Temperatures Utilizing ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Cuticular Hydrocarbons. INSECTS 2023; 14:143. [PMID: 36835712 PMCID: PMC9965786 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a forensically important flesh fly that has potential value in estimating the PMImin. The precise pupal age estimation has great implications for PMImin estimation. During larval development, the age determination is straightforward by the morphological changes and variation of length and weight, however, the pupal age estimation is more difficult due to anatomical and morphological changes not being visible. Thus, it is necessary to find new techniques and methods that can be implemented by standard experiments for accurate pupal age estimation. In this study, we first investigated the potential of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) for the age estimations of S. peregrina pupae at different constant temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). The orthogonal projections latent structure discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) classification model was used to distinguish the pupae samples of different developmental ages. Then, a multivariate statistical regression model, partial least squares (PLS), was established with the spectroscopic and hydrocarbon data for pupal age estimations. We identified 37 CHCs with a carbon chain length between 11 and 35 in the pupae of S. peregrina. The results of the OPLS-DA model show a significant separation between different developmental ages of pupae (R2X > 0.928, R2Y > 0.899, Q2 > 0.863). The PLS model had a satisfactory prediction with a good fit between the actual and predicted ages of the pupae (R2 > 0.927, RMSECV < 1.268). The results demonstrate that the variation tendencies of spectroscopy and hydrocarbons were time-dependent, and ATR-FTIR and CHCs may be optimal for the age estimations of pupae of forensically important flies with implications for PMImin estimation in forensic practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yakai Feng
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Fengqin Yang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Changquan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
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4
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Kula C, Amendt J, Drijfhout FP, Moore HE. Geographical Variation of Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles of Adult Flies and Empty Puparia Amongst Three Populations of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:14-23. [PMID: 36373612 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are of great importance in forensic entomology and in determining the minimum post-mortem interval, as they may be the first group of insects to colonize decomposing remains. Reliable species identification is an essential prerequisite. Classically, morphological characters or DNA sequences are used for this purpose. However, depending on the species and the condition of the specimen, this can be difficult, e.g., in the case of empty fly puparia. Recent studies have shown that cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles are species-specific in necrophagous taxa and represent another promising tool for identification. However, the population-specific variability of these substances as a function of e.g., local climatic parameters has not yet been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the geographical variation of CHC profiles of the blowfly Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) depending on different countries of origin. Flies were reared in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey in common garden experiments under ambient conditions. CHC profiles of the resulting adult flies and their empty puparia were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data were visualized by principal component analysis and clustered by population. The populations of the United Kingdom and Germany, both having similar climates and being geographically close to each other, showed greater similarities in CHC profiles. However, the CHC profile of the Turkish population, whose climate is significantly different from the other two populations, was very different. Our study confirms the high potential of CHC analysis in forensic entomology but highlights the need to investigate geographical variability in chemical profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canan Kula
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8LA, UK
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Goethe-University, 60323 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Falko P Drijfhout
- Chemical Ecology Group, School of Chemical and Physical Science, Keele University, Keele ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Hannah E Moore
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8LA, UK
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5
