Publications

Biber, K. 2018, In Crime's Archive: The Cultural Afterlife of Evidence, Routledge, Abingdon UK.
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This book investigates what happens to criminal evidence after the conclusion of legal proceedings. During the criminal trial, evidentiary material is tightly regulated; it is formally regarded as part of the court record, and subject to the rules of evidence and criminal procedure. However, these rules and procedures cannot govern or control this material after proceedings have ended. In its ‘afterlife’, criminal evidence continues to proliferate in cultural contexts. It might be photographic or video evidence, private diaries and correspondence, weapons, physical objects or forensic data, and it arouses the interest of journalists, scholars, curators, writers or artists. Building on a growing cultural interest in criminal archival materials, this book shows how in its afterlife, criminal evidence gives rise to new uses and interpretations, new concepts and questions, many of which are creative and transformative of crime and evidence, and some of which are transgressive, dangerous or insensitive. It takes the judicial principle of open justice – the assumption that justice must be seen to be done – and investigates instances in which we might see too much, too little or from a distorted angle. It centres upon a series of case studies, including those of Lindy Chamberlain and, more recently, Oscar Pistorius, in which criminal evidence has re-appeared outside of the criminal process. Traversing museums, libraries, galleries and other repositories, and drawing on extensive interviews with cultural practitioners and legal professionals, this book probes the legal, ethical, affective and aesthetic implications of the cultural afterlife of evidence.

Biber, K. 2018, 'The Art of Bureaucracy: Redacted Ready-mades' in Manderson, D. (ed), Law and the Visual Representations, Technologies, and Critique, University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Buffalo, London, pp. 286-309.
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Proceeding chronologically, the volume offers leading analyses of the juncture between legal and visual culture as witnessed from the fifteenth to the twenty-first centuries.

Crispino, F. & Roux, C. 2018, 'Forensic-led regulation strategies: Are they fit for security problem-solving purposes?' in The Routledge International Handbook of Forensic Intelligence and Criminology, pp. 65-76.
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© 2018 selection and editorial matter, Quentin Rossy, David Décary-Hétu, Olivier Delémont and Massimiliano Mulone; individual chapters, the contributors. The dominant conception of forensic sciences is as a patchwork of disciplines assisting the criminal justice system, but the 2009 NAS report questioned the robustness of the scientific foundations of essentially all the forensic science disciplines. Yet, solutions intended to counter this disturbing assessment have mainly focused on methodology upgrades epitomized by quality management strategies that are crowned by accreditation of laboratories and certification of individual forensic scientists.While a forensic science world without quality management is senseless, its reported and observed implementation begs the question whether it has developed from a necessary tool to a constraint contributing to frame a mistaken view of experimental sciences dedicated to responding to criminal and litigation matters. This article questions the adequacy of forensic-led regulation strategies for security problem-solving, calling fora better understanding of its original link with criminological concerns.

Maynard, P.J., Roux, C. & Morison, R. 2018, 'Other instrumental approaches to fibre examination' in Roux, C., Robertson, J. & Wiggins, K. (eds), Forensic Examination of Fibres, Third Edition, CRC Press.
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This detailed volume covers forensic fibre examination from the recovery of the evidence, through the different stages of laboratory examination, to the evaluation of the meaning of findings.

Agius, A, Morelato, M, Moret, S, Chadwick, S, Jones, K, Epple, R, Brown, J & Roux, C 2018, 'Dataset of coded handwriting features for use in statistical modelling.', Data in brief, vol. 16, pp. 1010-1024.
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The data presented here is related to the article titled, "Using handwriting to infer a writer's country of origin for forensic intelligence purposes" (Agius et al., 2017) [1]. This article reports original writer, spatial and construction characteristic data for thirty-seven English Australian writers and thirty-seven Vietnamese writers. All of these characteristics were coded and recorded in Microsoft Excel 2013 (version 15.31). The construction characteristics coded were only extracted from seven characters, which were: 'g', 'h', 'th', 'M', '0', '7' and '9'. The coded format of the writer, spatial and construction characteristics is made available in this Data in Brief in order to allow others to perform statistical analyses and modelling to investigate whether there is a relationship between the handwriting features and the nationality of the writer, and whether the two nationalities can be differentiated. Furthermore, to employ mathematical techniques that are capable of characterising the extracted features from each participant.

Agius, A., Morelato, M., Moret, S., Chadwick, S., Jones, K., Epple, R., Brown, J. & Roux, C. 2018, 'Using handwriting to infer a writer's country of origin for forensic intelligence purposes.', Forensic Science International, vol. 282, pp. 144-156.
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Forensic science has traditionally focused the majority of its resources and objectives towards addressing Court-related questions. However, this view restricts the contribution of forensic science to one process and results in a loss of information as the investigative and intelligence roles are largely neglected. A forensic science discipline suffering from this imbalance is handwriting examination, which may be characterised as a time consuming and subjective process that is mostly carried out towards the end of the investigation for the purpose of judicial proceedings. Individual and habitual characteristics are the major handwriting features exploited, however alternate information concerning the author's native language could potentially be used as a key element in an intelligence framework. This research focussed on the detection of characteristics that differentiate Vietnamese and English Australian writers based on their English handwriting. The study began with the extraction of handwriting characteristics from the writing of people from the two populations. The data was analysed using a logistic regression model and a classification and regression tree (CRT). Each recognised four class characteristics that were capable of distinguishing between the two nationalities. The logistic regression and CRT models were both capable of correctly predicting 93% of cases. Their predictive capabilities were then tested and supported using blind exemplars in order to mirror casework settings. It appeared that when using their respective class characteristics, the two models were capable of differentiating English Australians from Vietnamese in the data set. This proof of concept research demonstrated the plausibility of exploiting this additional information from a handwriting trace and taking advantage of it in an intelligence-led framework.

Al-Asfi, M, McNevin, D, Mehta, B, Power, D, Gahan, ME & Daniel, R 2018, 'Assessment of the Precision ID Ancestry panel', International Journal of Legal Medicine, pp. 1-14.
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© 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature Abstract The ability to provide accurate DNA-based forensic intelligence requires analysis of multiple DNA markers to predict the biogeographical ancestry (BGA) and externally visible characteristics (EVCs) of the donor of biological evidence. Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) enables the analysis of hundreds of DNA markers in multiple samples simultaneously, increasing the value of the intelligence provided to forensic investigators while reducing the depletion of evidential material resulting from multiple analyses. The Precision ID Ancestry Panel (formerly the HID Ion AmpliSeq™ Ancestry Panel) (Thermo Fisher Scientific) (TFS)) consists of 165 autosomal SNPs selected to infer BGA. Forensic validation criteria were applied to 95 samples using this panel to assess sensitivity (1 ng-15 pg), reproducibility (inter- and intra-run variability) and effects of compromised and forensic casework type samples (artificially degraded and inhibited, mixed source and aged blood and bone samples). BGA prediction accuracy was assessed using samples from individuals who self-declared their ancestry as being from single populations of origin (n = 36) or from multiple populations of origin (n = 14). Sequencing was conducted on Ion 318™ chips (TFS) on the Ion PGM™ System (TFS). HID SNP Genotyper v4.3.1 software (TFS) was used to perform BGA predictions based on admixture proportions (continental level) and likelihood estimates (sub-population level). BGA prediction was accurate at DNA template amounts of 125pg and 30pg using 21 and 25 PCR cycles respectively. HID SNP Genotyper continental level BGA assignments were concordant with BGAs for self-declared East Asian, African, European and South Asian individuals. Compromised, mixed source and admixed samples, in addition to sub-population level prediction, requires more extensive analysis.

Angeloski, A, Gentle, AR, Scott, JA, Cortie, MB, Hook, JM, Westerhausen, MT, Bhadbhade, M, Baker, AT & McDonagh, AM 2018, 'From Lead(II) Dithiocarbamate Precursors to a Fast Response PbS Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor.', Inorganic chemistry, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 2132-2140.
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PbS submicron crystals were formed by thermolysis of two different lead dithiocarbamate complexes. These precursors were readily synthesized and fully characterized, and in situ synchrotron powder diffraction experiments were performed to characterize their decomposition. The structure and purity of resultant PbS was examined using scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies, powder X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. Submicron crystalline PbS was used to create a new PbS thermistor with excellent sensitivity and an ultrarapid thermal response time.

