IFRI Symposium Program 2015

Fourth Annual Forensic Science Symposium International Forensic Research Institute

Symposium Advisory Board Stephanie Stoiloff Ceclia Crouse Agnes Winokur Bruce R. McCord Kevin McElfresh

Fourth Annual Forensic Science Symposium International Forensic Research Institute May 5, 2015 It is with great pleasure that we welcome you the Fourth Annual Forensic Science Symposium at Florida International University. This conference is a continuation of a series of ad-hoc forensic science meetings previously held in South Florida (Nova Southeastern University, Miami-Dade Police, Broward Sherriff, etc.).

This year, we expect approximately 200 attendees coming from forensic labs, law enforcement, the courts, and industry to join forensic science faculty and students to participate in the symposium.

The International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) is very pleased to host this forum for information exchange that is mutually beneficial to both the forensic science researchers, practicing scientists and the end-users of quality forensic science services. The other aims of this symposium are to provide continuing education opportunities for forensic scientists and to provide the faculty and students an opportunity to showcase their research. The IFRI researchers – faculty and students – strive to work on meaningful research questions; therefore, we welcome your ideas and want the community to share the pain points so that we can focus our efforts on the most important problems of the day.

This year, the theme of the symposium is “Providing Quality Forensic Science” and we have scheduled a workshop on DNA mixture interpretation, an important and challenging topic for our community. We also repeat the workshop on courtroom testimony due to the overwhelmingly positive response from last year.

Thanks to Agnes Winokur for organizing the courtroom testimony speakers. Our first keynote speaker, Nelson Santos is the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the DEA and head of the DEA forensic laboratory system and he will address the federal efforts to improve quality in forensic science. Nelson is also an FIU alumnus (Chemistry ’87) who has served on many national and international committees and currently serves as vice-chair of the National Commission on Forensic Science. Our second keynote presentation will be given by Professor Ken Kidd of Yale University. Dr. Kidd is a leader in novel DNA analysis approaches and will provide what will certainly be a stimulating presentation on the future of forensic DNA analysis. In addition to the two workshops on DNA mixtures and courtroom testimony, we will host laboratory updates from the local forensic labs, 21 oral presentations and 28 poster presentations.

This symposium would not have been possible without the generous support and contributions of our collaborators (Miami-Dade Police Department, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory) and their leadership as well as the corporate sponsors (Qiagen, Eppendorf, and Illumina). We are also grateful to the other forensic laboratories and academic programs throughout Florida for their participation and to the faculty, staff and students at FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute for assistance with the coordination of this event.

José R. Almirall Director, International Forensic Research Institute Hosted by Florida International University | 3

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Program Tuesday, May 5th 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Registration

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Welcome to FIU - Provost Ken Furton

2:15 – 2:20 p.m.

Welcome to IFRI Symposium - Jose Almirall, Director

2:20 – 2:30 p.m

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Dr. Nelson Santos, DEA - Federal Efforts to Continually Improve Forensic Science (A Decade of Progress) 3:30 – 3:40 p.m.

Break

3:40 – 3:45 p.m.

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

3:45 – 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Ken Kidd, Yale University - The NECESSARY Transition From Capillary Electrophoresis to Sequencing

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Laboratory Updates

5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

Introduction of Vendors/Sponsors - Kevin McElfresh

5:45 – 7:00 P.M.

POSTER SESSION - SCIENCE, WINE AND JAZZ

Wednesday , May 6th 9:00 - 9:25 a.m.

Parabon Nanoscience - “DNA Phenotyping: Predicting Physical Appearance from DNA”

9:25 - 9:50 a.m.

Qiagen -” Improving global STR analysis and interpretation with the Investigator 24plex QS Kits”

9:30 – 9:50 a.m.

Unambiguous Trace Explosives Characterization: Challenges and Perspectives — Alan McKenzie

9:50 - 10:00 A.M.

COFFEE BREAK

Session 1 – Forensic Biology Session Chairman: Crouse 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.

Advances in Rapid Direct Amplification of DNA, Steven B. Lee

10:20 – 10:40 a.m

Kaizen: Examining the efficiency of property crime DNA evidence submission, Stacey Anderson

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.

The PERK’s of Evidence Collection – Developing a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) for suspects, Catherine Cothran

11:00 – 11:20 a.m.

Validation of the QIAsymphony® SP: The Automation Station for DNA Extraction, Brandy Cook

11:20 – 11:40 a.m.

11:40 – 12:00 p.m.

Quantification of an Inhibited Sample Using the QUANTIFILER® DUO DNA Quantification Kit: A Case Study. Toby L. Wolson Assessing NextGen DNA Analysis Data in Forensics. Kevin McElfresh

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Session 2 – Crime Scene Investigation Session Chairman: Stoiloff 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.

DNA, Drugs and Detectives: An interdisciplinary special topics course for undergraduate students in forensic science, Sulekha Coticone

10:20 – 10:40 a.m.

The Unseen Shines Brightest: Validation of the CRIME-LITE ML2. Stacie R. Brenner

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.

Marine and underwater forensic investigations. Hector Cruz-Lopez, PhD

11:00 – 11:20 a.m.

Deadly Spring Cleaning: An Investigative Approach to Identifying Inhalants in Postmortem Specimens. Joseph H. Kahl

11:20 – 11:40 a.m.

Secrets Revealed : How to Find and Preserve Latent Prints at a Clandestine Laboratory in Comfort. Anna Zadow

11:40 – 12:00 p.m.