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Zhang X, Bai Y, Ngando FJ, Qu H, Shang Y, Ren L, Guo Y. Predicting the Weathering Time by the Empty Puparium of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) with the ANN Models. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13090808. [PMID: 36135509 PMCID: PMC9502838 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Empty puparium are frequently collected at crime scenes and may provide valuable evidence in cases with a long postmortem interval (PMI). Here, we collected the puparium of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) for 120 days at three temperatures (10 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C) with the aim to estimate the weathering time of empty puparium. The CHC profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The partial least squares (PLS), support vector regression (SVR), and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to estimate the weathering time. This identified 49 CHCs with a carbon chain length between 10 and 33 in empty puparium. The three models demonstrate that the variation tendency of hydrocarbon could be used to estimate the weathering time, while the ANN models show the best predictive ability among these three models. This work indicated that puparial hydrocarbon weathering has certain regularity with weathering time and can gain insight into estimating PMI in forensic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Fernand Jocelin Ngando
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Hongke Qu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
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6
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Zhang X, Shang Y, Ren L, Qu H, Zhu G, Guo Y. A Study of Cuticular Hydrocarbons of All Life Stages in Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:108-119. [PMID: 34668022 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), a synanthropic flesh fly species found in different parts of the world, is of medical and forensic importance. Traditional methods of inferring developmental age rely on the life stage of insects and morphological changes. However, once the larvae reach the pupal and adult stage, morphological changes would become barely visible, so that the classic method would be invalid. Here, we studied the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of S. peregrina of the whole life cycle from larval stage to adult stage by GC-MS. Sixty-three compounds with carbon chain length ranging from 8 to 36 were detected, which could be categorized into four classes: n-alkanes, branched alkanes, alkenes, and unknowns. As developmental increased, branched alkanes dominant, and the content of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons is variable, especially for 2-methyl C19, DiMethyl C21, docosane (C22), and tricosane (C23). This study shows that the composition of CHC could be used to determine the developmental age of S. peregrina and aid in postmortem interval estimations in forensic science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongke Qu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guanghui Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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7
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AI in Forensic Medicine for the Practicing Doctor. Artif Intell Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-64573-1_221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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9
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Giles SB, Errickson D, Márquez-Grant N. Decomposition variability between the scene and autopsy examination and implications for post-mortem interval estimations. J Forensic Leg Med 2021; 85:102292. [PMID: 34839087 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Forensic experts rely on scene and/or autopsy photographs to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) when an in-situ assessment of decomposition is unfeasible. The degree of decomposition may vary between the scene and autopsy, which importantly could affect estimations of the unknown PMI in forensic casework. This study aimed to investigate decomposition variability between the scene and autopsy and assess the subsequent effect on the accuracy of PMI estimations. Scene and autopsy photographs from 94 cases with known PMI were used from the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner in Pittsburgh, United States. The total decomposition scoring (TDS) method measured the overall decomposition level, and 28 markers of decomposition were recorded as a percentage of the total body surface area (TBSA). In 60% of cases the TDS had increased at autopsy causing significant overestimations of the autopsy PMI and 86% of decomposition markers varied between the scene and autopsy. Decomposition progressed during mortuary time lags (MTL) of 3-44 h, where bodies were stored in a pre-autopsy refrigerator at 4 °C, suggesting that refrigeration may not always delay decomposition. This research also assisted in validating photographs as a proxy for real-time decomposition assessments. While the autopsy photographs conferred higher quality than the scene photographs, the scene photographs produced more accurate PMI estimations. Forensic experts should exhibit caution when estimating the PMI from autopsy photographs alone, as they may not accurately reflect scene decomposition. To prevent misinterpretation of the PMI estimation, both scene and autopsy photographs should always be requested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Giles
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Swindon, SN6 8LA, United Kingdom.
