OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
A general term given to a class of explosives in which the principal organic energetic material is usually NG and/or EGDN; or other explosive oils. DISCUSSIO(1) Usually inorganic oxidizers such as nitrate salts and plant material are also included. (2) It should be noted that this does not describe 'military' type dynamites.
This stands for two separate application profiles of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard:a) Acronym for the FBI's application profile of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard:Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification.b) Acronym for the US Department of Defense's application profile of theANSI/NIST-ITL standard: Electronic Biometric TransmissionSpecification.
A physical feature of the periphery of a bloodstain
An instrument that uses an electrostatic charge along with toner distribution as the mechanism to visualize paper fiber disturbances (for example, indentations and erasures).
Any paint pigment that is designed to produce a significant change in color attribute(s) in a paint film when the film is viewed or illuminated from varied angles.
Any paint pigment that is designed to produce a significant change in color attribute(s) in a paint film when the film is viewed or illuminated from varied angles
Temperatures reached in fires that produce physical effects that can be related to specific temperature ranges.
Extended Feature Set for markup of friction ridge data [2015a>]as defined in fields9.300-9.399 [
The FBI's earlier application profile of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard: Electronic FingerprintTransmission Specification. It has been superseded by EBTS.
A material that can be deformed but when the forces are removed it returns to its original form. Serves as the base material for pressure sensitive adhesives.
The polymeric backbone of a pressure sensitive adhesive imparting elastic properties, for example, rubber.
The polymeric backbone of a pressure sensitive adhesive imparting elastic properties, for example, rubber
A disease of the elbow joint of canines caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint.
A disease of the elbow joint of canines caused by growth disturbances in the elbow joint.
a device, designed and used for the electrical ignition of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles, that contains a small amount of pyrotechnic material, which ignites when a specified electric current flows through the leads.
A small, incandescent particle created by some arcs.
a small tube or block containing a small quantity of ignition composition in contact with a wire bridge
A machine which uses electrical discharges to produce a desired design in a footwear or tire mold.
Electron beam instrument designed for quantitative X-ray analysis (electron probe microanalysis)
Regulates interception of wire and electronic communications (18 USC 2510 et seq.) and retrieval of stored wire and electronic communications (18 USC 2701 et seq.)
The complete longitudinal electronic dental history of an individual
A broad concept that includes public or private information stored in an electronic or digital medium, such as data available from computers (including email), CD-ROM discs, DVDs, Internet, cloud storage, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, tablets, GPS systems, satellites, and drones. ESI includes writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, sound recordings, images, video recordings, data compilations, computer-aided design files such as blueprints or maps, metadata, equipment/process control and data logging system files, and any other data that is stored electronically.
A plot of fluorescence units over time showing the measured peaks of a DNA molecule atvarious genetic locations.
A technique used in laboratories to separate macromolecules based on size and charge. Negatively charged molecules (e.g. DNA and RNA) migrate towards a positively charged pole through a sieving matrix, which permits a size-dependent separation.
An instrument used to visualize paper fiber disturbances (e.g. indentations, erasures, typewritten material/lift off, footwear and tire impressions).
The examination of (writing) indentations of paper.
An instrument used to visualize paper fiber disturbances (e.g. indentations, erasures, typewritten material/lift off, footwear and tire impressions).
The process of using an electrostatic charge to transfer dry origin impressions from the substrate to a film.
The process of using an electrostatic charge to transfer dry origin impressions from the substrate toa film.
The process of using an electrostatic charge to transfer dry origin impressions from the substrate to a film.
A single geometric component of a footwear outsole or tire tread design.
In XML, an element is a building block delimited by a start-tag (for example:) and an end-tag (for example: ). Everything between thestart-tag and the end-tag of the element (exclusive) is called the element's content. Thefields, subfields, and information items used by traditional-encoding (non-XML)are all represented by XML elements in this encoding.
Footwear or tires, or recordings of footwear outsoles or tire treads, from sources such as police officers, paramedics and their vehicles for the purpose of comparing to the questioned crime scene impressions.
the solvent mixture that acts as the mobile phase in TLC.
The solvent mixture that acts as the mobile phase in TLC
the process of removing an adsorbed substance from an adsorbent by a solvent.
Special-purpose computer system that is completely encapsulated by the device it controls
Procedure for casting a sample in a block of material that polymerizes, or otherwise hardens, to permit handling during further preparation
Factual data that is based on actual measurement, observation or direct sensory experience rather than on theory.
a stable mixture of two or more immiscible liquids held in suspension by small percentages of substances called emulsifiers.
A class of high explosive consisting of liquid solutions of an oxidizer, fuel, and water blended with a sensitizer and an emulsifier. emulsion, na stable mixture of two or more immiscible liquids held in suspension by small percentages of substances called emulsifiers.
An organism that lives in (internal) another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
An organism that lives in (internal) another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
An explosive compound used to enhance the burning rate of a powder
Any mixture or single material able to rapidly release energy upon initiation.
A property of matter manifested as an ability to perform work, either by moving an object against a force or by transferring heat.
EDX spectrometry is complementary to wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS)
X-ray spectroscopy based on the simultaneous measurement of the energies of X-rays emitted by a sample.
X-ray spectroscopy based on the simultaneous measurement of the energies of X-rays emitted by a sample.