Bedward, T.M., Xiao, L. & Fu, S. 2018, 'Application of Raman spectroscopy in the detection of cocaine in food matrices', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-11.
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© 2017 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences While modern methodologies for the smuggling of illicit substances often tend towards more elaborate inventions, the simple practice of concealing cocaine hydrochloride within food matrices is becoming increasingly popular. This study was conducted to develop and optimize a Raman spectroscopic method capable of identifying and quantifying cocaine hydrochloride concealed within food matrices. Samples of cocaine hydrochloride were concealed within baking powder, cake mix and white rum, with identification of the drug achieved through a combination of manual and automated detection methods and comparison with a digital spectral library. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were employed to qualitatively and quantitatively examine the collected spectra, allowing for traces of cocaine hydrochloride found within each matrix to be identified and quantified. For each of the solid matrices, Raman spectroscopy enabled rapid, non-invasive, and unambiguous identification of the concealed drug. For the white rum samples, due to strong matrix interference, full spectrum matching was not possible, but presumptive identification of cocaine in the samples was achieved at 100%. No false positives or miss-identified samples were recorded, Results of the PLSR analysis showed potential, however difficulties in obtaining accurate concentrations served to limit the method’s use in quantitative analysis.

Been, F, O'Brien, J, Lai, FY, Morelato, M, Vallely, P, McGowan, J, van Nuijs, ALN, Covaci, A & Mueller, JF 2018, 'Analysis of N,N-dimethylamphetamine in wastewater - a pyrolysis marker and synthesis impurity of methamphetamine.', Drug testing and analysis.
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The increased availability of high purity crystalline methamphetamine (MA) in Australia raised concerns because of high dosages and its potential consumption through inhalation. The present work investigates the possibility of using wastewater levels of N,N-dimethylamphetamine (DMA), a pyrolysis by-product, as an indirect indicator of MA smoking. A dedicated liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) method was set up to detect and quantify DMA in wastewater samples. Wastewater samples were collected from 8 locations across Australia during the period 2011-2016. Data about the abundance of DMA in MA seizures as well as in residues from drug paraphernalia were obtained from forensic laboratories in Australia. DMA/MA ratios measured in wastewater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.09 (median 0.007). DMA/MA ratios in bulk seizures are generally below 0.0025, with a median value of 0.0004, whilst residues in paraphernalia ranged from 0.031 to 3.37. DMA/MA ratios in wastewater decreased between 2011 and 2016, in parallel to an increase in MA loads. Furthermore, wastewater analyses highlighted a strong positive correlation between DMA/MA ratios and per capita MA use (Pearson's correlation ρ= 0.61, p-value <0.001). Nonetheless, geographical specificities could be highlighted between the investigated locations. The obtained data could help authorities detect hot spots of drug use as well as to plan specific intervention campaigns to tackle the issue. In future, simultaneous analysis of DMA and MA in both wastewater and seizures could improve our understanding about MA use and its consumption patterns.

Benson, N., Oliveria Dos Santos, R., Griffiths, K., Cole, N., Doble, P., Roux, C. & Blanes, L. 2018, 'Erratum to "The development of a stabbing machine for forensic textile damage analysis" [FSI (2017) 132-139]>.', Forensic science international, vol. 285, p. 161.
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Biber, K. 2018, 'Dignity in the digital age: Broadcasting the Oscar Pistorius trial', Crime, Media, Culture, pp. 1-22.
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Oscar Pistorius was tried for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp in South Africa in 2014. His trial was broadcast live, after media agencies applied to the court for comprehensive access to the courtroom. The decision to broadcast the trial followed a careful and deliberative court ruling about the constitutional principles of human dignity, freedom and equality. South Africa’s post-apartheid Constitution provides a framework for achieving social transformation, and open justice plays an important role in it. Despite concerns about sensationalism and voyeurism, the broadcast of the Pistorius trial functioned as a constitutional experiment. This article evaluates the principles and practices of open justice in South Africa through the broadcast of the Pistorius trial, and the roles played by the media, the courts and the public. It identifies significant events during the trial, including its reporting, which had the effect of testing the compatibility of open justice, on the one hand, and the proper administration of justice, on the other. The right of an accused to a fair trial, at times, confronted the sensitivities of the victim’s family, the rights of the media and the demands of the public to witness justice being done. This article examines the tangled relationship between dignity and justice, compounded by the technologies of digital media, in the unique context of post-apartheid South Africa.

Biber, K. 2018, 'Evidence in the museum: Curating a miscarriage of justice', Theoretical Criminology, pp. 1-18.
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After the conclusion of criminal proceedings, criminal evidence sometimes survives in what is described here as an afterlife. In its afterlife, criminal evidence is preserved in various locations; this article explores the museum as a repository for evidentiary exhibits. It examines the case of Lindy Chamberlain, the victim of Australia’s most notorious miscarriage of justice, and the evidence that has survived since her exoneration. Drawing upon interviews with Chamberlain herself, and also the curator of the Chamberlain collections at the National Museum of Australia, this article examines the challenges posed by curating a wrongful conviction.

Bishop, D.P., Cole, N., Zhang, T., Doble, P.A. & Hare, D.J. 2018, 'A guide to integrating immunohistochemistry and chemical imaging.', Chemical Society reviews, vol. 47, no. 11, pp. 3770-3787.
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Chemical imaging provides new insight into the fundamental atomic, molecular, and biochemical composition of tissue and how they are interrelated in normal physiology. Visualising and quantifying products of pathogenic reactions long before structural changes become apparent also adds a new dimension to understanding disease pathogenesis. While chemical imaging in isolation is somewhat limited by the nature of information it can provide (e.g. peptides, metals, lipids, or functional groups), integrating immunohistochemistry allows simultaneous, targeted imaging of biomolecules while also mapping tissue composition. Together, this approach can provide invaluable information on the inner workings of the cell and the molecular basis of diseases.

Bishop, D.P., Grossgarten, M., Dietrich, D., Vennemann, A., Cole, N., Sperling, M., Wiemann, M., Doble, P.A. & Karst, U. 2018, 'Correction: Quantitative imaging of translocated silver following nanoparticle exposure by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Analytical Methods (2018) DOI: 10.1039/c7ay02294h)', Analytical Methods, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 926.
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© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The authors regret that the incorrect affiliation was shown initially for Nerida Cole. The corrected list of author affiliations for this paper is as shown above. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.

Bishop, D.P., Grossgarten, M., Dietrich, D., Vennemann, A., Cole, N., Sperling, M., Wiemann, M., Doble, P.A. & Karst, U. 2018, 'Correction: Quantitative imaging of translocated silver following nanoparticle exposure by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Analytical Methods (2018) DOI: 10.1039/c7ay02294h)', Analytical Methods, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 926.
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© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The authors regret that the incorrect affiliation was shown initially for Nerida Cole. The corrected list of author affiliations for this paper is as shown above. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.

Bishop, D.P., Grossgarten, M., Dietrich, D., Vennemann, A., Cole, N., Sperling, M., Wiemann, M., Doble, P.A. & Karst, U. 2018, 'Quantitative imaging of translocated silver following nanoparticle exposure by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry', Analytical Methods, vol. 10, no. 8, pp. 836-840.
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© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The likelihood of exposure to antimicrobial silver nanoparticles continues to grow with their increasing ubiquity in various medical and consumer products. While translocation of silver nanoparticles to major organs has been examined, the in situ location and concentration in the organs is not well characterised. Here we have used laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to quantitatively image serial sections to construct a three-dimensional representation of the distribution of silver in rat spleen following respiratory tract exposure via intratracheal instillation of silver nanoparticles. Silver was distributed predominantly in the white pulp of the spleen at concentrations greater than 300 ng g-1. Imaging tissue sections via laser-ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is an excellent tool for the visualisation and quantification of metals attributed to nanoparticles in organs allowing investigation of silver nanoparticle exposure in vivo.

Bishop, D.P., Hare, D.J., Clases, D. & Doble, P.A. 2018, 'Applications of liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in the biosciences: A tutorial review and recent developments', TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry.
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© 2017. The biological function of minor and trace elements is ordinarily determined by their association with specific proteins, peptides and other biomolecules. Therefore, measuring the total elemental content of a biological sample provides limited information, particularly when a specific effect is due to an individual metal-protein complex. Speciation of metalloproteins, heteroatom-containing molecules or other compounds tagged with an exogenous metal can be used to overcome this limitation. A range of chromatographic separation techniques with on-line elemental detection using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have been applied to the biosciences, and each technique has intrinsic features that must be considered when designing speciation experiments. This tutorial review provides an overview of speciation in the biosciences, highlighting the unique abilities and limitations encountered. A selection of recent technical advances and new applications, the challenges of sample preparation and implementation of new technical developments are discussed, as well as the future directions of technology that is rapidly gaining a foothold in the contemporary biochemistry laboratory.

