Aitken, C, Berger, CEH, Buckleton, JS, Champod, C, Curran, J, Dawid, AP, Evett, IW, Gill, P, Gonzalez-Rodriguez, J, Jackson, G, Kloosterman, A, Lovelock, T, Lucy, D, Margot, P, McKenna, L, Meuwly, D, Neumann, C, Daeid, NN, Nordgaard, A, Puch-Solis, R, Rasmusson, B, Redmayne, M, Roberts, P, Robertson, B, Roux, C, Sjerps, MJ, Taroni, F, Tjin-A-Tsoi, T, Vignaux, GA, Willis, SM & Zadora, G 2011, 'Expressing evaluative opinions: A position statement', SCIENCE & JUSTICE, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 1-2.
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Allsop, DJ, Norberg, MM, Copeland, J, Fu, S & Budney, AJ 2011, 'The Cannabis Withdrawal Scale development: Patterns and predictors of cannabis withdrawal and distress', DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, vol. 119, no. 1-2, pp. 123-129.
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Background Rates of treatment seeking for cannabis are increasing, and relapse is common. Management of cannabis withdrawal is an important intervention point. No psychometrically sound measure for cannabis withdrawal exists, and as a result treatment developments cannot be optimally targeted. The aim is to develop and test the psychometrics of the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale and use it to explore predictors of cannabis withdrawal. Methods A volunteer sample of 49 dependent cannabis users provided daily scores on the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale during a baseline week and 2 weeks of abstinence. Results Internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91), testretest stability (average intra-class correlation = 0.95) and content validity analysis show that the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale has excellent psychometric properties. Nightmares and/or strange dreams was the most valid item (Wald ?2 = 105.6, P < 0.0001), but caused relatively little associated distress (Wald ?2 = 25.11, P = 0.03). Angry outbursts were considered intense (Wald ?2 = 73.69, P < 0.0001) and caused much associated distress (Wald ?2 = 45.54, P < 0.0001). Trouble getting to sleep was also an intense withdrawal symptom (Wald ?2 = 42.31, P < 0.0001) and caused significant associated distress (Wald ?2 = 47.76, P < 0.0001). Scores on the Severity of Dependence Scale predicted cannabis withdrawal. Conclusions The Cannabis Withdrawal Scale can be used as a diagnostic instrument in clinical and research settings where regular monitoring of withdrawal symptoms is required.
Bossers, LCAM, Roux, C, Bell, M & McDonagh, AM 2011, 'Methods for the enhancement of fingermarks in blood', Forensic Science International, vol. 210, no. 1-3, pp. 1-11.
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Fingermarks formed in or by blood often require specific development techniques. This review examines techniques and materials that may be used to enhance and record fingermarks deposited in blood or fingermarks generated by blood-contaminated papillary ridges. A large number of techniques are presented here and are discussed from a chemical as well as practical perspective. It is concluded that an optimized sequence of techniques targeting both latent (non-bloody) and bloody fingermarks must be applied to detect and enhance the maximum number of marks, and therefore optimize the information content from exhibits that may bear marks in blood. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Chadwick, S, Maynard, P, Kirkbride, P, Lennard, C, Spindler, X & Roux, C 2011, 'Use of Styryl 11 and STaR 11 for the Luminescence Enhancement of Cyanoacrylate-Developed Fingermarks in the Visible and Near-Infrared Regions', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 1505-1513.
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Abstract: In current casework, most post-cyanoacrylate stains rely on luminescence emission in the visible region (400-700nm). While traditional stains such as rhodamine 6G work well under most circumstances, some surfaces may generate background luminescence under the same conditions. Detection in the near-infrared region (NIR>700nm) has shown to be effective in minimizing the interferences from such surfaces. The laser dye styryl 11 generated strongly luminescent fingermarks when applied after cyanoacrylate fuming on all surfaces tested. When compared to rhodamine 6G, the dye was superior only when viewed in the NIR. Styryl 11 was subsequently combined with rhodamine 6G, and the mixed stain formulation (named StaR 11 by the authors) induced stronger luminescence compared with styryl 11 alone with an ability to visualize in both the visible and NIR regions. Reliable and consistent results were obtained when using either styryl 11 alone or the STaR 11 mixture. The enhancement achieved did not otherwise vary depending on the source of the fingermark secretions. With visualization possible in both the visible and NIR regions, the styryl 11/rhodamine 6G mixture showed significant potential as a post-cyanoacrylate stain. © 2011 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Colella, M, Parkinson, A, Evans, T, Robertson, J & Roux, C 2011, 'The Effect of Ionizing Gamma Radiation on Natural and Synthetic Fibers and Its Implications for the Forensic Examination of Fiber Evidence', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 591-605.