Paper microfluidics for explosives detection. Bruce McCord

Session 3 – Forensic Chemistry Session Chairman: Bradley Campbell 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.

1H, 13C, and 19F NMR Interpretation and Differentiation of AB-FUBINACA and Analogues. Jeannette M Perr

10:20 – 10:40 a.m.

Rapid Detection of ‘Flakka’ (α-PVP) by Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and Identification by Direct Analysis in Real Time Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (DART-QTOF) and Gas Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (GC-QTOF) Seongshin Gwak

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.

A Comprehensive Qualitative Screen for 50 Designer Drugs in Postmortem Blood using LC-Ion Trap MS/MS. Elisa N. Shoff

11:00 – 11:20 a.m.

Validation of the Neogen ELISA Fentanyl (RTU) Kit for Whole Blood and Urine Specimens

11:20 – 11:40 a.m.

The Performance of Various Solvents in the Desorption of Activated Charcoal Strips in Fire Debris Analysis. Michael Gilbert

11:40 – 12:00 p.m.

Diversified Applications of Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction Media: From Field Sampling to Long-Term Analytes Storage. Abuzar Kabir, Ph.D.

12:00 - 1:00 P.M.

LUNCH - ON YOUR OWN

Workshops 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.

DNA Mixtures - John Buckleton

1:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Courtroom Testimony Workshop

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Oral Presentation Abstracts SESSION 1 – FORENSIC BIOLOGY Advances in Rapid Direct Amplification of DNA Steven B. Lee1, Maurice Aboud2, Hye Hyun Oh, Dominique Cooper1, George Duncan3, Georgiana Gibson-Daw2, Bruce McCord2.

1 Forensic Science Program, San Jose State University San Jose, CA 95192, 2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, IFRI, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 3Broward Sheriff’s Office, Fort Lauderdale, FL. There are situations in which it is very important to rapidly screen crime scene samples and unknown individuals who may have been involved in a crime. Examples include seized evidence potentially linked to a suspect, co-mingled bone samples, or the determination of probative blood stains. The goal of this project is to develop a rapid and direct method for screening DNA evidence.

In Phase I, rapid direct amplification on control DNA standards and paper saliva punch samples was optimized by testing different polymerases, buffer compositions, salt concentration, pH and varying concentrations of magnesium and dNTPs, as well as thermal cycling parameters. Rapid DNA polymerases (Z-Taq Polymerase) and direct PCR buffer (AnyDirect F buffer with 30 cycles of 98oC for 5s, 60oC for 10s and 72oC for 15 s) resulted in 16 minute amplification of a 7-locus multiplex with no extraction. A 1.2 mm punch of samples from FTA paper is simply added to the master mix. In phase II, preliminary results using new mutant DNA polymerases and a flow based cycler were used to amplify STRs in 4 minutes. Along with our 80 second microchip genotyping protocol, a result can be produced in 6 minutes.

Kaizen: Examining the efficiency of property crime DNA evidence submission Stacey Anderson, MFS, F-ABC In September of 2012, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) introduced the Direct DNA Initiative as a means to allow non-PBSO agencies a process whereby property crime scene evidence could be directly submitted to a private vendor, thereby eliminating the administrative tasks associated with submission through the FBU. In an effort to determine the efficacy of the Initiative, metrics from property crime cases in fiscal year 2013 were data mined in order to evaluate touch sample DNA testing results for trends that could help increase the number of profiles uploaded to CODIS. A series of recommendations were gleaned from this study including limiting the number and types of samples submitted for analysis. An overview of the Direct DNA Initiative, the data evaluation parameters, results, and recommendations will be presented. andersons@pbso.org The PERK’s of Evidence Collection – Developing a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) for suspects Catherine Cothran, Senior Forensic Scientist The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit in collaboration with the Palm Beach County Sexual Assault Response Team has created and implemented the use of an evidence collection kit specifically designed for intimate DNA evidence collection from suspects of a sexual assault. When a sexual assault occurs the most common DNA evidence collections are from the victim.

Often the collection of body swabs and clothing from a suspect are overlooked and valuable evidence is lost. With collective input from law enforcement, sexual assault nurse examiners, victim advocates, the state attorney’s office and forensic scientists, the Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) provides all of the items necessary for intimate DNA collection from the suspect in one convenient package. How, what and why these samples are collected will be discussed to demonstrate that in addition to collecting evidence from a victim, it may be a “perk” to collect intimate evidence from a suspect. cothranc@pbso.org Validation of the QIAsymphony® SP: The Automation Station for DNA Extraction Brandy Cook, Forensic Scientist The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) recently completed validation and implementation of the QIAGEN QIAsymphony® SP instrument for use on DNA casework evidence. The QIAsymphony® SP is an automated DNA purification instrument that processes 1-96 samples in batches of 24, utilizing the QIAsymphony® DNA Investigator Kit dedicated for forensic 6 | Hosted by Florida International University

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casework. The results of the validation demonstrated that the QIAsymphony® SP instrument and the DNA Investigator chemistry are a robust, reliable system for reference and casework DNA extraction that met or exceeded the performance of other extraction methods within the FBU. The outsourcing of the internal validation, training, challenges, and implementation on casework will be discussed. cookb@pbso.org Quantification Of An Inhibited Sample Using The Quantifiler® Duo DNA Quantification Kit: A Case Study.

