Abstract Differentiation and identification of Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) and Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) claws is a challenging task in wildlife forensics, due to similarity in their morphology, anatomy and chemical compositions as both the species are closely related to each other genetically. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, which offers a non-destructive and safe alternative technique to other conventional methods, has been employed in the present work to differentiate claws of Royal Bengal Tiger and Indian Leopard. An attempt has been made to differentiate 31 reference claw samples from 16 different Royal Bengal Tigers, 15 different Indian Leopards, and 10 fake claws using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy supplemented with PCA, PLS-DA, and LDA. PCA could not distinguish the samples of two closely related species among themselves as well as from the fake claws. On the other hand, PLS-DA and LDA models both yielded highly significant classification rate for differentiation among the samples of Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, and their fake counterparts. Further, seven blind claw samples that were pretended to be unknown to the analyst of both the species are also examined and identified correctly to their respective groups. The R-Square value obtained for PLS-DA model to differentiate Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, and fake claws is 0.99, which is highly significant for predictive accuracy. This study shows that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with PLS-DA/LDA has a potential to present a rapid, non-destructive, reliable, and eco-friendly approach for the accurate identification and differentiation of Royal Bengal Tiger and Indian Leopard claws.
#1Loong Chuen Lee(UKM: National University of Malaysia)H-Index: 8
#2Abdul Aziz Jemain(UKM: National University of Malaysia)H-Index: 24
In response to our review paper [L. C. Lee et al., Analyst, 2018, 143, 3526–3539], we present a study that compares empirical differences between PLS1-DA and PLS2-DA algorithms in modelling a colossal ATR-FTIR spectral dataset. Over the past two decades, partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) has gained wide acceptance and huge popularity in the field of applied research, partly due to its dimensionality reduction capability and ability to handle multicollinear and correlated varia...
Last. Zhenyuan Wang(Xi'an Jiaotong University)H-Index: 12
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Human and non-human identification of unknown skeletal remains is of great importance in forensic and anthropologic contexts. However, the traditional morphological methods for bone species identification are subjective or time-consuming. Here, we utilized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and chemometric methods to determinate the spectral variances between human and non-human (i.e., pig, goat, and cow) bones. To simulate real forensic situations as much as possible, fresh, boiled,...
Last. Vishal Sharma(Panjab University, Chandigarh)H-Index: 23
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Abstract This review represents a detailed discussion of the multivariate methods used in the examination of forensic exhibits; their advantages, disadvantages, and efficiency are compared. The last decade has seen the application of the chemometric methods combined with analytical techniques for characterization and discrimination of samples, which leads to the informative and representative examinations of the samples. Many research articles with reference to the use of chemometrics in forensi...
Last. Abdul Aziz Jemain(UKM: National University of Malaysia)H-Index: 24
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Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) is a versatile algorithm that can be used for predictive and descriptive modelling as well as for discriminative variable selection. However, versatility is both a blessing and a curse and the user needs to optimize a wealth of parameters before reaching reliable and valid outcomes. Over the past two decades, PLS-DA has demonstrated great success in modelling high-dimensional datasets for diverse purposes, e.g. product authentication in food a...
Last. Zhenyuan Wang(Xi'an Jiaotong University)H-Index: 12
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In this study, we investigated the potential of attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with advanced chemometrics for species identification of bloodstains similar to evidence obtained from real crime scenes. Two partial least squares-discriminant analysis classification models (a human-mammal-domestic fowl trilateral model and a species-specific model) were established. The models demonstrated complete separation among the three classes (human,...
#2Meixiu Sun(Peking Union Medical College)H-Index: 8
Last. Ling Lin(TJU: Tianjin University)H-Index: 19
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Abstract The inspection and identification of whole blood are crucially significant for import-export ports and inspection and quarantine departments. In our previous research, we proved Near-Infrared diffuse transmitted spectroscopy method was potential for noninvasively identifying three blood species, including macaque, human and mouse, with samples measured in the cuvettes. However, in open sampling cases, inspectors may be endangered by virulence factors in blood samples. In this paper, we ...
Raman spectroscopy is commonly used in chemistry to identify molecular structure. This technique is a nondestructive analysis and needs no sample preparation. Recently, Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be effective as a multipurpose analytical method for forensic applications. In the present study, blood identification and discrimination between human and nonhuman blood were performed by a portable Raman spectrometer, which can be used at a crime scene. To identify the blood and to discrimin...
