Analysis of forensic soil samples via high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography

Traditional forensic soil comparisons are performed via physical and/or chemical examinations of color, texture, and mineral content, leaving any organic- or water-soluble fractions unexamined. This study uses high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ion chromatography (IC) to assess the qualitative and quantitative variation in these fractions of soil. Soil samples (n=120) were collected over the course of 3 weeks from urban, suburban, and rural locations in and around Lansing, MI. Additional samples from six of these locations (two urban, two suburban, and two rural) were collected once a week for 10 weeks for temporal analysis. Nine additional samples, equally spaced over a 1 m(2) grid, from these same six locations were collected for spatial analyses. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the resultant chromatograms separated the 120 samples into 10 groups by HPLC and 23 groups by IC. This study shows that using HPLC and IC to analyze the organic- and water-soluble fractions of soil can successfully discriminate samples. Quantitative analysis of the results eliminates some false inclusions by providing further differentiation of samples. The results of this study indicate that adding HPLC and IC analyses to traditional forensic soil analysis schemes can improve overall sample differentiation. The methods used in this study were also able to detect both qualitative and quantitative variations in soil over a relatively small geographic area. This demonstration of soil heterogeneity underscores the importance of the collection of a representative known sample population when assessing a forensic soil comparison. Significant temporal variation was also demonstrated over the course of 10 weeks of sampling; however, samples were found to be consistent over shorter periods of time. Baseline levels of inorganic anions were determined via IC; these levels may be useful in assessing the significance of anions detected in soil from cases involving low explosives.     

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Heat on the PCR‐Amplification of Various Sized DNA Fragments Extracted from Sus Scrofa Molars*

Abstract: This study examined the effects of heat on the amplification of DNA from the dental pulp of Sus scrofa molars and investigated the protection afforded to the pulp tissue by the dental enamel, alveolar process, and soft tissue of the head. Segments of defleshed maxilla and mandible encasing the first molar (n = 60) were subject to a range of temperatures for 15 min. Dental pulps were retrieved. Amplifications using three‐primer and four‐primer multiplexes showed no degradation of the largest fragment following exposure to 450°C. Amplifications in the three‐primer multiplex (283 bp) were successful following exposure to 525°C in maxillary samples only. This study revealed the enamel density of maxillary molars to be greater than mandibular molars in Sus scrofa. Following incineration of intact heads for 15 min (n = 10) and 1 h (n = 4) at an average temperature of 625°C, amplifications of the largest fragment (450 bp) were successful from both maxillary and mandibular teeth.     

An Assessment of the Utility of Universal and Specific Genetic Markers for Opium Poppy Identification

Abstract: The proper identification of illicit plants such as Papaver somniferum L (opium poppy) is important for law enforcement agencies. The identification of opium poppy was presently tested using 10 genetic markers that are universal for all plants or specific to a few poppy plants. The genetic distances of universal markers such as nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 18S rRNA, plastid rbcL, and trnL‐trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) of 14 species included in the Papaveraceae and Fumariaceae family were acquired by sequence comparisons. Both the ITS region and trnL‐trnF IGS showed high levels of interspecific divergence. Six Papaver genera‐specific markers were developed from coding regions involved in morphine biosynthesis. Three markers (TYDC, NCS, and BBE) produced amplicons only in opium poppy, providing a presence/absence test for opium poppy, while three additional markers (CYP80B1, SAT, and COR) were genus specific. These 10 markers might be useful for the forensic DNA analysis of opium poppy.     

Recovery of Environmental Human DNA by Insects*,†

Abstract: We tested the hypotheses that foraging insects can acquire human DNA from the environment and that insect‐delivered human DNA is of sufficient quantity and quality to permit standard forensic analyses. Houseflies, German cockroaches, and camel crickets were exposed to dusty surfaces and then assayed for human mitochondrial and nuclear loci by conventional and qPCR, and multiplex STR amplification. Over two experiments, 100% of insect groups and 94% of dust controls tested positive for human DNA. Of 177 individuals, 33–67% tested positive and 13 yielded quantifiable human DNA (mean = 0.022 ± 0.006 ng; mean dust control = 2.448 ± 0.960 ng); four had at least one positive allele call for one or more locus; eight others showed multiple peaks at some loci. Results imply that application to routine forensic casework is limited given current detection methodology yet demonstrate the potential use of insects as environmental samplers for human DNA.     

Profiling the mobile customer – Is industry self-regulation adequate to protect consumer privacy when behavioural advertisers target mobile phones? – Part II

Mobile customers are increasingly being tracked and profiled by behavioural advertisers to enhance delivery of personalized advertising. This type of profiling relies on automated processes that mine databases containing personally-identifying or anonymous consumer data, and it raises a host of significant concerns about privacy and data protection. This second article in a two part series on “Profiling the Mobile Customer” explores how to best protect consumers’ privacy and personal data through available mechanisms that include industry self-regulation, privacy-enhancing technologies and legislative reform.¹ It discusses how well privacy and personal data concerns related to consumer profiling are addressed by two leading industry self-regulatory codes from the UK and the U.S. that aim to establish fair information practices for behavioural advertising by their member companies. It also discusses the current limitations of using technology to protect consumers from privacy abuses related to profiling. Concluding that industry self-regulation and available privacy-enhancing technologies will not be adequate to close important privacy gaps related to consumer profiling without legislative reform, it offers suggestions for EU and U.S. regulators about how to do this.²     

