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This article seeks to examine the co-productions of security and emerging technologies in the two contexts of forensic genetics and forensic facial identification. These surfacing co-productions, deemed here as 'forensic biosecurity', are evolving rapidly in both theoretical and practical terms. Definitions and conceptualisations of security are contingent and multiple, impacting forensic biological techniques and innovations in both predictable and unpredictable ways. The military, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration, customs, border patrol, mass disasters, cold case reviews, health, defence, private security, and biometric applications are just a few of the many security environments where forensic biological techniques are applied. The continual development of variations in forensic genetics and facial identification renders a futher blurring of traditional evidence with that of intelligence. Drawing in particular from Joly's (in: S. Hilgartner, C. Miller, and R. Hagendijk (eds) Science and democracy: Making knowledge and making power in the biosciences and beyond, Taylor and Francis, London, 2015) work on emerging technologies, forensic biosecurity is analysed from a science and technology studies (STS) perspective. An emerging technology in the initial stages is thought to be highly flexible with the potential impacts on society and criminal justice being possibly difficult to predict. Once the science and/or technology has become entrenched and mainstream, it may be difficult to change. The enthusiasm portrayed by law enforcement and security agencies regarding emerging technologies, shows that it is important to remain somewhat cautious about the proliferation of these techniques. While such science and technologies appear to be effective and innovative in the present, it is difficult to accurately forecast or predict the future consequences of such innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using administrative data on the universe of police recorded crime linked to judicial outcomes for England and Wales from January 2013 to December 2018, we document—for the first time—large and persistent spatial inequalities in the proportion of solved and unsolved crimes across small neighborhoods covering a whole country. We find substantial differences across neighborhoods in the same municipality or police force. Fixed effects decompositions suggest that neighborhoods have different clearance rates across different crimes and that high‐crime neighborhoods also have high clearance rates, but with substantial heterogeneity across offences. Clearance rates correlate systematically with neighborhood composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Over the years, numerous studies have suggested the occurrence of a peculiar phenomenon known as "CPRIC" during the revival process. The revelation of this phenomenon has ignited widespread discussion and investigation, yet many enigmas remain unsolved. This study describes the case of a 52‐year‐old man diagnosed with acute anterior myocardial infarction, who experienced ventricular fibrillation while awaiting further treatment. Despite ultimately not regaining spontaneous circulation, he remained conscious for a period during chest compressions and showed signs of resistance. Methods. PubMed and Web of Science were searched until July 11, 2024. We included original studies and case reports relevant to CPRIC. For case reports, we extracted information on the author (year), country, patients, location, compression, signs of CPRIC, treatment of CPRIC, and patient outcomes. For other studies, we included the author (year), country, participants, and results. The extracted data were synthesized using a narrative approach. Results. Of 3038 articles, 32 were included, i.e., 18 case reports (24 cases), 9 cross‐sectional surveys, and 5 cohort studies. In CPRIC cases, patients exhibited various manifestations including opening their eyes, speaking, and moving. Other included studies explored healthcare workers' awareness and experiences of CPRIC, the incidence and manifestations of CPRIC, the impact of CPRIC on patient outcomes, memories and perceptions of cardiac arrest indicating consciousness, the effects of CPRIC on rescuers, and the management of CPRIC. Conclusions. There is an urgent need to establish a globally recognized definition of CPRIC. It is crucial to develop clear algorithms that focus not only on identifying this phenomenon but also on determining the best approaches to manage it. Furthermore, CPRIC can cause multiple interruptions during CPR, making it essential to differentiate whether these interruptions are due to CPRIC or indicative of a return of spontaneous circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multidisciplinary approach in the investigation of unidentified decedents employs the use of a variety of scientific approaches. This approach is applied in casework in North Carolina, USA and has led to successful identifications using anthropological analysis and population affinity estimation using 3D-ID, investigative genetic geneaology (IGG), and isotopic analyses. Results from one scientific approach can help to inform the others, providing more information about the decedent, and thus enhancing the investigation. This case report outlines three cases from North Carolina that combine each of these scientific approaches and serve as examples of collaboration in a multidisciplinary approach. Key points Anthropological analyses including population affinity using 3D-ID can be used in conjunction with isotopic analyses in estimating geographic origin. Results from anthropological and isotopic analyses can help to narrow down or direct IGG. Multidisciplinary collaboration in the investigation of unidentified decedents enhances the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In 2021, three documentary series