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 copy of a recording or data that can be used for subsequent processing or analysis or both.
distance between the final aperture and the specimen.
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.
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.
Acronym for Wavelet Scalar Quantization, a compression algorithm used for 500 ppifriction ridge prints.
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).
An XML schema declares the XML elements, their structure and order. A schemaassigns data types, names, and attributes to the elements. A schema may be used tovalidate the structure and content of an XML package.
X3P is an open file format for the exchange of three dimensional surface topography data instandard units. Details are specified in ISO 25178-72.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discussion—For the purposes of this guide, yarn refers to lengths of fiber reinforcement (for example, twisted staple fibers, filament fibers).
In facial identification, an intrinsic rotation of the head about a vertical (longitudinal) axis measured in degrees.
Discussion—Frontal 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).
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 produced 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.
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 disease communicable from vertebrate animals to humans.