Toby L. Wolson, M.S., F-ABC, Criminalist Supervisor Miami-Dade Police Department Forensic Services Bureau Two bicycle handlebar grips collected as evidence in an armed robbery investigation were submitted to the Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Laboratory for DNA analysis. Swabbings from the 2 grips were organically extracted, quantified with the Quantifiler® Duo DNA Quantification kit, amplified with the AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® Plus PCR Amplification kit and analyzed using a 3130XL Genetic Analyzer. The DNA profile data obtained from the analysis of the 2 samples in comparison to the Quantifiler® Duo results will be presented and discussed.

Miami-Dade Research Study for the Reliability of the ACE-V Process: Accuracy and Precision in Latent Fingerprint Examinations Brian Cerchiai, CLPE, CTPE and Igor Pacheco, CLPE This research reports on an empirical study that evaluated the reliability of the Analysis, Comparison, and Evaluation (ACE) and Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification (ACE-V) methodologies in latent fingerprint examinations. Over 100 latent print examiners from various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies across the United States participated in this research study, and compared unknown latent impressions to known standards. Participants had at least one year of latent print examination experience and evaluated eighty (80) unknown latent impressions and ten known fingerprint and palm print standards in three phases over a ten month period. In addition, examination decisions were evaluated based on a latent Strength of Value and Difficulty of Comparison rating scale that was designed for this research.

Over 5,900 suitability for identification determinations were reported. Participants also reported over 4,500 ACE decisions, 500 ACE-V decisions, 1,300 repeatability decisions, 300 ACE decisions under biased conditions, and 300 repeatability decisions under biased conditions. The presentation will provide information on sufficiency for identification determinations, as well as the accuracy, precision, reproducibility, repeatability and biasability of results.

This study was funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) under their program for understanding the accuracy, reliability, and measurement validity of forensic science disciplines. (Award # 2010-DN-BX-K268)

SESSION 2 – CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION DNA, Drugs and Detectives: An interdisciplinary special topics course for undergraduate students, leading a forensic science program at Florida Gulf Coast University Sulekha Coticone1 and Lora Bailey Van Houten2 1Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft Myers, FL, 2Department of Justice Crime laboratory Fresno CA A special topics course combining two relevant and popular themes (DNA and Drug detection) was developed to stimulate student enthusiasm in forensic science. The National Research Council and the National institute of Justice have recently recommended that undergraduate programs in forensic science include a more rigorous and integrated scientific approach to this discipline. This interdisciplinary course connects essential concepts in biochemistry, genetics, organic chemistry general chemistry and criminal justice to kindle student interest using the forensic science theme. The theme for this course covers the fundamental aspects of DNA and drug detection, including collection and storage of evidence, detection methods, and interpretation. Class average percent scores for two classes were consistent (83.34 in spring 2013 and 81.72 in spring 2014) as evidence of learning beyond the student survey.

Students learned the fundamental principles employed to solve crimes using ideas and techniques from multiple disciplines, exposing Hosted by Florida International University | 7

Fo u r t h A n n u a l Fo r e n s i c S c i e n c e S y m p o s i u m • M a y 5 - M a y 6 , 2 0 15 them to concepts requiring critical thinking and problem solving skills. This special topics course is now being offered as an elective for chemistry majors at Florida Gulf Coast University. In the future, this course will be part of the curriculum for a proposed Bachelor of Science program in forensic science at Florida Gulf Coast University. scoticon@fgcu.edu The Unseen Shines Brightest: Validation Of The CRIME-LITE ML2 Stacie R. Brenner, Forensic Scientist The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) recently validated and implemented the Crime-Lite ML2 for use on casework.

The Crime-Lite is a forensic light source used to assist the forensic examiner in locating potential biological fluids or trace material on items of evidence. This high intensity light system employs various light sources, including infrared, to generate visual contrasts against different materials. In addition to locating potential semen stains, the results of the validation demonstrated that the Crime-Lite may assist with locating and detecting blood stains against dark backgrounds. Moreover, the camera attachment allows for a stain or item of interest to be photographed with the desired filter and light source in order to have a digital image available for later reference.

The results of the validation, implementation, and actual casework examples will be discussed. brenners@pbso.org Marine and underwater forensic investigations Hector Cruz-Lopez The Fish and Wildlife Forensic Research Laboratory supports law enforcement investigations in matters involving protected marine species, including enforcement of the Florida Wildlife Code, CITES agreement, and the Lacey Act. The laboratory applies and modifies existing crime scene investigation methods to fit the needs of the underwater resource law enforcement community. Forensic and crime scene support includes investigating and processing underwater crime scenes involving damage to coral reefs and other underwater ecosystems, illegal harvesting of protected species, illegal interactions with commercial traps, boat accidents, search and recovery of evidence, and other functions. In addition to the above, the laboratory has provided investigative support in matters requiring determinations of time of submergence and disturbance of items potentially related to crimes. The presentation outlines current capabilities, study cases, and research needs. hector.cruz-lopez@myfwc.com Deadly Spring Cleaning: An Investigative Approach to Identifying Inhalants in Postmortem Specimens Joseph H. Kahl Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly used in compressed air duster products, as well as in solvents and other commercial and household products. Identified as a cheap and legal alternative to illicit drug use, adolescents and young adults are abusing these VOCs in the form of inhalants, and as a result may experience severe toxicity or death. The postmortem investigation of cases involving huffing of VOCs and inhalants is a multifaceted approach requiring open communication between law enforcement, first responders, death investigators, pathologists, and toxicologists. Case study presentations illustrating the information necessary for assisting in the cause and manner of death, demographic trends of deaths involving huffing in the State of Florida, as well as the analytical difficulties in identifying and confirming VOCs and inhalants by automated SPME-GC-MS will be discussed. jkahl@miamidade.gov Secrets Revealed : How to Find and Preserve Latent Prints at a Clandestine Laboratory in Comfort The clandestine laboratory investigation can be a complicated process for all responders. Due to the chemical hazards encountered, this type of crime scene takes additional training and awareness for the fingerprint specialist as well. This presentation will focus on the job responsibilities of the fingerprint specialist during the course of this type of investigation. Tips and suggestions will be revealed on how to find latent prints on the difficult and challenging surfaces related to the manufacturing of controlled substances.

