Developing and Testing a Soil Property Database for Forensic Applications in Southern California

The research sought to develop and test a forensic database of surface soil variability within previously mapped geologic and soil units in southern California. This type of database could be used to link suspects to crime scenes or determine source locations of soil sample evidence. Variability was evaluated using (i) color, (ii) magnetic susceptibility, and (iii) particle‐size distribution. Soil properties were analyzed for their ability to discriminate source areas using stepwise discriminant analysis. The percent correct predictions for geologic unit groups ranged from 30% to 100%. A blind study experiment matched four of the 18 samples to their unit of origin with the first choice by stepwise discriminant analysis, and eight were matched as second and third choices. The probability of selecting the appropriate unit of origin increased by 54% over random chance and eliminated as much as 99% of the field area as a potential search location.     

Source Determination of Red Gel Pen Inks using Raman Spectroscopy and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy combined with Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficients and Principal Component Analysis

The potential combination of two nondestructive techniques, that is, Raman spectroscopy (RS) and attenuated total reflectance–fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy with Pearson's product moment correlation (PPMC) coefficient (r) and principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the actual source of red gel pen ink used to write a simulated threatening note, was examined. Eighteen (18) red gel pens purchased from Japan and Malaysia from November to December 2014 where one of the pens was used to write a simulated threatening note were analyzed using RS and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. The spectra of all the red gel pen inks including the ink deposited on the simulated threatening note gathered from the RS and ATR‐FTIR analyses were subjected to PPMC coefficient (r) calculation and principal component analysis (PCA). The coefficients r = 0.9985 and r = 0.9912 for pairwise combination of RS and ATR‐FTIR spectra respectively and similarities in terms of PC1 and PC2 scores of one of the inks to the ink deposited on the simulated threatening note substantiated the feasibility of combining RS and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy with PPMC coefficient (r) and PCA for successful source determination of red gel pen inks. The development of pigment spectral library had allowed the ink deposited on the threatening note to be identified as XSL Poppy Red (CI Pigment Red 112).     

新型粉末状荧光502熏显手印荧光波段研究

目的运用新型粉末状荧光502可一步显现非渗透性光滑客体表面潜手印。为了选择最佳的激发光源和滤光镜来观察熏显后荧光效果,本文对该粉末的荧光性能进行研究。方法使用荧光光谱仪对新型粉末状荧光502进行激发光谱和发射光谱的测试,进而选择合适的激发光源及滤光镜来进行观察和拍照。结果新型粉末状荧光502的光谱范围较宽,在波长为235nm~580nm范围内均可进行激发,具有广谱性,其中对波长在530nm附近的激发光具有最大峰值,即荧光强度最大,对450nm和360nm附近的光也具有很高的吸收峰值,斯托克斯偏移量为45nm。宏观验证实验表明,在仪器分析所得的范围内,显现出的手印效果均较好。结论运用该粉末在熏显手印后可以在紫外、紫光、蓝光、黄光、绿光范围内进行激发,斯托克斯偏移大,荧光亮度高,在观察荧光效果时能够很好的消除背景荧光的干扰,也便于选择滤光镜。手印荧光效果除了受到熏显物质荧光性能的影响外,还与激发光源的品质、滤光片的透过性能以及检材固有的发光特点、客体表面性质有关。     

The Analysis of Colored Acrylic,Cotton, and Wool Textile Fibers Using Micro‐Raman Spectroscopy. Part 2: Comparison with the Traditional Methods of Fiber Examination

In the second part of this survey, the ability of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to discriminate 180 fiber samples of blue, black, and red cottons, wools, and acrylics was compared to that gathered with the traditional methods for the examination of textile fibers in a forensic context (including light microscopy methods, UV‐vis microspectrophotometry and thin‐layer chromatography). This study shows that the Raman technique plays a complementary and useful role to obtain further discriminations after the application of light microscopy methods and UV‐vis microspectrophotometry and assure the nondestructive nature of the analytical sequence. These additional discriminations were observed despite the lower discriminating powers of Raman data considered individually, compared to those of light microscopy and UV‐vis MSP. This study also confirms that an instrument equipped with several laser lines is necessary for an efficient use as applied to the examination of textile fibers in a forensic setting.     