Bowman, S., McNevin, D., Venables, S.J., Roffey, P., Richardson, A. & Gahan, M.E. 2018, 'Species identification using high resolution melting (HRM) analysis with random forest classification', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-16.
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© 2017 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences Species identification is an important facet of forensic investigation. In this study, human and non-human species (cow, chicken, pig, sheep, cat, dog, rabbit, fox, kangaroo and wombat) were assayed on the ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to rapidly screen for their species of origin using the high resolution melt (HRM) analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Classification of HRM difference profiles using the onboard ViiA 7 software resulted in a classification accuracy of  < 20%. Derivative profiles (temperature versus negative first derivative of fluorescence, –dF/dT) were classified using random forest algorithms supplemented by bagging and boosting, with either a randomly partitioned test set or a variety of folds of cross-classification, in addition to a range of trees and variables. Random forest classification with bagging conditions (constructed over 500 trees) was found to considerably outperform the ViiA 7 software for species differentiation with 100% classification accuracy for biological material from humans, domestic pets (cat and dog) and consumable meats (chicken and sheep) with an average classification accuracy of 70% across all species.

Casey, E, Ribaux, O & Roux, C 2018, 'Digital transformations and the viability of forensic science laboratories: Crisis-opportunity through decentralisation.', Forensic science international, vol. 289, pp. e24-e25.
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Casey, E, Ribaux, O & Roux, C 2018, 'The Kodak Syndrome: Risks and Opportunities Created by Decentralization of Forensic Capabilities.', Journal of forensic sciences.
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Forensic science laboratories are being challenged by the expanding decentralization of forensic capabilities, particularly for digital traces. This study recommends laboratories undertake digital transformations to capitalize on the decentralization movement, develop a more comprehensive understanding of crime and security-relevant problems, and play a more central role in problem-solving collaboratively with law enforcement organizations and other stakeholders. A framework for the bilateral transfer of information and knowledge is proposed to magnify the impact of forensic science laboratories on abating crime, strengthening security, and reinforcing the criminal justice system. To accomplish digital transformations, laboratories require personnel with different expertise, including investigative reasoning, knowledge codification, data analytics, and forensic intelligence. Ultimately, this study encourages managers, educators, researchers, and policymakers to look beyond the usefulness of forensic results for solving individual investigations, and to realize the value of combined forensic knowledge and intelligence for developing broader strategies to deal with crime in digitalized society.

Chadwick, S., de la Hunty, M.A. & Baker, A. 2018, 'Developing Awareness of Professional Behaviors and Skills in the First-Year Chemistry Laboratory', Journal of Chemical Education.
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Students in first-year chemistry classes come from a variety of backgrounds, with many students unaware of the qualities and behaviors of a professional scientist. Throughout their degree, students will gradually develop their cognitive skills, but they may not be adequately taught or assessed on their professional behavioral skills as a scientist until late in the undergraduate course. By assessing the professional skills of students in first-year chemistry practical classes, this innovation commenced the development of students’ professional identity from the beginning of their university experience. The skills that were assessed included preparedness, cooperation in the group activities, working safely in the laboratory, and time management. By engaging students with professional behaviors and what it means to be a scientist during their first semester, students can potentially carry this through their whole undergraduate degree. This task was received positively by students and staff with over 50% of students believing it increased their confidence in the laboratory. Staff also saw a significant improvement in student behavior and engagement because of this task.

Chadwick, S., Moret, S., Jayashanka, N., Lennard, C., Spindler, X. & Roux, C. 2018, 'Investigation of some of the factors influencing fingermark detection.', Forensic science international, vol. 289, pp. 381-389.
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The primary aims of fingermark detection research are to improve the quality and increase the rate of detection of identifiable impressions. This is usually performed through the development of new methods and technologies to provide alternatives to or improve current procedures. While research of this nature is important to pursue, it fails to address the underlying question related to the factors that affect the detection of a latent fingermark. There has been significant research that has examined the differences between techniques, donors and fingermark age, as well as the composition of latent fingermarks. However, they tend not to focus on determining how these factors influence the quality of the developed mark. This study involved the development and evaluation of over 14,000 natural fingermarks deposited on a variety of surfaces to examine the effect of substrate, age, donor variability (both inter- and intra-), depletions and type of finger on fingermark development. Fingermarks were deposited on four substrates (two non-porous and two porous) and developed with either indanedione-zinc (IND-Zn) or cyanoacrylate followed by rhodamine 6G staining (CA+R6G). Three independent assessors graded each mark on the quality of development using an absolute scale proposed by the UK Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST). The data generated from these assessments were then analysed for trends or other useful insights. The results from this work reaffirm that individual substrate characteristics (and the choice of development technique) play a significant role in determining the number and quality of marks developed. It was found that fingermarks were more likely to be detected on porous substrates and to also be of a higher quality than on non-porous. The effect of fingermark donor variability was also explored, with significant differences observed between donors and within donors. This research shows that current detection techniques do not detect all av...

Cheung, E.Y.Y., Gahan, M.E. & McNevin, D. 2018, 'Predictive DNA analysis for biogeographical ancestry', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-8.
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© 2018 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences Establishment of national DNA databases in Australia and overseas has increased the number of criminal convictions, yet a high volume of serious crime cases remain with no suspect profile nor any DNA database matches. In these circumstances prediction of biogeographical ancestry (BGA) and externally visible characteristics can assist by providing forensic intelligence in conjunction with, or in place of, eyewitness testimonies. To predict the BGA of an individual requires: genetic markers selected for their ability to differentiate between BGAs; representative BGA reference populations; and a prediction algorithm (‘classifier’) that predicts the BGA of an unknown individual based on genetic markers in the reference populations. The human genome contains autosomal ancestry informative markers that are easily harvested from publicly accessible collections of genotypes with associated ancestry information. A number of classification methods are available including Bayesian approaches and distance-based algorithms. BGA is likely to be continuous rather than discrete and some methods are inappropriate for the prediction of admixed BGA. As predictive services become available to the public and private sectors, there is a risk of results being misinterpreted if an inappropriate tool is applied. Understanding the underlying marker sets, reference populations and classification algorithms is required to prevent ill-informed predictions.

Cheung, EYY, Gahan, ME & McNevin, D 2018, 'Prediction of biogeographical ancestry in admixed individuals.', Forensic science international. Genetics, vol. 36, pp. 104-111.
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Estimation of ancestral affiliation for human genotypes is now possible for major geographic populations and has been employed for forensic casework. Prediction algorithms, such as the Snipper Bayesian classifier, have the ability to classify non-admixed BGA in African (AFR), European (EUR), East Asian (EAS), and most Amerindian (NAM) individuals, but are not always appropriate for admixed individuals. Artificial admixture was simulated for all possible admixture ratios (1:1, 3:1, 2:1:1, and 1:1:1:1) from four grandparents. The simulated genotypes were used to test the accuracy of various prediction algorithms, most successful of which were the population genetics program, STRUCTURE, and a novel genetic distance algorithm (GDA). STRUCTURE was ideal for admixed individuals with 1:1 and 3:1 ratios from AFR, EUR, EAS, and NAM reference populations. Individuals with 1:1:1:1 BGA proportions were more accurately predicted by GDA. The use of hypothetical root genotypes improved the accuracy of GDA predictions for 1:1 and 3:1 admixtures and STRUCTURE classification of 1:1:1:1 admixture. The GDA requires only allele or genotype frequency values from each reference population, which offers a simpler sampling and input formatting procedure than is required by STRUCTURE. It can also be implemented in a spreadsheet without the need for long run times.

Colusso, AV, McDonagh, AM, Gentle, A & Cortie, MB 2018, 'Photomechanical photochromism in a cetyltrimethylammonium isopolytungstate', RSC Advances, vol. 8, no. 34, pp. 18776-18783.
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© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. The photochromic properties of a hybrid compound comprised of the surfactant cation cetyltrimethylammonium [(C16H33)N(CH3)3]+(CTA+) and the isopolytungstate anion [H2W12O40]6-is investigated. The compound, which has the nominal formula (CTA)7[H2W12O40]Cl·2H2O, changes from white to blue when exposed to UV radiation. The sample returns to the bleached state if stored in the dark-ambient. Application of XPS indicates that the coloring species are WVand WIV. The CTA+component is found by XPS and FTIR to undergo progressive and irreversible oxidation during this cycle. Examination of FTIR suggests that the changes occur at multiple sites across the amphiphile. Surprisingly, the photochromic cycle is correlated with changes in the X-ray diffraction pattern, indicating partially reversible changes in the ordering of the Keggin ions and their spacing. In particular, application of the UV radiation causes the progressive accumulation of strain in the [001] direction. This is due to permanent oxidative changes in the CTA+accumulating from cycle to cycle, resulting in an increase in interlamellar-distance due to less interdigitation of the chains. This provides a controllable photomechanical response.

