High-Frequency Heating Extraction Method for Sensitive Drug Analysis in Human Nails.

A simple, sensitive, and rapid extraction method based on high-frequency (H-F) heating was developed for drug analysis in human nails. A human nail was placed in a glass tube with an extraction solvent (methanol and 0.1% formic acid; 7:3, /), and a ferromagnetic alloy (pyrofoil) was wrapped in a spiral around the glass tube.

Application of DNA markers for discrimination between Japanese and Australian Wagyu beef.

The objective of this study was to discriminate between original Japanese and Australian Wagyu beef, which is sold in the Singapore markets, using six previously developed DNA markers. To effectively evaluate the six markers for breed identification, the probability of identification as Australian Wagyu beef was calculated based on the estimated allele frequencies using 130 Australian Wagyu individuals. The combined use of six markers would allow the discrimination of Australian Wagyu beef with an estimated probability of 0.

Development and application of ultrasound-assisted microextraction to analysis of fenitrothion in environmental samples.

A microextraction technique based on ultrasonic emulsification and demulsification was developed for detecting pesticides at trace levels in environmental water samples. In this ultrasound-assisted microextraction (UAME), chloroform was emulsified with an aqueous sample solution containing trace fenitrothion (MEP) by ultrasonic irradiation (48 kHz) for 5 min. The emulsion was then demulsified by ultrasonic irradiation (2.

Improvement of a multiplex PCR system for DYS441, DYS442, DYS443, DYS444 and DYS445, and a population study in 340 Japanese males.

A multiplex PCR system for five Y-STRs (DYS441, DYS442, DYS443, DYS444 and DYS445) has been improved to increase the probability of obtaining a DNA typing result from aged samples. Newly designed PCR primers for amplification of the DYS441 and DYS442 loci and optimization of PCR conditions enabled successful typing from blood and semen stains that had been stored for more than seven years at room temperature. Analysis of 340 Japanese males revealed 7, 5, 6, 5 and 4 alleles at the DYS441, DYS442, DYS443, DYS444 and DYS445 loci, respectively, yielding 122 haplotypes with a cumulative haplotype diversity of 0.

The contribution of trace elements from smokeless powder to post firing residues.

The smokeless powders in 22 kinds of ammunitions seized from one of the Japanese gang groups were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDX). Copper(Cu), sulfur(S), potassium(K), silicon(Si), aluminum(Al), calcium(Ca), iron(Fe), chlorine(Cl), and barium(Ba) were detected. Cu was found in all samples.