Forensic Examination of Class Characteristics in English Handwriting of the Three States: Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Kashmir in India

The present study analyzed the English handwriting of subjects from Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to investigate whether the examination of style characteristics helps determine the nationality/ethnicity of the writer or the place where the writer learned writing. The subjects had completed secondary education in their respective regional languages along with English as a second language. Characteristic features such as letter formations, punctuation marks, spacing between letters, and margins were observed. The data were analysed using the chi- square test to determine significant class characteristics in the English handwritings. Significant class characteristics were identified; these occurrences were attributable to the influence of habitually writing in their native language, because the impact of regional language on the subjects’ English handwriting was observed in a few samples. Forensic document examiners will be able to determine class characteristic in the English handwritings of people from different states using the established procedure and possibly also determine the nationality or ethnic origin of writers

Differentiation of Red and Black Ballpoint Pen Inks using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The questioned document examiners usually encounter cases related to handwritten documents for the determination of their source, origin, and authenticity. The legal documents usually involve handwriting or signatures executed using ballpoint pens. These components of the ballpoint pen inks can be analysed, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using several techniques. The present study aimed to analyse the red and black ballpoint pen inks using high performance thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. All samples have been completely differentiated using high performance thin layer chromatography. The discrimination potential of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for red and black ballpoint pen inks was found to be 32.85% and 63.58% respectively. Classification of inks has been performed in two levels, that is, primary differentiation on the grounds of major components of the ink and subsequent differentiation on the basis of minor components. The validity of technique was tested in terms of repeatability and reproducibility. Reproducibility has been determined by repeating the procedure of repeatability on different days. The results have been evaluated in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), which is <2% for both repeatability and reproducibility

Studying the Methods to Determine the Age of Ink: A Critical Review of Ink Dating Methods

On the basis of the type of ink, pen inks are classified as ballpoint pens or non-ballpoint pens. Ballpoint pen inks are oil-based inks (ballpoint pens). While non-ballpoint pen inks are water-based inks (gel pens, fountain pens, pilot pens, fiber tip pens, etc.). Different approaches related to the determination of the age of ink were proposed in the literature, including ballpoint pen inks, non-ballpoint pen inks and stamp pad inks. This study provides a comprehensive appreciation of analytical research studies that were published from the year 2000 to year 2020 on the determination of the age of inks. Owing To contemporary technological advancements, the process has been developed in many folds. However, its reliability is questioned due to the variability in methods and results. Research works related to the aging of ink have been compiled to assist the researchers and the forensic document examiners and to provide an overall insight regarding the works done so far. In an attempt to unravel this issue of questioned document examination, a critical and systematic review of the literature is proposed to encourage the usage of various tools and techniques necessary to establish the age of ink in different case works

Point Prevalence of Indwelling Catheterized Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital and Related Nursing Care Practices

Urinary catheterization facilitates the drainage of urinary bladder. The current study was carried out to assess the point prevalence of indwelling catheterized patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital and to assess the related practices of nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Sampling technique was purposive. Survey of all the admitted patients was carried out in a single day to assess the point prevalence of catheterized patients. Tools for data collection comprised of sociodemographic profile and clinical profile of the catheterized patients. A checklist was used to assess the self-expressed practices of nurses regarding insertion, care and removal of catheter. The total number of admitted patients on the day of survey was 1718. 317 (18.5%) patients were found to be catheterized. Majority of the patients were in Intensive Care Unit followed by Emergency areas and were suffering from neurological disorders. Most of the self-expressed practices of nurses regarding catheterization were adequate other than documentation of the procedure; providing perineal care at the time of catheterization, catheter care and removing the catheter; and clamping the catheter before its removal.

