OBJECTIVE: Accurate identification of individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is crucial for early intervention and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Fractal dimensionality (FD) has emerged as a robust and replicable measure, surpassing traditional geometric metrics, in characterizing the intricate fractal geometrical properties of brain structure. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of FD in identifying individuals with SCD remains largely unclear. A 3D regional FD method can be suggested to characterize and quantify the spatial complexity of the precise gray matter, providing insights into cognitive aging and aiding in the automated identification of individuals with SCD.
METHODS: This study introduces a novel integer ratio based 3D box-counting fractal analysis (IRBCFA) to quantify regional fractal dimensions (FDs) in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The innovative method overcomes limitations of conventional box-counting techniques by accommodating arbitrary box sizes, thereby enhancing the precision of FD estimation in small, yet neurologically significant, brain regions.
RESULTS: The application of IRBCFA to two publicly available datasets, OASIS-3 and ADNI, consisting of 520 and 180 subjects, respectively. The method identified discriminative regions of interest (ROIs) predominantly within the limbic system, fronto-parietal region, occipito-temporal region, and basal ganglia-thalamus region. These ROIs exhibited significant correlations with cognitive functions, including executive functioning, memory, social cognition, and sensory perception, suggesting their potential as neuroimaging markers for SCD. The identification model trained on these ROIs demonstrated exceptional performance achieving over 93 % accuracy on the discovery dataset and exceeding 87 % on the independent testing dataset. Furthermore, an exchange experiment between datasets revealed a substantial overlap in discriminative ROIs, highlighting the robustness of our method across diverse populations.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that IRBCFA can serve as a valuable tool for quantifying the spatial complexity of gray matter, providing insights into cognitive aging and aiding in the automated identification of individuals with SCD. The demonstrated generalizability and robustness of this method position it as a promising tool for neurodegenerative disease research and offer potential for clinical applications.

The functional connectivity (FC) graph of the brain has been widely recognized as a ``fingerprint\'\' that can be used to identify individuals from a group of subjects. Research has indicated that individual identification accuracy can be improved by eliminating the impact of shared information among individuals. However, current research extracts not only shared information of inter-subject but also individual-specific information from FC graphs, resulting in incomplete separation of shared information and fingerprint information among individuals, leading to lower individual identification accuracy across all functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) states session pairs and poor cognitive behavior prediction performance. In this paper, we propose a method to enhance inter-subject variability combining conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE) network and sparse dictionary learning (SDL) module. By embedding fMRI state information in the encoding and decoding processes, the CVAE network can better capture and represent the common features among individuals and enhance inter-subject variability by residual. Our experimental results on Human Connectome Project (HCP) data show that the refined connectomes obtained by using CVAE with SDL can accurately distinguish an individual from the remaining participants. The success accuracies reached 99.7 % and 99.6 % in the session pair rest1-rest2 and reverse rest2-rest1, respectively. In the identification experiment involving task-task combinations carried out on the same day, the identification accuracies ranged from 94.2 % to 98.8 %. Furthermore, we showed the Frontoparietal and Default networks make the most significant contributions to individual identification and the edges that significantly contribute to individual identification are found within and between the Frontoparietal and Default networks. Additionally, high-level cognitive behaviors can also be better predicted with the obtained refined connectomes, suggesting that higher fingerprinting can be useful for resulting in higher behavioral associations. In summary, our proposed framework provides a promising approach to use functional connectivity networks for studying cognition and behavior, promoting a deeper understanding of brain functions.

Domestic dogs are helpers in outdoor human work and companions for families; thus, individual canine identification and parentage testing are crucial in certain fields, including forensics and breeding programs. In this study, a six-dye fluorescent labeling multiplex amplification system containing 29 canine short tandem repeats (STRs) and the sex-determining marker DAmel was developed. The system was called the Tronfo Canine 30-plex STR Kit and was further validated according to the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Wildlife Forensics guidelines, including tests for PCR conditions, precision, species specificity, sensitivity, stability, repeatability and reproducibility, a population study, and a study of 16 paternity test cases. The results indicated that the novel canine STR assay was accurate, specific, reproducible, stable, and robust. Complete profiles were obtained with 31.25 pg of canine DNA. Additionally, 500 unrelated canine individuals were investigated using this novel system, and the combined power of discrimination and exclusion values were 0.999999999999999999 and 0.999996451039850, respectively. These results suggest that the Tronfo Canine 30-plex STR Kit is highly polymorphic, informative, and suitable for individual canine identification and parentage testing.