| | - David Errickson
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Swindon, SN6 8LA, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Márquez-Grant
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Swindon, SN6 8LA, United Kingdom
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10
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Wang Y, Gong Q, Liu ZJ, Wang M, Xu W, Wang YH, Wang JF. Research Progress on Developmental Biology of Sarcosaprophagous Insects. FA YI XUE ZA ZHI 2021; 37:673-682. [PMID: 35187920 DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.401216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Forensic entomology provides a feasible way to estimate postmortem interval (PMI), of which the growth and development of sarcosaprophagous insects is the most widely used indicator in forensic practice. Over the years, forensic entomologists have carried out a large number of studies on the development biology of sarcosaprophagous insects. This paper illustrates the main factors that affect the development of sarcosaprophagous insects, including temperature, humidity, light, food types and poisons. The development indicators of sarcosaprophagous insects were reviewed from the perspectives of morphology, differential gene expression and biochemical characteristics. It is emphasized that future research of development biology on sarcosaprophagous insects should fully absorb and integrate the methods of artificial intelligence and omics, and the research object also needs further expansion in order to establish a more objective and more accurate PMI estimation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qiang Gong
- Criminal Police Department of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, Chongqing 401147, China
| | - Zhen-Jiang Liu
- Criminal Police Department of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, Chongqing 401147, China
| | - Man Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wang Xu
- Department of Forensic Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ying-Hui Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiang-Feng Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China
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11
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Lee LC, Jemain AA. On overview of PCA application strategy in processing high dimensionality forensic data. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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12
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Sauzier G, van Bronswijk W, Lewis SW. Chemometrics in forensic science: approaches and applications. Analyst 2021; 146:2415-2448. [PMID: 33729240 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00082a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Forensic investigations are often reliant on physical evidence to reconstruct events surrounding a crime. However, there remains a need for more objective approaches to evidential interpretation, along with rigorously validated procedures for handling, storage and analysis. Chemometrics has been recognised as a powerful tool within forensic science for interpretation and optimisation of analytical procedures. However, careful consideration must be given to factors such as sampling, validation and underpinning study design. This tutorial review aims to provide an accessible overview of chemometric methods within the context of forensic science. The review begins with an overview of selected chemometric techniques, followed by a broad review of studies demonstrating the utility of chemometrics across various forensic disciplines. The tutorial review ends with the discussion of the challenges and emerging trends in this rapidly growing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Sauzier
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
| | - Wilhelm van Bronswijk
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
| | - Simon W Lewis
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
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13
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Moore HE, Hall MJR, Drijfhout FP, Cody RB, Whitmore D. Cuticular hydrocarbons for identifying Sarcophagidae (Diptera). Sci Rep 2021; 11:7732. [PMID: 33833323 PMCID: PMC8032779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition and quantity of insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) can be species-specific as well as sexually dimorphic within species. CHC analysis has been previously used for identification and ageing purposes for several insect orders including true flies (Diptera). Here, we analysed the CHC chemical profiles of adult males and females of eleven species of flesh flies belonging to the genus Sarcophaga Meigen (Sarcophagidae), namely Sarcophaga africa (Wiedemann), S. agnata Rondani, S. argyrostoma Robineau-Desvoidy, S. carnaria (Linnaeus), S. crassipalpis Macquart, S. melanura Meigen, S. pumila Meigen, S. teretirostris Pandellé, S. subvicina Rohdendorf, S. vagans Meigen and S. variegata (Scopoli). Cuticular hydrocarbons extracted from pinned specimens from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London using a customised extraction technique were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Time of preservation prior to extraction ranged between a few weeks to over one hundred years. CHC profiles (1) allowed reliable identification of a large majority of specimens, (2) differed between males and females of the same species, (3) reliably associated males and females of the same species, provided sufficient replicates (up to 10) of each sex were analysed, and (4) identified specimens preserved for up to over one hundred years prior to extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Moore
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, Wiltshire, SN6 8LA, UK.
| | - Martin J R Hall
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Falko P Drijfhout
- Chemical Ecology Group, School of Chemical and Physical Science, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, England, UK
| | - Robert B Cody
- JEOL USA, Inc. 11 Dearborn Rd., Peabody, MA, 01969, USA
| | - Daniel Whitmore
- Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany
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14
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Artificial Intelligence in Forensic Medicine. Artif Intell Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-58080-3_220-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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15
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AI in Forensic Medicine for the Practicing Doctor. Artif Intell Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-58080-3_221-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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16
