1
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Thurn B, Schotsmans EMJ, Ueland M. Lime and odour: A preliminary investigation into the effect of hydrated lime on the volatiles emitted from human remains. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 358:111745. [PMID: 37301722 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The location of human remains is performed primarily through the aid of cadaver detection dogs, which rely on the malodour produced through decomposition of decaying bodies. Malefactors will attempt to conceal these putrefactive odours through chemical additions such as lime, which is also wrongly believed to accelerate decomposition and prevent the identification of the victim. Despite the frequency of lime in forensic applications, to date no research has been performed to determine its effect on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during human decomposition. This research was therefore conducted to ascertain the effects of hydrated lime on the VOC profile of human remains. Two human donors were used in a field trial at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER): one donor was covered with hydrated lime, and the other had no chemical additions acting as a control. VOC samples were collected over a period of 100 days and analysed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). The volatile samples were accompanied by visual observations of how decomposition progressed. The results showed that lime application decreased the rate of decomposition and decreased total carrion insect activity. Lime increased the abundance of VOCs during the fresh and bloat stages of decay, however the abundance of compounds plateaued during active and advanced decomposition and were much lower than those detected from the control donor. Despite this suppression of VOCs, the study found that dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, key sulfur-containing compounds, were still produced in high quantities, and can thus still be used to locate chemically altered human remains. Knowledge of the effects of lime on human decomposition can inform the training of cadaver detection dogs, and ensure a greater chance at locating victims of crimes or mass disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Thurn
- Centre for Forensic Sciences, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Eline M J Schotsmans
- Centre for Archaeological Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; PACEA De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, UMR 5199, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Sciences, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
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2
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Tidwell TL. Life in Suspension with Death: Biocultural Ontologies, Perceptual Cues, and Biomarkers for the Tibetan Tukdam Postmortem Meditative State. Cult Med Psychiatry 2024:10.1007/s11013-023-09844-2. [PMID: 38393648 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-023-09844-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
This article presents two cases from a collaborative study among Tibetan monastic populations in India on the postdeath meditative state called tukdam (thugs dam). Entered by advanced Tibetan Buddhist practitioners through a variety of different practices, this state provides an ontological frame that is investigated by two distinct intellectual traditions-the Tibetan Buddhist and medical tradition on one hand and the Euroamerican biomedical and scientific tradition on the other-using their respective means of inquiry. Through the investigation, the traditions enact two paradigms of the body at the time of death alongside attendant conceptualizations of what constitutes life itself. This work examines when epistemologies of these two traditions might converge, under what ontological contexts, and through which correlated indicators of evidence. In doing so, this work explores how these two intellectual traditions might answer how the time course and characteristics of physiological changes during the postmortem period might exhibit variation across individuals. Centrally, this piece presents an epistemological inquiry delineating the types of valid evidence that constitute exceptional processes post-clinical death and their potential ontological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawni L Tidwell
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 625 W. Washington Ave., Madison, WI, 53703, USA.
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3
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Braga APA, Gonçalves MDMC, de Souza CP, Marin-Morales MA. Evaluation of the ecotoxicological effects of biogenic amines derived from cadaverous putrefaction on springtails Folsomia candida. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1494. [PMID: 37982899 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11978-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Necro-leachate, a liquid released during cadaveric decomposition, is considered the main culprit for impacts on cemetery environments. The biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine make up part of the composition of necro-leachate and have a certain toxicity to different organisms. Springtails are among the most used bioindicators to assess the impacts of soil contaminants. As there are no data on the acute and chronic toxicity of springtails exposed to cadaverine and putrescine, the objective of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of both amines, under the behavioral effect of avoidance and reproduction in the species Folsomia candida. Springtails were exposed to soils contaminated with different concentrations of cadaverine and putrescine, and different mixtures of these amines. To evaluate the avoidance and reproduction test, the individuals were exposed for periods of 48 h and 28 days, respectively. The results obtained in the avoidance test showed that springtails exhibited a preference for the treated soil in both isolated and mixed treatments. The chronic evaluation assays showed that the reproduction was affected, particularly in the treatments with combined amines, resulting in a reduction in the total number of juveniles. From the results, it is possible to infer that the methods applied in this research have provided information that will contribute to a better understanding of the toxicity of putrefactive biogenic amines, since there exist few ecotoxicological studies carried out with these amines, and especially with those from cemetery environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Andrade Braga
- Department of Biology, São Paulo State University, Avenue 24-A, 1515, P.O Box 178, Rio Claro, São Paulo State, 13506-900, Brazil
| | | | - Cleiton Pereira de Souza
- Department of Biology, São Paulo State University, Avenue 24-A, 1515, P.O Box 178, Rio Claro, São Paulo State, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Aparecida Marin-Morales
- Department of Biology, São Paulo State University, Avenue 24-A, 1515, P.O Box 178, Rio Claro, São Paulo State, 13506-900, Brazil.