revitalised the unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996 in West Cork, Ireland, for a global audience of true crime enthusiasts. This article analyses the podcast West Cork (Audible 2018/iTunes 2021) and two streaming series, Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie (Sky Crime 2021) and Sophie: A Murder in West Cork (Netflix 2021) and argues that they conferred documentary celebrity on their central figures, Sophie Toscan du Plantier and Ian Bailey. The celebritisation of these individuals as victim and villain, was achieved through the development of a convergent narrative across the three series, one salted with the plot twists, end-of-episode cliff hangers, emotional confrontations and supernatural speculation familiar to viewers of true crime, reality television and serial drama. Moreover, the gendered discourse deployed by these documentaries posthumously transformed Sophie Toscan du Plantier into a world-famous victim while providing an opportunity for Ian Bailey, who remains the prime suspect, to self-brand as a Gothic villain. Bailey's 2022 announcement that he would launch a podcast and television series and his self-promotional activity on TikTok confirm the cultural capital associated with documentary celebrity, even, or especially, for the infamous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming of significant interest owing to their environmental benefits; however, energy efficiency concerns remain unsolved and require more investigation. A major issue is a lack of EV charging infrastructure, which can lead to operational difficulties. Effective infrastructure development, including well-placed charging stations (CS), is critical to enhancing connectivity. To overcome this, consumers want real-time data on charging station availability, neighboring station locations, and access times. This work leverages the Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP) to enhance the information collection process for charging stations through the Internet of Things (IoT). The evolving IoT paradigm enables the use of sensors and data transfer to give real-time information. Strategic sensor placement helps forecast server access to neighboring stations, optimize vehicle scheduling, and estimate wait times. A recommender system is designed to identify stations with more rapidly charging rates, along with uniform pricing. In addition, the routing protocol has a privacy protection strategy to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard EV data during exchanges between charging stations and user locations. The system is simulated with MATLAB 2020a, and the data are controlled and secured in the cloud. The predicted algorithm's performance is evaluated using several kinds of standards, including power costs, vehicle counts, charging costs, energy consumption, and optimization values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Sexual Homicide (SH) cases, analyzing the transition to cold cases through a non‐discretionary lens. Utilizing the SH International Database, it explores the interplay between offender behavior, victim characteristics, and crime context. Advanced methodologies, including sequential logistic regression and Artificial Neural Networks, identify key predictors of case resolution. Results highlight the critical influence of victim intoxication, high‐risk activities, and the location of the victim's body on case solvability. The study also reveals the significant role of offender forensic awareness and the complexity of crime scenes in hindering case resolution. These findings underline the multifaceted nature of SH cases, emphasizing the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between victim, offender, and contextual factors in solving these challenging cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, and enlarged thumbs and halluces. Approximately 55% of RTS cases result from pathogenic variants in the CREBBP gene, with an additional 8% linked to the EP300 gene. Given the close relationship between these two genes and their involvement in epigenomic modulation, RTS is grouped into chromatinopathies. The extensive clinical heterogeneity observed in RTS, coupled with the growing number of disorders involving the epigenetic machinery, poses a challenge to a phenotype-based diagnostic approach for these conditions. Here, we describe the first case of a patient clinically diagnosed with RTS with a CREBBP truncating variant in mosaic form. We also review previously described cases of mosaicism in CREBBP and apply clinical diagnostic guidelines to these patients, confirming the good specificity of the consensus. Nonetheless, these reports raise questions about the potential underdiagnosis of milder cases of RTS. The application of a targeted phenotype-based approach, coupled with high-depth NGS, may enhance the diagnostic yield of whole-exome sequencing (WES) in mild and mosaic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a system that solves simple physics word problems (PWPs) stated in the English language. The main feature of the system is that it is deterministic and yields a correct solution based on real physics formulas. The program generates the solution in a tabular form, showing givens, unknowns, and solution steps. We performed a thorough analysis on the previous work in this field. Most of the research was accumulated in math word problem (MWP) solvers. We have found that these programs are not capable of solving problems from Ukrainian physics textbooks. We identified several types of physics problems: theoretical, value conversion, value comparison, unknowns finding, value change. We developed separate problem-solving strategies for each type. The program uses named entity recognition (NER), a technique in natural language processing (NLP), to identify key elements in the problem text. We created a set of rules for marking these entities. Then, problem type recognition is