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Midgley JM, Villet MH. Metrological framework for selecting morphological characters to identify species and estimate developmental maturity of forensically significant insect specimens. Forensic Sci Res 2020; 6:75-83. [PMID: 34007519 PMCID: PMC8110182 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2020.1794347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate age estimates of immature necrophagous insects associated with a human or animal body can provide evidence of how long the body has been dead. These estimates are based on species-specific details of the insects’ aging processes, and therefore require accurate species identification and developmental stage estimation. Many professionals who produce or use identified organisms as forensic evidence have little training in taxonomy or metrology, and appreciate the availability of formalized principles and standards for biological identification. Taxonomic identifications are usually most readily and economically made using categorical and qualitative morphological characters, but it may be necessary to use less convenient and potentially more ambiguous characters that are continuous and quantitative if two candidate species are closely related, or if identifying developmental stages within a species. Characters should be selected by criteria such as taxonomic specificity and metrological repeatability and relative error. We propose such a hierarchical framework, critique various measurements of immature insects, and suggest some standard approaches to determine the reliability of organismal identifications and measurements in estimating postmortem intervals. Relevant criteria for good characters include high repeatability (including low scope for ambiguity or parallax effects), pronounced discreteness, and small relative error in measurements. These same principles apply to individuation of unique objects in general.Key points Metrological rigour can increase in forensic entomology by selecting measurements based on their metrological qualities. Selection of high-quality features for morphological identification of organisms should consider these criteria: (1) pronounced discreteness of features (minimising group overlap or maximizing interval); (2) high repeatability of assessment (such as symmetrical width rather than asymmetrical length); (3) small relative error in measurement (selecting the physically largest continuous rigid feature for measurement). These metrological principles also apply to individuation of unique objects in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mark Midgley
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa.,Department of Natural Sciences, KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Martin Herrer Villet
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
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Manheim JM, Milton JR, Zhang Y, Kenttämaa HI. Fragmentation of Saturated Hydrocarbons upon Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Is Caused by Proton-Transfer Reactions. Anal Chem 2020; 92:8883-8892. [PMID: 32453940 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Manheim
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jacob R. Milton
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Y. Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Hilkka I. Kenttämaa
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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18
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Lunas BM, de Paula MC, Michelutti KB, Lima-Junior SE, Antonialli-Junior WF, Cardoso CAL. Hydrocarbon and Fatty Acid Composition from Blowfly Eggs Represents a Potential Complementary Taxonomic Tool of Forensic Importance. J Forensic Sci 2019; 64:1720-1725. [PMID: 31674674 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
One of the most important contributions of forensic entomology is to assist criminal expertise to determine the postmortem interval, which depends on the duration of the immature stages of insects of forensic interest. On the other hand, the time of development of the different stages varies according to the species; therefore, its identification is essential. Currently, few studies have investigated the use of cuticular hydrocarbons, and none regarding fatty acids, as complementary taxonomic tools to expedite species identification. Therefore, we evaluated whether cuticular hydrocarbons together with fatty acids of eggs of flies of the family Calliphoridae, main group of forensic interest, can be used to distinguish species. The analyses were performed by chromatographic techniques. The results show that there are significant differences between the composition of cuticular hydrocarbons and fatty acids between species and, therefore, they can be used to provide a complementary taxonomic tool to expedite the forensic expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belisa M Lunas
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Michele C de Paula
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Kamylla B Michelutti
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Sidnei E Lima-Junior
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - William F Antonialli-Junior
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Claudia A L Cardoso
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais (CERNA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
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Dong W, Dobler R, Dowling DK, Moussian B. The cuticle inward barrier in Drosophila melanogaster is shaped by mitochondrial and nuclear genotypes and a sex-specific effect of diet. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7802. [PMID: 31592352 PMCID: PMC6779114 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
An important role of the insect cuticle is to prevent wetting (i.e., permeation of water) and also to prevent penetration of potentially harmful substances. This barrier function mainly depends on the hydrophobic cuticle surface composed of lipids including cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). We investigated to what extent the cuticle inward barrier function depends on the genotype, comprising mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and investigated the contribution of interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear genotypes (mito-nuclear interactions) on this function. In addition, we assessed the effects of nutrition and sex on the cuticle barrier function. Based on a dye penetration assay, we find that cuticle barrier function varies across three fly lines that were captured from geographically separated regions in three continents. Testing different combinations of mito-nuclear genotypes, we show that the inward barrier efficiency is modulated by the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes independently. We also find an interaction between diet and sex. Our findings provide new insights into the regulation of cuticle inward barrier function in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dong
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- Applied Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralph Dobler
- Applied Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Damian K. Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bernard Moussian
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- Applied Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS—Inserm, iBV, Parc Valrose, Nice, France
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