Bojko, K, Roux, C & Reedy, BJ 2008, 'An Examination of the Sequence of Intersecting Lines Using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectral Imaging', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 1458-1467.
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In this study, the potential of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectral imaging as a technique to determine the sequence of line crossings was examined. The technique was successful in determining the sequence of heterogeneous line intersections produced using ballpoint pens and laser printers. By imaging at characteristic frequencies, it was possible to form spectral images showing the spatial distribution of the materials. By examining the spectral images from the inks, it was possible to determine whether the ink was above or below the toner. In blind testing, ATR-FTIR spectral imaging results were directly compared to those obtained by eight experienced forensic document examiners using methods regularly employed in casework. ATR-FTIR spectral imaging was shown to achieve a 100% success rate in the blind tests, whereas some incorrect sequence determinations were made by the forensic document examiners when using traditional techniques. The technique was unable to image ink-jet printing, gel pens, roller ball pens, and felt-tip pens, and was also unable to determine the sequence of intersecting ballpoint pen lines. © 2008 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Chefi, S, Madani, A, Boussetta, H, Roux, C & Hammou, A 2008, 'Electrical properties of Al-doped oxyapatites at intermediate temperature', Journal of Power Sources, vol. 177, no. 2, pp. 464-469.
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Choi, MJ, McBean, KE, Ng, PHR, McDonagh, AM, Maynard, PJ, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2008, 'An evaluation of nanostructured zinc oxide as a fluorescent powder for fingerprint detection', JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 732-737.
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Zinc oxide is evaluated as a fluorescent powder for the detection of fingermarks on non-porous surfaces. Pure and lithium-doped nanostructured zinc oxide powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The zinc oxide powders were applied to fresh and aged fingermarks deposited on non-porous surfaces such as glass, polyethylene and aluminium foil. Zinc oxide was found to produce clear fluorescent impressions of the latent fingermarks when illuminated with long-wave UV light. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Choi, MJ, McDonagh, AM, Maynard, P & Roux, C 2008, 'Metal-containing nanoparticles and nano-structured particles in fingermark detection', Forensic Science International, vol. 179, no. 2-3, pp. 87-97.
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This article reviews the application of metal-containing nanoparticles and nano-structured particles to fingermark detection. This area of research is attracting significant interest as advances in nanoscience are being incorporated into the field of forensic fingermark detection. Although more research is needed before some of the techniques presented can be implemented in routine casework, nanotechnology is likely to play a major role in the future to deliver more selective and more sensitive ways to detect and enhance fingermarks. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Crossman, LC, Castillo-Ramírez, S, McAnnula, C, Lozano, L, Vernikos, GS, Acosta, JL, Ghazoui, ZF, Hernández-González, I, Meakin, G, Walker, AW, Hynes, MF, Young, JPW, Downie, JA, Romero, D, Johnston, AWB, Dávila, G, Parkhill, J & González, V 2008, 'A Common Genomic Framework for a Diverse Assembly of Plasmids in the Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria', PLoS ONE, vol. 3, no. 7, pp. e2567-e2567.
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This work centres on the genomic comparisons of two closely-related nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae 3841 and Rhizobium etli CFN42. These strains maintain a stable genomic core that is also common to other rhizobia species plus a very variable and significant accessory component. The chromosomes are highly syntenic, whereas plasmids are related by fewer syntenic blocks and have mosaic structures. The pairs of plasmids p42f-pRL12, p42e-pRL11 and p42b-pRL9 as well large parts of p42c with pRL10 are shown to be similar, whereas the symbiotic plasmids (p42d and pRL10) are structurally unrelated and seem to follow distinct evolutionary paths. Even though purifying selection is acting on the whole genome, the accessory component is evolving more rapidly. This component is constituted largely for proteins for transport of diverse metabolites and elements of external origin. The present analysis allows us to conclude that a heterogeneous and quickly diversifying group of plasmids co-exists in a common genomic framework.
Fu, S & Lewis, J 2008, 'Novel automated extraction method for quantitative analysis of urinary 11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH)', JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 292-297.
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An automated extraction method for extracting the major urinary metabolite of cannabis, 11-nor-?9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) was developed on the four-probe Gilson ASPEC XL4? solid-phase extraction (SPE) system. The method works on liquid-liquid extraction principles but does not require the use of SPE cartridges. The limits of detection and quantitation and the upper limit of linearity (ULOL) of the developed method were found to be 1, 2, and 1500 ng/mL, respectively. There was no detectable carry over after 10,000 ng/mL analyte. For a batch of 76 samples, the process uses less than 100 mL methanol, 450 mL extracting solvent hexane/ethyl acetate (5:1, v/v) and 1 L rinsing solvent, 30% methanol in water. The automated extraction process takes 5 h to complete. Precision and accuracy of the method are comparable to both manual liquid-liquid extraction and automated SPE methods. The method has proven to be a simple, speedy, and economical alternative to the currently popular automated SPE method for the quantitative analysis of urinary THC-COOH.