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Circumstances of criminal activities involving radioactive materials may mean fiber evidence recovered from a crime scene could have been exposed to materials emitting ionizing radiation. The consequences of radiation exposed fibers on the result of the
Fu, S, Molnar, A, Bowron, P, Lewis, J & Wang, H 2011, 'Reduction of temazepam to diazepam and lorazepam to delorazepam during enzymatic hydrolysis', ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, vol. 400, no. 1, pp. 153-164.
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It has been previously reported that treatment of urinary oxazepam by commercial β-glucuronidase enzyme preparations, from Escherichia coli, Helix pomatia and Patella vulgata, results in production of nordiazepam (desmethyldiazepam) artefact. In this study, we report that this unusual reductive transformation also occurs in other benzodiazepines with a hydroxyl group at the C3 position such as temazepam and lorazepam. As determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, all three enzyme preparations were found capable of converting urinary temazepam into diazepam following enzymatic incubation and subsequent liquid-liquid extraction procedures. For example, when H. pomatia enzymes were used with incubation conditions of 18 h and 50 °C, the percentage conversion, although small, was significant-approximately 1% (0.59-1.54%) in both patient and spiked blank urines. Similarly, using H. pomatia enzyme under these incubation conditions, a reductive transformation of urinary lorazepam into delorazepam (chlordesmethyldiazepam) occurred. These findings have both clinical and forensic implications. Detection of diazepam or delorazepam in biological samples following enzyme treatment should be interpreted with care. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
Fung, TC, Grimwood, K, Shimmon, R, Spindler, X, Maynard, P, Lennard, C & Roux, C 2011, 'Investigation of hydrogen cyanide generation from the cyanoacrylate fuming process used for latent fingermark detection', FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, vol. 212, no. 1-3, pp. 143-149.
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Cyanoacrylate fuming is one of the most common techniques employed for the detection of latent fingermarks on non-porous surfaces such as plastic and glass. The technique is generally applied by exposing items of interest to the vapours generated by heating a suitable quantity of commercial cyanoacrylate adhesive. In this study, the potential for highly toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to be generated from the overheating of cyanoacrylate was investigated. Two commercial cyanoacrylate adhesives and two quantitative methods for the determination of HCN were employed: (i) the sodium picrate method; and (ii) the picrate-resorcinol method. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis was used to confirm the presence of cyanide. In addition, the thermal decomposition of cyanoacrylate was studied using simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA). It was determined that detectable and quantifiable amounts of HCN were generated from the thermal decomposition of cyanoacrylate monomer and polymer at temperatures as low as 200°C. Using an optimised picrate-resorcinol method, it was shown that around 10μg of HCN could be generated from the heating of 1g of cyanoacrylate monomer at 200°C. For one of the adhesives tested, this increased to above 100μg of HCN when 1g of cyanoacrylate monomer was heated at 280°C. Recommendations are provided that, if followed, should ensure that the cyanoacrylate fuming process can be safely applied with minimal risk to the operator. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Hoile, R, Banos, C, Colella, M & Roux, C 2011, 'Bioterrorism: The effects of biological decontamination on the recovery of electronic evidence', FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, vol. 209, no. 1-3, pp. 143-148.
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The investigation of a bioterrorism event will ultimately lead to the collection of vital data from electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones. This project sought to determine the use of gamma irradiation and formaldehyde gas as effective biological decontaminants, and the effect of these methods on the recovery of electronic evidence. Electronic items were contaminated with viable spores and then exposed to both decontaminants. Log values for each matrix were calculated with flash drives recording the highest value of 566 Gy for gamma irradiation and a maximum of 50 min exposure to formaldehyde saw the effective destruction of spores. The results indicate that recovery of data varied based on the decontaminant selected, formaldehyde gas giving the most promising results, with electronic data recovered after the required exposure time. Gamma irradiation proved damaging to electronic circuitry at levels required to render the items safe. The implications to computer intelligence and forensics will be discussed based on the outcomes of these findings.
Houck, MM, Robertson, J, Found, B, Kobus, H, Lewis, S, Raymond, M, Reedy, P, Ross, A, Roux, C & Vining, R 2011, 'A Round Table Discussion on Forensic Science in Australia', Forensic Science Policy & Management: An International Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 44-54.
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Jamieson, A, Bader, S, Meakin, G & Mullen, C 2011, 'Two-, three-, and four-person mixtures in forensic casework: difficulties and questions', Croatian Medical Journal, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 653-654.
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Julian, RD, Kelty, SF, Roux, C, Woodman, P, Robertson, J, Davey, A, Hayes, R, Margot, P, Ross, A, Sibly, H & White, R 2011, 'What is the value of forensic science? An overview of the effectiveness of forensic science in the Australian criminal justice system project', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 217-229.