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4
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Cieśla J, Skrobisz J, Niciński B, Kloc M, Mazur K, Pałasz A, Javan GT, Tomsia M. The smell of death. State-of-the-art and future research directions. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1260869. [PMID: 37779703 PMCID: PMC10538644 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1260869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The decomposition of a body is inseparably associated with the release of several types of odors. This phenomenon has been used in the training of sniffer dogs for decades. The odor profile associated with decomposition consists of a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemical composition of which varies over time, temperature, environmental conditions, and the type of microorganisms, and insects colonizing the carcass. Mercaptans are responsible for the bad smell associated with corpses; however, there are no unified recommendations for conducting forensic analysis based on the detectable odor of revealed corpses and previous research on VOCs shows differing results. The aim of this review is to systematize the current knowledge on the type of volatile organic compounds related to the decomposition process, depending on a few variables. This knowledge will improve the methods of VOCs detection and analysis to be used in modern forensic diagnostics and improve the methods of training dogs for forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Cieśla
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Julia Skrobisz
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Niciński
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mazur
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Artur Pałasz
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Gulnaz T. Javan
- Department of Physical and Forensic Science Programs, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Marcin Tomsia
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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5
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Martin C, Malević M, Diederich C, Verheggen F. Copycatting the smell of death: Deciphering the role of cadaveric scent components used by detection dogs to locate human remains. J Forensic Sci 2023. [PMID: 37183668 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Human remains detection dogs (HRDD) are commonly used by law enforcement agencies to search for cadavers. Biological material is typically used as a training stimulus, also called aids, to train dogs to recognize the smell of cadavers. While HRDD training approaches have received extensive attention, information remains limited on the olfactory cues used to train them. Here, we aimed to decipher the chemical basis of detection dog olfaction. Five specific objectives were explored to precise whether the composition or the concentration of the training aids drives the HRDDs responses. We recorded the behavioral responses of four HRDDs exposed to different cadaveric-like smells. We found that HRDDs recognized a simplified synthetic aid composed of cadaveric compounds. The lowest concentration at which HRDDs continued to perceive the cadaveric smell was determined. HRDDs were not impacted by slight modifications to the chemical composition of a blend of odors that they have been trained with. HRDDs associated sulfur and nitrogen compounds as human cadaver. Our findings highlight a lack of specificity of HRDDs to cadaveric compounds, which could lead to error of detection. Moreover, all dogs did not positively respond to the same blends, despite being trained with the same aids and procedure. However, we confirmed that dogs could be trained with a simplified blend of molecules. The chemical composition of a training aid has, therefore, high consequences on the performance of the trained animal, and this conclusion opens additional questions regarding olfaction-based detection animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Martin
- Chemical and Behavioral Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Marta Malević
- Chemical and Behavioral Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Claire Diederich
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - François Verheggen
- Chemical and Behavioral Ecology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
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6
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Potential of direct immersion solid-phase microextraction to characterize dissolved volatile organic compounds released by submerged decaying rat cadavers. Forensic Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2023.100488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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7
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Bonicelli A, Mickleburgh HL, Chighine A, Locci E, Wescott DJ, Procopio N. The 'ForensOMICS' approach for postmortem interval estimation from human bone by integrating metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics. eLife 2022; 11:e83658. [PMID: 36583441 PMCID: PMC9803353 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The combined use of multiple omics allows to study complex interrelated biological processes in their entirety. We applied a combination of metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics to human bones to investigate their combined potential to estimate time elapsed since death (i.e., the postmortem interval [PMI]). This 'ForensOMICS' approach has the potential to improve accuracy and precision of PMI estimation of skeletonized human remains, thereby helping forensic investigators to establish the timeline of events surrounding death. Anterior midshaft tibial bone was collected from four female body donors before their placement at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility owned by the Forensic Anthropological Center at Texas State (FACTS). Bone samples were again collected at selected PMIs (219-790-834-872days). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to obtain untargeted metabolomic, lipidomic, and proteomic profiles from the pre- and post-placement bone samples. The three omics blocks were investigated independently by univariate and multivariate analyses, followed by Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker discovery using Latent variable approaches for Omics studies (DIABLO), to identify the reduced number of markers describing postmortem changes and discriminating the individuals based on their PMI. The resulting model showed that pre-placement metabolome, lipidome and proteome profiles were clearly distinguishable from post-placement ones. Metabolites in the pre-placement samples suggested an extinction of the energetic metabolism and a switch towards another source of fuelling (e.g., structural proteins). We were able to identify certain biomolecules with an excellent potential for PMI estimation, predominantly the biomolecules from the metabolomics block. Our findings suggest that, by targeting a combination of compounds with different postmortem stability, in the future we could be able to estimate both short PMIs, by using metabolites and lipids, and longer PMIs, by using proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bonicelli
- The Forensic Science Unit, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Hayley L Mickleburgh
- Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA) – Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State UniversitySan MarcosUnited States
| | - Alberto Chighine
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of CagliariMonserratoItaly
| | - Emanuela Locci
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of CagliariMonserratoItaly
| | - Daniel J Wescott
- Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State UniversitySan MarcosUnited States
| | - Noemi Procopio
- The Forensic Science Unit, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
- Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State UniversitySan MarcosUnited States
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8
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von Hoermann C, Weithmann S, Sikorski J, Nevo O, Szpila K, Grzywacz A, Grunwald JE, Reckel F, Overmann J, Steiger S, Ayasse M. Linking bacteria, volatiles and insects on carrion: the role of temporal and spatial factors regulating inter-kingdom communication via volatiles. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220555. [PMID: 36061525 PMCID: PMC9428529 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multi-kingdom community complexity and the chemically mediated dynamics between bacteria and insects have recently received increased attention in carrion research. However, the strength of these inter-kingdom interactions and the factors that regulate them are poorly studied. We used 75 piglet cadavers across three forest regions to survey the relationship between three actors (epinecrotic bacteria, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flies) during the first 4 days of decomposition and the factors that regulate this interdependence. The results showed a dynamic bacterial change during decomposition (temperature-time index) and across the forest management gradient, but not between regions. Similarly, VOC emission was dynamic across a temperature-time index and the forest management gradient but did not differ between regions. However, fly occurrence was dynamic across both space and time. The strong interdependence between the three actors was mainly regulated by the temperature-time index and the study regions, thereby revealing regulation at temporal and spatial scales. Additionally, the actor interdependence was stable across a gradient of forest management intensity. By combining different actors of decomposition, we have expanded our knowledge of the holistic mechanisms regulating carrion community dynamics and inter-kingdom interactions, an important precondition for better describing food web dynamics and entire ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Szpila
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Andrzej Grzywacz
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Jan-Eric Grunwald
- Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, SG 204, Microtraces/Biology, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Reckel
- Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, SG 204, Microtraces/Biology, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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9
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Diverse Effects of Climate, Land Use, and Insects on Dung and Carrion Decomposition. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00764-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLand-use intensification and climate change threaten ecosystem functions. A fundamental, yet often overlooked, function is decomposition of necromass. The direct and indirect anthropogenic effects on decomposition, however, are poorly understood. We measured decomposition of two contrasting types of necromass, rat carrion and bison dung, on 179 study sites in Central Europe across an elevational climate gradient of 168–1122 m a.s.l. and within both local and regional land uses. Local land-use types included forest, grassland, arable fields, and settlements and were embedded in three regional land-use types (near-natural, agricultural, and urban). The effects of insects on decomposition were quantified by experimental exclusion, while controlling for removal by vertebrates. We used generalized additive mixed models to evaluate dung weight loss and carrion decay rate along elevation and across regional and local land-use types. We observed a unimodal relationship of dung decomposition with elevation, where greatest weight loss occurred between 600 and 700 m, but no effects of local temperature, land use, or insects. In contrast to dung, carrion decomposition was continuously faster with both increasing elevation and local temperature. Carrion reached the final decomposition stage six days earlier when insect access was allowed, and this did not depend on land-use effect. Our experiment identified different major drivers of decomposition on each necromass form. The results show that dung and carrion decomposition are rather robust to local and regional land use, but future climate change and decline of insects could alter decomposition processes and the self-regulation of ecosystems.