Rapid and non-destructive approach for characterization and differentiation of sealing wax using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

Sealing wax is used for maintaining the integrity and authenticity of a document or physical evidence. Any tampering with the seal calls into question the overall integrity and authenticity of the tangible evidence or document. In these circumstances, determining the authenticity of the sealing material (physical and chemical) becomes imperative. In this study, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy supported by chemometrics has been used to differentiate sealing wax samples belonging to 12 different brands available across India. All the samples were first melted, cooled, and then analyzed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region (4000–600 cm⁻¹). The obtained spectra were first examined visually for the presence of different functional groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) were employed to analyze the sample clustering patterns and to categorize them into their respective groups, respectively. For classification, a PCA-LDA training model was applied, and it demonstrated 95.83% accuracy. The validation test resulted in an accuracy of 83.33%. PCA-LDA model offered 100% accurate prediction for samples on various substrates, including cloth, cardboard, and paper. A blind study was also performed using five unknown samples, which were accurately classified into their respective groups. PCA-LDA model will be helpful in providing investigative leads by linking a questioned sealing wax sample with its respective group.     

猪肋软骨和肋骨的ATR-FTIR光谱变化与死亡时间的关系

目的应用衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外(attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared,ATRFTIR)光谱技术分析长白猪死后肋软骨和肋骨组织随死亡时间推移的化学降解过程,为死后较长时间段内推断死亡时间提供可行的新途径和方法。方法猪放血处死后取肋软骨和肋骨离体置于20℃环境,后每72 h提取部分组织样本,进行ATR-FTIR光谱分析,并与对应死亡时间点进行相关性分析。结果随死亡时间的延长,肋软骨与肋骨FTIR的主要吸收峰峰位没有发生明显变化,而其部分峰强比出现了不同时序性的变化趋势,并与死亡时间存在良好的相关性,肋软骨较肋骨组织有更好的时序性。结论应用ATRFTIR光谱技术发现死后猪肋软骨和肋骨组织光谱学变化存在一定的规律性,有望成为基于光谱学推断死亡时间的一种新途径。     

Forensic Identification of Blood in the Presence of Contaminations Using Raman Microspectroscopy Coupled with Advanced Statistics: Effect of Sand,Dust, and Soil

Body fluid traces recovered at crime scenes are among the most common and important types of forensic evidence. However, the ability to characterize a biological stain at a crime scene nondestructively has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we expand the Raman spectroscopic approach for the identification of dry traces of pure body fluids to address the problem of heterogeneous contamination, which can impair the performance of conventional methods. The concept of multidimensional Raman signatures was utilized for the identification of blood in dry traces contaminated with sand, dust, and soil. Multiple Raman spectra were acquired from the samples via automatic scanning, and the contribution of blood was evaluated through the fitting quality using spectroscopic signature components. The spatial mapping technique allowed for detection of “hot spots” dominated by blood contribution. The proposed method has great potential for blood identification in highly contaminated samples.     

Direct Analyte‐Probed Nanoextraction Coupled to Nanospray Ionization–Mass Spectrometry of Drug Residues from Latent Fingerprints

Here, we present a method of extracting drug residues from fingerprints via Direct Analyte‐Probed Nanoextraction coupled to nanospray ionization–mass spectrometry (DAPNe‐NSI‐MS). This instrumental technique provides higher selectivity and lower detection limits over current methods, greatly reducing sample preparation, and does not compromise the integrity of latent fingerprints. This coupled to Raman microscopy is an advantageous supplement for location and identification of trace particles. DAPNe uses a nanomanipulator for extraction and differing microscopies for localization of chemicals of interest. A capillary tip with solvent of choice is placed in a nanopositioner. The surface to be analyzed is placed under a microscope, and a particle of interest is located. Using a pressure injector, the solvent is injected onto the surface where it dissolves the analyte, and then extracted back into the capillary tip. The solution is then directly analyzed via NSI‐MS. Analyses of caffeine, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and ecstasy have been performed successfully.     

Identification of Carbonates as Additives in Pressure‐Sensitive Adhesive Tape Substrate with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Its Application in Three Explosive Cases

Abstract: Pressure‐sensitive tape is often used to bind explosive devices. It can become important trace evidence in many cases. Three types of calcium carbonate (heavy, light, and active CaCO₃), which were widely used as additives in pressure‐sensitive tape substrate, were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in this study. A Spectrum GX 2000 system with a diamond anvil cell and a deuterated triglycine sulfate detector was employed for IR observation. Background was subtracted for every measurement, and triplicate tests were performed. Differences in positions of main peaks and the corresponding functional groups were investigated. Heavy CaCO₃ could be identified from the two absorptions near 873 and 855/cm, while light CaCO₃ only has one peak near 873/cm because of the low content of aragonite. Active CaCO₃ could be identified from the absorptions in the 2800–2900/cm region because of the existence of organic compounds. Tiny but indicative changes in the 878–853/cm region were found in the spectra of CaCO₃ with different content of aragonite and calcite. CaCO₃ in pressure‐sensitive tape, which cannot be differentiated by scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer and thermal analysis, can be easily identified using FTIR. The findings were successfully applied to three specific explosive cases and would be helpful in finding the possible source of explosive devices in future cases.