Flynn, K, Maynard, P, du Pasquier, E, Lennard, C, Stoilovic, M & Roux, C 2004, 'Evaluation of iodine-benzoflavone and ruthenium tetroxide spray reagents for the detection of latent fingermarks at the crime scene.', J Forensic Sci, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 707-715.
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The performance of two spray reagents, iodine-benzoflavone and ruthenium tetroxide (RTX), was evaluated and compared with the conventional technique currently used at the crime scene, that is, powdering. Neither the spray techniques nor powdering were shown to be suitable for all surfaces and ages of marks tested. On some surfaces such as glass and treated wood, powdering was still the superior technique, whereas the spray techniques produced better development on wallpaper, vinyl, and brick. Sequencing work showed that RTX was incompatible with powdering and cyanoacrylate (with a rhodamine 6G stain). Iodine-benzoflavone can be used successfully either before or after powdering in a sequence; however, it was incompatible with cyanoacrylate. Two non-CFC formulations of iodine-benzoflavone using HFC4310mee and HFE7100 solvents were tested and shown not to be as effective as the original Arklone (CFC-113) formulation; however, the HFC4310mee solvent is recommended as the most suitable replacement solvent. Due to the expense of the commercial RTX spray, attempts at formulating a more cost-effective version were also carried out. A formulation was developed that gave comparable development to the commercial version but at a much cheaper cost, and with a shelf life of up to two months. Recommendations are presented for which techniques are suitable for different surfaces and ages of marks. Powdering was shown to be the best technique on all ages of marks tested on treated wood, glass, and also on marks aged three days and older on paint. Iodine-benzoflavone was the best technique on wallpaper, vinyl, brick, and raw wood. RTX was the best detection technique for fresh marks and marks aged up to one day on wallpaper and paint.
Flynn, K, Maynard, P, Pasquier, ED, Lennard, C, Stoilovic, M & Roux, C 2004, 'Evaluation of Iodine-Benzoflavone and Ruthenium Tetroxide Spray Reagents for the Detection of Latent Fingermarks at the Crime Scene', Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1-9.
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Abstract The performance of two spray reagents, iodine-benzoflavone and ruthenium tetroxide (RTX), was evaluated and compared with the conventional technique currently used at the crime scene, that is, powdering. Neither the spray techniques nor powdering were shown to be suitable for all surfaces and ages of marks tested. On some surfaces such as glass and treated wood, powdering was still the superior technique, whereas the spray techniques produced better development on wallpaper, vinyl, and brick. Sequencing work showed that RTX was incompatible with powdering and cyanoacrylate (with a rhodamine 6G stain). Iodine-benzoflavone can be used successfully either before or after powdering in a sequence; however, it was incompatible with cyanoacrylate. Two non-CFC formulations of iodine-benzoflavone using HFC4310mee and HFE7100 solvents were tested and shown not to be as effective as the original Arklone (CFC-113) formulation; however, the HFC4310mee solvent is recommended as the most suitable replacement solvent. Due to the expense of the commercial RTX spray, attempts at formulating a more cost-effective version were also carried out. A formulation was developed that gave comparable development to the commercial version but at a much cheaper cost, and with a shelf life of up to two months. Recommendations are presented for which techniques are suitable for different surfaces and ages of marks. Powdering was shown to be the best technique on all ages of marks tested on treated wood, glass, and also on marks aged three days and older on paint. Iodine-benzoflavone was the best technique on wallpaper, vinyl, brick, and raw wood. RTX was the best detection technique for fresh marks and marks aged up to one day on wallpaper and paint.
Paull, B, Roux, C, Dawson, M & Doble, P 2004, 'Rapid screening of selected organic explosives by high performance liquid chromatography using reversed-phase monolithic columns', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 1181-1186.
Paull, B, Roux, C, Dawson, M & Doble, P 2004, 'Rapid Screening of Selected Organic Explosives by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Reversed-Phase Monolithic Columns', Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. JFS2004072-6.
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Abstract This study presents the rapid screening of various high grade explosives by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with monolithic stationary phases. Two gradient methods were developed, the first for quantitative analysis of eleven explosives: HMX; RDX; Tetryl; TNT; 2,3-DNT; 2,6-DNT; 3,4-DNT; 2-NT; 3-NT; 4-NT; and PETN in under 14 min. The second method separated seven explosives in under two min and is suitable for rapid screening to determine the presence of specific and/or class of explosive. The rapid screening methods were successfully applied to soils spiked with known amounts of target explosives. This technology showed excellent potential for forensic explosives detection and analysis.
Ragusa, SR, McNevin, D, Qasem, S & Mitchell, C 2004, 'Indicators of biofilm development and activity in constructed wetlands microcosms', WATER RESEARCH, vol. 38, no. 12, pp. 2865-2873.
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Methods to measure protein, exopolysaccharide, viable cell number and INT reduction activity were tested on biofilm growing in a wastewater batch reactor. They were shown to be meaningful indicators of biofilm growth and correlated well with each other. Protein, exopolysaccharide, viable cells and INT reduction rates increased linearly over time. Viable cell number exhibited strong linear correlations with protein (R2=0.98) and exopolysaccharide (R 2=0.99) while INT reduction rate was somewhat less well correlated (R2=0.90). Our results indicate production rates of 0.91×10-7μg EPS per viable cell and 1.0×10 -7μg protein per viable cell. Protein and polysaccharide specific INT reduction rates decreased by approximately 50%, whereas viable cell specific INT reduction rates decreased by 65% and the protein to polysaccharide ratio stayed relatively constant at between 1.1 and 1.2 as the biofilm developed. Measurement of protein, polysaccharide, viable cells and INT reduction rate at depth within the bioreactor showed that they were concentrated in the top 1cm of the influent end of the reactor and each decreased to a base level within 4.5cm of the inlet. Protein to polysaccharide ratios increased with depth in the reactor and the specific INT reduction rates were maximal at 4.5cm depth. The results indicate that the biomass can take upwards of 100 days to stabilize during batch (fill and draw) operation of subsurface wetlands and that the relative ratios of biomass components remain relatively constant during biofilm growth. Also, it appears that filtration of suspended solids results in biomass concentration at the inlet to the wetland. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Raymond, JJ, Roux, C, Du Pasquier, E, Sutton, J & Lennard, C 2004, 'The Effect of Common Fingerprint Detection Techniques on the DNA Typing of Fingerprints Deposited on Different Surfaces', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 22-44.