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10
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Coon A, Dane AJ, Setzen G, Cody RB, Musah RA. Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Lipid-Rich Biological Matrices-Application to Human Cerumen (Earwax). ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:230-239. [PMID: 35036695 PMCID: PMC8756784 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Earwax is a readily accessible biological matrix that has the potential to be used in disease diagnostics. However, its semisolid nature and high chemical complexity have hampered efforts to investigate its potential to reveal disease markers. This is because more conventional methods of analysis such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry yield unsatisfactory results due to the presence of many nonvolatile and/or coeluting compounds, which in some cases have very similar mass spectrometric profiles. In addition, these routine methods often require the sample to be saponified, which dramatically increases the complexity of the analysis and makes it difficult to determine which compounds are actually present versus those that are produced by saponification. In this study, two-dimensional GC mass spectrometry (GC × GC-MS) was successfully applied for the characterization of the chemical components of earwax from healthy donors using nonpolar (primary) and midpolar (secondary) columns without saponification. Over 35 of the compounds that were identified are reported for the first time to be detected in unsaponified earwax. The resulting GC × GC-MS contour plots revealed visually recognizable compound class clusters of previously reported groups including alkanes, alkenes, fatty acids, esters, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters, as well as cholesterol and squalene. The application of GC × GC-MS revealed results that provide a foundation upon which future studies aimed at comparing healthy donor earwax to that from individuals exhibiting various disease states can be accomplished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allix
M. Coon
- Department
of Chemistry, State University of New York
at Albany, 1400 Washington
Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - A. John Dane
- JEOL
USA Inc., 11 Dearborn Rd, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, United States
| | - Gavin Setzen
- Albany
ENT and Allergy Services, 123 Everett Rd, Albany, New York 12205, United
States
| | - Robert B. Cody
- JEOL
USA Inc., 11 Dearborn Rd, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, United States
| | - Rabi A. Musah
- Department
of Chemistry, State University of New York
at Albany, 1400 Washington
Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, United States
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11
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Ueland M, Harris S, Forbes SL. Detecting volatile organic compounds to locate human remains in a simulated collapsed building. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 323:110781. [PMID: 33878551 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of mass disasters has increased worldwide due to changing environments from global warming and a heightened threat of terrorism acts. When these disasters strike, it is imperative to rapidly locate and recover human victims, both the living and deceased. While search and rescue dogs are used to locate the living, cadaver detection dogs are typically tasked with locating the dead. This can prove challenging because commingling of victims is likely to occur during disasters in populated areas which will impact the decomposition process and the resulting odour produced. To date, there has been no research to investigate the process of human decomposition in a mass disaster scenario or to understand which compounds are detectable by cadaver detection dogs. Hence, the current study investigated the human decomposition process and subsequent volatile organic compound (VOC) production in two simulated building collapse scenarios with six human donors placed in each scenario. The human remains were only recovered after a period of one month, during which time VOC samples were collected and analysed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A considerable degree of differential decomposition was observed upon recovery of the human remains, which was carried out as a part of a police disaster victim recovery training exercise. The location of the bodies in the disaster area was found to impact the decomposition process. The VOC profile was found to correlate with the decomposition process. Fifteen days following the simulated disaster, the VOC profile changed showing that a detectable change in the decomposition process had occurred. Overall, the changing VOC profile can inform the training of cadaver detection dogs for these unique scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Scott Harris
- CBR/DVI Unit, Crime Scene Group, Forensic Services Department, Victoria Police, Forensic Services Centre, 31 Forensic Drive, Macleod, VIC 3085, Australia
| | - Shari L Forbes
- Département de chimie, biochimie et physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, G8Z 4M3 Québec, Canada
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12
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Weithmann S, von Hoermann C, Degasperi G, Brandt K, Steiger S, Ayasse M. Temporal variability of the rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) community on small vertebrate carrion and its potential use for forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 323:110792. [PMID: 33895634 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most important colonizers of vertebrate cadavers. We have previously investigated carrion-associated rove beetle communities across various forests and demonstrated that the study regions are the main drivers of the local rove beetle species pool that is, in turn, able to colonize a carcass. Nevertheless, little is known about their temporal variation in community composition during the decomposition process. The aim of our study has been to analyze the temporal changes of the composition of the rove beetle community and to identify new, potentially useful candidate species for forensic entomological evaluations. We determined 80 rove beetle species that were attracted to 60 piglet cadavers across various forest stands in Germany. Both the abundance and the community composition changed over the decomposition process, independently of the species-specific geographical variation across study regions. In the region Schorfheide-Chorin, species from the genus Philonthus proved to be a suitable group for future forensic entomological investigations. They appeared in markedly high numbers at piglet cadavers from the bloated stage until the advanced decay stage. For the study region Schwäbische Alb, we newly describe the species Omalium septentrionis as a member of the carrion-associated rove beetle fauna. Based on the geographical variation in rove beetle community compositions, we have filtered out several species that might contribute to advances in postmortem interval estimations or other applied fields in forensic entomological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, 94481 Grafenau, Germany.
| | - Gregor Degasperi
- Department for Ecology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Katharina Brandt
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
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13
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Clases D, Ueland M, Gonzalez de Vega R, Doble P, Pröfrock D. Quantitative speciation of volatile sulphur compounds from human cadavers by GC-ICP-MS. Talanta 2021; 221:121424. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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14
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Price CJ, Banks PB, Brown S, Latham MC, Latham ADM, Pech RP, Norbury GL. Invasive mammalian predators habituate to and generalize avian prey cues: a mechanism for conserving native prey. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02200. [PMID: 32573866 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Invasive mammalian predators can cause the decline and extinction of vulnerable native species. Many invasive mammalian predators are dietary generalists that hunt a variety of prey. These predators often rely upon olfaction when foraging, particularly at night. Little is understood about how prey odor cues are used to inform foraging decisions. Prey cues can vary spatially and temporally in their association with prey and can either reveal the location of prey or lead to unsuccessful foraging. Here we examine how two wild-caught invasive mammalian bird predator species (European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus and ferrets Mustela putorius furo) respond to unrewarded bird odors over successive exposures, first demonstrating that the odors are perceptually different using house mice (Mus musculus) as a biological olfactometer. We aim to test if introduced predators categorize odor cues of similar prey together, a tactic that could increase foraging efficiency. We exposed house mice to the odors using a standard habituation/dishabituation test in a laboratory setting, and wild-caught European hedgehogs and ferrets in an outdoor enclosure using a similar procedure. Mice discriminated among all bird odors presented, showing more interest in chicken odor than quail or gull odor. Both predator species showed a decline in interest toward unrewarded prey odor (i.e., habituation), but only ferrets generalized their response from one unrewarded bird odor to another bird odor. Hedgehog responses to unrewarded bird odors were highly variable between individuals. Taken together, our results reveal interspecific and intraspecific differences in response to prey odors, which we argue are a consequence of different diet breadth, life and evolutionary histories, and the conditions in each experiment. Generalization of prey odors may have enabled some species of invasive predators to efficiently hunt a range of intraguild prey species, for example, ground-nesting shorebirds. Olfactory manipulation of predators may be a useful conservation tool for threatened prey if it reduces the conspicuousness of vulnerable prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Price
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Samantha Brown
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
| | - M Cecilia Latham
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
| | - A David M Latham
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
| | - Roger P Pech
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
| | - Grant L Norbury
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 282, Alexandra, 9340, New Zealand
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15
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Characterization of the volatile odor profile from larval masses in a field decomposition setting. Forensic Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Impact of the Human Microbiome in Forensic Sciences: a Systematic Review. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01451-20. [PMID: 32887714 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01451-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies relate differences in microbial communities to human health and disease; however, little is known about microbial changes that occur postmortem or the possible applications of microbiome analysis in the field of forensic science. The aim of this review was to study the microbiome and its applications in forensic sciences and to determine the main lines of investigation that are emerging, as well as its possible contributions to the forensic field. A systematic review of the human microbiome in relation to forensic science was carried out by following PRISMA guidelines. This study sheds light on the role of microbiome research in the postmortem interval during the process of decomposition, identifying death caused by drowning or sudden death, locating the geographical location of death, establishing a connection between the human microbiome and personal items, sexual contact, and the identification of individuals. Actinomycetaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Alcaligenaceae, and Bacilli play an important role in determining the postmortem interval. Aeromonas can be used to determine the cause of death, and Corynebacterium or Helicobacter pylori can be used to ascertain personal identity or geographical location. Several studies point to a promising future for microbiome analysis in the different fields of forensic science, opening up an important new area of research.
