Background:Identification is of paramount importance in any forensic investigation. Positive identification of living or deceased using distinctive traits is a cornerstone of forensic science. The uniqueness of these patterns and subtle distinction between traits has offered worthy supplemental tools in establishing the true nature of facts.Aim:The first aim of our study was to determine the most common pattern of lip prints, palatal rugae, and finger prints in the study subjects. Secondly, to determine if any specific pattern of lip print, palatal rugae, or the finger print concurs in individuals, and thereby establish a database of these prototypes for human identification from a defined cohort.Materials and Methods:The sample size comprised 100 female students of a dental college staying together in the hostel. Lip prints were recorded on a white bond sheet using lipstick, palatal rugae on dental casts, and finger prints using printer's blue ink.Results:Our observation suggested that the reticular pattern of lip print, the wavy pattern of palatal rugae, and the loop pattern of finger prints were the predominant patterns. Correlation of the three parameters did not reveal significant differences.Conclusions:This approach of human identification utilizing conventional techniques and relevant parameters is pertinent in defined groups. However, larger representative sample with robust analytical tools may provide a necessary blueprint of human identification.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of incorporation of organically modified nanoclay in 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight on the flexural strength, surface hardness, and linear polymerization shrinkage of heat cure denture base material. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty specimens of heat-polymerized acrylic resin were fabricated. The specimens were divided into four groups ( n = 10) coded I to IV. Group I was the control group (unmodified acrylic resin specimens). The specimens of the remaining three groups were reinforced with nanoclay (organically modified montmorillonite) nanoparticles to achieve loadings of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight. The resulting nanocomposites were subjected to mechanical testing and were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Results: The statistical analysis showed that there was no significant increase in flexural strength within and between the groups. The most significant increase in surface hardness was observed between Group I (control) and Group II (1% nanoclay). Linear polymerization shrinkage of the specimens showed a significant decrease in the control and all the experimental groups. Conclusion: Addition of 1 wt% nanoclay to polymethyl methacrylate heat cure denture base material could enhance the surface hardness and reduce the linear polymerization shrinkage of the resin. However, there was no significant increase in flexural strength of the resulting nanocomposite.

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