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Forensic science is increasingly relied upon by law enforcement to assist in solving crime and gaining convictions, and by the judicial system in the adjudication of specific criminal cases. However, the value of forensic science relative to the work involved and the outcome of cases has yet to be established in the Australian context. Previous research in this area has mainly focused on the science and technology, rather than examining how people can use forensic services/science to the best possible advantage to produce appropriate justice outcomes. This five-year project entails an investigation into the effectiveness of forensic science in police investigations and court trials. It aims to identify when, where and how forensic science can add value to criminal investigations, court trials and justice outcomes while ensuring the efficient use of available resources initially in the Victorian and the ACT criminal justice systems and ultimately across Australia and New Zealand. This paper provides an overview of the rationale and aims of the research project and discusses current work-in-progress.
Lloyd, A, Blanes, L, Beavis, A, Roux, C & Doble, P 2011, 'A rapid method for the in-field analysis of amphetamines employing the Agilent Bioanalyzer', ANALYTICAL METHODS, vol. 3, no. 7, pp. 1535-1539.
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This paper reports the first analysis of small molecules on the Agilent bio-analyser. The Bioanalyzer is a commercial lab-on-a-chip instrument designed for the analysis of DNA and proteins. We demonstrate that the instrument is suitable for analyses beyond its design specifications. Amphetamine, methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine were separated with a 50 mM borate and 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer at pH 9.66. The analytes were derivatised with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in 3 minutes with a heating block set at 90°C, reducing the typical time of 12 hours required for amine-labelling. Analytes were detected by LED-induced fluorescence (λ = 525 nm and λ = 470 nm). Furthermore, five amphetamine analogues were baseline separated within 1 minute. An average limit of detection of 0.6 mg mL -1 and limit of quantification of 2.2μ mg mL-1 were obtained for all analytes. These rapid analyses in conjunction with a fast and reliable derivatisation method with FITC demonstrate its potential use for the in-field analysis of samples of forensic significance. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Ma, R, Bullock, E, Maynard, P, Reedy, B, Shimmon, R, Lennard, C, Roux, C & McDonagh, A 2011, 'Fingermark detection on non-porous and semi-porous surfaces using NaYF4:Er,Yb up-converter particles', FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, vol. 207, no. 1-3, pp. 145-149.
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This article describes the first use of an anti-Stokes material, or up-converter, for the development of latent fingermarks on a range of non-porous surfaces. Anti-Stokes materials can absorb long-wavelength light and emit light at a shorter wavelength. This property is unusual in both natural and artificial materials and so fingermark detection techniques based on anti-Stokes luminescence are potentially sensitive and selective. Latent fingermarks on luminescent and non-luminescent substrates, including Australian polymer banknotes (a well-known 'difficult' surface), were developed with sodium yttrium tetrafluoride doped with erbium and ytterbium (NaYF4:Er,Yb) by dry powder, wet powder, and cyanoacrylate staining techniques. This study illustrates the potential of up-converter phosphors for the detection of latent fingermarks. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
McNevin, D, Bate, A, Daniel, R & Walsh, SJ 2011, 'A preliminary mitochondrial DNA SNP genotyping assay for inferring genealogy', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 39-51.
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Raymond, J, van Oorschot, RAH, Walsh, SJ, Gunn, PR & Roux, CP 2011, 'How far have we come with trace DNA since 2004? The Australian and New Zealand experience', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 231-244.
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In 2004, a survey was sent to forensic organisations in every jurisdiction in Australia and New Zealand, benchmarking practices in relation to trace DNA analysis. Concerning issues were identified such as a lack of standard training protocols, little ongoing training or proficiency testing, and poor information gathering and sharing. To assess the changes occurring in the five years since this survey, a follow-up was devised and distributed to the same organisations in early 2009. Seventy-seven surveys were received from persons active in the field of trace DNA including crime scene and laboratory personnel, and managers. The major difference noted between the two surveys was the implementation of new technologies, primarily robotic automation and subsequent changes in extraction methodology. Disappointingly, training, research and proficiency test levels were still found to be lacking, a concern given the findings of recent international forensic reviews. A major deficiency still noted from the 2004 survey was the absence of effective data management systems, indicating that the wider intelligence-led application of this evidence is not fully utilised. Reviewing the methods and processes of the dissemination of forensic data in the policing environment has the potential to broaden its application to crime prevention strategies
Roux, C 2011, 'Forensic science – A teenager in identity crisis?', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 43, no. 2-3, pp. 79-83.
