Paper-Based Analytical Device for the On-Site Detection of Nerve Agents.

We report a colorimetric paper-based microfluidic device based on an enzyme inhibition assay that allows the on-site detection of nerve agents by sampling and wicking. The sample and reagents are automatically transported through the channel where an enzyme inhibition reaction is conducted, followed by an enzyme-substrate reaction and a color reaction. This device can detect 0.

Separation of overlapping fingerprints by principal component analysis and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares analysis of hyperspectral imaging data.

Overlapping fingerprints are often found at crime scenes, but only individual fingerprints separated from each other are admissible as evidence in court. Fingerprint components differ slightly among individuals, and thus their fluorescence spectra also differ from each other. Therefore, the separation of overlapping fingerprints using the difference of the fluorescence spectrum was performed with a hyperspectral imager.

Frequencies of D19S433 silent alleles in a Japanese population of 1501 individuals and their effect on likelihood ratios calculated in kinship tests.

Although silent alleles in D19S433 typing using the GlobalFiler PCR Amplification Kit have been reported, the exact frequency of the D19S433 silent alleles in population data of 1501 Japanese individuals, which are widely used for the assessment of Japanese STR typing results, is unclear. In this study, we examined the exact D19S433 silent allele frequency in this population data. We newly observed the G32A variant causing silent alleles at D19S433 in five samples.

Experimental study on car collisions with bicycles equipped with child seats.

In Japan, traffic accidents involving bicycles have become a serious problem as a result of the increase in the use of bicycles due to the rising concerns of environmental and health problems. In recent years, bicycles equipped with child seats have become a popular means of transportation for preschool children in urban areas in Japan. Under such adverse circumstances, it is necessary to conduct more studies and evaluations to prevent traffic accidents and the resulting injuries involving bicycles with children.

New method of structural analysis and measurement of V-shaped percussion cracks in quartz sands surface by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM).

Microtextures of quartz sand grains can be used to establish sedimentary provenance of sedimentary deposits. V-shaped percussion cracks (Vs), which are randomly produced by grain-to-grain mechanical collision in high-energy subaqueous environments, are significant microtextures used for investigation of fluvial and marine sediment. In previous studies, others have used the percentage of microtextures obtained by scanning electron microscope to compare sediment samples.

Assembly of Glycochips with Mammalian GSLs Mimetics toward the On-site Detection of Biological Toxins.

According to our previously proposed scheme, each of three kinds of glycosphingolipid (GSL) derivatives, that is, lactosyl ceramide [Lac-Cer ()] and gangliosides [GM1-Cer () and GT1b-Cer ()], was installed onto the glass surface modified with Au nanoparticles. In the present study, we tried to apply microwave irradiation to promote their installing reactions. Otherwise, this procedure takes a lot of time as long as a conventional self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique is applied.

A vertebrate-specific qPCR assay as an endogenous internal control for robust species identification.

The identification of vertebrate species is important in numerous fields including archaeology, ecology, as well as food and forensic sciences. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays specific for one vertebrate species are promising approaches for species identification, although there are several drawbacks such as difficulty determining whether the detected DNA is authentic or a contaminant. Here, we describe a qPCR assay specific for vertebrate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which can overcome these drawbacks.

A new approach for forensic analysis of saliva-containing body fluid mixtures based on SNPs and methylation patterns of nearby CpGs.

Saliva samples obtained from crime scenes often contain body fluids from other people, which makes it difficult to not only interpret the obtained DNA profiles, but also interpret saliva identification test results. α-amylase activity, an indicator of most saliva identification methods, can be slightly detected in other body fluids. This study aimed to overcome these difficulties.

Effect of educational intervention addressing inaccurate self-assessment of driving performance in older Japanese adults.

To maintain road safety for older drivers as well as other road users, it is important to provide interventions that improve self-awareness and behaviors in older drivers. We developed an intervention that provides feedback on accuracy of self-awareness of driving performance using a workbook, and examined its effectiveness using a prospective design with a follow-up after two months. Japanese drivers aged between 69 and 87 (Mean = 73.

Different psychophysiological responses induced by a stimulus change during the orienting task and the Concealed Information Test.

The orienting response (OR) account of the Concealed Information Test (CIT) posits that physiological responses to CIT items are components of the OR. Physiological variations within a stimulus sequence were investigated in an OR task (Study 1) and the CIT (Study 2). In Study 1, an unexpected increase in tone intensity was introduced after repeated standard tone presentations.

A self-degradable hydrogel sensor for a nerve agent tabun surrogate through a self-propagating cascade.

Nerve agents that irreversibly deactivate the enzyme acetylcholinesterase are extremely toxic weapons of mass destruction. Thus, developing methods to detect these lethal agents is important. To create an optical sensor for a surrogate of the nerve agent tabun, as well as a physical barrier that dissolves in response to this analyte, we devise a network hydrogel that decomposes via a self-propagating cascade.