Daly, C.D., Ghosh, P., Zannettino, A.C.W., Badal, T., Shimmon, R., Jenkin, G., Oehme, D., Jain, K., Sher, I., Vais, A., Cohen, C., Chandra, R.V. & Goldschlager, T. 2018, 'Mesenchymal progenitor cells primed with pentosan polysulfate promote lumbar intervertebral disc regeneration in an ovine model of microdiscectomy', Spine Journal, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 491-506.
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© 2017 Elsevier Inc. Background Context: Neural compression associated with lumbar disc herniation is usually managed surgically by microdiscectomy. However, 10%–20% of patients re-present with debilitating back pain, and approximately 15% require further surgery. Purpose: Using an ovine model of microdiscectomy, the present study investigated the relative potential of pentosan polysulfate-primed mesenchymal progenitor cells (pMPCs) or MPC alone implanted into the lesion site to facilitate disc recovery. Study Design: An ovine model of lumbar microdiscectomy was used to compare the relative outcomes of administering MPCs or pMPCs to the injury site postsurgery. Methods: At baseline 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 18 adult ewes was undertaken followed by annular microdiscectomy at two lumbar disc levels. Sheep were randomized into three groups (n=6). The injured controls received no further treatment. Defects of the treated groups were implanted with a collagen sponge and MPC (5×10 5 cells) or pMPC (5×10 5 cells). After 6 months, 3T MRI and standard radiography were performed. Spinal columns were dissected, individual lumbar discs were sectioned horizontally, and nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) regions were assessed morphologically and histologically. The NP and AF tissues were dissected into six regions and analyzed biochemically for their proteoglycans (PGs), collagen, and DNA content. Results: Both the MPC- and pMPC-injected groups exhibited less reduction in disc height (p < .05) and lower Pfirrmann grades (p≤.001) compared with the untreated injury controls, but morphologic scores for the pMPC-injected discs were lower (p < .05). The PG content of the AF injury site region (AF1) of pMPC discs was higher than MPC and injury control AF1 (p < .05). At the AF1 and contralateral AF2 regions, the DNA content of pMPC discs was significantly lower than injured control discs and MPC-injected discs. Histologic and birefringent microscopy revealed...

De La Hunty, M.A., Moret, S., Chadwick, S., Lennard, C., Spindler, X. & Roux, C. 2018, 'An effective Physical Developer (PD) method for use in Australian laboratories', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences.
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Dehn, MH, Arseneau, DJ, Buck, T, Cortie, DL, Fleming, DG, King, SR, MacFarlane, WA, McDonagh, AM, McFadden, RML, Mitchell, DRG & Kiefl, RF 2018, 'Nature of magnetism in thiol-capped gold nanoparticles investigated with Muon spin rotation', Applied Physics Letters, vol. 112, no. 5.
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© 2018 Author(s). Muon spin rotation/relaxation measurements show clear evidence for magnetism in 2.2 nm gold nanoparticles capped with butanethiol. At low temperatures (1.8 K), there is significant spin relaxation which decreases as a function of both the applied longitudinal magnetic field and increasing temperature. The results indicate that there are spatially inhomogeneous electronic moments that fluctuate with a wide distribution of correlation times. Possible explanations are discussed.

Doble, PA & Miklos, GLG 2018, 'Distributions of manganese in diverse human cancers provide insights into tumour radioresistance.', Metallomics : integrated biometal science.
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Many cancers are variably resistant to radiation treatment: some patients die within months, while others with the same tumour type and equivalent radiation protocol, survive for years. To determine why some tumours are radiosensitive, while others return after radiotherapy, requires new non-traditional approaches to oncology. Herein we used laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to test the hypothesis that Mn functions as a metabolic radioprotector and is an apex predictor of tumour radioresponsiveness. The genesis of this hypothesis lies in microbial and in vitro chemical systems. We measured the levels and spatial distributions of Mn in tissue sections of 7 specifically chosen tumour types with distinct clinically documented radioresponsiveness and patient outcomes, namely testis, lung, brain, skin, mesothelium, prostate and breast. Mn levels varied nearly 60-fold between individual tumours, from 0.02 μg g-1 to 1.15 μg g-1. The most radiosensitive cancer type, (testis), had the lowest Mn levels and the highest patient survival. Tumours at the radioresistant extreme (glioblastomas and melanomas) had the highest Mn levels and lowest patient survival. A direct association was found between total Mn contents and their variation, and clinically-inferred radioresponsiveness in each of these 7 tumour types, while no such association existed with Cu, Zn or Fe. The LA-ICP-MS data provided unique patient-specific 2D maps of the spatial metallomic heterogeneity of cancer cells and their stroma. These maps have fundamental and far reaching clinical implications. For the first time, Mn-based tumour data may allow for more precise radiodosages and improved treatment for the individual patient.

Gassner, AL, Manganelli, M, Werner, D, Rhumorbarbe, D, Maitre, M, Beavis, A, Roux, CP & Weyermann, C 2018, 'Secondary transfer of organic gunshot residues: Empirical data to assist the evaluation of three scenarios', Science and Justice.
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© 2018 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences The present study aimed at providing data to assess the secondary transfer of organic gunshot residues (OGSR). Three scenarios were evaluated in controlled conditions, namely displacing a firearm from point A to point B, a simple handshake and an arrest involving handcuffing on the ground. Specimens were collected from the firearm, the hands of the shooter and the non-shooter undergoing the secondary transfer in order to compare the amounts detected. Secondary transfer was observed for the three scenarios, but to a different extent. It was found that displacing a firearm resulted in secondary transfer in <50% of the experiments. The firearm also had an influence, as contrary to the pistol, no secondary OGSR were detected using the revolver. Shaking the hand of the shooter also transferred OGSR to the non-shooter's hand. In that case, the amount of OGSR was generally higher on the shooter than on the non-shooter. Finally, the largest secondary transfer was observed after the arrest with handcuffing with positive results in all cases using the pistol. In that scenario, the amounts on the shooter and the non-shooter were in the same range. This study highlights that the secondary transfer must be taken into account in the interpretation of OGSR. Indeed, an individual's hands might be contaminated by handling a firearm or having physical contact with a shooter.

Gittelson, S., Berger, C.E.H., Jackson, G., Evett, I.W., Champod, C., Robertson, B., Curran, J.M., Taylor, D., Weir, B.S., Coble, M.D. & Buckleton, J.S. 2018, 'A response to "Likelihood ratio as weight of evidence: A closer look" by Lund and Iyer.', Forensic science international, vol. 288, pp. e15-e19.
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Recently, Lund and Iyer (L&I) raised an argument regarding the use of likelihood ratios in court. In our view, their argument is based on a lack of understanding of the paradigm. L&I argue that the decision maker should not accept the expert's likelihood ratio without further consideration. This is agreed by all parties. In normal practice, there is often considerable and proper exploration in court of the basis for any probabilistic statement. We conclude that L&I argue against a practice that does not exist and which no one advocates. Further we conclude that the most informative summary of evidential weight is the likelihood ratio. We state that this is the summary that should be presented to a court in every scientific assessment of evidential weight with supporting information about how it was constructed and on what it was based.

Goodwin, C., Higgins, D., Tobe, S.S., Austin, J., Wotherspoon, A., Gahan, M.E. & McNevin, D. 2018, 'Singleplex quantitative real-time PCR for the assessment of human mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality.', Forensic science, medicine, and pathology, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 70-75.
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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can provide a means for forensic identity testing when genotyping of nuclear DNA (nuDNA) targets is not possible due to degradation or lack of template. For degraded samples, an indication of the quantity and quality of mtDNA is essential to allow selection of appropriately sized targets for hypervariable region (HVR) analysis, which may conserve sample and resources. Three human-specific mtDNA targets of increasing length (86, 190 and 452 base pairs) were amplified by singleplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), capable of providing an index of mtDNA degradation from fragment length information. Quantification was achieved by preparation of a standard curve for each target, using a purified mtDNA standard containing all three targets of interest, which produced a linear, accurate and precise result from 1×108 to 10 copies. These novel assays demonstrated excellent sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility in line with the minimum information for qPCR experiments (MIQE) guidelines. Further, a separate inhibition control reaction was included to guide sample clean-up and ensure the validity of degradation assays. This protocol assists the selection and analysis of appropriately sized targets to maximize the chance of obtaining an informative result in downstream assays like sequencing.

Khuu, A, Chadwick, S, Moret, S, Spindler, X, Gunn, P & Roux, C 2018, 'Impact of one-step luminescent cyanoacrylate treatment on subsequent DNA analysis.', Forensic science international, vol. 286, pp. 1-7.
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Fingermarks can be exploited for both their ridge detail and touch DNA. One-step luminescent cyanoacrylate (CA) fuming techniques used for fingermark enhancement, such as PolyCyano UV (Foster+Freeman Ltd) and Lumicyano™ (Crime Science Technology), claim to be compatible with DNA analysis as they reduce the need for post-staining to increase contrast of the developed fingermark. The aim of this study was to determine the impact that these one-step luminescent cyanoacrylates have on DNA analysis and how they compare to conventional CA techniques. Four donors each deposited five sets of natural fingermarks, to which a known amount of washed saliva cells was dispensed onto half of each set of fingermarks. Each set was treated with either a conventional CA technique or a one-step luminescent CA technique prior to collection and processing of DNA, with one set left as a non-fumed control. It was found that DNA was still recoverable and detectable following each of the treatments. Lumicyano™ had a similar impact on DNA profiles as conventional CA fuming and with post-stain, however, the degradation effect of PolyCyano UV on DNA was greater than the conventional treatments. For quantities of DNA such as that from touch DNA, the use of PolyCyano UV to enhance fingermarks may impact subsequent DNA analysis by causing allele drop out at larger fragment sizes.

