Netherlands Forensic Institute

Considering TikTok’s increasing geopolitical influence, this article presents the TikTok Global Observatory (TKGO) as a case of data-reappropriation and introduces the concept of platform-mediated proximity as a counter-data mapping framework for data activist research. While TikTok enables global connection beyond local and cultural boundaries, its content is sensitive to locally specific conditions to which the platform provides no public insight. To counter this lack of transparency, the TKGO makes data for global and cross-national analysis of TikTok feeds available and navigable to the research community. The TKGO is an archive, updated daily, that collects the metadata of videos scraped from the non-logged-in web version of TikTok’s for you page (FYP) across 197 countries and territories. The tool’s main feature is a geographic map that allows users to view, filter, sort, and extrapolate the FYP data as prioritized in different geographical locations. This offers a unique access point for researchers, journalists, and activists investigating cross-national trends, content moderation, and content promotion. In this article, we firstly present the TKGO and contextually position its development in the contentious politics of data access, archiving, and mapping practices. Secondly, we elaborate on the notion of platform-mediated proximities, a conceptual lens that highlights how TikTok remediates geographical proximities through algorithmic content recommendation. Lastly, we apply this framework to the mapping of a three-month sample of the TKGO data, showing how TikTok’s cross-national content prioritization patterns generate new geographical boundaries, observing regional and geopolitical clustering as well as notable exceptions.

As post-mortem (PM) imaging in children becomes more common, there is a need to review the available evidence for its diagnostic yield in suspected child physical abuse. The aim of this review is to synthesise current evidence, assess study quality, and identify ongoing challenges. Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched until 31 December 2024. Original research articles reporting data on at least ten children with PM imaging in the context of physical abuse were included. Titles and abstracts were screened by two expert reviewers; full texts were assessed by a third, independent reviewer and one of the previous reviewers. Data was extracted by one of 12 experts and independently verified. The study risk of bias was evaluated with the ROBINS-I tool. Study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, resulting in descriptive synthesis. Eighteen out of 1687 potential papers were included. Seven described PM radiography, five post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), four both PM radiography plus PMCT, and two post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR). All but one were retrospective, and most (11/18, 61%) had a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Post-mortem skeletal survey (PMSS) detected subtle fractures, particularly corner metaphyseal fractures. PMCT provided a high-resolution assessment of injuries, particularly rib fractures. PMMR contributed soft-tissue and intracranial detail. All studies emphasised the importance of correlating autopsy findings. Technical variation and potential biases limited direct comparisons between studies. PM imaging can reveal important injury patterns that may be overlooked by autopsy. Nevertheless, standardised imaging methods and larger prospective trials are needed to reduce bias and establish best-practice guidelines. Question What is the evidence for PM radiologic imaging in suspected physical abuse of children? Findings PM imaging complements autopsy, but diagnostic accuracy varies by modality. Study heterogeneity and bias limit current evidence. Clinical relevance PM imaging can detect injuries missed at autopsy in child abuse cases. Standardised protocols and higher-quality studies are urgently needed.

Background:Intentional sodium nitrite poisoning is an emerging trend worldwide, as it is promoted for its use in self-euthanasia. Nitrite dipstick urinalysis could potentially serve as a rapid-diagnostic tool. Urine dipstick analysis is a common point-of-care test (POCT) for the initial diagnosis of urinary tract infections. The aim of this study was to investigate nitrite dipstick urinalysis as a potential reliable POCT for the early detection of sodium nitrate poisoning.Methods:Postmortem urine samples, collected over 1 year, were prospectively analyzed for nitrite presence using a urine dipstick method. In addition, a retrospective search was conducted in the database to identify cases with suspected or confirmed sodium nitrite poisoning as the cause of death. Available urine samples from these cases were screened for the presence of nitrite.Results:Prospectively, 10 of the 420 urine samples tested positive for nitrite presence: 6 samples without any suspicion of sodium nitrite ingestion and 4 with confirmed sodium nitrite poisoning as the cause of death. In addition, in our retrospective study, 12 cases of suspected sodium nitrite poisoning were tested for nitrite presence in the urine using the dipstick. Of these, 8 tested positive for nitrite. Two of the 12 cases were later attributed to intoxication with other substances. As a control, urine samples spiked with sodium nitrite were tested using the dipstick; the pink color intensified with increasing sodium nitrite concentration.Conclusions:Nitrite dipstick urinalysis is a feasible approach for the early detection of nitrite poisoning in postmortem toxicological screening. In addition, this rapid POCT shows potential as a diagnostic tool for use in acute clinical settings in cases of suspected sodium nitrite poisoning or elevated methemoglobinemia with an unknown cause.

