scholarly journals Nano-Forensic: New Perspective and Extensive Applications in Solving Crimes

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1792-1798

Nanotechnology has continued to prove its dominance with vast applications to traditional methods in medical, electronic, engineering, and other fields. In forensic science, nanotechnology research has provided a new perspective for real-time crime investigation and developed advanced nanosensors, nano-manipulators, and nano-imaging tools for visualization. Often, nanotechnology aids in enhancing and improving the efficiency of already existing and applied forensic techniques with high accuracy, sensitivity, and reducing the time required. So, this paper reviews the vital applications of classic tools of nanotechnology for examining questioned documents, age of bloodstains, and time since death, along with its application in improving PCR efficiency, DNA analysis, and explosive detection. It also attempts to highlight the use of advanced nanotechnology instruments for illicit drug screening. Nano-based techniques hold an immense future in fingerprinting and security features. Therefore, this paper also offers insights into the applications of nanoparticles in detecting latent fingerprints.

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tai C Kwong ◽  
Rita M Ryan

Abstract Identification of intrauterine drug-exposed newborns with toxicological screening may have benefits including close follow-up of the infant by both medical and social services. Applying specific written guidelines to select newborns for drug testing decreases bias and protects the physicians and hospitals involved. All drugs reported as positive should be confirmed by an appropriate second test. Urine and meconium testing are the best current options for identifying drug-exposed neonates. Urine testing sensitivity is low because of problems encountered in urine collections and the high thresholds used in current urine assays. The disadvantage to meconium testing is the increased labor and time required to work with this material. Testing of newborn hair is unlikely to be widely used until technically less demanding assays become available. Testing of amniotic fluid or gastric lavage is still in the developmental stages. Adopting lower urine assay thresholds for newborn samples would increase sensitivity and would be an appropriate modification of current methodologies.


2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1349-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Orlando ◽  
Paolo Verderio ◽  
Ronald Maatman ◽  
Jan Danneberg ◽  
Simon Ramsden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Despite the rapid transition into routine clinical practice of molecular techniques based on PCR, external quality assessment (EQA) is still not widely available. The European Union and European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry have supported the EQUAL project as a series of 3 different EQA programs for the assessment of molecular methods independently from analytes. We present the results from the EQUAL-qual program designed to evaluate the analytical aspects of DNA analysis by means of a conventional qualitative PCR experiment. Methods: The EQUAL-qual program provided DNA, blood samples, and primer sets to participant laboratories to assess DNA extraction and PCR amplification. We have developed statistical procedures to identify laboratories performing poorly in DNA extraction (quality and quantity), PCR efficiency, and data interpretation after electrophoresis. Results: An application to participate was obtained from 213 laboratories (from 25 countries), and 175 (82%) of laboratories submitted results for assessment. Questionable results in terms of quality and/or quantity of DNA derived from blood extractions were returned by 27% of laboratories (46 of 166). PCR efficiency showed high variability, with 3% of laboratories (5 of 163) showing a consistently low rate of amplification and 10% (18 of 175) not reporting the expected number of bands of the amplified targets. Conclusions: The results showed considerable variability in all phases of the experiment. The approach confirms the validity of EQA as a method for evaluating analytical aspects of PCR-based tests.


Author(s):  
Charles TurnbiLL ◽  
Delbert E. Philpott

The advent of the scanning electron microscope (SCEM) has renewed interest in preparing specimens by avoiding the forces of surface tension. The present method of freeze drying by Boyde and Barger (1969) and Small and Marszalek (1969) does prevent surface tension but ice crystal formation and time required for pumping out the specimen to dryness has discouraged us. We believe an attractive alternative to freeze drying is the critical point method originated by Anderson (1951; for electron microscopy. He avoided surface tension effects during drying by first exchanging the specimen water with alcohol, amy L acetate and then with carbon dioxide. He then selected a specific temperature (36.5°C) and pressure (72 Atm.) at which carbon dioxide would pass from the liquid to the gaseous phase without the effect of surface tension This combination of temperature and, pressure is known as the "critical point" of the Liquid.


Author(s):  
O. E. Bradfute

Electron microscopy is frequently used in preliminary diagnosis of plant virus diseases by surveying negatively stained preparations of crude extracts of leaf samples. A major limitation of this method is the time required to survey grids when the concentration of virus particles (VPs) is low. A rapid survey of grids for VPs is reported here; the method employs a low magnification, out-of-focus Search Mode similar to that used for low dose electron microscopy of radiation sensitive specimens. A higher magnification, in-focus Confirm Mode is used to photograph or confirm the detection of VPs. Setting up the Search Mode by obtaining an out-of-focus image of the specimen in diffraction (K. H. Downing and W. Chiu, private communications) and pre-aligning the image in Search Mode with the image in Confirm Mode facilitates rapid switching between Modes.


Author(s):  
H.-J. Ou

The understanding of the interactions between the small metallic particles and ceramic surfaces has been studied by many catalyst scientists. We had developed Scanning Reflection Electron Microscopy technique to study surface structure of MgO hulk cleaved surface and the interaction with the small particle of metals. Resolutions of 10Å has shown the periodic array of surface atomic steps on MgO. The SREM observation of the interaction between the metallic particles and the surface may provide a new perspective on such processes.


Author(s):  
Anthony S-Y Leong ◽  
David W Gove

Microwaves (MW) are electromagnetic waves which are commonly generated at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. When dipolar molecules such as water, the polar side chains of proteins and other molecules with an uneven distribution of electrical charge are exposed to such non-ionizing radiation, they oscillate through 180° at a rate of 2,450 million cycles/s. This rapid kinetic movement results in accelerated chemical reactions and produces instantaneous heat. MWs have recently been applied to a wide range of procedures for light microscopy. MWs generated by domestic ovens have been used as a primary method of tissue fixation, it has been applied to the various stages of tissue processing as well as to a wide variety of staining procedures. This use of MWs has not only resulted in drastic reductions in the time required for tissue fixation, processing and staining, but have also produced better cytologic images in cryostat sections, and more importantly, have resulted in better preservation of cellular antigens.


1979 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sallie W. Hillard ◽  
Laura P. Goepfert

This paper describes the concept of teaching articulation through words which have inherent meaning to a child’s life experience, such as a semantically potent word approach. The approach was used with six children. Comparison of pre/post remediation measures indicated that it has promise as a technique for facilitating increased correct phoneme production.


1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Welch

Abstract Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) have become an important component of disability evaluation during the past 10 years to assess an individual's ability to perform the essential or specific functions of a job, both preplacement and during rehabilitation. Evaluating both job performance and physical ability is a complex assessment, and some practitioners are not yet certain that an FCE can achieve these goals. An FCE is useful only if it predicts job performance, and factors that should be assessed include overall performance; consistency of performance across similar areas of the FCE; consistency between observed behaviors during the FCE and limitations or abilities reported by the worker; objective changes (eg, blood pressure and pulse) that are appropriate relative to performance; external factors (illness, lack of sleep, or medication); and a coefficient of variation that can be measured and assessed. FCEs can identify specific movement patterns or weaknesses; measure improvement during rehabilitation; identify a specific limitation that is amenable to accommodation; and identify a worker who appears to be providing a submaximal effort. FCEs are less reliable at predicting injury risk; they cannot tell us much about endurance over a time period longer than the time required for the FCE; and the FCE may measure simple muscular functions when the job requires more complex ones.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document