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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Mass Spectral And Chemometric Analysis For The Detection And Identification Of Forensically Relevant Materials, Meghan Grace Appley Jan 2021

Mass Spectral And Chemometric Analysis For The Detection And Identification Of Forensically Relevant Materials, Meghan Grace Appley

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Forensic science is the application of science to the law which in and of itself covers a substantial number of disciplines. Many of these involve the detection and identification of materials using analytical techniques. Traditional analysis methods include microscopy, spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The materials encountered by forensic practitioners are ever evolving, resulting in the need to develop new methods to complement conventional techniques to enhance the evidentiary value of the samples. The research presented here shows that novel methods including direct analysis in real time–high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS), thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), solid-phase microextraction (SPME) …


The Detection And Identification Of Blood On Interfering Substrates Using Raman Spectroscopy And Hamand For Forensic Purposes, Jalissa M. Thomas Jan 2021

The Detection And Identification Of Blood On Interfering Substrates Using Raman Spectroscopy And Hamand For Forensic Purposes, Jalissa M. Thomas

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Body fluids, such as blood and semen, can provide invaluable information to a criminal investigation. As such, it is imperative that body fluid evidence is properly detected and identified. Our laboratory has developed a methodology to universally detect and identify body fluids using Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics. This methodology was developed under ideal conditions, which are rare in the field. Body fluid evidence can be found on substrates that produce a large Raman signal that can hinder detection of body fluid traces, which produce a weak signal. This project proposes the use of a statistical program called HAMAND (Hypothetical Addition …


Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy To Determine The Time Since Deposition Of Heated Bloodstains, Alexis Pearl Barber Jan 2021

Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy To Determine The Time Since Deposition Of Heated Bloodstains, Alexis Pearl Barber

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The development of novel forensic methods is a rapidly growing area within analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry is well suited for forensic analyses as a plethora of information can be ascertained from utilizing a wide variety of techniques. At the scene of violent crimes, bloodstain evidence is one of the most frequently found and valuable types of evidence. This is because blood is a complex biological fluid which can provide crucial information during a forensic investigation including DNA evidence. The most informative form of analysis is DNA profiling, which potentially allows for the identification of an individual. However, there is more …


Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Novel Medical Diagnostic Purposes, Nicole M. Ralbovsky Jan 2020

Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Novel Medical Diagnostic Purposes, Nicole M. Ralbovsky

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Many problems exist within the myriad of currently employed diagnostic techniques. Further, an incredibly wide variety of procedures are used to identify an even greater number of diseases which exist in the world. There is a definite unmet clinical need to improve the diagnostic capabilities of these methods, including improving test sensitivity and specificity, objectivity and definitiveness, and reducing cost and how invasive a test is, with an interest in replacing multiple diagnostic methods with one powerful tool. That is, the development of a singular technique which can accurately and objectively diagnose a wide variety of diseases in a cost-effective …


Identification And Analysis Of Body Fluid Traces For Forensic Purposes Using Vibrational Spectroscopy And Chemometrics, Ewelina M. Mistek-Morabito Jan 2020

Identification And Analysis Of Body Fluid Traces For Forensic Purposes Using Vibrational Spectroscopy And Chemometrics, Ewelina M. Mistek-Morabito

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Recent years have seen a large expansion in the forensic field due to the introduction of novel analytical techniques. Body fluids are an extremely important type of evidence at crime scenes and the main source of DNA. Most current methods for the identification and examination of body fluid traces require chemical treatment and are therefore destructive to the sample. Thus, new methods that are nondestructive and provide rapid results with statistical confidence are desirable. Such methods could eliminate noninformative traces and allow investigators to focus on more valuable pieces of evidence. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop …


Raman Spectroscopic Examination Of Bloodstains For Forensic Purposes : Background And Race Determination, Ewelina M. Mistek May 2019

Raman Spectroscopic Examination Of Bloodstains For Forensic Purposes : Background And Race Determination, Ewelina M. Mistek

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Chapter 1 of this thesis critically overviews recent developments in forensic trace evidence analysis since 2016. It covers improvements to existing techniques as well as new methods for the analysis of fibers, hair, paint, glass, gunshot residue (GSR), and explosives.


Characterizing Body Fluids With Raman Spectroscopy : Towards Real World Application, Marisia Ann Fikiet Jan 2019

Characterizing Body Fluids With Raman Spectroscopy : Towards Real World Application, Marisia Ann Fikiet

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This project continues the research on a new method of body fluid identification and furthers its field capabilities. This method of identification uses Raman spectroscopy and advanced chemometrics to distinguish between body fluids. It is an improvement on current methods because it is confirmatory, non-destructive, and has simple sample preparation. The first objective of this research is to create a model for differentiating body fluids for a new desktop instrument. It was determined that due to resolution differences from a research grade instrument, a new model needed to be made for this the desktop instrument. This model will be able …


Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro Jan 2017

Further Development Of Raman Spectroscopy For Body Fluid Investigation : Forensic Identification, Limit Of Detection, And Donor Characterization, Claire K. Muro

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The challenges to forensic body fluid analysis have placed limitations on the type of information that investigators can acquire and how that information can be collected. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has proven itself useful for characterizing body fluids. In 2008, a large-scale investigation was undertaken to explore the use of Raman spectroscopy as a means of identifying body fluids. This work resulted in multidimensional Raman spectroscopic signatures for the five main body fluids: semen, peripheral blood, saliva, vaginal fluid, and sweat. These studies were incredibly successful and created the foundation for years of continued research. Accordingly, the studies included …


Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty Jan 2017

Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The field of forensic science is constantly growing, so the advancement of old and unreliable techniques is at the forefront of what will lead to future progress and improvement. Current methods for identification and analysis of bloodstains are underwhelming due to the insignificant amount of information provided in a destructive, unreliable, and unsafe manner. As is the purpose of this research, creating new methodologies that are rapid, nondestructive, robust, statistically reliable, and safe would significantly advance the way bloodstains are currently analyzed, while providing more useful and relevant information for investigations and criminal proceedings. Raman spectroscopy, along with advanced statistical …


Vibrational Spectroscopic Analysis Of Gunshot Residue : A Novel Approach For Detection And Characterization, Justin J. Bueno Jan 2013

Vibrational Spectroscopic Analysis Of Gunshot Residue : A Novel Approach For Detection And Characterization, Justin J. Bueno

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Due to the increasing prevalence of firearm related crimes, there is a need for an all-encompassing analytical technique which can rapidly detect and analyze trace crime scene firearm evidence. There are several forms of ballistics and trace evidence associated with firearm offenses. Historically, the most neglected piece of evidence has ironically been the most prevalent. Each firearm discharge produces a so called gunshot residue (GSR) sample, expelling dust and particles numbering from hundreds to thousands throughout the shooting environment. The detection of GSR at a crime scene or on a suspect is critical for determining what actually happened during a …


Advanced Statistical Methods For Biochemical And Forensic Applications Of Raman Spectroscopy, Vitali Sikirzhytski Jan 2011

Advanced Statistical Methods For Biochemical And Forensic Applications Of Raman Spectroscopy, Vitali Sikirzhytski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This work is dedicated to the development and application of advanced statistical methods for biochemical and forensic applications of Raman spectroscopy. We developed a new concept of multidimensional Raman signatures for forensic identification of body fluid traces, which was successfully applied to the study of dried blood, semen, saliva, sweat and vaginal fluid stains. Several alternative advanced chemometric techniques were also successfully tested for the problems of pure body fluids discrimination and mixture analysis. Studies of body fluid mixtures with low blood and semen concentrations indicated that the detection limit of a minor contributor was as low as a few …