Discrimination of Camellia cultivars using iD-NA analysis.

Recently, many new cultivars have been taken abroad illegally, which is now considered an international issue. Botanical evidence found at a crime scene provides valuable information about the origin of the sample. However, botanical resources for forensic evidence remain underutilized because molecular markers, such as microsatellites, are not available without a limited set of species.

Advances in Derivatization Techniques Enabled by DABCO for Novichok Agent Analysis in Biofluids Using LC-MS.

The characterization of Novichoks (NVs), a new group of nerve agents that have been implicated in two recent poisonings, has not been extensively conducted. Here, we present a novel method for analyzing NV hydrolysates using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) enabled by pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) derivatization followed by reaction with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.

Identifying a suspect powder as a cannabis concentrate through chemical analysis and DNA testing.

Purpose: Cannabis is regulated in many countries, and cannabis products are diversifying, which can hinder identification. Here, we report the seizure of a powder sample with a cannabis-like odor in a spice bottle labeled "nutmeg" and identification of the sample by chemical testing and cannabis DNA testing.

Methods: The sample was observed under a microscope, extracted with methanol, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Simultaneous analysis of degradation products of Novichok agents and conventional nerve agents in human urine by ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using ammonium regeneration solution.

An ion chromatography (IC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method to analyze nerve agent degradation products in human urine was developed. Six degradation products of conventional nerve agents and six Novichok agent degradation products were analyzed simultaneously despite their differences in hydrophilicity and acidity. Using ammonium regeneration solution improved the peak shapes greatly compared with the results obtained with the ordinary IC-MS/MS configuration.

Preparation of glucuronides using liver microsomes and their characterization by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry: Application to fentanyl metabolites.

A simple, low-cost method for preparing glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites was developed using fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, as a model drug. Five glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites of fentanyl were measured in the culture medium of fresh human hepatocytes incubated with fentanyl. These glucuronides were also formed by incubation of their corresponding substrates (e.

Changes in methamphetamine impurity profiles induced by tert-butoxycarbonylation.

Analysis of impurities in methamphetamine (MA) can be used to characterize MA seizures, investigate the relationship among MA seizures, and provide information on their synthetic routes. Recently, chemically derivatized MA, such as tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-Boc) MA, has been seized and attracted attention because routine forensic analysis methods may fail to correctly identify them. Chemical derivatization is a simple method for protection and deprotection of a compound, and protection of MA using t-Boc can be used to mask the MA.

Simultaneous determination of water-soluble herbicides using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Purpose: The analysis of water-soluble herbicides, including glyphosate (Glyp), glufosinate (Gluf), paraquat (PQ), and diquat (DQ), is time-consuming and expensive because they cannot be analyzed using general toxicological screening methods. Thus, this study aimed to develop a simple and rapid method to simultaneously analyze these compounds without any derivatization nor ion-pairing reagents.

Methods: The analytes were separated using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and detected using tandem mass spectrometry.

Application of mist to fingermark detection: Misting with high-boiling-point liquid containing p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and cyanoacrylate.

In order to detect latent fingerprints that could be damaged by liquid or powder reagents, non-destructive processes such as gaseous reagents have been developed. In this report, we propose the use of fine mist generated when hot vapor of high-boiling-point liquids is rapidly cooled by surrounding air for fingermark detection. Octyl acetate (OA), 2-phenoxyethanol (2PE), and methyl decanoate (MD) were found to efficiently produce mist when heated to 230°C.

Identification of 1-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-LSD from blotter paper falsely labeled "1D-LSD".

Purpose: Since the mid-2010s, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogs made for substance abuse have periodically emerged. In this case, three pieces of blotter paper labeled "1D-LSD" and presumably impregnated with this LSD analog, were seized. Several websites indicate that 1D-LSD is 1-(1,2-dimethylcyclobutane-1-carbonyl)-LSD.

