Benson, S, Lennard, C, Maynard, P & Roux, C 2006, 'Forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry—A review', Forensic Science International, vol. 157, no. 1, pp. 1-22.
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The key role of a forensic scientist is to assist in determining whether a crime has been committed, and if so, assist in the identification of the offender. Many people hold the belief that a particular item can be conclusively linked to a specific person, place or object. Unfortunately, this is often not achievable in forensic science. In performing their role, scientists develop and test hypotheses. The significance of those hypotheses that cannot be rejected upon completion of all available examinations/analyses is then evaluated. Although one can generally identify the substances present using available techniques, it is generally not possible to distinguish one source of the same substance from another. In such circumstances, although a particular hypothesis cannot be rejected, it cannot be conclusively proven, i.e. the samples could still have originated from different sources. This limitation of not being able to distinguish between sources currently extends to the analysis of other forensic samples including, but not limited to, ignitable liquids, paints, adhesives, textile fibres, plastics, and illicit drugs. Stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is an additional technique that can be utilised to test a given hypothesis. This technique shows the potential to be able to individualise a range of materials of forensic interest. This paper provides a brief description of the technique, followed by a review of the various applications of IRMS in different scientific fields. The focus of this summary is on forensic applications of IRMS, in particular the analysis of explosives, ignitable liquids and illicit drugs. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Choi, MJ, McBean, KE, Wuhrer, R, McDonagh, AM, Maynard, PJ, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2006, 'Investigation into the binding of gold nanoparticles to fingermarks using scanning electron microscopy', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 24-32.
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For the first time, scanning electron microscopy has been used to investigate the binding of gold nanoparticles to fingermarks placed on nonporous surfaces. The results show that gold nanoparticles, under standard MMDII conditions, bind preferentially to latent fingermark ridges on nonporous surfaces. Variation in surfactant concentration influences background development but does not affect the binding of gold nanoparticles to the ridges, while pH variation influences the binding to ridges but leaves valley regions unaffected.
Choi, MJ, McDonagh, AM, Maynard, PJ, Wuhrer, R, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2006, 'Preparation and evaluation of metal nanopowders for the detection of fingermarks on nonporous surfaces', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 756-768.
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Gold and silver nanoparticles using oleylamine as a stabilizer have been formulated for developing latent fingermarks on nonporous surfaces. These nanopowders are compared with conventional powders such as black powder, black magnetic powder, aluminum powder, and white powder. Gold nanopowder produced sharp and clear development of latent fingermarks without background staining. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that particles were concentrated in the fingermark ridge areas, with only minor amounts located in the valley regions.
Flynn, K, O'Leary, R, Roux, C & Reedy, BJ 2006, 'Forensic analysis of bicomponent fibers using infrared chemical imaging', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 586-596.
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The application of infrared chemical imaging to the analysis of bicomponent fibers was evaluated. Eleven nominally bicomponent fibers were examined either side-on or in cross-section. In six of the 11 samples, infrared chemical imaging was able to spatia
McNevin, D, von Caemmerer, S & Farquhar, G 2006, 'Determining RuBisCO activation kinetics and other rate and equilibrium constants by simultaneous multiple non-linear regression of a kinetic model', Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 57, no. 14, pp. 3883-3900.
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McNevin, DB, Badger, MR, Kane, HJ & Farquhar, GD 2006, 'Measurement of (carbon) kinetic isotope effect by Rayleigh fractionation using membrane inlet mass spectrometry for CO2-consuming reactions.', Functional plant biology : FPB, vol. 33, no. 12, pp. 1115-1128.
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Methods for determining carbon isotope discrimination, Δ, or kinetic isotope effects, α, for CO2-consuming enzymes have traditionally been cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring careful isolation of substrates and products and conversion of these to CO2 for measurement of isotope ratio by mass spectrometry (MS). An equation originally derived by Rayleigh in 1896 has been used more recently to good effect as it only requires measurement of substrate concentrations and isotope ratios. For carboxylation reactions such as those catalysed by d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase (RuBisCO, EC 4.1.1.39) and PEP carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), this has still required sampling of reactions at various states of completion and conversion of all inorganic carbon to CO2, as well as determining the amount of substrate consumed. We introduce a new method of membrane inlet MS which can be used to continuously monitor individual CO2 isotope concentrations, rather than isotope ratio. This enables the use of a simplified, new formula for calculating kinetic isotope effects, based on the assumptions underlying the original Rayleigh fractionation equation and given by.
