The spectroscopic detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints after development with powders and recovery with adhesive lifters

The application of powders to fingerprints has long been established as an effective and reliable method for developing latent fingerprints. Fingerprints developed in situ at a crime scene routinely undergo lifting with specialist tapes and are then stored in evidence bags to allow secure transit and also to preserve the chain of evidence. In a previous study we have shown that exogenous material within a fingerprint can be detected using Raman spectroscopy following development with powders and lifting with adhesive tapes. Other reports have detailed the use of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of drugs of abuse in latent fingerprints including cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints. This study involves the application of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of drugs of abuse in latent fingerprints for fingerprints that had been treated with powders and also subsequently lifted with adhesive tapes. Samples of seized ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and amphetamine were supplied by East Sussex Police and by the TICTAC unit at St. Georges Hospital Tooting. Contaminated fingerprintswere deposited on clean glass slides. The application of aluminium or iron based powders to contaminated fingerprints did not interfere with theRamanspectra obtained for the contaminants. Contaminated fingerprints developed with powders and then lifted with lifting tapes were also examined. The combination of these two techniques did not interfere with the successful analysis. The lifting processwas repeated using hinge lifters. As the hinge lifters exhibited strong Raman bands the spectroscopic analysiswas more complex and an increase in the number of exposures to the detector allowed for improved clarification. Spectral subtraction was performed to remove peaks due to the hinge lifters using OMNIC software. Raman spectra of developed and lifted fingerprints recorded through evidence bags were obtained and it was found that the detection process was not compromised. Although the application of powders did not interfere with the detection process the time taken to locate the contaminant was increased due to the physical presence of more material within the fingerprint

Magnetic Field and Plasma in Saturn's Near Space Environment

This thesis concerns spacecraft observations of magnetic field and plasma in Saturn’s near space environment and compares these observations with those made in and near the Jovian magnetosphere. Such comparisons are equivalent to ‘turning the experimental dial’ in planetary magnetospheres and provide a valuable insight into the way different parameters govern the structure and dynamics of magnetospheres throughout the solar system. Saturn and its magnetosphere is currently being studied by the Cassini spacecraft which, arriving at Saturn in the summer of 2004, became the first spacecraft ever to enter orbit around the planet. As a result there has never been a better time to study the Saturn system and the vast majority of the data utilized in this thesis were obtained by the Cassini spacecraft and its onboard instrumentation. Additional data were also obtained from the Pioneer, Voyager, Ulysses and Galileo spacecraft. Chapter 1 provides a general overview of space plasma and magnetospheric physics while Chapter 2 discusses the Saturn system in more detail. Chapter 3 describes the spacecraft and instrumentation used in this thesis with particular emphasis placed on magnetometer instruments and the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft. Chapter 4 compares the structure of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s outer magnetospheres and discusses the similarities and differences between the two. Chapter 5 presents a new empirical model of Saturn’s dayside bow shock and discusses the three dimensional shape of this surface while, finally, Chapter 6 presents observations of a magnetic cavity in the Saturnian magnetosphere which, as of writing, has yet to be explained. Chapter 7 summarises and concludes the thesis. The three independent investigations described above each shed light on a different aspect of Saturn’s magnetospheric structure and dynamics and contributes to an improved understanding of magnetospheric physics in general

Prolycopene, a Naturally Occurring Stereoisomer of Lycopene

In this paper we record the observation that there occurs in the variety of tomato called "tangerine tomato" a carotenoid, prolycopene, which is an isomer of lycopene; the isomeric relationship is similar to that between lycopene and neolycopene,I and in our opinion prolycopene is to be classed as a naturally occurring neolycopene, being the first observed natural neo form of a C40-carotenoid

Analyzing Risks And Returns In Emerging Equity Markets

This study applies an operations research technique, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) on emerging equity market returns.  Sharpe and Treynor measures focus only one risk aspect of portfolio return and in reality investors consider several alternative risk measures outside the traditional mean-variance framework.  DEA is a multivariate approach that can incorporate multiple risk characteristics that may be equally important for the investor’s decision to allocate assets to emerging markets, the risk and performance relationships are explored in a multivariate framework

‘I didn’t fit the stereotype of autism’: A qualitative analysis of women’s experiences relating to diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition and mental health

Autism spectrum conditions are generally perceived to affect males, with the majority of studies quoting the ratio of four males being diagnosed with autism for each female. The potential implications of this for women on the spectrum or seeking a diagnosis are wide-ranging, including healthcare professionals’ disbelief in autism in women leading to difficulties obtaining a diagnosis and misdiagnosis of other mental health conditions. In this study, a grounded theory methodology was applied to data from fifteen online blogs to explore the experiences of adult women on the autism spectrum of diagnosis of autism, and of mental health issues. The study yielded two grounded theory models: of diagnosis of autism and of mental health, which are linked through misdiagnosis of and comorbid mental health conditions. The findings suggest that there is a need for clinicians to be aware of the unique presentation of autism in women, and of the additional mental health issues which women with autism commonly experience. Additionally, targeted autism-specific interventions may be required, focussing on the core difficulties of autism as opposed to the resultant emotional and mental health difficulties

The Irish Pilchard Fishery

Peer-reviewed

Investigation of binary compounds using electron Rutherford backscattering

High-energy (40keV) electrons, scattering over large angles, transfer a small fraction of their kinetic energy to the target atoms, in the same way as ions do in Rutherford backscattering experiments. The authors show here that this energy transfer can be resolved and used to determine the mass of the scattering atom. In this way information on the surface composition for thicknesses of the order of 10nm can be obtained. The authors refer to this technique as “electron Rutherford backscattering.” In addition the peak width reveals unique information about the vibrational properties (mean kinetic energy) of the scattering atoms. Here the authors demonstrate that the method can be used to identify a number of technologically important compounds.This work is made possible by a grant of the Australian Research Council