This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms and population characteristics of Chinese Mongolian group from northwest China (NCM) through a self-developed panel including 43 autosomal insertion/deletion (A-InDel) polymorphism genetic markers. Herein, 288 unrelated healthy individuals from the NCM group were employed to obtain the genetic data of 43 A-InDels through multiplex PCR amplification and InDel genotyping using capillary electrophoresis platform. In addition, multiplex population genetic analyses were performed between the NCM group and 27 reference populations. There were no deviations at 43 loci from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the NCM group. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) values ranged from 0.312 8 to 0.559 2, and the combined power of discrimination (CPD) and cumulative probability of exclusion (CPE) values in the NCM group were 0.999 999 999 999 999 998 77 and 0.999 814, respectively. The forensic parameter values indicated that this panel was polymorphic and informative in the NCM group and could be used as an effective tool for forensic personal identification. Furthermore, the results of pairwise genetic distances, principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling analysis, phylogenetic tree construction, and admixture analysis among the NCM group and 27 reference populations revealed that there were closer genetic relationships between the NCM group and East Asian populations, especially Chinese Hui group (CHH) from the northwest China, which is consistent with the geographical location. These present findings contributed to the ongoing genetic explorations and insights into the genetic architecture of the NCM group.

In recent years, with the continuous progress of DNA extraction and detection technology, cell-free DNA(cfDNA)has been widely used in the life science field, and its potential application value in forensic identification is becoming more and more obvious. This paper reviews the concept, formation mechanism, and classification of cfDNA, etc., and describes the latest research progress of cfDNA in personal identification of crime scene touch DNA samples and non-invasive prenatal paternity testing (NIPPT). Meanwhile, this paper summarizes the potential application of cfDNA in injury inference, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of common cfDNA analysis methods and techniques, and its application prospects, to provide a new idea for the wide application of cfDNA in the field of forensic science.
近年来，随着DNA提取和检测技术的不断进步，游离DNA（cell-free DNA，cfDNA）已经在生命科学领域得到了广泛应用，在法医学鉴定领域中的潜在应用价值也越来越明显。本文回顾了cfDNA概念、形成机制与分类等，并阐述了cfDNA在法医学现场接触检材的个体识别和无创产前亲缘关系鉴定应用中的最新研究进展，同时总结了cfDNA在损伤推断中的应用潜力，并探讨了常用cfDNA分析方法和技术的优缺点及应用展望，为cfDNA在法医学领域的广泛应用提供新思路。.

Biological evidence is relatively common evidence in criminal cases, and it has strong probative power because it carries DNA information for individual identification. At the scene of fire-related cases, the complex thermal environment, the escape of trapped people, the firefighting and rescue operations, and the deliberate destruction of criminal suspects will all affect the biological evidence in the fire scene. Scholars at home and abroad have explored and studied the effectiveness of biological evidence identification in fire scenes, and found that the blood stains, semen stains, bones, etc. are the main biological evidence which can be easily recovered with DNA in fire scenes. In order to analyze the research status and development trend of biological evidence in fire scenes, this paper systematically sorts out the relevant research, mainly including the soot removal technology, appearance method of typical biological evidence, and possibility of identifying other biological evidence. This paper also prospects the next step of research direction, in order to provide reference for the identification of biological evidence and improve the value of biological evidence in fire scenes.
生物物证是刑事案件中的常见证据，因其携带可供个体身份识别的DNA信息而有较强的证明力。在涉火案件现场，复杂的热环境、被困人员逃生、灭火救援行动，以及犯罪嫌疑人的故意破坏等，都会对火场生物物证造成影响。国内外学者对火场生物物证识别的有效性进行了探索和研究，发现在火场中能够有效回收DNA的生物物证主要有血迹、精斑、骨骼等。为了分析火场生物物证的研究现状和发展趋势，本文对相关研究进行了系统梳理，主要包括火场典型生物物证的烟尘清除技术、显现方法和识别其他生物物证的可能性，并对下一步研究方向进行了展望，以期为火场生物物证的识别、提升火场生物物证的证据价值提供参考。.