Rapid enantiomeric analysis of zopiclone in serum by supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Zopiclone (ZOP) is a hypnotic drug prescribed to treat insomnia. Due to the chiral nature of ZOP, the psychologically active S-form and inactive R-form need to be determined enantiomerically in a forensic drug analysis. In the present study, a supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method was designed with a faster analysis ability than that of previously reported techniques.

Validation of a novel fluorescent probe-based real-time PCR assay to detect saliva-specific unmethylated CpG sites for saliva identification.

The identification of saliva from forensic samples is often important to establish what happened at a crime scene, especially in sexual assault cases. Recently, CpG sites that are specifically methylated or unmethylated in saliva have been reported as markers for saliva identification. In this study, we designed a fluorescent probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for analyzing the methylation status of two neighboring CpG sites, which we previously found were saliva-specifically unmethylated.

Novel Glycolipid Chips with a Double Layer of Au Nanoparticles for Biological Toxin Detection.

Glycolipid chips having a double layer of Au nanoparticles are proposed for detection of biological toxins. The sugar-modified chips constitute an under and an upper layer of Au nanoparticles of 20-80 nm diameter on glass plates, and Au nanoparticles of each layer are linked with 1,8-octanedithiol by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique. A tris-sialo glycosphingolipid, ganglioside GT1b, having lipoic amide at the sphingosine part was immobilized on the Au outside surface of the upper layer, and botulinum toxin (type A heavy chain) was detected by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).

Evaluation of applicability of micro-segmental analysis to hair treated with heat and haircare products.

Purpose: Micro-segmental analysis (MSA), which enables the measurement of detailed drug distributions in hair by segmenting a single hair strand at 0.4 mm intervals, is indispensable for estimating the day of drug ingestion. However, haircare with dryers and various products can influence drug concentrations in hair.

Pre-set estimation-based in-silico silhouette-based methodology for improving the robustness to viewing direction difference for assisting forensic gait analysis.

Forensic gait analysis is used to visually and quantitatively analyze information regarding the appearance and style of walking that can be presented as evidence in the court. The demand for analyzing CCTV pedestrian footage in video surveillance has been increasing. The dependence of the accuracy of semiautomatic silhouette-based analysis, often used in forensic science, on the differences in the viewing directions is a very challenging issue that is yet to be resolved for real case applications.

Place & Play SERS: sample collection and preparation-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The ability to perform sensitive, real-time, , multiplex chemical analysis is indispensable for diverse applications such as human health monitoring, food safety testing, forensic analysis, environmental sensing, and homeland security. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an effective tool to offer the ability by virtue of its high sensitivity and rapid label-free signal detection as well as the availability of portable Raman spectrometers. Unfortunately, the practical utility of SERS is limited because it generally requires sample collection and preparation, namely, collecting a sample from an object of interest and placing the sample on top of a SERS substrate to perform a SERS measurement.

Evaluation of decarboxylation efficiency of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and cannabidiolic acid by UNODC method.

Purpose: Decarboxylation of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ-THCA) to Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) by heating is a common method for determining total Δ-THC. In the manual for cannabis identification and analysis, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) proposed decarboxylation conditions. Although the manual's primary analytical target is Δ-THC, some reports also quantified cannabidiol (CBD).

Analysis of degradation products of nerve agents in biological fluids by ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Purpose: The detection of hydrolysis products of nerve agents (alkyl methylphosphonic acids; RMPAs) in biological samples from victims is important to confirm exposure to nerve agents. However, analysis of RMPAs is difficult due to their high hydrophilicity. The aim of this study was to develop ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (IC-MS/MS) methods using commercially available equipment and columns to analyze RMPAs in human urine and serum with high sensitivity and without using complicate techniques.

Independent component analysis of hyperspectral data measured from overlapping latent fingermarks: Forensic potential of independent component images.

Overlapping fingermark images are sometimes discarded because fingermark collation for the individual fingermarks is difficult. Fluorescence hyperspectral data (HSD) measured using the models of double overlapping fingermarks obtained under the excitation of a high-power, continuous wave, green laser is suitable for obtaining individual fingermark images. However, there are limitations such as the problems on each spectrum of the individual fingermark and the forensic value of the obtained images.