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17
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Recinos-Aguilar YM, García-García MD, Malo EA, Cruz-López L, Cruz-Esteban S, Rojas JC. The Succession of Flies of Forensic Importance Is Influenced by Volatiles Organic Compounds Emitted During the First Hours of Decomposition of Chicken Remains. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:1411-1420. [PMID: 32350507 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
After death, a series of primary reactions occur that produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the environment. In this study, we investigated if the succession of flies of forensic importance in the first hours after death is mediated by VOCs in order to better understanding of the ecology of necrophagous insects. In total, 685 adult insects (Diptera and Hymenoptera) were collected by traps baited with chicken remains at different decomposition times (0, 6, 12, 24, 36, or 48 h). Of the total of insects caught, individuals from six families of Diptera can be cataloged of forensic importance. The most abundant dipteran family was Piophilidae with 213 individuals, followed by Calliphoridae with 178 specimens. Of the total flies caught, 90% were females and the rest were males. Most of the caught females were categorized as gravid, which visited more often the decaying tissues compared to nongravid females. The abundance of the flies increased in the remains with a longer time of decomposition. Six VOCs emitted in different relative quantities were identified according to the decomposition time of the remains. An apparent association was observed between the emission of ρ-cresol with Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann), between the emission of phenol, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide with Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), and between the emissions of indole with Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yensy María Recinos-Aguilar
- Grupo de Ecología de Artrópodos y Manejo de Plagas, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Tapachula, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, CP, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - María Dolores García-García
- Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Campus Universitario de Espinardo. Murcia, España
| | - Edi A Malo
- Grupo de Ecología de Artrópodos y Manejo de Plagas, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Tapachula, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, CP, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Leopoldo Cruz-López
- Grupo de Ecología de Artrópodos y Manejo de Plagas, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Tapachula, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, CP, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Samuel Cruz-Esteban
- Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Red de diversidad Biológica del Occidente Mexicano. Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas 253, CP, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México
- CONACyT. Avenida Insurgentes Sur 1582, 03940. Ciudad de México, México
| | - Julio C Rojas
- Grupo de Ecología de Artrópodos y Manejo de Plagas, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Tapachula, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, CP, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
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18
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The Attraction of the Dung Beetle Anoplotrupes stercorosus (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) to Volatiles from Vertebrate Cadavers. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11080476. [PMID: 32727148 PMCID: PMC7469141 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
During decomposition, vertebrate carrion emits volatile organic compounds to which insects and other scavengers are attracted. We have previously found that the dung beetle, Anoplotrupes stercorosus, is the most common dung beetle found on vertebrate cadavers. Our aim in this study was to identify volatile key compounds emitted from carrion and used by A. stercorosus to locate this nutritive resource. By collecting cadaveric volatiles and performing electroantennographic detection, we tested which compounds A. stercorosus perceived in the post-bloating decomposition stage. Receptors in the antennae of A. stercorosus responded to 24 volatiles in odor bouquets from post-bloating decay. Subsequently, we produced a synthetic cadaver odor bouquet consisting of six compounds (benzaldehyde, DMTS, 3-octanone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol, nonanal, dodecane) perceived by the beetles and used various blends to attract A. stercorosus in German forests. In field assays, these beetles were attracted to a blend of DMTS, 3-octanone, and benzaldehyde. Generalist feeding behavior might lead to the super-dominant occurrence of A. stercorosus in temperate European forests and have a potentially large impact on the exploitation and rapid turnover of temporally limited resources such as vertebrate cadavers.