performed. Depending on the type, the list of entities is converted into the internal problem representation. Value conversion and comparison problems are easy to handle. We developed a recursive algorithm for solving unknowns-finding problems which turned out to be a simplified version of Stanford Research Institute Problem Solver (STRIPS) algorithm. However, developing a universal algorithm for solving value-change problems presents a significant challenge. We believe this problem type belongs to the NP-hard class, indicating inherent difficulty in finding optimal solutions. The interface of the program is a web-application. The user can type the problem text and see the solution on a web page. Additionally, the result of NER is presented. Constructing a general problem solver is challenging. While our program can solve basic physics problems, complex problems involving forces, energy, etc., remain unsolved. However, our solver has great potential for future development. We have thoroughly analyzed its capabilities and limitations and proposed ideas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault survivors who report to the criminal legal system often need the assistance of victim advocates to navigate this complex and often retraumatizing system. In recent years, victim advocates have been called upon to assist more survivors in "cold case" sexual assault prosecutions. The term "cold case" refers to a criminal incident that is reopened years after it was initially reported, often because new evidence has become available. In this study, we interviewed sexual assault survivors and community-based victim advocates about their experiences working together in cold cases. These cases were reopened because victims' sexual assault kits (SAKs; also known as "rape kits") had not been submitted by the police for forensic DNA testing in a timely way. When these SAKs were finally tested, the biological evidence produced new investigatory leads, and prosecutors wanted to move forward with criminal charges against the offenders. Re-opening these legal cases caused significant emotional distress for survivors, but most did not want mental health counseling during their legal re-engagement. Instead, survivors wanted their advocates to provide emotional support while focusing on their tangible needs so that they had sufficient life stability to re-engage in the prosecution process. Survivors also needed extensive legal advocacy from their advocates throughout their hearings and trials. These results underscore the need for cold case protocols that train practitioners about the long-term impacts of trauma and the importance of centering survivors' individual needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative strategies can be utilized to investigate unsolved homicides, particularly through translational criminology. We present a case study of a collaboration developed between faculty and students in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and Michigan State Police's First District in Lansing, Michigan. We highlight the benefits of including academics and students in these investigations and explore and critique the methodology we utilized to review a 41-year-old cold case homicide. We argue that these teams are a valuable resource with implications for the criminal justice system, the legitimacy of law enforcement, and the victims and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As technological advancements increase the probative value of DNA evidence (by revealing matches between suspects and evidence that could not be made with the use of older technology), cold case prosecutions will likely increase. At the same time, while DNA evidence can often lead to the identification of a guilty suspect, the prosecution of that suspect may be challenging, if not impossible. Some of these crimes were committed before DNA was used-or even considered-as an investigative tool. Oftentimes, rules governing the admissibility of evidence in such cases were drafted by individuals who likely (and quite reasonably) never contemplated the possibility of a case being prosecuted more thanforty years after the crime was committed. For these reasons, practical and legal issues that rarely arise in typical investigations and prosecutions arejhr more likely to arise in cold cases. The present article examines such issues, with a focus on a cold case involving a suspected serial sex o#ender. It begins with a description of the crimes connected to the defendant and the initial investigations into those crimes. It then describes the cold case investigation and prosecution. Finally, the article examines both practical and legal issues that arose in the context of this prosecution and that should be increasingly anticipated as cases age; these issues relate to (among other things) ex post facto laws, hearsay and the Confrontation Clause, the admissibility of evidence of the defendant's uncharged bad acts, biological evidence, the scope of search warrants, and anticipated defenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a book review of "California Gothic: The Dark Side of the Dream" by Charles L. Crow. The author explores the contrasting narratives of California as a paradise and the dark, haunting history that lies beneath the surface. Crow analyzes literature, popular media, and history to expose the gothic underbelly of the state and its culture. The book is organized into six chapters that discuss different aspects of "California gothic," including colonization, violence, alternative communities, environmental devastation, and film noir. It is recommended for those interested in California, American Gothic, western studies, popular literature, and popular history of the western U.S. [Extracted from the article]

