Synthesis, characterisation and detection of γ-hydroxybutyrate salts

Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium salts of gamma-hydroxybutyrate have been synthesised from gamma-butyrolactone and the corresponding group 1 or 2 hydroxide. Although the group 2 salts are non-hygroscopic, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis revealed them to be hydrated. X-ray powder diffraction was found to be a quick, non-destructive method of discriminating between the four salts. The Smith and the chlorophenol red/modified Schweppes reagent presumptive colour tests gave positive results regardless of the salt tested. Microcrystalline tests for NaGHB were in accordance with previous literature reports, but results for the other three salts were not reliable.     

LESSENING THE STING OF ASFA: THE REHABILITATION‐RELAPSE DILEMMA BROUGHT ABOUT BY DRUG ADDICTION AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

Congress passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) as a response to children waiting in foster homes for years without permanent placement. In addressing the problem of permanency, however, Congress set a strict limit on how long a child could be in foster care (15 out of the most recent 22 months) before a state must either commence a proceeding to terminate parental rights or else lose valuable federal funding. Due to health care funding schemes and quality of treatment, this requirement, in particular, negatively impacts parents currently in drug rehabilitation whose parental rights may be permanently terminated before a realistic chance to recover is permitted. Although ASFA requires that states make “reasonable efforts” to keep families united, it does not define “reasonable efforts,” leaving parental rights and family unity subject to a chaotic interpretation of this requirement from state to state. “Reasonable efforts” should be interpreted to take into account current drug addiction and recovery research and drug court programs should be used to facilitate this goal. Research has shown that focusing on adequate treatment saves states money and improves the lives of children and their families, reducing the need for reliance on termination of parental rights.     

The spectroscopic detection of exogenous material in fingerprints after development with powders and recovery with adhesive lifters

The application of powders to fingerprints has long been established as an effective and reliable method for developing latent fingerprints. The powders adhere to the ridge pattern of the fingerprint only, thus allowing the image to be visualised. Fingerprints developed in situ at a crime scene routinely undergo lifting with specialist tapes to facilitate subsequent laboratory analysis. As with all recovered evidence these samples would be stored in evidence bags to allow secure transit from the scene to the laboratory and also to preserve the chain of evidence. In this paper, the application of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of exogenous material in latent fingerprints is reported for contaminated fingerprints that had been treated with powders and also subsequently lifted with adhesive tapes. A selection of over the counter (OTC) analgesics were used as samples for the analysis and contaminated fingerprints were deposited on clean glass slides. The application of aluminium or iron based powders to contaminated fingerprints did not interfere with the Raman spectra obtained for the contaminants. In most cases background fluorescence attributed to the sebaceous content of the latent fingerprint was reduced by the application of the powder thus reducing spectral interference. Contaminated fingerprints developed with powders and then lifted with lifting tapes were also examined. The combination of these two techniques did not interfere with the successful analysis of exogenous contaminants by Raman spectroscopy. The lifting process was repeated using hinge lifters. As the hinge lifters exhibited strong Raman bands the spectroscopic analysis was more complex and an increase in the number of exposures to the detector allowed for improved clarification. Raman spectra of developed and lifted fingerprints recorded through evidence bags were obtained and it was found that the detection process was not compromised in any way. Although the application of powders did not interfere with the detection process the time taken to locate the contaminant was increased due to the physical presence of more material within the fingerprint. The presence of interfering Raman bands from lifting tapes is another potential complication. This, however, could be removed by spectral subtraction or by the choice of lifting tapes that have only weak Raman bands.