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DNA and fingerprints are two of the most important forms of evidence in terms of their ability to individualize persons. This study investigated the effect of common fingerprint detection techniques on the recovery of DNA from fingerprints. It was found that the recovery of DNA is possible after fingerprint development using certain techniques, and that the recovery is more dependent on the surface type, rather than the enhancement technique used. Fingerprints placed on plastic bags, glass microscope slides, and adhesive tape returned DNA profiles before and after treatment, which consisted of white light, UV, dactyloscopic powders, Stickyside Powder, and cyanoacrylate plus rhodamine 6G stain or VMD treatment. The profiles that were obtained from these surfaces were often found to contain contamination peaks, and at this stage, trace DNA analysis of this type may be more useful as an intelligence tool, rather than being relied upon in court for identification purposes. No DNA profiles were obtained from treated or untreated prints on paper and aluminum foil substrates.
Raymond, JJ, Walsh, SJ, Van Oorschot, RA, Gunn, PR & Roux, C 2004, 'Trace DNA: An underutilized resource or Pandora's box? A review of the use of trace DNA analysis in the investigation of volume crime', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 668-686.
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Spectacular advances in DNA technology have greatly expanded its applicability to forensic science. As the processes become sufficiently sensitive to detect trace DNA, a vast number of crime scene samples not previously considered for analysis are now able to be tested. However, in spite of these obvious benefits, trace DNA analysis raises problems not often considered by investigators and forensic scientists. This paper discusses the history and development of trace DNA analysis. It suggests a trend of underutilization and discusses issues surrounding its application and alternative uses for the results gained. The approach in the past has been that DNA evidence was solely employed as an absolute form of evidence, and, consequently, research focused primarily on increasing sensitivity and discrimina-tion power. We are suggesting that DNA evidence should be treated as any other trace evidence. Research to provide data for basic trace evidence properties of deposit, presence, transfer, and persistence may allow trace DNA analysis to be more effectively utilized in the investigation of crime. Together with recent developments in forensic intelligence, this research could facilitate the progressive application of trace DNA analysis to volume crime investigations, an outcome with the potential to reduce the rate of volume crime and contribute to crime prevention strategies.
Reddy, M, Mohanty, M & Naidu, V 2004, 'Economic Cost of Human Capital Loss from Fiji: Implications for Sustainable Development', International Migration Review, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 1447-1461.
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Small island nations in the South Pacific are facing a serious problem of loss of human capital. The loss of skilled and qualified personnel from the small pool is causing a major setback in terms of providing the technical expertise to forge ahead with reform programs that these economies are undertaking. Fiji's policymakers are increasingly confronting this issue, because the nation has experienced a massive outflow of skilled labor following the political instability in 1987. While there is an outflow of skilled labor, the country is also losing a large amount of financial capital. The extent of the outflow has yet to be measured due to lack of a methodology. This study advances a methodology to measure the loss to the economy arising out of human capital loss in a small island economy.
Wallace-Kunkel, C, Roux, C, Lennard, C & Stoilovic, M 2004, 'The detection and enhancement of latent fingermarks on porous surfaces - A aurvey', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 687-705.
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The most common reagents for fingerprint development on porous surfaces are ninhydrin and DFO. However, a large number of different reagent formulations are in use in fingerprint laboratories around the world. 1,2-Indanedione is also emerging as a potential reagent for the development of fingermarks on porous surfaces in routine casework. This situation prompted this study in which a survey was undertaken. The aims of the survey were two-fold: 1. Determine the type and frequency of use of fingerprint reagents applied to porous surfaces. 2. Determine the fingerprint community's awareness and experience with 1,2-indanedione. The fingerprint survey was sent to state police laboratories in Australia and New Zealand and to members of major fingerprint research groups and laboratories in the USA, UK, and Europe. Thirty-four responses were received from nine countries. These responses indicated a high degree of variability, in both the testing performed and the reagent formulations employed. Although only thirty-four agencies responded, some valuable insight into the lack of awareness and implementation of 1,2-indanedione is presented.
Walsh, SJ, Ribaux, O, Buckleton, JS, Ross, A & Roux, C 2004, 'DNA Profiling and Criminal Justice: A Contribution to a Changing Debate', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 34-43.
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Forensic DNA profiling is now a routine feature of the criminal justice system in Australia. Its appliations in this context continue to increase. Technological advancements and the use of DNA databases have facilitated the uptake of biological evidence into criminal investigations. The development of DNA methodology has progressed through discernible phases thay have been paralleled by discussion amongst the legal community. The context of development and the associated debate has changed. It now encompasses broader issues, concerned less specifically with the technology itself and more with the most appropriate means for its use. To contribute more purposefully to this debate and to achieve the most meaningful outcomes from the criminal justice system, we must first understand more holistically the role that DNA evidence plays and the impact that it is capable of. This paper reviews aspects of the forensic and legal contexts of the use of DNA technology in the Justice system. This is a prelude to future research and a justification for the need for such research.
