OSAC Lexicon

Type of extraneous or undesirable ink droplet originating when a portion of an ink droplet strikes the intended area and is deflected to an unintended area. (ASTM F1857)

A vocalizing human, whether or not the vocalizations contain speech. An interlocutormight be a synthesized voice, which can be considered a speaker within the contextof this standard.

The fundamental unit of taxonomic classification. There is no singular species definition in biology. Essentially the term denotes a group of organisms with a unique shared evolutionary lineage.

Level of taxonomic classification between subspecies and genus.

The fundamental unit of taxonomic classification. There is no singular species definition in biology. Essentially the term denotes a group of organisms with a unique shared evolutionary lineage.

The fundamental unit of taxonomic classification. There is no singular species definition in biology. Essentially the term denotes a group of organisms with a unique shared evolutionary lineage.

The fundamental unit of taxonomic classification. There is no singular species definition in biology. Essentially the term denotes a group of organisms with a unique shared evolutionary lineage.

A reference to studies generally performed during developmental validation of forensic testing assays to assess if non-targeted species are detected in an assay (e.g., detection of microbial DNA in a human assay). The detection of non-targeted species does not necessarily invalidate the use of the assay, but may help define the limitations of the assay.

A reference to studies generally performed during developmental validation of forensic testing assays to assess if non-targeted species are detected in an assay (e.g., detection of microbial DNA in a human assay). The detection of non-targeted species does not necessarily invalidate the use of the assay, but may help define the limitations of the assay.

The ratio of the average molecular weight of a gas or vapor to the average molecular weight of air, or the ratio of the density of a gas to the density of dry air at standard temperature and pressure.

The ratio of the mass of a given volume of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water at a temperature of 4C.

Ability of a method to distinguish between the targeted analyte and other non-targeted substances.

ability of a method to distinguish between the targeted analyte and other non-targeted substances

Measures the proportion of actual negatives that are correctly identified as such.

Experiments performed to evaluate the ability of the system to provide reliable results for targeted analytes in the presence of cross-reactive substances.

Studies performed to assess the ability of the probabilistic genotyping system to support the absence of true non-contributors. A true non-contributor is an individual who is known not to contribute

need or expectation that is stated

Note 1 to entry: Specified requirements can be stated in normative documents such as regulations, standards and technical specifications.
Note 2 to entry: Specified requirements can be detailed or general.

A matrix sample collected from a specific origin for toxicological analysis. Examples include femoral or cardiac blood; left versus right eye vitreous fluid; and liver, brain, or kidney.

matrix sample collected from a specific origin for toxicological analysis (e.g., femoral or cardiac blood, left versus right eye vitreous fluid, and liver, brain, or kidney)

The classification assigned to a DNA record that designates the indices in which the DNA record will be stored and searched (e.g., convicted offender or forensic unknown).

An examination of the contribution of overlap in the emission spectrum of fluorescent dyes used for a specific DNA test on a capillary electrophoresis instrument; permits the color deconvolution necessary for multi-color STR typing or sequencing to be performed; a poor spectral calibration may cause artifact peaks or inaccurate peak height determinations.

measure of the ability to distinguish between adjacent peaks in a spectrum; it is usually determined by measuring peak width at half the maximum value of the peak height or full-width half-maximum (FWHM). 

Discussion—Spectral resolution is not to be confused with spatial resolution (the smallest features that can be resolved in the field of view of the MSP camera or eyepieces or can be used to refer to the smallest spectral sampling area of the MSP).

The study of the absorption or emission of electromagnetic energy by a chemical species as a function of the energy incident upon that species; this analytical technique is used to identify elements and/or atomic and molecular structure by measurement of the radiant energy absorbed or emitted by a substance in any of the wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.

A mirror-like reflection of waves, such as light, that is reflected at a definite angle from a surface.

Audible vocalizations made with the intent of communicating information throughlinguistic content. Nonsensical vocalizations with linguistic content will be consideredas speech (including singing and chanting). Speech can be made by humans, bymachine synthesizers, or by other means.

The swiftness with which a body of writing or signature is prepared. With the exception of some digitally captured writing, it cannot be measured precisely, but can be interpreted in broad terms such as slow, moderate, or rapid.

Sphere audio data format. Information is available atftp://jaguar.ncsl.nist.gov/pub/sphere_2.6a.tar.Z

An anomalous peak that can occur in capillary electropherograms and may interfere with data interpretation; this instrumental artifact is typically narrow and produces signal in multiple dye channels.

Loss, destruction, or material alteration of an object or document that is evidence or potential evidence in a legal proceeding by one who has the responsibility for its preservation.

Initiation of combustion of a material by an internal chemical or biological reaction that has produced sufficient heat to ignite the material.

The tendency of a behavior in a canine to reappear after it has undergone extinction.

Credit: Academy Standards Board

A small, angled appendage at the beginning or end of a stroke revealing an abrupt change of direction of the writing instrument. Also called hook or tick.

Credit: Academy Standards Board

The heavier concentration of ink on the edge of the ink line due to the ink being squeezed outward by the pressure used in the relief printing process.

analyte’s resistance to chemical change in a matrix under specific conditions for given time intervals