Chapters authored
Virtopsy: A New Era in Forensic Medico-Legal Autopsies
In the field of forensic science, autopsy that is postmortem examination involves a thorough corpse examination done in order to determine the cause and manner of the death by invasive method. With the advancement of technology a new term: “Virtopsy” meaning virtual autopsy employs the application of imaging techniques namely computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven its advantages in the forensic field. It involves the scanning of dead bodies in a non-invasive manner. It a great alternative to the traditional autopsy as it provides wide-range and systemic examination of the whole body in a less time duration, benefits in diagnosis as well as renders respect to religious sentiments. Method is more specific, sensitive, & precise and accurately reflect soft tissue injuries, organ damage, wound extent, fractures which provides instinctive and powerful court evidence for forensic identification. The chapter will be describing the importance of “Virtopsy” in the field of forensic science and its future scope in forensic crime investigations.
Part of the book: Autopsy
Demographical Identification of Trace Metals Found in Soil Samples from India
Soil has various trace metals, which help to identify the demographical origin of the soil. The formation of soil undergoes changes due to several external factors. However, certain trace metals are not affected by these external factors. This chapter considers two approaches for the detection of these trace elements; first, it highlights the usefulness of the trace elements present in the soil whose presence in deficiency or excess affects the soil quality; second, the analysis of soil transferred from various surfaces, to detect the presence of these trace elements. This chapter involves various instrumental techniques used to study its elemental composition and morphological characteristics. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the soil, the information from this chapter can be used as a database to narrow down the area of search and objects under study. It also provides insights into understanding the presence of trace metals in soil, their effects, and their role in forensic soil science. The use of soil in the search for trace evidence, which gives background knowledge on the importance of comprehending soil from the topographical scale to the crime scene, has been overviewed. This aids law enforcement agencies in investigations.
Part of the book: Trace Metals in the Environment