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Theses/Dissertations

Chemistry

Spectroscopy

University at Albany, State University of New York

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

A Project To Dye For : Differentiation Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Human Hairs Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy, Joseph John Greco May 2021

A Project To Dye For : Differentiation Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Human Hairs Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy, Joseph John Greco

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

IR spectroscopy is widely utilized for forensic purposes due to the chemical fingerprint the method provides. ATR FT-IR spectroscopy is particularly advantageous because it allows for spectra to be collected quickly, accurately, and perhaps most importantly for forensics, non-destructively. Human hair is commonly collected at a crime scene, and further analyzed using DNA analysis and microscopy. However, these techniques have limitations. In the past ATR FT-IR spectroscopy has shown promise in the analysis of human hair for forensic purposes. In this study, the differentiation of undyed hair versus dyed hair classes of varying colors based on their IR spectra were …


Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy For Cocaine Detection, Kiersten Jo Mead May 2020

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy For Cocaine Detection, Kiersten Jo Mead

Chemistry

The detection of drugs of abuse using Raman spectroscopy is of particular interest to forensic researchers at the moment. Raman spectroscopy is highly specific, fast, non-destructive, and can be adapted for in-situ measurements, making it the ideal forensic technique. Researchers working under the guidance of Doctor Igor Lednev have been able to use UV resonance Raman spectroscopy to detect cocaine in oral fluid without the need for sample pretreatment. They were however unable to detect the cocaine at forensically relevant levels. To overcome this limitation, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used in this proof of concept study for the detection …


Differentiation Of Hair Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy: A Statistical Classification Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Hairs, Matthew S. Boll May 2017

Differentiation Of Hair Using Atr Ft-Ir Spectroscopy: A Statistical Classification Of Dyed And Non-Dyed Hairs, Matthew S. Boll

Chemistry

Although hair is one of the most common and abundant types of evidence found at a crime scene, the current forensic analyses employed underutilize its full potential evidentiary value. Microscopy is the fundamental technique used to analyze forensic hair evidence, but even this routine and well-accepted method has limitations. In this study, non-dyed and dyed hairs from individuals varying in race, biological sex, and age, were analyzed using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Through the incorporation of multivariate statistical analysis, spectra collected from dyed and non-dyed hairs were differentiated with high accuracy. After hair spectra were determined …


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 …


Differentiation Of Human, Animal And Synthetic Hair By Atr Ftir Spectroscopy, Jeremy Manheim May 2015

Differentiation Of Human, Animal And Synthetic Hair By Atr Ftir Spectroscopy, Jeremy Manheim

Chemistry

Hair fibers are ubiquitous to every environment and are the most commonly found form of trace evidence at crime scenes. The primary difficulty forensic examiners face after retrieving a hair sample is determining who it came from. Currently, the methodology of microscopic examination of potential hair evidence is absent of statistical probability and is inherently subjective. Another method, involving DNA analysis, takes months to conduct and the majority of times is unsuccessful due to its degradation and absence from the hair. Here, Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy coupled with advanced statistics was used to identify a …


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 …


Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Body Fluids : Species Differentiation And The Effect Of Substrate Interference And Laser Power, Gregory Keith Mclaughlin Jan 2013

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Body Fluids : Species Differentiation And The Effect Of Substrate Interference And Laser Power, Gregory Keith Mclaughlin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Several recent discoveries demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy has a unique capability to characterize body fluid traces in a forensic capacity. This approach has thus garnered interest in the forensic community since 2008, when a proof of concept experiment established that blood, semen, vaginal fluid, sweat and saliva are easily differentiable through their Raman spectra. Several possible methods of identification have been described in the literature, one approach uses chemometrical models, and another applies recently formulated multidimensional Raman signatures. The analytical sampling method and the identification procedure provide several desirable traits for the field of forensic science. In particular, Raman spectroscopy …


Structural Interactions And Dynamics Of Disease Related Proteins By Using Nmr Spectroscopy, Shadakshara Swamy Puttamadappa Jan 2011

Structural Interactions And Dynamics Of Disease Related Proteins By Using Nmr Spectroscopy, Shadakshara Swamy Puttamadappa

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a powerful spectroscopic technique to study the structure, molecular interactions, and dynamics of proteins. Modern NMR instrumentation, advancements in experimental techniques and revolutionary developments in recombinant DNA technology have made NMR a versatile and very convenient tool for biomolecule characterization.


Elucidating The Structure Of Protein Aggregates By Raman Spectroscopy, Ludmila A. Popova Jan 2010

Elucidating The Structure Of Protein Aggregates By Raman Spectroscopy, Ludmila A. Popova

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The structures and properties of amyloid fibrils are of considerable interest due to their associations with numerous neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and transmissible spongiform encephalopaties (prion diseases). Understanding fibrillogenesis at a molecular level requires detailed structural characterization of amyloid fibrils. However amyloid fibrils are difficult objects to study due to their non-crystalline and insoluble nature. These properties make the application of classical tools of structural biology, such as X-Ray crystallography and solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, impractical for structural characterization of protein fibrils.