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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.018 Byline: R.E. Wood (a), S.L. Kogon (b) Keywords: Radiology; Dental identification; Disasters Abstract: Multiple fatality incidents frequently have a significant forensic dental identification component. The use of radiographs, that provide objective evidence of the dentition prior to and after death is a vital part of the reconciliation procedure. Although these events share some common elements, every multiple fatality incident response has its own idiosyncrasies that require both flexibility and advance planning. The focus, from a post mortem perspective, is the making of excellent, permanent, and archival-quality images. The post mortem plan should have a capability for conventional film-based and digital imaging. Additionally, images should be produced in a radiobiologically responsible manner using optimum body-substance precautions. Finally, images (both ante mortem and post mortem) must be held in a secure fashion at a distance, protected from further hazard. Author Affiliation: (a) Centre for Forensic Sciences and Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 2M9, Canada (b) Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada Article History: Received 8 February 2010; Revised 3 April 2010; Accepted 11 April 2010

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.02.031 Byline: David Sweet O.C. Keywords: Forensic dentistry; Identification; Disaster victim identification; DVI; Mass fatality incident Abstract: A description of the International Criminal Police Organization and its role in disaster victim identification is provided along with a summary of the standards developed and circulated to responders in INTERPOL member countries (188 throughout the world) to insure evidence-based DVI practices. Following the INTERPOL-mediated DVI response in 2005 to the SE Asia tsunami, many lessons learned have been recorded. Based on these current standards, INTERPOL's approach to DVI reflects a modern approach and philosophy. Author Affiliation: INTERPOL Standing Committee on DVI, BOLD Forensic Laboratory, The University of British Columbia, 202 - 6190 Agronomy Road, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z3 Article History: Received 4 February 2010; Accepted 24 February 2010

Snow avalanche victims have only a good chance to survive when they are located within a short time. This requires an active beacon for them to wear or a very rapid deployment of a search-and-rescue team with dogs. Customary ground-penetrating radar (GPR) instruments used on the snow surface are not able to reduce fatality numbers because they are slow to search a field. A potential alternative could be an airborne search using radar. An airborne radar search is technologically challenging because a very large data stream has to be processed and visualized in real time, and the interaction of the electromagnetic waves with snow, subsurface, and objects must be understood. We studied a two-step algorithm to locate avalanche victims in real time. The algorithm was validated using realistic test arrangements and conditions using an aerial tramway. The distance dependence of the reflection energy with increased flight heights, the coherence between the use of more antennas and the detectable range, and the reflection images of different avalanche victims were measured. The algorithm detected an object for each investigated case, where the reflection energy of the scans was higher than for the scans of pure snow. Airborne GPR has a large potential to become a rapid search method in dry snow avalanches. However, a fully operational version still requires substantial improvements in hardware and software. Index Terms--Automatic test software, image processing, image segmentation, radar application, radar signal processing.

The sex of a person can be easily identified from DNA analysis of the AMEL gene in bones or teeth. Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) can be used to accurately establish family relationships, even over many generations. The remains of the Romanov family, last czars of Russia, were positively identified by comparing the MtDNA of bones found in a grave to that of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was related to them through Queen Victoria's daughter, Alice. This technique has also proved effective in identifying plane crash victims.

A research team from Celera Genomics is using mitochondrial DNA from the remains of victims of the World Trade Center attack to identify the victims. Bone marrow cells are the best source of the DNA, since they are protected by bone. The DNA profile is then compared to the DNA profile of living relatives of the victim.