OBJECTIVE: To establish and forensically verify a 42 microhaplotypes (mircohaps, MHs) multiplex assay system based on next-generation sequencing (NGS), and to explore the application value of this system in the practice of forensic genetics.
METHODS: A total of 42 highly polymorphic MHs were selected from previous studies, and sequenced by the MiSeq FGxTM platform to verify the repeata-bility, sensitivity, specificity, stability, and mixture analysis ability of the detection system. Through population genetic investigation of 102 unrelated Chinese Han individuals in Liyang City, Jiangsu Province, China, the application value of this system in forensic genetics was evaluated.
RESULTS: The sequencing repeatability of the 42-plex MHs assay was 100% and the sensitivity was as low as 0.062 5 ng. The system had the ability to withstand the interference of indigo (≤2 500 ng/μL), humic acid (≤9 ng/μL), hemoglobin(≤20 μmol), and urea (≤200 ng/μL) and to detect mixtures of 2 people (1∶19), 3 people (1∶1∶9) and 4 people (1∶1∶1∶9). Based on 102 individual data, the combined power of discrimination and the combined power of exclusion were 1-3.45×10-30 and 1-3.77×10-11, respectively, and the average effect value of alleles was 2.899.
CONCLUSIONS: The 42-plex MHs assay was successfully established in this study and this system has high repeatability and sensitivity, good anti-jamming ability and mixture analysis ability. The 42 MHs are highly polymorphism and have good application value in individual identification and paternity testing.
目的: 基于二代测序平台（next-generation sequencing，NGS）对42个微单倍型（microhaplotype，MH）遗传标记进行复合检测体系构建与法医学验证，探讨该体系在法医物证学实践中的应用价值。方法: 从前期研究中筛选42个高多态性MH并构建复合检测体系（42-plex MHs），通过MiSeq FGxTM平台进行测序，对该检测体系的重复性、灵敏度、特异性、稳定性、混合样本解析能力进行验证。通过对102例中国江苏省溧阳市汉族无关个体进行群体遗传学调查，评估该体系的法医学应用价值。结果: 该复合检测体系（42-plex MHs）的测序结果重复性可达100%，灵敏度低至0.062 5 ng，可耐受靛蓝（≤2 500 ng/μL）、腐殖酸（≤9 ng/μL）、血红素（≤20 μmol）、尿素（≤200 ng/μL）的干扰，并可鉴定2人（1∶19）、3人（1∶1∶9）和4人（1∶1∶1∶9）的混合样本。基于102例个体数据，42-plex MHs的累积个体识别率为1-3.45×10-30、累积非父排除率为1-3.77×10-11，平均有效等位基因数值为2.899。结论: 本研究成功构建了42-plex MHs复合检测体系，该体系具有高度的重复性与灵敏度，良好的抗干扰物能力与混合物解析能力，所含MH遗传标记具有较高的多态性，兼顾族源推断同时在个体识别和亲子鉴定相关案件中具有良好应用价值。.

Forensic microbiome research is a field with a wide range of applications and a number of protocols have been developed for its use in this area of research. As individuals host radically different microbiota, the human microbiome is expected to become a new biomarker for forensic identification. To achieve an effective use of this procedure an understanding of factors which can alter the human microbiome and determinations of stable and changing elements will be critical in selecting appropriate targets for investigation. The 16S rRNA gene, which is notable for its conservation and specificity, represents a potentially ideal marker for forensic microbiome identification. Gene sequencing involving 16S rRNA is currently the method of choice for use in investigating microbiomes. While the sequencing involved with microbiome determinations can generate large multi-dimensional datasets that can be difficult to analyze and interpret, machine learning methods can be useful in surmounting this analytical challenge. In this review, we describe the research methods and related sequencing technologies currently available for application of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and machine learning in the field of forensic identification. In addition, we assess the potential value of 16S rRNA and machine learning in forensic microbiome science.