King, S.R., Gentle, A.R., Cortie, M.B. & McDonagh, A.M. 2018, 'On the Development of Optical Properties during Thermal Coarsening of Gold Nanoparticle Composites', Journal of Physical Chemistry C, vol. 122, no. 22, pp. 12098-12105.
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© 2018 American Chemical Society. The changes in optical properties that occur as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are thermally converted to a continuous thin film were studied with the purpose of determining the roles of particle coarsening and temperature. In situ reflectance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) were applied to provide complementary information on the changes in particle size and shape. The AuNPs studied were stabilized with 1-butanethiol, 1-octanethiol, oleylamine (OA), or 4-(pyren-1-yl)butane-1-thiol (PyBuSH). Initially, the films were dark brown or purple because of the plasmon resonance of the AuNPs. As the temperature was increased, the AuNPs started to coalesce and percolate, thereby changing the color of the films to that of bulk gold. Films of AuNPs stabilized with alkanethiols sintered very rapidly, measured as a rapid change in the reflectance spectrum. In contrast, films of AuNPs stabilized with OA or PyBuSH sintered more gradually and at a higher temperature. This permitted the transition to be studied in greater detail than for the alkanethiols. Red-shifted plasmon peaks and increased intensity in the reflectance data and XRD and electron microscopy measurements revealed that a prolonged process of nanoparticle coarsening occurred prior to sintering. The effect of temperature on the optical properties was isolated by monitoring samples as they cooled. The insulator-to-metal transition in these types of composites offers a very flexible platform for controlling spectral properties in the near-infrared region.

Klingberg, J., Shimmon, R., Philp, M., Tahtouh, M., Nic Daeid, N. & Fu, S. 2018, 'Evaluating the use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry for the analysis of illicit substances and their adulterants', Journal of Forensic Investigation, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 8-8.
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Maitre, M., Kirkbride, K.P., Horder, M., Roux, C. & Beavis, A. 2018, 'Thinking beyond the lab: organic gunshot residues in an investigative perspective', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-7.
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© 2018 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences Gunshot residues (GSR) are a common form of evidence in cases involving questions related to the association of a person of interest (POI) to a firearm-related event. GSR analyses currently focus on the detection and characterisation of the inorganic components of GSR (IGSR), which are typically particles composed of lead, barium and antimony originating from the primer. However, certain particles cannot be assigned to IGSR with a high degree of confidence due to possibility of being derived from industrial or domestic sources. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of the use of heavy metal-free ammunition challenges the current protocols used for IGSR analysis. In order to provide complementary evidence to IGSR particles, the current study focused on detecting the organic components (OGSR) arising from ammunition propellant. As the study focuses on the persistence of OGSR, three compounds well known as being part of OGSR were selected: ethyl centralite (EC), diphenylamine (DPA) and N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NnDPA). The study assessed the retention of OGSR traces on a person’s hands up to 1 h after they had discharged a firearm.

Maixner, F, Turaev, D, Cazenave-Gassiot, A, Janko, M, Krause-Kyora, B, Hoopmann, MR, Kusebauch, U, Sartain, M, Guerriero, G, O´Sullivan, N, Teasdale, M, Cipollini, G, Paladin, A, Mattiangeli, V, Samadelli, M, Tecchiati, U, Putzer, A, Palazoglu, M, Meissen, J, Lösch, S, Rausch, P, Baines, JF, Kim, BJ, An, H, Gostner, P, Egarter-Vigl, E, Malfertheiner, P, Keller, A, Stark, RW, Wenk, M, Bishop, D, Bradley, DG, Fiehn, O, Engstrand, L, Moritz, RL, Doble, P, Franke, A, Nebel, A, Oeggl, K, Rattei, T, Grimm, R & Zink, A 2018, 'The Iceman´s last meal consisted 1 of fat, wild meat and cereals', Current Biology, vol. accepted for publication.

Maynard, P.J., Skinner, K., Bolton, M. & Moret, S. 2018, 'Potential application of liquid dye penetrants for serial number restoration on firearms', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences.
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Meng, L., Ren, Y., Zhou, Z., Li, C., Wang, C. & Fu, S. 2018, 'Monodisperse silica nanoparticle suspension for developing latent blood fingermarks', Forensic Sciences Research, pp. 1-9.
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Morelato, M., Broséus, J., De Grazia, A., Tahtouh, M., Esseiva, P. & Roux, C. 2018, 'Forensic drug intelligence and the rise of cryptomarkets. Part II: Combination of data from the physical and virtual markets.', Forensic science international, vol. 288, pp. 201-210.
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Technology provides new ways to access customers and suppliers while enhancing the security of off-line criminal activity. Since the first cryptomarket, Silk Road, in 2011, cryptomarkets have transformed the traditional drug sale by facilitating the creation of a global network of vendors and buyers. Due to the fragmented nature of traces that result from illegal activities, combining the results of concurrent processes based on traces of different nature should provide supplementary benefit to understand the drug market. This article compares the data of the Australian virtual market (in particular data extracted from cryptomarkets) to the data related to traditional market descriptors, namely national seizures and arrests, prevalence data, shipping countries of seized post shipments as well as outcomes of specific surveys targeting users' behaviour online. Results revealed the domestic nature of the online illicit drug trade in Australia which is dominated by amphetamine-type substances (ATS), in particular methylamphetamine and cannabis. These illicit drugs were also the most seized drugs on the physical market. This article shows that the combination of different information offers a broader perspective of the illicit drug market in Australia and thus provides stronger arguments for policy makers. It also highlights the links between the virtual and physical markets.

Moret, S, Scott, E, Barone, A, Liang, K, Lennard, C, Roux, C & Spindler, X 2018, 'Metal-Organic Frameworks for fingermark detection - A feasibility study.', Forensic science international, vol. 291, pp. 83-93.
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Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline structures, currently used as sensors, separation membranes, and as catalysts. Due to their physicochemical and optical properties, they have been recently proposed for fingermark detection. This study further explored their potential for fingermark detection. Natural fingermarks, as well as charged and protein-enriched marks, were used to test the efficiency of the technique. Various parameters, such as precursor concentration, pH, immersion time and detection protocols, were investigated and optimised. The performance of the optimised MOF-based method was then compared to that of routinely used techniques. The results obtained indicated that MOFs can effectively detect fingermarks, especially protein-rich marks such as marks contaminated with body fluids. However, after comparison and evaluation against benchmark techniques, results were judged to be inferior to those from currently employed detection methods. However, with further research and optimisation MOFs may be promising as an alternative to current powder suspension techniques.

Pace, B, Munroe, P, Marjo, CE, Thomas, P, Gong, B, Shepherd, J, Buss, W & Joseph, S 2018, 'The mechanisms and consequences of inorganic reactions during the production of ferrous sulphate enriched bamboo biochars', Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 131, pp. 101-112.
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© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Magnetic biochars are implicated in graphene micro-crystallite formation, soil redox processes and highly adsorbent chars. This study investigates the mechanisms of bamboo charring – when impregnated with FeSO4·7H2O – at 250, 350, 450 and 550 °C, using thermal and static techniques. Impregnation resulted in the oxidation of Fe2+to mixed Fe3+/Fe2+(magnetite) oxide forms during pyrolysis. A reaction sequence was proposed in which Fe-sulphates were incorporated with an ammonia catalyst. Sulphur became ubiquitous in both inorganic and organic forms, and additional minerals also formed. Stable aromatics and separation of holo-cellulosic and degraded lignin volatilisation phases were catalysed, and carboxylation was inhibited. Concentrations of C fluctuated more substantially, before stabilising at high HTTs. Pyrolysis temperatures of 450 °C and above appear to maximise stable C concentrations.These observations indicated that this treatment may yield agriculturally engineered chars with enhanced redox potential, more neutral pH, and a range of nutrients.

