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 flexible cord containing a central core of high explosives used to initiate high explosives along the cord's length; also known as detcord/primacord.
the movement of the mobile phase through the adsorbent layer to form a chromatogram.
Intervals in the morphologic appearance of teeth as the crown or root mature.
The accumulation of test data to demonstrate that established parameters, software settings, formulae, algorithms and mathematical functions perform as expected. Developmental validation should also demonstrate any known limitations of the system. Developmental validation may be conducted outside the laboratory planning to use it (i.e., by the manufacturer, developer, or other testing laboratory) and will precede any internal validations
The acquisition of test data and determination of conditions and limitations of a new methodology; this generally occurs while the conditions and parameters are being worked out prior to the establishment of a defined assay, procedure or product. Internal validation studies typically follow developmental validation studies.
The acquisition and evaluation of test data for the determination of the conditions and/or limitations under which a novel method will achieve consistent results.
The acquisition of test data and determination of conditions and limitations of a new methodology; this generally occurs while the conditions and parameters are being worked out prior to the establishment of a defined assay, procedure or product. Internal validation studies follow developmental validation studies.
(Replacing worming) is the giving of an anthelmintic drug (a wormer, dewormer, or drench) to a human or animal to rid them of helminths parasites, such as roundworm, flukes and tapeworm.
(Replacing worming) is the giving of an anthelmintic drug (a wormer, dewormer, or drench) to a human or animal to rid them of helminths parasites, such as roundworm, flukes and tapeworm.
A MS or MS/MS molecular ion or fragment ion whose presence and relative abundance are characteristic of the targeted analyte.
A MS or MS/MS molecular ion or fragment ion whose presence and abundance are characteristic of the targeted analyte.
A list giving the start and stop times of speech segments within the voice signal,pertaining to the subject of the record. Diarization of segments from multiple speakersrequires multiple Type-11 records, one for each speaker. These multiple Type-11records may be contained in a single transaction, as long as the transaction is focusedupon a single subject.
the property of exhibiting different colors, especially two different colors, when viewed along different axes by plane polarized light.
The standard Digital Imaging and Communications in Security published by theNational Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
The standard Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
A process through which all possible causes of a skeletal or dental anomaly/abnormality are considered. Through a careful process of elimination, only the most likely causes remain to aid in the identification of the pathological or anomalous condition(s) of the skeleton.
A method of DNA extraction where sperm and non-sperm cells are digested separately based on the different composition of the cell membranes resulting in the generation of a sperm fraction and a non-sperm cell fraction.
phenomenon that arises as a result of passing radiation through the "lens" of the microspectrometer and past the edges of objects such as apertures and the specimen. It causes radiation to deviate from its usually straight line causing blurring of what should be sharp images.
spectral artifacts that result from preferential diffraction of tube X-rays into the detector as a result of striking a crystalline sample.
Discussion—Diffraction peaks vary in energy and intensity depending on orientation of the crystalline planes with respect to the beam angle.
an instrument that records either powder or single-crystal X-ray diffraction patterns.
A flame in which fuel and air mix or diffuse together at the region of combustion.
A gas, vapor, dust, particulate, aerosol, mist, fog, or hybrid mixture of these, suspended in the atmosphere, which is capable of being ignited and propagating a flame front.
The measure of how much of the nutrient in a food the canine can extract and absorb.
The measure of how much of the nutrient in a food the canine can extract and absorb.
electronic equipment which can create, process or store digital data.
information of probative value that is stored or transmitted in binary form.
in image analysis, a photographic image that is represented by discrete numerical values organized in a two-dimensional array.
An image that is stored in numerical form.
A standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical imaging
Any activity that transforms a digital image.
Any activity that develops/enhances a digital image.
a collection of logically related information.
A representative value of a signal at a chosen instant, derived from a portion of thatsignal. From the Vocabulary of Digital Transmission and Multiplexing, and PulseCode Modulation (PCM) Terms, ITU-T Recommendation G.701 (March, 1993)
Obtain the values of a function for regularly or irregularly spaced distinct values fromits domain. From: ISO 2382-2-1976, Information technology Vocabulary Part2:Arithmetic and logic operations
a container of digital data that can be acquired by an acquisition tool.
a stand-alone embedded system or a computer-based system for recording video and, optionally, audio data.
A positive control that is diluted in the same manner as the diluted case sample(s)
The control a canine handler has over the canine during a search whereby the canine handler directs the canine into productive search areas by utilizing hand or voice cues.
The questioning of a witness by the party that has called that witness to give evidence, in order to support the case that is being made.
The route in which a subject laid a trail as indicated by the canine.
The route in which a subject laid a trail as indicated by the canine.
in computer forensics, an object or structure used to group files together within a filesystem.
in computer forensics, a list of files and, optionally, file properties contained within a filesystem.
A record of the use of a trained canine team in an operational environment, as opposed to training records. A log constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account of an act or occurrence kept in writing or some other permanent form, i.e., digital format. A log record of the use of a trained canine team in an operational environment, as opposed to training records (also called record, utilization log and record, and discipline-specific deployment log).
A record of the deployment and/or utilization of a trained canine team, maintained separately from other records, i.e., training, assessments or certifications. A record documenting the deployment and/or utilization of the canine team, especially an account of an act or occurrence kept in writing or some other permanent form, i.e., electronic format, which is discoverable. (See record, deployment record or utilization record.)