Global ETD Search
Search theses and dissertations gathered from participating repositories worldwide. Every result links back to the library that holds it. No account is needed.
Results
Showing 1 to 20 of 21 for “"Biomedical Forensic Science"”.
-
Are human identification methods effectively utilised? a retrospective review of unidentified remains between 2019-2020 at Salt River mortuary, Cape Town, South Africa
… from Unistel were not uploaded onto the National Forensic DNA Database of South Africa, which limits the value of DNA as an identification tool in cases without an alleged family member available for comparison. The remainder of cases were sent to the state laboratory (n=72/116), but only 8.3% …
-
Investigating the use of CO-oximetry for simultaneous measurement of carboxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin in post-mortem blood
… of storage. Given that the nature of post-mortem forensic casework is such that suitable blood specimens are not always available for toxicological analyses, for the second aim of the study, the researchers sought to investigate the suitability of thoracic cavity fluid as an alternative specimen …
-
Investigating the effect of NucleoSpin® Forensic Filters on DNA recovery from swabs
… accepted method for human identification is forensic DNA profiling. Since trace evidence is often retrieved in small amounts, the optimal recovery of DNA from these samples is crucial. Methods for the recovery of touch DNA from swabs typically make use of a spin basket or filter, combined …
-
Molecular Forensic Investigations into Animal Sexual Abuse
… indicator that sexual activity occurred, while forensic DNA analysis provides a lead to a potential suspect. After conducting a systematic literature review, no previous research investigating semen and/or DNA recovery from animals over time was found. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to assess …
-
Understanding the mechanism of injury associated with long bone fractures through dynamic bending impact
… pattern known as a butterfly or wedge fracture. Forensic analysis of the butterfly fracture aids in the establishment of directionality of the force applied. Currently, forensic anthropologists employ a method dictating that the base of the butterfly fragment pertains to the side of impact, while …
-
Investigating the impact of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) as evidence in rape cases prosecuted in the Western Cape High Court between 2012 and 2016
… sexual contact. The collection of biological forensic evidence after a rape incident is routine in RSA, however, its contribution to the outcome of rape cases is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the use of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) and their impact on the …
-
DNA barcoding of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) within the Western Cape of South Africa
In forensic entomology, determining species identity is a crucial step towards estimating post mortem interval. DNA barcoding can aid in the identification of unknown forensically relevant species, and this requires the comparison of DNA barcodes to reference data from known species. However, there …
-
Post-mortem toxicological investigations in a paediatric population
In South Africa, little is known about the presence of drugs in infant cases admitted for post-mortem medico-legal examinations,as toxicological investigations are not routinely performed. It was hypothesised that drugs would be detected in sudden and unexpected death ofinfant (SUDI) cases admitted …
-
Toxicological Findings in Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Cape Town: A Pilot Study
Introduction: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) and associated morbidity and mortality are a global public health burden. Literature reports on an association between drugs and/or alcohol intoxication and traffic collisions. In South Africa (SA), where drug use and abuse are prevalent, annual RTAs …
-
Assessment of the suitability of blood samples collected for toxicological analysis for subsequent genetic analysis: A follow-up study one year later
… to the rest of the country. The provincial Forensic Pathology Service may encounter cases where drug-related fatalities are unclear whether death was accidental or suicidal, or drug toxicity is inconsistent with the medical/social history. This may be due to genetic alterations with drug …
-
A retrospective descriptive analysis of fatal ground level falls and falls from a height: A 5-year review
Falls have been identified as the second leading cause of accidental deaths in the world and has become a public health issue. Depending on the manner and height at which the fall occurs, different injury patterns are observed, and these are useful for the determination of circumstances surrounding …
-
Optimisation of sample preparation for DNA extraction from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues of unresolved sudden unexpected death cases
A retrospective case review revealed an increase in sudden unexpected death (SUD) admittance at Salt River Mortuary (SRM) between 2014 and 2018, and that 40 % of SUD occurred in young individuals between the ages of 1 and 40 years old (SUDY). Despite extensive investigations, the cause of death …
-
The effect of burning on pre-incineration trauma in bone
… on bone, the analysis of which can assist in forensic casework. Research that has been conducted to date, provide minimal information on controlled temperatures to analyse and distinguish pre- and post-burning trauma marks. The aim of this research was to assess and compare morphological …
-
A retrospective study investigating risk factors for sudden unexpected death in the young
… In South Africa, these deaths are referred for forensic investigation. The primary aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the frequency of known risk factors in SUDY cases admitted to Salt River Mortuary in Cape Town and explore differences between males and females. There were 1 …
-
Assessing the accuracy of the zygoma for estimating ancestry using geometric morphometrics in a South African sample
The large number of unidentified, decomposed and skeletonised remains found in South Africa (SA) necessitates relevant and reliable methods to assist in victim identification. Ancestry estimation from unknown skeletal remains is essential when reconstructing a demographic profile of a missing …
-
Investigating the role of alcohol in road traffic collision fatalities in Western Cape, South Africa
… 2017. Cases were extracted from the Western Cape Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) internal database, which included demographic and crash information, together with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results. In total, 2079 cases over the two years were included in the study, with most cases …
-
Investigating pesticide-related deaths admitted to Salt River mortuary in Cape Town, South Africa: a retrospective, descriptive analysis
… efforts from healthcare practitioners and forensic investigators could help inform policy-makers on ways to minimise the use or distribution of pesticide compounds.
-
A pilot study on stature estimation of the South African male population using the post mortem Lodox® Xmplar-dr imaging device at the Salt River Forensic Medico-Legal Laboratory
Identification of deceased individuals is of paramount importance in the South African constitution, with victim identification noted as a human right. Stature has been used to assist identification of an individual when skeletal remains are recovered. The usefulness of stature estimation using …
-
A retrospective analysis of post-mortem procedures of sudden unexpected death in the young investigated at Salt River Forensic Pathology Services, Cape Town
Sudden unexpected death in the young (SUDY) is the demise of a seemingly healthy individual aged between one and 40 years. The scope of SUDY investigation varies and there is little research regarding SUDY at Salt River Mortuary (SRM). Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to determine the …
-
Comparison of sars-cov-2 rapid tests and formal serological testing on deceased persons in Cape Town Metro
The COVID-19 disease was declared a global pandemic in 2020 and since, it is unclear how many people have truly been infected. Additionally, there is a paucity of research into post mortem antibody testing. An antibody screening tool that is suitable for use in the mortuary setting would go a long …
Page 1 of 2