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McIntyre DB, Dawson BM, Long BM, Barton PS. A review of multi-disciplinary decomposition research and key drivers of variation in decay. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:2181-2192. [PMID: 38622312 PMCID: PMC11306653 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03222-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The decomposition of animal remains is a multifaceted process, involving ecological, biological, and chemical interactions. While the complexity is acknowledged through concepts like the necrobiome, it's unclear if this complexity is reflected in research. Appreciation of the complexity of decomposition is crucial for identifying sources of variation in estimations of time since death in medico-legal science, as well as building broader ecological knowledge of the decomposition process. To gain insights into the extent of multidisciplinary research in the field of decomposition science, we conducted an examination of peer-reviewed literature on four key drivers of variation: volatile organic compounds, microbes, drugs/toxins, and insects. Among 650 articles, we identified their scientific discipline, driver/s of variation investigated, and year of publication. We found that 19% explored relationships between two drivers, while only 4% investigated interactions between three. None considered all four drivers. Over the past three decades, there has been a steady increase in decomposition research publications, signifying its growing importance. Most research (79%) was linked to forensic science, highlighting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in decomposition science. Overall, our review underscores the need to incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and theory into contemporary decomposition research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna B McIntyre
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia.
- Graduate Research School, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia.
| | - Blake M Dawson
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Long
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
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Liu M, Qu Y, Luo Y, Jallow BJJ, Ma Y, Luciano A, Huang J, Cai J, Meng F. HOFE: an interactive forensic entomological database. Database (Oxford) 2024; 2024:baae058. [PMID: 39001614 PMCID: PMC11245407 DOI: 10.1093/database/baae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The significance of entomological evidence in inferring the time, location and cause of death has been demonstrated both theoretically and practically. With the advancement of sequencing technologies, reports have emerged on necrophagous insects' nuclear genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes and mitochondrial genomes. However, within the field of forensic entomology, there is currently no available database that can integrate, store and share the resources of necrophagous insects. The absence of a database poses an inconvenience to the application of entomological evidence in judicial practice and hampers the development of the forensic entomology discipline. Given this, we have developed the Home Of Forensic Entomology database, encompassing 10 core functional modules: Home, Browse, Mitochondria, Proteome, JBrowse, Search, BLAST, Tools, Case base and Maps. Notably, the 'Tools' module enables multiple sequence alignment analysis (Muscle), homologous protein prediction (Genewise), primer design (Primer), large-scale genomic analysis (Lastz), Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, as well as expression profiling (PCA Analysis, Hcluster and Correlation Heatmap). In addition, the present database also works as an interactive platform for researchers by sharing forensic entomological case reports and uploading data and material. This database provides potential visitors with a comprehensive function for multi-omics data analysis, offers substantial references to researchers and criminal scene investigators and facilitates the utilization of entomological evidence in court. Database URL: http://ihofe.com/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandie Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yihong Qu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yifei Luo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Binta J J Jallow
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yuting Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Afito Luciano
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
| | - Jifeng Cai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
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Evans M. Interpol review of fire debris analysis and fire investigation 2019-2022. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2022; 6:100310. [PMID: 36578979 PMCID: PMC9791831 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Evans
- Chief, Arson and Explosives Section II, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Forensic Science Laboratory-Washington, Ammendale, MD, USA
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Pacheco VA, VanLaerhoven SL. Flame impingement affects survival and development of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on securely wrapped remains. CANADIAN SOCIETY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00085030.2022.2027600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo A. Pacheco
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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Monetti L, Voulgari M, Karagiorgou I, Moraitis K. Macroscopic determination of the pre-burning condition of human remains recovered from an unusual forensic context: A case report. J Forensic Leg Med 2021; 78:102115. [PMID: 33454655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the taphonomic process of burning allows forensic practitioners to better interpret remains and reconstruct the burning incident in a medicolegal investigation. This can yield critical information, especially when other details, such as the biological profile, are obscured by fire. A forensic case involving human remains recovered within a Greek Orthodox cemetery that exhibited a distinctive pattern of differential burning is reported. The bones exhibited a range of differential burning in a pattern inconsistent with the anatomical position of the remains during heat exposure. No macroscopic signs of skeletal trauma or evidence of dismemberment were present on the remains. The pre-burning condition of the bones was inferred based on the presence of the differential burning and its localization identified through analysis of a suite of macroscopic heat-induced traits, as well as consideration of the forensic context. The anthropologists concluded that the bones were skeletonized prior to burning and that the remains were once interred or stored in an ossuary and were likely burned in a ritualistic manner, given the artifacts present and the conspicuous location of the burn area. This case highlights the practical experience required of forensic practitioners encountering burned remains and the necessity of understanding fire as a taphonomic agent that can be analyzed to determine pre-burning condition and the scenario of the burning event in a medicolegal investigation. Furthermore, this case underscores the achievability of pre-burning condition determination using macroscopic traits alone, even when there is a paucity of skeletal elements in the inventory. Due to knowledge of the funerary customs of modern-day Greece, the practitioners were able to interpret the origin of the remains, thereby this paper provides insight into a geographically specific forensic context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Myrsini Voulgari
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
| | - Ioanna Karagiorgou
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos Moraitis
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
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