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In contrast with its high pro?le in popular culture, forensic science has been increasingly challenged in recent years. As reminded by Crispino et al. in this issue, forensic scientists have variously been labelled `craftsmen, accused of carrying `a misleading title, of having `no understanding of scienti?c methodology, of issuing `clearly absurd or `preposterous conclusions of individualisation, and practising a marginal, pseudo- if not junk-science. Unsurprisingly, these views are not shared by everyone. It is also obvious that such challenges and comments have been more common in the USA, especially in the post-Daubert and post-NAS eras than in Australia and in New Zealand. However, such criticisms cannot remain unheard by those involved in forensic science. The Antipodean, and indeed worldwide, forensic science community must consider these criticisms with all the rigor and seriousness that we should expect from a con?dent, mature and distinctive scienti?c discipline. But in all truth, despite the goodwill demonstrated by its individual practitioners, is forensic science really such a discipline?
Spindler, X, Hofstetter, O, McDonagh, AM, Roux, C & Lennard, C 2011, 'Enhancement of latent fingermarks on non-porous surfaces using anti-L-amino acid antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles', CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 47, no. 19, pp. 5602-5604.
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Enantioselective anti-l-amino acid antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles are shown to facilitate the detection of latent fingermarks by interacting with amino acids present in friction ridge secretions. This antibody-based system is particularly effective for the enhancement of aged and dried fingermarks on non-porous surfaces, an area unexploited by current techniques. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Spindler, X, Shimmon, R, Roux, C & Lennard, C 2011, 'The effect of zinc chloride, humidity and the substrate on the reaction of 1,2-indanedione-zinc with amino acids in latent fingermark secretions', FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, vol. 212, no. 1-3, pp. 150-157.
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Anecdotal evidence from forensic practitioners and studies conducted under controlled conditions have indicated that the reaction between 1,2-indanedione and the amino acids present in latent fingermark deposits is highly susceptible to ambient humidity. The addition of catalytic amounts of zinc chloride to the 1,2-indanedione working solution - usually in the order of 1:25 to 1:4 molar ratio (indanedione:zinc) - significantly improves the colour and luminescence of fingermarks treated under dry conditions but appears to have a negligible effect on fingermarks treated in humid environments. The results presented in this paper confirmed that zinc(II) ions added to the 1,2-indanedione working solution act as a Lewis acid catalyst, stabilising a key intermediate during a rate-limiting hydrolysis step. Furthermore, studying the reaction using a chromatography-grade cellulose substrate method previously reported confirmed that cellulose substrates play a major role in facilitating the indanedione-amino acid reaction by acting as a surface catalyst in the early stages of the reaction and by directing the formation of the desired luminescent product (Joullié's Pink). © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Szewcow, R, Robertson, J & Roux, CP 2011, 'The influence of front-loading and top-loading washing machines on the persistence, redistribution and secondary transfer of textile fibres during laundering', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 263-273.
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This study investigated the influence of several factors on the redistribution of extraneous textile fibres on garments during machine washing. Cotton T-shirts were seeded with known numbers of acrylic, wool and viscose target fibres in controlled positions and laundered in top- and front-loading machines, both individually and accompanied by undergarments. The persistence of target fibres was low (generally <10%), but never zero. Between 50% and 100% of recovered fibres were redistributed away from the primary contact area. A secondary transfer of target fibres always occurred to at least one undergarment, 90% of experiments resulting in fibres transferred to the inside surface of the undergarments. This implies that whilst valuable fibre evidence may be recovered from garments after machine washing, the location of recovered fibres should not be relied upon to corroborate alleged scenarios when it is known or suspected that the garment under investigation has been laundered.
Wallman, J, Roux, C & Lennard, C 2011, 'Supplement', Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 75-138.
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Weyermann, C, Roux, C & Champod, C 2011, 'Initial Results on the Composition of Fingerprints and its Evolution as a Functionof Time by GC/MS Analysis', JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 102-108.
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Determining the time since deposition of fingermarks may prove necessary to assess their relevance to criminal investigations. The crucial factor is the initial composition of fingermarks, because it represents the starting point of any aging model. This study mainly aimed to characterize the initial composition of fingerprints, which show a high variability between donors (inter-variability), but also to investigate the variations among fingerprints from the same donor (intra-variability). Solutions to reduce this initial variability using squalene and cholesterol as target compounds are proposed and should be further investigated. The influence of substrates was also evaluated, and the initial composition was observed to be larger on porous surface than nonporous surfaces. Preliminary aging of fingerprints over 30 days was finally studied on a porous and a nonporous substrate to evaluate the potential for dating of fingermarks. Squalene was observed to decrease in a faster rate on a nonporous substrate. 2010 American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Published 2010. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the U.S.A.