Tetrahydrocurcumin Lipid Nanoparticle Based Gel Promotes Penetration into Deeper Skin Layers and Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) Mouse Model

Treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is challenging due to its complex pathophysiology. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) a polyphenolic, colorless compound that is more polar than curcumin. It possesses superior anti-inflammatory properties and has a clinical advantage over curcumin. The present study investigated the therapeutic effectiveness of THC solid lipid nanoparticle (THC-SLN)-based gels in AD. THC-SLNs prepared using microemulsification resulted in a particle size of 109.2 nm as determined by nanoparticle tracking, and FTIR confirmed the entrapment of drug within the lipid matrix. THC-SLNs greatly enhanced skin hydration when tested both ex vivo and in vivo in Lacca mice. Deeper skin penetration was clearly established using dermatokinetics and CLSM. The in vivo pharmacodynamics of THC-SLNs gel in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mice showed enhanced bioactivity; reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6; and complete healing, as evident from histopathological studies. Thus, the novel topical THC-SLN gel has potential to emerge as a safe alternative to conventional corticosteroids for AD and other skin disorders with overbearing inflammation

A Comparative Study on Class Characteristics of Devanãgri Script Writers from Three Different States of India

India is a multilingual country. Hindi is the national language of India and Devanãgri script is used to write Hindi language. Various documents with legal value are made in Devanãgri script, which may be questioned for their authenticity and authorship. Sufficient research has been done and reported about different scripts. However, researches based on Devanãgri script are limited. This study focuses on finding the significant class characteristics of writers from three different states of India, namely, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The data was also statistically analysed using Pearson’s Chi-Square test for its significance. Handwriting samples from 300 subjects were collected from three different states of India to analyze various class characteristics in Devanãgri script. The samples were examined qualitatively and statistically. Various general characteristics were selected for the analysis and characteristic features were tabulated after qualitative examination. Statistical analysis showed that the data was statistically significant. The general characteristics selected for the analysis and comparison of the handwriting samples in Devanãgri script were found to be significant. The impact of regional scripts on the Devanãgri script should be performed, as the influence of regional language could be seen in the samples collected from Punjab

Establishing Sequence of Inkjet Printer, Laser Printer and Writing Ink Strokes using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

The aim of the present study is to determine the sequence of laser printer, inkjet printer, and writing ink (ball point pen ink, gel pen ink, pilot pen ink and fountain pen ink) strokes using a low voltage (1kV) scanning electron microscope (SEM). Intersections were prepared using an inkjet printer, laser printer, and writing instruments on copier paper. About 1cm2 of intersection was cut using scissors and mounted to the probe stage of the SEM using double-sided tape. Each sample was analyzed at different operating parameters. The results were evaluated on the basis of continuity and iscontinuity of strokes at intersection point. It was possible to determine the correct sequence of printer strokes versus other writing instruments’ strokes; inkjet printer stroke versus fountain and pilot pen ink stroke; however, inconclusive results were obtained in the case of inkjet printer strokes versus ball point pen and gel pen ink strokes. The ffectiveness of this technique was determined by analyzing the exact sequence of blind samples. An SEM could be used as mplimentary tool with other optical methods to examine the sequence of strokes

Topical delivery of tetrahydrocurcumin lipid nanoparticles effectively inhibits skin inflammation: in vitro and in vivo study

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) also referred to as "white curcumin", is a stable colourless hydrogenated product of curcumin with superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Present study is an attempt to elevate the topical bioavailability of THC, post incorporation into a nano-carrier system with its final dosage as a hydrogel. Lipid nanoparticles of THC (THC-SLNs) prepared by microemulsification technique were ellipsoidal in shape (revealed in TEM) with a mean particle size of 96.6 nm and zeta potential of -22 mV. Total drug content and entrapment efficiency of THC-SLNs was 94.51% ± 2.15% and 69.56% ± 1.35%, respectively. DSC and X-Ray diffraction studies confirmed the formation of THC-SLNs. In vitro drug release studies showed the drug release from THC-SLNs gel to follow Higuchi's equation revealing a Fickian diffusion. Ex-vivo permeation studies indicated a 17 times (approximately) higher skin permeation of THC-SLNs gel as compared with the free THC gel. Skin irritation, occlusion and stability studies indicated the formulation to be non-irritating, and stable with a desired occlusivity. Pharmacodynamic evaluation in an excision wound mice model clearly revealed the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of THC-SLNs gel and confirmed using biochemical and histopathological studies. It is noteworthy to report here that THC-SLNs gel showed significantly better (p≤0.001) activity than free THC in gel. As inflammation is innate to all the skin disorders, the developed product opens up new therapeutic avenues for several skin diseases. To best of our knowledge, this is the first paper elaborating the therapeutic usefulness of white curcumin loaded lipidic nanoparticles for skin inflammation

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data