Age determination of blood spots in forensic medicine by force spectroscopy

We present a new tool for the estimation of the age of bloodstains, which could probably be used during forensic casework. For this, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) for high-resolution imaging of erythrocytes in a blood sample and the detection of elasticity changes on a nanometer scale. For the analytic procedure we applied a fresh blood spot on a glass slide and started the AFM detection after drying of the blood drop. In a first step, an overview image was generated showing the presence of several red blood cells, which could easily be detected due to their typical "doughnut-like" appearance. The consecutively morphological investigations in a timeframe of 4 weeks could not show any alterations. Secondly, AFM was used to test the elasticity by recording force-distance curves. The measurements were performed immediately after drying, 1.5 h, 30 h and 31 days. The conditions were kept constant at room temperature (20 degrees C) and a humidity of 30%. The obtained elasticity parameters were plotted against a timeline and repeated several times. The elasticity pattern showed a decrease over time, which are most probably influenced by the alteration of the blood spot during the drying and coagulation process. The preliminary data demonstrates the capacity of this method to use it for development of calibration curves, which can be used for estimation of bloodstain ages during forensic investigations.     

Diary of an astronaut: examination of the remains of the late Israeli astronaut Colonel Ilan Ramon's Crew Notebook recovered after the loss of NASA's space shuttle Columbia

Two months after the fatal re-entering into the Earth's atmosphere of Columbia flight STS-107, the remains of Israeli astronaut Colonel Ilan Ramon's Crew Notebook were found strewn in a field in San Augustine County, TX. The random pile of papers was found to have survived the calamity of the Shuttle's disintegration remarkably well. Most of the papers recovered were torn and/or washed out to varying degrees but only mildly charred around the edges. The sheets of paper could be categorized into four groups: Group I: eight sides of paper written while in space in black ink and in pencil--Ramon's personal diary; the writing on these eight sides of paper survived well and is only missing where the pages were torn. Small fragments found in the field were physically matched to holes in the pages thus locating their original positions in the text. Group II: six sides of technical preparation notes written by Ramon before the mission. The writing on these pages was washed out entirely, but much of it was visualized using infrared luminescence. Group III: eight sides of personal notes prepared by Ramon before the mission written in blue ink. The writing on these pages was barely visible to the naked eye and not visualized by infrared luminescence, but was made largely legible by digital enhancement imaging. Group IV: a few sides of printed technical information. These pages were mostly intact and were not examined at length as they contained standard printed material. After completion of examinations at the Questioned Document Laboratory of the Israel Police, the diary was transferred to the Paper Conservation Department of the Israel Museum for preservation and strengthening treatments.     

近红外照相显现深色衣料上血迹的实验研究

目的运用近红外反射照相技术,显现深色衣料上的全血及稀释血迹。方法取单个体人全血,用纯净水分别以1∶4、1∶8、1∶16、1∶32比例稀释,并立即将稀释血及全血分别滴落在10种组份共21块深色衣料上,使其自然干燥形成血迹,用普通数码相机及专业红外数码相机,分别对血迹进行拍照获取彩色图像及红外黑白图像。结果红外照相显现血迹优于彩色图像;不同衣料相同浓度稀释血迹的红外图像存在差异;相同衣料不同浓度血迹的红外图像亦有所不同。结论近红外红外照相可以很好地显现深色衣料上的血迹,血迹的红外图像形状有助于判断是否为稀释血液所形成;血液浓度对红外显现结果的影响较大。     

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.     

Application of Raman Spectroscopy and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering to the Analysis of Synthetic Dyes Found in Ballpoint Pen Inks*

Abstract: The applicability of Raman spectroscopy and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to the analysis of synthetic dyes commonly found in ballpoint inks was investigated in a comparative study. Spectra of 10 dyes were obtained using a dispersive system (633 nm, 785 nm lasers) and a Fourier transform system (1064 nm laser) under different analytical conditions (e.g., powdered pigments, solutions, thin layer chromatography [TLC] spots). While high fluorescence background and poor spectral quality often characterized the normal Raman spectra of the dyes studied, SERS was found to be generally helpful. Additionally, dye standards and a single ballpoint ink were developed on a TLC plate following a typical ink analysis procedure. SERS spectra were successfully collected directly from the TLC plate, thus demonstrating a possible forensic application for the technique.     

对公安院校正规化建设理念的思考

公安工作与公安教育并非简单的领导与被领导、实践与理论之间的关系,而是互为发展资源、相互滋养的共生关系;公安工作的深度发展、跨越式发展势必依靠公安教育。存在于公安工作中问题的实质是在源头上缺乏对公安教育的战略审视,公安院校正规化建设必须在公安教育与公安工作互惠共生、交互融合的基础上展开。     

死后离体人肝组织的激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱分析

目的观察和探讨人死后肝组织细胞激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱的变化规律及其与死亡时间的关系。方法离体肝组织于死后48～72h内每隔4h提取样品,采用激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱技术进行检测。观察800cm-1～3 200cm-1范围内检测样本特征峰的变化,指认其对应的化学基团,选择强度比值I1094/I2923作为响应值,并进行统计学计算。结果在48～72h内,随时间的延长,肝组织细胞主要散射峰峰位无明显变化,而其峰强度有明显差异;与核酸有关的峰（1 094cm-1）强度随时间推移有明显下降;与脂类有关的峰（1 454cm-1、2 923cm-1）强度变化不明显;各相对峰强（I1094/I2923）随死亡时间的推移而减小,并得到回归方程（r=0.914）。结论人死后肝组织细胞DNA降解随死亡时间延长呈下降趋势,I1094/I2923值与PMI呈负线性关系。激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱技术有望成为推断死亡时间的检测方法。     

书写材料的红外区吸收与发光的研究

介绍了书写材料在红外波段吸收与发光的实验研究结果,发现对于书写材料其最佳激发波段恰好是反射曲线中的吸收峰.橙红色光的激发效果很好,拓宽了激发光的范围.     

红外光谱在刑事案件中的应用

目的针对各类案件繁多的物证检材,结合实验室的工作范围、特点,积累适用的商品材料光谱图[1],切合实际、提高工作效率.方法选择生活中常见的多组分材料采用FTIR分析方法.结果将其制作成标准谱图,作为案件的参照物进行比对.结论该方法在刑事案件鉴定中取得了良好的效果.     

傅里叶红外光谱技术在法医学脑挫裂伤鉴定中的应用展望

脑挫裂伤是常见的一类颅脑损伤,单纯的组织病理学技术可能难以早期发现及精确诊断。傅里叶变换红外面扫描成像技术(FTIR-mapping)是病理学研究领域的新技术,因其结合了傅里叶变换红外光谱、红外显微镜技术以及面扫描成像技术的特点,具有测定方法简便、对样本无损、灵敏度高、准确、直观等优点,突破了传统技术的局限,能检测出发生了物质数量、结构以及构象变化但缺乏明显形态学变化的脑挫裂伤,从而实现早期精准地诊断脑挫裂伤。FTIR-mapping虽已能绘制某些损伤组织的红外光谱病理图像,但其在法医病理学中的价值有待全面深入开发。本文综述了脑挫裂伤的法医病理学研究进展以及傅里叶变换红外面扫描成像技术在法医病理学中的应用。