Use of a solid absorbent and an accelerant detection canine for the detection of ignitable liquids burned in a structure fire

ABSTRACT: Ignitable Liquid Absorbent^™ (ILA), a commercial solid absorbent intended to assist fire scene investigators in sample location and collection, has been field tested in three separate room fires. The ability of the ILA to detect and absorb different amounts of gasoline, odorless paint thinner, and camp fuel on two different substrates after a full-scale burn was assessed against results from an accelerant detection canine and laboratory analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The canine correctly alerted on most of the panels that contained an ignitable liquid after the fire, while the ILA indicator dye failed to indicate in the presence of gasoline and camp fuel. GC-MS results for ignitable liquid residue from each panel and from the ILA showed that ILA absorbed odorless paint thinner and camp fuel from most of the test panels, but failed to absorb gasoline from the panels on which gasoline was confirmed to be present.     

Phylogeographic investigations: the role of trees in forensic genetics

The human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome is commonly analyzed in various disciplines, such as population, medical, and forensic genetics, but conceptual and scientific exchange between them is still limited. Here we review several aspects of the mtDNA phylogeny that are particularly--but not exclusively--of interest to the forensic community. Among the issues that arise, we emphasize the importance of integrating evolutionary concepts into the forensic routine. We also discuss topics such as mtDNA mutation-rate heterogeneity and the weight of evidence, ethnic affiliations of mtDNA profiles, and the abuse of reference databases. Finally, we show the usefulness of coding-region variation in a forensic context.     

Extracting Concealed Information from Groups*

Abstract: Lie detection procedures are typically aimed at determining guilt or innocence of a single suspect. Serious security threats, however, often involve groups, such as terrorist networks or criminal organizations. In this report, we describe a variant of the skin conductance‐based Concealed Information Test (CIT) that allows for the extraction of critical information from such groups. Twelve participants were given information about an upcoming (mock) terrorist attack, with specific instructions not to reveal this information to anyone. Next, each subject was subjected to a CIT, with questions pertaining to the details of the attack. Results showed that for every question, the average skin conductance response to the correct answer option differed significantly (p < 0.05) from those to all other options. These results show that the information about the upcoming attack could be extracted from the group of terror suspects as a whole.     

职务犯罪侦查监督制约新模式下的侦查措施改良

《律师法》实施全面拓展了律师会见权与调查取证权,强化了对职务犯罪侦查的监督制约,也对职务犯罪侦查措施提出了全新的要求。必须从把职务犯罪情报机制建设作为一项重要基础工作、作为扭转职务犯罪侦查工作被动局面的战略措施这一高度上来认识,转变观念、增强情报工作意识。反贪部门在不断提高工作水平的同时,有必要积极建议立法机关合理地配备特殊侦查措施,应对新形势下的办案压力。     

Decomposing Human Blood: Canine Detection Odor Signature and Volatile Organic Compounds

The admissibility of human “odor mortis” discrimination in courts depends on the lack of comprehension of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the human decay process and of the lack in standardized procedures in training cadaver dogs. Blood was collected from four young people who died from traffic accidents and analyzed using HS‐SPME/GC‐MS at different decompositional stages. Two dogs, professionally trained, were tested to exactly locate blood samples, for each time point of the experiment. We found a long list of VOCs which varied from fresh to decomposed blood samples, showing differences in specific compounds. Dog performance showed a positive predictive value between 98.96% and 100% for DOG A, and between 99.47% and 100% for DOG B. Our findings demonstrated that decomposing human blood is a good source of VOCs and a good target for canine training.     

Detection and Identification of Explosive Particles in Fingerprints Using Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectromicroscopy

Abstract:  The application of attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy for detection of explosive particles in fingerprints is described. The combined functions of ATR-FTIR spectromicroscopy are visual searching of particles in fingerprints and measuring the FTIR spectra of the particles. These functions make it possible to directly identify whether a suspect has handled explosives from the fingerprints alone. Particles in explosive contaminated fingerprints are either ingredients of the explosives, finger residues, or other foreign materials. These cannot normally be discriminated by their morphology alone. ATR-FTIR spectra can provide both particle morphology and composition. Fingerprints analyzed by ATR-FTIR can be used for further analysis and identification because of its non-destructive character. Fingerprints contaminated with three different types of explosives, or potential explosives, have been analyzed herein. An infrared spectral library was searched in order to identify the explosive residues. The acquired spectra are compared to those of finger residue alone, in order to differentiate such residue from explosive residue.     

大熊猫轮状病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBank中登录的大熊猫轮状病毒(RV)VP7基因序列,设计了1对特异性引物,建立了快速检测大熊猫RV的RT-PCR方法.用该方法对MA-104细胞增殖的大熊猫RV进行RT-PCR扩增,结果得到与试验设计相符的342 bp的特异性扩增条带,而对传染性胃肠炎病毒、大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的扩增结果为阴性.测序比对结果证实该体系检测结果准确;该方法最低可检测出约1 pg的病毒核酸;重复性试验结果显示,其检测重复性好,提示该RT-PCR方法可用于大熊猫RV的临床快速检测.     

食品中沙门氏菌DNA环介导等温扩增快速检测方法的建立

根据沙门氏菌属高度保守的fimY基因序列设计了2对特异性引物,采用环介导等温扩增方法(LAMP)建立了食品中沙门氏菌的LAMP快速检测方法。结果表明,建立的LAMP方法具有高度特异性,经对40种共68株细菌进行扩增,所试32株沙门氏菌均为LAMP阳性,其他菌株为LAMP阴性。建立的LAMP方法对培养的沙门氏菌的检测灵敏度为5CFU/管,对污染食品中沙门氏菌的检测灵敏度为9CFU/管,60min内即可完成检测。用建立的LAMP方法对802份肉类、蛋、奶及其制品和动物腹泻物、人工污染样品等进行检测,共检出165份LAMP阳性样本,与国标(GB/T4789.4-2008)方法的检测结果一致。建立的LAMP方法操作简便、特异性强、灵敏度高,具有良好的实用性。     

论我国刑事侦查的公正与效率目标

刑事侦查作为刑事司法活动的重要组成部分,必然要追求公正与效率的目标.在新时期经济市场化、法制现代化进程背景下,追求公正与效率是新时期刑事侦查工作的主题,分析公正与效率目标在刑事侦查中的体现,应当加强侦查制度改革,实现公正与效率目标.     

HPLC-UVD/FLD法测定血中氟乙酸类杀鼠剂

目的采用水相催化衍生化-液相色谱-紫外/荧光检测分析法,检测血中氟乙酸类杀鼠剂。方法血样经乙腈沉淀蛋白后,加入衍生化试剂4-溴甲基-7-甲氧基香豆素、催化剂四丁基溴化铵,在80℃水浴中衍生化反应120min,衍生产采用液相色谱-紫外/荧光检测分析。结果紫外检测法:氟乙酸根浓度在0.38～38.50μg/mL之间线性关系良好,最低检出限为0.10μg/mL;荧光检测法:氟乙酸根浓度在0.15～15.40μg/mL之间线性关系良好,最低检出限为0.050μg/mL。结论水相催化衍生化-液相色谱-紫外/荧光检测分析方法具有较好的灵敏度、准确性和精密度,可用于实际案例检测。