This presentation will offer a method on how to preserve the latent print evidence once it is developed. Additionally, being comfortable and staying comfortable at these types of crime scenes is important. Suggestions will be offered in regards to equipment used to stay comfortable during the duration of the scene. annazadow@yahoo.com 8 | Hosted by Florida International University

Fo u r t h A n n u a l Fo r e n s i c S c i e n c e S y m p o s i u m • M a y 5 - M a y 6 , 2 0 15 Paper microfluidics for explosives detection Bruce McCord, Kelley Peters, Man Nok Lo, Kathryn Chabaud In this presentation the development of paper microfluidic devices (µPADs) is described for the rapid, on-site detection of improvised explosives. The microfluidic devices are prepared on chromatographic paper using wax printing to create hydrophobic channels. Each channel contains a colorimetric reagent capable of detecting one or more explosive components. Two devices were prepared, each capable of performing five simultaneous analyses on a single µPAD. The first µPAD was developed to detect inorganic explosives such as black powder, flash powder, and ammonium nitrate. It detects nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorate oxidizers, as well as ammonium.

The second µPAD was developed to detect military grade explosives such as TNT and RDX along with other high explosives like urea nitrate and various peroxides. Detection limits ranged from 15 - 750 ppm. All experiments were performed by dissolving the suspect explosive in 50:50 acetone/ H2O or deionized water as transport solvents with a time to detection of 5 minutes or less. In this presentation we will review the development of the tests as well as provide results obtained from field studies when using the devices on pre and post blast residue.

SESSION 3 – FORENSIC CHEMISTRY 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR Interpretation and Differentiation of AB-FUBINACA and Analogues Tyrone S. Shire and Jeannette M. Perr The cannabinoid class of compounds and their analogues are frequently encountered in routine laboratory analysis. The structural isomers of AB-FUCINACA (N-(1-Amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide) present interesting analytical challenges for identification due to their similar mass spectra and significantly indistinguishable gas chromatography retention times. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a valuable analytical technique for structural determination of unknowns. 19F and 1H NMR experiments are sensitive and rapid while 13C NMR experiments require longer analysis time. The combination of 13C, 19F, and 1H experiments can easily distinguish the AB-FUBINACA isomers. Gas chromatography retention time data using different stationary phases will be presented. In addition, mass spectral data and 13C, 19F, and 1H NMR data will be compared and interpreted for the isomers of AB-FUCINACA. Jeannette.M.Perr@usdoj.gov Rapid Detection of ‘Flakka’ (α-PVP) by Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and Identification by Direct Analysis in Real Time Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (DART-QTOF) and Gas Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (GC-QTOF) Seongshin Gwak and José R. Almirall A relatively new designer drug with the street name ‘Flakka’ (also ‘$5 insanity’ or ‘gravel’), has proliferated in Florida from zero cases in 2010 to more than 670 cases in 2014, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Flakka contains alphapyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP), which is considered a second-generation synthetic cathinone with a pyrrolidine ring in its structure, and is controlled as a Schedule I substance in federal and Florida statutes since 2014. A rapid screening test for α-PVP and other cathinones has been developed using a commercial ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with a 63Ni ion source with sub-ng detection limits. DART-QTOF-MS was also used for rapid (1 sec.) unambiguous identification of α-PVP (and other synthetic cathinones), in the ng detection. A GC coupled to a QTOF was also used to confirm the drugs in this study in both electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI). Finally, seized drug samples provided by a forensic laboratory were analyzed in a blind study using these techniques and the results are also presented.

A Comprehensive Qualitative Screen for 50 Designer Drugs in Postmortem Blood using LC-Ion Trap MS/MS Elisa N. Shoff In recent years, the evolution of designer drugs in Miami has shifted dramatically from Methamphetamine and MDMA, to synthetic cathinones, pyrovalerones and NBOMe’s. Due to the frequency with which these compounds are detected in postmortem cases, a targeted qualitative blood screen for 50 designer stimulants using Liquid Chromatography-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (LC-Ion Trap MS), was developed. A Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC) was coupled with a Bruker AmaZon SL Ion Trap MS. MS analysis was performed using enhanced resolution scan mode between 50-500 m/z. A Hosted by Florida International University | 9