DNase-Ⅰ纯化结合碱性裂解法提取混合斑精子DNA

目的研究脱氧核糖核酸酶I(DNase-I)纯化结合碱性裂解法提取混合斑精子DNA的方法在法医学中的应用。方法收集79份性犯罪案件混合斑检材,分别用DNase-I纯化结合碱性裂解法和差异裂解法提取精子DNA,采用STR荧光标记复合扩增体系进行16个STR基因座分型,并比较检验结果。结果应用DNase-I纯化结合碱性裂解法提取精子DNA,64例检材分型成功;应用差异裂解法提取精子DNA,57例检材分型成功;两种方法比较结果存在显著性差异(P=0.039),DNase-1纯化结合碱性裂解法提取精子DNA的STR分型成功率更高,成本低廉。结论DNase-I纯化结合碱性裂解法提取混合斑精子DNA可提高检验成功率,操作简便,快速,易于自动化,适于法医学个体识别鉴定。     

浓缩DNA法结合miniSTR分型技术检验微量DNA

目的优化低拷贝数DNA STR分型方法。方法对采用磁珠法或Chelex-100法提取DNA,Identi-filer试剂盒扩增,未获得分型结果的日常检案检材,采用物理浓缩法或过柱浓缩法浓缩DNA,采用miniFilerTM试剂盒再次扩增分型。结果 127例检材中,47例磁珠法提取DNA未获得分型的样品,分型成功率为36%;80例Chelex-100法提取DNA未获分型的样品,分型成功率为30%。结论采用浓缩法和miniFilerTM试剂盒,可以提高日常检案中低拷贝数检材的STR检验分型成功率。     

常见嗜尸性甲虫及蝇类虫体不同部位mtDNA的提取效果

目的探讨改良后十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(cetyltriethylammnonium bromide,CTAB)法对常见嗜尸性昆虫虫体不同部位mtDNA的提取效果。方法随机采集放置在呼和浩特地区室外草地家兔尸体上丽蝇科的丝光绿蝇[Lucilia sericata(Meigen)]、埋葬甲科的Nicrophorus fossor(Erichson)各13例,采用改良CTAB法分别提取每只昆虫头部、胸肌、腿部、翅膀4个部位的mtDNA,核酸蛋白测定仪检测DNA纯度及质量浓度,琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测其PCR产物,测定PCR产物序列,上传GenBank。结果 13例丝光绿蝇[Lu-cilia sericata(Meigen)]的胸肌均提取到了DNA,10例头部样本、6例腿部样本、4例翅膀样本得到DNA;13例Nicrophorus fossor(Erichson)胸肌DNA均提取成功,5例头部样本、8例腿部样本及3例翅膀样本提取出DNA。结论改良CTAB法可用于对嗜尸性昆虫胸肌及其他部位进行DNA的提取。     

猪传染性胃肠炎病毒S-N融合双基因疫苗的构建及其免疫原性分析

为了构建TGEV S-N融合双基因疫苗并分析其免疫原性,从S、N基因克隆质粒中以PCR扩增了S基因(2.1kb,含A、B、C、D抗原位点)和N基因(1.2kb),将S基因插入pVAX1载体构建了pVAX-S质粒,再将N基因插入pVAX-S中S基因末端,构建了融合表达S、N双基因的重组质粒pVAX-S-N,将pVAX-S-N转染COS7细胞以免疫荧光试验进行S、N双基因的表达鉴定。用纯化的pVAX-S-N和作为对照的pVAX-S、pVAX1、PBS免疫BALB/c小鼠,共免疫3次,分别测定免疫后第0、14、28、42天的小鼠血清IgG抗体,测定免疫后第42天小鼠外周血T淋巴细胞亚群(CD3+、CD4+、CD8+)的数量。结果,融合质粒pVAX-S-N可在COS7细胞特异性表达S、N两个蛋白,pVAX-S-N免疫小鼠后第14天即可诱导产生抗TGEV的特异性IgG,但pVAX-S-N诱导的抗体水平一直低于pVAX-S诱导的抗体水平,在免疫后第42天差异极显著(P<0.01);pVAX-S-N可激发小鼠产生细胞免疫应答,但pVAX-S-N组的CD3+、CD4+、CD8+数量均低于pVAX-S免疫组。研究结果表明,融合双基因疫苗pVAX-S-N具有免疫原性,但免疫效果却不如单基因疫苗pVAX-S的理想。     

Trace DNA Sampling Success from Evidence Items Commonly Encountered in Forensic Casework

Trace DNA analysis is a significant part of a forensic laboratory's workload. Knowing optimal sampling strategies and item success rates for particular item types can assist in evidence selection and examination processes and shorten turnaround times. In this study, forensic short tandem repeat (STR) casework results were reviewed to determine how often STR profiles suitable for comparison were obtained from “handler” and “wearer” areas of 764 items commonly submitted for examination. One hundred and fifty‐five (155) items obtained from volunteers were also sampled. Items were analyzed for best sampling location and strategy. For casework items, headwear and gloves provided the highest success rates. Experimentally, eyeglasses and earphones, T‐shirts, fabric gloves and watches provided the highest success rates. Eyeglasses and latex gloves provided optimal results if the entire surfaces were swabbed. In general, at least 10%, and up to 88% of all trace DNA analyses resulted in suitable STR profiles for comparison.