Discriminant Analysis of Raman Spectra for Body Fluid Identification for Forensic Purposes

Detection and identification of blood, semen and saliva stains, the most common body fluids encountered at a crime scene, are very important aspects of forensic science today. This study targets the development of a nondestructive, confirmatory method for body fluid identification based on Raman spectroscopy coupled with advanced statistical analysis. Dry traces of blood, semen and saliva obtained from multiple donors were probed using a confocal Raman microscope with a 785-nm excitation wavelength under controlled laboratory conditions. Results demonstrated the capability of Raman spectroscopy to identify an unknown substance to be semen, blood or saliva with high confidence

Clinical, Epidemiologic, Histopathologic and Molecular Features of an Unexplained Dermopathy

BACKGROUND: Morgellons is a poorly characterized constellation of symptoms, with the primary manifestations involving the skin. We conducted an investigation of this unexplained dermopathy to characterize the clinical and epidemiologic features and explore potential etiologies. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted among persons at least 13 years of age and enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) during 2006-2008. A case was defined as the self-reported emergence of fibers or materials from the skin accompanied by skin lesions and/or disturbing skin sensations. We collected detailed epidemiologic data, performed clinical evaluations and geospatial analyses and analyzed materials collected from participants' skin. RESULTS: We identified 115 case-patients. The prevalence was 3.65 (95% CI = 2.98, 4.40) cases per 100,000 enrollees. There was no clustering of cases within the 13-county KPNC catchment area (p = .113). Case-patients had a median age of 52 years (range: 17-93) and were primarily female (77%) and Caucasian (77%). Multi-system complaints were common; 70% reported chronic fatigue and 54% rated their overall health as fair or poor with mean Physical Component Scores and Mental Component Scores of 36.63 (SD = 12.9) and 35.45 (SD = 12.89), respectively. Cognitive deficits were detected in 59% of case-patients and 63% had evidence of clinically significant somatic complaints; 50% had drugs detected in hair samples and 78% reported exposure to solvents. Solar elastosis was the most common histopathologic abnormality (51% of biopsies); skin lesions were most consistent with arthropod bites or chronic excoriations. No parasites or mycobacteria were detected. Most materials collected from participants' skin were composed of cellulose, likely of cotton origin. CONCLUSIONS: This unexplained dermopathy was rare among this population of Northern California residents, but associated with significantly reduced health-related quality of life. No common underlying medical condition or infectious source was identified, similar to more commonly recognized conditions such as delusional infestation

POTENTIAL FUNCTION FOR THE LOW FREQUENCY BENDING MODE OF SILYLISOCYANATE

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of South Carolina; Department of Chemistry, Furman UniversityThe Raman spectra of gaseous silylisocyanate, $H_{3}SiNCO$, and silylisocyanate-$d_{3}, D_{3}SiNCO$, have been recorded. Low frequency Q-branches were observed for both the ``light” and ``heavy” molecules. The potential function for this low frequency bending mode has been determined. These data will be compared with the low frequency spectra and potential functions of other silicon containing molecules which have low frequency bending modes

VIBRATIONAL SPECTRA AND MOLECULAR SYMMETRY OF TETRASILYLHYDRAZINE AND TETRASILYLHYDRAZINE-D12D_{12}

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of South CarolinaThe Raman spectra of tetrasilylhydrazine, $N_{2}(SiH_{3})_{4}$ , and tetrasilylhydrazine-$d_{12}, N_{2}(SiD_{3})_{4}$ , have been recorded for the gas, liquid and solid phases from 25 to $2500 cm^{-1}$. The infrared spectra of both molecules have been recorded for the gas and solid phases from 90 to $2500 cm^{-1}$. A vibrational assignment based on observed isotopic shift ratios, relative band intensities, depolarization values, and previously reported work on similar molecules will be presented

ROTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF VINYLSILANE

Author Institution: Research Directorate, US Army Missile Laboratory, US Army Missile Command, ATTN: AMSMI-RRD, Redstone Arsenal; Department of Physics, Mississippi State University; Department of Physics, Mississippi State UniversityThe infrared spectra of gaseous vinylsilane has been recorded at a resolution of $.04 cm^{-1}$ Several of the vibration bands are sufficiently resolved for partial rotational analysis. The results of the analysis of a coriolis interaction which was observed between the $SiH_{3}$ rocks, $\nu_{12}$ and $\nu_{19}$ will be discussed