Fo u r t h A n n u a l Fo r e n s i c S c i e n c e S y m p o s i u m • M a y 5 - M a y 6 , 2 0 15 scheduled precursor list, identifying targeted analytes, was embedded in the MS method to trigger MS/MS analysis. The majority of the target analytes were determined to have a limit of detection between 5-25ng/mL. Using this sensitive method, compounds such as Methylone, Ethylone, Alpha-PVP, 25I-NBOMe and others have been confirmed in MDME cases received between 2011 and 2015. eshoff@miamidade.gov Validation of the Neogen ELISA Fentanyl (RTU) Kit for Whole Blood and Urine Specimens Kristin Wegner, Nicholas B. Tiscione and Russell Miller In what can be described as unintended fallout from the 2012 “pill-millâ€? legislation regulating oxycodone, many opiate abusers began looking to other opiates as alternatives. First developed in 1959 as a synthetic analgesic, Fentanyl is almost one hundred times stronger than morphine or heroin. It is often used to manage pain in opioid tolerant patients but has also become a concern for abuse. Recent cases submitted around the country for analysis have shown that many users who thought they were using heroin were actually getting a sometimes fatal mixture of heroin and fentanyl. In anticipation of this trend continuing the validation of a Neogen Fentanyl kit for the semi-quantitative analysis of whole blood and urine specimens by ELISA was performed to incorporate a more efficient screening process. millerRU@pbso.org The Performance of Various Solvents in the Desorption of Activated Charcoal Strips in Fire Debris Analysis Michael Gilbert, Diane Davis, Reta Newman Many laboratories extract fire debris samples using an activated charcoal adsorption method which utilizes an adsorbent to collect volatilized compounds from the headspace of a sample. The activated charcoal is eluted with a suitable solvent to remove the adsorbed species. Common solvents include carbon disulfide, pentane, diethyl ether, and methlyene chloride. The sample is analyzed

by Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and the data is directly compared to a known reference ignitable liquid. In addition to sample condition, matrix effects, and extraction parameters, the choice of elution solvent can have a dramatic effect on the recovery of the ignitable liquid, which can affect data interpretation. In this study the elution efficiency of carbon disulfide, pentane, diethyl ether, and methylene chloride were compared. Overall recovery and hydrocarbon class recovery were assessed and compared.

Under various conditions, certain solvents allowed for the truest representation of the adsorbed species. mgilbert@pinellascounty.org Diversified Applications of Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction Media: From Field Sampling to Long-Term Analytes Storage Abuzar Kabir, Rodolfo Mesa, Rayma Blanco, Manuel A. Bode, Namita Khajanchi, Kenneth G. Furton Fabric phase sorptive extraction has established itself a new generation solvent-minimized green sample preparation technique.

Within a short period since its inception, FPSE has demonstrated its applicability in a broad range of sample matrices including raw milk, environmental sample, blood serum etc. A wide range of analytes e.g., antibiotics, sulfa drugs, alkyl phenols, pesticides, endocrine disrupting chemicals are among a long list of chemicals which have been successfully extracted from different sample matrices. Flexible substrate, high sorbent loading, porous sol-gel coating, permeable substrate in FPSE media synergistically facilitate analyte extraction directly from original sample matrix in a fraction of time compared to conventional sample preparation techniques. Absolute analyte recoveries are comparable to solid phase extraction. In addition, FPSE totally eliminates the requirement of sample pretreatment e.g., filtration, centrifugation etc. The presentation will highlight recent developments of FPSE in terms of new applications as well as novel sorbent chemistries. akabir@fiu.edu

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Poster Abstracts Comparative analysis of freshly harvested cannabis plant weight and dried cannabis plant weight Marcus Warner, Ilene Alford, Diana Lawrence, Amber Kohl and Tate Yeatman The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in weight between freshly harvested cannabis plants and dried cannabis plants. The expected water loss that occurs during the drying process most likely will result in a difference in weight between an officer’s recorded weight at the time of seizure and the forensic chemist’s reported weight at the time of analysis in the laboratory.

Quantifying the magnitude of the weight difference between freshly harvested and dried cannabis plants when the analysis is performed days after collection can serve to explain differences in recorded weights in a forensic chemistry case. alfordi@pbso.org Identifications of Coumarin in Vanilla Extracts Using Analytical Techniques in a Forensic Science Laboratory Chelsae Keeney, Osbaldo Garcia, Sulekha Coticone Vanilla extract is often adulterated with cheaper alternatives due to the cost and time involved in harvesting vanilla beans. Coumarin is frequently used to adulterate vanilla bean extract due its similarities in fragrance to vanilla bean. When coumarin is converted to dicoumarol, it exhibits anticoagulant properties, increasing the risk of bleeding. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instated a ban on the adulteration of vanilla extract with Coumarin in 1954. In this study, four different analytical techniques (chemical spot test, TLC co-spotting, Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) were used to detect coumarin in vanilla extracts obtained from Mexico. In addition to simulate the adulteration of coumarin, vanilla extracts were spiked with coumarin followed by detection using the four techniques. We combined these techniques for students to use in forensic chemistry with the purpose of providing students with experience of utilizing the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) recommendations regarding selection of analytical techniques for drug identification. ogarcia@eagle.fgcu.edu An Assessment of the VOCs of an Agricultural Biothreat Agent, Raffaelea lauricola, and Training Aids for Canine Detection Alison G. Simon, Julian Mendel, Kenneth G. Furton, DeEtta Mills Invasive biological agents pose a threat to the U.S. agriculture, environment, and economy. These biothreats can enter the United States through ports-of-entry accidently, as is the case of the invasive and phytopathogenic fungus Raffaelea lauricola. This fungus causes the laurel wilt disease, which leads to the tree’s death within four to six weeks. The current research used SPME-GC-MS to identify the VOCs of the laurel wilt pathogen in order to create a mimic training aid. Using this aid, canines can be trained to detect infected trees before physical symptoms develop so that infected trees can be removed from groves and healthy trees protected, and the skills and practices developed applied to the wider effort of protecting the nation’s food supply from foreign invasive pests and other biothreats. asimo046@fiu.edu Presumptive Determination of Seized Drugs Using Paper Microfluidic Devices Ling Wang, Giacomo Musile, Jashaun Bottoms, Franco Tagliaro, Bruce McCord Drugs of abuse are widely screened using presumptive colorimetric solutions. However, these solutions involves toxic and corrosive chemicals as well as the strong acid and base. Use of these tests in the field can be awkward, and may not always be possible in challenging environments. We have been working on an alternative platform for colorimetric detection based on paper microfluidic devices. The application of paper microfluidic devices will be a useful tool for detecting seized drugs in a rapid, cheap and applicable way. / The use of paper microfluidic devices design permits the development of rapid, easily stored test beds for a variety of seized drugs. They present a quick presumptive tool for samples which can be used in the field, prior to confirmatory laboratory analysis. This project will impact the forensic community by demonstrating the application of paper microfluidic devices as a useful tool for detecting seized drugs in solution. lwang032@fiu.edu Hosted by Florida International University | 11