The Special Issue in the journal "Forensic Sciences Research" focuses on the challenges faced by forensic experts in identifying human remains, highlighting the importance of collaborative and evidence-based approaches. The articles feature diverse cases and methods, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary strategy involving various scientific disciplines. Authors from 11 countries contribute to the issue, showcasing innovative techniques such as virtual re-association of fragmented remains and stable isotope analyses in solving identification cases. The Special Issue underscores the significance of forensic anthropology and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex forensic identification scenarios. [Extracted from the article]

Unidentified human remains have historically been investigated nationally by law enforcement authorities. However, this approach is outdated in a globalized world with rapid transportation means, where humans easily move long distances across borders. Cross-border cooperation in solving cold-cases is rare due to political, administrative or technical challenges. It is fundamental to develop new tools to provide rapid and cost-effective leads for international cooperation. In this work, we demonstrate that isotopic measurements are effective screening tools to help identify cold-cases with potential international ramifications. We first complete existing databases of hydrogen and sulfur isotopes in human hair from residents across North America by compiling or analyzing hair from Canada, the United States (US) and Mexico. Using these databases, we develop maps predicting isotope variations in human hair across North America. We demonstrate that both δ2H and δ34S values of human hair are highly predictable and display strong spatial patterns. Multi-isotope analysis combined with dual δ2H and δ34S geographic probability maps provide evidence for international travel in two case studies. In the first, we demonstrate that multi-isotope analysis in bulk hair of deceased border crossers found in the US, close to the Mexico-US border, help trace their last place of residence or travel back to specific regions of Mexico. These findings were validated by the subsequent identification of these individuals through the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in Tucson, Arizona. In the second case study, we demonstrate that sequential multi-isotope analysis along the hair strands of an unidentified individual found in Canada provides detailed insights into the international mobility of this individual during the last year of life. In both cases, isotope data provide strong leads towards international travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore cases of missing persons suspected of being criminal. Specifically, this research aims to empirically describe the circumstances surrounding criminal disappearances and examine whether there are different subcategories within these cases using a victimological framework. The data used in this study come from an operational police database. The sample includes 155 unsolved missing person cases whose thorough investigation by the police concluded that a criminal motive remained the most likely hypothesis. These cases occurred on the entire territory of metropolitan France and overseas. Multidimensional scale analysis was used to explore the context of disappearance according to missing person characteristics, lifestyle, everyday activities, and situational exposure at the time of the disappearance. Results show that the distribution of variables in a two‐dimensional space reveals four distinct different categories related to lifestyle and situational exposure: riskier lifestyle, riskier situation, safer situation, and safer lifestyle. This study is the first to empirically explore unsolved missing person cases suspected of a criminal outcome. Moreover, the framework used in this study demonstrates the importance of victimology in an investigative context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequences of dark, organic-rich sediment layers (sapropels) exist throughout the Neogene of the Mediterranean Sea sedimentary record. While the mechanisms behind their cyclical deposition are not entirely understood, they have been found to correspond with precession minima (Northern Hemisphere [NH] insolation maxima). This causes NH summer monsoon to shift northward and intensify, which increases precipitation over North Africa and alters Mediterranean freshwater budget, leading to restricted bottom-water ventilation and anoxia. Most Mediterranean sapropels were deposited during interglacial periods, but sapropel S6 formed during the penultimate glaciation of Marine Isotopic Stage 6 (MIS 6; 190–130 ka), during which the Eurasian ice sheet extended to its maximum size of the Quaternary. Eurasian ice-sheet melting may have provided an additional input of freshwater to the Mediterranean during S6 deposition. To test this hypothesis, we present a multiproxy paleoecological (planktic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils, pollen, dinocysts) and geochemical (foraminiferal δ18O) study of S6 from the Ionian Sea. We confirm that S6 deposition resulted from an interaction of two different mechanisms of freshwater input to the Mediterranean, in which: (1) local ice-sheet meltwater discharge preconditioned the basin for stratification; and (2) increased monsoon activity over North Africa caused intense precipitation and river runoff that exacerbated water-column stratification. Our results provide new evidence for the prevalence of mild/temperate and humid conditions during S6 deposition, dispelling the notion that this "glacial" sapropel formed under cold and dry conditions and we document signals of warm (interstadial) and cold (stadial) conditions within S6 in the eastern Mediterranean basin. • Climate during sapropel S6 was warm/mild and humid. • Regional glacial meltwater contributed to S6 deposition. • MIS 6 millennial-scale climate variability recognized in the Ionian Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]