Philp, M, Shimmon, R, Tahtouh, M & Fu, S 2018, 'Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones.', Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE, no. 132.
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Synthetic cathinones are a large class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that are increasingly prevalent in drug seizures made by law enforcement and other border protection agencies globally. Color testing is a presumptive identification technique indicating the presence or absence of a particular drug class using rapid and uncomplicated chemical methods. Owing to their relatively recent emergence, a color test for the specific identification of synthetic cathinones is not currently available. In this study, we introduce a protocol for the presumptive identification of synthetic cathinones, employing three aqueous reagent solutions: copper(II) nitrate, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) and sodium acetate. Small pin-head sized amounts (approximately 0.1-0.2 mg) of the suspected drugs are added to the wells of a porcelain spot plate, and each reagent is then added dropwise sequentially before heating on a hotplate. A color change from very light blue to yellow-orange after 10 min indicates the likely presence of synthetic cathinones. The highly stable and specific test reagent has the potential for use in the presumptive screening of unknown samples for synthetic cathinones in a forensic laboratory. However, the nuisance of an added heating step for the color change result limits the test to laboratory application and decreases the likelihood of an easy translation to field testing.

Philp, M. & Fu, S. 2018, 'A review of chemical 'spot' tests: A presumptive illicit drug identification technique.', Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 95-108.
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Chemical 'spot' tests are a presumptive illicit drug identification technique commonly used by law enforcement, border security personnel, and forensic laboratories. The simplicity, low cost, and rapid results afforded by these tests make them particularly attractive for presumptive identification globally. In this paper, we review the development of these long-established methods and discuss color test recommendations and guidelines. A search of the scientific literature revealed the chemical reactions occurring in many color tests are either not actively investigated or reported as unknown. Today, color tests face many challenges, from the appearance of new psychoactive substances to concerns regarding selectivity, sensitivity, and safety. Advances in technology have seen color test reagents used in digital image color analysis, solid sensors, and microfluidic devices for illicit drug detection. This summarizes current research and suggests the future of presumptive color testing.

Portbury, SD, Hare, DJ, Bishop, DP, Finkelstein, DI, Doble, PA & Adlard, PA 2018, 'Trehalose elevates brain zinc levels following controlled cortical impact in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury.', Metallomics : integrated biometal science, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 846-853.
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Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a clinical consequence of brain injury that can result in neuropathological outcomes that are exacerbated with age. Here, we present laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) imaging data showing modulation of brain Zn levels by the disaccharide trehalose in aged mice following a controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury. In this proof-of-concept study, trehalose induced an increase in brain zinc levels, providing important preliminary data for larger studies using this simple carbohydrate as a modulator of this essential micronutrient in traumatic brain injury. Our results may have further implications for the treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and other disorders of the nervous system.

Robertson, J. & Roux, C. 2018, 'The forensic scientist of the future–are universities prepared?', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 305-306.
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Roux, C., Ribaux, O. & Crispino, F. 2018, 'Forensic science 2020–the end of the crossroads?', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences.
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© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Forensic science has been at the crossroads for over a decade. While this situation is a fertile ground for discussion, security problem solving and the sound administration of justice cannot be put on hold until solutions pleasing everyone emerge. In all practical reality, forensic science will continue to be applied because it is simply the most reliable way to reconstruct the past through the exploitation of relics of criminal activities and by logical treatment of the collected information. In this paper, it is argued that instead of exclusively focusing on error management and processes, we should also question the very ontological nature of forensic science. Not only should the dominant conception of forensic sciences as a patchwork of disciplines assisting the criminal justice system be challenged, but forensic science’s own fundamental principles should also be better enunciated and promoted so they can be more broadly accepted and understood. Such changes invite operations, education and research to become more collective and interdisciplinary. This is necessary to fully exploit the investigative, epidemiological, court and social functions of forensic science. We ought to ask the question: will forensic science reach the end of the crossroads soon?.

Ruan, T., Barash, M., Gunn, P. & Bruce, D. 2018, 'Investigation of DNA transfer onto clothing during regular daily activities.', International Journal of Legal Medicine.
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Low levels of DNA from an unidentified human source, often referred to as trace DNA, are ubiquitous, can be transferred onto objects by either direct or indirect methods and have an unknown longevity in situ. Clothing items from crime scenes are often submitted for trace DNA analysis, usually in attempt to identify a person of interest. This study examined the transfer of DNA onto three 10 × 10 cm areas located on the front, back and shoulder of an individual's external clothing (n = 300) during a regular day's activity. After wearing for a day, the DNA quantity on all three areas increased approximately 8-fold, which usually corresponded with an increase in the endogenous DNA from the wearer on the front area of the shirt. However, the back area of the shirt was more likely to demonstrate mixtures of endogenous and extraneous DNA. An additional study was also carried out to examine whether domestic laundering is a possible mechanism for the transfer of foreign DNA onto freshly laundered items and revealed that 74% of UV-treated cotton swatch samples produced DNA profiles after laundry with household garments. In summary, this study highlights the ease of DNA transfer onto an individual's external clothing during a regular day, and that extraneous DNA may be already on the clothing item prior to it being worn. The study provides empirical data to assist in the interpretation of trace DNA profiles and support a Bayesian approach to estimate statistical likelihoods for the transfer of foreign DNA. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Scott, JA, Angeloski, A, Aharonovich, I, Lobo, CJ, McDonagh, A & Toth, M 2018, 'In situ study of the precursor conversion reactions during solventless synthesis of Co9S8, Ni3S2, Co and Ni nanowires.', Nanoscale, vol. 10, no. 33, pp. 15669-15676.
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Synthesis of Co9S8, Ni3S2, Co and Ni nanowires by solventless thermolysis of a mixture of metal(ii) acetate and cysteine in vacuum is reported. The simple precursor system enables the nanowire phase to be tuned from pure metal (Co or Ni) to metal sulfide (Co9S8, Ni3S2) by varying the relative concentration of the metal(ii) acetate. The growth environment facilitates new insights through in situ characterization using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and thermogravimetric analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TGA-GC-MS). Direct observation by FESEM shows the temperature at which nanowire growth occurs and suggests adatoms are incorporated into the base of the growing nanowire. TGA-GC-MS reveals the rates of precursor decomposition and identity of the volatilized ligand fragments during heat-up and at the nanowire growth temperature. Our results constitute a new approach for the selective fabrication of high quality Co9S8 and Ni3S2 nanowires and more importantly provides new understanding of precursor decomposition reactions that support symmetry-breaking growth in nanocrystals by heat-up synthesis.

Scudder, N, Robertson, J, Kelty, SF, Walsh, SJ & McNevin, D 2018, 'Crowdsourced and crowdfunded: the future of forensic DNA?', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-7.
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© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Forensic DNA analysis is dependent on comparing the known and the unknown. Expand the number of known profiles, and the likelihood of a successful match increases. Forensic use of DNA is moving towards comparing samples of unknown origin with publicly available genetic data, such as the records held by genetic genealogy providers. Use of forensic genetic genealogy has yielded a number of recent high-profile successes but has raised ethical and privacy concerns. Navigating family trees is complex, even more so when combined with a comparison of genetic relationships. This intelligence-gathering process has led to occasional false leads, and its use also risks a public backlash, similar to concerns over Cambridge Analytica. A cautious approach to use of this technique is therefore warranted.

Scudder, N., McNevin, D., Kelty, S.F., Walsh, S.J. & Robertson, J. 2018, 'Forensic DNA phenotyping: Developing a model privacy impact assessment.', Forensic science international. Genetics, vol. 34, pp. 222-230.
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Forensic scientists around the world are adopting new technology platforms capable of efficiently analysing a larger proportion of the human genome. Undertaking this analysis could provide significant operational benefits, particularly in giving investigators more information about the donor of genetic material, a particularly useful investigative lead. Such information could include predicting externally visible characteristics such as eye and hair colour, as well as biogeographical ancestry. This article looks at the adoption of this new technology from a privacy perspective, using this to inform and critique the application of a Privacy Impact Assessment to this emerging technology. Noting the benefits and limitations, the article develops a number of themes that would influence a model Privacy Impact Assessment as a contextual framework for forensic laboratories and law enforcement agencies considering implementing forensic DNA phenotyping for operational use.

Scudder, N., McNevin, D., Kelty, S.F., Walsh, S.J. & Robertson, J. 2018, 'Massively parallel sequencing and the emergence of forensic genomics: Defining the policy and legal issues for law enforcement.', Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 153-158.
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Use of DNA in forensic science will be significantly influenced by new technology in coming years. Massively parallel sequencing and forensic genomics will hasten the broadening of forensic DNA analysis beyond short tandem repeats for identity towards a wider array of genetic markers, in applications as diverse as predictive phenotyping, ancestry assignment, and full mitochondrial genome analysis. With these new applications come a range of legal and policy implications, as forensic science touches on areas as diverse as 'big data', privacy and protected health information. Although these applications have the potential to make a more immediate and decisive forensic intelligence contribution to criminal investigations, they raise policy issues that will require detailed consideration if this potential is to be realised. The purpose of this paper is to identify the scope of the issues that will confront forensic and user communities.