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Will the Real “Molly” Please Stand Up? A Comparison of MDMA and Synthetic Cathinone Deaths in Miami-Dade County, FL M. Elizabeth Zaney*, Diane M. Boland, George W. Hime, Jennifer L. Gonyea, Joseph H. Kahl Historically, the term “Molly” referred to the powder or capsule form of MDMA. Over the last several years however, it is clear that they now contain synthetic cathinones (SC). The objective was to identify all MDMA and SC positive cases from 1996 to present, and to determine if the change in Molly composition has affected cause and manner of death. lzaney@miamidade.gov Surface-Enhanced Raman Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoids Using Gold Nanoparticles and Various Aggregating Agents Thaddeus Mostowtt, Bruce McCord The use and abuse of synthetic cannabinoids has increased significantly in recent years due to their easy access to obtain and growing popularity. The most common method of screening for drugs of abuse in biological samples is the immunoassay. This presents some disadvantages, particularly for newly synthesized compounds and cross-reactivity between different synthetic cannabinoids, hook effects, and high cut-off values for determining if the drug is present. / / A potential solution to this issue is surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). This method has already been confirmed to work for the toxicological detection of benzodiazepines with limits of detection ranging from 1-200 ng/ml and for THC with limits of detection under 10 ng/ml. Thus, synthetic cannabinoids were examined. The Raman spectrum of each synthetic cannabinoid could be distinguished at ng/ml concentrations.

Therefore, following the extraction of the analyte, SERS can be utilized to detect trace amounts of synthetic cannabinoids in aqueous solutions. tmost001@fiu.edu A Static Collection Approach for Target Explosive Analog Odors Claudia L. Sanchez, Adhly M. Huertas, Paola A. Prada, and Kenneth G. Furton The aim of this research is to present a detailed evaluation of the static collection of target explosive VOCs for the creation of canine training aids from real explosive materials. In this study, experiments were based on previously identified explosive odors such as 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) a plasticizer, 2, 3-dimethyl-dinitrobutane (DMNB) a taggant, and 2,4 dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) a plasticizer in explosive materials. C-4 explosive was used for the static collection of 2EH and DMNB and single based smokeless powder for the collection of 2, 4- DNT. According to results, 2EH collected 82.7 ng ( ± 7.75 ) at 15 min and DMNB and 2, 4 DNT collected 125 ng ( ± 10.1) and 5.05 ng (± 0.51) at 30 min respectively. These results demonstrated the successful static collection of target VOCs from real explosives onto a gauze pad, which can then be sealed and utilized as a canine training aid. csanc035@fiu.edu Forensic Analysis of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) aka “Pink Cocaine” Victoria Broadstreet and Elizabeth Adkins 2C-B or 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine is a highly addictive, psychedelic drug commonly known as “pink cocaine” and is reported to be selling at approximately $75 per dose. Forensic laboratory submissions of “pink cocaine” are either a mixture of a phenethylamine derivative with caffeine or a mixture of ketamine, MDMA, aspirin, and caffeine. This combination of early eluting compounds in one sample presents analytical challenges to forensic laboratories. In this study, the analysis of 2C-B submissions is presented using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with a low thermal mass (LTM) system. In addition, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy data and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data will be presented in comparison.