#1Bai Pengli(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 3
#2Jun Wang(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 210
Last. Jing Gao(CAS: Chinese Academy of Sciences)H-Index: 10
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ABSTRACTA novel method is reported to discriminate human and animal blood by Raman spectroscopy without complex sample preparation. A partial least squares discriminant analysis model was constructed from a calibration set of Raman spectra from three species of animal blood using 785-nm laser excitation. The discrimination between human and nonhuman blood was calculated by three sigma. Various performance measures, including a blind test and external validation, confirmed the discriminatory perf...
The illegal trade in wildlife is a serious threat to the existence of wild animals throughout the world. The short supply and high demand for wildlife articles have caused an influx of many different forms of fake wildlife articles into this trade. The task of identifying the materials used in making such articles poses challenges in wildlife forensics as different approaches are required for species identification. Claws constitute 3.8% of the illegal animal parts (n=2899) received at the Wildl...
#1Jeremy M. Manheim(SUNY: State University of New York System)H-Index: 3
#2Kyle C. Doty(SUNY: State University of New York System)H-Index: 13
Last. Igor K. Lednev(SUNY: State University of New York System)H-Index: 63
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Hair and fibers are common forms of trace evidence found at crime scenes. The current methodology of microscopic examination of potential hair evidence is absent of statistical measures of performance, and examiner results for identification can be subjective. Here, attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to analyze synthetic fibers and natural hairs of human, cat, and dog origin. Chemometric analysis was used to differentiate hair spectra from ...
Last. Vishal Sharma(Panjab University, Chandigarh)H-Index: 23
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Abstract In the Questioned Document, the examination of ink is crucial scientific evidence to discern the difference between genuine and forged documents. The document examination which is examined by physical and chemical analysis of ink involves the matching of the source of writing material used to fabricate the document of ink. In this study, fifty black ink samples (25 ball-point and 25 gel-point pens) are used. These ink samples are analyzed with Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transf...
Last. Vishal Sharma(Panjab University, Chandigarh)H-Index: 23
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Abstract Eye cosmetics are used by most females and thus, can be an important corroborative forensic evidence in cases of crimes against women. These cosmetics can also sometimes be used to write suicide notes, threatening letters, and anonymous letters on a variety of substrates like skin, fabrics, paper (tissue paper or any writing paper) etc. Their traces can establish link of the perpetrator with the victim and the scene, and thus be an important corroborative evidence in various crimes. Thi...
#1Yan-Li Lü(Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine)
#2Jun Liang(Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine)H-Index: 12
Last. Yong-Gang Xia(Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine)H-Index: 20
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Abstract In this study, a novel two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy (2DCOS-IR) is presented to rapidly characterize and discriminate polysaccharides in Panax ginseng (PGP), P. notoginseng (PNP), and P. quinquefolius (PQP) using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–based on single-characteristic temperature as the external disturbance (2D-sATR-FTIR). Compared with two existing 2DCOS-IR methods based on gradient heating pathways using KBr pellet (100 mi...
Abstract We report chemometric analysis of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for classification and prediction of sex of male and female nail clippings from 100 individuals. An effort has been made for differentiation of fingernail clippings (50 each from males and females of age between 15 and 60 years). The spectral features through ATR-FTIR revealed the presence of prominent amide A & B band, amide I, amide II and amide III bands in the fingerprinting region. These bands confirmed the presence of keratin...
Wildlife trade and fraudulence in food, artefacts and cosmetic industries had raised serious concern in protection of the wild faunal diversity. Lack of proper tools and molecular based techniques for identification of wild species are some of the major constrains faced by the judiciary and law enforcement agencies while framing charges against poachers and illicit agitator. The emergence of wildlife forensics serves as a boon in solving long pending cases of wildlife crimes. Wildlife forensics ...
The analysis of body fluids is of utmost importance in forensic casework since many biological fluids contain DNA. The ATR FT-IR spectroscopy is an emerging approach for the confirmatory, rapid, facile, non-destructive, and on-site identification and differentiation of body fluid stains. Notwithstanding the ATR FT-IR spectroscopy is showing a colossal promise towards the identification of body fluids, and further forensic enquiry related to substrate's interference is still in its infancy stage....