Seckiner, D., Mallett, X., Roux, C., Meuwly, D. & Maynard, P. 2018, 'Forensic image analysis - CCTV distortion and artefacts.', Forensic science international, vol. 285, pp. 77-85.
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As a result of the worldwide deployment of surveillance cameras, authorities have gained a powerful tool that captures footage of activities of people in public areas. Surveillance cameras allow continuous monitoring of the area and allow footage to be obtained for later use, if a criminal or other act of interest occurs. Following this, a forensic practitioner, or expert witness can be required to analyse the footage of the Person of Interest. The examination ultimately aims at evaluating the strength of evidence at source and activity levels. In this paper, both source and activity levels are inferred from the trace, obtained in the form of CCTV footage. The source level alludes to features observed within the anatomy and gait of an individual, whilst the activity level relates to activity undertaken by the individual within the footage. The strength of evidence depends on the value of the information recorded, where the activity level is robust, yet source level requires further development. It is therefore suggested that the camera and the associated distortions should be assessed first and foremost and, where possible, quantified, to determine the level of each type of distortion present within the footage. A review of the 'forensic image analysis' review is presented here. It will outline the image distortion types and detail the limitations of differing surveillance camera systems. The aim is to highlight various types of distortion present particularly from surveillance footage, as well as address gaps in current literature in relation to assessment of CCTV distortions in tandem with gait analysis. Future work will consider the anatomical assessment from surveillance footage.

Seckiner, D., Mallett, X., Roux, C., Meuwly, D. & Maynard, P.J. 2018, 'Forensic image analysis – CCTV distortion and artefacts', Forensic Science International, vol. 285, pp. 77-85.
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Solowij, N., Broyd, S.J., Beale, C., Prick, J.-.A., Greenwood, L.-.M., van Hell, H., Suo, C., Galettis, P., Pai, N., Fu, S., Croft, R.J., Martin, J.H. & Yücel, M. 2018, 'Therapeutic Effects of Prolonged Cannabidiol Treatment on Psychological Symptoms and Cognitive Function in Regular Cannabis Users: A Pragmatic Open-Label Clinical Trial.', Cannabis and cannabinoid research, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 21-34.
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Introduction: Chronic cannabis use has been associated with impaired cognition and elevated psychological symptoms, particularly psychotic-like experiences. While Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is thought to be primarily responsible for these deleterious effects, cannabidiol (CBD) is purported to have antipsychotic properties and to ameliorate cognitive, symptomatic, and brain harms in cannabis users. However, this has never been tested in a prolonged administration trial in otherwise healthy cannabis users. Here, we report the first study of prolonged CBD administration to a community sample of regular cannabis users in a pragmatic trial investigating potential restorative effects of CBD on psychological symptoms and cognition. Materials and Methods: Twenty frequent cannabis users (16 male, median age 25 years) underwent a 10-week open-label trial of 200 mg of daily oral CBD treatment, while continuing to use cannabis as usual. The majority of participants were daily cannabis users who had used cannabis for several years (median 5.5 years of regular use). Participants underwent psychological and cognitive assessments at baseline (BL) and post-treatment (PT) and were monitored weekly throughout the trial. Results: CBD was well tolerated with no reported side effects; however, participants retrospectively reported reduced euphoria when smoking cannabis. No impairments to cognition were found, nor were there deleterious effects on psychological function. Importantly, participants reported significantly fewer depressive and psychotic-like symptoms at PT relative to BL, and exhibited improvements in attentional switching, verbal learning, and memory. Increased plasma CBD concentrations were associated with improvements in attentional control and beneficial changes in psychological symptoms. Greater benefits were observed in dependent than in nondependent cannabis users. Conclusions: Prolonged CBD treatment appears to have promising therapeutic effects for improving ps...

Sornalingam, K 2018, 'Photocatalysis of estrone in water and wastewater: Comparison between Au-TiO2 nanocomposite and TiO2, and degradation by-products', Science of the Total Environment, vol. Volumes 610–611, pp. 521-530.
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Gold-modified TiO2 (Au-TiO2) photocatalysts were utilised for the degradation of estrone (E1), a major endocrine disrupting chemical in water and wastewater. Au-TiO2 catalysts were synthesised by a deposition-precipitation method with gold loadings of 0–8% (wt%). The Au-TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited superior activity compared to P25 TiO2 under UVA (λ = 365 nm), cool white (λ > 420 nm) and green (λ = 523 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs), for treating 1 mg l− 1 of E1. The 4 wt% Au loading was found to produce the best photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of 2.44 ± 0.36 h− 1, compared to 0.06 ± 0.01 h− 1 for P25 TiO2, under visible light. In total 4 by-products were identified, one from negative ionization mode (m/z = 269) and three from positive ionization mode (m/z = 287) during photocatalysis, which were also degraded with time by Au-TiO2. For different water matrices, the photodegradation rate of E1 decreased in the order: ultrapure water > synthetic wastewater ≈ wastewater effluent from membrane bio-reactor. Overall, 4 wt% Au-TiO2 demonstrated superior performance compared to P25 TiO2 in water and wastewater.

Sullivan, C., Thomas, P. & Stuart, B. 2018, 'An atomic force microscopy investigation of plastic wrapping materials of forensic relevance buried in soil environments', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, pp. 1-10.
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© 2018 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences Plastics are one means of disposal of items or remains associated with criminal activity. The surface characteristics of plastic wrapping materials of forensic interest in soil environments have been investigated to determine the environmental factors that have the greatest influence on the degradation process of such polymers. Polyethylene bags and poly(vinyl chloride) sheeting were buried in model environments encompassing different soil types, moisture content, pH and temperature. Atomic force microscopy was used to monitor the changes to the polymer surface at a nanometre level. Over a two-year burial period, the degradation of polyethylene was found to be enhanced by an increased moisture content and an elevated soil pH. The plasticizer content of poly(vinyl chloride) was affected by burial and was observed to leach from the plastic in all environments continually over the burial period. A moist environment was shown to have a more pronounced effect on the removal of plasticizer. A measurement of the surface roughness of plastics using atomic force microscopy has been shown to be sensitive to the burial environment and demonstrates the potential of this technique to measure relatively subtle changes to burial items exposed to different environments.

Tapas, M., Vessalas, K., Thomas, P., Sirivivatnanon, V. & Brenner, J. 2018, 'Effect of Limestone Content in Cement on Alkali-Silica Reaction Using Accelerated Mortar Bar Test', Concrete in Australia, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 41-47.
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Toole, K, Philp, M, Krayem, N, Fu, S, Shimmon, R & Taflaga, S 2018, 'Color Tests for the Preliminary Identification of New Psychoactive Substances.', Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), vol. 1810, pp. 1-11.
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Color tests are a key tool for the rapid and simple identification of seized illicit drugs. This chapter outlines a series of color tests that can be used for the preliminary identification of new psychoactive substances such as cathinones, piperazines, tryptamines, and amphetamine-type stimulants.

Wai, KT, Barash, M & Gunn, P 2018, 'Performance of the Early Access AmpliSeq™ Mitochondrial Panel with degraded DNA samples using the Ion Torrent™ platform.', Electrophoresis.
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The Early Access AmpliSeq™ Mitochondrial Panel amplifies whole mitochondrial genomes for phylogenetic and kinship identifications, using Ion Torrent™ technology. There is currently limited information on its performance with degraded DNA, a common occurrence in forensic samples. This study evaluated the performance of the Panel with DNA samples degraded in vitro, to mimic conditions commonly found in forensic investigations. Purified DNA from five individuals was heat-treated at five time points each (125°C for 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min; total n = 25). The quality of DNA was assessed via a real-time DNA assay of genomic DNA and prepared for massively parallel sequencing on the Ion Torrent™ platform. Mitochondrial sequences were obtained for all samples and had an amplicon coverage averaging between 66X to 2803X. Most amplicons (157/162) displayed high coverages (452 ± 333X), while reads with less than 100X coverage were recorded in five amplicons only (90 ± 5X). Amplicon coverage was decreased with prolonged heating. At 72% strand balance, reads were well balanced between forward and reverse strands. Using a coverage threshold of ten reads per SNP, complete sequences were recovered in all samples and resolved kinship and, haplogroup relations. Additionally, the HV1 and HV2 regions of the reference and 240-min heat-treated samples (n = 10) were Sanger-sequenced for concordance. Overall, this study demonstrates the efficacy of a novel forensic Panel that recovers high quality mitochondrial sequences from degraded DNA samples.