Victoria.E.Broadstreet@usdoj.gov

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Quantitative Analysis of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and Ritalinic Acid in Oral Fluid by Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (LC/QqQ-MS) Carmen Mulet, Lorena Leon, Luis E. Arroyo-Mora and Anthony P. DeCaprio Methylphenidate (MPH) is an amphetamine derivative used in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents and adults. In recent years, Ritalin® (MPH HCl) has become an abused prescription drug due to its psychostimulant effects. Current analytical methods for the analysis of MPH, and its main metabolite ritalinic acid (RA), are time consuming and sample collection invasive and tedious. This presentation will demonstrate human oral fluid as a suitable matrix for analyzing MPH and RA using electrospray ionization (ESI) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) as a sensitive and specific method for screening and quantitation. Six-point linear calibrations based on internal standards MPH-d9 HCl and (+)-threo-RA-d10 HCl, (r2 ≥ 0.99) were obtained between 0.50 – 100.00 ng/mL, with quality controls showing RSD < 13%. The limits of detection for MPH and RA were 0.20 and 0.30 ng/mL, respectively, indicating the validity of the method for identification and confirmation at low concentrations. cmule001@fiu.edu Evaluation of Temperature Effect on Long-Term Retention of Adsorbed Analytes in Fabric Phase Storage Devices Manuel A. Bode, Rodolfo Mesa, Abuzar Kabir and Kenneth G. Furton Fabric phase sorptive extraction media, due to their flexibility and high primary contact surface area, can be used to collect analytes from different sample matrices including biological, environmental, pharmaceutical samples as chemical evidence and be stored under appropriate chain of custody to meet future legal challenges. The FPSE media have been found to retain extracted chemicals over a period of one year if they are kept at controlled temperature (0-4 °C). However, it is important to investigate the impact of temperature (ambient) on the retention of analytes when stored as chemical evidence. This poster presents the comparative data collected under two different storage conditions: (1) refrigerated condition (0-4°C); and ambient condition (25-30°C). / The presented data will shed light on the impact and importance of temperature control during storing the FPSE media as chemical evidence. In addition, the optimum temperature conditions for long-term storage will also be established. mbode003@fiu.edu Development of paper microfluidic devices for the detection of inorganic primer residues Kathryn Chabaud and Bruce McCord In this project paper microfluidic devices (µPADs) have been developed for the determination of inorganic primer residues. They are typically prepared from chromatographic paper creating hydrophilic channels through the use of wax printing. Capillary action is then used to mobilize liquids containing dissolved analytes through the wax ink channels of the device. Colorimetric reagents are placed at the terminal end of each channel for detection. Because these reagents can be dried on the device prior to use, shelf lives are much increased when compared to liquid reagents. We have been exploring forensic applications of this technology. In this project a paper microfluidic chip has been developed that involves presumptive, colorimetric tests for multiple different compounds contained in inorganic primer residues. kchab003@fiu.edu Analysis of Selected Phenolic Pollutants from Environmental Water using Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction followed by HPLCUV Determination Rayma Blanco, Namita Khajanchi, Rodolfo Mesa, Abuzar Kabir and Kenneth G. Furton The poster presents a facile approach of high efficiency extraction of polar phenolic compounds from environmental water followed by analysis in HPLC-UV. / Phenolic compounds represent an important class of environmental pollutants, many of which are listed in US EPA Priority Pollutants list. They are highly toxic, carcinogenic and play roles as endocrine disruptive chemicals. Considering their detrimental impact on human health, US EPA has set up a maximum concentration level of phenolic compounds in waste water at ≤1 mg.L-1. However, high polarity, low concentration, and presence of matrix interferents pose a serious challenge to environmental chemists in the sample preparation front. / Fabric phase sorptive extraction has successfully simplified sample preparation of phenolic compounds to a great extent. As a hybrid sample preparation technique, FPSE integrates most of the benefits of solid phase extraction and solid phase microextraction. In addition, it totally eliminates the need of sample pretreatment (e.g., filtration, centrifugation). namitakhajanchi@yahoo.com Hosted by Florida International University | 13

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Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction Media: A Forensic Sample Collection and Storage Device Rodolfo Mesa, Abuzar Kabir and Kenneth G. Furton After attending this presentation, attendees will understand the working principle, advantages and potential applications of the sample preparation technique known as fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) in extraction of evidence from forensic samples as well as storage. / The current study illustrates the application of FPSE in extracting and retaining 8 compounds of interest from water: two substituted phenols; two amines; two ketones; and two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The two selected PAHs are known carcinogens. The phenols, amines, and ketones are toxic to humans and wildlife. This presentation will impact the forensic community by proving that FPSE media can be used for extraction and storage of samples of forensic interest. Use of FPSE also reduces the collection steps involved in performing extractions, therefore reducing the expensive labor and supply costs associated with collecting the sample from the field/crime scene and transporting it to the analytical laboratory before instrumental analysis begins. rmesa004@fiu.edu Analysis of Selected Phenolic Pollutants from Environmental Water using Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction followed by HPLC-UV Determination

Rayma Blanco, Namita Khajanchi, Rodolfo Mesa, Abuzar Kabir, Kenneth G. Furton The poster presents a facile approach of high efficiency extraction of polar phenolic compounds from environmental water followed by analysis in HPLC-UV. / Phenolic compounds represent an important class of environmental pollutants, many of which are listed in US EPA Priority Pollutants list. They are highly toxic, carcinogenic and play roles as endocrine disruptive chemicals. Considering their detrimental impact on human health, US EPA has set up a maximum concentration level of phenolic compounds in waste water at ≤1 mg.L-1. However, high polarity, low concentration, and presence of matrix interferents pose a serious challenge to environmental chemists in the sample preparation front. / Fabric phase sorptive extraction has successfully simplified sample preparation of phenolic compounds to a great extent. As a hybrid sample preparation technique, FPSE integrates most of the benefits of solid phase extraction and solid phase microextraction. In addition, it totally eliminates the need of sample pretreatment (e.g., filtration, centrifugation). akabir@fiu.edu GeoChip 5.0: Investigating Microbial Functional Diversity for Soil Provenance Yu Cheung1,2, Priyanka Kushwaha1, Natalie Damaso1,2,3 and DeEtta Mills2,3 1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2. International Forensic Research Institute, 3. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199 Soil is a complex ecosystem that houses a variety of different microorganisms, plants, and animals. The interest in studying soil has emerged because there is a need to understand how the microbes respond to environmental changes since they play a key role in driving function and biogeochemical cycles. Miami-Dade County has been classified into six soil types according to their physical and chemical properties. These soil types have shown to drive microbial community structure for soil provenance. The objective of the study is to determine if the functional capacity of the microbial communities is also driven by soil type. A comprehensive functional gene microarray, GeoChip, is used to survey the functional genes related to the sulfur cycle for two soil types, KNT (soil type 2) and CS (soil type 4). The diversity of the microbial community and sulfur-related functional genes will be investigated and compared between these two soil types.