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19
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Martin C, Diederich C, Verheggen F. Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows-A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1219. [PMID: 32709097 PMCID: PMC7401519 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are powerful police assets to locate a corpse. However, the methods used to select and train them are as diverse as the number of countries with such a canine brigade. First, a survey sent to human remains searching brigades (Ncountries = 10; NBrigades = 16; NHandlers = 50; Nquestions = 9), to collect their working habits confirmed the lack of optimized selection and training procedures. Second, a literature review was performed in order to outline the strengths and shortcomings of HRDDs training. A comparison between the scientific knowledge and the common practices used by HRDDs brigade was then conducted focusing on HRDDs selection and training procedures. We highlighted that HRDD handlers select their dogs by focusing on behavioral traits while neglecting anatomical features, which have been shown to be important. Most HRDD handlers reported to use a reward-based training, which is in accordance with training literature for dogs. Training aids should be representative of the odor target to allow a dog to reach optimal performances. The survey highlighted the wide diversity of homemade training aids, and the need to optimize their composition. In the present document, key research topics to improve HRDD works are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Martin
- TERRA, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Avenue de la Faculté 2B, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium;
| | - Claire Diederich
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium;
| | - François Verheggen
- TERRA, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Avenue de la Faculté 2B, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium;
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20
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Giffen-Lemieux JE, Okuda K, Rosati JY, Musah RA. Characterization of the Volatiles' Profiles of the Eggs of Forensically Relevant Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Blow Flies by SPME-Facilitated GC-MS. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:994-1005. [PMID: 32052031 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The attraction of necrophagous insects, particularly blow flies, to corpses and carrion is of ecological, economic, and agricultural importance, although the mechanisms by which it occurs are not well understood. Much of the published research on blow fly attractants has focused on volatiles emitted from carrion surrogates, but little attention has been given to the possibility that blow fly eggs themselves may emit chemical cues that are responsible for conspecific and heterospecific insect attraction. In this study, the headspace volatiles emitted from eggs representing two aggregated oviposition events that were collected 1 mo apart from two species of the Calliphoridae family (Order: Diptera), Lucilia sericata (Meigen), and Phormia regina (Meigen) were analyzed via solid-phase microextraction-facilitated GC-MS. The volatiles' profiles were found to be consistent between samples representing the same species, but unique between the two species. Over 100 molecules covering a wide range of compound classes that included alcohols, aldehydes, esters, amines, ketones, and organosulfur compounds were identified. The profile of volatiles emitted from the L. sericata eggs contained several alkanes and aldehydes, whereas salient features of the P. regina headspace included numerous esters and ketones. Between the two species, 42 compounds were shared, several of which were carboxylic acids. Little overlap between the range of compounds detected and those reported to be emitted from decomposing remains was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rabi A Musah
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY
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21
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Revolution in death sciences: body farms and taphonomics blooming. A review investigating the advantages, ethical and legal aspects in a Swiss context. Int J Legal Med 2020; 134:1875-1895. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02272-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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22
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Martin C, Minchilli D, Francis F, Verheggen F. Behavioral and Electrophysiological Responses of the Fringed Larder Beetle Dermestes frischii to the Smell of a Cadaver at Different Decomposition Stages. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11040238. [PMID: 32290328 PMCID: PMC7240428 DOI: 10.3390/insects11040238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A cadaver is colonized by a wide diversity of necrophagous insects. It is well documented that Dipterans are attracted by the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by a corpse during the first minutes following death. Coleopterans are known to be attracted by highly decomposed cadavers, but have received less attention regarding the olfaction-based mechanisms underlying these interactions. In the present study, we impregnated gauzes with VOCs collected from each decomposition stage of dead rats: fresh, bloated, active, and advanced decay. We collected the VOCs released by the gauze and confirmed what was previously know from the literature: the decomposition stages are associated with contrasting chemical profiles. We exposed Dermestes frischii Kugelann (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) male and female antennae to the same gauzes and found that stronger electrical responses were recorded when using the smell of the advanced decay stage. Finally, we performed two choices behavioral assays. Females showed no preference for the four decomposition stages, while males were attracted by the smell associated with active and advanced decay stages. These results suggest that specific VOCs released by a decaying body guide necrophagous coleopterans to their feeding site. Whether D. frischii males release pheromones to attract females remains to be tested.
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23
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von Hoermann C, Weithmann S, Deißler M, Ayasse M, Steiger S. Forest habitat parameters influence abundance and diversity of cadaver-visiting dung beetles in Central Europe. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191722. [PMID: 32269801 PMCID: PMC7137943 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Dung beetles provide crucial ecosystem services and serve as model organisms for various behavioural, ecological and evolutionary studies. However, dung beetles have received little attention as consumers of large cadavers. In this study, we trapped copronecrophagous dung beetles on above-ground exposed piglet cadavers in 61 forest plots distributed over three geographically distinct regions in Germany, Central Europe. We examined the effects of land use intensity, forest stand, soil characteristics, vascular plant diversity and climatic conditions on dung beetle abundance, species richness and diversity. In all three regions, dung beetles, represented mainly by the geotrupid species Anoplotrupes stercorosus and Trypocopris vernalis, were attracted to the cadavers. High beetle abundance was associated with higher mean ambient temperature. Furthermore, A. stercorosus and T. vernalis were more abundant in areas where soil contained higher proportions of fine sand. Additionally, an increased proportion of forest understorey vegetation and vascular plant diversity positively affected the species richness and diversity of dung beetles. Thus, even in warm dry monocultured forest stands exploited for timber, we found thriving dung beetle populations when a diverse understorey was present. Therefore, forestry practices that preserve the understorey can sustain stable dung beetle populations and ensure their important contribution to nutrient cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Deißler
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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24
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Profiling Volatilomes: A Novel Forensic Method for Identification of Confiscated Illegal Wildlife Items. SEPARATIONS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/separations7010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, the rapid decline in wildlife species has many causes. The illegal trafficking of fauna and flora is a major contributor to species decline and continues to grow at an alarming rate. To enable the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illegal wildlife, accurate and reliable identification is paramount. Traditionally, morphology and DNA amplification are used. This paper investigates a novel application of volatilome profiling using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time of flight mass spectrometry for wildlife sample detection. Known samples of elephant-derived ivory, other dentine samples, and bone (a common ivory substitute) were used as reference samples for volatilome profiling. Subsequently, specimens that were suspected ivory from border control seizures were obtained and analysed. Confirmatory DNA analyses were conducted on seized samples to establish the reliability parameters of volatilome profiling. The volatilome method correctly identified six of the eight seized samples as elephant ivory, which was confirmed through DNA analysis. There was also clear distinction of African elephant ivory parts from the bone and dentine samples from other species, as shown through PCA and discriminant analyses. These preliminary results establish volatilome profiling through GC×GC-TOFMS as a novel screening method used for the identification of unknown wildlife contraband.
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25
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Cernosek T, Eckert KE, Carter DO, Perrault KA. Volatile Organic Compound Profiling from Postmortem Microbes using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. J Forensic Sci 2019; 65:134-143. [PMID: 31479524 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are by-products of cadaveric decomposition and are responsible for the odor associated with decomposing remains. The direct link between VOC production and individual postmortem microbes has not been well characterized experimentally. The purpose of this study was to profile VOCs released from three postmortem bacterial isolates (Bacillus subtilis, Ignatzschineria indica, I. ureiclastica) using solid-phase microextraction arrow (SPME Arrow) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Species were inoculated in headspace vials on Standard Nutrient Agar and monitored over 5 days at 24°C. Each species exhibited a different VOC profile that included common decomposition VOCs. VOCs exhibited upward or downward temporal trends over time. Ignatzschineria indica produced a large amount of dimethyldisulfide. Other compounds of interest included alcohols, aldehydes, aromatics, and ketones. This provides foundational data to link decomposition odor with specific postmortem microbes to improve understanding of underlying mechanisms for decomposition VOC production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terezie Cernosek
- Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI
| | - Kevin E Eckert
- Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI
| | - David O Carter
- Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI
| | - Katelynn A Perrault
- Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI
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26
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Keenan SW, DeBruyn JM. Changes to vertebrate tissue stable isotope (δ 15N) composition during decomposition. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9929. [PMID: 31289347 PMCID: PMC6617491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46368-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
During carcass decomposition, tissues undergo biochemical changes: Cells autolyze, enteric microbes ferment cellular products, and tissues degrade. Ultimately, decomposition fluids are released as an ephemeral nitrogen (N) and carbon source to the surrounding environment. However, decomposition fluids are δ15N-enriched relative to body tissues, leading to a disconnect between starting tissue composition and ending fluid composition. It remains largely unknown when or if tissues exhibit δ15N enrichment postmortem despite the importance of tissue stable isotopes to ecologists. To test our hypothesis that tissues would become progressively δ15N-enriched during decay, soft tissues and bone were collected from beaver carcasses at five time points. All soft tissues, including muscle, were significantly δ15N-enriched compared to fresh tissues, but were not as enriched as decomposition fluids. Tissue breakdown is initially dominated by anaerobic autolysis and later by microbe and insect infiltration, and partly explains decay fluid isotopic enrichment. We speculate that after rupture, preferential volatilization of δ15N-depleted compounds (especially ammonia) contributes to further enrichment. These results constrain the timing, rate, and potential mechanisms driving carcass isotopic enrichment during decay, and suggest that found carcasses (e.g., road kill) should be used with caution for inferring trophic ecology as decay can result in significant postmortem δ15N enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah W Keenan
- University of Tennessee, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA. .,South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, 501 East St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA.