Hoile, R, Walsh, SJ & Bioterrorism, RC 2008, 'Erratum', Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 1499-1499.
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Huttunen, J, Doble, P, Dawson, M, Roux, C & Robertson, J 2008, 'Physical evidence in drug intelligence, Part 2: discrimination of packaging tapes by colour', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 73-83.
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The authors have considered routine exploitation of physical evidence from seized shipments of illicit drugs for intelligence purposes. Part 1 of this series addressed the identification of polymer type within the adhesive pf packaging tapes and raised important issues with regard to how data should be collated in a databse as a basis for reliable drug intelligence. this article expands onthis topic by addressingt eh sue of colour for achieving the same aim. By using a relatively simple instrumental technique to analyse opaque 'brown' packaging tapes, it was found that colour was an effective way to discriminate between different adhesive tape samples. However, unitial results showed that the analysis of colour in packaging tapes was more complex than assigning seminsubjective names to particular hues (e.g. light brown, greenm brown etc). Instead, samples in the population often differed only slightly from one another and hence proved difficult to categorise. Thus, a database or analyst must avoid using such 'discrete' labels and instead make use of 'continuous' numerical data. Here, CIELab chromaticity coordinates were used to define representative colour spaces for each tape sample and these were then compared to determine whether two such volumes intersected. This process would decide whether or not the sampes could be discriminated. While several sets of data were compared, further work needs to be carried out into the consistency of colour within single rolls of tape or batches of tape.
Raymond, JJ, van Oorschot, RAH, Walsh, SJ & Roux, C 2008, 'Trace DNA analysis: Do you know what your neighbour is doing?', Forensic Science International: Genetics, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 19-28.
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Since 1997 the analysis of DNA recovered from handled objects or 'trace' DNA has become routine and is frequently demanded from crime scene examinations. However, this anlaysis often produces unpredictable results. The factors affecting the recovery of full profiles are numerous and include varying methods of collectiona nd analysis. Communication between forensic laboratories in Australia and New Zealand has been limited in the past due in some part to sheet distance. Because of its relatively small population and low number of forensic jurisdictions this region is in an excelllent position to provide a collective approach. However, the protocols training methods and research of each jurisdiction had not been widely exchanged. A survey was developed to benchmark the current practices involved in trace DNA analysis, aiming to provide information for training programs and research directions, and to identy factors contributing to the success or failure of the analysis.
Raymond, JJ, Walsh, SJ, van Oorschot, RAH, Gunn, PR, Evans, L & Roux, C 2008, 'Assessing trace DNA evidence from a residential burglary: Abundance, transfer and persistence', Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 442-443.
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ROUX, C 2008, 'La communauté juive de Tarascon au XVe siècle', Revue des Études Juives, vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 511-569.
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Salama, J, Aumeer-Donovan, S, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2008, 'Evaluation of the fingermark reagent oil red O as a possible replacement for physical developer', Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 203-237.
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This study further evaluates a relatively new fingermark reagent, Oil Red O (ORO), for its potential to be used as a replacement for, or in sequence with, physical developer (PD). A preliminary evaluation of the existing ORO reagent on a number of different porous substrates produced fingermarks with excellent ridge detail and contrast. Attempts were made to reformulate the ORO reagent to improve its application. During these trials, sodium hydroxide was found to be an essential component of the reagent. None of the reformulated ORO reagents developed fingermarks as well as the existing ORO formulation. A comparison of fingermarks developed with ORO and PD on a variety of different porous surfaces indicated that ORO performance appeared to be compromised to a greater extent than PD by the age of the fingermark and the immersion time in water. ORO produced inferior results to PD on fingermarks older than approximately 4 weeks. ORO produced good-quality fingermarks when placed in sequence with PD and HFE-7100/HFC-4310mee formulations of DFO, ninhydrin (followed by secondary metal salt treatment with zinc), and 1,2-indandione-zinc. Selectivity studies revealed that ORO interacts with a wide variety of both water-soluble and water-insoluble compounds that may be present in latent fingermark deposits.
Walsh, SJ, Buckleton, JS, Ribaux, O, Roux, C & Raymond, T 2008, 'Comparing the growth and effectiveness of forensic DNA databases', Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 667-668.
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