Fast detection and characterization of gunshot residues on the hands of suspects and spent cartridges by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for inorganics and Capillary Microextraction of Volatiles (CMV) GC-MS for organic components Anamary Tarifa and José R. Almirall In this study, two fast screening methods were developed and optimized for the detection of inorganic and organic compounds in GSR and spent cartridges. The proposed method consists of headspace extraction of volatile organic compounds by a capillary microextraction of volatiles (CMV) device followed by detection using a GC-MS in SIM mode. This novel sampling technique has the potential to yield fast results (< 2 min. sampling) and improved sensitivity for the detection of volatiles characteristic of the presence of propellant powder in spent cartridges and on the hands of a person suspected of recently discharging a firearm. In addition, a fast 14 | Hosted by Florida International University

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LIBS screening method for the detection of the inorganic compounds indicative of the presence of GSR, such as Sb, Pb and Ba, is proposed here. The sampling method consists of liquid extraction of the target elements from cotton swabs, followed by spiking 1µL of the solution on a Teflon disk to be analyzed by LIBS. Advantages of LIBS include fast analysis, high selectivity, and sensitivity, with expected LODs ~ 1 ng for each of these target elements after sampling.

Detection Of Volatile Organic Markers In Breath Using CMV-GC-MS D’Nisha D. Hamblin, Natasha M. Kreitals and José R. Almirall, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and International Forensic Research Institute, Florida International University The analysis of breath samples for forensic purposes including drug detection and chemical exposures offer a non-invasive sampling method that is gaining scientific acceptance. However, the detection of important biomarkers in breath is challenging due to the low levels of the target compounds in the breath samples. Therefore, a pre-concentration step is required to meet the analytical sensitivity requirements. This poster will outline a novel sample collection method using a capillary microextraction of volatiles (CMV) device for the detection of biomarkers in breath based on PSPME [1-4]. The CMV offers dynamic sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and coupled to a GC inlet for GC-MS analysis of the VOCs. CMV offers a 5000 time increase in surface area [5-6] and a corresponding improvement in capacity over the static SPME single fiber at a much reduced cost over SPME and Tenax sorbent tubes. Expensive thermal desorption instrumentation is also not needed for CMV over Tenax tubes (Provisional patent awarded in 2013). Preliminary data on the detection of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of marijuana, and nicotine from simulated breath, will be presented. Due to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use in some states, public safety concerns regarding drug impaired driving has been raised. Some studies in Colorado suggest a correlation between the legalization of marijuana and an increase in the number of vehicle accidents. While no causation has been determined, marijuana use has been found to have a detrimental effect on driving. Therefore, it is important to have a screening method for the active ingredients of the Schedule I drug, marijuana, after smoking, to reveal recent drug use and aid in the determination of drug impairment. We aim to demonstrate that CMV is a suitable sample collection and pre-concentration device for the analysis of THC and associated compounds in breath.

Nicotine from the breath of tobacco smokers will be used as a proxy and as proof of concept to demonstrate breath analysis by CMV. Validation of the CMV breath sampling method will be demonstrated by the extraction of vapors from a newly developed vapor delivery design that will act to simulate exhaled breath. Although not completely representative of a breath matrix, delivery concentrations can be controlled to mimic expected analyte concentrations using this vapor delivery design.

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Patent US 8,668,873 B2 Awarded March 11, 2014 (Disclosed 2008) Method and apparatus for extraction, detection, and characterization of vapors from explosives, taggants in explosives, controlled substances, and biohazards. Inventors: José R. Almirall, Jeannette Perr and Patricia Guerra, Florida International University P Guerra, H Lai, JR Almirall, Extraction and detection of the volatile chemical markers of explosives with a novel planar geometry solid phase microextraction device coupled to ion mobility spectrometry, J. of Separation Sciences, 2008, 31, 2891-2898.

P Guerra-Diaz, S Gura, and JR. Almirall, Dynamic Planar Solid Phase Microextraction (PSPME)- Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) for Rapid Field Air Sampling and Analysis of Illicit Drugs and Explosives, Analytical Chemistry, 2010, 82 (7), 2826–2835.

W Fan, M Young, J Canino, J Smith, J Oxley, and JR Almirall, Fast Detection of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) from Headspace using Planar Solid Phase Microextraction (PSPME) Coupled to an IMS Detector, Anal. Bioanalyt. Chem., 2012, DOI 10.1007/ s00216-012-5878-x.

W. Fan and J.R. Almirall, High-Efficiency Headspace Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Explosives Using Capillary Microextraction of Volatiles (CMV) Coupled to GC-MS, Anal. and Bioanalyt. Chem, 2013, DOI 10.1007/s00216-013-7410-3.

A Tarifa, and JR Almirall, Fast detection and characterization of organic and inorganic gunshot residues on the hands of suspects

by CMV-GCMS and LIBS, Science and Justice, 2015, DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2015.02.003.

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