| | - Jennifer M DeBruyn
- University of Tennessee, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, 2506 E.J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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27
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Deo A, Forbes SL, Stuart BH, Ueland M. Profiling the seasonal variability of decomposition odour from human remains in a temperate Australian environment. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2019.1637938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Deo
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Shari L. Forbes
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Barbara H. Stuart
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
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28
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Amaral MSS, Marriott PJ. The Blossoming of Technology for the Analysis of Complex Aroma Bouquets-A Review on Flavour and Odorant Multidimensional and Comprehensive Gas Chromatography Applications. Molecules 2019; 24:E2080. [PMID: 31159223 PMCID: PMC6600270 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24112080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidimensional approaches in gas chromatography have been established as potent tools to (almost) attain fully resolved analyses. Flavours and odours are important application fields for these techniques since they include complex matrices, and are of interest for both scientific study and to consumers. This article is a review of the main research studies in the above theme, discussing the achievements and challenges that demonstrate a maturing of analytical separation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle S S Amaral
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Philip J Marriott
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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29
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Dubois LM, Stefanuto PH, Perrault KA, Delporte G, Delvenne P, Focant JF. Comprehensive Approach for Monitoring Human Tissue Degradation. Chromatographia 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10337-019-03710-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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30
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Irish L, Rennie SR, Parkes GMB, Williams A. Identification of decomposition volatile organic compounds from surface-deposited and submerged porcine remains. Sci Justice 2019; 59:503-515. [PMID: 31472795 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cadaver dogs are routinely used internationally by police and civilian search organisations to locate human remains on land and in water, yet little is currently known about the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released by a cadaver underwater; how this compares to those given off by a cadaver deposited on land; and ultimately, how this affects the detection of drowned victims by dogs. The aim of this study was to identify the VOCs released by whole porcine (Sus scrofa domesticus) cadavers deposited on the surface and submerged in water using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME GC-MS) to ascertain if there are notable differences in decomposition odour depending on the deposition location. For the first time in the UK, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the headspace of decomposing porcine cadavers deposited in both terrestrial and water environments have been detected and identified using SPME-GCMS, including thirteen new VOCs not previously detected from porcine cadavers. Distinct differences were found between the VOCs emitted by porcine cadavers in terrestrial and water environments. In total, seventy-four VOCs were identified from a variety of different chemical classes; carboxylic acids, alcohols, aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, nitrogen compounds and sulphur compounds. Only forty-one VOCs were detected in the headspace of the submerged pigs with seventy detected in the headspace of the surface-deposited pigs. These deposition-dependent differences have important implications for the training of cadaver dogs in the UK. If dog training does not account for these depositional differences, there is potential for human remains to be missed. Whilst the specific odours that elicit a trained response from cadaver dogs remain unknown, this research means that recommendations can be made for the training of cadaver dogs to incorporate different depositions, to account for odour differences and mitigate the possibility of missed human remains operationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Irish
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - S R Rennie
- Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - G M B Parkes
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - A Williams
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Pesesse R, Stefanuto PH, Schleich F, Louis R, Focant JF. Multimodal chemometric approach for the analysis of human exhaled breath in lung cancer patients by TD-GC × GC-TOFMS. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1114-1115:146-153. [PMID: 30745111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in developed countries. To reduce its mortality rate, it is important to enhance our capability to detect it at earlier stages by developing early diagnostic methods. In that context, the analysis of exhaled breath is an interesting approach because of the simplicity of the medical act and its non-invasiveness. Thermal desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC × GC-TOFMS) has been used to characterize and compare the volatile content of human breath of lung cancer patients and healthy volunteers. On the sampling side, the contaminations induced by the bags membrane and further environmental migration of VOCs during and after the sampling have also been investigated. Over a realistic period of 6 h, the concentration of contaminants inside the bag can increase from 2 to 3 folds based on simulated breath samples. On the data processing side, Fisher ratio (FR) and random forest (RF) approaches were applied and compared in regards to their ability to reduce the data dimensionality and to extract the significant information. Both approaches allow to efficiently smooth the background signal and extract significant features (27 for FR and 17 for RF). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate the clustering capacity of the different models. For both approaches, a separation along PC-1 was obtained with a variance score around 35%. The combined model provides a partial separation with a PC-1 score of 52%. This proof-of-concept study further confirms the potential of breath analysis for cancer detection but also underlines the importance of quality control over the full analytical procedure, including the processing of the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pesesse
- Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry Group, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, B6c, Agora District, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - P-H Stefanuto
- Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry Group, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, B6c, Agora District, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - F Schleich
- Pneumology and Allergology, GIGA Research Group, CHU of Liège, University of Liege, B35, Hospital District, Liege, Belgium
| | - R Louis
- Pneumology and Allergology, GIGA Research Group, CHU of Liège, University of Liege, B35, Hospital District, Liege, Belgium
| | - J-F Focant
- Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry Group, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, B6c, Agora District, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
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The forensic geophysical controlled research site of the University of Brasilia, Brazil: Results from methods GPR and electrical resistivity tomography. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 293:101.e1-101.e21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Rendine M, Fiore C, Bertozzi G, De Carlo D, Filetti V, Fortarezza P, Riezzo I. Decomposing Human Blood: Canine Detection Odor Signature and Volatile Organic Compounds. J Forensic Sci 2018; 64:587-592. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Rendine
- Section of Legal Medicine Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti” of Foggia Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo Viale degli Aviatori 1 71100 Foggia Italy
| | - Carmela Fiore
- Section of Forensic Toxicology Ospedale G. Tatarella Via Trinitapoli 71042 Cerignola (FG) Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bertozzi
- Section of Legal Medicine Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti” of Foggia Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo Viale degli Aviatori 1 71100 Foggia Italy
| | - Dania De Carlo
- Section of Legal Medicine Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti” of Foggia Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo Viale degli Aviatori 1 71100 Foggia Italy
