Multispectral photography offers a wide range of applications for forensic investigations. It is commonly used to detect latent evidence and to enhance the visibility of findings. Additionally, three-dimensional (3D) full-body documentation has become much easier and more affordable in recent years. However, the benefits of performing 3D imaging beyond the visible (VIS) spectrum are not well known, and the technique has not been widely used in forensic medical investigations. A multicamera setup was used to employ multispectral photogrammetry between 365 and 960 nm in postmortem investigations. The multicamera setup included four modified digital cameras, ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) light sources and supplemental lens filters. Full-body documentation was performed in conjunction with the use of a medical X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner to automate the imaging procedure. Textured 3D models based on multispectral datasets from four example cases were reconstructed successfully. The level of detail and overall quality of the 3D reconstructions varied depending on the spectral range of the image data. Generally, the NIR datasets showed enhanced visibility of vein patterns and specific injuries, whereas the UV-induced datasets highlighted foreign substances on the skin. Three-dimensional multispectral full-body imaging enables the detection of latent evidence that is invisible to the naked eye and allows visualization, documentation and analysis of evidence beyond the VIS spectrum.

Purpose: Augmented reality (AR) can generate realistic holograms overlaid on the real-word environment to provide an interactive learning experience. However, further research is needed to assess the impact of such technologies on knowledge acquisition. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an AR learning application in anatomy education. Method: TEACHANATOMY, a controlled, randomized trial, was conducted from September 14–October 24, 2022, at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. It included first- and second-year medical students with no prior anatomy education and compared learning with an interactive hologram-based AR learning module—incorporating adaptive learning and gamification elements—with traditional learning (TL) methods including textbooks, videos, and online resources. Forty-eight participants were randomly allocated to the AR or TL group. The primary outcome consisted of the scores on the theoretical and practical knowledge tests. Secondary outcomes included adverse health symptoms and user experience. Results: The AR group performed significantly better on both theoretical (median [IQR] scores: AR: 18.8 [16.6–20.0]; TL: 9.4 [7.7–11.3]; P < .001) and practical (AR: 14.0 [12.3–14.7]; TL: 5.0 [4.0–6.0]; P < .001) knowledge tests. The most common adverse health symptoms were headache, reported by 13/24 (54.2%) TL participants and 9/24 (37.5%) AR participants, and fatigue, and experienced by 13/24 (54.2%) TL participants and 2/24 (8.3%) AR participants. All participants evaluated learning with TEACHANATOMY as a positive experience, rating it as efficient and easy to understand. All participants agreed learning with AR can be beneficial in learning anatomy, with 89.6% (43/48) and 100% (48/48) expressing willingness to use AR as a learning tool for theoretical and practical anatomy learning, respectively. Conclusions: Findings show a short-term learning benefit with the use of the TEACHANATOMY learning application, thus supporting the implementation of interactive hologram-based AR technologies to improve knowledge in anatomy education.

The distribution of bullet fragments inside the body can provide information for the reconstruction of events in shooting incidents. The formation of an annular distribution pattern of bullet fragments was recently presented in a case report. The fragments were scattered radially around an exit-re-entrance wound resulting from collision of the bullet with a floor tile immediately after perforating the body. Such an annular distribution pattern of bullet fragments around an exit-re-entrance wound would indicate that a body was in close contact with hard material, for instance, lying on hard ground or leaning against a concrete wall, when the shot was fired. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the formation and reproducibility of the annular distribution pattern of bullet fragments. It was assumed that the distribution pattern would be formed when hard material blocks a bullet from exiting a soft tissue simulant. Furthermore, the dependency of this distribution pattern on the impact angle was assessed. For this purpose, .357 Magnum bullets were fired at ballistic soap blocks with a steel plate at the rear end of the soap block. Six shots were performed at an impact angle of 90° (experiment 1), and six shots were performed at an impact angle of 45° (experiment 2). The distribution pattern of the fragments inside the individual soap blocks was examined via computed tomography (CT). In experiment 1, the bullets burst, and large fragments formed annular distribution patterns with a radial extent of approximately 4.9 cm and a maximum depth of approximately 2.3 cm. In experiment 2, the bullets ricocheted from the steel plate, and tiny fragments formed small annular distribution patterns at the points of ricochet with a radial extent of approximately 1.5 cm and a maximum depth of approximately 1.2 cm. The end position of the large main fragments was approximately 9.7 cm distant from the point of ricochet at a mean depth of 2.7 cm. The mean kinetic energy of the bullets at the time of impact was 580 J in experiment 1 and 394 J in experiment 2. Distribution patterns of bullet fragments in the body may provide information not only on the impact angle of a bullet but also on whether the body was in contact with a hard material that blocked the bullet from exiting the body. CT proved to be an appropriate imaging method for such investigations.