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.
Giving birth to a puppy
Giving birth to a puppy.
Equipment used to produce white light (e.g., flash light) to visualize potential items of evidence.
Distractor odors that are naturally occurring in the search environment that are not placed by evaluators, observers or participants. Animal remains that were not placed by someone, holes that were dug by wild animals, feces from other animals, etc. (See natural distractors.)
material that, by capillary action, draws up a supply of ignitable liquid or oil to be burned, as in a candle or Molotov cocktail.
Computer network covering wide geographical area
To locate target odor/scent sources in a rural environment.
There are several proprietary formats developed by Microsoft. Windows Media Video(WMV) was developed for Internet streaming applications. Windows Media Audio(WMA) has four distinct codecs: WMA Pro, WMA Lossless, WMA Voice and theoriginal codec also referred to as WMA. The Advanced Systems Format (.asf) is acontainer format designed for streaming media. The Advanced Stream Redirector(ASX) is a type of XML designed to store a playlist for a multimedia presentation.
A computer system that uses dental and anthropometric characteristics to rank possiblematches for missing persons and unidentified human remains.
An altered stain resulting from an object moving through a preexisting wet bloodstain.
Revocation or cancellation of a statement of conformity.
Windows Media Audio. This refers to both a Microsoft proprietary audio file format and the audio codecs it uses.WMA can use either lossy or lossless codecs.
A copy of a recording or data that can be used for subsequent processing or analysis or both.
A copy of a recording or data that can be used for subsequent processing or analysis or both
An outline of the tasks to be completed as part of the investigation including the order or timeline for completion. Planning the Investigation.
The range of concentration that can be adequately determined by an instrument, where the instrument provides a useful signal that can be related to the concentration of the analyte
a structure produced when at least two sets of strands are interlaced, usually at right angles to each other, according to a predetermined pattern of interlacing, and such that at least one set is parallel to the axis along the lengthwise direction of the fabric.
A structure produced when at least two sets of strands are interlaced, usually at right angles to each other, according to a predetermined pattern of interlacing, and such that at least one set is parallel to the axis along the lengthwise direction of the fabric
To prevent the content of storage media from being modified.
To prevent the content of storage media from being modified
A hardware or software method, or both that prevents the modification (addition, deletion, or alteration) of media content.
A hardware or software method, or both that prevents the modification (addition, deletion, or alteration) of media content
Acronym for Wavelet Scalar Quantization, a compression algorithm used for 500 ppifriction ridge prints.
The diffraction of a beam of X-rays, usually by the three-dimensional periodic array of atoms in a crystal that has periodic repeat distances (lattice dimensions) of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength of the X-rays (1).
The characteristic interference pattern obtained when X-rays are diffracted by a crystalline substance; the geometry of the pattern is a function of the repeat distances (lattice dimensions) of the periodic array of atoms in the crystals; the intensities of the diffracted beams give information about the atomic arrangement, and unit-cell dimensions (adapted from Neuendorf et al., Glossary of Geology 2005).
Diffraction of a beam of X-rays by planes of atoms in a powdered crystalline sample; the powders are prepared so they ideally represent all possible crystal orientations to the X-ray beam (adapted from Ref (1)).
Extensible Markup Language. A convention for marking up and tagging data forelectronic transmission. An XML package is built from text content marked up with texttags such as . In XML one can create as many tags as needed.These tags describe the type of content they contain rather than formatting or layoutinformation. The types of tags allowed in an XML file are typically defined andconstrained by a specification such as an XML Schema Definition (XSD).
X3P is an open file format for the exchange of three dimensional surface topography data instandard units. Details are specified in ISO 25178-72.
Short tandem repeat markers found on the Y-chromosome that enable male-specific DNA testing and can be useful in cases involving sexual assault; variations in Y-STRs may be used for distinguishing individuals, and in biological relationship and ancestry testing.
a generic term for a continuous strand of textile fibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for knitting, weaving, or otherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric.
A generic term for a continuous strand of textile fibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for knitting, weaving, or otherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric. DiscussionFor the purposes of this guide, yarn refers to lengths of fiber reinforcement (for example, twisted staple fibers, filament fibers).
A generic term for a continuous strand of textile fibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for knitting, weaving, or otherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric
In facial identification, an intrinsic rotation of the head about a vertical (longitudinal) axis measured in degrees. DISCUSSIONFrontal poses have a yaw angle of 0. Positive angles represent faces looking to their left (a counter-clockwise rotation around the axis). The yaw axis is typically defined as the Y-axis (positive up).
In facial identification, an intrinsic rotation of the head about a vertical (longitudinal) axis measured in degrees
The quantity of material or the percentage of theoretical yield anticipated at any appropriate phase of production based on previous laboratory, pilot scale, or manufacturing data.
The quantity of material or the percentage of theoretical yield anticipated at any appropriate phase of production based on previous laboratory, pilot scale, or manufacturing data
The quantity that would be pro- duced at any appropriate phase of production based upon the quantity of material to be used, in the absence of any loss or error in actual production.
A disease communicable from vertebrate animals to humans.