UNASSIGNED: As a new kind of diallelic genetic marker, insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphisms have recently been used in forensic science. However, there are relatively few studies on the forensic evaluation of InDel genetic polymorphisms from different populations.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of the present work is to assess the genetic polymorphism and forensic applicability of 57 InDels from the Yi ethnic group and explore the genetic background of this group.
UNASSIGNED: A total sample of 122 unrelated individuals of Yi group from the Yunnan province were genotyped by the AGCU indel 60 Kit. Multiplex population genetic analyses on the same 57 InDels were carried out among the Yunnan Yi group and 29 reference populations.
UNASSIGNED: The average allele frequency of these loci in the Yi ethnic group was 0.485. Heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, and the power of discrimination were 0.477, 0.362, and 0.612, respectively. The combined power of discrimination and the combined power of exclusion reached to 0.99999999999999999669 and 0.999962965, respectively. The results showed that 57 InDels polymorphisms have high genetic polymorphisms in the Yi ethnic group.
UNASSIGNED: The 57 InDels could be used for forensic individual identification, paternity testing, and intercontinental population discrimination, with the potential for use in biogeographic ancestry inference.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the technical performance of IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) and evaluate its forensic application value.
METHODS: Following the Criterion of Forensic Science Human Fluorescence STR Multiplex Amplification Reagent (GB/T 37226-2018), IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) was verified in 11 aspects of species specificity, veracity, sensibility, adaptability, inhibitor tolerance, consistency, balance, reaction condition verification, mixed samples, stability and inter batch consistency. The system efficiency of IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) was compared with the PowerPlex® Fusion 6C System, VersaPlex® 27PY System and VeriFilerTM Plus PCR Amplification Kit. The IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) was used to detect the swabs of biological samples in daily cases and the STR performances were observed.
RESULTS: IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) had good species specificity, veracity, adaptability, inhibitor tolerance and balance. The sensibility was up to 0.062 5 ng. It was able to detect different types of samples, degraded samples and inhibitor mixed samples. Complete DNA typing could be obtained for samples with the mixture ratio less than 4∶1. The system efficiency of IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) was very high, with TDP up to 1-1.08×10-37, CPEtrio and CPEduo up to 1-5.47×10-14 and 1-6.43×10-9, respectively. For the touched biological samples in actual cases, the effective detection rate was 21.05%. The system efficiency of kinship, single parent and full sibling identifications was effectively improved.
CONCLUSIONS: The IDentifier DNA typing kit (YanHuang34) is adaptive to the GB/T 37226-2018 requirements. It can be used for individual identification and paternity identification, and is suitable for application in the field of forensic science.
目的: 测试IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）的技术性能指标，评估其法医学应用价值。方法: 根据《法庭科学人类荧光标记STR复合扩增检测试剂质量基本要求》（GB/T 37226—2018），从种属特异性、分型准确性、灵敏度、适应性、耐受性、一致性、均衡性、反应条件验证、混合样本、稳定性、批间差11个方面对IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）进行测试。比较IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）与PowerPlex® Fusion 6C系统、VersaPlex® 27PY系统、VeriFilerTM Plus PCR扩增试剂盒的系统效能。使用IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）检测日常案件中的拭子类生物检材，观察其STR检验结果。结果: IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）具有良好的种属特异性、分型准确性、适应性、耐受性和均衡性，灵敏度可达0.062 5 ng，能检测案件中不同类型的检材、降解检材及混有抑制剂的检材，对混合比例为4∶1以内的样本均能获得完整分型。该试剂盒的系统效能非常高，TDP可达1-1.08×10-37，CPEtrio和CPEduo分别可达1-5.47×10-14和1-6.43×10-9。针对案件中的接触类生物检材，其有效检出率可达21.05%。针对亲缘关系鉴定，单亲鉴定和全同胞鉴定的系统效能均得到了有效提高。结论: IDentifier DNA分型盒（炎黄34）的上述性能指标符合要求，可用于个体识别及亲权鉴定，适合在法庭科学领域应用。.