Walton, AD, Moret, S, Gunn, P & Barash, M 2018, 'Comment on "Linkage analysis of a model quantitative trait in humans: Finger ridge count shows significant multivariate linkage to 5q14.1" by Medland et al., "Common Genetic Variants Influence Whorls in Fingerprint Patterns" by Ho et al. and "Hot on the Trail of Genes that Shape Our Fingerprints" by Walsh et al .', Forensic science international. Genetics, vol. 36, pp. e14-e16.
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Watanabe, S., Kuzhiumparambil, U. & Fu, S. 2018, 'In vitro metabolism of synthetic cannabinoid AM1220 by human liver microsomes and Cunninghamella elegans using liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry.', Forensic toxicology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 435-446.
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Identifying intake of synthetic cannabinoids generally requires the metabolism data of the drugs so that appropriate metabolite markers can be targeted in urine testing. However, the continuous appearance of new cannabinoids during the last decade has made it difficult to keep up with all the compounds including {1-[(1-methylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl}(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone (AM1220). In this study, metabolism of AM1220 was investigated with human liver microsomes and the fungus Cunninghamella elegans.Metabolic stability of AM1220 was analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode after 1 µM incubation in human liver microsomes for 30 min. Tentative structure elucidation of metabolites was performed on both human liver microsome and fungal incubation samples using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.Half-life of AM1220 was estimated to be 3.7 min, indicating a high clearance drug. Nine metabolites were detected after incubating human liver microsomes while seven were found after incubating Cunninghamella elegans, leading to 11 metabolites in total (five metabolites were common to both systems). Demethylation, dihydrodiol formation, combination of the two, hydroxylation and dihydroxylation were the observed biotransformations.Three most abundant metabolites in both human liver microsomes and Cunninghamella elegans were desmethyl, dihydrodiol and hydroxy metabolites, despite different isomers of dihydrodiol and hydroxy metabolites in each model. These abundant metabolites can potentially be useful markers in urinalysis for AM1220 intake.

Watanabe, S., Kuzhiumparambil, U. & Fu, S. 2018, 'Structural Elucidation of Metabolites of Synthetic Cannabinoid UR-144 by Cunninghamella elegans Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy.', The AAPS journal, vol. 20, no. 2, p. 42.
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The number of new psychoactive substances keeps on rising despite the controlling efforts by law enforcement. Although metabolism of the newly emerging drugs is continuously studied to keep up with the new additions, the exact structures of the metabolites are often not identified due to the insufficient sample quantities for techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The aim of the study was to characterise several metabolites of the synthetic cannabinoid (1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl) (2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl) methanone (UR-144) by NMR spectroscopy after the incubation with the fungus Cunninghamella elegans. UR-144 was incubated with C. elegans for 72 h, and the resulting metabolites were chromatographically separated. Six fractions were collected and analysed by NMR spectroscopy. UR-144 was also incubated with human liver microsomes (HLM), and the liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis was performed on the HLM metabolites with the characterised fungal metabolites as reference standards. Ten metabolites were characterised by NMR analysis including dihydroxy metabolites, carboxy and hydroxy metabolites, a hydroxy and ketone metabolite, and a carboxy and ketone metabolite. Of these metabolites, dihydroxy metabolite, carboxy and hydroxy metabolites, and a hydroxy and ketone metabolite were identified in HLM incubation. The results indicate that the fungus is capable of producing human-relevant metabolites including the exact isomers. The capacity of the fungus C. elegans to allow for NMR structural characterisation by enabling production of large amounts of metabolites makes it an ideal model to complement metabolism studies.

Wenzel, R, Major, D, Hesp, K & Doble, P 2018, 'Determination of vitamin B12 in equine urine by liquid chromatography - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry.', Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS).
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Regulating authorities in the racing industry have restricted the administration of potentially performance enhancing cobalt salts to horses. There are severe penalties for trainers presenting horses with elevated urine cobalt concentrations, and compliance is ensured via analysis of total urinary cobalt at thresholds of 100 μg/L. When cobalt is present as part of the cobalamin molecule it is not considered performance enhancing. This paper demonstrates that a horse can excrete a significant proportion of a commercially available vitamin B12 injection in urine without metabolic modification. A liquid chromatography - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS) method is presented for urinary cobalt speciation. Given the serious nature surrounding performance enhancing drug offences, we conclude that presumptive positives identified by urine total cobalt measurements require further analysis to differentiate inorganic cobalt from vitamin B12.

Wu, W.-.H., Thomas, P., Hume, P. & Jin, J. 2018, 'Effective Conversion of Amide to Carboxylic Acid on Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM-1) with Nitrous Acid.', Membranes, vol. 8, no. 2.
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Carboxylate-functionalised polymers of intrinsic microporosity (C-PIMs) are highly desirable materials for membrane separation applications. The recently reported method to afford C-PIMs was via an extensive base hydrolysis process requiring 360 h. Herein, a novel and effective method to convert PIM-CONH₂ to C-PIM using nitrous acid was studied. The chemical structure of C-PIM was characterised by ¹H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, elemental analysis, UV-Vis, TGA and TGA-MS. Complete conversion from amide to carboxylic acid groups was confirmed. Decarboxylation of C-PIM was also successfully studied by TGA-MS for the first time, with a loss of m/z 44 amu (CO₂) observed at the first degradation stage. TGA also revealed decreased thermal stability of C-PIM relative to PIM-CONH₂ under both N₂ and air atmosphere. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis showed continuous molecular weight degradation of C-PIM with extended reaction time. Aromatic nitration was also observed as a side reaction in some cases.

Xiao, L., Alder, R., Mehta, M., Krayem, N., Cavasinni, B., Laracy, S., Cameron, S. & Fu, S. 2018, 'Development of a quantitative method for the analysis of cocaine analogue impregnated into textiles by Raman spectroscopy.', Drug testing and analysis, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 761-767.
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Cocaine trafficking in the form of textile impregnation is routinely encountered as a concealment method. Raman spectroscopy has been a popular and successful testing method used for in situ screening of cocaine in textiles and other matrices. Quantitative analysis of cocaine in these matrices using Raman spectroscopy has not been reported to date. This study aimed to develop a simple Raman method for quantifying cocaine using atropine as the model analogue in various types of textiles. Textiles were impregnated with solutions of atropine in methanol. The impregnated atropine was extracted using less hazardous acidified water with the addition of potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) as an internal standard for Raman analysis. Despite the presence of background matrix signals arising from the textiles, the cocaine analogue could easily be identified by its characteristic Raman bands. The successful use of KSCN normalised the analyte signal response due to different textile matrix background interferences and thus removed the need for a matrix-matched calibration. The method was linear over a concentration range of 6.25-37.5 mg/cm2 with a coefficient of determination (R2 ) at 0.975 and acceptable precision and accuracy. A simple and accurate Raman spectroscopy method for the analysis and quantification of a cocaine analogue impregnated in textiles has been developed and validated for the first time. This proof-of-concept study has demonstrated that atropine can act as an ideal model compound to study the problem of cocaine impregnation in textile. The method has the potential to be further developed and implemented in real world forensic cases.

Zhan, X, Adnan, A, Zhou, Y, Khan, A, Kasim, K & McNevin, D 2018, 'Forensic characterization of 15 autosomal STRs in four populations from Xinjiang, China, and genetic relationships with neighboring populations', Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1.
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© 2018 The Author(s). The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (XUARC) harbors 47 ethnic groups including the Manchu (MCH: 0.11%), Mongols (MGL: 0.81%), Kyrgyz (KGZ: 0.86%) and Uzbek (UZK: 0.066%). To establish DNA databases for these populations, allele frequency distributions for 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were determined using the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR amplification kit. There was no evidence of departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in any of the four populations and minimal departure from linkage equilibrium (LE) for a very small number of pairwise combinations of loci. The probabilities of identity for the different populations ranged from 1 in 1.51 × 1017(MCH) to 1 in 9.94 × 1018(MGL), the combined powers of discrimination ranged from 0.99999999999999999824 (UZK) to 0.9999999999999999848 (MCH) and the combined probabilities of paternal exclusion ranged from 0.9999979323 (UZK) to 0.9999994839 (MCH). Genetic distances, a phylogenetic tree and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the MCH, KGZ and UZK are genetically closer to the Han population of Liaoning and the Mongol population of Mongolia while the MGL are closer to Han, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Hong Kong Han and Russians living in China.

Sidavong, L, Lal, S & Sztynda, T 2018, 'Spontaneous facial expression analysis using optical flow', Proceedings of the International Conference on Sensing Technology, ICST, pp. 1-6.
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© 2017 IEEE. Investigation of emotions manifested through facial expressions has valuable applications in predictive behavioural studies. This has piqued interest towards developing intelligent visual surveillance using facial expression analysis coupled with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV). However, a facial recognition program tailored to evaluating facial behaviour for forensic and security purposes can be met if patterns of emotions in general can be detected. The present study assesses whether emotional expression derived from frontal or profile views of the face can be used to determine differences between three emotions: Amusement, Sadness and Fear using the optical flow technique. Analysis was in the form of emotion maps constructed from feature vectors obtained from using the Lucas-Kanade implementation of optical flow. These feature vectors were selected as inputs for classification. It was anticipated that the findings would assist in improving the optical flow algorithm for feature extraction. However, further data analyses are necessary to confirm if different types of emotion can be identified clearly using optical flow or other such techniques.