| | - Vera Filetti
- Anatomy and Histology Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies University of Catania Via Santa Sofia 78 95123 Catania Sicily Italy
| | - Palmira Fortarezza
- Section of Forensic Toxicology Ospedale G. Tatarella Via Trinitapoli 71042 Cerignola (FG) Italy
| | - Irene Riezzo
- Section of Legal Medicine Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti” of Foggia Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo Viale degli Aviatori 1 71100 Foggia Italy
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Dubois LM, Stefanuto PH, Heudt L, Focant JF, Perrault KA. Characterizing decomposition odor from soil and adipocere samples at a death scene using HS-SPME-GC×GC-HRTOFMS. Forensic Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Knobel Z, Ueland M, Nizio KD, Patel D, Forbes SL. A comparison of human and pig decomposition rates and odour profiles in an Australian environment. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2018.1439100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zaccariah Knobel
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Katie D. Nizio
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Darshil Patel
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Shari L. Forbes
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
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The analysis of textiles associated with decomposing remains as a natural training aid for cadaver-detection dogs. Forensic Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Pascual J, von Hoermann C, Rottler-Hoermann AM, Nevo O, Geppert A, Sikorski J, Huber KJ, Steiger S, Ayasse M, Overmann J. Function of bacterial community dynamics in the formation of cadaveric semiochemicals during in situ carcass decomposition. Environ Microbiol 2017. [PMID: 28631411 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The decomposition of dead mammalian tissue involves a complex temporal succession of epinecrotic bacteria. Microbial activity may release different cadaveric volatile organic compounds which in turn attract other key players of carcass decomposition such as scavenger insects. To elucidate the dynamics and potential functions of epinecrotic bacteria on carcasses, we monitored bacterial communities developing on still-born piglets incubated in different forest ecosystems by combining high-throughput Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of volatiles. Our results show that the community structure of epinecrotic bacteria and the types of cadaveric volatile compounds released over the time course of decomposition are driven by deterministic rather than stochastic processes. Individual cadaveric volatile organic compounds were correlated with specific taxa during the first stages of decomposition which are dominated by bacteria. Through best-fitting multiple linear regression models, the synthesis of acetic acid, indole and phenol could be linked to the activity of Enterobacteriaceae, Tissierellaceae and Xanthomonadaceae, respectively. These conclusions are also commensurate with the metabolism described for the dominant taxa identified for these families. The predictable nature of in situ synthesis of cadaveric volatile organic compounds by epinecrotic bacteria provides a new basis for future chemical ecology and forensic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Pascual
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann
- Department of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Omer Nevo
- Department of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alicia Geppert
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Katharina J Huber
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Department of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany.,Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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Rosier E, Loix S, Develter W, Van de Voorde W, Cuypers E, Tytgat J. Differentiation between decomposed remains of human origin and bigger mammals. J Forensic Leg Med 2017; 50:28-35. [PMID: 28686981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study is a follow-up study in the search for a human specific marker in the decomposition where the VOC-profile of decomposing human, pig, lamb and roe remains were analyzed using a thermal desorber combined with a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer in a laboratory environment during 6 months. The combination of 8 previously identified human and pig specific compounds (ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, propyl butyrate, ethyl pentanoate, 3-methylthio-1-propanol, methyl(methylthio)ethyl disulfide, diethyl disulfide and pyridine) was also seen in these analyzed mammals. However, combined with 5 additional compounds (hexane, heptane, octane, N-(3-methylbutyl)- and N-(2-methylpropyl)acetamide) human remains could be separated from pig, lamb and roe remains. Based on a higher number of remains analyzed, as compared with the pilot study, it was no longer possible to rely on the 5 previously proposed esters to separate pig from human remains. From this follow-up study reported, it was found that pyridine is an interesting compound specific to human remains. Such a human specific marker can help in the training of cadaver dogs or in the development of devices to search for human remains. However, further investigations have to verify these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rosier
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Loix
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Develter
- Imaging & Pathology Department, Division Forensic Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Sint-Rafaël, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Van de Voorde
- Imaging & Pathology Department, Division Forensic Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Sint-Rafaël, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - E Cuypers
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Tytgat
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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40
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A minimally-invasive method for profiling volatile organic compounds within postmortem internal gas reservoirs. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:1271-1281. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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41
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Verheggen F, Perrault KA, Megido RC, Dubois LM, Francis F, Haubruge E, Forbes SL, Focant JF, Stefanuto PH. The Odor of Death: An Overview of Current Knowledge on Characterization and Applications. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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42
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Iqbal MA, Nizio KD, Ueland M, Forbes SL. Forensic decomposition odour profiling: A review of experimental designs and analytical techniques. Trends Analyt Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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43
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Advanced method optimization for volatile aroma profiling of beer using two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1507:45-52. [PMID: 28587778 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.05.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the headspace of Trappist and craft beers was studied to illustrate the efficiency of thermal desorption (TD) comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) for highlighting subtle differences between highly complex mixtures of VOCs. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), multiple (and classical) stir bar sorptive extraction (mSBSE), static headspace (SHS), and dynamic headspace (DHS) were compared for the extraction of a set of 21 representative flavor compounds of beer aroma. A Box-Behnken surface response methodology experimental design optimization (DOE) was used for convex hull calculation (Delaunay's triangulation algorithms) of peak dispersion in the chromatographic space. The predicted value of 0.5 for the ratio between the convex hull and the available space was 10% higher than the experimental value, demonstrating the usefulness of the approach to improve optimization of the GC×GC separation. Chemical variations amongst aligned chromatograms were studied by means of Fisher Ratio (FR) determination and F-distribution threshold filtration at different significance levels (α=0.05 and 0.01) and based on z-score normalized area for data reduction. Statistically significant compounds were highlighted following principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The dendrogram structure not only provided clear visual information about similarities between products but also permitted direct identification of the chemicals and their relative weight in clustering. The effective coupling of DHS-TD-GC×GC-TOFMS with PCA and HCA was able to highlight the differences and common typical VOC patterns among 24 samples of different Trappist and selected Canadian craft beers.