Designer precursors for the synthesis of amphetamine-type stimulants pose a significant challenge to law enforcement. The precursors APAAN (α-phenylacetoacetonitrile) and MAPA (methyl α-acetylphenylacetate) became popular in the previous decade and have since been restricted. Recently, a ring-substituted analog of MAPA used for the synthesis of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) was detected, highlighting the potential for criminal misuse of substituted analogs of these designer precursors. Previous research has characterized the impurity profiles of methamphetamine synthesized from APAAN and MAPA. In this study, the impurity profiles of MDMA and PMMA (p-methoxymethamphetamine) synthesized from ring-substituted analogs of APAAN and MAPA were characterized. In addition, byproducts forming from the conversion of p-methyl and p-fluoro analogs of APAAN and MAPA into analogs of P2P were investigated. MDMA was synthesized from 3,4-methylenedioxy-substituted MAPA (methyl α-acetyl-[3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl]acetate, MAMDPA) via sodium cyanoborohydride reductive amination and hydrogenation with platinum oxide and methylamine. Four impurities originating from MAMDPA were detected in MDMA synthesized via reductive amination, all of which are 3,4-methylenedioxy analogs of the impurities detected in methamphetamine synthesized from MAPA. Synthesis of MDMA via the hydrogenation route only produced one characteristic impurity, which, due to its instability under acidic conditions, is not likely to be present in clandestine MDMA hydrochloride samples. PMMA was synthesized via sodium cyanoborohydride reductive amination of MeO-P2P produced from methoxyl-substituted APAAN (α-p-methoxyphenylacetoacetonitrile, APMPAAN). Five impurities were identified as originating from APMPAAN, two of which are proposed to be the most reliable markers for the use of APMPAAN in the synthesis of PMMA.

The block-length distribution (BLD) of polyamide andpolyurethanecopolymers was determined from mass spectrometry (MS) data. Whilenuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) traditionally determines the number-averageblock length, this work demonstrates that MS/MS is a viable optionfor the characterization of the distribution. An algorithm was implementedand modified to accurately determine copolymer BLDs from fragmentationdata. The algorithm incorporates preferences in bond fragmentation.Evaluation of the algorithm encompassed the use of polyamide and polyurethanemodel systems. In both scenarios, the algorithm successfully derivedBLDs, that corresponded well with the average block lengths obtainedwith 13C NMR. The newly developed algorithm enabled thecharacterization of BLDs based on MS/MS data. Typical trends in BLDscorresponding to distinct synthesis methods were discernible. TheseBLDs offer uniquely detailed insights into copolymer chemistry, potentiallyelucidating variations in functional properties of copolymers despiteoverall identical compositions.

ABSTRACT Persons with a diagnosis of personality disorders (PDs) are associated with increased risk of violent and antisocial behavior and with higher recidivism risk and are therefore treated in outpatient forensic mental health settings (OFMH). There are promising results for treatment of people with the diagnosis of PD in this setting. However, information on prevalence and assessment seems scarce. This systematic review focuses on the prevalence of diagnoses of PDs in general and diagnoses of specific PDs in OFMH, and how assessment was done. Following the PRISMA protocol, five electronic bibliographic databases were searched. This yielded 251 records of which eight studies on prevalence and nine on assessment were included in the review. Because of the many differences between these studies and the settings studied, prevalence rates varied widely and no single percentage of diagnosis of PDs in OFMH settings can be given. Moreover, there appeared to be no commonly used or preferred method of assessment; clinical assessment, structured interviews and self-report questionnaires were all used, while few studies used validity scales or a control for response styles. Patients and practitioners in OFMH may benefit from knowledge of prevalence rates and proper assessment of diagnosis of PDs. This requires new research.

The detection and visualization of sub-dermal hematoma (bruises) plays a key role in suspected physical abuse cases, as it aids in the evaluation of both victim and suspect statements. Current methods rely on visual inspection, frequently aided by alternate light sources (ALS). Ideally, ALS increase visual contrast by exploiting differences in light absorption (due to the formation and clearance of chromophores within the bruise). However, in practice the achievable contrast is often limited by light-scattering: the short-wavelength region of the spectrum (comprising most of the chromophore-specific absorption peaks), is also strongly scattered by the dermal tissue. This, in turn, limits achievable penetration depths, effectively obscuring deep-lying bruises. ALS-based contrast enhancement is further complicated by bruise healing; diffusion and enzymatic activity alter the chromophore concentrations as well as their 3D-distribution within the tissue. To overcome these critical limitations, we employ a multi-spectral camera (8 wavelengths simultaneously) in conjunction with both observer-based scoring and a contrast-quantification algorithm to determine the optimal wavelength for the detection and characterization of bruises over time. We show that (i) bruise contrast significantly increases at 480nm, 620nm and 850nm and (ii) the wavelength achieving optimal contrast gradually changes from 850nm to 578nm-480nm as the bruise heals.