Development and validation of Kongoh ver. 3.0.1: Open-source software for DNA mixture interpretation in the GlobalFiler system based on a quantitative continuous model.

Probabilistic genotyping software based on continuous models is effective for interpreting DNA profiles derived from DNA mixtures and small DNA samples. In this study, we updated our previously developed Kongoh software (to ver. 3.

Analysis of potential phenylacetone precursors (ethyl 3-oxo-2-phenylbutyrate, methyl 3-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate, and ethyl 3-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and their conversion to phenylacetone.

Methyl 3-oxo-2-phenylbutyrate (MAPA) is a recently circulating precursor of phenylacetone (P2P), a precursor of amphetamine and methamphetamine. MAPA has a hybrid chemical structure of acetoacetic acid ester and P2P. Acetoacetic acid ester is de-esterified and decarboxylated to give the ketone by heating under acidic conditions; therefore, MAPA is presumed to be converted to P2P by such treatment.

Automatic landmark annotation in 3D surface scans of skulls: Methodological proposal and reliability study.

Background And Objectives: Craniometric landmarks are essential in many biomedical applications, such as morphometric analysis or forensic identification. The process of locating landmarks is usually a manual and slow task, highly influenced by fatigue, skills and the experience of the practitioner. Localization errors are propagated and magnified in subsequent steps, which can result in incorrect measurements or assumptions.

Simultaneous determination of eight catechins and four theaflavins in bottled tea by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for forensic analysis.

Tea, and particularly bottled tea, is widely consumed worldwide and is often encountered at crime scenes in poisoning cases or used in place of urine in drug abuse monitoring. Tea is a rich source of polyphenols, such as catechins and theaflavins, and these compounds are useful for identification of trace quantities of tea samples. However, information on the contents of catechins and theaflavins in bottled tea is limited.

Formation of Oxazolidine Derivatives by Reaction with Ephedrines and Aldehyde Impurities in Ethyl Acetate.

Ethyl acetate potentially contains formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as impurities. Ephedrines (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) react with these aldehydes to give oxazolidines. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effects of aldehydes in ethyl acetate on the analysis of ephedrines by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Characteristics of driving self-assessments and factors related to inaccurate self-assessment in Japanese older adults.

Older adults are considered to decide their driving behaviors based their own assessment of their driving performance, and thus it is important that these self-assessments be accurate. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify how older drivers assess their driving performance and examine factors related to the level of inaccuracy in their self-assessments. Japanese drivers aged 70 years or older (N = 181) were asked to assess their own driving performance by questionnaire and then to drive on a public road while wearing an electronic device that measured their actual driving behaviors.

Evaluation of probability distribution models for stutter ratios in the typing system of GlobalFiler and 3500xL Genetic Analyzer.

As DNA typing systems have become increasingly sensitive in recent years, probability distribution models for back, forward, double-back, and minus 2-nt stutter ratios have been desired to be considered in DNA evidence interpretation using specific software programs. However, experimental investigations have been insufficient, especially for forward, double-back, and minus 2-nt stutters. In this study, we experimentally reevaluated the probability distribution models for each stutter ratio in the typing systems of GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit and 3500xL Genetic Analyzer from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Development of an improved method to estimate the days of continuous drug ingestion, based on the micro-segmental hair analysis.

To prove drug-related crimes, it is important to estimate the date on which a specific drug was ingested. Previously, we developed a method, "micro-segmental hair analysis," to estimate the day of ingestion of a single-dose drug by segmenting a hair strand into 0.4-mm segments, which correspond to daily hair growth.

Analysis of water-soluble paper for forensic discrimination.

Water-soluble paper (WSP), which easily dissolves in water, has been found in criminal gang hideouts as evidence in crimes including bank transfer fraud, phone fraud, and grandparent scams, i.e. identity fraud to steal money.

Evaluation of CRISPR Diversity in the Human Skin Microbiome for Personal Identification.

The highly personalized human skin microbiome may serve as a viable marker in personal identification. Amplicon sequencing resolution using 16S rRNA cannot identify bacterial communities sufficiently to discriminate between individuals. Thus, novel higher-resolution genetic markers are required for forensic purposes.

Evaluation of Agonistic Activity of Fluorinated and Nonfluorinated Fentanyl Analogs on μ-Opioid Receptor Using a Cell-Based Assay System.

The agonistic activity of fluorinated and nonfluorinated fentanyl analogs on µ-opioid receptor was investigated using a cell-based assay system. Based on the activity, fentanyl analogs were ranked as follows: fentanyl > isobutyrylfentanyl ≈ butyrylfentanyl ≈ methoxyacetylfentanyl > acetylfentanyl. However, among the fentanyl analogs fluorinated on the N-phenyl ring, 2-fluoro analogs and 3-fluoro analogs showed the strongest and weakest activities, respectively.