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Koziel JA, Nguyen LT, Glanville TD, Ahn H, Frana TS, Hans van Leeuwen J. Method for sampling and analysis of volatile biomarkers in process gas from aerobic digestion of poultry carcasses using time-weighted average SPME and GC-MS. Food Chem 2017; 232:799-807. [PMID: 28490143 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A passive sampling method, using retracted solid-phase microextraction (SPME) - gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and time-weighted averaging, was developed and validated for tracking marker volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during aerobic digestion of biohazardous animal tissue. The retracted SPME configuration protects the fragile fiber from buffeting by the process gas stream, and it requires less equipment and is potentially more biosecure than conventional active sampling methods. VOC concentrations predicted via a model based on Fick's first law of diffusion were within 6.6-12.3% of experimentally controlled values after accounting for VOC adsorption to the SPME fiber housing. Method detection limits for five marker VOCs ranged from 0.70 to 8.44ppbv and were statistically equivalent (p>0.05) to those for active sorbent-tube-based sampling. The sampling time of 30min and fiber retraction of 5mm were found to be optimal for the tissue digestion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek A Koziel
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Lam T Nguyen
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Thomas D Glanville
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Heekwon Ahn
- Department of Animal Biosystems Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Timothy S Frana
- Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - J Hans van Leeuwen
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Cuzuel V, Cognon G, Rivals I, Sauleau C, Heulard F, Thiébaut D, Vial J. Origin, Analytical Characterization, and Use of Human Odor in Forensics. J Forensic Sci 2017; 62:330-350. [PMID: 28120328 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Developing a strategy to characterize the odor prints of individuals should be relevant to support identification obtained using dogs in courts of justice. This article proposes an overview of the techniques used for the forensic profiling of human odor. After reviewing the origin of human odor-both genetic and physiological-the different analytical steps from sample collection to statistical data processing are presented. The first challenge is the collection of odor, whether by direct sampling with polymer patches, cotton gauze, etc., or indirect sampling with devices like Scent Transfer Unit. Then, analytical techniques are presented. Analyses are commonly performed with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. As they yield large amounts of data, advanced statistical tools are needed to provide efficient and reliable data processing, which is essential to give more probative value to information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Cuzuel
- UMR 8231 Chimie Biologie et Innovation (CBI), Laboratoire Sciences Analytiques Bioanalytiques et Miniaturisation, ESPCI Paris-CNRS, PSL Institute, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231, PARIS Cedex, France.,Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Caserne Lange, 5 Boulevard de l'Hautil, BP 20312 Pontoise, 95037, Cergy Pontoise Cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Cognon
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Caserne Lange, 5 Boulevard de l'Hautil, BP 20312 Pontoise, 95037, Cergy Pontoise Cedex, France
| | - Isabelle Rivals
- Equipe de Statistique Appliquée, ESPCI Paris, UMRS 1158 Neurophysiologie Respiratoire Expérimentale et Clinique, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Charles Sauleau
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Caserne Lange, 5 Boulevard de l'Hautil, BP 20312 Pontoise, 95037, Cergy Pontoise Cedex, France
| | - François Heulard
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, Caserne Lange, 5 Boulevard de l'Hautil, BP 20312 Pontoise, 95037, Cergy Pontoise Cedex, France
| | - Didier Thiébaut
- UMR 8231 Chimie Biologie et Innovation (CBI), Laboratoire Sciences Analytiques Bioanalytiques et Miniaturisation, ESPCI Paris-CNRS, PSL Institute, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231, PARIS Cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Vial
- UMR 8231 Chimie Biologie et Innovation (CBI), Laboratoire Sciences Analytiques Bioanalytiques et Miniaturisation, ESPCI Paris-CNRS, PSL Institute, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231, PARIS Cedex, France
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46
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Achieving a Near-Theoretical Maximum in Peak Capacity Gain for the Forensic Analysis of Ignitable Liquids Using GC×GC-TOFMS. SEPARATIONS 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/separations3030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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47
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48
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Rust L, Nizio KD, Forbes SL. The influence of ageing and surface type on the odour profile of blood-detection dog training aids. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:6349-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9748-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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49
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von Hoermann C, Ruther J, Ayasse M. Volatile Organic Compounds of Decaying Piglet Cadavers Perceived by Nicrophorus vespilloides. J Chem Ecol 2016; 42:756-767. [PMID: 27369281 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-016-0719-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In the necrophagous burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae), cadaver preference appears to depend on cadaver size and on the maturity of the beetle. We previously showed that newly emerged females with immature ovaries prefer later stages of decomposition of large cadavers. Our present aim is the determination of specific chemical compounds involved in the discrimination of cadaveric odor bouquets and the recognition of specific stages of decomposition. We used headspace samples of maggot-infested piglet cadavers at various decomposition stages and performed gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography (GC-EAD) to record 45 EAD-active compounds. Using GC coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified 13 of the EAD-active compounds. The headspace of the fresh decomposition stage was characterized mainly by high relative amounts of trimethylpyrazine. High relative amounts of dimethyl trisulfide were characteristic of bloated, post-bloating, and advanced decay stages. The advanced decay and dry remains stages were dominated by high relative amounts of phenol. Statistically, this compound had the highest impact on discrimination between the fresh decomposition stage, which is important for mature burying beetles for reproduction, and the advanced decay stage, which is nutritionally more attractive for newly emerged beetles. Phenol might, therefore, function as a key substance for newly emerged female burying beetles, so that they can locate suitable cadavers for feeding to maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 10-1 Containerstadt, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Joachim Ruther
- Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 10-1 Containerstadt, 89081, Ulm, Germany
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Rosier E, Loix S, Develter W, Van de Voorde W, Tytgat J, Cuypers E. Time-dependent VOC-profile of decomposed human and animal remains in laboratory environment. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:164-169. [PMID: 27285065 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A validated method using a thermal desorber combined with a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer was used to identify the volatile organic compounds released in decomposed human and animal remains after 9 and 12 months in glass jars in a laboratory environment. This is a follow-up study on a previous report where the first 6 months of decomposition of 6 human and 26 animal remains was investigated. In the first report, out of 452 identified compounds, a combination of 8 compounds was proposed as human and pig specific. The goal of the current study was to investigate if these 8 compounds were still released after 9 and 12 months. The next results were noticed: 287 compounds were identified; only 9 new compounds were detected and 173 were no longer seen. Sulfur-containing compounds were less prevalent as compared to the first month of decomposition. The appearance of nitrogen-containing compounds and alcohols was increasingly evident during the first 6 months, and the same trend was seen in the following 6 months. Esters became less important after 6 months. From the proposed human and pig specific compounds, diethyl disulfide was only detected during the first months of decomposition. Interestingly, the 4 proposed human and pig specific esters, as well as pyridine, 3-methylthio-1-propanol and methyl(methylthio)ethyl disulfide were still present after 9 and 12 months of decomposition. This means that these 7 human and pig specific markers can be used in the development of training aids for cadaver dogs during the whole decomposition process. Diethyl disulfide can be used in training aids for the first month of decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rosier
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Loix
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Develter
- Imaging & Pathology Department, Division Forensic Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Sint-Rafaël, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Van de Voorde
- Imaging & Pathology Department, Division Forensic Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Sint-Rafaël, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Tytgat
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - E Cuypers
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, PO Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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