McNevin, DB, Badger, MR, Kane, HJ & Farquhar, GD 2006, 'Measurement of (carbon) kinetic isotope effect by Rayleigh fractionation using membrane inlet mass spectrometry for CO2-consuming reactions', Functional Plant Biology, vol. 33, no. 12, pp. 1115-1115.
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Methods for determining carbon isotope discrimination, Δ, or kinetic isotope effects, α, for CO2-consuming enzymes have traditionally been cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring careful isolation of substrates and products and conversion of these to CO2 for measurement of isotope ratio by mass spectrometry (MS). An equation originally derived by Rayleigh in 1896 has been used more recently to good effect as it only requires measurement of substrate concentrations and isotope ratios. For carboxylation reactions such as those catalysed by d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase (RuBisCO, EC 4.1.1.39) and PEP carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), this has still required sampling of reactions at various states of completion and conversion of all inorganic carbon to CO2, as well as determining the amount of substrate consumed. We introduce a new method of membrane inlet MS which can be used to continuously monitor individual CO2 isotope concentrations, rather than isotope ratio. This enables the use of a simplified, new formula for calculating kinetic isotope effects, based on the assumptions underlying the original Rayleigh fractionation equation and given by: --> The combination of inlet membrane MS and this formula yields measurements of discrimination in less than 1 h. We validate our method against previously measured values of discrimination for PEP carboxylase and RuBisCO from several species.
Meakin, GE, Jepson, BJN, Richardson, DJ, Bedmar, EJ & Delgado, MJ 2006, 'The role of Bradyrhizobium japonicum nitric oxide reductase in nitric oxide detoxification in soya bean root nodules', Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 195-196.
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The identification of nitric oxide-bound leghaemoglobin within soya bean nodules has led to the question of how Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids overcome the toxicity of this nitric oxide. It has previously been shown that one candidate for nitric oxide detoxification, the respiratory nitric oxide reductase, is expressed in soya bean nodules from plants supplied with nitrate [Mesa, de Dios Alché, Bedmar and Delgado (2004) Physiol. Plant. 120, 205–211]. In this paper, the role of this enzyme in nitric oxide detoxification is assessed and discussion is provided on other possible B. japonicum nitric oxide detoxification systems.
Spatafora, JW, Sung, G-H, Johnson, D, Hesse, C, O'Rourke, B, Serdani, M, Spotts, R, Lutzoni, F, Hofstetter, V, Miadlikowska, J, Reeb, V, Gueidan, C, Fraker, E, Lumbsch, T, Lucking, R, Schmitt, I, Hosaka, K, Aptroot, A, Roux, C, Miller, AN, Geiser, DM, Hafellner, J, Hestmark, G, Arnold, AE, Budel, B, Rauhut, A, Hewitt, D, Untereiner, WA, Cole, MS, Scheidegger, C, Schultz, M, Sipman, H & Schoch, CL 2006, 'A five-gene phylogeny of Pezizomycotina', Mycologia, vol. 98, no. 6, pp. 1018-1028.
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Wallace, Kunkel, CS, Lennard, CJ, Stoilovic, M & Roux, CP 2006, 'Evaluation of 5-Methylthioninhydrin for the Detection of Fingermarks on Porous Surfaces and Comparison', Identification Canada, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 4-13.
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The chemical 5-methylthioninhydrin was developed in the early 1990s for treating fingermarks on porous surfaces. Although many researchers showed the promise of this chemical during the years between 1990 and 1997, current research indicates that this reagent is sill not commonly used in casework. The current study assessed the commercially produced 5-methylthioninhydrin and compared it to the more commonly used reagents for detecting fingermarks on porous surfaces. The study found that 5-methylthioninhydrin is superior to ninhydrin; however, 1,2-indanedione produced a much stronger luminescence when used to treat latent fingermarks. Comparable fluorescence was produced with 5-methlthioninhydrin after metal salt treatment to DFO; the high background detracts from the ridge detail, however. The study concludes that although the cost of 5-methylthioninhydrin is higher than for conventional reagents, its use may be justified in some circumstances. The second article begins with an illustrated step-by-step demonstration of the technique for blending two exposures of the same scene. It involves the use of layers within Adobe Photoshop CS and then placing one exposure overtop of another exposure. The best qualities of each exposure are then used in the final print. The article then examines a few applied forensic applications of the blending of two exposures, including a technique for rescuing underexposed images. This issues section on Society Business (Canadian Identification Society) addresses Society awards, the Presidents message,' the 29th CIS Educational Conference, guidelines for authors, a listing of award winners and past presidents, and a listing of staff members
